TAC Connection 
August 19, 2020
A periodic communication to our Scouting Families
TAC and Unit Face-to-Face Programs
 
The safety of our youth members, volunteer leaders, staff, and employees continues to be the most important part of the TAC Scouting experience.
 
With the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its ever-changing impacts, you should already be aware that Transatlantic Council (TAC) recently announced that the cancellation of all face-to-face council and district programs extends now through October 31, 2020.
 
So, what does all this mean for your face-to-face unit programs? What should you do as a local unit TAC Scouting volunteer?
 
For your unit activities, we encourage you to remain strongly committed to the most important factor in any TAC Scouting event-the safety of your Scouts, parents, and leaders.
 
Units may hold meetings and activities, pursuant to guidelines provided by local governments or municipalities, military installations, and the unit's Charter Partner.  Here are resources to help you restart local Scouting in your community.
 
Face-to-Face Unit Programs (8 May 2020 TAC update with resources)
 
Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist
Scouting at Home
 
Restart Scouting Checklist
 
TAC Pinterest Page (with online Scouting and educational ideas)
 
Also, parents in our Scouting family are navigating the challenges of parenting through the COVID-19 crisis. To help address this, Boy Scouts of America worked with several independent youth development experts to provide insights for our Scouting community. These experts are featured in a video series now available.              https://www.scouting.org/coping-with-covid-19/

The experts provide their insights on eight topics like how to help your child deal with the disappointment of cancelled events due to COVID-19, assessing your mental health, and handling conflict within your family about going out.  

Update Your Unit Pin for Fall Recruiting

Scouting is America's Best Kept Secret- we meet in basements and we are out in the woods on weekends.
 
Help people find your Pack, Troop, or Crew online! While we can't use a zip code finder site like www.beascout.org in TAC, the Unit Key 3 can still log in to Organization Manager at www.my.scouting.org to update information about their unit.  Families doing searches for local scouting can use this information to help find your programs.  On the Organization Manager page, you can provide address information, a website address, local point of contacts, etc. 

 
But be cautious of providing too much information! 

TAC Scouts take part in Globerunner on Scout Saturday Live
 
TAC Scouts from Cairo, Rome, Paris, Berlin, and Dubai took part in the recent Globerunner challenge on Scout Saturday Live.
 
This weekly online broadcast featured many Scouts and worldwide venues. You can watch these Scouts on the 18 July 2020 broadcast at https://bsa-la.org/ssl/
 
Congratulations to these TAC Scouts for providing valuable content to this show:
  • Andrew Fairweather, Troop 701, Cairo, Egypt
  • Parker Huber, Alan Russell, Troop 236, Rome, Italy
  • Alexander Springall, Adrian Meyer, Josh Richardson, Ezra Richardson, Troop 112, Paris France
  • Nicolas Hatzidakis, Lenora Hatzidakis, Alexandra Hatzidakis, Pack 152 and Troop 46, Berlin, Germany
  • Trent Kaferle, Jacob Essick, Joshua Jamal, Troop 813, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Spec-TAC-ular Summer Palooza 2020
 
The Spec-TAC-ular Summer Palooza virtual camp held over four weeks in June and July was an amazing success!
 
The virtual Day Camp program had 122 Cub Scouts participate in engaging, hands-on programs.
 
A staggering 1826 Merit Badges were worked on by 391 Scouts. Twenty-four Scouts worked on rank advancement in the A.C.E. program.
 
TAC also connected with virtual presentations from staff in each of the four BSA National High Adventure bases:
 
Florida Sea Base (Islamorada, Florida)
 
Northern Tier High Adventure Base (Ely, Minnesota)
 
Summit Bechtel Reserve (Glen Jean, West Virginia)
 
Philmont Scout Ranch (Cimarron, New Mexico)
 
In addition to TAC Scouts, we had participation from 51 BSA councils in 24 US states and territories! A great example of helping other people at all times worldwide.
 
Special thanks to the following Scouters who stepped up to make Lemonade out of Lemons and provided the primary leadership, guidance and inspiration to make this a specTACular Scouting experience:  Jude Michell, Kelly Wratkowski, Sarah Derr, Garrett Lamberth, and Rodney Henk.  We are also very grateful to the more than 100 TAC volunteers who provided their energies to host virtual programs for Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA members, put on campfires, led Order of the Arrow ceremonies, and deliver merit badge programs.

Transatlantic Council, Boy Scouts of America| 
 US ARMY Garrison Brussels
Unit 28100, Box 24 
APO, AE 09714
or
Leuvensesteenweg, 13
1932 Zaventem, Belgium
                        

TAC-ServiceCenter-802@scouting.org

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