Category Archives: Parents

T.L. Storer

Cub Scouts, Leaders, Parents, Scouts BSA, Venturing
STORER3

T.L. Storer

4 Adams Pond Road
Barnstead, NH 03218
(617) 272-3507

Click here to rent tent sites.
Click here to rent cabins.

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March 11th -13th - Winter Preparedness

They say that March in the Lakes Region comes in like a lion and out like a lamb; can you tame the winter lion here at T.L. Storer Scout Reservation? Join us for a weekend of winter wilderness survival, shooting sports & some winter cooking.  What is winter cooking? We will have recipes that are geared toward fueling the body in the colder months and easy to cook outdoors.  And of course we will have time for fun and adventure on the pond and trails.

When it’s time to eat we will have some farm fresh foods from our local farms right here in Barnstead, NH.  When it’s time for bed you can choose from a heated cabin or put up a tent and get those camping frost points.

Any Questions Contact [email protected]

Register Here for Winter Preparedness

April 20th-22nd - Horsemanship Program

As one of the few Scout Camps to offer Horsemanship this is a great opportunity to learn to safely enjoy riding a horse. They find out about the care and anatomy of horses. They show that they can groom a horse and care for the saddle and bridle. Participants demonstrate their knowledge by riding a horse and using a variety of skills. When its nap time for the horses we will explore the remarkable complexity of a forest and identify many species of trees and plants and the roles they play in a forest’s life cycle. You will find that forests change. You will discover some of the resources forests provide to humans and come to understand that people have a very large part to play in sustaining the health of forests

When it’s time to eat we will have some farm fresh foods from our local farms right here in Barnstead, NH.  When it’s time for bed you can choose from a cabin or put up a tent and get those camping nights.

Any Questions Contact [email protected]

Register Here for Horsemanship Program

May 20th-22nd - Complete Angler Weekend 

Come join us for a weekend of learning and fishing in beautiful Adams Pond, this course will cover the following:

  • Fishing safely
  • Knot tying
  • Proper use of different types of equipment
  • Fly tying
  • Leave no trace and the outdoor code
  • Cleaning and cooking fish
  • Fish and Wildlife conservation
  • And so much more…

 When it’s time to eat we will have some farm fresh foods from our local farms right here in Barnstead, NH.  When it’s time for bed you can choose from a cabin or put up a tent and get those camping nights.

Any Questions Contact [email protected]

Register Here for Angler Weekend
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Join Base Camp - Multiple Locations - Tons of Fun - Plenty of Perks

The Adventure Card provides access to thousands of outdoor activities, unlocks special member-only pricing, and provides early registration to events. With this membership, your family will have access to tons of adventures for all ages and skill levels, both in-person and online!

Purchase an Adventure Card Here

Eagle Scout

Eagle Scouts, Leaders, Parents

eagle

It is recommended that once a scout reaches Life Rank, they participate in a Life-to-Eagle Workshop. If one is not available, please reach out to your District Advancement Chair.

 

Eagle Scout Links

 

Once a Scout has completed the steps for Eagle Scout, they should reach out to the District Advancement Chair.

GE – Greg Paul
WW – Neil Thomas
FL – Joshua Kline
NL – Josh Huston
SOL – John Tumblin
GBH – Bob Wanamaker
BOF – Mark Svendsen

 

Any questions about the Eagle process can be directed to Jenny Trickett at [email protected].

Scouting Beyond the Coronavirus

Leaders, News, Parents

Blog submitted by Scout Executive, Chuck Eaton

We hope you and your circle of family and friends are doing well during this crisis.

Earlier this week, we shared our plans for providing summer programs to our scout families through a series of virtual meetings. Our plans will meet or exceed all the health and safety protocols and provide outdoor experiences that serve children this year. You can  view the Slide Show that we presented.

We deeply understand that children are only eight, eleven, or thirteen years old once in their life and each childhood year has unique development needs and opportunities. Children grow so much during each year. Their sense of right and wrong, their self-esteem and ability for self-reliance are uniquely developed during these childhood and adolescent years. Camp supports the development of these lifelong attributes. Losing a summer experience for adults is a disappointment, but for a child it could alter or inhibit the growth of their sense of self.

In addition to these concerns, family dynamics are also rapidly changing. Family members are experiencing unemployment, while another family member may have extreme work demands. Instant homeschooling and the pressures of cabin fever have been building for months. Camp provides relief to all those family pressures.

To meet these competing needs, and in trying to navigate the rapidly shifting and unstable forecasting, we realize the greatest attribute for Scouting and camp will be nimbleness and flexibility. The curve could flatten, and we’ll want to open camp; the curve could spike, and we’ll want to support stay at home measures. To generate the greatest flexibility, we’ve developed a “multi-modal and modular” structure. You can learn more about our thinking through a recent interview and podcast through WBZ, WZLX, WHDH and 101.7, IHeart radio stations and their New England Weekend Podcast. 

You can also see the elements of our Multi-Modal Programs and Modular Programs approach through NewEnglandBaseCamp.org

These solutions provide so much more support than simply answers to summer camp. The multi-modal and modular approach will provide value to Scouts and children well beyond the current crisis. The Spirit of Adventure Council is able to adapt and deliver quickly because of our innovative approach to supporting Scouting. In addition to our summer and fall plans, we are in discussions with several school districts and families so we can anticipate needs as students go back to school in September. Schools will clearly have to adapt to new social distancing standards which will impact bussing, cafeteria, classroom size and team sports. We believe this multi-modal and modular methodology will provide solutions to serve family’s child-care and educational needs.

The articles below address the potential changes to the education system based on Covid19. When reading articles like these or speaking with educators it becomes clear that Base Camp and Scouting is uniquely positioned to adapt and meet these needs.

“Neighbors may decide to form their own in-home learning co-ops, taking turns caring for and educating each other’s children while balancing their own work schedules..” (from the Forbes article, this sounds a lot like a Cub Scout den)

Comments from parents of children currently involved in Base Camp Online or our Home School programs:

“Thank you for taking your time to help Scouts like my son continue to be productive during this time! Have a great day!” – George Knox, Dad.

“Thank you for all that the Council is doing with remote learning opportunities.  You guys have done a great job of delivering meaningful content and providing for group interaction. And you started it early.” – Alex Earp

“You have been much needed support and consistency during a really stressful time for our family.” – Amanda Ciccolo, mom

He said, “I just can’t explain how fun it was.” That must be the greatest compliment for you as a teacher. For me as a parent, well, I am just so grateful. Thank you for making learning a magical experience for my sweet River. You are both so special to us.

Camperships

Cub Scouts, Parents, Scouts BSA
Donate Now to the Campership Fund

Thank you for considering making a donation to the campership fund. These funds are available to all Scouts and ensure that any Scout wishing to attend camp or participate in Scout programs can regardless of their family’s financial position. Last year we provided over $100,000 in camperships to Scouts from almost every one of our 76 communities and cities. Charitable contributions toward Camperships are restricted.

  • Camperships help create equity for all communities.

By providing year-round program enhancements, the Scout council enables all Scouts to have access to all that Scouting has to offer. The curriculum is robust and allows each Scout to design their own individualized learning program based on their interests. However, for many the interests outpace the resources available in their community. The Base Camp offerings put everything from Ice climbing to robotics to civic engagement in the hands of ALL SCOUTS. The Campership programs creates that even playing field that all children deserve.

The Campership program seeks to increase the number of children enjoying outdoor experiences at Spirit of Adventure Council camps and programs by providing financial assistance to our members who wish to participate in our programs. To be eligible, a family must complete an application form, including details regarding family situation and Scouting participation.

It is expected that the family will fund some portion of the child's expense; the Council will strive to subsidize the remainder. As a rule of thumb, the Council is willing to support funding based on need.

* All applications must be received at least four weeks prior to the program - but the earlier the better and families will have a greater chance of larger disbursements the earlier they apply.
* All funds will be awarded based on need and available funds. All applications will be considered on a first come first served basis.

Scouts can fill out the Campership form to apply for financial assistance HERE. 

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“How Do You Scout?”- Unit & Family Alignment Survey

Leaders, Parents

Submitted by Chuck Eaton, Scout Executive

Here is a BRAND NEW tool to help make sure that your unit values are aligned with the values of your Scout families!

DOWNLOAD the Facilitator Instructions
DOWNLOAD the Survey

Why Alignment is Important
Scouting is families working together to help raise each other’s kids. When we look at Scouting like this, it reminds us that Scouting is a community function. Each unit is a reflection of its families and charter organization.
There are some things in Scouting which we require be done the same way:

  1. We must adhere to Scouting safety guidelines at all times to ensure that everyone feels physically, emotionally, and socially safe.
  2. We require all our members to do their best to adhere to Scout Oath & Law – to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

There are other areas of Scouting that provide units the chance to make it their own. Each parent brings their unique skills to the group, and the Scouts learn skills that range from music, to camping, robotics, first aid and everything in between. However, like all communities and families, sometimes discord evolves out of the peace and fun. We understand that people see the world differently and therefore they have different expectations for how Scouting fits into their family.  It is important that we know that there are lots of ways to do Scouting.  

We find families and parents work best and develop harmony when all the families are aligned.
To help our Scout families self-identify what’s important to the group assembled, we recommend each family fill out the quick but insightful family alignment tool. This tool which we call “How do you Scout?” calculates the program features and intensity of those features that are most important to the families in your unit. Then it provides a simple chart for each of the 8 areas of alignment to help the families know their starting point on each topic, as well as the intensity level.

The purpose is to inform and equip you with some ideas and language to have conversations to figure out what your family priorities are and whether the unit can run in a way that is respectful of your wishes. By identifying possible areas mis-alignment, the adults can make conscious and intentional decisions about those topics.

We suggest an annual family meeting of all the parents in a unit to go through the group results. This way, each year all the parents can reaffirm “How they want to Scout.” Our hope is that if we all do this, we will increase the chance that everyone can find the right group of people to Scout with.
In order to get the most out of this experience, there are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Our plan is to understand how your family wants to participate in Scouting and use that to determine fit with the unit.
  • People don’t always agree, but that’s okay.
  • We all have a voice in the unit.
  • We understand that everyone is doing what they think is right for their family.
  • We must trust each other to be genuine.

Happy Scouting!

Chuck Eaton
Scout Executive

How NeXus Camps Are Prepared for Girl Troops

Leaders, Parents, Venturing

Download this Guide 

NeXus Camps have accommodated co-ed and entirely female groups in the past with no significant issues. This is how we have developed procedures and prepared facilities to provide equal opportunity for all to enjoy our campgrounds.

Staff

  • All activities are appropriate for all campers. Regarding interaction with staff members, Youth Protection Guidelines are adhered to at all times. For example, there will never be any camper alone with an adult staff member. See YPT Guidelines and the Guide to Safe Scouting

 

  • Nurses at camp are medical professionals and are processed as BSA employees, whether they are male or female. The nurses station stocks feminine products.

 

  • With a female troop, at least one female leader is required to accompany the Scouts to camp. This female leader does not need to be present at all activities as long as the buddy system and Youth Protection rules are followed.

 

  • The Buddy System requires that a youth be paired with at least one other youth. Youth Protection Guidelines encourage self-selection and having the youths close in age.

 

  • Units and leaders are supported and empowered to increase the strictness of the buddy system or provide additional adults in their responsibility to ensure the safety of their Scouts.

 

Facilities

  • All campsite bathrooms (latrines) have enclosed walls and locking doors, even though the walls do not touch the ground. Camp-wide bathrooms have separate stations for males and females. Additionally, all around camp near to program areas, there are either latrines or flush-toilet facilities.

 

  • Shower facilities are fully enclosed and separate for male and females. If there is a large group of females in camp, then there will be a pre-set schedule to rotate the usage of the showerhouses as per Youth Protection Guidelines.

 

  • At the waterfront, there will be separate changing stations available.

 

Campsites

  • Only boy troops and girl troops that are chartered with the same organization, “linked troops,” are permitted to share a campsite. A shared campsite must be large enough to allow for a clear separation of youth housing sections.

 

  • All units must follow Youth Protection Training tenting policy, which states that youth campers must be of the same gender and close in age in order to tent together.

 

Welcome to your Scouting Journey!

Cub Scouts, Parents

Welcome to Scouting! Scouting is an adventure for YOU and your children.

For your child, it’s an adventure filled with camping, swimming, learning new and unique skills and making new friends. For you, it’s actually much of the same. You’ll likely find many new friends through your local Scout unit, other parents who are dealing with the excitement and challenges that come from parenting.

There is no greater joy than watching your child learn a new skill and beam with pride as he or she yells “Mom, look at me!” or “Dad, look what I can do!” as they demonstrate that new skill.

The Scouting curriculum has enough depth for everyone! Unlike many enrichment programs, Scouting follows your child’s natural curiosities. If she finds herself interested in science, the program has badges and opportunities for her. If he finds himself interested in music or theater, he’ll probably want to work on those badges. Of course, the core curriculum includes camping, first aid, wilderness survival and citizenship, so those aspects are core to every Scout’s experience.

YOU are in charge of your child’s Scouting experience. Scouting builds community because through Scouting all the parents in your community will work together to help raise each other’s kids. In Cub Scouting, the leadership shifts from person to person based on the situation.This is a big part of the secret of the Scouting curriculum. By collaborating as a group of families, your child benefits from the best skills and talents each family has to offer.

Of course, Scouting needs some parents to step forward and serve as leaders to facilitate the activities, but every parent has a role. The parent who is great with woodworking can share his or her talents to help families build pinewood derby cars, whereas the parent who is naturally organized may coordinate the camping trips, and the foodie parent might help design the camping menu or the year end banquet. Regardless of your skill – there is a place for you in Scouting and a place for you in the Scouting community.  

The curriculum support is more than the book. The curriculum is best described as your child’s handbook. However, Scouting provides the resources to help the parents deliver the curriculum, far beyond those activities found in the book that many parents can’t pull together on their own. Most often this means camps, canoes, archery equipment, lakes and pools, lifeguards, rock climbing equipment and staff, 3D printers, robots, and thousands of other activities that are called on by the curriculum.

WE WANT YOU TO USE ALL SCOUTING’S RESOURCES. We operate about 2,000 acres of camp property in MA and NH, own over 215 buildings, are blessed with over 4,000 volunteers, and  have corporate relationships with dozens of Boston area family activities and attractions. You should seek to use as many as possible! Your Adventure Card, which is part of your Cub Scout membership, is the ticket to all these resources.

As always, if you have any questions about this blog or the resources mentioned – please don’t hesitate to call the local Scouting help desk 617-615-0004.

Added Value to the Adventure Card

Cub Scouts, Leaders, Parents, Scouts BSA
Submitted by:  Mariama Sano, Spirit of Adventure Council’s Development Campaign Manager

By now – most Cub Scout packs, dens and families have started using their Adventure Cards for several purposes. Entrance to either Base Camp (Lone Tree or Milton), discounts for Winter Camp, STEM camp, Day Camp, cabin rentals or other programs and services offered through the council. Additionally, most of our Venturers and Boy Scouts are also starting to increase the usage of card through high adventure programs, training programs and summer camp. Also, we are seeing a dramatic increase in Scoutbook usage which stitches all the programs together creating an individualized learning experience for each Scout.

But that’s all old news – Now your Adventure Card is gaining a new set of benefits! Be sure to check out the website and Facebook for updates and discounts for family attractions all around Boston! Below read about the first few benefits that are included in with your Adventure Card.

 

Boston Duck Tours

Boston Duck Tours is a great way to start off a visit to Boston. You get a great overview of the city through many unique neighborhoods as you splash into the Charles River for a breathtaking view of the Boston and Cambridge skylines.

A Scout group will receive a special group rate for 10 or more guests (normally 20 or more guests) when you present the New England Adventure Card at their Museum of Science location. Scouts will also receive $2 off Kids tickets and $4 off Adult tickets for groups of less than 10 at the Museum of Science location with the Adventure Card!

 

Historic New England Properties

Historic New England Properties such as Historic New England Phillips House and Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm offer 2-for-1 admission (a 50% discount) to all Scouts and their families/chaperones with the Adventure Card! This is for general admission museum tours and does not include programs, events or private group tours. Please show your card at the Museum of Science ticket booth and mention the code C-Scouts.

 

Salem Trolley

Ride the Red Trolley – Salem Trolley – Salem’s Original Trolley! Scouts get a 20% Discount on a group private one hour narrated historical tour of Salem with their Adventure Card. Trolleys hold 30-38 passengers. Contact [email protected] or 978-744-5469.

 

Ecotarium

The EcoTarium in Worcester, MA is a family-friendly, indoor-outdoor museum of science and nature. Scouts can print this special coupon for $2 off. If a group of 10 or more visits the museum, admission would be $8 per person, instead of the $18 (adult) and $14 (child) rate. To get the group rate, call in advance: 508-929-2700

 

SCOUTbox

SCOUTbox is a monthly subscription box service built specifically for scouts, by scouts. Keep your scouts excited each month when they receive a box filled with awesome gear for camping and other outdoor adventures as well as educational materials to enhance scouting programs.

For those in the Spirit Adventure Council, if you use the code SPIRIT888 you’ll get $8.88 off your first box when purchasing a subscription. It can be used on any of the 3 lengths; monthly, 3-month, or 6-month. Check out SCOUTbox online.

 

Plimoth Plantation

With the Adventure Card, Plimoth Plantation has 15% admission discount for Scouting families, Packs and Troops that may be less than the traditional group minimum of 15 people with the opportunity to visit Plimoth Plantation, Plimoth Grist Mill and Mayflower II (scheduled to return early summer – 2019) on the day of their choice.  A tremendous value for Boy Scouts (13 – 17 years) that reflects a 50% discount.

2018 Season Schedule: March 17th through November 25th, 9 AM until 5 PM daily. There will be an exciting STEM patch program for the Plimoth Grist Mill that will be a complimentary question/scavenger activity sheet for use at the mill, with patches available for sale through the retail store.

 

Salem Witch Museum

Salem’s most visited museum is the perfect starting point for your visit to the historic city. Explore the story of the Salem Witch trials with your group (ten or more visitors receive group discounts).

Through the Adventure Card, museum-goers will receive $1.00 off adult and $.50 off of child tickets for up to a family of six when presenting their card. This offer excludes weekends in October or Halloween Day. See their website for more information.

 

Attitash

Attitash Mountain Resort & Wildcat Mountain invite Scouts and their families to join them for weekends on the snow and ski slopes at exclusive discounted rates. 

Special Pricings for Lift Ticket, Ski or Snowboard Rental Package, Learn to Ski or Snowboard and Groups 15+. Login with the Spirit of Adventure code to receive discounts, included in this flyer.

 

The Best Seats VIP

New England’s largest entertainment concierge – The Best Seats VIP offers customized entertainment experiences. Their VIP Hosts will work with you on any organizational outing for the scouts to take advantage of and provide unique, once-a-lifetime experiences.

All members within Spirit of Adventure can receive 10% off on all orders by using promo code SCOUT10 at checkout. For more information, contact Brandon Gilson at 781 201 0347, email: [email protected] or visit their website. Please mention your Scout affiliation when you contact them. This offer has no expiration date.

 

Wonder Dads

Dads of Boy Scouts  in the Spirit of Adventure Council can now get their first month free of WonderDads with this special URL for Scouts in our Council.

WonderDads is the largest membership-based association of Dads with kids ages 0-16, with over 50,000 members nationwide. Members get access to WonderDads This Weekend digital magazine, critically-acclaimed Dad resources, and their own online account where they can do everything from create an interactive Dad-Kids bucket list to plan a Dad-Kids trip. WonderDads entire mission is to help members be even better and “funner” Dads, and help them make the most of their kid’s childhood years.  Check it out and get your first month free!

Volunteering at Base Camp

Leaders, Parents, Venturing

Use your Scouting experience to make a difference!

Volunteering is not only rewarding for you, it can change a child’s life. 

The New England Base Camps and the 7 satellite programs locations provide outdoor education and character education opportunities. The flagship location (Blue Hills – just outside Boston) provides year round programs for families and school age children each weekend.

You might be a Scouter whose kids are in college, in their 20s and Scouting was a huge part of the way you raised them. Working with all those kids and helping them grow and develop through Scouting, helped you become a practical expert at youth development. You can give the troop over to the next generation, serve on the committee, help out from time to time, and maybe teach a couple merit badges, but you might be looking for a more exciting Scouting opportunity.

Now, through our new service model the Base Camps and the satellites, you can volunteer a Saturday morning or an afternoon and work with kids in the outdoors. Thus putting all that great experience to work for another generation.

You might be an older teens looking for hands on experience in teaching, coaching or youth development. The volunteer hours are often recognized by school districts and other organizations to fulfill community service requirements. Young adults will be trained and often work along-side educational or recreation professionals.

It can be as simple as an afternoon a month. Teaching basic camping skills to Cubs and their parents. Teaching Totin’ chit to Scouts. Or, you can use it as a pathway to certifications in archery, shooting sports, rock climbing, ice climbing, or lifeguarding.

The short-term volunteer roles provide support and expertise. As a weekend program volunteer your role will be to impart skills that you’ve acquired to children. The program is so robust that virtually every life skill is a part of the curriculum, so even if you’ve never camped, or can’t navigate by the stars, it’s OK! We still need your unique skills so kids can learn about computers, citizenship, gardening and hundreds of other activities.

Check out our VolunteerMatch listing, and contact Chuck Blanchette at [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering your time to make a difference in Scouting!

Learning About Lions

Cub Scouts, Leaders, Parents

How does a Lion Den work? What kind of Scout programs can Lions do? Every Cub Scout Pack can now recruit Kindergartners into a Lion Program!

 Click here for an informational PDF to share with new parents! 

How Lion Dens Will Work: 

  • The Lion program year runs from September through May. At that point, they cross over into Tigers.
  • Like Tigers, each boy is accompanied by an adult partner who attends all meetings and outings with the boy.
  • There is no Lion den leader. The den follows a shared leadership model in which the adult partners take turns running the meeting and outing.
  • Each month the Lion den gathers twice.  There is one den meeting and either an outing (open to the whole family) or a Pack meeting. Lion dens typically attend two or three pack events per month. These should be special or especially fun gatherings. You may want to consider a holiday pack meeting, blue and gold banquet, or other really special meeting.

Activities: 

All Lions get the Adventure Card with their registration, which means they are able to receive all of the benefits when they book outdoor adventures!

  • New England Base Camp’s Open Program on Saturdays is free for all Cubs with the Adventure Card, including Lions. Come to Milton, MA or Kingston, NH to play in the outdoor activities.
    • Learning to camp
    • Hiking
    • Outdoor cooking
    • Native American activities
    • Wilderness skills
    • Swimming
    • STEM center
    • Ecology: Dinosaurs & Honey bees
    • 3-D printer
    • Game room with Oversized chess & 3D dinosaur puzzles
    • Indoor climbing program
    • Sledding (Winter)
    • Ice skating (Winter)
    • Snow shoeing (Winter)
    • Winter wilderness survival (Winter)
  • When Lions come to New England Base Camp, they also get 20% guest admission and 20% meals at both locations.
  • Special Lion Programs at Satellite locations: “Lions Fun In the Outdoors”
    • Guided Hike
    • Learn about the nature and animals around you
    • Get ready for Tiger Scouts

     

For more information about Lions and Recruiting contact George O’Loughlin.