Really Good News for Den Leaders!

Really Good News for Den Leaders!

All rank requirements are now much easier !

The Task Force that came up with extensive requirements for the 2015-16 program year decided to scale back - effective immediately!

Lots of adventure belt loops and adventure pins that used to be "do all of these" were converted into "do some of these."


Major Change for Earning the Bear Badge
BEFORE:
    Required adventure "Grin and Bear It"
    Elective adventure "Baloo the Builder"
AFTER
    Required adventure "Baloo the Builder"
    Elective adventure "Grin and Bear It"

Major Change for Earning the Webelos Badge
BEFORE:
    Earn 5 required adventure pins + 2 elective pins
AFTER
    Earn 5 required adventure pins + at least 1 elective pin

Major Change for Earning the Arrow of Light Badge
BEFORE:
    Earn 4 required adventure pins + 3 elective pins
AFTER
    Earn 4 required adventure pins + at least 1 elective pin

Where to Look

Official: Lengthy PDF file from the Task Force showing a side-by-side comparison of before-and-after:
    http://www.scouting.org/filestore/cubscouts/pdf/CubScout_Advancement_Modifications.pdf

Unofficial: Short Three Rivers Den Leader summary handbooks with just the new requirement sets:
Tiger
    https://nnjbsa.doubleknot.com/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=168611
Wolf
    https://nnjbsa.doubleknot.com/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=168612
Bear
    https://nnjbsa.doubleknot.com/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=168613
Webelos
    https://nnjbsa.doubleknot.com/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=168614
Arrow of Light
    https://nnjbsa.doubleknot.com/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=168615

District Bowl-a-Thon (Dec 28)

Harold F. Wrightington Classic

"One Great Event, Three Great Locations"
Wednesday December 28, 2017

Click here to register at any one of the three locations.

Montvale Lanes 14 W Grand Ave Montvale, NJ 07645 9:00-11:00 AM

Parkway Lanes 200 US-46 Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 11:00 AM-1:00 PM

Bowl Rite Lanes 714 Summit Ave Union City, NJ 07087 2:00-4:00 PM

List of Events in December 2016

NOTE FOR NEXT YEAR:
The 2017 District Klondike Derby was postponed by a week.
New date: Feb 4, 2017

Three Rivers Events During December 2016

Dec 1 - TRD Committee Meeting
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971402
Dec 13 - TRD Roundtable
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1956426
Dec 20 - TRD Assistant District Commissioner Meeting
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971436
Dec 28 - TRD Bowl-a-Thon
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971495

Training Sessions During December 2016

Dec 3 - BALOO Training for Cub leaders [corrected date, not Dec 13]
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1999195
Dec 8 - FOS Presenter's Workshop
  [not posted]
  NNJC Service Center in Oakland - 6:30 PM
Dec 10 - Trainer's EDGE for candidate trainers
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1999188
Dec 12 - Merit Badge Counselor Training
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1982314
Dec 12 - Den Chief Training
  [not posted]
Dec 20 - Merit Badge Counselor Training
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1977009

Other Council-Recommended Events During December 2016

Dec 4 - Order of the Arrow Brotherhood Blitz
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/2026023
Dec 31 - OA Membership Expires
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/2017-lenapehoking-ix-membership-fees/2027382

Scouting is Good for the Soul

Good News from a Newspaper in Sydney Australia (Nov 11, 2016)

Taking part in Scouts or Girl Guides appears to help lower the risk of mental illness later in life, a study suggests.

A University of Edinburgh study of almost 10,000 people from across the UK born in 1958 found a significant number of those who participated in the organizations as children tended to have better health at age 50.

In fact, 15 per cent were less likely to suffer anxiety or mood disorders compared with others.

The likelihood of mental illness in those from poorer backgrounds was reduced.

Scouts involves many outdoor activities and major events like jamborees where children are away from home for up to 14 days, learning how to care for themselves and others. The study, supported by the Economic and Social Research Council, was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Lead researcher Professor Chris Dibben said he was quite startled by the findings and believed the benefits would apply today.

Troop 302 First Aid Rally (Nov 16)

Troop 302 First Aid Rally - Results

 Five patrols went to Kearny, NJ to compete in the annual Troop 302 First Aid Rally, run for Three Rivers District Scout troops.

This was 302's 59th annual First Aid Rally, starting from when they were Troop 2, and continuing through various councils and districts and mergers and consolidations.


Competing were (in order)
Troop 146 "Rolling Stones" (Hoboken)
Troop 223 (Weehawken)
Troop 379 "Ditto" (Palisades Park)
Troop 302 "Ice Owls" (Kearny)
Troop 379 "Killer Bees" (Palisades Park)

There were three scenarios:

1. Scouts were fooling around the evening campfire, and one tripped over some gear and fell into the fire ring. Lots of burns, lots of cuts, plus some ashes and dirt got into his eyes!
2. There's a patrol day hike up a steep muddy trail with a scream from another hiker way up ahead. He slipped and fell down a steep and rocky incline. There's broken bones and cuts, with one really serious cut on a knee. We'll also need a stretcher to carry him back to the trailhead.
3. This patrol hike went through an abandoned pasture, with one Scout stepping on a board with a protruding nail -- right through his boot sole and into his foot. He also cut his knee when he fell. Now what?!

November 15 Fireside Chat - Slides

November 15 Fireside Chat

Various presenters had a lot of useful information for the Scouters who attended the District's Fireside Chat on November 15, 2017.

Click here to see the slides that accompanied their presentations.

List of Events in November 2016

Three Rivers Events During November 2016

Nov 3 - TRD Committee Meeting
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971401
Nov 15 - TRD Requisite Fireside Chat
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1956425
Nov 16 - Troop 302 First Aid Rally
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1974420
Nov 19 - TRD Merit Badge Fair
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971492
Nov 22 - TRD Asst. Commissioners Meeting
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971435

Training Sessions During November 2016

Nov 12 - NNJC Den Chief Training
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1976827
Nov 12 - NNJC Merit Badge Counselor Training
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1977000

Other Council-Recommended Events During November 2016

Nov 5 - Popcorn Prize Orders due
  [not posted]
Nov 12 - Popcorn Take-Order Pickup
  [not posted]
Nov 12 - Popcorn Payments Due
  [not posted]
Nov 30 - Popcorn Prize Order System Closes
  [not posted]

List of Events in October 2016

Three Rivers Events During October 2016

Oct 6 - TRD Committee Meeting
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971400
Oct 8 - TRD Merit Badge Counselor Orientation
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1982312
Oct 8 - TRD Gold Rush for Cubs (canceled)
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971484
Oct 18 - TRD Roundtable
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1956424
Oct 20 - TRD Asst. Commissioners Meeting
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971433
Oct 21-23 - TRD Fall Camporee 2016
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971489

Training Sessions During October 2016

Oct 1 - Cubmaster Training at Cub Family Weekend
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1977483
Oct 5 - Outdoor Skills Leader Course Pre-Meeting
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1977386
Oct 11 - Merit Badge Counselor Training
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1976988
Oct 14-16 - Outdoor Skills Leader Weekend
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1977014
Oct 22 - Scout Leader Specific Training
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1976826
Oct 29 - Den Chief Training
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1999196

Other Council-Recommended Events During October 2016

Oct 1-2 - October Cub Family Weekend
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1900143
Oct 21 - Liberty Science Center - Mystery at the Museum Overnight
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=165975
Oct 28-30 - OA Fall Fellowship Weekend
  [not yet posted]
Oct 29 - Popcorn Take-Order entries due
  [not posted]
Oct 29 - Popcorn Show-n-Sell excess returns
  [not posted]

Mystery Nights at the Liberty Science Center (Oct-Apr)

Mystery Nights and Forensics

Cubs will have a chance to use forensics to track down the thief who stole a valuable artifact from the Liberty Science Center!

LSC announced their 2016-17 dates when Scouts can chase down clues all evening, and then "camp in" overnight. The first session will take place on October 21, 2016.

Click here for a flyer with details about the event and how to sign up.

Seven Eagle Scouts at the 2016 Olympics

Seven Eagle Scouts at the 2016 Olympics

Find out how seven Eagle Scout members of the USA Olympics Team fared in their respective competitions. You'll find one gold medalist along with respectable 4th and 6th place finishers.

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2016/08/03/2016-u-s-olympic-team-boasts-least-five-eagle-scouts/?tr=y&auid=16927433

Expect a full article to appear in an upcoming issue of Scouting Magazine, but an advance posting can be found on the "Bryan on Scouting" blog.

Nearby Hiking Trails Improved

Nearby Hiking Trails Improved

The popular hiking trails in the Ramapo Reservation recently had a lot of work done to make them more interesting and a bit less confusing.

The entrance to the park is located on the same Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202) as our Council Service Center, and is about 7 miles north of the center.

Click here for a trail map. Recent improvements were to reconfigure the trails into a network of 5 loops along with new blazes. The work was done by volunteers of the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference.

Free Recruiting Flyers from the Council

The Council is willing to provide you with a stack of colored flyers, where you specify what text you want to appear on the front and back. They have two types for Cubs, one for Scouts, and one for Venturing. Order using this link:
    https://nnjbsa.doubleknot.com/form/formjump.asp?bidx=0&surveyID=40440&OrgKey=453

You can also order book marks that can be handed out to boys in school (below), with your specified text on the back. You can also ask for invitation cards that existing Cubs can hand to their buddies in school (below, front and back).

Improve Your Recruiting

Improve Your Recruiting

 A Scout Council in Florida saw an 18% increase after making six adjustments to their recruiting strategy. Click here to see their full posting on ScoutingWire, but here is a quick summary:

1. Focus on education, not selling.
Families who show up for an Open House are likely already sold, so spend time telling them what they don't know.

2. Eliminate the confusing jargon.
One example was to drop "round-up night" and instead use "sign-up night." Our Three Rivers District has already stopped using "units" and instead uses "Cub packs" and "Scout troops."

3. Consider leaving the uniform at home.
Cubs and leaders just wore golf shirts to their sign-up nights with name tags. Their experience was that uniforms created an "us-versus-them" mentality and unneeded barrier.

4. Get rid of the traditional "presentation" format.
Instead of stand-up speeches, create a set of stations where individuals give targeted talks and Q-and-A sessions.

5. Recruit leaders beforehand.
The North Florida Council stopped recruiting leaders at joining night events. They said that it made "a better experience for the boys."

6. Show them (not just tell them!) what Scouting is all about.
Good results came when sign-ups took place at a free shooting sports day event. Other suggestions were fishing, rockets, or STEM.

List of Events in September 2016

NOTE: Link below for a flyer for the September 13 Roundtable

Three Rivers Events During September 2016

Sep 8 - TRD Committee Meeting
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971399
Sep 13 - TRD Roundtable for Scout and Cub leaders
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1956423
 Flyer: https://nnjbsa.doubleknot.com/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=165279
Sep 20 - TRD Assistant District Commissioners
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971409
Sep 27 - TRD Golf Classic
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971503

Training Sessions During September 2016

Sep 10-12 - Wood Badge Weekend
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1763297

Other Council-Recommended Events During September 2016

Sep 10-11 - Popcorn Show-n-Sell Orders (2) Due
  [not posted]
Sep 16-18 - OA Induction Weekend at Camp Lewis
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1838393
Sep 17 - Scout Night at Cirque du Soleil
  Call Council Registrar Tyrone Manning: 201-677-1000 x34
Sep 24 - Popcorn Show-n-Sell Pickup (2)
  [not posted]
Sep 29 - Bounce into Scouting at Skyzone
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971539

Cirque du Soleil Scout Night (Sep 17)

Scout Night at Cirque du Soleil

Call Tyrone Manning at the Council office to reserve from the 70 seats allocated to Scout families.
201-677-1000 x34

Cirque du Soleil
September 17 at 4:00 PM
Prudential Center
25 Lafayette St.
Newark, NJ 07102

A Water Rescue by Two Irish Scouts

Two Irish Scouts on vacation in Turkey reacted quickly to save a local boy who was drowning.

An article about the Scouts appeared in the online Irish Independent.IE website, written by journalist Conor Feehan: Click here for a link. Feehan wrote, "Mollie Gibbons Powell and Sean Thompson, both age 16, are being hailed as heroes after their instinct kicked-in when they saw the 14-year-old boy jump from a gantry into a water hole and get knocked unconscious when his younger cousin jumped in immediately after him. The incident happened on Tuesday as Mollie and Sean’s families were on holiday in Mahmutlar in Turkey."

The two Scouts, a boy and a girl, did not know each other before, but their families coincidentally booked the same vacation spot in Turkey. Sean is a Sea Scout from Wexford, and Mollie from North County Dublin.

Sean immediately jumped into the water and pulled the boy to a ladder at the side of the river where Mollie was waiting to give him a hand. Sean prepped the boy for CPR and then turned him over to a German nurse who worked on him for 20 minutes until an ambulance arrived. The article quoted Sean as saying, "I always thought I was being trained in water safety for the sake of it, but now I know how important that training can be."

The article concluded with, "The families are in touch with Turkish police and hope to find out about the boy’s condition in the coming days."

Cub Scout Recruitment Night - Learn How

Our Northern NJ Council will run a training session for Cub leaders devoted to how to run a successful "Recruitment Night" and maximize the number of new signups. The same session will be run on four different nights in four different cities.

Although primarily pitched for Cub packs, Scout troops and Venture crews should also consider attending, since many of the ideas presented might prove to be useful to your units.



August 16th – 7:30 PM
Oradell Reformed Church
641 Church St, Oradell, NJ
http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/join-scouting-night-training/1954071

August 25th – 7:30 PM
Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church
1219 Paterson Plank Rd, Secaucus, NJ
http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/join-scouting-night-training/1954072

August 30th – 7:30 PM
Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church
359 Central Ave, North Caldwell, NJ
http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/join-scouting-night-training/1954073

August 31st – 7:30 PM
Our Lady of Consolation Church Gymnasium
1799 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, NJ
http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/join-scouting-night-training/1954074

Camp Lewis Changing of the Guard (Jul 26)

Camp Lewis Director Joe Mertens announced that he will step down after this summer ends, along with Program Director Matt Dalzell. They will be replaced by Tom Gingerelli and John Tokar, respectively.

The handover will take place on July 26 at the camp's "Summer 2016 Closing BBQ and Reunion and Retirement Party," 5:00-9:00 PM. The invitation said, "Any and all former campers and staff are invited to help us celebrate the completion of a great summer! Please plan to arrive around 5pm, in your Class A (Field Uniform) so you can participate in the final Evening Retreat at 5:45."

Please register in advance:
http://nnjbsa-lewis.doubleknot.com/event/tuesday-closing-bbq-726/1950028

Registration Fees - Save this Chart

Click here for a chart showing how much to charge a new Scout or Cub (or adult) recruit when he signs up.

The fee for a full 12 months is $33 (plus an optional $12 for Boys' Life = $45). The chart shows how to pro-rate the fee, so you should charge less for a Scout who signs up in the middle of the year.

Example: Most Three Rivers District units recharter in January, which means that your fiscal year starts in February and ends in January. Thus anyone you recruit in January or February pays the full amount. A March recruit pays for 11 months, April pays for 10, etc. When you recruit in September, charge for 5 months: Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan.

Note how the chart is titled "Registration and Insurance." That's because of the high insurance rates in New Jersey. Other Scout councils in other states likely charge just $24 (= $2 per month), but NNJC had to impose a $9 surcharge to cover our high premiums.

Two Family Camping Weekends (May and June)

May 21-22 (hosted by Three Rivers)

June 11-12

Cub Family Weekends are your one-stop-shop for an introduction to Cub Scout Camping and Cub Scout Summer Camp!

If you haven't talked to your Den Leader or Cubmaster about joining us for one of the weekends, YOU SHOULD!

Activities and food are provided, all you need to bring is a tent and sleeping bag, a change of clothes, and a positive attitude!
 

We call them Cub FAMILY weekends for a reason: the entire family is invited!

Register for May Weekend
Register for June Weekend

Adult Basic Training for Sea Scouts (Jun 11)

Sea Scout Adults Leader Basic Training (SSALBT)

Saturday June 11 - 1:00-5:00 PM
SST/V "SIR WINSTON"
North Hudson Yacht Club
1375 River Road
Edgewater, NJ 07020
COST: $3.00 per registered adult
Beverages and snacks will be provided

Click here for a flyer

The training is intended for skippers, mates, and Sea Scout committee adults. Any Scouting professional or council or district volunteer who works with Sea Scout ships are encouraged to attend. The training develops a better understanding of Sea Scouts.

This class is a prerequisite for the Seabadge Course.

Three Beaver Days at Turrell

Three Beaver Days at Camp Turrell 

Saturday April 16
Saturday May 14
Saturday June 11 

Volunteer workers are needed to get Camp Turrell ready for Scout summer camp when it starts up again in July.

Meet up with Ranger Bruce Bobrowski at 8:30 AM.
Light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Please contact Bruce now to let him know you are coming and to tell him what kind of skills you can offer: 845-754-7111.

District Program Launch and Barbecue (Jun 7)

District Program Launch and Barbecue

June 7 - 7:30-9:00 PM
American Legion Hall
33 West Passaic Street
Rochelle Park, NJ  07662

The June Roundtable will be combined with a barbecue to mark the end of a successful 2015-16 session, as well as a Program Launch that looks ahead to 2016-17.

The Program Launch is for units who want to get a head start planning for 2016-17, where they will find calendars, event lists, flyers, and information about activities, training, membership, FOS, the popcorn sale, etc.

FREE! But please register in advance so we know how much food to buy:
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1875697

Why attend? Click here to see the top 10 reasons for doing so:
  https://nnjbsa.doubleknot.com/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=162637

Three Rivers Program Launch (Jun 7)

Two Work Weekends at Floodwood

Two Work Weekends at Floodwood

May 20-22

June 3-5

Our projects are:

• Building new canoe racks
• Renovating two of the "vintage" staff platforms
• Work at Rollins Pond
• Starting the major renovation of the old staff kitchen/dining hall

If you can help us on either weekend, please e-mail John Cebak at least one week prior to your intended weekend:
  JohnRingoe@comcast.net

Weboree 2016 (Jun 3-5)

Weboree 2016

 Open to all 1st Year Webelos!
June 3-5, 2016

Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco
 Blairstown, NJ

Weboree is a weekend of fun and activities for 4th grade Webelos Scouts and their parent/guardian.  They have one, and only one, opportunity to participate in this unique event!  Webelos experience some typical Boy Scout camp activities. 

We promise to keep your Scouts busy all weekend!

This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, open only to 4 grade Webelos.

Please don't waste time registering. There's a cut-off of 750 attendees, and in some past years they had to turn people away.

http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1848080

List of Events in June 2016

Three Rivers Events During June 2016

NOTE: Most important event:
Program Launch and Barbecue on June 7 (was June 14)
Tell Leslie Sonkin that you will attend (plus headcount): lsonkin248@gmail.com
Three Rivers Events During June 2016

Jun 2 - TRD Committee Meeting
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1767133
Jun 7 - TRD Program Launch and Barbecue
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1875697
Jun 11-12 - NNJC Cub Family Weekend (Run by TRD)
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1900140
Jun 18 - TRD Fishing Derby
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1760523
Jun 21 - TRD Assistant District Commissioners
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1765357

Training Sessions During June 2016
Jun 4 - Merit Badge Counselor Training
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1901266
Jun 9 - Cubmaster-Specific training
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1924549
Jun 14 - Youth Protection Training by Ramapo Valley
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1744589

Other Council-Recommended Events During June 2016
Jun 3-5 - Council Weboree for Webelos Scouts only
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1848080
Jun 3-5 - Work Weekend at Floodwood
  JohnRingoe@comcast.net
Jun 10-12 - OA Induction Weekend at No-Be-Bo-Sco
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1838392
Jun 11 - Beaver Day at Turrell
  Ranger Bruce: 845-764-7111
Jun 11 - Adult Basic Training for Sea Scouts
  http://www.nerseascout.org/SSALBT%20June%202016.pdf
Jun 25 - STEM/NOVA at Liberty Science Center for Scouts and Venturers
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1929066 

NJ Department of Environmental Protection - Interview

Earth Day and an Interview with NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin

Click here to listen to a 20 minute interview with Bob Martin as he reflects on NJDEP's many accomplishments since its formation in 1970, on the same day as the very first Earth Day.

Martin tells how he got turned on to conservation while he was working toward Eagle Scout back in the 70's, and how his Scoutmaster taught the troop how to think in terms of habitat, wildlife, watersheds, and aquifers. He said, "It became part of my core values."

Martin contrasted the limited focus on conservation when he was young versus how environmental issues are being taught in schools, which he called "multi curriculum" and showing up in nearly every class including math. Meanwhile schools are planting organic gardens, setting out rain barrels, recycling, installing energy efficient furnaces, solar panels, etc.

It was pointed out that New Jersey was where the Industrial Revolution first took hold in America, creating a lot of prosperity but also a lot of pollution. Martin told about some 20,000 contaminated sites that had been cleaned up, and how New Jersey now has a 99.9% record of clean and open beaches versus frequent past closures due to pollution and high bacteria count. He was also proud of efforts to clean up parks and to prevent people from using them as places to dump trash.

District Rocket Launch (May 22)

District Rocket Launch Postponed to Fall
(Was May 1, then May 22)

This note from event organizer Ken Hesse:
We are postponing the May 22 rocket launch due to predicted rain on and off. The ground that kids usually sit on while building rockets will be very muddy, and we do not feel comfortable running the program in these conditions.We will reschedule and let you know of the new day just as soon as it's confirmed.

Our most uplifting district event!
2 hours of fun in the park
Please don't build prior to the program
1 hour is set for building 1 rocket per team


You will need to bring:

• Two empty 2 liter bottles
• Tape
• Decorations such as colored paper
• Scissors
• SMILES!

The dens will have an hour to build the rocket -- then we will LAUNCH!

Ken Hesse, 201-288-4113
CubmasterPack17@aol.com

PS: Click here for a cool site where NASA talks about bottle rockets:
http://microgravity.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/BottleRocket/about.htm

If You're Interested in Aviation...

If You're Interested in Aviation...

Older Scouts thinking of pursuing an aviation-related career, or just interested in aviation as a hobby, should consider dual-registering with Explorer Post 747 in Paramus, NJ.

The Post is sponsored by Bergen Community College, where they meet in the college's Technology Building on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM. The address is 400 Paramus Road in Paramus.
    https://sites.google.com/site/aviationexplorerpost747/home

The Post is co-ed and open to age 14-21 (or completed 8th grade). This is cool: The Post has access to all the college's state of the art flight simulators.

They have an ambitious program outlined for the rest of 2016, starting with working towards earning a Private Pilot Rating. There will be visits to airports and their control towers and facilities, and to museums, including the one at Rhinebeck with dozens of old vintage aircraft that can still fly.

X-Treme Weekend at Camp Turrell (May 20-22)

X-Treme Weekend at Camp Turrell

Camp Turrell's X-Treme Sports Weekend is the Camp's premier off-season weekend.

Open to all Boy Scout Troops and Venture Crews. The weekend is packed with nonstop action!

• Rock climbing
• Rappelling
• Mountain biking
• Rifle and shotgun shooting
• Archery
• Boating
• Hiking
• An Island Outpost
• ...  and much more!

The Price is $35 per person before April 22. $50 per person after April 22.
Pricing includes all meals,

Register: http://nnjbsa.doubleknot.com/Registration/CalendarDetail.asp?ActivityKey=1870767&OrgKey=955&Signon=N

Contact: Peter Kirk
Peter.Kirk@scouting.org

List of Events in May 2016

NOTE: Two date changes:
May Roundtable is now May 3 (was May 10)
June Barbecue and Program Launch is now June 7 (was June 14)

Three Rivers Events During May 2016

May 3 - TRD Roundtable for Scout and Cub leaders (was May 10)
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1875695
May 3 - TRD OA Chapter Meeting (was May 10)
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1790008
May 5 - TRD Committee Meeting
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1767142
May 9 - NNJC Silver Beaver Dinner (includes TRD recipients)
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1898350
May 13-15 - TRD Webelos World Conservation Weekend
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1765374
May 17 - TRD Assistant District Commissioners
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1765350
May 21-22 - NNJC Cub Family Weekend (organized by TRD)
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1896812
May 22 - TRD Rocket Launch 2016 (was May 1)
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1765375

Training Sessions During May 2016

May 10 - Youth Protection Training by Ramapo Valley
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1744588
May 21 - Cub Leader Training (details not yet available)
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1788202

Other Council-Recommended Events During May 2016

May 6-8 - OA Induction Weekend at Turrell
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/2016-ordeal-candidate-registration/1902941
May 13-15 - Friday the 13th Weekend at No-Be
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1742279
May 14 - Beaver Day #2 at Camp Turrell
  [not posted]
May 14 - COPE Course Open for Reservations
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1848391
May 20-22 - X-Treme Sports Weekend at Turrell
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1870767
May 20-22 - Work weekend at Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation
  JohnRingoe@comcast.net

An Attack Dog Demonstration

An Attack Dog Demonstration

Yaw Paw Day Camp Director Henry Hahn volunteered to be the bad guy! This photo appeared in the Bergen Record on April 22. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

The caption: Hasbrouck Heights Police Officer Dave Ciliento handling Bosco as he prepares to put the bite on the "bad guy" played with bravura by Cub Scout Day Camp Director Henry Hahn, during a K-9 unit demonstration Thursday that captivated Scouts. [Photo credit: Viorel Florescu]

How the NY Council Pushed for Gay Scout Leaders

How GNYC Pushed for Gay Scout Leaders

"Taking the Lead" was the headline of a recent article that appeared in the Hoboken Reporter, written by Al Sullivan. Click here for the article. The article was about Richard "Ricky" Mason, current president of the Greater New York Councils, and how GNYC "forced the national Boy Scout organization to change its policies." (Mason lives in Hoboken.)

Sullivan relates how BSA National decided to allow gay youth into the program in 2014, but continued to exclude gay leaders until last year. Sullivan said, "In mid-2015, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates – president of the national Boy Scouts of America Organization – reversed the organization’s prior policy and allowed the hiring of gay leaders for the first time.

Mason said, "The New York Council was far ahead of the nation on this issue... We hired [someone] for our summer camp. He was an openly gay Eagle Scout." Mason added, "We needed a spokesperson. I became that spokesperson. We started a media tour (in April 2015) and when it became public, we pushed the national organization to make the change."

Camperships For Scouts in North Hudson

Camperships For Scouts in North Hudson

Offered by Grove Reformed Church in North Bergen

The Paulsen Trust announced that they are ready to receive applications from families in north Hudson County that can use help in paying for summer camp. Please let Norman Kasser know if you would like a copy of the application form. In the past, Paulsen has been quite generous. Their deadline is May 15, 2016.
    Norman@TwoKassers.com

Who is eligible: Here are the restrictions as they appear on the form: "The camperships are available to children 16 years of age and younger, who reside in one of the following zip code locations: 07030, 07047, 07086, 07087, 07093, 07094, 07307. We will only provide assistance for children attending overnight camp."

• Instructions for Cubs: Please do NOT use the Camp Lewis online registration system, since the final step will ask you to pay the camp fee. Instead contact Linda Vennik at the council office and ask her to register your son for Lewis, explaining that payment will be made later by the Paulsen Fund.
    Linda.Vennik@scouting.org

• Instructions for Scouts: Let your Scoutmaster know that Paulsen will pay the fee. The Scoutmaster will then inform the Council when he submits his roster along with money for the other paying Scouts.

Some time prior to summer camp, you'll receive a letter from Paulsen with the "award" amount; that is, how much of the camp fee they are willing to cover, hopefully 100%. If it's not 100%, you'll have to write a check to the Northern NJ Council for the balance.

At the end of the summer: Paulsen will contact the Camp Director to verify that your son actually attended and will then mail the award directly to the Council.

2016 Klondike Derby Competition Results

2016 Klondike Derby Competition Results

Tenafly Boy Scout Troop 25 was the big winner, taking both 1st and 3rd places overall, plus finishing 3rd in the sled race. Closter Troop 63 was the 2nd place winner overall.

The Webelos winners were Maywood Pack 1199, River Edge Pack 229, and Tenafly Pack 25. River Edge Pack 95 won the sled race.


A full list of standings can be found on the Three Rivers website.
Scouts:
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=161744
Webelos:
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=135426

Unusual Sale at the Scout Shop (Apr 30)

Get Ready for Camp Event

Saturday April 30 (and April 23 in NYC)

Save 25% on all regular-priced camp gear!
This is unusual - camp gear rarely goes on sale.


Northern NJ Council Scout Shop - April 30
25 Ramapo Valley Rd.
Oakland, NJ 07436

Empire Scout Shop - April 23 and April 30
48 W 37th St.
New York, NY 10018

Sessions for the Catholic Scout Award

Ad Altare Dei and Sword of St. George Awards

Sessions for Scouts wishing to earn these awards will take place in April through November, one session per month, on the first Friday of each month:
  April 1 ⇐ Ask about a make-up session
  May 5
  June 3
  August 5
  September 9
  October 15 ⇐ During the CCOS Retreat weekend
  November 4

Our Lady of Mercy Church, 6:30-8:00 PM
(Lower gathering space) 
2 Fremont Ave.
Park Ridge, NJ  07656
Workbook available at the first session: $6
This course is designed for Scouts age 13-14.
Dress: Class-A uniform with neckerchief

Plus it is mandatory to also attend a Scout Catholic Retreat weekend, such as October 14-16, 2016.

This will be impressive: Presentation of awards will take place on Scout Sunday in the Newark Cathedral Basilica on February 12, 2017.

Facilitators:
Ed Stoker - Scouter142@outlook.com
Michaelene Mason - Idgunlab@aol.com

Renewal Time for Merit Badge Counselors

Renewal Time for Merit Badge Counselors

Starting this year, each merit badge counselor registered with the Northern NJ Council must renew annually.

Hopefully you received an e-mail from Kathy Wassel at the council office asking for either "confirm" or "delete."

If you didn't get that e-mail, please contact Kathy yourself: Kathy.Wassel@scouting.org

In her e-mail, Kathy also repeated the counselor's contact information as found in the NNJC database and offered to make corrections.

In her e-mail, Kathy also repeated the list of merit badges that the counselor is registered to handle. However, she did not offer to make corrections to that list.

Another Option for Cub Summer Day Camp (Aug 22-26)

Hidden Gem
Cub Scout Day Camp
at Pershing Field, Jersey City

Mon-Fri August 22-26
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM  
$225 


Register: http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1788462

Contacts:
Camp Director Tom Gingerelli 
201-316-3115
TGingerelli@gmail.com 

Program Director Oliris Ramos
646-334-2875
Oliris.Ramos@scouting.org