Table of Contents
Upcoming Events
Many events have been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19.
Click here for a continuously updated list of event changes. Tidewater Council’s official updates and policies can be found here.
Huskanaw - First Year Program Weekend
January 16-17
First-year Scouts BSA patrols are invited to Pipsico for Huskanaw weekend. Held at Pipsico’s acre-sized, one-of-a-kind Huskanaw Area, the program focuses on advancement requirements from Scout through First Class. Each patrol group is limited to ten people or less, including two-deep adult leadership. Meals are included.
Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Nominations Due
January 21
The National Eagle Scout Association established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year award (ESSPY) to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by an Eagle Scout candidate to a religious institution, school, community or other entity through completion of an Eagle Scout project.
How to get the award
An Eagle Scout, their parents, or any registered BSA volunteer (with the Eagle Scout’s permission) may submit the Eagle Scout service project for consideration.
The nomination must be submitted to the council advancement committee of the council in which the service project was completed. Submissions must be received by January 21, 2021, either by hard copy submitted at the Mary Jayne Breeden Council Service Center, Attn: Geraldine Eady, 1032 Heatherwood Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455, or via email to Geraldine.Eady@scouting.org.
The council will submit the winning Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook and Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Nomination Form – including attachments – to the National Eagle Scout Association.
Evaluation criteria
- Project planning
- Effort to develop the project
- Extent and character of leadership provided by the Scout
- Extent of achievement of the planned result
- Project’s impact on the beneficiary and/or on the community at large
- Originality of the project
- Time and materials contributed
- Level of skill employed to complete the project
- Whether the project will have long-lasting impact
Silver Beaver Nominations Due
February 6
The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients of this award are registered Scouters who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given at the council-level.
To nominate a worthy Scouter, please submit the nomination form to the Scout Shop.
Scouting for Food
February 6-14
As Scouts, we know how fortunate we are to have a warm meal every night — whether around the campfire or at the kitchen table. And we know that not everyone is so lucky.
That’s the genesis of Scouting for Food, a food-collection drive run by Tidewater Council BSA. It’s another reminder to our local communities that Scouts are here, doing good turns.
Scouting for Food takes place on two consecutive weekends. On the first weekend (February 6-7), Scouts distribute door hangers to let their neighbors know about the drive. On the second weekend (February 13-14), Scouts revisit those houses to pick up canned food, cereal, pasta, peanut butter, juice, and other non-perishable items.
The food is delivered to needy families through your chartered organization’s food pantry, through the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, or through the Food Bank of the Albemarle. This year, we will also have the Foodbank collection truck at the council service center on Sunday, February 14 from noon to 4 PM to accept dropped-off collections.
The first step in getting your unit involved in a food drive is to find a Scouting for Food Chair – someone who will organize and promote the project and be a liaison between your unit and district. Once that person is identified, it is easy to enlist your unit’s youth and adult leaders to execute. Please sign your unit up at https://247scouting.com/forms/596-SFF2021. Units can print door hangers at their convenience to leave at locations where they would like to collect donations.
If you have any questions, you can contact Tracy McGlothian, Scouting for Food Chairperson, Tidewater Council BSA at Tracy@mtolivetgroup.com.
Albemarle Freeze-O-Ree
February 12-14
These are crazy times, so why not have a crazy theme? Laid Back Luau in February doesn’t get much crazier than that! Join us on February 12-14 at Camp Maple in Barco, NC.
Do you have a Hawaiian shirt that fits over your cold weather gear? WEAR IT! Have a lei or a grass skirt that fits over your cold weather gear? WEAR IT! Any apparel or decorations tropical in nature are encouraged. This weekend, Scouts have the option to participate in a couple district-sponsored luau activities. The majority of the time, the troops will focus on their needs and try to stay warm in the woods.
Register online by February 11!
Troop Committee Challenge
February 20
This full-day course introduces Scouts BSA troop committee members to everything they need to know about their roles and responsibilities.
Scoutmaster Specific Training
February 20
This full-day course will cover almost everything you need to know to run a troop. Scoutmaster Specific Training, along with Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills, is required for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters to be considered trained.
Merit Badge Counselor Orientation
February 20
Join us at the Mary Jayne Breeden Council Service Center to learn the policies and procedures behind being an effective merit badge counselor.
National Celebration Event for the Inaugural Class of Female Eagle Scouts
February 21
Mark your calendars for a special event celebrating America’s first female Eagle Scouts. On February 21, 2021 at 8 PM, the BSA will mark this historic milestone.
Members of the Inaugural Class of female Eagle Scouts are invited to share details about their journey that will be used to make a commemorative gift. Visit www.scouting.org/inauguralclass for more information.
Klondike Derby
February 26-28
A Klondike Derby is an event held by the Boy Scouts of America during the winter months and is based on the heritage of the Klondike Gold Rush. The Klondike Derby consists of a race between multiple stations where patrols/ teams/ units will test their Scoutcraft skills and their leadership abilities, earning points towards a total score. Each team must transport their gear on a homemade sled pulled by the Scouts. No meals will be provided this year; participants should plan and bring all meals.
This event is open to Scouts BSA, Venturers, Sea Scouts, and Explorers and is entirely co-ed. Each unit will have one sled and determine the 4- to 8-person team for each trek. Other Scouts are encouraged to cheer on their team as they complete each station. Unit/teams will lose points for any additional assistance from bystanders. Participants may be considered youth through age 20; however registrants aged 18-20 may register as adults if they are supporting youth in a capacity of a “BSA Adult Member.”
Spring Break Day Camp
April 5-9
Calling all budding scientists and space explorers! Join us for Tidewater Council’s first-ever Spring Break day camp: Endless Voyage! Participate in a week-long program discovering the wonders of space through a lens of STEM. Save the date for April 5-9, and watch the EK for a registration link, coming soon to Black Pug. Contact James Carroll at padaycamp@gmail.com or 757-550-0624 with questions.
News
Scout Shop
HAPPY NEW YEAR from the Scout Shop! As we begin 2021, we look forward to serving all your needs for Pinewood Derbies, crossovers, Scout Sunday, Blue & Gold, and anything in between!
Pinewood Derby
We have plenty of car kits in stock. Buy 10 or more cars and get a 25-cent discount on each car (regular price $4.49 each, discount price $4.24 each). Need advice on speed or design? We have books to help you get the best speed. We also have the Pinewood Derby “wedges,” blocks of wood cut at an incline (for those who prefer to NOT have to use a saw), and they are $3.49 each.
Winter Camping
We have a variety of cold weather sleeping bags, pads, jackets, and caps for colder weather! Keep your feet warm and dry with our wool Thorlos socks. Come in and browse our camping section so you can be prepared for winter camping.
Journey to Excellence (JTE) Patches
Units may use the 2021 JTE order form to prepay for the patches for which they qualify ($2.19 each), which come in bronze, silver, and gold. For 2021, there are NO JTE ribbons or 100% Boys’ Life patches available. Patches are NOT automatically ordered based on a unit qualifying. Orders are placed weekly and must be PREPAID, so the sooner your order is received, the sooner your unit can begin proudly wearing them.
Thank You!
A big THANKS to our wonderful volunteers who came to help with inventory: Mike & Sharon Scott, Mary Jo Robins, Kathy Lull, Dave & Anne Bussiere, and Kathy Forsten. These folks make a long and tedious job much easier!
Shop & Ship
As always, we are glad to ship orders by USPS for the amount of the order plus shipping (never any handling fees). Feel free to call us with an order using Visa or Mastercard. A 3% fee is charged with any debit/credit transaction. Just call the Scout Shop at 757-497-2688 or email polly.fugate@scouting.org.
Popcorn
Despite a challenging environment, Tidewater Council Scouts sold $567,977 in popcorn in 2020, earning $220,725 in sales commissions to fund their units’ Scouting adventures!
Popcorn Kernels, watch your email for a survey, expected out this week, to help strategize and improve for the 2021 sale.
Many businesses supported our Scouts and allowed units to set up Show & Sells at their stores. We could not have had a successful year without the community’s support. Council Popcorn Kernel Pam Samples played Santa and surprised these businesses with some popcorn as a thank you.
Many thanks to Council Popcorn Kernel Pam Samples, Albemarle District Popcorn Kernel Traci Bayles, Bayside District Popcorn Kernel Erin Bridgham, Three Rivers District Popcorn Kernel Beth Albertson, Princess Anne District Popcorn Kernel Molly Carroll, the 87 Unit Popcorn Kernels, the many volunteers who helped with deliveries and checkouts, and the Scouts and families who sold. A special thank you to Atlantic CommTech Corporation for providing the space for popcorn delivery and distribution throughout the sale.
Throughout the popcorn sale, Scouts collected donations to send popcorn to military men and women and their families.
Tidewater Council is pleased to announce the donation of $25,760 in Scout popcorn to the USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia.
Congratulations to the Top 10 Selling Scouts!
Albemarle
Albemarle Scouts sold $63,567 in popcorn. Congratulations to the top-selling Albemarle units:
- Troop 182
- Troop 162
- Troop 5505
Bayside
Bayside Scouts sold $85,984 in popcorn. Congratulations to the top-selling Bayside units:
- Pack 24
- Pack 191
- Pack 67
Three Rivers
Three Rivers Scouts sold $173,629 in popcorn. Congratulations to the top-selling Three Rivers units:
- Pack 6
- Pack 212
- Troop 259
Princess Anne
Princess Anne Scouts sold $244,797 in popcorn. Congratulations to the top-selling Princess Anne units:
- Pack 407
- Pack 405
- Pack 374
Council
Congratulations to the council-wide Top 10 Selling units!
- Pack 407
- Pack 405
- Pack 6
- Pack 212
- Pack 374
- Troop 471
- Troop 182
- Pack 24
- Troop 162
- Pack 496
Service Opportunities at Camp Baker
Are you looking for service hours? Camp Baker has outdoor opportunities for both Scouts and adults. This camp is located in Chesapeake on the Intracoastal Waterway, off Centerville Turnpike just north of Mt. Pleasant Road.
Service opportunities are available for single day events or over a weekend. Projects include, but are not limited to:
- Groundskeeping
- Brush and deadfall timber cleanup
- Site clearing
- Painting
- General maintenance
- Tree removal and cut up (Must be experienced and qualified chain saw operator.)
All BSA guidelines, rules, and regulations will be observed. The goal is to perform service for the Scouting program, have fun, and stay safe.
For additional information about these service opportunities, please contact Ron Misfeldt at 757-646-1384 or mustangron@aol.com.
Radio Scouting - Technician Course
The Tidewater Council International Scouting Committee (ISC), in partnership with the Chesapeake Amateur Radio Service (CARS), is pleased to announce a series of online presentations to prepare Scouts and family members to take the Technician Class exam to become amateur (“ham”) radio operators. Presentations will begin Thursday, February 11 from 7-9 PM and run for nine weeks, after which an FCC license exam will be held. Registration for the series of presentations is a nominal fee of $5. It is strongly suggested, but not required, that the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual be purchased as a study guide. In addition to instructional material, this manual includes the entire pool of questions which may appear on the exam.
Technician Class is the “beginner’s” license. It gives the holder the privilege of broadcasting on all VHF/UHF amateur bands (including use local 2-meter repeaters), and a few privileges for broadcasting over HF bands (shortwave radio). The Technician Class test is a 35-question Technician multiple choice exam.
Scouts and adults who hold the Technician Class license can join local radio clubs to make use of their radios and participate in club contests, participate in local emergency management communication support (e.g., support to local hurricane shelters), make use of local repeaters with low-cost (<$100) handheld radios, use the handhelds on Scout outings, and more.
The FCC Technician License exam covers basic regulations, operating practices, and electronics theory, with a focus on VHF and UHF applications. Morse code is not required for this license. With a Technician Class license, you will have all ham radio privileges above 30 MHz. These privileges include the extremely popular 2-meter band. Many Technician licensees enjoy using small (2 meter) hand-held radios to stay in touch with other hams in their area. Technicians may operate FM voice, digital packet (computers), television, single-sideband voice, and several other interesting modes. You can even make international radio contacts via satellites, using relatively simple station equipment. Technician licensees now also have additional privileges on certain HF frequencies. Technicians may also operate on the 80-, 40-, and 15-meter bands using CW (Morse Code), and on the 10-meter band using CW, voice, and digital modes.
A one-hour “Intro to Ham Radio” presentation will be offered on Thursday, January 28 for 7-8 PM. Join from your computer, tablet or smartphone at
www.gotomeet.me/RaymondReis/chesapeake-amateur-radio-service.
Pinewood Derby
Get your engines ready – we are almost to Pinewood Derby season!
What is a Pinewood Derby? The Pinewood Derby is one of the most popular and successful family activities in Cub Scouting. Cub Scouts design and build their own small wooden cars, with some help from their families. Then they race their cars in competition, down a gravity-powered track.
Win or lose, Cub Scouts will take pride in having done their best. Cub Scouts learn craft skills, STEM principles, the rules of fair play, and good sportsmanship—things they will remember for life.
You can view the 2021 Pinewood Derby Rules & Procedures for Tidewater Council here. Scouts must make a new car each year. Be on the lookout for district derby information coming soon. Scouts who qualify in the top three of their class at the district level will qualify for the council derby. We hope to see you there!
BSA Safety Moment
It is recommended to include a BSA Safety Moment during meetings to inform Scouts and parents and keep everyone safe. Numerous downloadable BSA Safety Moments are available here.
Youth Suicide Prevention
Youth suicidal behavior is a problem that you may encounter in Scouting or with friends of Scouting youth, but it is often preventable. In order to save the life of a youth at risk, it is important to have a plan in place beforehand, know local professional resources, understand the severity of the problem, look for the signs in the youth you lead, understand major risk factors, and know how you can help.
Training Awards Update
In response to feedback from Scouters around the BSA, the Volunteer Development Team at Scouting U has taken another look at the Scouter’s Training Awards and has updated the requirements.
Requirements have been changed to make it possible, once again, for all members of unit committees to earn the appropriate training award for their position within the unit. The district committee award has been updated to provide council options with the end of the Journey to Excellence for districts. Thank you for your feedback, your support of volunteer recognition, your commitment to training, and to delivering the best possible Scouting experience to youth in your community.
Access the Training Award Progress Records and applications at: scouting.org/training/adult.
Development Corner
Planned Giving: Living Trusts
A living trust is a popular and versatile estate planning tool, allowing donors to make a satisfying commitment today while preserving control and security for tomorrow. This trust is created and becomes active during your lifetime. Many people use a living trust to organize personal finances, provide for family members, and make gifts to Scouting.
The trust agreement is written to meet your needs and specifications. It keeps you in control of your assets during your lifetime and specifies how your property should be distributed after your death. A living trust can be revocable or irrevocable. Even if you have a living trust, it is still advisable to have a will. The will transfers into the trust any assets or property that have been deliberately or inadvertently omitted from the list of assets placed into the trust. A living trust can avoid probate delays, provide privacy as to how your assets are distributed (since probate documents are of public record), and reduce the expenses of estate administration.
These advantages should be weighed against the cost of administering the trust during your lifetime. A trust can enhance your estate planning and reduce estate taxes; however, a living trust is not suitable for everyone, and for some people it may be more expensive and burdensome than a will. To determine whether a living trust is suitable for your needs, you should consult your attorney.
As with a will, a living trust is an excellent way to make a gift to Scouting. Your gift can be any size and of virtually any asset, and you can specify the preferred use of your gift, if you choose. A provision for Tidewater Council can easily be added to your trust agreement, and it may be a specific, contingent, residual, or remainder gift.
If you have any questions about planned giving, please contact Susan Miley-Petrehn.
Camp Staff for Summer 2021
What are your plans for next summer? Are you looking for an awesome opportunity to learn new things, develop new skills, share what you know, meet new people, work an internship, and enjoy Pipsico Scout Reservation?
We are accepting applications for Counselors in Training, Junior staff, Area directors, Commissioners, and administration. Program areas include aquatics, shooting sports, Scout skills for new Scouts and for seasoned Scouts, handicraft, cook-crew, and more.
You must be at least 14 years of age by June 20, 2021 to be considered. Camp staff is composed of youth, young adults, college students, school teachers, bus drivers, professionals who want to get away from the office, and folks who have an open schedule. Fill out the online application at pipsicobsa.com/summer-camp-programs/staffapplication and we will contact you for an interview.
Scouts in Action
Congratulations to some of Tidewater Council’s newest Eagle Scouts!
John V., Troop 996
December 7, 2020
Paul M., Troop 301
December 10, 2020
Peter F., Troop 408
December 15, 2020
Matthew H., Troop 996
December 17, 2020
Sam L., Troop 378
December 17, 2020
Evan C., Troop 303
December 19, 2020
Michael K., Troop 471
December 21, 2020
Tyler M., Troop 471
December 21, 2020
Josiah U., Troop 408
December 23, 2020
Jacob R., Troop 378
January 7, 2021
For his Eagle Scout project, Will B. of Princess Anne Troop 362 led a group of Scouts, parents, and friends to plant sea grass at Little Island Park in Sandbridge, Virginia Beach. Together, they planted over 2,600 bundles of sea grass!
For her Eagle Scout project, Payton D. of Bayside Troop 67 built an emu enclosure at Bluebird Gap Farm in Hampton, VA.
Albemarle Pack 164 Scouts and their supporters made Christmas cards to give to the residents of Chowan River Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center. The cards were given to the residents, along with small teddy bears wearing scarves labeled “164.” The Scouts brought joy and sang carols when they distributed the gifts.
Scouts and volunteers throughout Tidewater Council honored our heroes on December 19 with Wreaths Across America.
Before Virginia’s COVID-19 restrictions tightened, Princess Anne Troop 362 was able to hold a Webelosree. The Scouts invited Arrow of Light Scouts from neighboring Cub Scout packs and showcased what older Scouts do, including lashings, knots, first aid, ax yard, and fire-building. The Scouts loved the hands-on experience, fishing, and a fun weekend in the woods.
Princess Anne Pack 303’s Wolf den held their first meeting of the new year on January 6. The Cub Scouts made a snowman craft and did a scavenger hunt.
Princess Anne Troop 362 held a traveling Court of Honor to safely award the Scouts for all their accomplishments.
Two Princess Anne packs teamed up to offer a creative way to keep Cub Scouts working toward requirements while they stay at home. Pack 585’s Committee Chair John Samples and Pack 496’s Cubmaster Andrew Huddle worked together to create a 30-day challenge box for the Cub Scouts.
Subscribe
We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of the “EK” Electronic Knapsack. Sign up below to receive the latest Tidewater Council news.
