Friends of Scouting is Tidewater Council’s annual giving campaign. The Friends of Scouting campaign provides 21% of the council’s annual budget – that means more than a fifth of every dollar in the council budget comes from the generosity of Scouting families, alumni, and community supporters. Friends of Scouting keeps the overall cost of Scouting affordable so all families can participate. Tidewater Council’s goal is to raise $500,000 through Friends of Scouting in 2024.
All Friends of Scouting donations stay local to support families in northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.
Each district shares a portion of the overall goal:
Has your unit scheduled its 2024 Friends of Scouting presentation? It is a great opportunity to hear about some of the council’s highlights and accomplishments over the past year, and to illustrate to families how the program is funded. All units that hold a Friends of Scouting presentation will receive a special ribbon for their unit flag. Contact your district executive to schedule your presentation.
Join us to learn about the 2024 Tidewater Council Popcorn Sale!
There are two training dates available, and both trainings will be offered both in-person and virtually. The same information will be covered at each session, so pick the date and location that is best for you!
This popcorn training is designed for both new and returning popcorn kernels. We will focus on what is new for this year’s sale, best practices, and opportunities that can benefit your unit.
For questions, contact Erin Alford at erin@realresultsva.com.
Join us for Scout Night with the Norfolk Tides: Friday, June 14, 2024. Cheer on the Tides as they take on the Memphis Redbirds at Harbor Park!
Ticket vouchers and camping vouchers are now available at the Tidewater Council Scout Shop!
After the game, Scouts and their families have the opportunity to sleep under the stars in the outfield and catch a movie on the big screen. Each youth and adult must have their own camping voucher. All Guide to Safe Scouting, Barriers to Abuse, and Youth Protection policies apply. For information on these policies, including adult supervision and registration requirements for adult participants, click here.
Ticket vouchers must be exchanged for seat tickets at the Harbor Park Ticket Office. Vouchers can be exchanged in advance or the night of the game. Groups are strongly encouraged to exchange vouchers in advance to ensure everyone sits together.
OA Summer Camp Workday, also referred to as Beaver Day, is a chance for everyone (not just OA members) to help get Pipsico ready for summer camp. Help make camping areas and structures useful to everyone for years to come.
On Saturday, June 15, work will begin at 9 AM and end around 4 PM. There will be projects for everyone, skilled and unskilled alike. Whether you are a master carpenter, an amateur gardener, or a lawyer, everyone can be a “Busy Beaver” on a project of their choice. Some of the projects include:
As a thank you to volunteers, camping will be available at no cost on Friday and/or Saturday. Lunch will be provided for all who sign up.
To sign up for this AWESOME event and help kick off a great summer for the Scouts, please visit scoutingevent.com/596-BeaverDay24.
For questions, contact Council Maintenance Chairman Mike Maruska at 757-641-2373 or mikemaruska1179@gmail.com.
From the depths of the ocean to the wonders of the woods, Cub Scouts at Day Camp will become explorers, ready for adventure in the great outdoors!
There are a wide range of activities, varying between camps, but most camps will include most of the following:
Four camps are available!
Albemarle Day Camp will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Elizabeth City. While Black Pug registration has closed, Scouts may contact the camp director about signing up. Please contact dcalbemarle@tidewaterbsa.com.
Bayside Day Camp will be held at Bayside Masonic Lodge #218 in Virginia Beach. While Black Pug registration has closed, Scouts may contact the camp director about signing up. Please contact baysidedaycamp.tidewaterbsa@gmail.com.
Three Rivers Twilight Camp will be held at Great Bridge Baptist Church in Chesapeake. While Black Pug registration has closed, Scouts may contact the camp director about signing up. Please contact Joel.Cesar@scouting.org or Christina.Raymer@scouting.org.
Registration is now open for Princess Anne Day Camp at Tabernacle Baptist Academy in Virginia Beach. For questions, contact twcpa.daycamp@gmail.com.
Gather your team for the Rick Anoia Scouting Golf Classic on Thursday, June 20 at Virginia Beach National Golf Club!
Enjoy 18 holes of golf (Captain’s Choice), longest drive and closest to the pin awards, a hole-in-one challenge, lunch, door prizes, and awards banquet – all while supporting local Scouting! Sponsorships and team registration are available.
If you are interested in volunteering at the golf outing, please contact Christy Cooper at 208-597-6044 or christy.cooper@scouting.org. Lunch and dinner will be provided to volunteers.
Pipsico Scout Reservation offers Scouts and Scouters the opportunity to immerse themselves in a positive camping environment, at a beautiful property, with a friendly camp staff. Tidewater Council is proud to offer quality programs for everyone.
Week #1 – June 23 to June 29, 2024 – FULL
Week #2 – June 30 to July 6, 2024
Week #3 – July 7 to July 13, 2024 – FULL
Week #4 – July 14 to July 20, 2024
New for 2024 and featuring the updated Cub Scout Adventures, Pipsico Scout Reservation invites rising 4th and 5th graders, den leaders, and you to an all-new Arrow of Light/Webelos Summer Camp experience!
Per the Guide to Safe Scouting, these age groups are allowed to camp as dens with leaders.
This 4-day, 3-night program is packed full of activities exclusively for older Cub Scouts, including rappelling, air rifles, fire building, and more! All meals will be provided in our Dining Hall, and campers can sleep on the provided cots in platform tents, just like the older Scouts do at Summer Camp.
Don’t miss the kickoff to Tidewater Council’s Cub Scout theme for 2024-2025, Bug Hunters!
Calling all Bug Hunters!
Cub Scout Summer Family Camp is an opportunity for all Cub Scouts and siblings to participate in some of the new Adventures with the Summer Camp Staff at Pipsico Scout Reservation. Fish with your Scout, climb our rock wall, work on a conservation project, and enjoy our top-notch aquatics program. Enjoy a camp-wide campfire program on Saturday night and all the amenities available at Pipsico Scout Reservation, including our newly renovated Nature Center.
All meals will be provided in our Dining Hall. Families can choose to camp using our platform tents and cots or pitch their own tents.
Save the date for Tidewater Council’s next Philmont trek in summer 2025! If interested in joining the council contingent or getting more information, contact Bill Lawrence at Bill.Lawrence2@scouting.org. Registration is coming soon.
The next National Scout Jamboree will be held on July 22-31, 2026 at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia! The National Scout Jamboree is a gathering of thousands of members of the Boy Scouts of America from across the nation.
Start early in gauging interest in attending and planning fundraising so Scouts can take advantage of this unique opportunity. For assistance in planning unit fundraising, check out the Camp Card sale and popcorn sale, or contact the district executive.
Reserve your spot for the adventure of a lifetime now with a $100 deposit!
Looking for a way to fund an awesome program for your Scouts? The annual Popcorn Sale is here to help!
There’s plenty of fun with summer camping, but what makes it even better is being PREPARED! We have a full stock of camping supplies from backpacks and mosquito netting to mess kits and lanterns. Come in and check out our stock for yourself!
The new Cub Scout Program has now begun! New awards are out on the floor and available for purchase as of June 1, the official start date of the new program. We appreciate your patience as we are ALL learning this new program.
Any award earned this year that still needs to be purchased must be prepaid if is one that has been discontinued. We will continue to fill those orders while National Supply still has them in stock. The key to getting EVERY award earned this year is to shop as soon as possible.
Eagle Scout Table Covers are once again in stock with a slightly new design. These tablecloths ($7.99) measure 54” x 108” and really set off a gift or cake table. We also have the Eagle Scout Graduation Cords ($11.99) to honor the graduates who are Eagle Scouts. Please note that not all schools allow the graduates to walk with them, but they look great in pictures.
New trial uniform shirts ($59.99) are in stock. Pictured here, the shirts are being shown off by KATY, the newest member of our Scout Shop team. Please welcome her when you come in. These performance uniform shirts are currently part of a National Supply trial, being tested as a prototype for new permanent uniform shirts. The polyester blend has vents in the back for breathability, comfort-stretch, and are moisture-wicking and lightweight. These sample shirts are limited to men’s sizes – and some sizes are already sold out since this is a trial run. A QR code on the tag takes customers to a site to express their own ideas for improvements.
Need Tides vouchers? They are going fast, so don’t wait until the last week. Ticket vouchers must be exchanged at Harbor Park for game tickets.
We will ship orders by USPS if you call (757-497-2688) or email an order to polly.fugate@scouting.org or Staci.vankirk@scouting.org.
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.
The day has come to an end and now your next adventure is cooking a cobbler for your evening dessert. Soon, you’ll be ready to light a charcoal fire using your choice of approved Scouting equipment. However, when using charcoal, it is important to keep in mind that chemical fuels are not permitted for use in Scouting activities.
The Annual Grade and Program Rollover to update member records will occur on Wednesday, June 5, beginning at 8 PM.
Youth records with grades will advance one grade. For example, all 3rd graders will be updated to 4th graders.
Those in 12th grade will update to no grade.
Cub Scouts will be updated to the next program year, as applicable:
Adult positions will not change automatically. If a Lion Leader is moving with the den and becoming a Tiger Den Leader, for example, the unit must submit the position change.
Grades and programs will not change for new registrations with an effective date of June 1 or later.
For information on editing dens and patrols in Scoutbook, please see this article.
Camp Moonyah has been an integral part of Tidewater Council’s camps for more than 85 years. As such, it has a rich history hosting functions, events, celebrations, and ceremonies encompassing all arenas of the Scouting program. Over the past many, many decades, dedicated volunteers have continually strived to improve the camp to ensure safe and enjoyable experiences for all. Even with past improvements, it is time to bring this facility into the 21st century. To that end, there are two proposals before council:
Working with Dominion Power, bringing power into Camp Moonyah will require several measured electrical wire runs of 250’+ from a transformer located off property to the maintenance shed where the meter base would be located. Because of the distance, a 25kw transformer will be required to maintain a continual, safe load of power. The cost of connection to a power source, running a total of 500’+ of underground cable, the transformer, and other fees associated with this project will run from $10,000 – $12,000.
Working with the City of Chesapeake water department, tapping into an existing water line conveniently located just outside the camp entrance will bring viable potable water into the camp. City connection fees, trenching a water line to a meter and further on to end at a frost-free water spigot similar to those in use at Pipsico will run from $3,400 – $5,000.
To achieve the success of these projects, we are reaching out to you in Tidewater Council to either help fund in full or in part one or both of these projects. By doing so, you will ensure the continued success and growth of Camp Moonyah for decades to come.
For questions or to find out more about how you can support Camp Moonyah improvements, please contact Ron Misfeldt at mustangron@aol.com and Wes Parker at wparker@pipsicobsa.com.
Do you have questions about the Scouting America name change coming on February 8, 2025? Check out this article from Scouting Magazine for more information:
“What our organization’s name change means — and doesn’t mean — to Scouts and leaders”
Want an easy NO-RISK fundraiser that offers 50% profit? Do you have Scouts who haven’t raised enough to attend day camp or summer camp? Does your unit have new members? Then the Camp Card fundraiser is for your unit!
Contact the district executive to register and pick-up cards.
Training and resources are available online at TidewaterBSA.com/2024campcardsale. Review these resources for deadlines and important information.
And then – simply sell. This is a super easy fundraiser that scores Scouts some serious bucks toward camp.
Camp Cards include valuable discounts to local retailers and Bonus Savings that are available for your choice of retailers nationwide.
Scheduling changes from Dominion Virginia Power have impacted the Camp Baker closure dates.
Camp Baker will now be closed from June 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025.
Thank you for your cooperation and patience. Any questions regarding Camp Baker or Camp Moonyah use can be directed to Ron Misfeldt, City Camps Ranger, at 757-646-1384 or mustangron@aol.com.
Many of Pipsico Scout Reservation’s tents have been in service for 30 years. In order to continue to provide a high-quality camping experience for our Scouts, Tidewater Council is replacing 200 tents between 2023-2027.
Based on the recommendation of our Camping Committee, we are replacing the current wooden platforms and ridge pole system tents with new platforms and Diamond Brand tents with aluminum-mounted frames. In addition to housing Scouts and keeping them dry, the new tents will exponentially decrease the time needed for tent setup and takedown. The cost of a new tent, platform, and frame is approximately $1,640 each. A contribution in any amount is appreciated, and will be designated to provide new tents at Pipsico.
Thank you for ensuring that our Scouts enjoy their camping adventures at Pipsico!
The James E. West Fellowship Award is a national recognition for individuals who contribute $1,000 or more in cash or securities to the Tidewater Council BSA endowment fund. This contribution is in addition to, and does not diminish or replace, the donor’s annual gift to the council’s Friends of Scouting campaign.
Organizations or individuals may contribute an award in honor of someone — an Eagle Scout, a Silver Beaver recipient, Living Legend, any outstanding Scout or Scouter.
With twelve months in the year and twelve points of the Scout Law, why not choose one value to focus on each month? Scout Law-focused Pack Meeting Plans can be found here.
Meeting plans may be used in any order and can be adjusted to fit the needs of the families in the pack.
Scouts are invited to join in a bike camping trip this summer along the C&O Trail, starting in Washington, D.C. The trip is planned for 4 days and 3 nights.
This trip will meet the Adventurous Journey requirement for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award USA (DofE), but is open to Scouts who are not working on the Award as well.
For more information about the bike camping trip or about the DofE Award, please contact Joel Nied at joelnied@gmail.com. Tidewater Council is proud to be the only DofE Award Center serving youth in Virginia and North Carolina.
Does your family need assistance accessing community resources? 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. You may also visit NC 211 or 2-1-1 Virginia for assistance finding resources.
Since 1910, Scouting has helped mold the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes and understands that helping youth puts us on a path towards a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.
Today’s professional Scouters are a diverse group of men and women sharing a dynamic career offering independence, achievement, and stability. This is work that makes a difference, work that calls one to continual learning and challenge, work that offers solid compensation, benefits, and advancement.
If you or someone you know is interested in making a difference through a career in Scouting, please contact Bill Lawrence at bill.lawrence2@scouting.org.
What are your plans for this 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, and Commissioners. Program areas include aquatics, shooting sports, Scout skills for new Scouts and for seasoned Scouts, handicraft, nature, cook crew, and more.
You must be at least 14 years of age by June 16, 2024 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.
Visit our Volunteer with Local Scouting webpage for information on additional volunteer opportunities.
At the Council Recognition Banquet on May 15, Tidewater Council honored members of the 2023 Class of Eagle Scouts and presented awards including the 2023 Class of Silver Beavers, NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Awards, Living Legends of Tidewater Council, and more. Distinguished Eagle Scout Channing Zucker gave the keynote address. Thank you to all who attended and supported the event!
Congratulations to the 2023 Class of Silver Beavers! To learn more about each recipient please click on their name below.
Congratulations to the NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award recipients! To learn more about each recipient please click on their name below.
Congratulations to the 2024 Living Legends of Tidewater Council! To learn more about each honoree, please click on their name below.
Congratulations to the 2024 recipients of the Order of the Arrow (OA) Distinguished Service Award (DSA)!
The Distinguished Service Award honors Order of the Arrow members, youth and adults, who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the OA on a sectional, regional, or national basis. Since 1940, fewer than 1,200 people, including the 2024 class of 53, have been selected to receive the DSA.
Tidewater Council’s Blue Heron Lodge is proud to recognize two of our own Arrowmen who will be awarded the DSA: John Donat and Zachary Grinvalsky!
Noel S. and Gracie S., both Lone Scouts in Three Rivers District, completed their Eagle Scout Boards of Review on May 27. Congratulations to Gracie and Noel – sisters who earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout on the same day!
Gracie’s Eagle Scout Service Project benefitted Western Branch Primary School in Chesapeake.
Noel’s Eagle Scout Service Project benefitted Churchland Baptist Preschool in Chesapeake.
Great job!
Troop 471 from Princess Anne District spent Memorial Day weekend traveling to historic Philadelphia and Valley Forge National Historical Park.
The Scouts spent three days touring the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, The National Constitution Center, Museum of the American Revolution, Washington’s Headquarters at Valley Forge, and a few others. They visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico on the drive home.
The Scouts were even asked to retire the colors at the National Constitution Center and did a fantastic job!
Scouts and leaders gathered to salute those who gave their all for our nation at the 2024 Portsmouth Annual Memorial Day Parade.
Portsmouth’s Memorial Day Parade, a Portsmouth tradition since 1884, is one of the longest running in America.
Troop 57 and Troop 413 observed Memorial Day at the City of Chesapeake Memorial Day Ceremony. The Scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance as they honored and remembered the sacrifices of America’s fallen heroes.
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).
Tidewater Council, BSA provides programs for young people in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Northeastern North Carolina.
Tidewater Council, BSA is a certified United Way agency, partnering with United Way of South Hampton Roads and Albemarle Area United Way.