Welcome to the Alapaha Area Council, BSA

March 10 at Camp Patten! Cub Fun Day is a great chance for our Wolves and Bears (2nd and 3rd graders) to earn the BB Shooting and Archery belt loops as well as participate in the Cubmobile Race. Registration fee is $12 - lunch is included for the Cub Scout. Additional lunches are $3 each. Please register as dens by Friday, March 2. Leader's guide and registration forms are available clicking here.

While no one is happy about it, the upcoming Wood Badge Course has been cancelled due to a lack of participants. A decision on when we will try again will be made as soon as possible. We have to determine where additional course members can be recruited from and who can serve on staff of a future course.

On Thursday, February 9, 2012, the Alapaha Area Council will pause to recognize those Scouters that gave leadership to a successful 2011 Scouting Year! We invite all leaders and interested adults to be a part of the event. We will also recognize the Eagle Scout Class of 2011 and end the evening with the presentation of the highest award a local council can present, the Silver Beaver Award. The banquet will be held at the Valdosta Country Club beginning at 6:30 and tickets are $20.

Local Scout supporters in Fitzgerald and Ocilla will be hosting a Boy Scouts of America Golf Tournament at the Turkey Creek Dining and Golf Club. The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, 2012 with a 9:00 am shotgun start. For an event flier and other information, contact Allison Flory at 229.292.4591 or allison.flory@scouting.org

The Alapaha Area Council will again offer the opportunity for Boy Scouts to earn their Scuba Merit Badge. Water Dog Scuba in Hazlehurst, and Southern Outdoor Sports (SOS) in Valdosta will be providing the scuba lessons. The first class weekend is February 17 - 19. Each dive shop will have its own schedule of exact times. The second check out dive weekend will be scheduled by the dive shops after the first pool class. The cost is $195.00 and includes books, instruction, air fills, primary gear, and spring entry fees. It does NOT include diver's personal gear: mask, fins, snorkel, boots, or gloves. However, each dive shop has a student package offered at a discount for the scouts. Registration is through the Council Service Center. Registration deadline is February 10, 2012. A deposit of $100 is due by February 10, with the balance by February 17. If you need to purchase personal equipment, please contact the dive shops before February 8 as smaller sizes may be limited. If you would like additional information, please contact Allison Flory at 229.292.4591, or allison.flory@scouting.org.

Pursuant to the By-Laws of the Boy Scouts of America, official notice is being given for the Annual Meeting of the Local Council. This meeting is intended for each Charter Parnter Institution Head and/or Charter Organization Representative. The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to receive the Annual Report of the Council and to elect those members that will serve as Officers of the Council and Executive Board Members at Large. The meeting will be held prior to the Council Annual Banqet on February 9, 2012 beginning at 5:30 at the Valdosta Country Club. The Council Nominating Committee is currently accepting nominations for individuals of high esteem in our communities and leadership ability to be considered for membership on the Executive Board. Nominations can be submitted to Matt Hart, Board Secretary, at the Council Service Center.

The National Council has rolled out new materials for those young men reaching the summit of the BSA program. These include a new Eagle Scout Service Project workbook as well as update on other materials. These new materials should really help Eagle candidates along their journey.

Listed below as links are the new Eagle Scout Award Application, and the Service Project Workbook both in a normal and fillable format.

Although using social media is not a Scouting activity, their use to connect with others interested in Scouting can be a very positive experience. But the creation and maintenance of these channels requires forethought, care, and responsibility. For that reason, the Boy Scouts of America has developed guidelines to help you navigate the use of social media channels. These guidelines are a complement to the BSA’s existing Youth Protection policies and training. Scouters are reporting to us the best way to make the link work is to right click "these guidelines" with your web browser and open in a new tab due to the pages sizes.

The only place where you can apply to attend the 2013 National Scout Jamboree is at the home of the Summit on the Web: www.summitbechtelreserve.org. Interested applicants can apply to attend the 2013 National Scout Jamboree as a youth participant or volunteer staff. Conditions apply for each of these categories. Please refer to the website above for the latest details. Over 20 Scouts have signed up for the troop!

Leadership for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree will be Calvin Williams, Rusty Redshaw, David Stokes, and Jeff Cummings.

Pack, troop, crew, and district spreadsheets have been developed to help these units keep track of their Journey to Excellence accomplishments.