Safety in Scouting is everyone’s responsibility. Our rules and guidelines exist to protect youth, adults, volunteers, and employees from harm. However, accidents can still happen. When they do, it is crucial that these incidents get reported. Timely, clear, concise, and complete incident reports allow for an appropriate response and an opportunity for analysis while promoting continuous improvement of our programs. You can report incidents, near misses, and youth protection / membership infraction incidents to your local council or enter them yourself.

[Learn More About Incident Reporting]

In observance of the Labor Day holiday, our Leadership Center and Scout Shop will be closed on Saturday, September 2nd, and Monday, September 4th. We look forward to seeing you again on Tuesday, September 5th! Happy Labor Day!

[Learn About the History of Labor Day]

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]

Get ready to GLOW on Saturday, October 7th! We're de-lighted to host our first ever Fall Family 5k Glow Trail Race & Kids Fun Run! With a giant campfire program complete with s'mores, glow-in-the-dark shirts and other fun treats, it's an event that will outshine the rest! Whether you like to run, walk, cheer or volunteer, we can't wait for you to join us! We are thrilled to announce that families are invited to register to tent camp overnight after our race!

[Ready, Set, GLOW!]

We are excited to introduce to you, Ember, our official 5K and 1-Miler mascot!! Thank you to everyone who participated in our Mascot Naming contest. We received some terrific submissions and were amazed by your thoughtfulness and creativity. Ember will be featured predominantly throughout our courses, awards, and shirts (register now to guarantee you receive one).

[Learn More About Our Race]

We invite you to visit our Heart of Virginia Council Master Plan page to learn more about where we've spent more than $855,000 to improve our Scout Reservation, and how we intend to continue making improvements in the years to come! These projects cannot be completed without the support of the units who participate in our annual fundraising (Popcorn & Peanuts, and Camp Cards) or our very generous donors! Thank you!

[View the HOVC Master Plan]

Your holiday heroes are back; pumpkin, pecan, Boston cream, apple, fruits of the forest, French silk, and cheesecake have returned for our most delicious annual fundraiser. Order your desserts now through November 1st, and we'll have them ready for pick-up on November 17th and 18th at the Leadership Center. Don't forget to take our Pie Poll! Will our New York Style Cheesecake defend its 2022 championship title, or will there be a new winner in 2023?

[Buy a Pie to Keep Them Dry!]

School's back in session, and everyone's heading into the weekend tired! Get in your pjs and have delicious, hot, cheesy pizza and appetizers delivered straight to your door 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]

Have you seen our Join Scouting Night events popping up on Facebook? Help us spread the word! Find your local school on our JSN events list and share with your friends, family, and neighbors! (If you don't see your school, keep your eyes peeled because more Join Scouting Night events are being added every day.)

[Check Out Our JSN Events]

Missed the Popcorn & Peanut Sale training? The Last Chance Kick-off is Thursday, August 31st from 7-8pm at the Council Leadership Center. Everyone who attends is awarded a BONUS commission! Whether you sell every year or have never sold before, don't miss your opportunity for the Food Lion Show & Sell on September 9th and October 7th! Unit Leaders can visit the link below to sign-up for ONE opportunity per date!

[Last Chance Kick-off Registration]

[Show & Sell Sign-Up]

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). This will also be a "Bring a Buddy" event where Scouts can bring a friend to learn more about Scouting and participate in shooting sports and the climbing tower... more details coming soon!

[Register Your Unit] [More Information]

Effective Sept. 1, 2023, Cub Scout packs who are conducting their own overnight camping activities may now camp up to two consecutive nights. This is a change from the earlier policy on pack unit-coordinated camping, which was previously limited to single overnight experiences. The updated policy also applies to Webelos and Arrow of Light dens, who can now conduct campouts for up to two consecutive nights.

[Get the Details!]

The largest digital Scout event is fast approaching, and you're invited! The Jamboree On The Air - Jamboree On The Internet (JOTA-JOTI) brings together hundreds of thousands of young people through the radio & internet to make global connections, have fun, gain new skills, and learn about solutions to the issues they care about most.

[Learn More and Register]

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!]

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 Roundtable Dates & Details]

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. Registration closes September 1st.

[Get Swimming & Water Rescue Trained]

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. Registration closes September 22nd.

[Attend Orientation]

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]

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]

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!]

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!]

Den Chief Training combines fun and enjoyment with an excellent character-building experience. Participants will learn leadership, organization, and most importantly, how to work with Cub Scouts. This training is for youth who are or want to be a Den Chief to a Cub Scout, Webelos to Arrow of Light Den. It is also for registered adult leaders who want to learn the duties and roles of Den Chiefs and who will be working with Den Chiefs. Training takes place from 9am to noon on October 28th at Camp T. Brady Saunders.

[Register Today!]

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!]

Arrohattoc

Dogwood

James River

Crater

Huguenot Trail

ScoutReach