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Little Philmont Shows How Stake Presidents Can “Be There” for Their Scouts

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Over the past weekend I got to attend Little Philmont at Tifie Scout Camp in Mount Pleasant, Utah. Overall, it was an amazing experience. At Little Philmont, local Stake Presidents are able to connect with each other as they receive instruction on Scouting and leadership skills. Speakers like Elder Dale H. Munk of the Seventy, who spoke this past weekend, and other leaders of the Church offer tips and advice on how to best incorporate the Scouting program within their stakes and how to be great mentors for the young boys they are responsible for.  

All of the speakers who attended were amazing, but the talk I want to focus on is that of Brother Heyn. 

Brother Heyn, who sits on the General Young Men Presidency Board, emphasized the importance of getting to know your Scouts on a deeper level and also allowing them to get to know you as a leader. He gave attendees three points of advice to follow:

  1. Be With Them
  2. Connect Them to Heaven
  3. Let Them Lead

To illustrate these points, Brother Heyn alluded to the story of “The Good Shepherd.” You can watch it below:

Brother Heyn talked about how young men and women struggle during their teenage years as they try to find out who they are. He said it is especially urgent at this time that Scouts know that they can talk to their leaders and ask them for help about anything they need, without any fear of judgement. Young men and women can’t always see their full potential and may not know the extent of the Savior’s love for them, which may cause them to wander and become as lost sheep. So, Brother Heyn instructed, it is up to the leaders to make sure that all of the youth are accounted for and listened to. By doing so, each youth can have someone to turn to for advice, better understand who they are and who they can become, and feel the Savior’s love for them.

As I look back on my experiences as a young women in my teens, I remember how I felt like a lost sheep and didn’t know where I was going.

But, I received help.

I had great leaders that saw me struggling and reached out to me. Even though they couldn’t solve my problems, they were there to comfort and talk to me. Those little gestures of my leaders reaching out to me made a big impact on me as a youth. That is why leaders need to get to know their youths as individuals and know what is going on in their lives so that leaders can make positive, even life-changing, impacts. Get to know your youth and ask yourself what you know about what is going on in their lives every month.

Brother Heyn also shared a quote from a video that says “It is only through the tough times that you learn.” He encouraged leaders to help their youth understand this concept when they are going through difficult times.

In closing this was an amazing conference, on of which every Stake President should make a priority to attend in order to be better equipped with skills to help their youth excel in Boy Scouts and in their personal lives.

Stake Presidents can register their stake for an upcoming Little Philmont at the following link or the following dates:

Attend Little Philmont to Discuss Changes in Older Boy Programs and Best Practices

 

Author: Kelly Frey | Program Assistant, Utah National Parks Council, Boy Scouts of America

The post Little Philmont Shows How Stake Presidents Can “Be There” for Their Scouts appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.


Welcome Kimball to the Marketing Team

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Hey y’all! I’m Kimball Vaughn, new marketing team member of the Utah National Parks Council, BSA. I like to call myself a super super senior because I’m in my sixth year of school at BYU majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Business Management.

Although I call Tennessee home, I have a special place in my heart for the great state of Utah. Six years ago, I began my journey as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints just north of here in Ogden and Salt Lake City. I guess you could say I loved it so much that I had to come back; so here I am finishing up my last year of college in Provo.

Kayaking in Mexico with his dad and brother.

I like to live by what I call the five-f’s: faith, family, food, football, and fitness. As a devout Christian, I’m so grateful to a loving father in heaven who has blessed me in ways that I can never repay. One of those blessings was growing up in a southern family. From my amazing parents and two wonderful siblings, I learned to appreciate lots of conversation, delicious cuisine and Alabama football. You’ll often find me in the kitchen whipping up new Pinterest recipes with family and friends while watching the Crimson Tide score another touchdown. When I’m not eating I’m at the gym smashing new PR’s or running with my girlfriend.

Growing up in East Tennessee I became heavily involved with Boy Scouts and eventually earned my Eagle Scout Award in 2008. I learned the joys of outdoor adventure, citizenship to my community, and most importantly, duty to God. I am forever grateful for my experiences and for amazing leaders who shaped me into the man I am today.

I’m excited to assist BSA in its pursuit to help others become better citizens in society and more devoted to God, just as Scouting helped me when I was a young boy,

 

Author: Kimball Vaughn | PR Marketing Associate, Utah National Parks Council

The post Welcome Kimball to the Marketing Team appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

Hello Julia and Welcome to the Boy Scouts!

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Julia with her husband Jake and dog Jenevieve in Moab, UT

Hello!

I am Julia Thompson, a senior at Brigham Young University. I will be graduating with a degree in English this December.

Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, I have a deep love for anything outdoors… except bugs. And yes, I absolutely love potatoes and grew up watching the Boise State Broncos on their “Smurf Turf”. However, I am always a BYU Cougar who never misses a home football game.

As a self-diagnosed shopaholic, I am obsessed with finding home decor, liquid lipstick, and even the perfect avocado. Don’t let my girly side lead you astray, I am frequently found exploring Moab with my dog, fishing at my cabin, or searching for the best hot springs, but I will be wearing the cutest hiking boots you have ever seen.

I am happily married to my high school sweetheart, an Eagle Scout. I am sarcastic, forgetful, and have a horrible habit of interrupting people. I am a perfectionist who rarely turns down an adventure. I unapologetically love Nutella, naps, and Netflix. But most of all, I am passionate.

From a young age, I became deeply concerned about the world and my place in it. Volunteering has been a large part of my life for as long as I can remember. Whether it was partnering with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or trying to help reduce the high teen suicide rate in my home state, children and teens have been my focus. My love for reading and writing made majoring in English seem natural. Deciding on what I wanted to do with my liberal arts degree was more difficult. On the fundamental level, I wanted my work to be enjoyable and meaningful. I wanted to drop everything and move somewhere to save the elephants, but I knew a comfortable and flexible career was important for my desire to have a family. Enter: the world of non-profits. This path allows me to have an occupation that truly impacts the world around me.

I am excited to continue working with the Boy Scouts to positively benefit the youth of my community! As a supporter of women’s rights, I think organizations like the BSA are crucial. Strong women need men in their lives that are faithful and obedient, helpful, physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. I cannot wait to work with my BSA team to help better the Utah National Parks Council and their Scouts.

Author: Julia Thompson | Grant Writer, Utah National Parks Council, Boy Scouts of America

The post Hello Julia and Welcome to the Boy Scouts! appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

Merit Badge Adventures at Maple Dell Scout Camp Make Advancement a Breeze

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Merit Badge Adventures at Maple Dell Scout Camp have proved time and time again to be a great atmosphere for Scouts to have fun and pursue advancement. This past weekend, the Porter Rockwell District of the Utah National Parks Council put together and hosted the whole event. It was a great success and we are grateful for their hard work!

To see what all the hype was about, I took a visit to Maple Dell to check out all the different Merit Badge opportunities that a Scout can experience. From Shooting Sports to Emergency Preparedness, Merit Badge Adventures feature all the training a boy could need. 

So, what is a Merit Badge Adventure? 

Merit Badge Adventures is a Friday through Saturday adventure at one of our Scout camps that focus on helping youth work on one or more merit badges! Troops can now combine their monthly campout with merit badge work – no extra work for the adult leaders, and great opportunities for the youth. And because of the resources available at the council-level, some very unique experiences and merit badges can be offered! Boys can work on a few Merit Badges each adventure weekend. 

The Adventure at Maple Dell

Maple Dell Scout Camp has a lot to offer, even in the fall and winter months. Maple Dell is the Utah National Parks Council’s flagship Scout Camp. It is the oldest camp and is situated in the scenic mountains of Payson Canyon. The morning I visited, fall was just beginning to settle in. Deer wandered throughout the camp and clouds hung low, enveloping the hills of camp.  

Despite the low temperatures and the early morning hours, Scouts were already hard at work when I arrived. At the Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge station, the cold weather was used as a lesson for Scouts. “If you’re cold, that’s due to a lack of preparation,” the Scoutmaster said. Luckily, the Scouts were wrapped up and warm because, well, a Scout is always prepared. 

At the Climbing Merit Badge area, Scouts were putting their knot-tying skills to the test and learning about safety while rock climbing. It was a great experience for boys to both learn from and teach each other. Their teacher was very knowledgeable in climbing and taught the Scouts about the importance of safety.

In one of the most scenic parts of the camp, on a hill above the main camp, you can find Scouts working on the Orienteering Merit Badge. With compasses in hand, Scouts calculated and measured their way from location to location. The Geocaching Scouts were not far away, as they also explored the surrounding wilderness, this time with GPS in hand. 

Other Adventures included first aid, welding, Shooting Sports, plumbing, astronomy, archery, Pioneering, knots and lashings, and more. Scouts could attend Merit Badge sessions both outdoors and inside classroom settings. With around 15 different Merit Badge opportunities, there was plenty to learn for everyone. And luckily, these merit Badge Adventure weekends happen often, so you can get the badges you missed. 

Click here to view the Merit Badge Adventure schedule and choose which adventure best suits your needs! 

For more Scouting action, check out the photo gallery below.












 

 

Author: Madison Austin | Marketing Associate, Utah National Parks Council 

 

The post Merit Badge Adventures at Maple Dell Scout Camp Make Advancement a Breeze appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

History Highlights of LDS Girls in Scouting

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The position and involvement of LDS girls in Scouting has always been somewhat vague and often misunderstood. Follow along for some quick history highlights and explanations of how we came to the current position of girls in Scouting. 

In the beginning…

In 1869, the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association was organized by Brigham Young to encourage modesty, decorum, and retrenchment. This program eventually progressed into what is now recognized by the LDS Church as the Young Women’s Organization. At the same time, the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association was also organized as the male counterpart.  Eventually, this program for young LDS boys partnered with the Boy Scouts of America.

These are the programs we know and love today, but what led to the boys becoming the Young Men’s program and partnering with the Boy Scout’s and while the girls remained as a solo church organization?  Why did the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association affiliate with the Boy Scouts of America in 1913, yet the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association of the same time period continue developing their own activity and personal progress programs? Did the Church ever consider a partnership with the Camp Fire Girls, Girl Scouts or Girl Guides? And if so, why didn’t they affiliate? 

Here are some history highlights that can answer these questions and provide insight into Scouting’s relationship with LDS girls.

1869 – The Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association was organized by Brigham Young to encourage modesty, decorum, and retrenchment. (History of the YLMIA, 1911, p. 9.)

1907 – Robert Baden-Powell founded the Scouting Movement in England. The movement was wildly successful and quickly established in countries around the world.

1910 – The Boy Scouts of America was officially established in the United States.

At the founding of the Boy Scouts, Baden-Powell realized that young ladies also wanted to join Scouting. However, Baden-Powell thought that the “rough and tumble” activities you would find in Scouting were not appropriate activities for young girls. Additionally, he felt that the Boy Scout program would then become “sissified” if girls were allowed to join. Boys would, in turn, resent their involvement and no longer enjoy Scouting. 

To remedy this issue, Baden-Powell decided to enlist the help of his sister, Agnes, to organize the Girl Guides.  This program was tailored more specifically to girls. It focused on the needs and virtues of women, according to LDS/BSA relations. Baden-Powell’s wife, Olave, eventually became the head of Girl Guides and it experienced great growth as a companion to the Boy Scouts. Today, many Girl Guide groups are involved in the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), of which the BSA is also a very active participant. 

1910 – Camp Fire Girls of America, the U.S. version of Baden Powell’s Girl Guides, was founded “to guide young people on their journey to self-discovery.” James E. West, the first Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts, also played a large part in the founding of the Camp Fire Girls.

1911 – Juliette Gordon Low, future founder of the Girl Scouts of America, met Baden-Powell in England. He encouraged her to start Girl Guiding in America.

1912 – The Girl Guides of America (changed to The Girl Scouts in 1913) was officially organized by Mrs. Low in the United States. Her goal was to provide a program for girls that was identical to the one the boys were receiving.

Was affiliation ever discussed?

In an article celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Bee-Hive Girls’ Association,  Ann M. Cannon, chairman of the original Bee-Hive Committee, writes about how girls could fit into Scouting. She wrote: “About the time that the YMMIA began to talk of Scouting for boys, … The General Board…began a study of the Girl Guide work in England, which had been started to parallel the Boy Scout work. They followed it by a study of Camp Fire work which had sprung up in the USA as a follower of the Girl Guides.”

After studying this program to figure out how it could fit into the MIA plan, it was put into a sort of trial run for some Stakes in Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake City Ensign Stake used the Camp Fire program for the summer and “the Box Elder Stake asked for the Girl Guide work.” These programs were granted and the stakes were able to try them out that year. 

Later, a committee wrote to Dr. Luther Gulick, President of the Camp Fire Girls, and asked for the privilege of joining their organization “on a plan similar to that on which the YMMIA had joined the Boy Scouts.” After many letters passing back in forth, discussing the plan, Dr. Gulick said in effect, “I see why you cannot join us under our plan. I hope you see why we cannot let you join under yours.” He suggested the Church form its own organization and gave permission for them to use any of their ideas and even offered assistance.

The Chartered Organization concept was key to the partnership of the YMMIA and the BSA, yet such an agreement could not be reached with the YLMIA and the Camp Fire Girls. It is important to note that as a chartered partner, the Church has the freedom to make significant decisions within their BSA programs, including choosing their own leaders and implementing BSA activities in a way to meet their needs. 

Although the Church has never officially partnered with the Girl Scouts, Girl Guides, Camp Fire Girls or other programs for girls, they still support the good in these organizations. The Church values all programs that build youth and help them develop strong values. 

Going Forward

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson

In a panel discussion on faith at the 2014 Girl Scouts Convention held Thursday, October 16, 2014, in Salt Lake City, Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women general president spoke to girls, Her speech was titled “Faith in Action: Understand the Impact of Faith on Girls’ Lives and on Their Communities.”

“This is a challenging time to live,” Sister Oscarson said. She told the audience that, to help young women meet these challenges, the Church’s Young Women’s organization emphasizes faith and leadership.

Sister Oscarson said it’s possible to have faith and not belong to a religion, but “[Christ] organized a church, and I think that’s our example.” She shared that gathering and learning together is “a way to strengthen one another” (See the full article here).

Oct. 11, 2017 The BSA announced they will expand their membership to allow girls to join the Cub Scout and Boy Scout program as all-girl dens and troops. Chartered organizations are allowed to decide if and how they will use the dual programs. The Church responded that their current “Activity Days and Personal Progress programs have long been in place to meet the needs of girls and young women in these ages groups, and no change will be made in church programs. We recognize that the desire of the BSA is to expand their programs to serve more young people in the United States. The Church, too, continues to look at ways to serve the needs of our youth worldwide.” 

So, while the LDS Church’s program will not be integrating girls into a Scouting program, young women in the Church can join Scouting with another chartered organization that has a girl program if they choose. Girls have also always been welcome to join BSA’s Venturing program with other chartered organizations other than the LDS Church.

This article was adapted from information contributed and compiled by Scouting historians Roma Bishop, Kathi Robertson, and Nettie Francis on the LDS BSA Relationship Blog.

 

 

Author: Madison Austin | Marketing Associate, Utah National Parks Council 

The post History Highlights of LDS Girls in Scouting appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

This Giving Tuesday Support Your Local Scouting Community

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Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. 

It is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season when many are focusing on their holiday and end-of-year giving. 

Join us in celebrating Giving Tuesday and the true spirit of the season by making a donation to support Scouting in your community, or by inviting your friends and family to do the same. 

Join Keepers of the Flame and Give to Scouting 

The new Eric Dowdle painting of the Utah National Parks Council’s flagship camp Maple Dell.

One of the best ways to get involved is in your own community. In the Utah National parks Council, members of the Keepers of the Flame provide vital financial support to strengthen and perpetuate Scouting in the Utah National Parks Council, by providing quality Scouting programs, camps, facilities and high adventure activities.

This Giving Tuesday, you can help invest in the future of Scouting by joining Keepers of the Flame

Members of Keepers of the Flame are recognized with a limited edition, framed copy of Eric Dowdle’s new painting of Maple Dell, a new masterpiece from the renowned folk artist. It features famous Scouters from history like Sir Robert Baden-Powell, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Presidents involved in Scouting – from Joseph F. Smith to Thomas S. Monson, and current Keepers of the Flame members and their families. 

This Giving Tuesday, you can choose to become a member or Keepers of the Flame or increase your donation and you too can be painted into Eric Dowdle’s painting. 

To be painted in, simply join or upgrade your Keepers of the Flame donations from $1,000 to $2,500 a year and you and your family can be painted into Eric Dowdle’s new masterpiece!

Upon your upgrade, you will receive a limited edition of the painting, a key of your family location in the painting, a free puzzle and a signed thank you letter from Eric Dowdle for your support to Scouting.

The amount of family members that can be painted in and the size of the painting is determined by a member’s level of Keepers of the Flame. Each level is obtained by the donation of an annual gift for three consecutive years. For example, a Life Member gives $5,000 a year for three years – a $15,000 donation. Levels of recognition are as follow: 

Gold Eagle Palm Member $20,000/ year ($1,700/month) 40×50 canvas w/ linen liner and custom frame Up to 10 people painted in
Bronze Eagle Palm $10,000/year ($850/month)  32×40 canvas w/ linen liner and custom frame Up to 8 people painted in
Life Member $5,000/year ($420/month) 32×40 framed canvas Up to 5 people painted in 
Star member $2,500/year ($210/month) 29×36 framed canvas Up to 2 people painted in
First Class Member $1,000/year ($85/month) 22×28 mounted canvas  ——–

Click HERE to donate now and join Keepers of the Flame

or

contact your district professional.

Thanks for Supporting Scouting

Since its formation four years ago, the Keepers of the Flame giving society has made a marked difference in the lives of Scouts in the Utah National Parks Council. These generous donors have funded programs, capital improvements at camps, and contributed to the endowment fund that will ensure the council can continue to work in the lives of youth for decades to come.

Donations from Keepers of the Flame provide quality Scouting programs, camps, facilities, and high adventure activities that help Boy Scouts build character, become participating citizens, develop personal fitness, and learn to do hard things. 

Thank you for joining us as a member of the Keepers of the Flame. We are grateful to all donors, volunteers, friends, and supporters of Scouting. Through your support, this #GivingTuesday, you are helping young people grow to become citizens who are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. 

 

 

 

 

Author: Madison Austin | Marketing Associate, Utah National Parks Council 

The post This Giving Tuesday Support Your Local Scouting Community appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

Scouting is for Everyone!

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“The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”

Note that the mission statement says “young people”, not just young men. The recent decision of BSA to accommodate the desire of many young women to join Scouting is thus clearly within the mission statement. However, recognizing that the interests and needs of young men and young women differ, particularly when they are younger than 16, mixed units are not part of the program, boys and girls will be in separate units.

In fulfilling their mission, in addition to Boy Scouts, BSA offers several different programs; Cub Scouts, Sea Scouts, Venturing, Learning for Life, Exploring and STEM Scouts. BSA Councils and chartered partners are free to choose which of these programs meet the needs of their youth. For example, the LDS Church recently changed their young men’s program to Boy Scouts for all their young men from 11 to 18 because Varsity and Venturing were no longer meeting their needs. The LDS Church provides great support for Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in the Utah National Parks Council and LDS units welcome young men of any faith to join these units, but these two programs do not meet the needs of everyone.

To provide better support for those programs and units not chartered to the LDS Church, the Utah National Parks Council instituted the Baden-Powell Service Area in late 2016. Ryan Bertram serves as the executive and Lee Hansen and Stan Lockhart currently serve as the nominating committee. We are looking for volunteers to serve as New Unit Commissioners to recruit and organize new units and to serve as Unit Commissioners for existing units. Units have the choice to affiliate with their local district or with the Baden-Powell Service Area. As we find willing volunteers, the Baden-Powell Service Area will be organized as a District with responsibility to serve all units in the Utah National Parks Council that are not chartered to the LDS Church.

Come and join the FUN! Support Scouting in your community!

 

Author: Lee Hansen | Saratoga Springs, BYU Chemistry professor for 32 years. Boy Scout volunteer for over 35 years, including 20 years as a Scoutmaster.  As noted above Lee is currently involved with the Baden-Powell Service Area.  He is also a member of the UNPC Commissioner College Cabinet and more.

The post Scouting is for Everyone! appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

The Dixie Scout Expo: A day of Scout Fun and a Chance to Win a trip to Disneyland

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On February 24, 2018, The Dixie Scout Expo will be open for Scouts and families to enjoy. 
 

Visit the Dixie Scout Expo on Feb 24, 2018, at the Dixie Center in St George   

Expo Visitor Hours: 9am – 2pm

The Dixie Scout Expo is a one-day Scouting event that brings together Scouts and community organizations from throughout Southern Utah. The Expo provides a day of intergenerational family fun through hands-on exhibits, displays and competitions. 

Over 100 Scouting community booths will be on display showcasing our Scouting programs to the public. This makes it a great opportunity for program enhancement and recruiting for existing units. It could also be a means to introduce Scouting to potential new members. The Expo also allows Scouts to raise money for Scouting-related activities and expenses for the upcoming year. 

Scouts will be selling tickets up until the day of the event. 

For the day’s schedule, follow this link: Dixie Scout Expo Schedule  

Tickets sales begin – January 13, 2018

Dixie Scout Expo

Tickets to the Dixie Scout Expo come with “Starving Student” cards.

The Scouting Expo is a great way for people to come and see what Scouting is all about. Scouts can do this by selling expo tickets to friends, families and neighbors. This is no ordinary ticket, though. The BSA has teamed up with Starving Student Cards, which is a discount card packed with hundreds of dollars of free stuff and over $4,000 in discounts. Tickets sell for just $20 dollars and Scouts keep 75% of the funds – $10 of every card stays with the unit and $5 goes back to local area Scouting. not only can you win funds, you can also win lots of great prizes. 

Scouts must turn in their ticket-sales by February 20, 2018. 

For every ticket a Scout sells, $10 goes back to his unit. With enough sold, this one fundraiser could fund your unit’s entire year! Schedule out your year’s activities early to determine how many tickets need to be sold to fund all your activities. 

Win a chance to go to Disneyland!

Not only can you win funds by selling expo tickets, you can also win lots of great prizes, like a trip to Disneyland!
 
 
Scouts that sell 10 tickets to the Dixie Scout Expo will have their name entered 1 time into a drawing for a family trip to Disneyland. Don’t stop at 10 though, because a Scout’s name is entered for every 10 tickets sold.
 
There are lots of other great prizes for scouts who sell tickets. For every 5 tickets sold, a Scout can have his name entered into a drawing for an iPad, a new bike and many other great prizes. 
 
To qualify for prize drawings, all tickets must be turned into the St. George Scout Office (204 N 1000 E in St George) no later than Tuesday, February 20.
 

All the fun of Scouting in one place

At the Dixie Scout Expo, Scouts can expect to find many fun Scouting activities, including Pinewood Derby races, animal shows and hands-on Scouting booths. 

Pinewood Derby races will go through most of the day, and will feature the fastest cars from every participating troop! You won’t want to miss this.

The Birds of Prey show is the next “must see” of the day. At noon, the Southwest Wildlife Foundation will present a show all about birds of prey. Make sure to visit this show and see the iconic birds of the Southwest in real life. 

Dixie Scout Expo

See the many Southwest birds of prey at the Dixie Scout Expo on February 24th.

You can find information about the Pinewood Derby, birds of prey show and more here: Dixie Scout Expo Info

The Dixie Scout Expo will be a day of Scouting you won’t want to miss, so start selling your tickets now. See you February 24th!

The post The Dixie Scout Expo: A day of Scout Fun and a Chance to Win a trip to Disneyland appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.


Family Scouting Begins in the Utah National Parks Council Through Early Adopter Program

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For many girls who have joined their brothers at Scout events for years, the BSA expanding its program to include girls into Scouting was a big and exciting change. While Scouting has been available to girls through other BSA programs — such as Venturing and Exploring — as of January 15, 2018 through the early adopter program, these girls can now officially register in selected units in Cub Scouting in girl-only dens. The early adopter program for family Scouting has already been a success in our council, showing that there are places where families can do their Scouting together, and they are excited to participate. 

If your girl is interested in being a part of those early-adopters, here is where its happening and why families are so excited. 

First Girl in the Council

early adopters program

Jamie (left) and all of the girls who joined Cub Scout Pack 1389 through the early adopters program.

Jamie Worch is homeschooled, belongs to a cheerleading team and knows the Scout Law faster than most of her brothers. She is also the first girl in our council to become a Cub Scout. Her parents started her pack in 2013 for their sons, but they had no idea that eventually the whole family would be a part of it.

Amber Worch, Jamie’s mother and Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 1389 in Elsinore, UT, says they started the Pack in 2013 to serve families who wanted their boys to start Cub Scouting as Tiger Cubs.  “At first,” she says, “the sisters of the boys were on the ‘sidelines,’ some of them participating in Pack and family events.”

At that time, Jamie and her family tried to find other programs similar to the BSA, where she could get similar experiences to those of her brothers’. 

Jamie and her family tried chartering an American Heritage Girl troop for Jamie and other girls in the area, but they faced many difficulties. However, the day after their AHG troop charter was denied the announcement by the BSA to allow girls into Scouting was made national. What a stroke of luck! 

Although this was the perfect opportunity for Jamie, it was difficult for many in the community to fathom girls joining Cub Scouts. Despite the difficulties that arose within the area, Amber and her family made the choice to add a all-girl’s den to their Cub Scout Pack, which is one of the options available for family Scouting, all of which include gender-exclusive dens. 

During this time, another family, the Worchs, joined. The mother of the family was born and raised in Germany, and was a Scout there in her youth, Amber says. Germany, like the majority of countries in the world, welcomes girls together with boys in their Scouting programs. She really wanted all her children to be in Scouting like that, too. When the BSA announced family Scouting, they could not wait to register all their girls with our Pack! This meant that Jamie could officially join Cub Scouting and earn the same ranks as her two older brothers. After emailing the official announcement to the Pack Committee and parents about taking the Pack in this direction, Amber included a copy to her District Executive. He quickly replied and informed Amber about the Early Adopter program. She knew that is exactly what her family wanted to do! 

“I want parents to know its not weird,” she says about her troop’s experience early adopting. 

Now, Amber’s Pack has girl dens and boy dens for Tigers, Bears, and Webelos, with Lions coming soon.

Jamie is a standout example of how girls can excel in Scouting. She loves crafting, she says, and already has her bobcat badge!

Early Adopters

The BSA’s mission is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Its priority is to bring the benefits of Scouting to more youth while remaining true to our mission. 

early adopters program

Pack 1389 becomes the first in the Council to utilize the family Scouting early adopters program

After receiving an overwhelming demand from chartered partners, Cub Scout pack leaders and local councils already prepared to provide the Cub Scouting program to girls, the BSA offered the early adopter program that participating councils could extend to chartered partners from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15, 2018. Although Family Scouting programs will officially launch to welcome both boys and girls in Cub Scouting during the Fall of the 2018-19 program year, this soft launch for early adopters allowed eligible packs in participating councils to officially register girls (K-4) in Cub Scouting. 

Here’s a list of all of the Utah National Parks Council’s Packs that are participating in Family Scouting Early Adopter program with more to come when it is official in the Fall:

  • Pack 1389, Elsinore, UT
  • Pack 1456, Springville, UT
  • Pack 1114, American Fork, UT

Family Scouting

early adopters program

Jamie and her brother, Joseph, selling Scout popcorn.

Maybe not all girls are looking to join Scouting. But, there are a lot that do. If girls want to explore the outdoors or participate in the pinewood derby, Scouting is where they can do it. 

Amber Worch explained that Scouting was the perfect choice for her whole family because she wanted to keep the “moral principles and the character building” in the activities her children participate in.  

For families with young girls, parents can find a new mission in Scouting. Amber says her daughter “recharged her in Scouting.”

Now, instead of being on the “sideline,” girls can earn something and be proud of what they’re doing. These are experiences that all children need, and now all can find through Scouting.        

For more information about family Scouting see this CNN interview with Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh: https://voiceofscouting.org/chief-scout-executive-mike-surbaugh-interview-cnn-girls-scouting

What are you most excited for regarding family Scouting? 

 

Author: Madison Austin | Marketing Associate, Utah National Parks Council 

 

The post Family Scouting Begins in the Utah National Parks Council Through Early Adopter Program appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

500-Mile Bike Ride Forever Changes Scouts Spiritually and Physically

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Picture this, it’s the year 1992, you’re 14-years-old, and you are a Scout/member of the Teacher’s Quorum. Now imagine that you and your Troop/Quorum just decided that you are going to participate in a seven-day bike ride spanning 500 miles. On that 500-mile bike ride, imagine that you will have to brave ferocious headwinds along a mountain pass, pedal up a 10,200-foot mountain, and speed down a mountain at 58 mph. That sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Well, 26 years ago, an ambitious group of 14 and 15-year-old Varsity Scouts from Orem, UT did just that.

Ultimate Experience – Summer 1992

 

It all began in November 1991, when team 30 from the Lakeridge first ward met together to plan out their next year. After much back and forth between the boys, they eventually decided that they wanted to complete a 500-mile bike ride the following summer.

“When my son, Johan, came home and reported that they were planning a 500-mile bike ride, I was not very convinced, and didn’t really take him very seriously. I was sure they were dreaming and would come to their senses eventually.”

Dubbed Ultimate Experience – Summer 1992, the group decided that this bike ride would be much more than an adventure. It would be an experience of a lifetime. An experience for them to be tested physically, to grow spiritually, and to marvel at the beauty of the western United States.

In the outline of this experience they wrote, “This bicycle ultimate experience may be compared to life and how prepared we are for it. Like life, we will experience many ups and downs during the trip. How we handle these ups and downs will determine if we will fail or succeed. We will have to listen to those with more experience to help us prepare to meet the challenge of the trip. By finishing the 500 miles we will know that we can accomplish anything if we prepare for it.”

Although the boys were determined to complete the journey, not all of the parents were convinced their sons would actually go through with this.

Brother Rowley, the father of team member Johan Rowley, recounts, “When my son, Johan, came home and reported that they were planning a 500-mile bike ride, I was not very convinced, and didn’t really take him very seriously. I was sure they were dreaming and would come to their senses eventually.”

Ultimate Preparation

But the team did take their task seriously and began training within three months of their planning meeting. The diligent boys started their first day of training with a 12-mile ride. Eventually, they worked up to a 100-mile ride in order to prepare for the grand journey that lay ahead. And that’s not all, the young men spent time planning the trip, building a budget, and creating guiding spiritual principles.

And that’s not the only preparation these young men did. The group also spent time planning the trip, building a budget, and creating guiding spiritual principles.

The trip would last six days across four states, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah. To ensure they were prepared, they created a packing list requiring the following items:

  • Scriptures
  • Journal material
  • Bicycle
  • Bicycle helmet
  • Sleeping Pad
  • Sleeping bag
  • Bicycle mounted water bottles (at least 2)
  • Bicycle repair kit
  • Change of shirts
  • Change of pants
  • Extra socks (at least 8 pairs of socks)
  • Extra tire tubes for your bicycle
  • Personal hygiene material
  • Eating utensils including plates
  • Towel (at least 2)
  • Duffle bag
  • Warm Coat
  • Jacket
  • Personal medication

Everyone decided on $80.00 as the necessary budget for the trip. Each member of the trip would help contribute. Meals would cost $6.00 a day, gas for support vehicles would cost $30.00, campgrounds would cost $5.00, and miscellaneous expenses would cost $3.00.

The team used D&C 89:18-21 to create overall guiding spiritual principles, but they added the words “ride” and “riding” to the scriptures.

18. And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking (riding) in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

19. And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

20. And shall run (ride) and not be weary, and shall walk (ride) and not faint.

21. And I, the Lord, give unto thee a promise; that the destroying angel shall pass by then, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

For a full list of the principles, click on one of the images below. (These images came from the original plan created by Varsity Scouts team 30).

Arriving at West Yellowstone

After months of preparation, the team headed off on May 30, 1992, toward West Yellowstone, MT. Once they arrived, the team set up camp and spent the day enjoying the beauty of Yellowstone.

The following day, the boys helped prepare the sacrament at the West Yellowstone branch. Ironically, it just so happened to be fast Sunday for the branch, but no one complained. The boys split up after

church so they could take some time to ponder and write in their journals about their experience. Hours later, at 8:00 PM, the group headed back to the church to help with the later sacrament service that was held. After the meeting concluded, a miracle took place.

Brother Rowley writes, “That night, after returning to camp, we encountered our first difficulty. My son, Johan was complaining of a severe sore throat and could hardly swallow. The pain was so bad that he could not constrain the tears, even front of his peers. He asked me if I could give him a blessing and I immediately understood why the spirit had prompted me to take along that small bottle of oil from my dresser drawer.”

He gave his son a beautiful blessing of healing. Additionally, before bed, the quorum prayed that Johan would be healed–his illness was gone by morning.

Beginning the 500-Mile Bike Ride

On Monday, June 1, 1992, the Varsity Scout team began the Ultimate Experience – Summer 1992. The bikers headed toward Old Faithful. During their journey, they saw elk, buffalo, moose, wolves, and beautiful scenes of nature. They pedaled up steep mountains and tallied 99 miles by days end.

As the day concluded, the group met up at Colter Bay for a hearty meal of spaghetti. Lucky for the boys, the support vehicle team was in charge of the meals, which allowed the boys to focus completely on biking.

The next day proved to be the longest day of the entire journey. In total, the team traveled 132 miles up and down the mountains. While traveling down the canyon along Snake River, the group encountered heavy headwinds, preventing them from going beyond 18 mph. Soon after that, the boys rode through a lightning storm and were doused in rain. The day ended with the boys speeding downhill towards camp at 55 mph.

24 hours later, the young men were blessed to experience a much less difficult day (this was much needed because Thursday was by far the most challenging). The boys traveled 72 miles taking them through Idaho and into Utah. The group checked into to camp around 2:00 PM and relaxed for the better part of the day.

Pedaling Through The Refiner’s Fire

Although Wednesday had been a relaxing day, Thursday was the polar opposite. The journey began with the team traveling to Wyoming and back to Utah. But the boys spent the day battling severe headwinds. The conditions became so difficult that they got off their bikes and began walking them along the dusty roads. Morale began to decrease and everyone became incredibly discouraged.

The conditions became so difficult that they got off their bikes and began walking them along the dusty roads. It seemed like the day would never end.

But these boys had prepared physically and spiritually for challenging times like this. They knew that they weren’t alone on this journey. With faith in his heart, Varsity Team Captain Jason Burr invited everyone to call upon the Lord for help. The faithful members dropped to their knees and petitioned the Lord to change the headwinds.

The faithful members dropped to their knees and petitioned the Lord to change the headwinds. The team mounted their bicycles and headed off again with faith that Heavenly Father would bless them. He did. Minutes later, the winds disappeared and were replaced with strong tailwinds.

This heavenly help enabled the boys to push through the refiner’s fire and on to the next destination. Before heading to bed, the young men offered a prayer of gratitude and thanks to the Lord.

Completing the Ultimate Experience

The morning after, the group was in for a real treat. It started off with a tough 20-mile uphill climb to the top of Bald Mountain Pass (10,200 ft in elevation) and ended with a 20-mile downhill joyride. Everyone had a blast, reaching blistering speeds of 58 mph.

“It was a picture-perfect example of Scouting at it’s best with a Priesthood Purpose behind every move.”

Since it was a much shorter ride, the group reached camp by noon. Additionally, Friday happened to be the same time as the annual Aaronic Priesthood outing. The group gathered with several fathers, brothers, and sons from the ward.

The enlarged group had a wonderful time together sharing stories, listening to spiritual messages by their inspired leaders, and eating some delicious food.

When Saturday had arrived, everyone was ready to complete the Ultimate Experience and get back home. Pedaling furiously, the team arrived home and dropped to their knees yet again. They offered another prayer of thanksgiving to their Father in Heaven, thanking him for all of his assistance along their journey.

Just like that, the team had completed 500 miles. They had grown physically, spiritually, and mentally. According to Brother Rowley, “It was a picture-perfect example of Scouting at it’s best with a Priesthood Purpose behind every move.”

Complete Your Own Ultimate Experience

Traveling 500 miles is daunting, but if it’s something that you and your troop or youth would be interested in check out the link here.

Contained is a 20-page document with the entire plan this faithful group followed to complete their experience of a lifetime.

We would love to hear about your Ultimate Experiences! Feel free to share them in the comments section below.








































































 

Author: Kimball Vaughn | PR Marketing Associate, Utah National Parks Council

The post 500-Mile Bike Ride Forever Changes Scouts Spiritually and Physically appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

Scout Me In and Scouts BSA: How the Program Name Change Affects You

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Today the Boy Scouts of America unveiled the new name of the Boy Scout program, changing it to  “Scouts BSA” for older boys and girls ages 11-17 to ensure all youth feel welcome and can see themselves in Scouting. With a scheduled launch on Feb. 1, 2019, boys and girls in separate troops who are part of Scouts BSA will be known as Scouts. Just as before, these Scouts will earn merit badges, go camping and work toward the Eagle Scout Award. 

“Scout Me In” is the new campaign that features family Scouting in its iconic Cub Scout program for the first time. Starting this summer, all kids are invited to say, “Scout Me In,” as they join the fun, adventure and character-building opportunities found in Cub Scouts. The campaign presents the Scouting experience that speaks to kids and parents by putting them in the middle of the action and fun of Scouting. 

See BSA’s original press release for more information: The BSA Launches Historic ‘Scout Me In’ Campaign Inviting Girls and Boys to Experience Adventures Through a Cub Scout’s Point of View

What Do These Changes Mean for Scouts in the Utah National Parks Council?

Honestly, not much. The choice to implement family Scouting is the choice of each chartered partner. Our largest chartered partner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has announced they will not implementing this change at this time. Other chartered partners may choose to include all-girl Cub Scout dens starting June 11, 2018. Here’s a story of the 4 units in our council that have already adopted family Scouting through the early adopter program

In fact, in the Utah National Parks Council has served young women for years through our properties and programs. For example, last year we had 20 combined girls camps and youth conferences at various camping properties. 5,400 Activity Day Girls enjoyed Cub Scout adventures at Camp Jeremiah Johnson in 2017. We also had our first all-girl Klondike at Maple Dell Scout Camp. 

Click here to register your young women for camping adventures.

The Utah National Parks Council offers a variety of programs from Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts to STEM Scouts, Exploring and Venturing. Our chartered partners are in the best position to decide which programs most appropriately meet the needs of their youth. We provide support, training, materials, and venues for our partners to use the programs they choose. 

We are grateful to all our chartered partners and are excited to continue to serve all the youth in our area.

Questions and Answers About Scouts BSA

Q: Will the name of the organization change?

A: No, the organization’s name will continue to be Boy Scouts of America.

Q: When will the change from Boy Scouts to Scouts BSA be effective?

A: The scheduled launch date for Scouts BSA is Feb. 1, 2019.

Q: What will the members of the program be called?

A: Scouts — same as today. A boy or girl might say, “I’m in Scouts BSA. I’m a Scout.”

Q: Will the Boy Scout Handbook be updated to reflect the new name?

A: Yes.

Q: What does the change to Scouts BSA mean for Venturing?

A: Nothing about Venturing will change. The BSA’s program for boys and girls ages 14 to 20 (or 13 and done with the 8th grade) will continue as normal.

Melany Gardner2

 

Author: Melany Gardner | Marketing and PR Director, Utah National Parks Council

The post Scout Me In and Scouts BSA: How the Program Name Change Affects You appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

How to Support and Integrate Older Boys in the Troop

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Though The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be no longer be a chartered-partner with the Boy Scouts of America beginning in 2020, most LDS units will continue the Scouting experience. That means there is still a need to know how to support and integrate older boys into the troop.

So, what are ways that you can include older boys in the troop and still continue to give them a quality experience full of adventure?

Create a Patrol

Create a patrol(s) specifically for the older boys. The older youth will have the opportunity to be among their peers and do activities that fit their age group, but still be a part of the troop. The Patrol Method explains perfectly the purpose of the patrol and why it would make sense to create an older boy patrol:

“…The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in small groups where they can easily relate to each other…”

Below is a side-by-side comparison of a traditional Scout troop and an LDS Scout troop. As you can see, the LDS church already separates its young men by age. Use this to your advantage in developing the patrols within your troop.


HELPFUL TIP: A great technique that the LDS church uses is to begin each activity or meeting with opening exercises together as a troop, and then separate into “classes” (patrols). You can use this method to still maintain socialization between all groups. 

Assign Leadership Positions

Did you know that in 2017, within the Utah National Parks Council, 67% of young men achieved the Eagle rank after age 16? Why is this important to know? Because Scouting is still relevant to older Scouts. The best way to support an older boy earning his Eagle is to assign them to a leadership position. The following leadership positions qualify for the Eagle rank:

Deliver Quality Activities

As youth get older, their interests will start to change. That doesn’t mean they’ll no longer be interested in Scouts, it just means that the activities they plan and participate in need to be even more adventurous! The mindset needs to change as youth get older, it is not so much about advancement anymore, but about high-quality activities.

Luckily, some of the Council camps are specifically designed for exciting, high adventure activities. Older youth are encouraged to attend one of these camps to experience thrilling (and safe) adventures under the care of trained professionals. Here are a few of the Council’s most popular camps:

Beaver High Adventure Base

“Beaver High Adventure Base, located in Beaver, Utah, provides an exciting program tailored for older youth and large church groups.”

 

Entrada High Adventure Base

“Entrada is located outside of Moab, Utah near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and has a unique desert program that offers a wide range of mountain biking, canyoneering and more!”

 

Maple Dell Scout Camp

“Maple Dell Scout Camp is located up Payson Canyon and is accessible year-round by a paved road. A high ropes course, zip line, shooting sports and kayaking are just a few amenities that this camp has to offer.”

Another great resource that will help educate you on delivering an empowering program is using the Program Features guides. There are three in-depth volumes full of ideas, leadership techniques, resources, and more. You can find the Program Features on www.utahscouts.org/roundtable.


The Utah National Parks Council is committed to serving LDS youth through the next 19 months by helping them continue their Scouting experience, even after 2020. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to support older boys within the troop to either help them earn their Eagle rank or set them up for success when transferring to another troop.

As a leader, it is your responsibility to keep them engaged with high-quality activities, educate them on the importance of leadership positions and include them throughout the rest of their Scouting adventure.

Have you had a successful troop experience with your older boys? Let us know!

 

Author: Maloree Anderson | is a photographer, graphic designer, mom of one, friend of Scouting and Marketing Specialist with the Utah National Parks Council, Boy Scouts of America.

The post How to Support and Integrate Older Boys in the Troop appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

Top 4 Comments on LDS – BSA Announcement

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced this past week that, starting on Jan. 1, 2020, it will shift the focus of its youth programs toward serving an increasingly global membership. There was a mixed response as many Scouters began wondering what this news means for the BSA and reflected on their time in the program. From what we have experienced since this big announcement, it seems that many LDS church members are still positive about Scouting and will continue the Scouting experience.

Across the internet, these are our favorite comments we’ve found from Scouters as they share their thoughts about this change. 

Blessed by Scouting 

Timothy Brady, a member of the LDS church and an avid Scouter emailed us and said “I have been involved one way or another in Boy Scouts since 2nd grade. Best thing that ever happened to me. I still have my Bobcat pin. I feel that much of who I am and my success can be attributed to Boy Scouts. I am a BOY SCOUT! I’m proud that I earned Eagle Scout. “Earned” is the key-word. I’m also proud that my brother and two sons and many of their friends also earned Eagle Scout. This is not a coincidence. I’ve lived Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorers, both as a participant and Leader. I’m proud of that and Blessed by that. Very blessed. THANK YOU BOY SCOUTS!” 

Brady’s gratitude to the program shows the positive impact that Scouting has had on many lives. He is an example of how the lessons learned from being a Scout last a lifetime. 

Thank You Scouts 

On our Facebook page, Michael Terry explains his understanding of and excitement about Scouting’s future. “The Church will no longer charter Scouting units because they will be launching a new program that meets the needs of their increasingly global membership,” he says, quoting the statement from the LDS church. 

“That sounds very exciting,” Terry remarks. “I hope the Church’s new program will also meet the needs of [all] members as well. Thank you Scouts BSA and the Utah National Parks Council for your efforts and willingness to do so.”

A New Adventure

One commenter on this Bryan on Scouting article about the LDS Church’s announcement, Jessica Hankins, says that she is “Praying for the success of every leader who chooses to make the change to a community unit. Learning new ways to implement familiar programs isn’t easy but it’s an adventure!” 

Hankins makes a great point about this change. The LDS church’s decision to no longer charter scouting organizations means that there is a huge opportunity for involved leaders to form community units. And it will definitely be an adventure! 

Still A Quality Youth Program

Finally, on the same Bryan on Scouting article, LDS Scouter David Stein shared his thought about the matter. 

“I am an LDS Scouter fortunate enough to serve as our Troop’s Scoutmaster for 14 years.” He says. “I believe in the Scouting program – but perhaps ‘believe’ is not the right word. Since I’ve actually seen & witnessed the benefits and fruits of Scouting, you might say I ‘know’ Scouting to be a great organization for providing character development, skills & leadership training, numerous adventure opportunities, and association with high-quality individuals.”

“I’m thankful my Eagle Scout son grew up during the time frame the Church chartered a Troop,” he continues. “He’s had so many fun adventures, opportunities, & experiences he wouldn’t have had without Cub & Boy Scouts – including two National Jamborees & multiple high adventures. He is 18 and graduating in a few weeks and Scouting has been a big part of his preparation to go be successful in life. If I had another son (let’s say 10 years old), he would be a Boy Scout too – we would just participate in one of the many fine units chartered by another local church or organization.”

Stein says that, as a parent, he “wouldn’t treat this as the church suggesting LDS youth not participate in Scouting.” That is a great way to put it, as the LDS Church is still encouraging youth to participate in Scouting. 

 He continues: “The church also doesn’t sponsor Cross Country Teams, Track Teams, ROTC units, Swim Teams, Music Lessons, Academic Teams, etc. but all of those have also been components of my son’s development. If families don’t think twice about signing their kids up for soccer, football, art, or drama outside of the church, they should have no reservations about getting them involved in Scouting.”

“I’ve had many former Scouts ranging from college students to adults with families express gratitude for the role Scouting played in their growth & development and the many happy memories of their adventures. This is not limited to church Scouting. My son participated in Cub Scouts both at our church and in the Pack chartered by his school (where I served as his Den Leaders). Earlier this week, I attended my son’s senior awards night and I smiled when I recognized that four boys from that Den were among those presented with prestigious awards or scholarships. Not that I’m crediting myself or Cub Scouts for their success, but it speaks to the quality of the program and families who choose to involve their children in Scouting.” 

The Utah National Parks Council is Still Committed

 David Stein’s comments are a great example of why LDS members everywhere are still positive about Scouting. And all of these comments show that even during times of change, there are always people who are excited about Scouting and willing to participate. This change creates a great opportunity for passionate Scouters to lead the charge on creating community units. 

The Utah National Parks Council is still committed to serving LDS youth through the next 19 months by helping them continue their Scouting experience, even after 2020. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to support youth to either help them earn their Eagle rank or set them up for success when transferring to another troop.

 

If you have questions about this change, what opportunities are still available or how to form your own community unit, leave a comment below!

The post Top 4 Comments on LDS – BSA Announcement appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

Join the Scout Choir and Perform at the Midway Swiss Days Festival!

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The hills are alive with the sound of music! Midway’s Swiss Days festival has invited the Utah National Parks Scout Choir to serenade their crowds of thousands on Saturday, Sep. 1, 2018.

This cherished, traditional event which Midway has held since the 1940s boasts excellent food, charming entertainment, and family fun for all ages. The festival will be home to over 190 different vendors, includes a parade, 10K race, and is supported by over 2,000 volunteers each year. More information, including how to be a volunteer, can be found on their website: https://midwayswissdays.com/

With such an eager audience and this exciting opportunity, the Scout Choir is reaching out and encouraging all scouting voices to join!

Who can be a part of the choir? 

Scouters of all ages, fathers, leaders, Den Mothers, etc.,

What will the choir sing?

The program currently consists of familiar, patriotic music.

What does the choir wear?

Singers will be given an originally-designed Scout Choir neckerchief to wear with their Class A uniforms.

When are practices? 

Rehearsals for this event will be held from 7:00-8:30 p.m. on the following dates:

Thursday August 9th

Thursday, August 16th

Thursday August 30th

Where are practices?  

The Orem Council Office auditorium, located at 748 North 1340 West, Orem, Utah 84057

 

Whether as a part of the choir, a community volunteer, or an enthusiastic guest, we hope to see you there!

 

Please contact McKenna Hunt for more information:

P 801.437.6213 | mckenna.hunt@scouting.org

The post Join the Scout Choir and Perform at the Midway Swiss Days Festival! appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

Join us at the Celebration of Eagles – October 26th, 2018

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This year the Utah National Parks Council, Boy Scouts of America will celebrate the virtues of Scouting at the Celebration of Eagles on October 26th at the Adobe Lehi Building. This black-tie event will begin with mingling among prominent community members and fellow Scouters and feature hors-d’oeuvres and music. Doors open for check-in starting at 6 with the reception beginning at 7. The one-hour awards ceremony will begin at 8. Adobe will also be providing facility tours to interested parties.

The Celebration of Eagles event is an annual ceremony to honor adult Eagle Scouts who have devoted their lives to service and have become leaders in their communities and in the world. This year, we will be honoring outstanding community leaders at an elegant reception as they receive either Outstanding or Distinguished Eagle Scout Awards. 

These men have devoted a lifetime to their profession, avocation, community, and beliefs, at great sacrifice to themselves and their families. Each recipient will receive recognition worthy of a lifetime’s accomplishments.

We have made some great changes to this year’s event. It will be held at the Adobe Lehi Building. It will also feature inspiring speakers, exciting entertainment, and elegant hors-d’oeuvres. 

Val Hale, journalist and Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development,  will address attendees as a guest speaker. 

We are very excited to recognize these outstanding men and reminisce with them about nights around the campfire and their adventures in the great outdoors.  

For a downloadable version of this flyer, click here.

Join Us

Support Scouting in your community and join us as we honor these outstanding men. Tickets can be purchased for $100/person.

To RSVP and acquire tickets please contact Sonya at the BSA Council Offices at 801-437-4468 Sonya.Schiffman@Scouting.org by October 20, 2018.

Proceeds from the event will benefit our year-round camping programs and S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, math) outreach.

Many sponsorship opportunities are available. To sponsor a program ad or find out about other sponsorship opportunities, contact Sonya at the BSA Council Offices at 801-437-4468 Sonya.Schiffman@Scouting.org by October 20, 2018. 

 

 

Author: Utah_Natl_Parks_Std_4C - Copy

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Family Scouting: Fun for the Entire Family

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Families today are busier and more diverse than ever. “The BSA believes we owe it to families to structure our program offerings in a way that fits into their busy lives to deliver character development and values-based leadership training that Scouting promises.” Thus, Family Scouting was introduced.

The new Family Scouting program benefits families because it opens the door for both sons and daughters to participate in outdoor adventures and character building exercises with their parents. The Scouting community, including volunteers, donors, and professional staff, are all in full support of family inclusion within the BSA. And although you have probably heard a lot about Family Scouting over the past few months, we want to make sure you aren’t missing any of the key facts.

Girls in Scouting

With this new program, girls are able to join both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and participate alongside their brothers. Girls were able to join Cub Scouts earlier this year (June 2018), while girls 11 to 17 will be able to join Scouts BSA, formerly known as Boy Scouts, in February of 2019.

This program will not interfere with the BSA’s current commitment to build the Boy Scout community. The BSA saw and addressed the need for families to find easier ways to spend quality time together.

Packs and Dens

Existing chartered partners have several choices to make when it comes to Family Scouting. They can either: 1) establish a new girl pack, 2) establish a pack that consists of girl dens and boy dens, or 3) remain an all-boy pack

The dens will be either all girl or all boy—there are no co-ed dens. The decision to make dens single-gendered came from the uniquely built and structured programs of the BSA that have historically proven to benefit our single-gender programs.

Curriculum and Uniform

The current curriculum and programs in place at the BSA are relevant to both girls and boys. That is why the BSA has chosen to keep these awesome programs the same. It will be all the same hiking, camping, outdoor activities, and character building programs as seen in previous years. Programs build upon the Scout values which are valuable guidelines for your sons and daughters. The uniforms for the girls will mostly remain the same with some alterations to fit and style for comfortability.

Any other questions regarding the addition of girls to the Boy Scouts of America program can be found here.

Family Scouting in the Utah National Parks Council

Family Scouting has been a success here at Utah National Parks Council with our early adopter program. This program offered councils the ability to extend to chartered partners the option to enroll girls in the Cub Scout program before it officially launched in June of 2018. There are already three packs participating in the early adopter program with more to come this fall.

Want your son or daughter to join in on the adventure? Click here!

Upcoming Family Events 

There are several events on the Utah National Parks Council’s calendar that Scouts and their families can get involved in:

The Boy Scouts of America is excited to extend its values to the entire family. Now girls, boys, mothers, fathers, cousins, friends, grandparents, and everyone can participate in and live Scouting’s adventure.


Have questions? Email family.scouting@scouting.org or help@utahscouts.org.

Start your Scouting adventure today!

Author: Nicole Balmforth | Marketing Associate, Utah National Parks Council

The post Family Scouting: Fun for the Entire Family appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

Exemplary Eagle Scouts and Their Stories Part 2

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As an organization that is proud of its members, we like to reflect on the exemplary Scouts we’ve had the opportunity to shape. These Scouts worked hard to become Eagle Scouts and have continued to work hard throughout their life. They represent perfectly the core values of the BSA. Here’s part 2 of our Exemplary Eagle Scout series. 

Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr.

You may have heard of Gerald Ford Jr. before because he is the first ever Eagle Scout to become the president of the United States. Ford took over the presidency after President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 due to the Watergate scandal. He accomplished restoring dignity to the office while it was implicated in the scandal. Ford worked in many other government fascets. He was elected to Congress in Michigan’s 5th Congressional District and served as vice president for 10 months.

As a young man, Gerald joined a Boy Scout troop in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Three years in the troop was all it took for Gerald to advance to the Eagle Scout rank. Boy Scouts have served in the governor’s honor guard during every summer since 1929. Ford participated that first year. Gerald also played football when he was younger and excelled as an athlete. 

William Henry Gates Sr.

Father of Bill Gates Jr., William Gates Sr., is known for the many hats he wears. He’s a philanthropist, lawyer, and author. He also enlisted in the U.S. Army service during World War II to help fight and defend our nation. To continue his service to our country, William founded the Preston Gates Ellis firm. There he practiced upholding the law and defending others in courtrooms. He worked at the firm until 1998. His retirement led to more worthwhile work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation works to reduce inequality in our society. 

Both William and his son Bill Gates were Scouts. Gates was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout award about 25 years after earning his Eagle Scout rank. The award was given to William because of his civic and business successes.

Stephen Gerald Breyer

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer speaks during the National Days of Remembrance commemoration. Photo by Bill Clark/Roll Call

Stephen Breyer, a distinguished Eagle Scout, has been serving on the Supreme Court for over two decades. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. The court tends to strike down or uphold laws based upon their interpretation of the constitution. In August of 1994, Breyer took his oath to the Supreme Court. Breyer is known for being liberal and pragmatic in his court decisions. Earlier in his career, he began working in the government as a clerk for the Associate Supreme Court Justice, Arthur Goldberg, showing his duty to country. He went on to work for our government at the Justice Department and later was named to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit.

Breyer was a member of Troop 14 in San Francisco. He enjoyed the simple acts such as helping clean up the campsites and doing service projects. These projects were all important life lessons to Breyer as he practiced the Scout values whilst doing good. Both Breyer and his brother attained the rank of Eagle Scout while in Scouting. 

Share your exemplary Eagle Scout stories in the comments below!

Read more from the Exemplary Eagle Scout Stories Series:

Author: Nicole Balmforth | Marketing Associate, Utah National Parks Council

The post Exemplary Eagle Scouts and Their Stories Part 2 appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

The New Eric Dowdle Puzzle: Voted Best Christmas Gift to Give this Year

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Just in time for Christmas, our Camp Maple Dell puzzle by Eric Dowdle is now on sale and will be the season’s best gift to give! See the familiar sites of the Utah National Parks Council’s flagship camp come to life with energetic Scouts, famous Scouting figures and more. Order yours today and help build the future of our camps.

You can get this puzzle online or in a Council Scout Office for only $10!

Order your puzzle HERE

The Best Christmas Gift

Puzzles will be on sale for $10.00, plus shipping if ordered online, making this the perfect gift for all your puzzle-loving friends, family members and co-workers. Your purchase also goes towards supporting the camps of the Utah National Parks Council.

You can order these puzzles HERE or at utahscouts.org/puzzle

Renowned folk artist Eric Dowdle captivates people of all ages with wit, charm and detail in his artwork. His quirky and infectious personality is represented in his collection of hundreds of scenes from across the United States, and around the world. These paintings are highly valued by collectors, and this new painting featuring our flagship camp is sure to be a hit this Christmas.

See Your Family in the New Eric Dowdle Painting

Did you know YOU can be in Eric Dowdle’s Camp Maple Dell painting?

To thank our Keepers of the Flame for investing in our youth, Eric Dowdle will paint you and your family members into this painting!

To be painted in, simply join or upgrade your Keepers of the Flame donations from $1,000 to $2,500 a year and you and your family can be painted into Eric Dowdle’s new masterpiece!

Upon your upgrade, you will receive a limited edition of the painting, a key of your family location in the painting, a free puzzle and a signed thank you letter from Eric Dowdle for your support to Scouting.

The amount of family members that can be painted in and the size of the painting is determined by a member’s level of Keepers of the Flame. Each level is obtained by the donation of an annual gift for three consecutive years. For example, a Life Member gives $5,000 a year for three years – a $15,000 donation. Levels of recognition are as follow: 

Gold Eagle Palm Member $20,000/ year ($1,700/month) 40×50 canvas w/ linen liner and custom frame Up to 10 people painted in
Bronze Eagle Palm $10,000/year ($850/month) 32×40 canvas w/ linen liner and custom frame Up to 8 people painted in
Life Member $5,000/year ($420/month) 32×40 framed canvas Up to 5 people painted in
Star member $2,500/year ($210/month) 29×36 framed canvas Up to 2 people painted in
First Class Member $1,000/year ($85/month) 22×28 mounted canvas

To become a Keepers of the Flame member, call the Development Office here: 801-437-6225

or

reach out to your District Executive 

The Spirit of Scouting

There is something different – something special – about Scouting. No other movement can take a group of youth and teach them to be great. 

Since its formation four years ago, the Keepers of the Flame giving society has made a marked difference in the lives of Scouts in the Utah National Parks Council. These generous donors have funded programs, capital improvements at camps, and contributed to the endowment fund that will ensure the council can continue to work in the lives of youth for decades to come.

Donations from Keepers of the Flame provide quality Scouting programs, camps, facilities, and high adventure activities that help Boy Scouts build character, become participating citizens, develop personal fitness, and learn to do hard things.

Thank you for joining us as a member of the Keepers of the Flame. It is only through your support that we ensure that Scouting will thrive in our council.

 

 

Author: Madison Austin | Marketing Associate, Utah National Parks Council

The post The New Eric Dowdle Puzzle: Voted Best Christmas Gift to Give this Year appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

Scout Saver Cards Can Fund Your Dream Scout Year

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Scouting has many expenses, but you shouldn’t let that stop you from planning your dream year of Scouting. With Scout Saver Cards, you can earn the funds you need for your unit’s ideal year!

What to know about Scout Saver Cards

Scout Saver Cards

Check out this SAMPLE of the Scout Saver Cards and see some of the great discounts available!

The BSA has teamed up with Starving Student Cards, which is a discount card packed with hundreds of dollars of free stuff and over $4,000 in discounts which will help families save a lot of money all over town. You can sell cards to friends, families, and neighbors.

Scout Saver Cards sell for just $30 and 75 percent of it goes back to Scouting! $15 of every card stays with the unit and $7.50 goes back to local Scouting.

Individuals, Cub Packs, Scout Troops, Venturing Crews, Young Women Groups and Youth Ministry Groups can sell cards to raise money for the year’s activities. Use this Scouting Cost Calculator and estimate how many cards your unit needs to sell to fund your ideal year of Scouting.

How to sell Scout Saver Cards

Selling Scout Saver Cards is easy. Frist, star by picking up tickets to sell from your local Council Service Center or Scouting professional, possibly at a roundtable.

Sign out 5 cards to each Scout, having them initial each card. Scouts can then team up in pairs, or go as a group and do a blitz around the neighborhood. Take turns as to who gets the credit for each sale. It’s always a good idea to bring an adult and only visit friends, family, and neighbors you know.

Another great way to sell cards is to get permission from grocery stores to let Scouts stand out front and promote the cards to shoppers. Just like Girl Scouts can sell cookies, Boy Scouts can use this method to sell lots of cards quick.

It’s also important to have Scouts keep track of the names and phones number of the individuals purchasing cards. These individuals can then be approached again next year. As Scouts sell cards and turn in funds, always record their progress on the Scout Tracking Sheet. Sign out more Cards as needed.

You can always go to the Scout office for more cards if you run out.

Scout Show Tickets

Great discounts aren’t the only thing you will find on Scout Saver Cards. All cards also include a ticket to your local Scout Show!

Scout Shows are a great opportunity to let people from town come and see what Scouting is all about. They also provide for a fun day, filled with all the best things from Scouting. Scout Shows provide a day of inter-generational family fun through hands-on exhibits, displays and competitions. Only one ticket is needed per family, so a Scout Saver Card is the perfect way to get the whole family involved in a day of Scouting fun.

To purchase a Scout Show Ticket/Scout Saver Card contact a local Scouting troop or your local Scout office.

The Utah Valley Family Scout Show:

 April 27, 2019

at University Place Mall in Orem (North Outdoor Plaza)

10am – 4pm

Win a chance to go to Disneyland!

Selling Scout Saver Cards is not only a great way to raise funds for your year it is also a cool way to win some awesome prizes.

Prizes include free tickets to Lagoon Amusement Park and more. And the grand, and possibly most exciting, prize is a free trip to Disneyland!

Winning prizes is easy. For every 10 tickets sold, a Scout will have his or her name entered into a drawing for any of the awesome prizes.

Scout Saver Cards

Use Scout Saver Cards to fund your entire year!

We hope that you take advantage of this great opportunity to earn funds for your unit while helping your district raise funds for programs, activities and other expenses needed throughout the year!

 

Author: Madison Austin | Marketing Associate, Utah National Parks Council

The post Scout Saver Cards Can Fund Your Dream Scout Year appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.

How Scouts Can Help “Light the World” Week 3

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This Christmas, we are following along with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ “Light the World” movement. Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, spent much of His ministry caring for individuals, one by one. This movement encourages everyone to follow His example this Christmas and find ways to share our time, love, and resources with those in need.

Once a week, until Christmas, we will explore the ways Scouts and families can Light the World by helping others as Jesus Christ would. We hope you will follow along with us this holiday season and share your stories of how you and your Scouts have helped to Light the World.

Week 3: Light Your Family

This week of Light Your Family focuses on how serving your family can help bring the light of Christ into your homes. But what does it mean to serve your family? It means to help your family when they are struggling or to help out when you aren’t asked to. There are so many ways you can help each other and through that become closer to Christ.

Do a chore

It can be hard to keep the house, the yard, and or the car clean while taking care of the family. Provide an act of service for a family member to show them that these chores aren’t just their responsibility. Help them clean the house or do something thoughtful without asking for recognition. These acts of service will bring you and that family member closer. 

Show someone you care by writing a heartfelt letter

Put down the laptop and make the letter personal. Yes, we want you to pick up a pen and paper and write something from the heart. I know this can be challenging for some, but the act itself shows that you took time out of your day to think about your family member. I’m sure your family member will love whatever you have to say, just start writing.

Have a conversation with your loved ones

It’s nice to converse with others and share thoughts and feelings. The holiday season can be lonely and hard for some so reach out and call your grandparents, aunts and uncles, or a family member that is far from home. Put in the extra effort to listen and react with compassion and care. This act can help a family member relieve some stress, show support, and maintain family connections. 

Spend meaningful time together

Take time to unplug and connect with your family without distractions. Being free from technology is what really allows families to share in where they can laugh and talk together. The focus is on each other rather than the likes we get on social media. Here are some activities that allow you to spend meaningful time:

  • play a board game or card game
  • cook and eat with each other
  • arts and crafts
  • go camping
  • play a game of sports together

Group service with your family

Helping others with your family can be an empowering experience that brings you and your Scout closer together. In our previous weeks “Light the World” article, there are several ways in which you and your family can help others. 

These moments you share with family are perfect to reflect on the power of the Holy Spirit, the love and the ways you live and follow God.

 

The post How Scouts Can Help “Light the World” Week 3 appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.





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