The Digital Eagle: Weekly Talon
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Welcome to the April 24, 2020 edition of the Digital Eagle: Weekly Talon! This is a weekly publication of the Greater Alabama Council, BSA to help keep you and your family on the Scouting Trail.
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A Message from our Scout Executive
As we are getting just a few weeks away from our Late Spring and Summer Scouting programs, we are all anxious to return to life as normal. The Greater Alabama Council is looking weekly at the steps we need to take to operate a safe camp this summer. We also realize that we must plan for a protracted local and national emergency. Discussion is ongoing regarding our summer camping programs. While we continue to plan for the adventure of Scouting to occur, we’re also planning for multiple contingencies. We are aware that a variety of issues may impact summer programming, including
- Some families are facing economic challenges due to furloughs and layoffs.
- Concerns about spread of COVID-19 at a camp program.
- We may not be allowed to operate camp by state and local authorities
- Limited camp staff availability
- Limited availability of personal protection gear like masks, gloves, hand sanitizer etc.
Please know that our Scout camps meet or exceed rigid BSA national standards and meet or exceed state and local regulations for youth camps and public gatherings. We face and pass an annual inspection at each camp from both BSA and state authorities. Scout Camp is safe.
We realize these are extraordinary times and parents and leaders are concerned. This is why we’ve not jumped to conclusions but rather continue to study and gather information. The COVID-19 situation is fluid and its impact is changing daily.
Our primary goal is always to provide safe programs for our Scouts, leaders, and staff. Our secondary goal is outdoor adventure, and we know that our Scouts crave it – especially right now.
Whatever our summer looks like, a different type of camp, shortened camping season, camps with fewer scouts, know that we will do our best to make sure that all of our socuts have opportuniites at our camps or national high adventure bases. We are grateful for each of you for keeping Scouting going in your neighborhood and home. Thanks for all you do for Scouting.
Be Prepared and Keep Scouting!
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New adventures at Camp Comer this summer!
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We know our Scouts are just itching to get back outdoors and we’re excited to have them at Camp!
While social distancing has kept many folks in our council and across the country indoors, our staff has been busy prepping for the return of Scouting to our summer camps. In addition to the activities you’ve come to know and love like swimming, hiking, and shooting sports; we are excited to offer some new merit badges at Camp Comer this year. New courses include Oceanography, Weather, and Athletics.
Unfortunately, mother nature has not been quarantined with the rest of us, and storms last weekend washed out two roads at Camp Comer. Our staff is busy making sure those pathways are ready to use for incoming traffic come June and July. Other upgrades at the camp include repairing the front porches on our A Frame cabins and fixing tent platforms to ensure the safety of all our scouts and guests.
Your financial support helps maintain properties and programs that are the core of a Scout's outdoor experience. As Lord Baden-Powell said, "A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room."
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SAVE THE DATE: National Camp-in, May 2nd!
Join Scouts across the country for a day of adventure! From friendly competitions to campfire singalongs, this virtual event will bring the best parts of Scouting to life with activities all can enjoy from their living room or backyard. This event is open to all families, so invite your friends, neighbors, and colleagues to join the fun!
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New Updates for Rank Advancement and Camping Requirements
During these unusual times, the BSA has sought ways to ensure that Scouts are able to make progress on rank advancement. To help spread the word, the BSA has published a series of FAQs. Updated recently, the FAQs now reflect temporary modifications to rank advancements and camping requirements. Click on the link below to go to the FAQ page
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Looking for ways to help keep the Scouting adventure going at home? The Greater Alabama Council has put together a web page where you can find 30 Day Challenges, Helpful hints and activities, and more! To access the page, just click on the button below and keep on Scouting!
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Got paperwork? We have two dropboxes!
Do you have paperwork to turn in for advancement, recharter, or any other need? There is a dropbox at the Birmingham office and the Huntsville office that will be checked throughout the day. If this isn't convenient, you can always mail the paperwork to us at the Birmingham office where we will be able to process it to help you and your unit.
We do ask, however, if you are paying for recharters, Scout Cards, or any other payment, please use the postal service to deliver checks.
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Greater Alabama Council
516 Liberty Parkway
Birmingham, AL 35242
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Greater Alabama Council
2211 Drake Avenue SW
Huntsville, AL 35805
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National Scouting At Home Resource Page
During these uncertain times, Scouting offers a way for Scouts and their families to maintain sense of "normal". To assist with this, a new website has been published with multiple resources and activities for Scouts of any age. To learn more and further your at-home adventures, just click on the link below.
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Congratulations to our own Tyler W. of Mulberry District and of Coosa Lodge of the Order of the Arrow! This past weekend at the Section SR-9 Digital Conclave, Tyler was elected Section Chief for SR-9. Section SR-9 is comprised of 11 Lodges and Councils across Alabama and Georgia.
Congratulations, Tyler! We're proud of you!
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Do you need stuff from the Scout Shop? Don't worry, you can still get your supplies, including advancement items, straight from the Nation Supply division delivered to your front door! You can email Michele, our local territory manager, directly and she will help take care of your orders. Unfortunately, she won't be able to work with existing store accounts, but she can handle credit and debit card transactions. To fill your order, she needs:
>A list of the items needed (a general description will work)
>Name of Person receiving the order
>Address to ship to
>Phone number of person receiving order
For advancement purchases (all rank, merit badges, and palms):
You
must
send a copy of the advancement report, the Scout Book report, OR Printed PDF completed with Unit and Scout’s information, as well as signed by leader.
Are you ready for the National Camp-in on May 2? If not, click on the banner image below to see gear options and take advantage of big savings!
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Every Scout Deserves a trained leader!
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The Scouting program thrives with trained leaders, like you! Now is a great opportunity to refresh your skills, learn new methods, and update your training on things like Weather Hazards or Youth Protection Training. Click on the image to the left or the button below to take part in training that will help you be the best leader for our Scouts.
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