Table of Contents
Upcoming Events
Albemarle District Cub-O-Ree
Gold Rush!
October 22-24
Register before it’s too late to come search for gold at this Albemarle District Family Camping event held at Currituck County Rural Center. This event is for all Cub Scouts and their families and/or leaders to experience together. Non-Scout siblings are invited to participate in all activities during Gold Rush. Activities include BB guns, archery, field games, making your own kite, cooking a snack, learning new songs and skits, trying to catch a fish, learning about horsemanship, enjoying a campfire program, and more.
Mark your calendar now for October 22-24. We have waived the late fee, so you can still enjoy the price of $40/family. Registration closes October 20, so don’t delay! Packs are asked to plan on having skits and songs for the campfire program. Let’s get ready to camp! Registration is now open.
New Scouts who joined July 2021 through October 2021 may attend for the day, on Saturday, October 23 from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, at no charge. Register for the day here.
If new families would like to enjoy the entire weekend (highly encouraged), fees apply as stated, and they need to register here.
Sporting Clays Tournament
October 23
Who is Tidewater Council’s best marksman? Teams of four will compete to find out in Tidewater Council’s Sporting Clays Tournament in Shawboro, NC!
Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)
October 23-24
BALOO is a Cub Scout leader training required for any den or pack wanting to hold an outdoor, overnight event. It is comprised of two components, an online pre-course and then a weekend practical session. Join us at Currituck County Rural Center for BALOO this fall!
ScoutReach Golf Classic
October 25
ScoutReach is the outreach program of the Boy Scouts of America. In ScoutReach, the council and donors fund the Scouting program for disadvantaged families.
Support this worthy cause with a day on the links at Red Wing Lake Golf Course! All proceeds from the tournament will benefit local ScoutReach programs.
Albemarle Spook-O-Ree
October 29-31
Come test your bravery on the Spook-O-Ree “Haunted Trail.” The trail will lead you down a dark winding path filled with uncertainty and suspense. If you’re ready for a heart-pounding stroll on a brisk autumn night, we dare you to enter the trail!
All youth and adults are encouraged to wear Scout-friendly costumes that will be judged by crowd favorites for bragging rights. There will also be patrol pumpkin carving, a Scout cook-off which will incorporate use of a pumpkin, and outdoor bowling. You definitely will not want to miss the cracker barrel feast after the “Haunted Trail.”
Join us October 29-31, 2021 at KOA Currituck, 1631 Waterlilly Road, Coinjock, NC 27923. All Tidewater Council troops, crews, and ships are welcome to attend. Registration is open on Black Pug. The late fee starts October 21, and the last day to register is October 26, so sign-up soon.
Princess Anne District Fall Camporee
October 29-31
In the wake of a long camporee hiatus, Princess Anne district has established the “Rise of the Phoenix District Games” in The Capital (Izaak Walton League Park). An event in which Scouts between the ages of 10 and 17 (Arrow of Light Scouts, Venturing crews, and Scouts BSA troops) are divided into patrols and entered into a Scout skills competition adapted to the theme, where they must battle each other and rise from the ashes, just like the Phoenix, to claim victory. Awards will be given for each competition event and for an overall camporee award.
To celebrate Halloween weekend, troops are encouraged to decorate their campsites in their best Halloween gear. Camporee staff will choose the three best decorated campsites that represent the spirit of Halloween.
Online registration is now open in Black Pug. The cost is $17.00 per person (youth and adult). Troops, crews, and Arrow of Light dens must register no later than October 23, 2021. No on-site registration will be accepted.
Pipsico Fall Festival
November 5-7
Pipsico Scout Reservation has been serving the youth of Tidewater Council and beyond for 63 years, and we are inviting all packs, troops, crews, ships, and posts to join us for a fall weekend of fun. After setting up your tents, enjoy your campfire Friday night and get ready for a fun-filled Saturday. Saturday activities you may enjoy are to fish Lake Beasley, climb the tower, hike the trails, and show your marksmanship on one of the ranges available for your rank. You can also enjoy fellowship with Scouts from around the council, brush up on your knots and other camp skills, and visit Huskanaw or the Gaga Pit. When you think you’ve done it all, prepare for a campfire program like no other.
We will have a Scout Show Saturday morning. Some attendees are a blacksmith guild, beekeepers, and a cooking demonstration. Units are encouraged to bring an activity to share for a Scout Show Saturday morning with other Scouts. Scouting and Staff Alumni are welcome; please come and share your memories of how much fun it was and see how much fun Scouts are having now!
Please come out for the events on Saturday, enjoy the fall weather, the fellowship, and the many activities.
Registration is limited, so don’t miss out! Registration is open on Black Pug. Sign up now to miss the late fee that starts October 27.
If you’re interested in supporting a Scout Show event Saturday morning, contact Kirsten Misfeldt at kmisfeldt62@gmail.com.
American Red Cross Pint-Size Hero Blood Drive
November 8
Did you know that one donation of blood can save up to three lives? Or that every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood?
Tidewater Council is partnering with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive through the Pint-Size Hero program. This program introduces youth to the components of blood and the importance of blood donation. Scouts have the opportunity to demonstrate leadership by recruiting blood donors, hosting drives, and engaging in the community. Each Scout who recruits a donor will receive an American Red Cross braided bracelet.
WHEN: Monday, November 8
WHERE: Tidewater Council Mary Jayne Breeden Council Service Center, 1032 Heatherwood Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455
TIME: 1-6 PM
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: There are 2 easy ways to schedule your appointment:
1. Visit redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code “TidewaterBSA” in the “Find a Blood Drive” field.
2. Make your appointment on the American Red Cross Blood Donor App.
CONTACT: Nicole Moga, 704-564-5565, Nmoga149@yahoo.com
Tidewater Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony
November 11
All Tidewater Council packs, troops, ships, posts, and crews are invited to participate in the 2021 Tidewater Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony.
This year, the Veterans Day Parade at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront will begin at 16th and Atlantic Avenue and proceed to the Tidewater Veterans Memorial on 19th Street across from the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Check in and line up begin at 8:00 AM with exact location to be determined; the parade starts at 9:00 AM. Scouts will get to see the entire parade and then step off as one of the last units in the lineup. All units are requested to bring their American and unit flags. Scouts and leaders should be in uniform. Scouts are invited to remain for the 11:00 AM Memorial Service.
Register your unit to march in the parade and pre-order your patches no later than October 30, 2021. Registration is required and a patch is available by pre-order only. Register now on Black Pug. Patches will be available for pick‐up by December 17.
Adult First Aid, CPR & AED Training
November 13
The Adult First Aid/CPR/AED course incorporates the latest science and teaches students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid emergencies such as burns, cuts, scrapes, sudden illnesses, and how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies for victims about 12 years and older. Successful students will receive a certificate for Adult First Aid / CPR / AED valid for two years. This is a blended learning course; you must complete online before taking one of the skills demonstration sessions.
There will be three sessions offered, with start times of 10 AM, 12 PM, and 1:30 PM. All sessions will take place at the Mary Jayne Breeden Council Service Center, 1032 Heatherwood Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.
Wood Badge Reunion Dinner
November 13
Reunite with your patrol, enjoy the fellowship of other critters, and share stories with past participants and staff!
- $30 per person or $50 per couple
- Cash bar
- Silent auction to raise funds for the Wood Badge/NYLT Scholarship Fund
- Catering by Beach Bully BBQ
- Doors open at 6:30 PM
Join us at Gilwell!
Zomboree
December 3-5
A zombie outbreak is threatening civilization, as we know it. The inhabitants of Pipsico City are hunkered down and determined to survive…
You must band together with your closest friends to form a team of incredible skill and talent. Using your advanced Scout skills and teamwork, you must run through Pipsico avoiding the zombie hoard, eventually making your way to the sanctuary bunker that is fully stocked with supplies you’ll need to re-create human civilization.
Order of the Arrow Holiday Banquet
December 11
Fellow Arrowmen and families, please join us to enjoy an evening of honors, fellowship, and fun. Don’t miss out on the final Blue Heron Lodge event of 2021! Registration is open on Black Pug.
Winter Camp
January 14-17, 2022
Merit Badge Counselors needed! Winter Camp is held at Pipsico Scout Reservation. Great merit badge counselors are what make this event the best. Volunteer today and make a positive difference in the life of a Scout on their way to Eagle. Email both Wes Parker and Christy Cooper to volunteer. In your email, include:
- What merit badge you wish to counsel
- How many 3-hour sessions needed
- The number of Scouts per session
- Materials and costs
- Pre-requisites
Registration is currently by waitlist only for youth on Black Pug. The merit badge schedule will be available by the end of October for planning. Merit badge selections will be available online starting November 20 at 10 AM.
National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC)
July 25-30, 2022
From July 25-30, 2022, Arrowmen from around the country will have the opportunity to gather at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN to attend the 2022 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC). Several thousand Arrowmen from around the USA are expected to attend the conference seeking the best that the Order of the Arrow (OA) has to offer. Each time a national conference is held, Arrowmen come together from around the world to share ideas, learn from one another, and most importantly, experience an outstanding event unlike any other in Scouting. NOAC is open to all active members of the OA.
In order to reserve your spot on the contingent, you must either pay in full the early bird rate of $575 or make a deposit of $100 towards the regular fee to Tidewater Council by December 1, 2021. The regular rate is $625 and the remainder after the $100 deposit is due no later than May 15, 2022. There will be an additional transportation fee that will be determined after contingent fundraising has been conducted. Registration is open on Black Pug.
Direct questions can be addressed to Charlie Tate at 757-214-7534 or cetate981@gmail.com. Please visit oa-bsa.org/program/events/noac for more information.
News
Development Corner
“You are a mirror of yourself in others. Whatever you want, give. Be the best reflection of yourself.”
Volunteering
Our youth look to us for guidance in developing into well-rounded citizens who contribute to society in many ways. What better way to accomplish this task than to introduce a child to Scouting? Set the example: volunteer in Scouting and build awareness of Scouting in the community, while having youth participate with you.
Contact Susan Miley-Petrehn at 757-284-0796 or Susan.Miley-Petrehn@scouting.org for information on volunteering with special events and fundraising.
Support Scouting
There are many ways to support local Scouting and build our community’s next generation of leaders:
- Federal employees, you can designate your Combined Federal Campaign contribution to local Scouting with CFC Code: 94511.
- If you give to United Way, you can designate your gift to Tidewater Council. Tidewater Council is a partner agency with United Way of South Hampton Roads and Albemarle Area United Way.
- If you shop on Amazon, use AmazonSmile and designate Tidewater Council as your charity. Amazon will donate to Tidewater Council at no cost to you.
- Donate online or learn more about James E. West Fellowships and tribute gifts at tidewaterbsa.com/support.
Scout Shop
Uniform Sale
The fall uniform sale is STILL going on through October. Buy a shirt and bottoms from the same program and get 25% off on the pants. Bottoms include zip-off pants, shorts, rollup pants, and skorts. Shop while you can still get this great deal!
Cub Scout Rank T-Shirts
Cub Scout rank T-shirts are once again in full stock. At the low price of $9.99, these 100% cotton T-shirts are an inexpensive “Class B” shirt. For packs doing an outing, these T-shirts make it easy to spot groups of each rank. They come in orange (Tiger), red (Wolf), light blue (Bear), and olive green (Webelos).
Scout Uniform Pant Shortage
National Supply is experiencing a shortage in Scout pants in both youth and adult sizes. Due to vendor and COVID-19 issues, they are unable to get a new supply of the green uniform pants until spring 2022. We are already out of boys’ sizes 10, 12, 14, and 20, and some of the adult sizes have been depleted also. We apologize for this inconvenience and will have them back in stock as soon as possible.
Once a Uniform, Always a Uniform!
You can always wear uniforms from previous years, no matter what the style. Gideon, a Scout in Albemarle Troop 162, wears a uniform from the 1950s. He said his vintage uniform has been a great conversation starter.
Flags
Tidewater Council is no longer accepting flags for retirement ceremonies. Please contact the VFW to donate flags for retirement. We do still have some left, so if you would like to pick up flags for a ceremony, come in and get them before we run out.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4809 in Norfolk also offers American flags that need to be properly retired. The post will bundle 25 flags for your unit to pick up for your next ceremony. Send unit information, leader point of contact, and phone number to VFW Post 4809 Commander Ron Riffle at vfw4809ron@gmail.com. Please request flags at least one week prior to the date needed.
Day Camp T-Shirt BOGO Sale
Fun and colorful day camp T-shirts from previous years are only $5, and right now you can Buy One, Get One Free! Located on the table in the lobby, pick up a few on your way in.
New Scout Shop Hours
NEW HOURS went into effect on September 1. To better accommodate our customers, we have extended our Scout Shop hours:
Sunday: Closed
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11 AM – 6 PM
Wednesday: 11 AM – 6 PM
Thursday: 11 AM – 6 PM
Friday: 11 AM – 6 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 2 PM
Shipping
For customers who can’t get to the Scout Shop, we continue to ship orders (by USPS only). Simply call (757-497-2688) or email your order (polly.fugate@scouting.org). We can take a VISA or Mastercard number over the phone and ship it directly to your house.
Popcorn
Looking for a way to fund an awesome program for your Scouts? The annual Popcorn Sale is here to help!
Upcoming Key Dates
- Thursday, October 21
- Interim appointments from 3-5 PM (Sign up online)
- Thursday, October 28
- Closeout appointments from 1-5 PM (Sign up online)
- Friday, October 29
- Closeout appointments from 10 AM – 4 PM (Sign up online)
- Monday, November 1
- Closeout appointments from 10 AM – 5 PM (Sign up online)
- Final unit payments due
- Final day to return unsold product
- Deadline for units to submit popcorn orders through Scout Boss for the final popcorn order. Preorders must be paid in full.
Distribution
Popcorn distribution is only available through scheduled appointments. The Scout Shop and administrative staff are unable to assist with popcorn distribution.
For online sales, the product is shipped directly to the customer with free shipping.
Donations
Please report any donations received by using the Military Donation Form and emailing it to alison.harrison@scouting.org. Military donations typically are fulfilled locally through the USO to provide popcorn to service men and women, veterans, and their families.
Online Sales
Online sales are a great opportunity for families and Scout units with concerns about COVID-19 safety. The customer orders and pays online and the product is shipped directly to them, making the sale completely contactless.
Online sales are also a plus for Scouts who want to sell to out-of-town friends and relatives, and for those who want a certain product available online-only, such as White Ruby or peanut clusters.
All Tidewater Council Scouts are eligible to participate in online popcorn sales, regardless of the unit’s participation in traditional in-person sales. Contact us if you are interested in selling online but have not received your Scout’s sales link.
Powder Horn
Powder Horn is a resource course designed to introduce Scouting’s adults and youth to the exciting outdoor and high-adventure program possibilities for their unit. The ultimate goal is for the participants to leave the course with a list of ideas to help their program, along with the contacts and resources needed to implement them.
Save the dates for Powder Horn 2022: September 9-11, 2022 and September 16-18, 2022.
Community Service
Youth civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of one’s community. It also involves developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to make that difference. These activities enrich the lives of youth and are socially beneficial to the community. What projects does your unit plan this fall?
Recording Activities in Internet Advancement and Scoutbook
Tidewater Council and its districts track Scout service hours. We share information about service projects with the community and potential donors so they can see the impact of Scouting. Reporting the service hours Scouts are already doing is an easy way to support Scouting!
Visit this Scoutbook How-To link for instructions on reporting service hours.
Service Opportunities
Service is Scouting’s greatest legacy and the primary reason that the Boy Scouts of America is the world’s premier youth organization. We currently have several opportunities for youth to give back to our communities through service. Here are some current projects needing assistance:
- As part of Albemarle Area United Way‘s Day of Caring, there is an opportunity to send Cards of Encouragement to homebound seniors and Letters of Love to long-term care facility residents through the Albemarle Commission. Learn more here.
- Marshview Park is a little known gem in an undeveloped wetland area between Seatack and Shadowlawn. Many years ago when it was privately owned, some parts of the park were used to dump construction debris in the wetlands. Virginia Beach recently improved the trails and park facilities at this location and several groups of volunteers have started to remove some of the debris, but we need a hard working crew to get serious about finishing the job. The city will bring a dumpster as close to the site as possible, but we will need wheel barrows and strong backs to pull the debris out of the wetlands and transport it to the dumpster. We are looking for at least ten people, including leaders, for about three or four hours. There is also the potential for a unit to adopt this area as a long-term service project, as there is additional work that needs to be done, including invasive plant removal, trail maintenance, and park improvements. Contact Vince Bowhers at vince@lrnow.org or 757-773-1636.
- Rain garden project to benefit the SPCA. Contact Clay Bernick at clay@lrnow.org or 757-377-3120.
- Various projects for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Contact Clay Bernick at clay@lrnow.org or 757-377-3120.
- Build two five- to six-foot wooden benches with plant boxes and complete a butterfly garden for the ViBe District Mediterranean Avenue Parklet. Contact Vince Bowhers at vince@lrnow.org or 757-773-1636.
- A few projects on the horizon for those Scouts wanting to be a part of planning, execution, and maintenance are slated for the future. A landscape project in the ViBe District, a living shoreline project in Great Neck, and a couple fall tree plantings. Contact Vince Bowhers at vince@lrnow.org or 757-773-1636.
Health Care Professions Merit Badge
The new Health Care Professions merit badge is planned to be released in fall 2021, at which time the current Medicine merit badge will be retired.
Scouts currently working on the Medicine merit badge will be allowed to continue working on it until completed. However, after the official release of the Health Care Professions merit badge, Scouts may not begin working on the superseded Medicine merit badge.
Hard copy editions of the Health Care Professions merit badge pamphlet should also be available in the fall of 2021. The style and design of the merit badge patch will not change between the new Health Care Professions merit badge and the former Medicine merit badge.
Why the change? When the Medicine merit badge was first introduced in 1991, it was primarily developed to focus on the “doctor” side of human health care delivery. As the fields of human medicine expanded through specialization, support services, and technology, it became apparent that Scouts were interested in learning about other areas of human health care and medical support. The Health Care Professions merit badge will encompass a wide variety of health care careers. Learn more in the September-October 2021 issue of Advancement News.
Safe Scouting
In Scouting, we will not compromise the safety of our youth, volunteers, and employees. Safety is a value that must be taught and reinforced at every opportunity. We are all responsible and must hold each other accountable to provide a safe environment for all participants.
We are committed to injury and illness prevention by integrating safety measures in our handbooks, literature, and training materials, including the Guide to Safe Scouting. Be sure to use the four points of SAFE when delivering the program.
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.
Behavior Around Campfires
Campfires are a powerful part of the outdoor experience. They can be lively with laughter, storytelling, and fellowship. The campfire can also be a time of reflection, learning, and great peace. Safe behavior around a campfire ensures a good time can be had by all while mitigating the inherent danger of the fire. Review the “Behavior Around Campfires” Safety Moment to make your next campfire a positive and safe experience.
Troop Trailer Safety
Before taking a trailer out, you verify the lights work. Do you also do a safety check on the tires, hitch, and the loading of the trailer? In North Carolina, trailer tires need to be replaced every six years. Virginia requires an inspection for certain types of trailers. Check your trailer regularly for safety and for compliance in your state.
Halloween Recruiting Ideas
- Trunk or Treat: If your chartering organization or local civic organization is hosting a Trunk or Treat, ask if your Scout unit can participate. Adults can wear their Scout uniforms and distribute not only candy, but also joining information.
- Pack Costume Meeting: Make your last meeting before Halloween a costume meeting. Scouts can invite their friends to attend, show off their costumes, and really display the fun and excitement of Scouting to potential members.
- Trick or Treat (out with kids): When you walk around your neighborhood with your children, wear your uniform. Have some joining information handouts with you to give to other parents you meet.
- Trick or Treat (at home): Stick a unit business card, flyer, or join Scouting sticker in kids’ candy bags (along with some candy too, of course). Place Scouting yard signs in your yard, since families will be walking by and admiring everyone’s decorations.
Recruiting is not just for Cub Scouts! Approximately 7% of the youth who join Scouts BSA troops and Venturing crews were not in Cub Scouting. Recruiting ideas for older youth programs include:
- Support nearby Cub Scout packs at their recruiting events. In addition to helping recruit Cub Scouts, you may recruit some older siblings for your troop.
- Hold an open house event. Have Scouts invite their friends to come to a fun outing. Day or weekend events can showcase the adventures of Scouting.
The Three R’s: Recruit, Recruit, and Retain
Nationwide, across all programs, the BSA recruits more first graders than any other age group each year. Due to the pandemic, many families were unable to participate in extracurricular activities last year, and many units were unable to recruit. As recruiting efforts have begun to bounce back this fall, it also is important to focus on retaining new members.
Surveys have shown that most families who leave Scouting do so because the program did not deliver on outdoor experiences, or because they had a poor den experience. Dens are where the action happens, and there are many resources available to help den leaders provide a fun-filled program. As a den leader, you do not have to be child development expert, you just need to know where to find the right tools. Visit the Den Leader Resources webpage to access helpful videos and tools for each Cub Scout rank.
Keep in mind that advancement is not the end goal; it is a method that guides the program. Cub Scouts come to activities and meetings to have fun, not to check off requirements. On the way home, they should be excited and be able to tell their families that they had fun and want to go back. Retaining new members is easy when we deliver on the fun and adventure of Scouting.
Positions of Responsibility: The Order of the Arrow Unit Representative
The Order of the Arrow (OA) unit representative role is a youth position of responsibility. OA unit representatives serve as a communication link between their units and the local OA lodge. By enhancing the image of the OA as a service arm to the unit, they promote the OA, encourage youth to take part in all sorts of camping opportunities, and help pave the way for older youth to become involved in high-adventure programs. They arrange for OA election teams to conduct an annual OA election at a time approved by the patrol leaders’ council, crew, or ship leadership. They also arrange with the unit and the lodge or chapter for at least one camp and/or high adventure promotion visit to the unit annually. Finally, they also serve as advocates in their units for environmental stewardship and Leave No Trace camping.
You can read more about this position of responsibility here, and find additional resources here.
As is often the case with positions of responsibility, the role of OA unit representative, as well as Order of the Arrow membership itself, can play an important role in learning leadership and keeping youth in the program longer.
Merit Badge Counseling
As registration renewal time approaches, take a moment to review your certifications as a Merit Badge Counselor. Certain merit badges have extra requirements; you can find a list in chapter 7.0.1.0 of the 2021 Guide to Advancement.
Webelos to Scout Transition
Webelos prepares Scouts for the change from Cub Scouting to Scouts BSA. While Webelos are members of a Cub Scout pack, they become more involved in planning their own activities and performance approval begins to move from parents to unit leaders.
The two-year Webelos experience is a time of transition from Cub Scouting to crossing the bridge to membership in a Scouts BSA troop. Webelos and their families should be familiar and comfortable with the youth and adult leaders of the Scouts BSA troop, their role in the troop and troop activities, and feel excited about beginning this new adventure. The passage from a pack to a troop should be smooth, with no time lost in between. The crossover ceremony should clearly signify the transition to a new level of Scouting.
The key factor to a good Webelos transition is the ongoing working relationship of the leaders of a Cub Scout pack and a Scouts BSA troop. Ideally, a community organization would have both a pack and a troop with leaders who work together to help move Webelos Scouts into a Scouts BSA troop, the same way schools move students from elementary school to middle school.
By planning and coordinating their efforts, the pack and troop can help make the Webelos-to-Scout transition seamless and give all Webelos a chance to experience the fun and excitement of joining a Scouts BSA troop.
Journey to Excellence
The Journey to Excellence (JTE) program represents a vision of quality Scouting for units. JTE measures how well the unit is delivering the promise of Scouting to youth. Outdoor activities, advancement, membership growth, and program planning are all considered. Scorecards be found here and workbooks for compiling the data can be found here. Fill out the information on tabs 1 and 2 and print tab 3 (Scorecard) for submission.
Work with your commissioner to fill out the information. If you don’t know some of the information, contact your unit commissioner or district executive. Even if the unit does not qualify for an award, filling out the form can provide areas of improvement.
The National Council is not making unit ribbons as they have in the past, but units can order JTE recognition patches.
National Jamboree 2023
Are you ready for an experience of a lifetime? Get ready for the National Jamboree on July 19-28, 2023 at The Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia.
We expect youth participant requirements to mirror previous years’:
- Must be a registered Scout
- Have completed the 6th grade or will be at least 12 years old, but not yet 18 years old
- Have achieved First Class rank
The council will be sending a contingent to this event; sign up information is coming soon.
COVID-19 Assistance
Does your family need assistance due to COVID-19? Tidewater Council is a partner agency with United Way of South Hampton Roads and Albemarle Area United Way, as well as a member of the Unite Us Hampton Roads United Coordinated Network and NCCARE360. For coordinated care referrals, please contact us.
Scouts in Action
Congratulations new Eagle Scouts!
It’s fall camping time of year and Albemarle Troop 164 took advantage of some of the great weather. Leaders had an attentive audience for some great fire building training.
While the troop was camping, Pack 164 took part in the Edenton Peanut Festival Parade.
Scouts and Scouters marched in the Neptune Festival Grand Parade at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on October 1. The families decorated two trailers and an SUV with a “Scouting at the Beach” theme, including an inflatable Scout. The Scouts had a great time, and the crowds cheered for their “Get Out & Scout” initiative.
Tidewater Council participated in a Scouting outreach and recruitment drive at the 32nd Annual Virginia Children’s Festival at Town Point Park on October 2. Hundreds of families stopped by for information on Scouting and to race Pinewood derby cars on our track! Lots of happy smiles and wide grins shined as the cars zoomed down the track! Thanks to Andrew and Kyler, Laura and Dave, Julie, Bryan, and Bill for putting on a great event!
Units continue to get the Scouting word out in the community with recruiting. Albemarle Pack 116 attended the National Night Out at Dowdy Park in Nags Head. Thank you Scouts and leaders!
Bayside district held a fun-filled Glow Fishing recruiting event at Ocean View Pier on October 8!
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