Two Great Activities for Your New Scouts to Try This Spring!

The Patriots' Path Council is sponsoring two events for prospective families, brand new families, and current Scouting families!  The June 3^rd Cub Academy Day and June 9^th Fishing Tournament are bound to be great events to build off all the fun Scouting provides.

Cub Academy Day- June 3rd

If you like to challenge yourself, build adventure, go out on the lake, and catch a few fish, you’re invited to Cub Academy Day at MASR Camp Wheeler in Stanhope, New Jersey. The event is targeted to young females and males ages 6-11. Cub Academy Day will take place on Sunday, June 3rd from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the PPC Outdoor Academy (MASR Camp Wheeler) located at 750 Waterloo Rd., Stanhope, New Jersey.

Activities will include fishing, boating, nature hikes, field games, and more. Families will be able to tour the facility and learn about our Summer Day Camp and the many year-round programs at the PPC Outdoor Academy. The event is sponsored by the Patriots’ Path Council, Boy Scouts of America PPC Outdoor Academy.

The cost per child is $5, parents can attend at no cost. Participants are encouraged to bring a friend and register early.

To register, please visit https://scoutingevent.com/358-19196. For more information, please contact the PPC Outdoor Academy Director, Robert Davidson at robert.davidson@scouting.org or 973-765-9322 X266.

Youth Fishing Challenge– June 9^th

Black River District will run a site for the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Youth Fishing Challenge.  We will be at Parks Lake in Rockaway on Saturday, June 9th from 8:00 am to noon.  This is a statewide “free fishing” day – no licenses required.  Encourage members of your pack or troop to attend and bring a friend.  Boys and girls who join Scouting that day will receive a free fishing kit. 

Register at https://tinyurl.com/myfishchallenge.  For information contact, al.thomas@scouting.org, 973-765-9322 x229. Prizes will be awarded!

New Tool: Using Preschools to Recruit Lions

Passing the word to “Scout Me In!”  With the welcoming of kindergarten students and girls, we have so much new space to recruit from!  Check out one-way Sussex District tapped into a new market!

Sussex District hand delivered a cover letter with a Lions flyer to each of the 44 pre-schools in 21 towns within the district. 

These flyers are meant to spread the word that (1) our Lions program is open to all kindergarteners and (2) our Family Scouting program now allows girls to participate in the Cub Scout program. 

Flyers are to be further distributed by the schools to the parents of all boys and girls entering kindergarten in the fall.  These flyers are a follow-up to the letters sent out by Patriots’ Path Council earlier this year.  

Our flyers were well received and responses were very positive.

Free flyers and recruitment materials/ support is provided by the dollars donated to the Friends of Scouting campaign.  Take a look and order what’s provided to you at: https://ppcbsa.org/membership/currentmembers/resources/

Submitted By: Mary Comerford, Sussex District Membership Chair

Free Supplies Available to You for Spring Recruitment

Did you know the council membership committee has plenty of free supplies and materials to assist with your spring recruitment efforts?

We can make you flyers at no cost for Lions, Family Scouting, or traditional flyers in black and white. 

We have lawn signs, cardboard Scout cut outs for flyer distribution, an inflatable Scout, and more!

You can also borrow a popcorn machine to give out free popcorn at your recruitment event.

Need an activity do at your pack open house?  We have STEM kits, fishing kits, an archery set up, rain gutter regatta, and a Pinewood derby track that can be borrowed to bring excitement to your recruitment.

All of these materials are supplied by the many generous Friends of Scouting (FOS) donations families like you provide to Patriots’ Path Council.

For reservation and order forms, please visit https://ppcbsa.org/membership/currentmembers/resources/

For questions or assistance with your recruitment efforts, please contact your membership team; Al Thomas at al.thomas@scouting.org for Black River, Fishawack, and Sussex Districts or Javier Juarez at Javier.juarez@scouting.org for Raritan Valley, Munsee, and Watching Mountain districts. 

Are You Prepared to Integrate Lions Into Your Cub Scout Pack?

The National Executive Committee and Board voted that the Lion pilot has proven successful and is ready to officially join the Cub Scouting family!

Research and feedback says…

Developing character is the #1 reason to join Scouting, according to parents.

·      61% of Lion youth are new families to Scouting!

·      Lions grew over 50% nationally over the last 12 months.

·      More than 91% of councils have been involved in the Lion pilot during 2017-2018.

·      75% of new parents take on leadership roles. Roles include assistant den leader, committee member, assistant Cubmaster and more.

·      Read on to learn all of the latest updates and understand how to best integrate Lions into Cub Scouting.

When does the pilot stop and Lions become part of Cub Scouting?

At the end of the 2017-2018 school year. Lions will officially kick off as a new Cub Scout rank for fall of 2018.

Do we still use the word “Cub” for Lions?

To simplify things and be consistent, Cub Scouting no longer uses the term Tiger Cubs or Lion Cubs. The youth are simply called Lions or Tigers.

Can we register Lions for the fall now?

The Lions program starts with Spring Recruitment in the spring of 2018.

With Lions now being the first offering in Cub Scouting, will Bobcat stay in Tigers or move to Lions?

Bobcat is staying in Tigers and will remain as it is currently run in the program.

Do den chiefs work with Lions?

Den chiefs can work with those in the following Cub Scouting ranks: Bears, Wolves and Webelos. Lions and Tigers do not have den chiefs. Since an adult partner is required, the den chiefs are reserved for the older ranks.

With the new Lion merchandise available this summer, can families purchase these items?

Yes. Lions who have earned the various adventure loops and/or Lion rank patch are welcome to purchase these items.

What’s new for Lions?

Lion materials have been updated to reflect the needs of both boys and girls. All girl dens or all boy dens are welcome. Images are being updated on the Lion website and we will continue to share more images for your local use.

Lions will now have more resources similar to other Cub Scout ranks. These will arrive in our Scout Shops this summer in preparation for the fall start.

Parents now have more flexibility with deciding when to begin Lion fundraising. It’s also a family’s choice as to how many pack meetings they attend based on their family’s schedule.

Additional New Items Available                                    

·      The Lion Parent and Leader Guidebook will have a new cover. It will still be available for parents and leaders all wrapped together in the Lion kit.

·      The youth handbook will get a new cover. Previously called the Youth Adventure Book, it is now called the Lion Cub Scout Handbook. This update will be consistent with the other Cub Scout ranks.

·      A new rank strip patch is also arriving. It will provide for better placement when a Lion moves to Tigers and beyond. The previous diamond patch will be discounted as stock runs out. The new rank patch can be placed on the T-shirt over their heart.

Stickers are still available for the youth to place in their Lion Cub Scout Handbook immediately as they complete an adventure. However, new Adventure Loops will be available just as they are available for the other Cub Scout ranks. These can be awarded during pack meetings or as the pack traditionally awards them to the youth.

Because Lions will now have Adventure Loops, they will also begin wearing their Cub Scout belt to proudly display their earned awards. Your den may also be interested in the single Lion rank pocket card or the multi sheet pocket card. Another item available will be the Lion advancement chart.

In the Adventure of Gizmos and Gadgets a new activity was added for a new yellow/gold neckerchief and slide. These would be awarded after the adventure is complete, according to the desire of the advancement chair and den leader.

What’s not changing for Lions?

·      The T-shirt is loved by children and parents, alike. The youth enjoy the comfort and fun of the Lion T-shirt, while the parents love the price point and cute character. The T-shirt remains the official Lion uniform. The cap is still an optional item.

·      The Lion curriculum is still the same fun and energetic program. Pinewood Derby was added last year.

·      As mentioned above, the Lion Parent and Leader Guidebook will still be available for parents and leaders all wrapped together in the Lion kit, which includes:

·      Lion stickers

·      Lion Cub Scout Handbook

·      Lion Parent and Den Leader Guide

·      Youth Protection, How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide – newly added for Lions.  But the version is the same as it is for the rest of Cub Scouts.

·      The Lion website is still the same, complete with all the program resources you need, including PowerPoints, videos, recruitment flyers, image link, FAQs, and more. All resources will be updated by the end of May.

Have questions about Lions not mentioned here? Please contact your membership executive at 973-765-9322.