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🚨 TONIGHT! 🚨
Scout Night at the Diamond
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The Richmond Flying Squirrels invite Scouts of all ages to come out TONIGHT, July 28th, for Scout Night at the Diamond! Gates open at 5:30pm. A Scout Parade (wear your uniforms and bring your unit flags) at 5:45pm, then the game at 6:35pm. For $13, you'll get your ticket, as well as a commemorative patch, the pre-game parade, and a movie (The Rookie) and campout on the field. General admission tickets are just $10. Walk-ups are welcome!
[Take Me Out to the Ball Game!]
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🚨 Membership Registration Changes Effective August 1st 🚨 | |
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Beginning August 1, 2023, all new youth and adult members who join Scouting will be enrolled in a 12-month membership cycle and BSA will cease prorating fees. Both youth and adults will pay the full annual membership fee and will renew their membership on the anniversary date of joining Scouting, and the Heart of Virginia Council Program Fee of $10 will also be charged to joining members through December 31, 2023.
[Membership Registration Changes]
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Scout Shop Uniforming Sale: July 31st through October 31st | |
Get your new year in Scouting kicked off with a fresh new uniform! You'll receive 20% off uniform bottoms with the purchase of a uniform top from July 31st thru October 31st. All the details, including our handy Uniform Flyer (which includes a helpful checklist) can be found on our Scout Shop website.
[Visit the HOVC Scout Shop]
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Scout Scarf Day: August 1st | |
Across the globe, the neckerchief serves as a universal identifier for Scouting. Every year on August 1st, everyone involved in Scouting is asked to wear their neckerchiefs in public. It’s called Scout Scarf Day, a time to proudly make Scouting visible wherever you are. And yes, you can wear it when you’re not in uniform. Scout Scarf Day is also a time to show how we’re all connected through Scouting. As Britain's Scout Association’s Chief Scout Bear Grylls shared at the 2019 World Scout Jamboree, “We are all bound together by this … By our scarf! … And you know what this is? This scarf is a promise to serve our community and create a better world.” | |
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Popcorn & Peanut Kick-Offs | | |
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It's time to think about funding your adventures for fall and next year! Scouts can sell Camp Masters Popcorn and Whitley’s Peanuts and earn up to 35% commission. We've made it easy this year, so sign-up to attend a Kick-off and learn more! We will provide tools and training so your unit can exceed your goals, and Scouts can earn great incentives.
The next Kick-off is in Dogwood District this Wednesday, August 2nd at 6:30 PM (VFW Post 9808, 7168 Flag Lane, Mechanicsville).
[Register your Unit] [Learn More]
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Join Scouting Night Kick-Off: August 10th | |
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Calling all Packs! Did the representative from your pack miss your District’s Kickoff for the upcoming Join Scouting Night season? No worries: We have a virtual make-up meeting and an in-person opportunity at the Council Leadership Center on August 10th from 6:30pm to 7:00pm. This meeting will immediately precede the 7:00pm Popcorn & Peanut Kick-Off scheduled on August 10th.
[Attend Via Zoom]
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Find the Firefly
and Win Fun Prizes!
| We're alight with excitement about our October 7th Glow Trail Run 5K and Kids 1-Miler at the HOVC Scout Reservation! Now through the October Courier, we're hiding a firefly in our weekly newsletter for you to find. The first person to spot it and email rebekah.nyalko@scouting.org with its location wins a fun prize! Will it be hidden in a photo? Maybe you'll find it through a link in one of our write-ups? Let's GLOW! | |
New Venturing Opportunity: Crew 711 | |
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We're excited to announce Venturing Crew 711, scheduled to meet the first Thursday of each month at Shady Grove United Methodist Church on Pouncey Tract Road. What is a Venturing Crew? Venturing (co-ed, ages 14 to 20) is a youth-led program that’s all about building adventures with your friends. Choose to do activities that matter to you and develop essential skills like leadership, event-planning, organization, communication, and responsibility while having a blast!
[Follow Crew 711 on Facebook]
[Learn More About Venturing]
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Glow Trail Run 5K & Kids 1-Miler: October 7th | | |
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Get ready to GLOW on Saturday, October 7th! In celebration of our 110th Anniversary, we're de-lighted to share plans for a Fall Family 5k & Kids Fun Run! With a giant campfire program complete with S'mores, glow-in-the-dark t-shirts and other fun treats, it'll be an event that will outshine the rest! Whether you like to run, walk, cheer or volunteer, we hope you'll join us! S'more details to follow! REGISTRATION OPENS SOON!
[Take the 5K Poll & Interest Survey]
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Papa Johns Dollars 4 Dough | |
Take the night off and let Papa John's make dinner! Get delicious, hot, cheesy pizza and appetizers from Papa John's! Use code SCOUTS and 10% of your order will come back to Council through the Dollars 4 Dough program and for the benefit of Scouts.
[Dollars 4 Dough]
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Blast Day is Back in 2023! | |
Sell $2,000 in Popcorn and/or Peanuts in the Product Sale and Scouts can earn their way to the Blast Day Rocket Launch Party! Scouts will receive their very own Alpha Flying Model Rocket to build! The event will be held at Cub Adventure Camp in Maidens, VA on December 9, 2023 (rain date December 16, 2023). Also enjoy shooting sports and our climbing tower! UNIT LEADERS: Please register for the sale at the link below TODAY to reserve your sales materials!
[Register Your Unit] [More Information]
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Planning Your New Year in Scouting | |
2023 Den, Pack, and Troop Driven Recruitment Guide | |
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Every fall, the Heart of Virginia Council conducts a Join Scouting Night Campaign to invite new families to join packs, troops, crews, and posts. This fall we will again hold a JSN campaign, primarily utilizing promotions efforts through local schools. However, your den, pack, or troop can hold additional recruiting events that leverage social media and word-of-mouth marketing to invite new families out to one or more of the fun activities that your unit is already doing. Use our helpful guide and planning worksheet to help you hold a successful recruitment event.
[Download Your Guide and Worksheet]
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Youth Protection and Adult Leadership | | |
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Effective September 1, 2023, the following rule goes into effect: All adults staying overnight in connection with a Scouting activity must be currently registered in an adult fee required position as listed or as an adult program participant. Registration as a Merit Badge Counselor does not meet this requirement. There are limited exceptions for Cub Scout overnight Programs.
[Read the Full Announcement]
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Program Fee Changes as of January 1, 2024 | |
Changes to program fees will take effect beginning January 1, 2024. It's important for all Packs, Troops, Crews and Posts to review the announcement below ahead of their annual program planning.
[Read the Full Announcement]
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Annual Health & Medical Forms for ALL Participants | | |
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A reminder to all parents and unit leaders that right now is the time to review your existing Annual Health and Medical Records on file for your Scouts AND participating members of their family. The Scouting adventure, camping trips, high-adventure excursions, and having fun are important to everyone in Scouting—and so is your safety and well-being.
[Update Your AHMR]
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What's New at the Scout Shop | |
Retro Webelos Adventure Pins | Do you have a Webelos colors with any of these cool retro (we know, it hurts us, too) adventure pins? We happen to have a bunch of them, and think they'd make fun awards or prizes. Swing by the Scout Shop at 8090 Villa Park Drive during regular business hours and grab them at just $1.50 per pin. | |
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Please note that our Scout Shop email address has changed. Moving forward, all emails to the Scout Shop should be sent to scoutshophovc@scouting.org. The mailbox for the prior email address will no longer be monitored. Thank you for updating your contacts and for utilizing the new address! Your Scout Shop team looks forward to hearing from you soon.
[The Good Details]
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The Heart of Virginia Council Scout Shop, located in the Leadership Center at 8090 Villa Park Drive, is offering a Patch Sewing Service to save you some time and frustration (especially if you don’t own a sewing machine and the thought of hand stitching or using Badge Magic on those patches makes you shudder).
[Take Patches Off Your To-Do List]
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Dorey Park Day Camp:
August 12th - 13th
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Registration remains open for our Dorey Park Day Camp, taking place the weekend of August 12th - 13th. We hope you'll join us for an organized program built specifically for Cub Scouts that combines program advancement, shooting sports, and summertime adventures! The cost is only $75 for an exciting weekend at beautiful Dorey Park. See you there!
[Have Fun at Dorey Park Day Camp!]
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National Summertime Pack Award | |
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The National Summertime Pack Award is made to encourage a Pack to be active when school is out for the summer, by doing one activity per month in June, July, and August. This is an individual recognition for Scouts; however, a Pack can qualify for the certificate and flag streamer by planning and conducting three summertime Pack activities. Our National Summertime Pack Award Unit Planner has been updated for 2023!
[Log Your Summer Adventures!]
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Save the Date: Creepy Hollow | |
Get ready for a ghoulishly good time at the 2023 Creepy Hollow at Cub Adventure Camp. This spooktacular event combines all the fun of Halloween with the excitement of family camping. Choose an action-packed weekend (or come for the day) and enjoy bb shooting and archery, wrist rockets, BMX biking, fishing, kite flying, pumpkin painting, Trick or Treating, and more! Registration opens soon!
[Creepy Hollow Details]
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Save the Date: Tiger & Lion Rally | |
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Join us for a day of excitement and exploration at the Tiger and Lion Rally! This special fall event is exclusively crafted for all-new Tiger & Lion Scouts and their families, offering a fantastic opportunity to experience the excitement of Cub Adventure Camp. Showcase your Scouting Spirit in our Tiger & Lion Parade, try your aim at archery and wrist rockets, go fishing and on a scavenger hunt, use your imagination at our craft stations, and much more. Registration opens soon!
[Tiger & Lion Rally Details]
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Weekend Experiences at Cub Adventure Camp | | |
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Our Weekend Experience at Cub Adventure Camp is a program designed for you, by you, and to meet the needs of your Pack. Come out for the morning, come out for the afternoon, or come out for both. Pick your program for your Pack and participate in one activity or two. Come out just for the day or make a weekend camping adventure out of your Experience. Cubmasters, book a Weekend Experience now and let us do the hard work on your Fall Family Camping adventure.
[Learn More]
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🚨 LAST CHANCE 🚨
Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops: August 5th
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The purpose of the YLT course is to teach Scouts with leadership positions about their new roles and how to most effectively reach success in that role. It is intended to help Scouts in leadership positions within their troop understand their responsibilities and to equip them with organizational and leadership skills to fulfill those responsibilities. Registration closes THIS SUNDAY, July 30th!
[Register Today!]
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Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge: November 4th | | |
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Modern automobiles are important to many aspects of American life. Those who service automobiles must understand each principle, and how these principles interact to provide smooth, efficient performance. Owners of cars also benefit by understanding how their vehicles operate. This enables them to understand why certain periodic maintenance is required to keep their vehicles in tip-top shape. Earn this badge on November 4th at Leete Tire & Auto Center from 9am to 6pm.
[Register Today!]
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Engineering Merit Badge: November 11th | |
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Scouts who are working on the requirements for the Engineering merit badge learn about the process of building and creating products and structures. They investigate the variety of careers available in engineering. Scouts explore how engineers use a step-by-step approach to make improvements for society. Come out November 11th at the Beach Community Grange in Chesterfield to earn this exciting merit badge!
[Register Today!]
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Days of Vikings Camporee:
November 17th - 19th
| Save the date for the Days of Vikings Camporee at Cub Adventure Camp the weekend of November 17th - 19th! This special event is for Scout BSA Troops only (not Cub Scouts, to include Webelos), and includes 3-D Viking Archery, Kubb, Hatchet Throwing, Land Navigation Competitions, Dane Oven Cooking, Wall Scaling and Zip Lining, Fire Starting, Tower Building, Attire Competitions, and more! | |
Winter Camp: January 12th - 15th | |
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Don’t sit around this winter being bored – come chill out with your friends at Winter Camp! Scouts are invited out to T. Brady Saunders January 12th – 15th, 2024 to get out of the house, have some fun, and earn merit badges. We can’t think of a cooler way to enjoy winter than being at camp. Registration opens soon!
WE'RE HIRING! We would love for you to join our Winter Camp team. Interested candidates, please contact Vincent Milone at vamilone@gmail.com.
[TBS Winter Camp]
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Weekend Experiences at T. Brady Saunders | | |
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Our Weekend Experience at T. Brady Saunders opens parts of camp for weekend use! Weekend primitive camping opportunities are available at S. Douglas Fleet from August through May, based on availability. We offer Troops the opportunity to customize a program specifically tailored for their Scouts. Come out for nature, fishing, shooting, STEM, and more. We even have canoes available for rent!
[Learn More]
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Outdoor Adventures Everyone Can Enjoy | |
Permanent Orienteering Courses in Virginia | |
Whether you're working on rank requirements or the Orienteering merit badge, a list of Permanent Orienteering Courses in Virginia is a helpful resource for Scouts and leadership! A two-page list of permanent courses, including instructions, maps, and more will be regularly reviewed and maintained. Keep your eyes peeled for an opportunity to earn your Orienteering Merit Badge in October.
[Show Me the Way!]
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Virginia State Parks
Paddle Quest
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If you love the Virginia State Park (VSP) Trail Quest, you're going to want to check out their new Wandering Waters Paddle Quest program! Participate at any of the 31 parks with paddling amenities and earn prizes, just like Trail Quest. Get more details, including a matrix of qualifying parks, using the link below.
[VSP Wandering Waters]
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Do You Know the Double Davy (and other fishing knots)? | |
The Double Davy is one of the fastest and easiest knots to learn for attaching your flies to your fly leader. It is just as strong as an Improved Clinch Knot and uses less line than an ordinary knot, making it essential. Learn this and other important fishing knots through the links below!
[8 Fly Fishing Knots You Need to Know]
[Scout Life Magazine: Fishing Knots]
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Scout Safety Moment: Heat-Related Illness | | |
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Each year, heat-related illnesses strike the unprepared. Prevention is key! Be prepared by acclimating to the environment for 3 to 5 days before going on an outdoor adventure; drinking plenty of fluids and eating a healthy diet beforehand; and continuing to drink fluids when outdoors on hot or humid days. Be sure to drink only when you’re thirsty to avoid over hydrating. Take extra rest breaks, especially if you are exercising strenuously.
[Scout Safety Moment: Heat-Related Illness]
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Advancement, Training and Life Skill Opportunities | |
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District Roundtable is a monthly program offered by districts that give leaders hands-on experience and provides a forum for leaders to offer and receive help from their fellow Scouters. Each District offers special supplemental training for volunteers at the beginning of the month.
[Get More Roundtable Details]
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Trainer's EDGE: August 26th | | |
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The Trainer's EDGE helps develop the skills of leaders and trainers. It focuses on improving the participant’s leadership, communication and training skills. The Trainer’s Edge is the required train-the-trainer course for Wood Badge, Commissioners’ College, NYLT staff and all other BSA training courses. The Course is highly beneficial for all leaders and trainers. Take advantage of this great opportunity to impact the quality of the programs our youth receive through and creating well-trained leaders!
[Get Out on the EDGE]
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Swimming & Water Rescue: September 8th - 10th | |
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Training for BSA Swimming and Water Rescue provides BSA leaders with information and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to swimming emergencies during unit swimming activities. It expands the awareness instruction provided by Safe Swim Defense training. Persons completing the training should be better able to assess their preparation to supervise unit swimming events. Adult Leaders, get your Swimming & Water Rescue training at T. Brady Saunders, September 8th - 10th.
[Get Swimming & Water Rescue Trained]
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Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Counselor Orientation: September 24th | | |
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The Heart of Virginia Council Advancement Committee is pleased to offer a new Orientation session for those selected by their units to serve as Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Counselors. The next opportunity is scheduled for Sunday, September 24th at the Leadership Center from 2:00pm to 3:00pm. Class is limited to 20 participants, so please register at your earliest convenience.
[Attend Orientation]
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Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training: Two Opportunities | |
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The South of the James Training Team is offering a fall Scoutmaster / Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training on Saturday, September 30th at T. Brady Saunders for registered leaders throughout the Heart of Virginia Council. This training is required for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters. The cost is $5 and includes water, light refreshments, and "Trained" patches for leaders who have completed all training requirements for their registered position.
[Get Trained on September 30th, 2023]
[Get Trained on January 13th, 2024]
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Cub Scout Den Leader Training: October 7th | |
To deliver the promise of "Doing our Best," please join us for In-Person Den Leader and Assistant Den Leader Training. The online version allows you to satisfy the trained requirement, and in-person allows you to DO THE ROLE WELL!!! In-person also allows you to begin networking, and gathering and sharing ideas beyond your unit - one of the largest goals of Scouting. This is the perfect opportunity to properly train your new Pack leadership team!
[Attend DL Training]
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IOLS Training for Troop Leaders: October 7th - 8th | |
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Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) gives Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters the practical knowledge they need to help Scouts to safely learn outdoor skills. Along with Scoutmaster Specifics, this course is required of all direct contact leaders registered in Scouts BSA Troops in order to be considered "Trained." Come get trained with us October 7th - 8th at Camp T. Brady Saunders.
[Get IOLS Trained!]
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BALOO Training for Pack Leaders: October 7th - 8th | | |
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Every Cub Scout deserves a trained leader! Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) is designed as an introduction to the Cub Scout outdoor program, with one part completed online and the other in-person. Your Pack MUST have at least ONE BALOO trained adult leader in attendance at all Pack overnighters. The next opportunity is October 7th - 8th at Camp T. Brady Saunders!
[Get BALOO Trained!]
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Wood Badge is the ultimate leadership training program of the BSA. Reflecting the best of nearly a century of Scouting experience and tradition, Wood Badge draws upon current leadership models used to train leaders in organizations throughout the world. Through hands-on activities, learning experiences, and games, leadership models are brought to life. Our next Wood Badge course takes place over two weekends at Cub Adventure Camp. Join us April 12th - 14th and April 27th - 28th, 2024!
[Get Wood Badge Trained!]
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Recognition, Memorials and Honors | | |
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Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America program. Only four percent of Boy Scouts achieve this remarkable milestone. [Eagle Scouts] | |
Tributes and memorials are a way for us to honor, cherish, or remember our Scouting mentors and loved ones. [Honorees] | |
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2023 Eagle Challenge Brick Program | | |
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A great way to honor your Eagle Scout is to sponsor a personally engraved Eagle Brick. The cost is $200 per brick which includes engraving of up to eighteen characters per line (letters, space and punctuation) with a maximum of two lines.
[Learn More]
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Like being in-the-know? Our Facebook page is regularly updated with news and information we feel is most helpful to our Scouting community. Swing by and give us a like and a follow, and don't forget to share the posts that are most meaningful or helpful to you.
[Visit fb.com/ScoutingVA]
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The HOVC Communications team continues to work hard to provide existing, new, and potential Scouts with the best possible experience! That includes access to great, accurate information… and we think YOU are an important source! We would love to hear from you about your positive experiences with HOVC.
[Leave a Review]
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Friday 5 and Courier Newsletters | |
Get the top news stories of the week and month by subscribing to our Friday 5 and Courier newsletters. We'll keep you updated on the news you need every Friday at noon. Subscribe and view the archives by visiting the link below.
[Friday 5 and Courier]
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Check out your district for upcoming events and important news! | | | | |
