Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Save The Date: 2018 Spring Membership Breakfast!


Mark your calendars and spread the word for Saturday, April 7th from 8 A.M. to 12 noon!  The day will cover Spring Recruitment materials, Family Scouting updates, Lions program update, information and training on the new member coordinator, and a FREE Breakfast!!

Open to any volunteer who wishes to attend!   We highly encourage Cub Scout packs to attend!

Contact John Cristadoro, membership committee chairman, at jcristadoro@optimum.net or visit https://ppcbsa.org/membership/currentmembers/resources/ for more information and to register.

ROCKAWAY CUB SCOUT PACK FIRST IN NEW JERSEY TO WELCOME GIRLS AS FAMILY SCOUTING BEGINS ACROSS AMERICA


Local Cub Scout Pack 165 in Rockaway, New Jersey is one of the first across the nation to welcome girls into the Boy Scouts of America.  They are one of the first packs in the nation to participate in Family Scouting, a program that welcomes girls into the Boy Scouts of America and aims to serve the whole family. Starting in the 2018 program year, families can choose to sign up their sons and daughters for Cub Scouts.

Photo Credit: Chirag Shah
Anika has wanted to be a Cub Scout since she attended her brother’s first meeting at age 3. “I saw all the fun things my older brother did in Cub Scouts, and now I get to do the same things too!” she says.  Soniya agrees, “I wanted to be part of history and be like my brother.  The Webelos do more fun things in the outdoors.”  Madison sums it up: “I joined Cub Scouts because we get to do fun activities like the Pinewood Derby, using pocket knives, and going camping!”

Existing charter organizations may choose to establish a new all-girl pack, establish a pack that consists of girl dens and boy dens or remain an all-boy pack.

The question remains, why join the Boy Scouts when there is the Girl Scouts? The two programs are different and unique in their own ways. It is also about the convenience of sisters and brothers being in the same den or pack.

“Our girls are thrilled to join Cub Scouts while they continue as Girl Scouts; they now have twice the opportunities to build their leadership, service, and outdoor skills,” says Nisha Zoeller, leader for the new Webelos Den.  “Like athletes that have always had the opportunity to play more than one sport, our future leaders now have multiple Scouting programs to help them develop into responsible, thoughtful citizens. The girls are very excited at the prospect of becoming Eagle Scouts in a few years, something that was not possible for any girl until this past October.”

For more information on Family Scouting, visit https://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/family-scouting.  To find a local Cub Scout pack that welcomes girls, you can visit www.beascout.org or please contact Bill SanFilippo at (973)765-9322 x 227 or bill.sanfilippo@scouting.org. 

Lion Pilot Program Update!


The Lion Pilot program continues to go strong in 2017 at Patriots’ Path Council.  We wanted to share with you some updates from the national service center regarding the Lion pilot program.
       The Lion Pilot program ended 2016 with 204 councils and 30,559 new members.  Unofficial year-end numbers for 2017 are 46,851 in 245 councils.
       Focus groups and surveys were conducted that indicate overall success of the program – youth and families are enjoying the program, indicating that they believe it provides value to their child.
       Adventure Loops will soon be available (June 2018??) to Lions, in addition to their stickers.
       A motion has been made and unanimously approved by the Program Development Support Committee for a recommendation to the Membership Growth Standing Committee to move the Lion program from a pilot to an official part of the Cub Scouting program. Pending approval by the Committee, it may be on the consent agenda for the National Executive Board during the February meeting.

Need to update your Lion contact information, contact Bill SanFilippo at bill.sanfiippo@scouting.org.