Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
Start Your Program Year At Cub Launch
New Cub Scouts can learn what Scouting is all about during Cub Launch! Activities vary by location and include things such as fishing, shooting sports, STEM experiments, community guest presenters, campfire cooking and much more! New Cub Scouts can even earn their Bobcat requirement! Cub Launch takes place Sept. 29 at Beaumont Scout Reservation as well as several different locations around the council. Click here to find a location near you. (All Cub Scouts are invited to attend.)
Youth Protection Training
All adults registered with the Boy Scouts of America are required to complete the new Youth Protection training before Oct. 1 . The course can be taken online any time at my.scouting.org org.
Save Your Spot For 2019 Summer Camp
Registration for 2019 summer camp is open! Troops and Crews can secure their campsite and week with a $100 unit deposit.
Cub Scout STEM Days
Join us at Lindenwood University-Belleville on October 6 and Fabick CAT on October 20 where Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos can enjoy a morning of cool experiments and hands-on projects with the Mad Science Scientists while working on STEM-based Adventures.  Register here .
Fun With Cub
Enjoy an exciting weekend campout with the family during Fun With Cub at Pine Ridge Scout Camp. Choose from Oct. 5-7 or Oct. 12-14.
Map & Compass Training
On October 6, adult leaders age 18 and up can improve their proficiency in teaching map, compass and orienteering skills to their Scouts. Map and Compass training will be at Beaumont from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with equal time spent indoors and out.  Registration is $5 per person. Please bring a sack lunch.
Spooky Halloween Activities
Check out these spooky events for Cub Scouts to add to the Halloween season! Kids can walk through the haunted forest at Beaumont Scout Reservation during Fall Fright Fest Oct. 13 or take a Haunted Hayride through Camp Warren Levis Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27.
Show Us How Your Scouts Stand Out!

How to join in:
  1. In the Current Status line of the tag, write the merit badge or adventure your Scout is working on or what they want to work on next.
  2. In the Future Status line, write down their future goal that ties into that merit badge or adventure.
  3. Take a picture of your Scout(s) with their tag and share it with your friends and family through your favorite social media channel (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)
  4. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #ScoutsStandOut. You might even see your Scout on our page! 
Cub Scout Leader Outdoor Experience
Are you a new Cub Scout leader? You'll need to complete Leader Outdoor Experience (LOE) before taking your Scouts on an overnight camping trip. Upcoming courses are scheduled for Camp Vandeventer Sept. 29-30 or Beaumont Oct. 13-14.
Intro To Outdoor Leader Skills
This course builds and expands on the concepts and themes introduced in Scoutmaster position-specific training & provides Scouters with the confidence to take youth into the outdoors. Course is scheduled for Oct. 26-28 at Beaumont Scout Reservation .
First Class Orienteering Event
On October 27, Boy Scouts working on First Class can complete the orienteering part of Requirement 4a at Beaumont at 9 a.m. Scouts should review the Navigation Chapter of the Scout Handbook before the event. Click here to register.
Okpik
Learn how to extend your camping season to a full 12 months with cold-weather camping skills. Program areas include: first aid, cooking, nutrition, travel planning, shelters, clothing systems, sleeping systems, mental aspects of winter camping, nature, and games. Course runs December 8, January 5, and January 19-20 and Camp Vandeventer. Registration opens Oct. 1 .
Catholic Scouting
This fall, the Diocese of Belleville is offering classes for the Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, and Ad Altare Dei Awards. Visit diobellescouts.org for a class schedule and to register.

Scout are also invited to attend Day of Recollection at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary on Oct. 27. This retreat is open to all Scouts and ideal for those working on Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII programs.  Register at catholicscoutingstl.org/DOR .
Reconnect At Scouting Family Fun Day
Enjoy hayrides, gaga ball, climbing on the new bouldering wall and dinner during the Council Alumni Association's Family Fun Day at Beaumont on Oct. 21. R econnect with Scouts and former Scouts. Know someone no longer involved in Scouting? Bring them along during this free event, which runs 3-5:30 p.m. RSVP to Jim Nolan at james.nolan@scouting.org or (314) 256-3032. For more information, visit  stlbsa.org/programs/alumni-association .
Wills & Trusts Seminar
To help Scouting families and supporters prepare for the future, the planned giving committee of the Greater St. Louis Area Council is offering a free Wills and Trusts Seminar at the Ritter Service Center on Oct. 11 from 6:30-8 p.m. This educational seminar is provided as a service to our Scouting community. We do not solicit any gifts during or after this seminar. Everyone is welcome to attend and invite their friends. Food and soft drinks will be provided. If you would like to attend or have questions, contact Mark Schuermann at 314.256.3114 or mark.schuermann@scouting.org .
Special Needs Scouts Resources
Scouting is for every child, regardless of ability. Or even disability. The council special needs committee is designed to offer support, training and resources to help Scouts and units be more successful. To access special needs resources, including committee contact information, visit  stlbsa.org/special-needs-scouts  .

If interested in joining the special needs committee, contact  nicholas.schubert@scouting.org .
Scoutbook Will Be Free Starting Jan. 1
The BSA is pleased to announce that Scoutbook subscriptions will be free to all BSA units effective January 1, 2019. Scoutbook is an online unit management tool that allows Scouts, leaders, and parents to track Scouting achievements.

Units can renew Scoutbook subscriptions in September, October, November, or December 2018 at no cost. For units currently without a Scoutbook account, they can begin their free Scoutbook unit subscription on January 1, 2019.

For more information about this announcement — including the answers to some frequently asked questions — check out Scouting magazine's "Bryan on Scouting" blog . 
Merit Badge Skill Centers
Cycling - Sept. 29 or Oct. 13 | Chess - Nov. 3 | Southern Illinois Merit Badge University - Nov. 3 | Chemistry - Nov. 10 | Scuba Diving - Nov. 13
Greater St. Louis Area Council | 314-361-0600 | stlbsa.org
St. Louis Scout Shop location | 4568 West Pine Blvd. | St. Louis, MO 63108 | 314-454-1652