MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
August 2021
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3..2..1..Scouts Blast-Off at the Park |
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Cub Scouts from Pack 515 met at their local park to have some fun with water and plastic bottles. The Scouts spent the day learning S.T.E.M.(Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) practices about pressure and how it can be used with water and a plastic bottle to create a high flying rocket. The Cub Scouts put their own imagination into their rockets. They designed their bottles for maximum performance as seen in the picture below. Overall, the Cub Scouts from Pack 515 learned some useful educational practices by using water, air and a 2-liter bottle and had a fun experience the entire time. |
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Scout Completes National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience at Philmont |
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Conner Heather from Troop 514 in La Grande travelled to Philmont to participate in NAYLE(National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience) along with other Scouts from cross the country.
What is NAYLE? NAYLE is National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience. It's only done at our High Adventure bases and in order to be eligible, Scouts must first take Introduction to Troop Leadership Skills in their unit, and National Youth Leadership Training at the Council Level. The NAYLE participants stay in wall tents up at the Rayado Ridge facility. Some of the highlights include 'Outpost' where they backpacked to a different site and set up tents for the night for their wilderness experience - similar to what is done in Wood Badge for adults or in NYLT for the youth at the council level.
Another highlight for Connor was that they were given the opportunity to summit the Tooth of Time, and YES, he made sure to call mom from the top of the Tooth. Connor had an AMAZING experience. He highly recommends NAYLE to all of the eligible youth in our Council. MJ Heather, Conner's mom, explained..."When we went to pick Conner up, he and his crew were sobbing. They didn't want to say goodbye to one another. They had been complete strangers 5 days earlier. These are the best of the best of our Troops and Crews from all over the country, and they all learned a lot. I suspect we'll see the results of NAYLE not right now, but over the next couple of years as Conner has a chance to process what he learned and put it into action, he'll be an asset to his Troop and community in ways that would not have been possible without that training."
If you have a Scout interested in participating in NAYLE or would like to learn more about this amazing experience, contact the Council for support. The more Scouts that attend NAYLE the stronger our units will become in our region. Great job Conner and congratulations on completing the program.
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Member of the Blue Mountain Council Celebrates 60 Years of Service |
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Congratulations and a Gigantic Thank You to this young man, Steve Gaines, for achieving and celebrating 60 years of service to the Boy Scouts of America. And at the time of this photo with Council President, Brett Bybee, he was leaving for the Philmont Scout Ranch for another week of dedicated service to our youth in the Order of the Arrow! Way to go Steve Gaines! You are an inspiration to many who aspire to follow in your footsteps. |
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3-Rivers NYLT Completes Sixth Consecutive Course |
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On Friday, July 2nd, 3-Rivers NYLT successfully completed its sixth consecutive course. Scouts from Omak to La Grande gathered at Camp Scout-A-Vista near Wenatchee and all 24 Scouts that started the course completed it. Despite the heat, they finished with great spirit to go back and improve their troops. Jaxon Moon (Prosser) and Josiah Bork (Pendleton) lead a superb youth staff so our Scoutmaster only had to work 2 minutes a day. Walker Smith (Troop 149) won the Outdoor skills award and Westin Brandstetter (Troop 248) won the Cheerful Service award but the real winners are the troops that will be improved by inspired leaders. Congratulations and Well Done to all of the Scouts who participated.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR UPCOMING EVENTS |
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Blue Mountain Council Leadership Breakfast Registration Now Open
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Harvest Gala
Registration Open
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Harvest Gala Silent Auction is LIVE |
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Canoeing and Kayaking Fun Day |
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This event is available to all Webelos Scouts and above with their families at Two Rivers Park on September 25th from 9am to 4pm. $5 per Scout. It is not a merit badge clinic, but will have canoeing demonstrations and a chance for scouts to try it out. Swim test required before going out. It's recommended Scouts pass the swim test prior to the day as water temperatures may be cold. Registration will be on the Council website and registration will open soon.
Event details below:
- 90 minute sessions running throughout the day. 30 minute safety instructions 60 minutes on the water.
- Session include Canoe Rescue, Solo and Duo Paddling, and Kayaking Basics. Choose up to Three sessions per registrants.
- Packing a kayak for long trips demonstration available.
- Bring Personal Flotation Devise and paddles if you have them. If not, the Council will supply them.
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Adult Leader Training Opportunity |
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Want some in-person training to help you with your Scouting role?
We will have live supplemental leader training on Saturday, September 18. Bring your Scouts for the merit badges and stay for leader training. In the morning we will have sessions for Cub Scout den leaders and pack committee members (with a discussion of funding models). In the afternoon we will have sessions for troop committee followed by sessions for Scoutmasters.
This live event is a chance to interact and learn from other Scouters. These sessions will supplement the positional training you take online, is designed for you to learn with and from others, and will help get your questions answered.
Questions, call Jeff Hylden - 509-551-1304
Start Time – End Time for each session
9-10 Aims and Methods of Cub Scouting
10-11 Den Leaders
11-12 Pack Committee Overview/ Funding Models
12-1 Lunch/Discussion
1-2 Troop Committee Overview/Funding Models
2-3 Handling Difficult Scouts
3-4 Scoutmaster Skills
Where: First Presbyterian Church on Kennewick Ave
When: September 18
Cost: $0
What to bring: pen, paper, and enthusiasm for Scouting.
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New Venturing Crew Opportunity |
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Looking for adventure? Become a founding member of Tapteal Greenway's new Venturing Crew.
For both young men and young women between the ages of 14 and 21 (or 13 and completed 8th grade). You can join even if you are a member of a Scouting troop, and even if you're already an Eagle Scout.
Venturing is all about “ALPS” (Adventure, Leadership, Personal Growth and Service). The mission of Tapteal Greenway is Conservation, Education and Recreation. Couldn't have a more beautiful alignment of missions!
For more information on Tapteal Greenway
Contact Rob Jones for details
509-420-3199
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It takes all of us to ensure Scouting remains strong. Please consider donating by clicking the button on the right to help the Council continue to build future leaders of tomorrow. |
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THEATER MERIT BADGE CLINIC
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The Council will host a Theater Merit Badge clinic on August 21st from 9am-Noon. Registration is still open. Please visit www.bmcbsa.org to register for or to learn more about this event.
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Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge Event |
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Proudly sponsored by McCurley Subaru
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McCurley Subaru will teach the Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge at McCurley Subaru,9620 Sandifur Pkwy, Pasco, WA 99301. Learn from the Pros. The class will be on location Saturday, Oct. 16th, 9am to 1pm with light refreshments provided. Max 15 Scouts, sign-up today before all the seats are filled! Sign-Up Here.
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Message from Your Scout Executive |
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Whether it's Covid, smoke, fire, crazy summer heat, or a resurgent pandemic variant, thank you for hanging in there for our Scouts!
They need Scouting more than ever, and it shows as recruitment is up even before the typical back to school recruitment season has officially begun. Parents are eager to enroll their children into activities and programs that are fun and impactful.
Help keep the momentum going into the fall by having a well-planned program and by continuing to invite new youth to join your packs and troops.
If you need help or special recruitment materials, please reach out to us for support. Together we can help make sure every youth and family in our community hears about Scouting this fall and has the opportunity to join in on the fun and adventure.
Persistence in the face of challenges is becoming a new motto alongside our motto to Be Prepared. Hang in there and help move Scouting forward as we prepare our youth to lead and serve in our community.
Yours in Scouting,
Brett T. Bybee
Scout Executive
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Martin Scout Ranch
Hosts Troop 190's Summer Camp
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Troop 190 travelled to the Martin Scout Ranch to have a Summer Camp to remember for years to come. The Scouts were busy each day with different activities and events. Scouts tackled Eagle required and elective merit badges. These merit badges included: Cooking, First Aid Environmental Science, Leatherworking, Fingerprinting, Chess, Wilderness Survival to name a few. Scouts also participated in Service Hours to help leave the camp site in a better condition from when they arrived.
A short story highlight: a group of Scouts and Scout Leaders coming down from Heaven after doing some work on the orienteering merit badge..... A Scout fell on the really rocky trail and hurt his ankle and knee. Before the leaders arrived, three scouts pulled out each of their first aid kits, gloved up and were ready to administer first aid. The readiness of these Scouts would make any Scoutmaster proud.
Lastly, Scouts had one favorite pastime: Gaga Ball!!! A fantastic game that kept Scouts of all ages (Leaders too!) entertained for hours. The Scouts also spent some of their hours playing cards and chess too!
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Scout Leaders Travel to Philmont |
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Mike and MJ Heather from La Grande both travelled to Philmont in July to participate in an Orienteering training course while their son, Conner, participated in NAYLE( National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience) during the same timeframe. They also visited the Wood Badge museum and took a picture together to capture the moment surrounded by Wood Badge history. The Heather Family had a very busy month of July filled with Scouting adventures at Scouting's most famous location. Congratulations to Mike and MJ for successfully completing your Orienteering training. Thank you to all of our Scout Leaders who spend their time to make their Units stronger. |
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Blue Mountain Council
Marathon Hikers
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Congratulations to The Gaffney Family and to Jeff Person for earning their Marathon Hiker Patch in the Blue Mountain Council. Check out the requirements and be the next Marathon Hiker in the Blue Mountain Council. Click Here.
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BMC Mobile App Available
Visit our local site at bmcbsa.org and become a site member by clicking the site member link on the right side of the home page under the Give icon. By becoming a site member, we will send you a link to the Wix mobile app that connects you with the Blue Mountain Council. Through the app, you will have immediate access to Council Blog announcements, calendar updates, Forum discussions, and lots more. Check it out.
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Put Your Eagle Project on the Map
If you know someone that has just completed their Eagle Service Project, encourage them to visit www.bmcbsa.org and fill in the form on the home page to put their Eagle Scout Leadership Project on our local map. Help us show the community some of the best work done by our amazing Scouts.
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Support Future Leaders of Tomorrow Today!!!
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Scouting is made possible throughout our region only because of the generous support provided by our Community members, Parents, Volunteers, Board Members and Businesses.
Scouting is a vital program that is needed now more than ever before in our communities. Please consider donating today to ensure that Scouting Never Stops in the Blue Mountain Council. Thank you so much for your generous support.
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Aug. 14: Scout Night @ the Dust Devils
Aug. 18: Council Executive Committee Meeting
Aug. 20: OA Fall 2021 Ceremony
Aug. 21: Theater Merit Badge Clinic Hosted by Richland Players
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