Monthly Archives: March 2022

Start Thinking About Spring Recruiting

As Patriots’ Path Council finishes up the recharter season, it is now time to start thinking about spring recruiting. Many of the council’s Scout families, especially at the kindergarten and first-grade age, are looking for an opportunity to join.

Scouting is a great family program, and now is the time to invite them to join. Over the next couple weeks the council will be providing information to unit leaders about creating those opportunities, but why wait … ask your friends and neighbors to join now!

Deadline Approaching for State Police Camporee

Calling all Scouts BSA units!

The 2022 New Jersey State Police and National Guard Camporee, expected to be the largest regional Scouting activity in the entire country, is scheduled for June 3-5, 2022.

The registration deadline is April 15, 2022, and the event coordinators are requesting that units initiate registrations as soon as possible so they can gauge interest and not wait until the deadline. If your unit is planning to go, please register now at https://www.monmouthbsa.org/spcamporee

Registration includes two nights of camping, a T-shirt, a patch, an arena show with an exciting and energetic band, B.O.M.B. (Band of Make Believe), and tons of exhibits, demonstrations and hands-on activities all day long on Saturday, June 4.

For more information, access the event Leaders Guide.

Registration Open for PPC Awards Celebration

On Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Winnebago Scout Reservation in Rockaway Township, Patriots’ Path Council will present the 2022 Silver Beaver Awards.

The council also will present the Trailblazer Awards, Youth Leadership Awards, Council Alumnus of the Year Award and the Torch of Gold Award. Please plan to come out and honor these dedicated volunteers and youth leaders!

The celebration will be held under a large event tent beginning with a gathering at 11:30 a.m. The luncheon and awards ceremony will be at 12:30 p.m.  Seating is limited and registration is required. You can register online here. RSVP deadline is May 9, 2022.

For more information or questions, please contact Vicki Kallok at 973-765-9322, ext. 246 or [email protected].

The 2022 Award Recipients:

SILVER BEAVER AWARD

Frank Caccavale
Douglas Dzwonczyk
Robert A. Fromtling Sr.
William “Bill” Stroh
Robert Reidmiller
David Robbins
Tim Sugrue

TRAILBLAZER AWARD

John Koneski
Emil Rufolo
Adam Sonzogni

YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD

Joshua Danus
Katelin Hanifan
Michael Minenna
Connor Neuhaus
Kevin Soutar

PPC ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR AWARD

Mark Tallmadge

TORCH OF GOLD AWARD

Jim Agar

Scholarship Opportunities Offered to Eagles

A variety of scholarship opportunities are available for Eagle Scouts in the Patriots’ Path Council.

These opportunities include:

  • Patriots’ Path Council Eagle Scout Merit Scholarship is awarded to a graduating high school senior or an undergraduate college student not beyond his or her junior year.  All applicants must be an Eagle Scout registered with the Patriots’ Path Council and have demonstrated strong leadership and a spirit of service to others in or outside of Scouting.  The 2022 application form is now available on the PPC website.
  • Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award has been established by the National Eagle Scout Association to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, community or other entity. The award recognizes the Scout for his or her Eagle Scout leadership service project, which is part of the requirements for earning the Eagle Scout Award. Each local council will choose a council-level winner, and from that pool each region will pick a regional winner. A national winner then will be selected from the four regional finalists. More information and application available here.
  • National Eagle Scout Scholarships are administered by the National Eagle Scout Association. Details and applications may be obtained from NESA, Boy Scouts of America, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, Irving, TX 75015-2079 or online here.
  • Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout ContestThe National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) invites all Eagle Scouts interested in the American Revolution to participate in the Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Contest. Each Eagle Scout must complete an application form, a four-generation ancestor chart, and a 500-word patriotic-themed essay.  More details and application form available on its website.

Camp Scholarship Program Deadline Extended

The Thomas A. Pepe Adventureship application deadline for scholarships for camp programs has been extended to May 15, 2022.

If you know anyone in your unit who may need assistance with sending a Scout to camp this summer, please click here.

Every Scout should have a chance to experience summer camp and Patriots’ Path Council has the means to make that happen.

Openings Still Available for Sea Base in August

Patriots’ Path Council currently has five openings for Sea Base, which include two adult spots. With deadlines coming soon for airline and touring, PPC is looking to fill the spots ASAP! Click here to register.

Please feel free to pass this opportunity to any eligible Scout at least 13 years old and completed the eighth grade or 14 years of age, and adult leaders at least 21 years of age.

The contingent will fly JetBlue (yay free DirectTV in every seat) on Saturday, August 13, 2022, around dinner time and return Sunday, August 21, 2022, just after dinner time. This will be from Newark Liberty International Airport to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

After arrival, Blue Sky Adventures, a Scout-focused tour group, will provide all accommodations of ground travel, hotel stay, meals, and activities before arrival at Sea Base. This all starts with a hotel right on Fort Lauderdale beach.  The next morning, the group will enjoy a visit to the Everglades Alligator Park by transportation on an airboat ride that zips right across the water and grass on the edge of Everglades National Park including an opportunity to hold a baby alligator. After a boxed lunch, the group will have an opportunity to see and feed tarpons, which are massive game fish, just before arrival at Sea Base.  Check out the full tour!

Let’s now look at the itinerary at Sea Base!

Overview: Crews will arrive at Camp Jackson Sawyer to check in. The first night of the adventure will be spent in air-conditioned tents.

  • Day 2 will have crews kayaking to picturesque Bahia Honda State Park to enjoy all the park has to offer.
  • After breakfast on Day 3, crews will load into Sea Base vans and travel to Key West or Stock Island to board their vessel.
  • Days 3, 4 and 5 will be spent aboard a schooner sailing, fishing and snorkeling in the beautiful waters of the Florida Keys. Crews will return to the dock in the afternoon of Day 5 and will be picked up by Sea Base vans for transportation back to Camp Sawyer where they will spend the last two nights.
  • On Day 6, crews will return to historic Key West. Units will be offered a variety of sites to visit onshore. Crews will also have the option to have their final dinner in Key West. Crews will return to Camp Sawyer for their final night.
  • Crews will be preparing their meals during their stay at Camp Sawyer, and while aboard the sailing vessel.
  • On either Day 2 or Day 6, crews will have the opportunity to do a half-day snorkel on a local charter boat, snorkeling the waters of the National Marine Sanctuary.
  • After dinner each evening at Camp Jackson Sawyer, crews will have the option to snorkel from shore in the lagoon, kayak near shore as the sun sets, or fish from the shore of the camp. Crews also have the evening activity option to fish from Spanish Harbor Bridge, which is within walking distance from the camp. Fishing licenses are required by the State of Florida for persons 16 years of age and older. Fishing licenses can be purchased at www.gooutdoorsflorida.com. A three-day saltwater license is needed beginning on the second day of your adventure if crew members decide that they would like to fish during their adventure.  All fishing gear will be provided for you.
  • All activities are subject to inclement weather and sea conditions.

Blue Sky Adventures will pick the group up in the morning and embark on an enjoyable ride to Fort Lauderdale airport back home to Newark.

This opportunity is for both boys and girls, and participants must be 14 years of age, or 13 years old and have completed eighth grade, before arrival at Sea Base.

The trip will cost approximately $2,000, which is subject to final payment to cover additional transportation costs. To register, click here.

For adults who have an interest or other inquiries, please email [email protected] for the latest openings.

Please note, there are other units with open spots as well with different touring options and Sea Base programs.  Once we are full or if you have a date conflict, we will gladly forward your interest to crews we are aware of with openings.

Camps Gearing Up for Summer of Adventure

Patriots’ Path Council’s early-bird pricing for camping is still in effect. The council has camp options for youth of all ages. Camp Wheeler, Watchung Reservation and Johnson Park are geared toward grades two through five, offering a day camp program that includes hiking, fishing and crafts just to name a few activities. Johnson Park Day Camp runs a little later in the summer. Busing is available for Watchung and Wheeler. For more information head over to PPC’s camping website at https://ppcbsa.org/camping/.

Camping in 2022 is back to normal; PPC camps are anticipating a summer of great adventure. Camp Somers, Camp Winnebago and Sabattis offer resident option throughout the summer. Trailblazer Day Camp boasts a wide range of scouting activities and merit badge classes.  Click here to choose your adventure.

PPC is actively seeking outdoor enthusiasts to staff its camps. If you are interested in earning some summer cash while enjoying adventures outdoor, click here to apply.

Registration Open for Skylands Spring Cub Camporee

Register now for the new Skylands District 2022 Spring Cub Family Camporee, scheduled to run Friday, May 6, through Sunday, May 8, 2022, at Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation, Camp Somers.

Packs are welcome to camp out Friday and Saturday night, or only one night if preferred. This year’s theme will be conservation. Spend a weekend surrounded by the beauty of bright, fresh green leaves of spring in the camp forest and the melodic sounds of spring birds and frogs.

The whole family is welcome to attend this fun weekend family outing. Activities include BB and archery, fishing, flower planting, field games, nature walks, fire truck exploration and fire safety talk, and more.  For more information, contact Marc Maratea, (973) 900-0919, or [email protected]

Registration fee is $15 per person, Scouts, adults and siblings (non-Scouts), which includes program and activities, patch and camping.  No charge for youth under age 5. Packs will be responsible for all meals during the weekend. No meals will be available in the dining hall.

Registration link: https://scoutingevent.com/358-SkylandsCubCamporee

Or register via the council website calendar – click on May 6: https://ppcbsa.org/calendar/

Pioneer District Hosts Chess Tournament

The Pioneer District Scouts BSA Chess Tournament has held on Saturday, March 26, 2022. It was held at the Cranford Community Center with 30 youth participants.

The event was also used as a recruiting event as half of the participants were non-Scouts.

The top three winners of the tournament were Paul Mild (1st), Paul Rinaldi (2nd) and Sander Merrick (3rd). There are potential plans to continue to expand the tournament to Cub Scouts for next year.

Fishawack District to Honor Its Finest on May 17

Fishawack’s Finest Fellowship Dinner will be held on May 17, 2022, at the Hanover Manor in East Hanover.

Fishawack packs, troops and crews are encouraged to honor one of their volunteers with the Fishawack’s Finest award.

Nominations and registration are open at https://scoutingevent.com/358-FSHNominations