Monthly Archives: November 2020

Camping Opportunities Available

With new changes to the New Jersey guidelines for social distancing, Patriots’ Path Council is proud to offer Scouts of all ages and their families the chance to return the outdoors. Winnebago Scout Reservation in Rockaway and Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation in Stanhope are excited to open their gates. To make reservations, please contact Curt Haak at (973) 765-9322, ext. 415, for Winnebago Scout Reservation, and Tom Stoddard at (973) 765-9322, ext. 413, for Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation.

In addition, Patriots’ Path Council is gearing up for an exciting year of summer camp for boys and girls of all ages! Younger Scouts can go on the adventure of a lifetime with Bat Dan at Camp Wheeler. Regional day camps are great places to work on rank advancements. Ride across the 1,000-foot zip line at Winnebago Scout Reservation and check out the all new canopy tour. Explore the Adirondacks at Sabattis Adventure Camp while taking in the beautiful views. Can’t get enough of summer camp? Camp Somers has something for everyone! Trailblazer day camp, resident camp, and specialty camps are all available. Go on a different adventure each week this summer.

Transfers Can Now Be Completed Online

My.scouting.org users can now transfer from one Scout unit to another without having to take a new application into the council service center.

On the “My Application” tab on my.scouting.org, you can transfer yourself as an adult volunteer or your youth member from unit to unit.

Unit leaders will be able to transfer youth by going to the new “Roster” feature in “Member Manager” and “Organization Manager,” selecting the youth who need to be transferred, then clicking the “Transfer” icon.

This will create a transfer application, which will be sent to the new unit with the ability to be approved in “Application Manager.”

Transfers will take 48 hours to sync with the new unit.

The “Roster” also allows unit leaders to email other leaders in the unit directly from the tool.

Editing youth/adult profiles and printing rosters/membership cards are also available in the updated tool.

BSA Introduces Distinguished Conservation Service Award

Conservation and the Boy Scouts of America have been partners for a long time. Camping, hiking, and respect for the outdoors are a part of the Scouting heritage. Many of the requirements for advancement from Tenderfoot through the Eagle Scout rank call for an increasing awareness and understanding of the natural sciences.

Many former Scouts have become leaders in conserving the environment and protecting it from abuse. Right now, Scouts are involved in learning about environmental problems and actively working to make a difference.

The fundamental purpose of the BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Awards program is to encourage learning by the participants and to increase public awareness about natural resource conservation.  Understanding and practicing sound stewardship of natural resources and environmental protection strengthens Scouting’s emphasis on respecting the outdoors.

The goal of this awards program is to encourage and recognize truly outstanding efforts undertaken by Scouting units, Scouts and Venturers, adult Scouters, and other individuals, corporations, and institutions that have contributed significantly to natural resource conservation and environmental protection.

BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award individual awards are granted by the National Council through the local council’s Conservation Committee to a member of a Scouts BSA, Sea Scout, or Venturing unit for exceptional and distinguished service to conservation and environmental improvement.

The BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Awards are presented for distinguished service in natural resource conservation. The award is given in one of three forms. The awards are:

Youth: BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award

Adult: BSA Distinguished Conservationist

Organizations and Individuals: BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award Certificate

A temporary award has been developed for Scouts who were working on the William T. Hornaday Bronze or Silver Awards and have already completed at least two service projects and had started on the third or fourth projects by October 13, 2020.  If the Scout meets these requirements, they have until June 30, 2021, to complete the following awards.  After these dates the awards will be retired and will not be available to be earned.

Youth: BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award Bronze Honor

BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award Silver Honor

For a complete list of the requirements for each award click here.

The award, the most distinguished in Scouting for exceptional conservation service, will be awarded for clearly outstanding efforts in planning, leadership, execution of plans, involvement of others, and opportunities taken to help others learn about natural resource conservation and environmental improvement.

The award includes the BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award certificate and an embroidered square knot.  

Changes to Scoutbook Login Take Effect

Effective October 28, 2020, Scoutbook now uses the same login and password as my.scouting.org.

Here’s how to tell if you are set up for Single Sign On (SSO) login into Scoutbook: If you ARE NOT set up for SSO you will receive a banner that will tell you that you are not set up for SSO; if you ARE set up for SSO you will not receive a banner message.

More info is available at https://help.scoutbook.com/knowledge-base/sso-self-helps/

Online Registration Portal to Run Continuously

New members who apply online through the BeAScout.org website are normally charged the prorated fee from the current month through the end of the current year.

And in the past, National would disable the “Apply Now” button in BeAScout.org in December to force new members to use paper applications, so they’re not lost in the renewal process.

As of November 1, national has updated the billing system to charge the youth or volunteer the adjusted amount through the end of 2021, allowing the online application portal to run continuously through the recharter season without pause.

When your recharter processor works on the unit’s charter, they will not see the new youth or adult listed to be renewed. But once the registration department posts the charter, the new member will automatically be pulled in.

Many members added to the unit toward the end of the year are missed on the renewals for the following year because the unit has already started to process its recharter. This is a great update to help minimize these mistakes.