April 17, 2020
The Digital Eagle: Weekly Talon
Welcome to the April 17, 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.

A Message from our Scout Executive

In the outdoors, Scouts have opportunities to acquire skills that make them more self-reliant. They can explore canoe and hiking trails and complete challenges they first thought were beyond their ability. Attributes of good character become part of them as they learn to cooperate to meet outdoor challenges.

How do you still keep the outing in Scouting while stuck at home? Back yard camping, hiking around the neighborhood, playing basketball, or maybe try out that new ENO you got for your birthday!

Outdoor activities are safest if you can stay at least 6 feet away from other people. Walking, bicycling , hiking, and jogging let you get fresh air without coming into contact with others. If you need company, phoning a friend while exercising can do the trick. 

What ideas do you have for Scouts and Scouting families to do while stuck at home. Please email us your ideas at gac@scouting.org

Thanks to the Executive Director of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Scott Myers, who is our special guest this week. For more information about the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, visit their website at www.ashof.org


Thank you to all of our Scouting families for staying active and engaged while at home. We continue to keep each of you in our thoughts and prayers and pray for all of those in our country who continue to keep us safe and healthy, we salute each of you.

 
Be Prepared and Keep Scouting!


Below the video are links to some ideas for staying active during this time:
Be Prepared- Our Motto in Action at Camp!
Our Camp Rangers and Staff have been throwing themselves into preparing for an amazing summer camp season. Even now, we've completed repairs and upgrades to the water main at Camp Sequoyah, and as we highlighted on Facebook a few weeks ago, the Sequoyah Sidewinder waterslide is ready and waiting for you this summer!
 
Our Scouting families will need camping opportunities this summer now more than ever, Your support makes the summer camp experience come alive for Scouts of all ages.  Year-round, the BSA provides fun, life-changing experiences young people can’t get anywhere else, but Scout summer camp takes it to a new level through an immersive, intense Scouting experience. To find out more about how Scouting prepares Scouts for life check out this article on Scouting Wire:  https://scoutingwire.org/how-summer-camp-prepares-scouts-for-life/
 
 
We are blessed to have outstanding leadership at our camps this summer. Drew Hataway is our Director for Camp Sequoyah! Drew is an Eagle Scout from Shelby District, former youth staffer at Sequoyah, and professor at Samford University. Drew has been hard at work ensuring that your Scout will have an incredible summer at Sequoyah- one that will become the cornerstone of a foundation for life.

Digital Day Camp!
Launching Monday, April 20th, we are pleased to announce a Digital Day Camp for Cub Scouts of all ranks! In this video format, Scouts will have the chance to learn abot the Scout Oath and Law, learn essential knots from a BSA SeaBase staffer, and more! To sign up, click on the link below.

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 .
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!
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.

Greater Alabama Council
516 Liberty Parkway
Birmingham, AL 35242

Greater Alabama Council
2211 Drake Avenue SW 
Huntsville, AL 35805

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.

Digital Safety reminders for Scouting at home

As more and more aspects of Scouting move to virtual and online platforms such as Zoom or Go To Meeting, the BSA offers some reminders and hints to help keep Scouts safe. The guidance in the link below applies to all online Scouting activities and meetings.
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.
GET TRAINED!
Every Scout Deserves a trained leader!
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.