Table of Contents
Upcoming Events
Adams Award Deadline
January 21
The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award 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.
An Eagle Scout, their parents, or any registered BSA volunteer (with the Eagle Scout’s permission) may submit an Eagle Scout service project for consideration. A copy of the service project workbook and the nomination form must be submitted to the council’s NESA committee by January 21, 2020.
University of Scouting
January 25
Join us at Hickory Middle School to improve your Scouting knowledge. This all-day event has course selections for all Scouting programs. Register today to get the early bird rate of $20 for adults and $10 for youth. Contact Dave Berger for more information.
Learn about the National Scout Jamboree
January 29
Join us at the Tidewater Council Service Center on Wednesday, January 29 at 7 PM to learn about the National Scout Jamboree. RSVP to Dale Ward at dale@daleward.com or 757-679-0123.
Register now for the 2021 National Scout Jamboree to save your spot!
The 2021 National Scout Jamboree will be held July 21-30, 2021 at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia.
Can’t make it to the informational meeting on January 29? Click here to learn how to register to attend this once in a lifetime Scouting event as a member of one of Tidewater Council’s Jamboree contingents (Scouts BSA Troop, Venturing Crew, or Sea Scout Ship).
We are also accepting applications for adult leaders and selections will be made soon. You can find information on how to become a NSJ contingent leader here or by attending the January 29 information meeting. If you have questions or need more information, please send a note to Dale Ward at dale@daleward.com.
Scouting for Food
February 1-8
Scouting for Food is an annual food-collection drive, and one of the many service projects the Boy Scouts of America has conducted since 1910.
Over 13% of residents in our council geography – 154,000 people – are food insecure. Scouts can help make an impact by participating in Scouting for Food.
The plan is simple:
- Sign up online to participate.
- At your district’s January Roundtable, select the area where your unit will distribute tags.
- Distribute tags in your selected area on February 1, 2020.
- Pick up the food left outside homes on February 8, 2020.
- Deliver the food to your chartering organization’s food pantry or to a centralized district drop-off point.
- Remember to report the amount of food collected and your service hours.
Please help us increase Scouting’s visibility and give back to our community!
Award Deadlines
District Award of Merit - February 8
The District Award of Merit honors Scouters who render service of an outstanding nature at the district level. Nomination forms are due to the council by February 8. (You cannot self-nominate.) The recipients will be honored at district volunteer recognition events in March.
Nominees must:
- be registered Scouters.
- have given “noteworthy service to youth,” either inside or outside of Scouting—or both.
- have gone beyond the duties of their volunteer position.
- maintain a positive attitude and work in cooperation with the district and council.
Silver Beaver - February 8
The Silver Beaver Award is a council‐level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients of this award are registered adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council. Silver Beaver recipients implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. It is given to those who do not seek it. (You cannot self-nominate.) Nomination forms are due to the council by February 8. Recipients will be honored at the council recognition event on March 31.
Nominees must:
- be registered Scouters.
- have given “noteworthy service to youth,” either inside or outside of Scouting—or both.
- have gone beyond the duties of their volunteer position.
- maintain a positive attitude and work in cooperation with the district and council.
Venturing Leadership Award - February 15
The Venturing Leadership Award recognizes Venturers and Venturing Advisors who have made exceptional contributions to Venturing and who exemplify the Scout Oath and Law. Nomination forms are due to the council by February 15.
Nominees must:
- be registered and involved as a Venturer or Venturing advisor for at least one year.
- hold a leadership position or an office within the council.
- show exceptional dedication and give outstanding leadership and service to Venturing and to Venturers.
Sea Scout Leadership Award - February 15
The Sea Scout Leadership Award recognizes Sea Scouts and Sea Scouters who have made exceptional contributions to Sea Scouting and who exemplify the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Nomination forms are due to the council by February 15.
Nominees must:
- be registered and involved as a Sea Scout or Sea Scouter for at least one year.
- hold a leadership position or an office at the unit, district, or council level
- show exceptional dedication and give outstanding leadership and service to Sea Scouting and to Sea Scouts.
NRA Shotgun Instructor Training
February 15-16 and 22-23
Join us for NRA Shotgun Instructor Training. The course will include two days of classroom instruction at the Tidewater Council Service Center (Saturday, February 15 and Saturday, February 22) and two days at the range at Pipsico Scout Reservation (Sunday, February 16 and Sunday, February 23). Attendance on all four days is required. This course is for proficient shooters and will not cover basic skills. If interested, please contact Kirsten Misfeldt at 757-323-6172.
Klondike Derby
February 28 - March 1
Are you ready to work as a team, experience cold weather camping, hone your basic outdoor skills, and escape the Klondike? Find your teammates and fill your sled with gear so you can meet the four challenge areas throughout Camp Lions at Pipsico. Friday night, you will have your sled inspected for safety and being prepared. Saturday morning, your first challenge is to prepare breakfast for your team with the ingredients given you. Then, after heading out on the trail, you will be served lunch. The other meals are all for the teams to bring. You will continue on to finish the Klondike Trail and earn your points. On Sunday, we will recognize the team that earned the most points. Everyone receives a cool patch, just for giving the challenge a try.
Start building that sled – you can find some concepts and plans on the Pipsico Klondike Derby webpage.
Council Sports Breakfast
March 18
Save the date for the annual Council Sports Breakfast, March 18 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Keynote speaker Kevin Greene is an Eagle Scout, 5-time NFL Pro Bowler, a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990’s, and a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve.
Contact Shannon Foster at shannon.foster@scouting.org for more information.
Council Banquet and Legends Dinner
March 31
Save the date for the annual Council Banquet and Legends Dinner, honoring outstanding Scout volunteers. The 2020 event will take place on Tuesday, March 31 at the Norfolk Masonic Temple. Registration details are coming soon.
Wood Badge
May 1-3 and May 30-31
Are you ready to take the new revised Wood Badge course? Wood Badge is a national leadership and team development experience open to all Scout leaders. Simply stated, Wood Badge is “Leadership for Scouting, Leadership for America.” It is a 5-day, hands-on, intense learning experience. Wood Badge uses the same contemporary leadership concepts utilized in corporate America and leading government organizations, applied to Scouting’s values-based movement. Participants apply skills they learn through their shared participation as a member of a successful, working, high-performance team.
Tidewater Council’s 2020 Wood Badge course will be held at Pipsico Scout Reservation on May 1-3 (Friday-Sunday) and May 30-31 (Saturday-Sunday). The $245 course cost includes meals for the first weekend, closing luncheon, course materials, hat, and t-shirt. Space is limited to the first 48 individuals who reserve their spot with a $100 deposit. Late fees apply if the full balance is not paid by March 23.
Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner
May 14
Congratulations to the 150 youth who attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 2019. Tidewater Council will celebrate their achievements at the annual Eagle recognition event on May 14 at 7 PM at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Virginia Beach. Registration information is coming soon.
News
Scout Shop
Shop Local! The Tidewater Council Scout Shop is the only place where you can purchase official BSA merchandise and have the proceeds stay in our Scouting community.
HAPPY NEW YEAR from the Scout Shop! As we begin 2020, we look forward to serving all your needs from Pinewood Derbies to crossovers, Scout Sunday to Blue & Gold, and anything in between!
Pinewood Derby – We still have plenty of cars 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 of both. Stay “tuned” to some new and exciting accessories and add-ons! We also have the Pinewood Derby “wedges,” blocks of wood cut at an incline (for those who prefer not to use a saw), for $3.49 each.
Winter Camping – We have a variety of cold weather sleeping bags, pads, jackets, and caps all for colder weather! Keep your feet warm and dry with our wool Thorlo 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 2019 JTE order form to order the patches for which they qualify, which come in bronze, silver, and gold ($1.99 each). Units that qualify may order the ones with 100% Boys’ Life. Patches are NOT automatically ordered based on the unit qualifying. The council will provide JTE ribbons. Orders are placed weekly and must be PREPAID, so the sooner your order is received, the sooner your unit can begin proudly wearing JTE patches.
A big THANKS to our wonderful volunteers who came to help with inventory: Mike & Sharon Scott, Tim & Nancy Roisen, Mary Jo & Daniel Robins, Georg Dahl, Kathy Lull, Michelle Barrett, Elena Kaneta, and Gene Hoffman. These folks make a long and tedious job much easier!
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 (757-497-2688) with an order using Visa or Mastercard (a 3% fee is charged with any debit/credit transaction).
Our next holiday closing is Monday, January 20, 2020 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
2021 National Scout Jamboree
A celebration that happens just once every four years. World-class venues packed with incredible moments. A spirit of unity, patriotism, and courage. Turns out the National Scout Jamboree and the Summer Olympics share a lot of similarities, with one exception – at the National Scout Jamboree, everyone leaves a winner.
The 2021 National Scout Jamboree will be held July 21-30, 2021 at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, the BSA’s gold-medal-caliber high-adventure base in West Virginia. Registration is now open for both youth participants and adult contingent leaders.
A National Scout Jamboree will happen only once or twice during a young person’s time in Scouts BSA, Venturing, or Sea Scouting. Over the course of 10 days, Jamboree participants experience unforgettable adventures they’ll remember all their lives. Experience the Summit’s legendary adventure sports programs. Earn merit badges. Enjoy stadium shows. Trade patches with Scouts from all 50 states and many foreign countries. Face the challenge.
Scout Days at Ocean Breeze Waterpark
Ocean Breeze Waterpark has announced new flexible Boy Scout Days! Discounted tickets now can be used during a choice of Scout Days, selected dates from May 16 – June 14. Unit leaders register their pack or troop online. Once registered, Ocean Breeze will send the unit leader a troop-exclusive access code to share with the Scout families. This access code can be used on the Ocean Breeze website to purchase discounted admission, meal vouchers, and patches.
Reserve your unit’s date by April 30 to lock in admission for 50% off.
Pinewood Derby
Packs, districts, and the council each are planning their Pinewood Derbies. The 2020 rules are finalized and the Scout Shop is fully stocked with car kits. Are you ready for the races?
Help Needed
Service Projects at Pipsico
Is your unit looking for a great service project? We have some projects at Pipsico Scout Reservation that would be best accomplished during the winter months, while the vegetation and wildlife are dormant.
Bulk Storage Cleanup
At Camp Kiwanis, there is an area where unwanted items have been deposited over the years. Please help us clean that area and dispose of these items properly. More information is available online or by contacting Ron Misfeldt at 757-646-1384.
Additional Opportunities
We are looking for adults who are willing to take the lead and coordinate the work parties to accomplish a number of service projects. Large-scale projects will be posted on PipsicoBSA.com under the Ranger’s Corner tab. Larger projects will require coordinated work groups. Contact Ron Misfeldt at 757-646-1384 for more information.
Summer Camp Staff
What will you be doing this summer? Make new friends, learn new skills, enjoy the great outdoors, eat really good food, earn a little money (or get service hours), and develop your leadership skills. Join the staff at Pipsico and be part of an awesome team. We are looking for self-motivated folks who can work independently and handle personal responsibility.
We are interviewing for all program areas, including Scoutcraft, Handicraft, Climbing, Aquatics, Shooting Sports, Huskanaw, and Kitchen Crew. For more information, contact Kirsten Misfeldt.
Interview Dates
- During Winter Camp (January 17-19) at Pipsico Scout Reservation, 57 Pipsico Road, Spring Grove, VA 23881
- During University of Scouting (January 25) at Hickory Middle School, 1997 Hawk Blvd., Chesapeake, VA 23322
- February 1 (9 AM – noon) at the Mary Jayne Breeden Council Service Center, 1032 Heatherwood Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Please email Kirsten Misfeldt to schedule your interview.
Scouts in Action
Troop 117 of Kitty Hawk, NC came up with an innovative way to provide service to the community, conserve the environment, AND raise funds for local Scouting. Learn more about their Christmas tree recycling/dune protection project by watching their awesome video!
Troops 5067 and 67 toured the Veterinary Hospital of Virginia Beach and learned about veterinary science first-hand from Dr. Andrew Silverstone on January 5. Eleven Scouts earned the Veterinary Science merit badge; for two Scouts, it was their very first merit badge.
Dr. Silverstone is a Scout volunteer, Eagle Scout, veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve Veterinary Corps, merit badge counselor, and a recipient of the Cancer Research Training Award from the National Cancer Institute. Many thanks to Dr. Silverstone and the Veterinary Hospital of Virginia Beach.
Troops 67 and 5067 participated in the STEM Award program at iFly under the instruction of Jason Lavarias. Jason is an Eagle Scout, Scouts BSA volunteer, Sea Scout volunteer, and the General Manager of iFly Virginia Beach. The Scouts learned about the dynamics of “flying indoors” and how to calculate how fast each of the Scouts could fly, given their weight and size. The visit included a behind-the-scenes tour of the wind tunnel before everyone (including some family and friends) had the opportunity to fly. Several of the Scouts were able to fly nearly 60 feet in the air.
iFly and the Boy Scouts of America collaborated to create the “Up and Away” BSA STEM Nova Award. Learn more about how your Scouts can participate in the iFly Scouts STEM program here.
Thank you to the wonderful team of volunteers leading the way to raise funding for local Scouting in 2020.
Don Schultz, our Council Vice President of Special Events Fundraising, has been appointed Managing Partner at Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, P.L.C.
We want to hear from you! Send stories, photos, and videos of your Scouts in action to alison.harrison@scouting.org (with parental permission, of course).
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