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We are now experiencing the seasonal storm cycles bringing much needed rains to our region. Remember that your clocks Spring ahead 1-hour on March 10 as we enjoy being outdoors for "Daylights Savings" of fresh air, sunshine and recreation! Read through this monthly newsletter to find out how you can be involved in fun programs and great opportunities in the coming months for Scout youth and adult leaders alike!
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As a reminder, this is Women's History month in the US, so let's celebrate the amazing contributions of women to our society! Please forward this monthly newsletter to other people in your unit who may not be receiving it. Or suggest they go to our website and sign-up for a subscription!
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Council Roundtable Meeting --- 7:30pm Thursday, March 7 | |
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Unit leaders, don't forget to assign someone from your Pack, Troop or Crew to attend this regular Council Roundtable meeting. This monthly gathering via ZOOM will start at 7:30pm sharp with opening ceremony and brief announcements for all program volunteers together. The Scouts BSA group will then go into their own break-out session.
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Please forward this ZOOM link invitation to other Scouters and parents in your local packs, troops and crews to make sure every unit is represented for all the information sharing and Scouting fellowship!
Join Marin Council Roundtable with
Commissioners Roger Dickerson (Cubs) and Mike Blum (Scouts)!
ZOOM Meeting ID# 415 454 1081
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What's Happening at our Marin Council Trading Post? | |
The Winter months usually mean it's Pinewood Derby season! Check out all the car building and performance accessories, as well as the Pinewood Derby race awards available now. We have Pinewood Derby patches for $2.49, Car Medals and Neck Medallions for $4.99 to $5.99 and Trophies from $7.99 to $9.99. Don't delay, get ready for your Pack's annual Race event soon! | |
Klondike Derby Winter Camporee --- March 8-10 | |
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Looking for a fun weekend in the snow with your Scouts BSA patrol at beautiful Camp Marin-Sierra? OA Talako Lodge arrowmen are taking advantage of our deep winter snowpack by preparing for our annual Klondike Derby that was cancelled last year. The theme is "Raiders of the Lost Patrol Box", and a registration link, updated Sourdough guide to winter camping techniques, and other information are available NOW; see further details here!
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Naturalist Outing with Mt. Tam Turtles --- Saturday, March 30 | |
Join a seasoned Turtle Docent and an AmeriCorps fellow from 1-3pm for a fun and casual outing to look for turtles and other wildlife on the Mt. Tam Watershed. Connect with the watershed’s unique biodiversity and water resources as we observe Northwestern Pond turtles basking in the water, spring wildflowers blooming, and birds and butterflies enjoying the sunshine. For observation locations throughout the watershed, check out our map of Marin Water turtle & frog docent sites. Meeting location is the Bon Tempe Dam parking lot at 1 p.m. While the event is free, paid parking is required. | |
Annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet --- Monday, April 1 | |
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Join Marin Scouting families together at our beautiful new location at the Jonas Center on the Indian Valley Campus of the College of Marin in Novato. Following a catered banquet, we will honor our Scout youth and adult volunteers "Of The Year" from each unit who will be recognized during the awards ceremony. This is a great opportunity to see the successes of the Scouting program throughout Marin County! For more information, download this flyer and pass along to your Scouting families. Don't forget to register early at this link!
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With Thanks to Our Generous Supporters | |
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In late April, the Marin Council, BSA will be recognizing our major donors with a special reception at the SF Yacht Club. Supporters who contributed over $500 in 2023 will receive a personal invitation to this unique event in late March. Recognition gifts will be presented at the reception for donors who contributed over $1,000. For more information please contact our Scout Executive Michael Dybeck by email.
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A Good Turn Weekend for Camp Tamarancho --- May 17-19 | |
The Marin Council Camping & Properties Committees invite your Scouts BSA youth and troop leaders to join dedicated volunteers in giving back to the local Camp Tamarancho we all love and adore by "doing a good turn" with service projects. It's been almost a year now since the Iron Springs Road landslide effectively shut down our beautiful property to daily vehicular traffic. Hike in and CAMP for FREE for the weekend and give back to Tamarancho, helping us beautify the property by cleaning up brush and downed trees in campsite areas, improving road maintenance by filling potholes, clearing the pond dam of unwanted vegetation, completing new waterlines at Sunrise & Shady Bend campsites, and rebuilding Pioneer campsite near the center of camp into a vision of the future!
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Camping is free and Saturday lunch will be provided for all who register in advance. Patrol boxes are staged in the campsites, but Ranger AJ can be available to truck any troop gear up the hill from Fairfax village while you are hiking in. Please register your unit by emailing Office Mgr Cynthia Mueller or District Exec MJ Andrews. Let's be proud of Tamarancho again!
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Shooting Sports Committee Training for Future Needs | |
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In Scouting, our Shooting Sports programs are designed to teach safety in the use of firearms while having fun at the range and improve marksmanship skills. We offer shooting opportunities in Archery, BB Gun, Rifle, Slingshot & Tomahawk. In order to maintain these opportunities for our youth to improve marksmanship skills and learn firearm safety, we need adult volunteers to operate the ranges.
Due to the Tamarancho road damage, the Council Shooting Sports program has been on hiatus. We may be seeing a light at the end of the tunnel with Tamarancho access coming back this Summer. We will be restarting our shooting programs definitely next Fall and need to be prepared. We are looking for adults that may be interested in helping run shooting programs such as BB, archery and slingshot for Cub Scouts. Additionally, .22 rifle and tomahawk throwing is offered for Scouts BSA youth. Like everything in BSA, a certification is required. If you or anyone in your unit may be interested in helping out, contact Keith Angerman by email and you will be notified when we offer the certification programs.
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BSA Annual Health & Medical Record Forms --- Plan Ahead! | |
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This is a friendly reminder to complete your BSA Annual Health & Medical Record (AHMR) soon before partaking in Summer adventures. To participate in any Scouting activities and campouts, all Scout youth and adult Scouters must complete the AHMR; parts A&B for day or wknd events (for youth it must be signed by a parent), OR parts A/B/C (must be reviewed with approval signature by a physician) for any events longer than 72 hrs including all Summer Camp weeks and high-adventure treks. Find our more details or download a fillable.pdf version here, and don't delay scheduling an appointment with your physician as these can take several weeks to arrange!
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Cub Scout Summer Day Camp Weeks in July! | |
Our annual Cub Scout Summer Day Camp Weeks are July 8-12 and July 22-26. Day Camp is the highlight of a Cub Scout's year! This July we are excited to welcome your child to our great outdoor adventures when we will be at an exciting bay shore location in the Marin County Park system at McNears Beach (201 Cantera Way, San Rafael, CA). Day Camp fun is open to any Cub Scout youth who will be entering the Second through Fifth grades in the 2024/25 school year. Register NOW by clicking on either of the weekly dates above!
We are accepting applications for all Staff positions!
For any questions, contact Camp Director Trish Ferenz by email!
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National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
June 16-22 at Camp Tamarancho
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National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an intensive week-long BSA leadership training
course conducted in an outdoor setting. As members of an NYLT patrol, Scouts BSA and
Venturing youth learn the tools of leadership, communication, problem solving, ethical
decision-making and much more --- experiencing the Patrol Method of Scouting first-hand while they camp, cook, eat, work and learn together.
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NYLT is a six-day course held June 16-22, 2024 at Camp Tamarancho. It is recommended that all youth have participated in Scout camping at least one year. NYLT is not an outdoor skills course specifically, so it is important that each participant have basic camping and outdoor cooking experience. Click here for more information and to register your Scout, or contact NYLT Course Director Erik Masterson by email!
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Join the BEST Summer Camp Staff in the Sierra Nevada! | |
After another successful Summer reviving the excellent Scout programs and Camp traditions at Marin-Sierra, we are excited by the opportunities awaiting us in 2024! This annual Summer experience is critical to the delivering the promise of adventure and the mission of the BSA to our youth! For the most Summer fun you can have this year, click here to submit an application to join our Camp Staff team! We currently have openings for a Camp Health Officer/Medic (18+), Waterfront/Lifeguards (16+), Rifle & Shotgun Range Assistants (18+), Food Service Mgr (21+), Asst. Kitchen Managers (18+), and Kitchen/Commissary staff (16+). | |
A Monthly News Bulletin for OA Lodge Members | |
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Exciting news from Talako Lodge! March is packed with thrilling events for all of us. Klondike Derby will be held this wknd 3/8-3/10 at Marin-Sierra. Next, our monthly lodge meeting is set for Tuesday, March 12 at the San Rafael Elks Lodge. Also, mark your calendars for our Spring Induction Wknd happening April 19-21, with visitations for elections running throughout the next month or more. Don't forget to schedule your troop visitations early!
Don't forget to complete your 2024 OA Talako Lodge Annual Registration & Dues
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Currently, we have available the black Lodge flap shown at the right. These can be ordered online when you are completing your annual registration and dues payment. Also, there another link for the Lodge Trading Post where you can order other OA and Talako memorabilia!
OA Talako Lodge Trading Post
If you have any questions about the National Order of the Arrow organization, NOAC or the local Talako Lodge in Marin, please contact Lodge Chief Helen Perry.
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Scouting, we are . . .
Prepared. For Life.
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At the Marin Council, we will continue to do our best to keep you informed of updates to our program calendar. We will also strive to highlight new ways for your family continue to enjoy and benefit from Scouting both at home and outdoors during these promising times.
Please check our Council website homepage regularly for the most current information and event calendar, and the frequent social media activity on our Facebook and Instagram pages linked below, as well as those for Camps Tamarancho & Marin-Sierra.
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