The following event is intended to be attended as a "family" event and is limited to the first 600 people to register.  

Please click-on the individual attachments at the end of this announcement as they contain the actual details, registration and 'hold harmless' forms that you will need to review/complete.

This is being sent via a special E-BLAST prior to Summer Camp departure.  

From the PA Dutch Council:

 Celebrating 100 Years — A Shining Light

For the first time in the history of the Boy Scouts of America, we will be bringing the entire Scouting community together for a single, nationwide event to celebrate our organization and reflect on what it has meant to millions of America’s youth.

On Saturday, July 31, 2010, at 8 p.m. EST, the Scouting family — past, present and future — will be able to take part, in a special nationwide broadcast. A Shining Light Across America will bring the Centennial Celebration Show from the 100th Anniversary National Scout Jamboree in Fort AP Hill, Va. to communities across the country via Webcast and satellite transmission.

As part of this monumental event, the Pennsylvania Dutch, Hawk Mountain, and York Adams/Keystone Councils will hold the event at Fort Indiantown Gap, National Guard Training Center.  Our event will start at 3:00 p.m. and will conclude after the show is over around 10:00 p.m.  Parking will be at Camp Bashore and busses will transport you to the location.  While there, participants will be able to visit the Military Museum on base, swim in the pool, tour some of the facilities including an inside look at some of the armored attack vehicles, weapon simulators, and much more.  Scouts over the age of 14 will also get the chance to try out the mobile climbing wall.  There will be plenty for the whole family to do and concession stands will be open.  At the conclusion of the event busses will transport you back to Camp Bashore where tent camping will be available for those that wish to stay overnight.  No tents will be provided.

We are encouraging everyone to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the magic that has marked 100 years of the Boy Scouts of America. Members of the entire community at large – Scouts, Scouting volunteers, alumni, families and community supporters – are invited to join in the festivities.

* UPDATED INVENTORY LIST POSTED AS OF 6/24/10 (see "Uniform Exchange" page under MENU bar at left) *

Dear Parents,

In preparation for summer camp, for the past several months we have been asking you to complete and turn-in new medical forms to Mrs. Kent.  The forms are required by the BSA (must be done on an annual basis) as well as being a requirement for your son to participate in any outings with the troop.  Even if you have done so, please keep reading...

When departing on an overnight/weekend outing, our scoutmasters are required to have in with them an approved BSA Tour Permit, copy of the BSA's "Guide To Safe Scouting" as well as copies of the medical forms for each of the scouts participating in the event.

It is important that you provide any information on the medical form regarding your son that could come into play while he is away from home that could impact his well being as well as that of other scouts and the scoutmasters.

We do not need to know every minute detail - but in fairness to our leaders, if there are physical, emotional or medication-controlled conditions/restrictions that exist for your son, our leaders need to know about it in advance.  

It is unacceptable to omit this information and put our leaders and the well-being of your son and other scouts at risk.

We practice a minimum of 2-deep leadership as required by the BSA.  However, if a situation arises for which our leaders are unprepared, it places the well-being of the entire troop at risk.

This information will be kept confidential - but our leaders need to know what to watch out for when they are in remote areas where phone service is not always available.

We are very much aware of HIPPA privacy concerns and are not trying to pry into anyone's personal affairs - we don't need to know every detail (nor do we want to).

However, we are talking about the safety and well-being of your son.

We also expect you to exercise good judgement in providing guidance to your son when they want to sign-up for an outing and double-checking with the leaders to ensure that they are aware of any issues when dropping-off your son.

If anyone has turned-in a medical form and wishes to append it, please contact Mrs. Kent (the keeper of our medical forms) so an update can be made.

Dear  Leaders of the Pennsylvania Dutch Council,

In an effort to continue to protect the youth that we serve in the Scouting program, effective June 1^st it will be required that all registered leaders take Youth Protection Training.  Please see the attached flyer announcing this as well as the copy from the National office memo below.  If you have any questions on this please contact your Unit Commissioner or you may email me at kziegenf@bsamail.org.  Please pass this information on to all of your Scouting friends and let’s make sure to get the word out on this as quickly as possible.