News Briefs

18th annual National Youth Service Day

From April 21 to 23, 2006, millions of young people across America will participate in the 18th annual National Youth Service Day, an event designed to start youth on a lifelong path of service and civic engagement and jump-start yearlong youth-led efforts.

The Boy Scouts of America is a national partner in this service initiative. Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, Varsity teams, and Venturing crews are encouraged to conduct a service project during April 21-23 and input information into the BSA's goodturnforamerica.org Web site.

Go to www.ysa.org/nysd for more information on participants, projects, and possible grants that BSA councils, districts, units, or Eagle Scout candidates can apply for to support future National Youth Service Day projects.


Web site welcomes back former Scouts and Scouters

A new BSA Web site, www.scoutingfriends.org, provides individuals who have had a positive Scouting experience as a youth or as an adult leader with an opportunity to become reconnected with Scouting.

The site lets visitors familiarize themselves with current BSA programs, locate a local Scout council office and Web page, and share the excitement with friends via e-mail.

Visitors can enter basic information regarding their Scouting background and current interests for council use in determining the best available leadership opportunities.

Visitors are also able to send special e-mail messages or an illustrated "eCard" directly to family, friends, or co-workers who might have similar fond memories of Scouting experiences.

Developed by the BSA's Finance Support Division, the site also provides reconnected former members and others with a way to help re-establish Scouting in communities hardest hit by last year's storms by contributing to the Hurricane Katrina BSA Relief Fund.

Web site visitors can also make direct contributions to a local council or arrange for long-term gifts to Scouting by setting up life income gifts, gift annuities, and other plans.


2005 Scouting index is available online

The 2005 Index for Scouting magazine and indexes for each year back to 1970 are available on the magazine's Web site at www.scoutingmagazine.org/about/pastissues/index.html. Indexes are also available by mail. For one index, send a self-addressed, first-class-stamped, business-size envelope; for more than three, add additional postage. Order indexes from Scouting Magazine Index, S304, 1325 W. Walnut Hill Ln., P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079.


BSA Good Turn for America Program Lauded

The BSA and its Good Turn for America initiative were honored in 2005 by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) with the Summit Award, the organization's highest recognition for associations that implement new and innovative community-based programs.

The award, presented to six organizations last year, represents "the very best efforts from associations to bolster and unite behind their communities and society at large," said David Gabri, chairman of the ASAE awards committee.

Good Turn for America is a national call to service in which the BSA "partnered with some of the nation's most respected service organizations, including The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity, to provide opportunities for youth and volunteers to fight hunger and homelessness, and teach the habits of healthy living," the ASAE said in presenting the award. "From January 1, 2004, through April 30, 2005, [BSA members and others] through the Good Turn for America initiative performed over 1,348,790 service hours resulting in over 18,556 projects with a total involvement of 441,290 youth and adults."

The ASAE is a Washington, D.C.-based organization of nearly 22,000 executives (who manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies, and voluntary organizations in the United States and 50 other countries) and industry partners who supply products and services to the association community.


BSA tour permits are required for unit trips

Scout units planning trips are required to file an application for a tour permit with their Scout council office.

For trips of less than 500 miles one way, unit leaders should submit a Local Tour Permit Application (No. 34426E). Trips of 500 miles or more one way from home or that cross national boundaries and enter into the territory of other nations require a National Tour Permit Application (No. 4419B), to be approved by both the local Scout council and the BSA regional service center.

Applications are available from Scout council service centers or can be downloaded from www.scouting.org/forms. (The Web site also includes an "Online Application Assistant" tutorial for help in filling out a form correctly.)

After receiving an approved tour permit, unit leaders may be required to show it to Scout officials and other authorized persons on their trip, such as for overnight camping on council properties and military bases.

In addition to keeping the Scout council informed of unit activities, a tour permit serves other useful functions:

  • The application process assists units in planning a safe, interesting, and enjoyable trip. (The latest Local and National Tour Permit Applications include the requirement that at least one adult on the trip has had Youth Protection training, which can be taken online through participating local council Web sites.)
  • The Scout council office knows where to contact unit members in case of emergencies.
  • Officials in state and federal parks are assured that touring and camping Scout groups have official BSA status. (Some locations may require a tour permit for entry.)

Cub Scout leaders often wonder if short den trips and outings require a local tour permit. The answer is to check with your local Scout council service center regarding local policy on any trip you are planning.

The BSA publication Tours and Expeditions (No. 33737D) is recommended reading for leaders before filling out a tour permit application. It covers the key steps for planning and organizing trips, necessary equipment, health and safety concerns (including transportation), and where to find additional information.

Trip leaders should also review the Guide to Safe Scouting (No. 34416E), which lists approved activities and safety standards required for Scout youth participation. The full text of the guide is available on the BSA national Web site at www.scouting.org/pubs/gss.


Subscribe Online to Scouting Magazine

All BSA registered adult volunteers receive Scouting magazine as part of their $10 annual registration fee.

However, for only $9.95, nonregistered individuals can purchase a one-year subscription to Scouting (six issues) online at: http://shop.scoutingmagazine.org/subscribe/.

Potential subscribers include Scout parents (who are not registered leaders) and others, such as members of organizations that use the Scouting program; Scouting friends, supporters, and contributors; and educators, public officials, administrators, and all other interested parties. Issues of the magazine are January-February, March-April, May-June, September, October, and November-December.

It's also possible to order a magazine gift subscription for someone who is not currently registered in Scouting but who would enjoy reading about current activities of Scouts across the country, the latest news from the BSA National Council, and inspiring accounts of experiences from Scout leaders.


Share memories through the National Scouting Museum

Scouts, Scouters, former Scouts, and members of Scouting families can help The National Scouting Museum document the history of Scouting by sharing their memories via the museum Web site, www.bsamuseum.org.

Located next to the BSA national office in Irving, Tex., the museum is collecting personal histories of Scouting for its archival collection, for possible use in future exhibits, and to help researchers gain a greater perspective of the Scouting experience.

Contributors must be 13 or older. They can agree to allow their submission to be disseminated in connection with the museum and its Web site or have it made available only to approved researchers in the archives. Because the museum cannot return material, it's important that contributors keep a copy of any submission.

To submit a story, go to www.bsamuseum.org/stories/index.html. For additional information, contact the National Scouting Museum, Tell Us Your Scout Stories, 1325 W. Walnut Hill Ln., Irving, TX 75038, (800) 303-3047.


Lowe's, Dremel sponsor national derby design contest

For the second year, Lowe's and Dremel are sponsoring a national All-Star Derby Design Contest for children age 7 to 10.

Cars must be designed and constructed by a parent and child together and entries submitted by March 31, via mail or online. Every entrant will receive a derby design patch.

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Four Grand Prize Winners receive the all-star treatment. Each of the 4 winning teams receive a trophy, $100 cash, personalized Grand Prize Winner Attire and a trip for two to Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 20th for the All-Star NASCAR Challenge. Winners will be honored by Jimmie Johnson at an exclusive Derby Design Contest Ceremony.

Newly added this year are five overall bonus categories including Best Scout Spirit, Best Paint Job, Best Self Representation, Best Lowe's and Dremel Branded Design and Best Non-Car Design.

Pack leaders can win too. The leaders of the first 50 packs to enter together will receive a $100 Lowe's Gift Card.

Children that attend an in store demonstration will receive a 2006 Mobile Derby Car Garage while supplies last. Visit www.derbydesigncontest.com to find the demonstration nearest you. The Web site also includes full rules for entering, information on prizes, and a monthly newsletter.

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Copyright © 2006 by the Boy Scouts of America. All rights thereunder reserved; anything appearing in Scouting magazine or on its Web site may not be reprinted either wholly or in part without written permission. Because of freedom given authors, opinions may not reflect official concurrence.