Our Leadership Center and Heart of Virginia Council, Scout Shop will be closed Friday, March 29th through Sunday, March 31st so our team can enjoy some well-deserved eggstra time with family and friends! We hope you have plans to spring into a sweet and exciting celebration! Don't worry, be hoppy - we'll be ready to serve you again on April 1st (and that's no joke)! We wish you a wonderful Easter holiday!

[Visit the Scout Shop Online] [Meet Our Team]

The Heart of Virginia Council’s highest volunteer recognition, the Silver Beaver Award, will be awarded to four highly deserving Scouters. These Scouters have made a huge impact in the lives of youth through their hard work, self-sacrifice, and years of dedicated service. This year, we're recognizing the service of Sharlee LaBrecque, Robert Johnson, Tom Innes, and Tom Wood at our special Recognition Gala on May 5th at Cub Adventure Camp!

[Silver Beavers Webpage]

[Register for our Recognition Gala]

Effective April 1, 2024, the Boy Scouts of America will eliminate the $25 one-time joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting. They have also increased the regular annual registration fees by $5.00 for youth in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts along with a $5 increase for all adult volunteers. Learn more about the updated fees, download a Registration Fees Infographic, and read the FAQs.

[Get the Full Details]

Units who reserved Camp Cards can pick them up at the Customer Service Desk at the Council Leadership Center at 8090 Villa Park Drive, Henrico. Normal pick-up times are Monday through Friday from 9 AM - 5 PM. There are now less than 4,500 Camp Cards available... they're going fast! Visit our website NOW to reserve your cards. The Camp Card fundraiser is a great way to fund your Summer adventures!

[See the 2024 Cards & Sign-Up]

Cub Scouts... earn the new Summertime Fun Adventure this Summer! The National Summertime Pack award has been reimagined into an exciting elective adventure. This new adventure may be one of the simplest, it has one requirement and that is: anytime during May through August, participate in a total of three Cub Scout activities.

[Learn More & Get the Unit Planner]

Join the Richmond Raceway for a weekend of racing and activities at the 2024 Summer Scout Experience over the weekend of August 9th - 11th! Camp all weekend long, get your own RR branded Scout patch, go on a track walk, and see the Craftsman Truck Series and Cup Series races.

[Get More Scout Experience Flyer]

Join us at Cub Adventure Camp for a weekend of fun spring activities including fishing, archery, BB, Crafts, and for 4th and 5th graders, the climbing tower in May. Event check-in is on Saturday morning, but packs can arrive and camp on Friday if desired. You can also just come out for the day. Cub and Webelos Scouts can attend with either their Pack or as a Family campout.

[Join In on the Fun!]

The Cub Scout program is set to undergo updates for the 2024-25 program year, following years of effort by the National Cub Scouting Committee. Identified through feedback from over 23,000 parents and leaders, the updates aim to enhance the program's simplicity. After a year of socializing these improvements and garnering overwhelming support, the National Cub Scout Committee is officially unveiling the changes, which will become effective on June 1st!

[Learn More About the Program Changes]

Cub Scout Day Camp is often called “the camp that comes to the Scout.” Day Camp is an organized program for Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts under certified leadership, at an approved site. We're excited to open registration for the first of several weeks of camp, taking place at Deep Run Park from June 10th - 14th! More dates will be added soon. Don't forget to invite your buddy!!

[Blast Into Day Camp!]

One of the most rewarding and character-building things a family can do together is go camping. Bring your Scout to a session at Cub Adventure Camp, where we offer a 4-day, 3-night experience for Cub Scouts this summer! You can attend as a family or just as a parent/Scout pair. Meals are served in our air-conditioned Dining Hall, and you can stay in our Tent Village or in a Western Frontier Fort, Yurt, or Cabin.

[Blast Into Adventure!]

Each Friday at 3pm Eastern, Scouting Magazine is hosting several special Cub Chat Live broadcasts in the coming weeks, covering a variety of topics.

• 4/5: Program Updates - Den & Pack Meeting Planning

• 4/12: New Member Renewal Process

[Learn More & Watch the Archives]

It might be hard to imagine camping with your Cubs in the winter months, but now is the perfect time to plan an awesome spring event for your Pack families! Weekend Experiences at Cub Adventure Camp is a program designed for you, by you. Pick your programming and make it a day or a weekend of Cub Scouting fun! Cubmasters, book your Weekend Experience now!

[Learn More]

Does your pack need volunteers? Check out this 47-minute video, "Volunteer Recruitment for Cub Scout Packs." It is a training on how to recruit Cub Scout Parents to become volunteers in a Cub Scout Pack. The video outlines an annual strategy to identify and recruit parent volunteers as well as conduct a group recruitment event at a Pack Meeting right after new families join.

[View the Video!]

You might be prepping for your springtime yard work, but over here at the Heart of Virginia Council, we're ready to roll on Summer Camp, 2024! Registration is OPEN for your week (or more) of camp at beautiful Camp T. Brady Saunders! Come see us at camp... you never know who or WHAT you might meet! Register and download our Program Guide below.

[Go to Camp!]

Scouts, will you miss your troop’s summer camp this year, or do you want an additional week of fun and adventure? Then sign up to join Provisional Troop 3 at Camp T. Brady Saunders during Week 5 of summer camp (July 14th – 20th). Become part of a cohesive unit experience while having fun, learning new skills, & earning merit badges. Troop 3 will also offer a few unique experiences beyond the regular camp programs, for both boys and girls.

[Register with Provo Troop 3]

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is a week-long course, held at Cub Adventure Camp, that focuses on leadership development. It is the youth-led version of Wood Badge. Graduates learn leadership through proven training techniques and methods tuned for the youth of today. NYLT is “Fun with a Purpose” using games and hands-on experience to teach relevant skills! Learn the concepts of what a leader must BE, what a leader must KNOW, and what a leader must DO. 

[NYLT Registration Is Open]

Established in 1984, Buckskin proudly stands as one of Scouting's most tenured Youth Leader Training courses. Celebrating four decades of excellence in the Heart of Virginia Council, our 2024 program promises an unforgettable experience for Scouts BSA Troops. At Buckskin, we believe in shaping leaders through immersive experiences. Our 360º leadership approach seamlessly blends classroom teachings with hands-on practice, ensuring your Scout emerges equipped with invaluable skills, confidence, and a passion for leadership.

[Register for Buckskin]

Are you ready to make a meaningful contribution to our nation's heritage and honor the symbol of our freedom? On June 29th, we invite you to participate in the "Honoring Our Colors" Flag Collection Drive, a special event created in partnership with Local Scout Troops. This unique opportunity allows Scouts to play an essential role in the proper retirement of worn American flags while gaining a deeper understanding of their significance.

[Register Your Participation]

The second Wednesday of each month at 3pm Eastern, Scouting Magazine hosts Troop Talk Live on Facebook. These brief chats cover a variety of topics, from accommodating Scouts with disabilities to uniforming, youth leadership to the Path to Eagle, and much more.

The next Troop Talk Live is scheduled for Wednesday, April 10th! See you there!

[Learn More & Watch the Archives]

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]

Learn how the National Commissioner team is changing the focus of commissioner service from counting visits and assessments to building relationships with units, which will better enable units in delivering high quality programs. Join our Commissioner Unit Service Plan Training on Tuesday, April 16 at 7:00 pm in-person at the Heart of Virginia Leadership Center or via Zoom to learn more. All Heart of Virginia Commissioners, administrative or unit-facing, should attend.

[Register Today!]

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 scheduled for May 25th - 26th at Camp T. Brady Saunders.

[Register for BALOO]

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 May 25th - 26th at Camp T. Brady Saunders.

[Register for IOLS]

Here in Central Virginia, Scouts will have the opportunity to experience a partial solar eclipse on April 8th! This special event won't come around for us again until 2045. Are you prepared to make the most of it? Commemorate this event with special edition glow-in-the-dark patches, available at the Heart of Virginia Council, Scout Shop, located at 8090 Villa Park Drive in Henrico! [Visit Our Scout Shop Webpage]

The new Cub Scout handbooks will be in the Scout Shop in just a few weeks. You can preorder your handbook(s) by sending an e-mail to us at scoutshophovc@scouting.org, with the subject line, "Handbook Order." If you would like your order mailed to you, include your mailing address along with payment information (Scout Shop Account or personal credit card). We anticipate the demand for the new handbooks will be high so we will not be able to hold them without payment. You will be e-mailed when the order is ready for pick-up or mailed.

Did you know that we will shop your order and have it ready for you to pick up? This is a service we're proud to offer, and want to remind our customers to please provide us 24-hour notice for all advanced orders. We also need 24-hour notice for all free rank patch orders.

[Visit Our Scout Shop Webpage]

Exciting News out of the Scout Shop! We're thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new Facebook page, @HOVCScoutShop! Scouting enthusiasts, proud parents, dedicated leaders, and lovers of the great outdoors are welcomed to follow us on Facebook and be the first to know about Scout Shop sales, product highlights, and special events. Give us a like and follow, and don't forget to share with your friends!

[Visit Our New Page]

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]