Smoke Signals - 1.1.20
An online edition of our Apache District Newsletter can also be found @ http://www.mccscouting.org/apache under the Smoke Signals tab
Happy New Year to our Scouting Friends and Family
From your Apache District Committee
Apache Roundtable Reminders: Thursday, January 9, 2020
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, NC 28210
5:00 p.m. Eagle Project Reviews
6:15 p.m. Apache District Committee
7:00 p.m. Cracker Barrel
7:30 p.m. Roundtable convenes, OA Apache Chapter meets
8:15 p.m. Cub and Scouts BSA Breakout Sessions
9:00 p.m. Roundtable adjourns
Apache Roundtable Breakout Sessions, Thursday, January 9, 2020
Cub Scout Breakout and Scouts BSA Breakout: Bring your best skits and songs for some friendly competition.
Eagle Project Reviews
https://www.mccscouting.org/eagle-scouts, then Project Review Information, or
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/176532_a901c5127e164caebbb165cb131bb7c7.pdf
NEW - Scouting for Food
Bag pickup
If you haven’t made other arrangements, please pick up your Apache District Scouting for Food bags at the Apache District January Roundtable meeting.
Change in Scouting for Food Bag Fliers
Harris Teeter will no longer use Scouting for Food Bags in their stores, nor will they have the red Loaves & Fishes barrels inside each store. Instead, they will ask customers at check-out if they would like to make a financial donation directly to the Scouting for Food effort.
This money will be used by Loaves & Fishes to purchase specific food items that are needed in their pantries.
As a result of this operational change, the red barrels that have traditionally been used as a drop-off location for bags that were not picked up during our normal collection, will no longer be available.
We are asking units to add a contact name, phone number and/or email address to your unit flyer that you attach to your collection bags. This way donors can contact you directly if their bags were not picked up.
Scouts at the Door
The “Scouts at the Door” program will continue this year at participating Harris Teeter stores. If your unit would like to participate in the “Scouts at the Door” program and has not signed up for a Harris Teeter store, please contact Tim Morgan at tmorgan11@carolina.rr.com
If your unit is participating in Scouts at the Door, please remember to bring your bags to offer people. Please then take them to a collection site for Apache.
Please also remember that you cannot sell Scout unit fund raising items at Harris Teeter stores that weekend.
Further details are available in the “Scouting for Food Leaders Guide” is available online at www.mccscouting.org. It’s located under the Training & Resources page.
NEW - Community Service Hours for Advancement & Scouting for Food
Scouts must meet the following requirements for community service for advancement:
Tenderfoot requirement 7b. Participate in a total of one hour of service in one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout slogan and Scout motto.
Second Class requirement 8e. Participate in two hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Tell how your service to others relates to the Scout Oath
First Class requirement 9d. Participate in three hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. The project(s) must not be the same service project(s) used for Tenderfoot requirement 7b and Second Class requirement 8e. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout Law.
Star Scout requirement 4. While a First Class Scout, participate in six hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster.
Life Scout requirement 4. While a Star Scout, participate in six hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. At least three hours of this service must be conservation-related.
Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge requirement 7. Do the following:
a. Identify three charitable organizations outside of Scouting that interest you and bring people in your community together to work for the good of your community.
b. Pick ONE of the organizations you chose for requirement 7a. Using a variety of resources (including newspapers, fliers and other literature, the Internet, volunteers, and employees of the organization), find out more about this organization.
c. With your counselor’s and your parent’s approval, contact the organization you chose for requirement 7b, and find out what young people can do to help. While working on this merit badge, volunteer at least eight hours of your time for the organization. After your volunteer experience is over, discuss what you have learned with your counselor.
Scouts are encouraged to seek approval of service hours with their Scoutmasters as they plan for participation in the 2020 Scouting for Food program. In addition to bag distribution and collection in neighborhoods and in church congregations, Scouts are eligible to participate in the soft sort on site at the collection centers on Saturday, February 2 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and/or Sunday, February 3, from noon to 3:30 p.m. Shifts for service are 2 or 3 hours in duration.
These guidelines apply:
1. Scouts must be 10 years old or older.
2. Scouts must wear closed toe shoes. Scouts must Be Prepared for inclement weather with sun block, hat, layers for warmth and/or rain gear, if appropriate.
3. Scouts must have adult supervision. If Scouts register as group, the group must provide at least 1 adult for every 6 Scouts.
Food collection sites where Scouts can help with sorting food:
Ada Jenkins Center
212 Gamble, Davidson, NC 28036
Arboretum Pineville Mathews Road and Providence Road
NOTE: the trailers are located in the lot in front of the Harris Teeter store.
Bethel Presbyterian Church
19920 Bethel Church Rd., Cornelius, NC 28031
Huntersville United Methodist
14005 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, NC 28078
Philadelphia Presbyterian Church
11501 Bain School Road, Mint Hill NC
Sharon Presbyterian Church
5201 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28210
Steele Creek Athletic Association
13530 Choate Circle, Charlotte, NC 28273
Town Center Plaza
8600 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28213
Trinity Presbyterian Church
3115 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28211-2797
Individual Scouts or Scout groups must register on-line in advance at
https://loavesandfishes.volunteermatrix.com/#mon1
NEW - A Big THANK YOU
Many thanks to all the scouts, scouters, and parents, who helped with Charlotte’s first Wreaths Across America on December 14, 2019. Sponsored by the Mecklenburg Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Scouts and members of several ROTC units placed wreaths on the graves of approximately 350 veterans. Well done!
NEW - Area 5 Certified Angling Instructor Course Become a BSA CAI!
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, April 17-18-19, 2020
Belk Scout Camp
The Mecklenburg County Council Fishing Committee proudly announces its first BSA Certified Angling Instructor Course. Sign up now for the weekend course and earn your BSA Certified Angling Instructor certification. You will learn fundamental fishing and fly-fishing skills, how to best teach Scouts fishing skills, and have fun! For further details, please visit https://www.mccscouting.org/fishing
Merit Badge Courses
Information on regional and national courses is posted at
http://www.meritbadge.info/mbn/default.aspx
Spreadsheet sorts by date and by state are recommended.
Current merit badge requirements:
https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/
Optional merit badge workbooks: http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Merit_Badges
Merit Badge Courses
Information on regional and national courses is posted at
http://www.meritbadge.info/mbn/default.aspx
Spreadsheet sorts by date and by state are recommended.
Current merit badge requirements:
https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/
Optional merit badge workbooks: http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Merit_Badges
Upcoming Merit Badge Courses: Scheduled
Discovery Place Science Merit Badges
Information on merit badge workshops at Discovery Place Science is posted at https://science.discoveryplace.org/programs-and-classes/scout-programs
Please call Discovery Place Science at 704 372 6261, extension 300 to register and pay.
More information on local merit badge courses, including links to supporting documents, Merit Badge Guides, and online registration and payment sites when operative, is available at
https://www.mccscouting.org/around-the-campfire
Discovery Place Science Merit Badges
Saturday, February 1, 2020 Robotics
Saturday, February 1, 2020 Weather
Sunday, February 2, 2020 Space Exploration
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Pulp and Paper
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Oceanography
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Programming
Sunday, March 8, 2020 Chemistry
Sunday, March 8, 2020 Sustainability
Saturday, May 2, 2020 Oceanography
Saturday, May 2, 2020 Energy
Saturday, May 2, 2020 Space Exploration
Sunday, May 3, 2020 Chess
Saturday, June 20, 2020 Electricity
Saturday, June 20, 2020 Weather
Saturday, June 20, 2020 Chemistry
Sunday, June 21, 2020 Electronics
Saturday, August 29, 2020 Energy
Saturday, August 29, 2020 Engineering
Sunday, August 30, 2020 Chess
Sunday, August 30, 2020 Sustainability
Saturday, September 19, 2020 Robotics
Saturday, September 19, 2020 Oceanography
Sunday, September 20, 2020 Space Exploration
Saturday, November 7, 2020 Weather
Saturday, November 7, 2020 Programming
Saturday, November 7, 2020 Pulp and Paper
Sunday, November 8, 2020 Chess
Saturday, December 5, 2020 Electricity
Saturday, December 5, 2020 Chemistry
Sunday, December 6, 2020 Electronics
Sunday, December 6, 2020 Sustainability
Discovery Place Nature Merit Badges
Information on merit badge workshops at Discovery Place Nature is posted at https://nature.discoveryplace.org/programs-and-classes/scout-programs
Please call Discovery Place Nature at 704 372 6261, extension 300 to register and pay.
Saturday, March 14, 2020 Environmental Science Merit Badge
Saturday, May 9, 2020 Environmental Science Merit Badge
NEW - 10th Annual Merit Badge Mania 2020
Friday, Saturday, January 17, 18, 2020
First Baptist Church
202 Summitt Drive, Sanford, NC 27330
Information, registration:
http://meritbadge.info/mbn/EventDetails.aspx?ID=1D1E442D-6E64-4935-B364-6DB39C607FEC
25 merit badges are offered.
Camping is not available.
Sunday, January 19 and Saturday, January 25, 2020 Art Merit Badge
Beth Eden Lutheran Church, Newton, NC
NEW - Monday, January 20, 2020 Snow Sports Merit Badge option at 10am, noon, 2 pm
Winterplace Ski Resort
100 Old Flat Top Mt. Rd., Ghent, WV 25843
Five Minutes Off I-77 at Exit 28
Information flyer: https://86e79986-1cec-421c-807e-8446c73855a8.filesusr.com/ugd/31584b_3da9ce2333d846ef89121757776a7c41.pdf
Registration and payment:
http://mccscouting.doubleknot.com/event/winterplace-ski-2020
Saturday, January 25, 2020 Public Speaking Merit Badge
For information on registration and pre-event homework, click on
NEW - Saturday, February 8, 2020 Coin Collecting Merit Badge - Save the Date!
2020 Charlotte Coin Club Annual Show
http://www.charlottecoinclub.org/show.htm
Location: The Park Expo & Conference Center
800 Briar Creek (corner of Independence Blvd)., Charlotte, NC 28205
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, February 21-22-23, 2020 Rail Camp, Railroading Merit Badge
https://www.nctrans.org/Special-Programs---Tours/BSA.aspx
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, February 28-29-March 1, 2020 Snow Sports Merit Badge
https://www.lakejunaluska.com/specials_packages/group_packages/boy_scout_retreats/
NEW - PARI Scouts BSA Space Camps Astronomy and Space Exploration Merit Badges
PARI (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute)
1 Pari Dr, Rosman, NC 28772
828 862 5554
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, February 28 – March 1, 2020 Scouts BSA Boys Weekend
Information, registration: https://71259.blackbaudhosting.com/71259/Boy-Scout-Space-Camp
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, March 13-14-15, 2020 Scouts BSA Girls Weekend
Information, registration: https://71259.blackbaudhosting.com/71259/PARI-Scouts-Girls-Camp
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25-26, 2020 Scouts BSA Boys Weekend
Information, registration: https://71259.blackbaudhosting.com/71259/Boy-Scout-Space-Camp-24Apr2020
NEW - Friday, March 7, 2020, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Uwharrie District Merit Badge College 2020
Davidson County Community College
297 DCC Road Thomasville, NC 27360
http://www.meritbadge.info/mbn/EventDetails.aspx?ID=9AE45FFC-F5F0-478B-B6B7-A8F046B0EC97
Registration is exclusively available for Old North State Council Uwharrie District units from January 30 to February 17, 2020. Units and individuals from other Councils or Districts may begin to register on February 17, 2020. Last day to register is March 1, 2020.
Cost is $9.
NEW - Friday, March 27, 2020 Collections Merit Badge - Please Save This Date
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sardis Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
6100 Sardis Rd., Charlotte, NC 28270
https://www.bsator.com/event/2020-charlotte-trade-o-ree-state-north-carolina/
Saturday, April 4, 2020, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Lees-McRae Merit Badge College
191 Main St., Banner Elk, NC 28604
Information and link to on-line registration and payment: https://www.danielboonecouncil.org/LMMBC20
Online registration is open.
NEW - Saturday, April 18, 2020 Landscape Architecture Merit Badge - Please Save Date
Myers Park Presbyterian Church, Duke Mansion, Queens College
Upcoming Merit Badge Courses: Schedule Your Own
Aviation and Oceanography Merit Badges
USS Yorktown, Mt Pleasant SC (near Charleston)
Camping is available on-board. More information: http://www.patriotspoint.org/camping/
Yorktown provides instruction; troops must provide merit badge counselors to sign off blue cards. Most, but not all, merit badge requirements are covered.
Click HERE for Aviation and Oceanography Merit Badge Flier
NEW - Climbing Merit Badge
Inner Peaks, 10715 Independence Pointe Pkwy., Matthews, NC 28105
https://www.innerpeaks.com/climbing-for-kids/
(704) 844-6677
Mr. Chris Dimatteo of the Inner Peaks staff is a registered Climbing Merit Badge Counselor with Mecklenburg County Council.
Courses are offered for a minimum class size of 6, a maximum class size of 18, on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. with 1/2 hour lunch break or on Sundays from noon to 7:00 p.m.
Courses cover all requirements except for requirement # 1 covering first aid skills, which Scouts must complete through their home troops.
Indian Lore Merit Badge
Town Creek Indian Mound, 509 Town Creek Mound Rd., Mt. Gilead, NC 27306
https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/town-creek-indian-mound
An overnight stay may be available by special permit.
A Troop must have their own merit badge counselor to sign blue cards and to coordinate instruction.
Please call Mr. Daniel Alexi at 910 439 6802 for planning.
Scuba Merit Badge
Lake Norman Scuba LLC, 482 River Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28117
https://www.lakenormanscuba.com/
Phone: 704 660 3483
Mr. Andrew Katsamas is a registered Scuba Merit Badge Counselor with Mecklenburg County Council.
Pre-course requirements:
Completion of Swimming Merit Badge
Completion of CPR training
Course completion requires 6 hours of pool instruction each day for 1 weekend and 6 hours of quarry diving instruction each day for 1 weekend and 1 hour review with the counselor.
Scouting STEM Opportunities
Scouts BSA STEM Up and Away Nova Award for Engineering
Thursday, December 5, 2019, 5:00 to 8:00 pm
iFLY Charlotte (Concord), 7840 Lyles Lane Northwest, Concord, NC 28027
Scouts BSA STEM Up and Away Nova Award for Engineering
Patrols and Troops can schedule their own instruction sessions.
For pre-course video homework suggestions, see [attachment]
Scouts BSA members can complete requirements 3, 4, and 5 of the Up and Away Award with a dedicated visit to iFLY Charlotte (Concord).
Website: https://www.iflyworld.com/charlotte/
For Scouts BSA STEM Nova Award Requirements and for Video Suggestions, please go to
https://www.mccscouting.org/around-the-campfire
For information on adult registration and training as a Nova Award Counselor and a Supernova Award Mentor, please go to https://www.scouting.org/stem-nova-awards/volunteer-support/
ADVANCEMENT NEWS:
Adult Volunteer Registration and Renewals
BSA National now requires an updated Background Check Form to be submitted with each new Adult Application (along with BSA Youth Protection certificate) and with each adult registration renewal for rechartering units, merit badge counselors, districts and councils. Here are links to information and forms:
https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/se-packet/2019-09-30/Background-Check-Disclosure.pdf
https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2019/10/14/rechecks-of-criminal-backgrounds-explained/
Bobcat Advancements
This is a reminder for all Packs to submit their advancements for those new Cubs earning their Bobcat badge.
Conservation Project Opportunity
Although Eagle Projects at the President James K. Polk State Historic Site are currently on hold, there is an opportunity for a Scout Troop to perform a conservation project to assist in the cleanup of the back area of the property. This should be a one to two day project that will involve removal of bulk items and trimming back of overgrown brush that would ideally be performed in late October to early December. Please contact Scott Warren at 704.889.7145, if your Troop is interested in assisting in this project.
Eagle Boards of Review
Although the process will remain the same, the behind the scenes individuals are changing. Steve Stevenson from Troop 119 will handle the coordination of Apache District Representatives for Eagle Boards of review. Tom Gauch from Troop 174 has handled this process for many years and many thanks go to him for serving in that role. Once the Eagle package has been approved by Mecklenburg County Council, Steve will reach out to Apache District representatives, who will coordinate with the individual Scoutmasters to conduct the Eagle Boards of Review.
Large-scale Eagle Project Tips
Do you have Scouts in your Unit who have dreams of making a huge impact in their community through their Eagle Scout Project? Does the thought of a multi-location project seem to inhibit them from pursuing this dream? For those looking for helpful hints on how to succeed in areas of planning, fundraising, and volunteer recruiting check out the article below from Bryan on Scouting! In the article, Eagle Scout Peter Livengood - recipient of the 2019 Glenn A. & Melinda W. Adams Eagle Scout Project of the Year Award for the Northeast Region, shares how his city-wide project became a success.
Eagle Application Packets with Complete Merit Badge Advancement Records Requested
Life Scouts and Troop Advancement Chairs: please include a printout of a Scout’s advancement record, including all merit badges earned, in the Eagle Application Packet that goes to Council. These records will allow the Troop and the Council to promptly process recognition of the Scout with Eagle Palms, if he or she qualifies.
For further Advancement information, please contact your Apache District Advancement Chair or visit https://www.mccscouting.org/advancement or https://www.mccscouting.org/eagle-scouts
Eagle Board of Review Questions
https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2012/09/14/20-questions-to-ask-at-your-next-eagle-board-of-review/
Tools for Eagle Projects
Charlotte Community ToolBank provides inexpensive access to tools for group projects.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWqwzlkJWv8
http://charlotte.toolbank.org/
APACHE DISTRICT NEWS AND EVENTS:
NEW - Annual Pancake Breakfast Please Save The Date
Saturday, February 1, 2020, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Sharon Presbyterian Church – Charles Little Activity Building (CLAB)
5201 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210
Join Pack 34 as they cook and serve pancakes and sausage for their annual pancake breakfast. This event coincides with Scouting for Food pickup. Sharon Presbyterian is Scouting for Food drop-off point. Hope to see you there!
Contact info: Mike Christensen – 704 241 0999 ~
Attention: Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and AOL Dens -- Please Save These Dates
Apache Day Camp
https://www.mccscouting.org/apache-day-camp
Belk Scout Camp
Monday, June 22 through Friday, June 26, 2020
Attention: Webelos and AOL Dens and Scouts BSA Troops -- Please Save These Dates
Apache Webeloree + Camporee at Camp Grimes
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, October 23-24-25, 2020
Fall Recruiting is the Beginning, not the End
As a reminder, Units should recruit year-round. Don’t just rely on fall back to school. Use local events in your area, at your Charter Organization, and in the schools.
Share Your Recruiting Success
Did you do something new or take a different approach? Did the Choose your own night work better than one common night? What didn’t work? What could the District/ Council do differently to support your Unit? Share with Andy Waligowski at awaligowski@icloud.com for a chance to win a gift card at November Roundtable!
Membership Committee – WE WANT YOU!
Apache District NEEDS you. As the newly appointed Apache District Membership Chair, my goal is to ensure we cover all available programs – Boys, Girls, Adults, Cubs, Venture, Scouts BSA, Special Initiatives and retention/ cross over.
For more information contact Andy Waligowski – awaligowski@icloud.com
COUNCIL NEWS AND EVENTS:
NEW - Webelos Adventure Camp (WAC) News - Please Save the Date!
Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 6:30 to 8:00 pm, Unit Leaders Meeting at Council Office
Bear Den Leaders, Webelos Den Leaders, Cubmasters, Committee Chairs, and WAC Coordinators are invited to attend. Please make sure your Pack is represented. An RSVP will go out in January for food planning.
Programming Change for WAC 2020
The “Castaway” Adventure will replace the “Webelos Walkabout” because “Webelos Walkabout” is better suited for cooler spring and fall weather. Units may wish to plan their den or pack programs with this change in mind.
WAC Sessions at Belk Scout Camp -- Theme is “Luau”
Session 1: Sunday, July 12th through Wednesday, July 15th
Session 2: Thursday, July 16th through Sunday, July 19th
Session 3: Sunday, July 19th through Wednesday, July 22nd
Session 4: Thursday, July 23rd through Sunday, July 26th
WAC Email Contact List
Please help to keep the WAC email contact list current. If you have moved on from your position and someone else should be receiving WAC information, please send email to
WAC Camp Director Monica Zeleznik at WACdirector@gmail.com
WAC Staff Registration is now live!
https://www.mycampgrimes.org/wac/staffapp.phtml?apply
WAC Council Web Page
https://www.mccscouting.org/webelos-adventure-camp
WAC Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/WebelosAdventureCampMCC/
NEW - Attention: Eagle Scouts and Sponsors Please Save This Date
Eagle Scout Recognition Banquet
Thursday, February 27, 2020, 6:00 p.m.
Quail Hollow Club, 3700 Gleneagles Road, Charlotte, NC 28210
Scouts and Sponsors can RSVP through links at https://www.mccscouting.org/eagle-banquet
NEW - Attention: Scouters Please Save This Date
Council Recognition Banquet
https://www.mccscouting.org/annual-recognition-banq
Thursday, March 5, 2020, 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Myers Park United Methodist Church
NEW - Attention: AOL Dens, Scouts BSA Troops Camp Grimes Dates and Deadlines
https://www.mycampgrimes.org/dates.phtml?ver=5
January 15, 2020: Troop Camper Deposits Due - $20.00 per Scout
January 30, 2020, 6:30 pm: Camp Grimes Program Kick-Off, AKA, Burnt Hot Dog Supper at the Council Service Center
March 27, 2020: Online Merit Badge Registration begins @ 8:00 am
April 17, 2020: Campership Applications Due
May 1, 2020: Balance of Camp Fees Due
May 6, 2020: OA Beaver Days Registration Deadline
May 15-16-17, 2020: OA Beaver Days
Week 1 June 14 - June 20
Week 2 June 21 - June 27
Week 3 June 28 - July 4
Week 4 July 5 - July 11
Week 5 July 12 - July 18
NEW - Attention: AOL Dens and Scouts BSA Troops, Camp Staff -- Please Save These Dates
Camp Grimes 2020
https://www.mycampgrimes.org/staffapp.phtml?apply&_program_id_=37
January 15, 2020 Troop Camper Deposits Due - $20.00 per Scout
March 27, 2020 Online Merit Badge Registration Begins @ 8:00 am
April 17, 2020 Campership Applications Due
May 1, 2020: Balance of Camp Fees Due
May 6, 2020: OA Beaver Days Registration Deadline
May 15-16-17, 2020: OA Beaver Days
Week 1 June 14 - June 20
Week 2 June 21 - June 27
Week 3 June 28 - July 4
Week 4 July 5 - July 11
Week 5 July 12 - July 18
http://www.mycampgrimes.org/dates.phtml?ver=5
NEW - Attention: 2020 Camp Grimes Summer Camp Staff -- Please Save These Dates
https://www.mycampgrimes.org/staffapp.phtml?apply&_program_id_=37
September 15, 2019: Staff Employment Applications Accepted
January 10, 2020: Staff invite back emails will be sent.
February 15, 2020: Invited-back staff confirmations are due.
March 1, 2020: New staff applications reviews begin.
March 9 and 16, 2020: Staff interviews begin.
March 20 to 31, 2020: Staff employment offers go out.
April 15, 2020: Goal for completing full staffing.
May 1-2-3, 2020: Summer camp staff training
May 6, 2020: OA Beaver Days Registration Deadline
May 15-16-17, 2020: OA Beaver Days
May 29-30-31, 2020: Summer camp staff training
June 13, 2020: Camp inspection by Council representatives
Week 1 June 14 - June 20
Week 2 June 21 - June 27
Week 3 June 28 - July 4
Week 4 July 5 - July 11
Week 5 July 12 - July 18
NEW - Join the Fun, Join the 2020 Camp Grimes Summer Camp Staff !
Staff applications for the 2020 summer camp at Camp Grimes are now being accepted. Scouts 14 years old and older as of June 8, 2020, may apply for non-paying camp staff counselor-in-training (CIT) positions. Scouts 15 years old and older as of June 8, 2020, may apply for paid camp staff counselor positions. Go to www.mycampgrimes.org, scroll down to Camp Staff Information, click on Online Application, fill out your application, and hit submit. For fun, for pay, for a rewarding and memorable summer, then Camp Grimes is your place to be. For more information, please contact Camp Director Alan Keiger at grimescampdirector@gmail.com
NEW - Attention: Eagle Scouts and Sponsors -- Please Save This Date
Thursday, February 27, 2020, 6:00 p.m., Eagle Scout Recognition Banquet
Quail Hollow Club, 3700 Gleneagles Road, Charlotte, NC 28210
Scouts and Sponsors can RSVP through links at https://www.mccscouting.org/eagle-banquet
NEW - Attention: Scouters--Please Save These Dates
Council Recognition Banquet
Thursday, March 5, 2020, 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Myers Park United Methodist Church
ORDER OF THE ARROW – APACHE CHAPTER
Greetings Brothers,
Just a few things I'd like to draw to your attention for January.
REMINDER - Elections
Elections for new Arrowmen are rapidly approaching and help will be needed. The elections will be from January through March, the goal is to have everyone do at least one election. The Chapter will conduct election training in the January Chapter meeting. If you are interested in helping, please plan to attend. Additionally, please contact Apache’s Vice Chapter Chief, Kevin Easley for election based questions @ easley.kevin@hotmail.com
IMPORTANT - January Chapter Meeting
Our next Chapter meeting is Thursday, January 9 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church (6828 Old Reid Road) @ 7:30 pm. This is a VERY IMPORTANT MEETING – Election Team training will take place during the 2nd half of this meeting. All Arrowmen involved in Troop elections need to attend. There will be free pizza and drinks for all Arrowmen in attendance.
NEW - Lodge Recognition Dinner and Awards
Congratulations to Kadin Abbas and Mr. Chris Easley – the 2019 Apache Arrowmen of the Year recipients!! Additional congratulations to: Kadin Abbas, Kevin Easley, McNeil Jordan, Andrew Schoenwald, and Mr. Shawn Abbas, on earning the Apache Service Award!! Lastly, Peter Staffieri was awarded the Lodge’s Fire Rat of the Year!
Contact Information
If there are any Arrowmen that should be included in these notifications that are not currently, please let Mr. Roux or myself know so we can add them to the database. We hope to expand the Apache database even more in this new term of officers.
Link your Lodge Email to your Personal Email
I'm aware some of you may not know how to access your Lodge email account, or are unaware that you have one. Therefore, I put together a set of instructions on forwarding all of your Lodge emails to your personal email account! Please see the following Google Drive link for instructions- https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwrGkVVw08OudS1xSHZlb1RSS1U/view?usp=sharing Please follow these instructions to keep up on Lodge Events.
Thank you for reading!
Ryan Coverston
Chapter Secretary
National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC)
Monday-Saturday, August 3-8, 2020
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Registration information: http://www.catawba459.org
OA High Adventure Opportunities
Summer, 2020
OA Canadian Odyssey (Northern Tier)
OA Ocean Adventure (Florida Sea Base)
OA Summit Experience (Summit Bechtel Reserve)
OA Trail Crew (Philmont Scout Ranch)
OA Wilderness Voyage (Northern Tier)
https://oa-bsa.org/high-adventure
Order of the Arrow, Southern Region, 2020 National Leadership Seminars
March 6-8, 2020 Atlanta, GA
Sept 25-27, 2020 Greensboro, NC
Nov 13-15, 2020 Little Rock, AR
http://southern.oa-bsa.org/nls/
TRAINING:
SEALS - Scouts Excited About Leadership Skills at Belk Scout Camp
March 6-8, 2020
Registration opens January 6, 2020
IOLS - Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills [for adults] at Belk Scout Camp
Saturday-Sunday, March 7-8, 2020
https://sites.google.com/site/outdoorleaderskillsmcc/home
NEW - BALOO - Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation at Camp Coker
Saturday-Sunday, December 7-8, 2019
https://scoutingevent.com/552-Baloo2019
BALOO training is the Cub Scout leader training required for leaders of any den or pack outdoor event, including pack and WEBELOS den overnighters.
BALOO training is comprised of two components—an online component and a practical, hands-on component. Both components must be completed to qualify as a “TRAINED” Cub Scout outdoor leader. Online prerequisite is available through my.scouting.org, Cub Scout training, Expanded Learning.
NEW - Attention: Scouters -- Please Save This Date
BSA Certified Angling Instructor (CAI) course
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, April 17-18-19, 2010
Belk Scout Camp
MCC Wood Badge S5-415-20 at Belk Scout Camp
Friday, July 31, 2020, 7:00 am through Sunday, August 2, 2020, 5:00 pm and
Saturday, August 22, 2020,7:00 am through Sunday, August 23, 2020, 5:00 pm
For those seeking to participate in Mecklenburg County Council’s 2020 Wood Badge course:
Please submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the Course Director to consider you for invitation to this Premier Leadership Development Course. Please register online at https://www.mycampgrimes.org/woodbadge/program.phtml?register
OR by submitting the LOI form to the Council office. Here is the link to the LOI form: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxzNTQxNXdvb2RiYWRnZXxneDo3ZDY0NTgzZTgxMDFmNg
COPE & Climbing Training
Calling All Adult Scouters (18 years & older) and Scouts BSA Youth (16-17 years old who have completed the Climbing Merit Badge)
COPE [Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience] & Climbing Instructors are always needed to help support our year round activities including summer and day camp programs.
The MCC COPE & Climbing Committee is excited to offer the following training courses:
COPE & Climbing Foundations Level I Instructor Courses at Belk Scout Camp
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, May 1-2-3, 2020
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, September 11-12-13, 2020
Online registration is open by following links at https://sites.google.com/site/bsamcctraining/
For more information please visit our COPE & Climbing Program page at
https://www.mccscouting.org/cope-climbing
You may also reach out to Rob Seate (rseate@carolina.rr.com) or
Sasha Timkovich (timkovich@gmail.com) with questions.
NEW - National Youth Leader Training (NYLT) at Belk Scout Camp
Sunday, June 28 (noon) - Friday, July 3, 2020
Registration will open January 1, 2020.
http://topgun.mcc-bsa.org/home-1
Wilderness First Aid
Wilderness First Aid courses at Camp Grimes are planned for the last weekend of March and for the last weekend in September on an on-going basis.
Online Training
Earning the Trained patch for your left sleeve requires being “Trained to Position”, often including online modules available at https://my.scouting.org
If you have any questions, please contact Joanne White, Apache Training Chair @ Ioanamw@carolina.rr.com
Spread the Word About Scouting.
Please don’t keep us a secret
With all the new parents coming into our Scouting family, please don’t keep Smoke Signals, and the Apache District Web page a secret. We welcome new subscribers and it is easy to do. Also, please help us by sharing these links:
Apache District Webpage
http://www.mccscouting.org/apache
Like the Apache Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/ApacheDistrict
Apache Twitter Account
Be sure to follow us on twitter @ApacheDistrict
Mecklenburg County Council
Mecklenburg County Council Backpack monthly e-newsletter
Go to https://www.mccscouting.org/
Scroll to the bottom of the page, fill in your “Name” and “Email Address”, then
Click on the blue “Subscribe Now” bar.
Like the Mecklenburg County Council STEM Facebook page
https://b-m.facebook.com/MCCBSASTEM/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0
BSA National
Scouting Wire Volunteer Newsletter - The Official Blog of the Scouting Movement.
Bryan on Scouting is the official blog of Scouting magazine, a Boy Scouts of America publication. The blog post is sent as one email per weekday. To subscribe, please go to https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2019/
Smoke Signals. To subscribe, just send a blank e-mail to: smokesignals-subscribe@apachemcc.org from the e-mail address you want subscribed and the rest is automatic.
To Submit a Notice:
If you have any information you would like to share with the district, please send that information to stutucker@aol.com and it will be forwarded to the team to be added. Please make sure you have your contact information included should there be any questions.
To Subscribe or Unsubscribe:
Subscribe: If this E-Newsletter was forwarded to you and you are not on our list, but would like to be added, then please send a blank e-mail to: al@nedrich.com from the e-mail address you want subscribed and the rest is automatic. We do not need any additional information.
To unsubscribe just send an e-mail with unsubscribe in the subject line to: al@nedrich.com from the e-mail address you want unsubscribed and the rest is done automatically.
