The luncheon was attended by members of insurance and community service industries and raised more than $350,000 to support scouting for boys in the New York City area. The “Good Scout” award recognizes leadership and community service.

“The Boy Scouts are preparing the next generation of Americans to be not only potential leaders in our companies and governments but also agents of change in our local communities,” said Vitale in accepting the award. “I’m convinced that this is what our society needs: future citizens who in their daily lives are role models of strength, wisdom and integrity.”

About Zurich
Zurich’s North America Commercial and Global Corporate in North America business divisions are part of Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich), an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 60,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries. In North America, Zurich (www.zurichna.com) is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, specialties and programs sectors.

This was a press release.

For his Eagle Project, Life Scout, Ryan Funk decided to build a Play Gym for the chimpanzees at the Gulf Breeze Zoo in Florida.

The zoo doesn’t have incoming money so he thought it would be a great place to help out. The Play Gym will help improve the chimp’s lives and also enable the zoo to expand and obtain more Chimps.

When Ryan started to work on the project, June 7th, 2009, he had the help of many Scouts from his troop, Troop 400. Ryan wouldn’t have been able to complete the project without them.

The project went very well even though he had some obstacles, including the Chimp Island which is sand surrounded by water. He had to use a little rowboat to carry all supplies to the island including two fourteen foot poles.

Congratulations to Ryan and his fellow Troop 400 Scouts for a job well done!

If you have a story about a unique Eagle Scout project please contact us so we can feature it!

Advertisements for the new handbook show a similiar but slightly modified cover. Instead of the “old fashion” Scout in the corner, there is now an Eagle.

The advertisements say the 12th Edition handbook will be available August 1st, 2009 and will be available in several different versions.

One can assume there will be a Spanish version, but what other versions will be available?

The Boy Scouts of Troop 806 got a glimpse into the wilderness survival training military members learn while at the survival course.

“The boys are here working on a wilderness survival merit badge,” said Scout Master Matt Pittner. “They are supposed to learn how to survive in cold or hot weather situations, how to get food and water and everything you need to know in case you would get lost in the woods.”

Three Navy SERE instructors volunteered to teach trapping and hunting techniques, navigation and fire building.

“[The instructors] taught us different styles of shelters at this training, and I think that the instructors were more experienced,” said scout Daniel Chapa, 14.

Scouts also learned the importance of using only what they had in survival situations. For example, the scouts worked through a crash-landing scenario and had to navigate through the wilderness to find a safe base camp. Instructors taught the scouts to construct a shelter using only a parachute and anything else they could find around them. Later in the night, some scouts slept in the structures they had built earlier.

“After we built our shelters, I went to go hang out with a few of my friends, but their shelters collapsed so we had to sleep under the stars on the parachute,” said scout Sam Ruiz, 11. “But it was fun to work together with my friends and hang out.”

Former Navy E-2C Hawkeye pilot Roger Chapa completed the SERE course in 1982 and knew his 14-year-old son, Daniel, would benefit.

“I believe that young men should be exposed to the type of training they got up there,” said Chapa. “The survival portion of the training is actually pretty good from what I remember. It gives you a good idea on how to make it out there on your own.”

Scout mother Juli Ruiz thought the course would be exciting and would expose her son to a different side of the military.

“I think it’s really great, especially for our troop in Coronado because so many of the families are military,” said Ruiz. “It exposes the boys to a different side of the military other than what they see their parents do. It was a really great opportunity for him, and we thought it would be something that would be exciting and memorable for him as well.”

“The training they received here is years ahead of what they would have received at a Boy Scout summer camp,” explained Pittner. “This is truly something that they are going to remember forever.”

For more news from Naval Special Warfare Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/nsw/.

Story Number: NNS090615-04
Release Date: 6/15/2009 1:08:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dominique M. Lasco

Here are a few highlights:

Payment Reminder:
The second 2010 National Scout Jamboree payment in the amount of $400 per person is due on or before July 31, 2009. Please keep in mind that a late penalty of $50 will apply if payment is not received on or before that date.

All staff payments must be submitted online utilizing the same process that was used when the original application and deposit were submitted. Payments CANNOT be accepted in the Jamboree Department. The only payment method acceptable is electronically.

Complete step-by-step instructions can be found on www.bsajamboree.org under the “Staff” section.

Jamboree Staff Patches:
Each staff member will receive a total of two staff patches. The Jamboree Department will mail the first patch for all submitted staff applications and paid deposits. The letter with this patch very clearly states:

“Congratulations on completing your jamboree staff application. If selected as a jamboree staff member, you will be joined by more than 7,500 Scouters committed to delivering a magnificent experience to our Scouts. The selection process can take some time. We appreciate your patience. In recognition of your first payment (deposit), you will find the official jamboree staff emblem enclosed for you to wear above the right pocket of your BSA uniform.”

The patch is in no way a guarantee of a staff position!

The second staff patch will be sent out starting in late February, 2010, to all accepted staff members who are current on their fees. (Fees should be paid in full by Jan. 31, 2010.)

Youth Protection Training:
Don’t forget your YPT! All trainings must be current within two years of arrival at the jamboree. If training is going to need renewal, take care of it now! Why wait? Training can be taken online at: http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx.

Be sure to log in to the Staff EDIT form using the registration code on your jamboree application to update the expiration date upon completion of the renewal.

See you at the Hill!

The reasons stated for the merger are enhanced services and smart financial planning. The new council will be led by Larry Pritchard, who will be the Scout Executive and CEO. He has been the Otetiana Council’s Scout Executive for nine years and has more than 35 years experience as a professional Scouter. The Finger Lakes Council’s position of Scout Executive has been vacant for several months.

Peter Pape, co-chair of the merger committee says that “this merger allows us to build on the strengths of each organization. Otetiana has done a lot for children in tough circumstances in the city of Rochester, and Finger Lakes has done very good work for teens with their traditional Venturing programs. Together we can apply those successes across our region. Neither of the past councils had any debt; we did this to ensure financial stability, not to avert crisis.”

There will be no staff cuts due to the merger. The four-county Finger Lakes Council founded in 1924, has employed six full-time staff members and the Otetiana, founded in 1943 and encompassing only Monroe County has employed 35. Together the councils employ over 120 summer staff to provide camping programs. In addition, all programs, camps, and activities will operate as planned in 2009 and there are currently no plans to close any Scout camps. This merger will allow Scouts access to three camps, whereas Otetiana has run two and Finger Lakes oversaw one. The three camps are the 3,600-acre Massawepie Scout Camps in the Adirondacks; the 1,300-acre Cutler Scout Reservation located north of Naples in Ontario County; and the 360- acre Camp Babcock-Hovey located on the east side of Seneca Lake in Seneca County. Each camp offers unique opportunities, including canoe treks from Massawepie; the Babcock-Hovey science and technology camp and the fort, castle, long house, and ships of the Cub Scout Adventure Camp at Cutler.

Each council’s voting members will decide a slate of officers to run the merged council. The merger study was overseen by a steering committee, created in January from representatives of both boards. The committee formed study groups and held town meetings in Rochester and Geneva. In addition to the individual boards, the United Way of Greater Rochester has pledged its support for the merger, as have representatives from the Northeast Region of the Boy Scouts of America.

“This merged council enables us to serve the Scouts and community more efficiently, as it allows the Finger Lakes executives to focus energies on their primary role as district managers,” said Robert Oaks, Finger Lakes Council president ”The overwhelming vote in support of the merger demonstrates commitment to the future of Scouting in our region. People understand we will now have a stronger combined council with more support staff and access to the Otetiana camps. This is a win for both councils, our Scouts and their families, and the entire region.”

The programs of the Boy Scouts of America include the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts and the co-ed Exploring and Venturing programs. In 2008, Otetiana supported programs for 13,063 Scouts and their supporting adult volunteers, which represents 22 percent of the total youth available in Monroe County. The Finger Lakes Council in 2008 supported programs for 2,800 Scouts and adult volunteers, epresenting 13 percent of the youth population.

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

Kirby Hensley, Jon-Michael Hensley and Gavin Coulson on board the Battleship Texas.

The June 6th date selected by the Scouts for the ceremony was the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Battleship TEXAS and her crew played a major role in the naval engagement at Omaha Beach in that historic World War II event.

Two of the three Eagle Scouts performed their Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project at the Battleship. Jon-Michael Hensley’s project was a restoration of two 20mm anti-aircraft guns located on the port quarter of the ship’s main deck. Gavin Coulson’s project was a restoration of three machines in the ship’s machine shop located on the third deck. Kirby Hensley’s project was to build and install twelve birdhouses at Camp Mohawk, which is a Brazoria County park located on Highway 35 adjacent to Chocolate Bayou.

The Court of Honor ceremony was attended by about eighty family members and guests. Special guests were Angela McCleaf, Curator of the Battleship TEXAS and ship staff members Rusty Bloxom and Travis Davis. The featured speaker at the ceremony was Steven Howell, Executive Director of The Battleship Texas Foundation.

Jon-Michael Hensley and Kirby Hensley are the sons of Cheryl Hensley of Pearland. Their late father, John Hensley was also an Eagle Scout. Gavin Coulson is the son of Pat and Aven Coulson of Pearland. Jon-Michael Hensley and Gavin Coulson are also 2009 graduates of Pearland High School.

All three Eagle Scouts have been active in Scouting with Troop 486 since they were eligible to become Boy Scouts at age eleven and were also Cub Scouts who attained the Arrow of Light award. Boy Scout Troop 486 meets during the school year at Sablatura Middle School on Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. The Troop Scoutmaster is Daniel Freeman.

News Release from Bay Area Council

To earn The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation, a product must be proven to aid in the prevention of sun-induced damage to the skin and must earn a UPF rating of 30+ or above. BSA’s Centennial uniform has earned this distinguished seal, receiving an excellent UPF rating of 40+.

The BSA’s sun-protective, uniform-approved apparel includes the Centennial Uniform Shirt and pants offered in 18 styles for youth, as well as adult men’s and women’s sizes. Some pant styles have convertible, zip-off components that are very popular with youth. Many people don’t give much thought to the amount of sun that their heads and scalps are exposed to on a daily basis. Consequently, three kinds of hats are available, each offering a UPF rating of 50+. As technology and textiles changes, the BSA will continue to add apparel pieces, all offering top UPF ratings, to its product line.

“For nearly 100 years, Scouting has given youth and adults a wide range of outdoor activities and safety education unlike any other youth-serving organization,” said Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca. “Preparing Scouts for severe weather conditions is of highest priority–winter or summer, the right gear is critical. We will make sure that top-rated, sun-protective clothing is always available.”

About the BSA
Serving nearly 4.1 million young people between the ages of 7 and 20 with more than 300 local councils throughout the United States and its territories, the Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.

For details on the BSA’s Skin Cancer Foundation-approved line of sun-protective garments, visit www.scoutstuff.org. For more on sun safety and avoiding skin cancer risks, visit www.skincancer.org.

About The Skin Cancer Foundation
Now celebrating its 30th year, The Skin Cancer Foundation is committed to educating the public and medical professionals about sun safety. As leaders in the fight against skin cancer, the Foundation is the only global organization solely devoted to the prevention, detection and treatment of the world’s most common cancer. The mission of the Foundation is to decrease the incidence of skin cancer through public and professional education and research. To learn more about the Foundation and its programs, visit www.skincancer.org.

In the game the player wakes up at 8:00 AM in camp and learns he has to find tickets for the last Jamboree bus before it leaves at 7:00 PM. The game runs in real time, with one second of real-world time equal to one second of game time. The game is a “first-person adventure game” styled in the popular format of Myst. As players walk around the old-style 1928 camp, they explore over 200 photo-realistic locations and earn Scout Spirit points by answering multiple-choice Scouting questions. Along the way, they must battle mosquitoes and skunks, figure out hints from camp staffers, and beat arcade challenges such as putting out fires, climbing towers, chopping logs, and beating Kim’s Game. Top scorers will be posted on the game’s Web site at http://gpsrcd.nepabsa.org.

The game also includes a virtual tour of the camp, recordings of songs from the camp, and online databases of the camp’s seasonal patches and the 900+ plaques troops have posted in the camp dining hall since 1952. The game’s computer disc can be ordered for $30.00 at http://gpsrcd.nepabsa.org/order.html and comes in an attractive case with a collectible patch in the cover. All disc sales proceeds benefit the Goose Pond Scout Reservation capital development fund.

A free try-before-you-buy version that covers the first 20% of the game can be downloaded at
http://www.download.com/ for the following operating systems:

MAC: http://download.cnet.com/Goose-Pond-A-Timeless-Adventure/3000-7495_4-10908833.html

PC: http://download.cnet.com/Goose-Pond-A-Timeless-Adventure/3000-7495_4-10910263.html

Check it out today!

Todd Shaw (Eagle Scout class of 1980) is writing a book based on the Scout law and the principles taught in Scouting.

The goal of the book is to encourage Boy Scouts (both young & old) to apply the principles of Scouting to their life. As adult leaders, our life lessons can encourage the next generation of Scouts to remain true to the principles that Scouting teaches.

It will be written in a motivational / inspirational style book that includes famous quotes or sayings that go along with each theme of the Scout Law and/or Scout Oath, and (this is where Todd needs your help) stories from adults who went through Scouting and who have applied the principles of the Scout Law and Oath to their life.”

If you have any stories to share with him, please visit www.ascoutis.com and download the form online or to view sample stories. Please have the questionnaire back to Todd before June 30th , 2009.

Todd is also the author of “Out of the Box and Loving it”, and co-author of “The Values Driven Life”. Todd also has many contributions in Orlando’s Magic VP, Pat Williams’ book, “Coaching your kids to be Leaders”.