Climbing

Young people today seek greater challenges, and climbing and rappelling offer a worthy challenge. While the Climbing merit badge spurs interest in these activities, the proliferation of climbing gyms and facilities has also made climbing and rappelling readily available. Knowing and following the BSA’s guidance will help units execute a fun and safe activity for all. We look forward to Scouts climbing and rappelling from our Patty Dunn Climbing Tower during Winter Camp and Weekend Experiences!



[Scout Safety Moment]

Charlotte Pemberton to be Honored with the Distinguished Commissioner Service Award

Wednesday, December 4th

The Heart of Virginia Council is proud to announce that Charlotte Pemberton has been selected to receive the prestigious Distinguished Commissioner Service Award in recognition of her outstanding service to Scouting. For more than 16 years, Charlotte has been a steadfast leader and advocate for Scouting, serving in various Commissioner roles across the Council. Learn more about her exceptional service by following the link below.

[Learn More About Charlotte]

3rd Quarter P.R.A.Y. Award Recipients

We would like to extend our congratulations to our 3rd quarter P.R.A.Y. Award Recipients. Bryce F. and Charles L. of Troop 544, chartered by Shady Grove United Methodist Church, both earned their God & Church Award after completing the program for middle school youth. We're proud to include Bryce and Charles on our list of recipients on the Council's Reverence Hub webpage. Learn more about World Religions, religious awards and emblems, religious leadership roles, and interfaith programming by following the link below.

[Visit the Reverence Hub]

Membership & Unit Renewal

It's the time of year when Membership & Unit Renewal is in full-swing! With so many changes to the process this year, it's important that all Unit Key 3 are familiar with the resources we have created to guide you. Visit our Renewal portal using the link below to view the recorded webinar, download and review the Membership Renewal Handbook, and check out the Membership Renewal flowchart.

[Renewal Portal]

Chain Saw Training & Firewood Splitting

Saturday, November 2nd

Come out to Camp T. Brady Saunders for a day of in-person instruction to complete the BSA Chain Saw training (certification required for operating a chain saw during Scout adventures). We will be creating a lot of firewood and need helpers to split it. If you have a wood splitter that we could borrow for the day, we would love to have it. Swampers are also needed to help clear debris.

[Sign-Up Today!]

⚜️ Summer Camp 2025

Registration Is Open Now

Summer Camp is a core part of Scouting, and we are excited to have everyone back out at camp for the summer of 2025! Camp T. Brady Saunders has been offering an outdoor experience to the youth of Central Virginia and beyond since the summer of 1964. Our camp has amazing facilities and a diverse program offering geared toward all levels of Scouting.

[Go to Summer Camp!]

Thanksgiving Closures

November 28th—30th

In celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Leadership Center and Scout Shop will be closed November 28th - 30th! Below is a link to fun Thanksgiving articles by Scout Life Magazine that teach you how to make delicious Campsgiving recipes in your cast iron, give you great jokes for around the dinner table, and more!

[Fun Thanksgiving Articles from Scout Life]

Scout Life Magazine Guide to the Greatest Toys of 2024 & Prize Contest

Ready to discover the coolest toys, games, and gadgets of the year? Scout Life Magazine has compiled their 2024 Guide to the Greatest Toys for all the epic stuff Scouts need to have on their lists. Everything they suggest has been tested, reviewed, and approved by kids. Pick your favorite five toys from their list and you could win one of them! Prizes are drawn every day now through November 30th.

[Get the Guide & Enter For Prizes]

BSA Lifeguard Certification Program Retiring

"After careful consideration and evaluation, Scouting America will transition away from the BSA Lifeguard certification program effective December 31, 2024. While our partnership with the American Red Cross remains strong, the Red Cross materials will no longer be available to be used jointly for instruction of the BSA Lifeguard program. In addition, Scouting America does not possess the scientific and other resources required to develop and update a Scouting America specific lifeguard training curriculum that meets the industry standards mandated through state and federal regulations."

[Read the Full Statement]

Are Your Medical Forms Up To Date?

It's a brand-new year in Scouting for many of our youth and their families, and that means it's likely time to update your Annual Health & Medical Forms or fill them out for the very first time. A reminder to all parents and unit leaders that these forms are required for Scouts and adult leaders, as well as their participating family members.

[Download Your New Form!]

Silver Beaver Nominations Remain Open

The Silver Beaver Award is the highest award a Scout Council can bestow. It is awarded for noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth by registered Scouters within a Council. It is given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. The Silver Beaver Award is given to those who do not seek it. To receive the Award, a Scouter must be nominated by a registered Scouter on the official form provided by the National Office. Nominations are due by November 30th!

[Get the Details]

Glenn A. & Melinda W. Adams Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award (ESSPY)

The ESSPY Award recognizes a service project of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, community, or other entity. Each year, local councils select a council-level winner, and from that pool, each service territory selects a territory-level winner. A national winner is then selected from the 16 territory finalists. Nominations are due by January 31st, 2025.

[Learn More and Make an ESSPY Nomination]

National Duty to God Award Nominations

Due February 28th

The National Duty to God Award recognizes adult individuals who have demonstrated an exemplary history of transformational leadership in supporting and promoting the spiritual foundation of Scouting. It acknowledges the unswerving dedication to faith, fellowship, and national service of those whose character embodies the moral principles and shared ideals of Scouting America. Nominations are open to candidates from all faiths and religious groups chartered by the Boy Scouts of America. 

[Get the Details]

Den, Pack, and Troop Driven Recruitment Guide

Every fall, the Heart of Virginia Council conducts a Join Scouting Night Campaign to invite new families to join packs, troops, crews, and posts. Our fall JSN promotions have concluded; however, your den, pack, or troop can hold additional recruiting events that leverage social media and word-of-mouth marketing to invite new families out to one or more of the fun activities that your unit is already doing. Use our helpful guide and planning worksheet to help you hold a successful recruitment event.

[Download Your Guide and Worksheet]

Pack Volunteer Recruitment

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!]

Key 3: Are You Checking Your BeAScout Leads?

Hey Unit Key 3! Are you keeping up with your BeAScout leads and applications? More families than ever are discovering the excitement of Scouting online, and they’re ready to jump in—don’t leave them hanging! Now’s the time to review, follow up, and welcome new members to your pack, troop, or crew. Want to manage those leads like a pro? Learn more at Scouting's Online Registration page.

[Learn More About Online Registration]

Unit Key 3: Have You Updated Your BeAScout Pin?

Did you know that potential Scouts are utilizing the BeAScout website to search for units in their area? This might be your first opportunity to make a good impression, prompting the family to visit with and join your unit. Your Key 3 should regularly review the BeAScout pin for your unit to ensure the details being shared are current and complete.

[Learn How to Update Your Pin]

Do you need your unit's BeAScout joining link and QR code for your website or promotional materials? We have you covered.

[Get Your Link & QR Code]

Recruiter Strip for Scouts

Have your Scouts recruited new members for your unit? They've likely earned the Recruiter Strip, a special patch that recognizes youth who have encouraged a friend (or two) to join them on their Scouting adventures! Any youth member — in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing or Sea Scouts — who gets a friend, classmate or relative to sign up for Scouting can receive the red, white and blue patch.

[Learn and Earn!]

Required Youth Protection Training

True youth protection can be achieved only through the focused commitment of everyone in Scouting. It is the mission of Youth Protection volunteers and professionals to work within the Boy Scouts of America to maintain a culture of Youth Protection awareness and safety at the national, territory, area, council, district, and unit levels. Youth Protection Training through My.Scouting.org is required for all registered volunteers, but parents are encouraged to also complete the training.

[Log In to My.Scouting.org]

Popcorn & Peanuts Available for Consignment

We are wrapping up the Popcorn & Peanut Sale, and we have some additional inventory available if your Unit would like to hold a Show & Sell. Fall is the perfect time to fund your Scouting adventures, and a booth sale is a quick way to do that! Contact heather.dunton@scouting.org for more information on what product is available for consignment. Shout out to Pack 503!

[Get Your Popcorn & Peanuts]

Cub Chat Live, 3pm on Fridays

Each Friday at 3pm Eastern, Scouting Magazine hosts Cub Chat Live broadcasts on Facebook and YouTube. Each week, they talk about useful tips, tricks and ideas that help your den or Pack!

October 25th: Cub Scout Uniform Method at Play

November 1st: Coaching parents through Personal Safety, Family & Reference required adventures

November 8th: Citizenship required adventures across ranks

[Tune In to Cub Chat Live]

[Visit the Heart of Virginia Council Cub Hub]

Tiger & Lion Rally Registration is Open

November 2nd

The Tiger & Lion Rally is a special event we run each fall with Tiger & Lion Scouts (and their families). You're invited to Cub Adventure Camp for the day to have fun and become familiar with our exciting facilities. Adventures include archery, wrist rockets, a scavenger hunt, fishing, BMX biking, crafts, and other fun activities.

[Big Cats Register Here]

Catholic Cub Scouts, Earn Your Religious Emblems

Beginning November 3rd

Catholic Cub Scouts and their families are invited to embark on a meaningful six-week faith journey at St. Michael Catholic Church to earn their religious emblems. With the support of a facilitator and active participation from parents, your Scout can deepen their faith while working towards these special awards.

[Learn More and Register]

Customized Weekend Experiences

As you plan your program year, now is the perfect time to consider booking a customized Weekend Experience at the Heart of Virginia Council Scout Reservation. Craft adventures around the activities your Scouts enjoy the most, like camping, fishing, range & target sports, climbing, boating, sports, and more!

[Plan Your Weekend Experience]

Huguenot Trail Fall Camporee

November 22nd—24th

Prepare for adventure at the Days of Vikings Camporee II, at Cub Adventure Camp, the weekend of November 22nd - 24th! This is a special event for Scout BSA Troops & AOL scouts which will include Wall Scaling, 3-D Viking Archery, Tomahawk Throwing, Boat Building, Dutch Oven Cooking contests, Viking Attire competitions, AND more! Check out our Leader's Guide for more details, and we hope to see you there!

[Register Today!]

Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS) November 2nd—3rd Registration Closes October 29th

Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills is tailored for adult leaders in Scouts BSA, covering the fundamental outdoor skills every Scout needs to know, from setting up camp to using a map and compass This hands-on IOLS course ensures you're prepared to deliver the best, safest Scouting experience possible. Invest in your leadership journey and empower the next generation of Scouts with the confidence and skills they need to survive.

[Register for IOLS]

In My Scouting Era (Rescheduled)

December 7th

The In My Scouting Era event has been rescheduled! Bring your friends to Camp T. Brady Saunders and experience the fun of Scouting on December 7th. Enjoy waterfront activities, range and target activities, hiking, climbing, s'mores, and more! This event is FREE to girl Troops who bring prospective members who are not yet registered. Everyone will receive a fun, limited-edition laptop decal!

[In My Scouting Era]

Winterfest Registration Opens November 1st

February 7th—9th

Winterfest is an exciting, fun-filled, and competitive event for Explorers, Venturers, Sea Scouts & older youth registered in Scouts BSA troops. Winterfest is an action-packed 2-day event filled with competitions, aquatic and STEM events, shooting sports, climbing, sports tournaments and more! Many events are related to various career fields such as Fire Service, Law Enforcement, and EMS.

[Learn More About Winterfest]

Customized Weekend Experiences

As you plan your program year, now is the perfect time to consider booking a customized Weekend Experience at the Heart of Virginia Council Scout Reservation for your Troop, Crew, or Ship. Craft adventures around the activities your Scouts enjoy the most, like camping, range & target sports, climbing and rappelling, boating, welding, COPE, and more!

[Plan Your Weekend Experience]

Troop Talk Live, 3pm on 2nd Wednesdays

The second Wednesday of each month at 3pm, 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, the Path to Eagle, and more.

November 13th: Surveys in Scouts BSA

December 11th: TBA

[Tune In]

Calling All Radio Scouts

The FCC Amateur Radio Service and Scouting share a common mission: service to others. The Camp TBS Amateur Radio Club (ARC) was formed in 2019 while the affiliated operating station was constructed. The station is located at Camp T. Brady Saunders. The goal of this project is to provide a space for STEM programs in radio and teaching the Radio Merit Badge. Membership is informal and offered to BSA registered youth and adult volunteers at no cost.

[Join the Club!]

Seasonal Scout Shop Hours through November 2nd

Extended Scout Shop Hours are coming to an end on November 2nd! Our regular Scout Shop hours are noted below. We look forward to serving you at 8090 Villa Park Drive in Henrico!

Monday – Tuesday, 9am to 5:30pm

Wednesday – 12pm to 6pm

Thursday – Friday, 9am to 5:30pm

Saturday – 9am to 12pm

[Visit the Scout Shop]

Uniforming Sale through November 3rd

15% off All Knives in November

Now through November 3rd, receive 20% off your uniform bottoms with the purchase of a matching uniform top. Our uniform sale ends November 3rd, so don't delay! Plus, all November long, you'll enjoy 15% Off All Knives! This is the perfect opportunity to buy your Scout a new knife for the holidays.

[Visit the Scout Shop]

Come to the Scout Shop In Costume For Fun Treats! October 26th—31st

Visit the Scout Shop in costume the week of October 26th-31st for a fun treat! Plus, your name will be entered into a special prize drawing. Unfortunately, as much as we love to see you in uniform, that isn't considered a costume.

[Visit the Scout Shop]

Unit Flag Orders

Whether you're replacing an old and tattered unit flag, or you want one with the new Scouting America logo, all purchases now go through Carrot-Top Industries. Create a customized flag on their website, linked below. New Scouting America artwork will be available in the new year.

[Snag a Flag]

24-Hour Notice for Orders & Free Rank Patches

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 orders. We also require you provide us with 24-hour notice before picking up your free rank patches (for qualifying units).

[Visit the Scout Shop]

Patch Sewing Service

Did you know that the Scout Shop offers a Patch Sewing Service to save you time and frustration (especially if you don't own a sewing machine, and the thought of hand-stitching or using Badge Magic makes you shudder)? We offer brand new uniform shirts with all the pre-sewn bells and whistles, and can even add Unit Numerals, badges of office, and even merit badge patches for just $3.50 per patch.

[Visit the Scout Shop]

Friends of Scouting Dinner with Keynote Speaker,

Mike Massimino

Save the Date: April 8th, 2025

The Friends of Scouting Dinner, presented by Pike Electric and Burford's Construction, is the Council’s primary means to raise the funds needed to support and grow Scout programs for nearly 9,100 Scouts and adult volunteers across 24 counties and 4 cities in Central Virginia. This year, we are thrilled to be joined by our keynote speaker, Mike Massimino. Mike is a New York Times bestselling author who served as a NASA Astronaut from 1996 to 2014. You might recognize him from the Big Bang Theory!

[Read More About It]

November Roundtables

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.

[Learn More & Get the Dates]

Heart of Virginia Council Strategic Plan

Scouting has a rich history of positively impacting the lives of over 130 million youth, and we have a bright future ahead of us. We have modernized our traditional programs with the innovations of science and technology, while infusing safety into all aspects of our program. We continue to enable the girls and boys involved to develop lifelong friendships and build the life skills needed to become the future leaders of our communities, businesses, and country.

[Read Our Full Strategic Plan]

Heart of Virginia Council Master Plan

We invite you to visit our Heart of Virginia Council Master Plan page to learn more about where we've spent more than $950,550 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]

The Eagle's Nest

Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America program. Only four percent of Boy Scouts achieve this remarkable milestone. The Eagle's Nest celebrates the accomplishments of those Scouts who have attained that highest rank in Scouting.

[Visit the Eagle's Nest]

Memorials & Honors

Tributes and memorials are a way for us to honor, cherish, or remember our Scouting mentors and loved ones. Honors and Memorials can be made at the Leadership Center or by mailing donations to 8090 Villa Park Drive, Henrico, VA 23228. Please include a memo denoting the individual(s) you are donating in honor or memorial of.

[View Our Memorials & Honors]

Review Us on Google

The HOVC Communications team continues to work hard to provide existing, new, and potential Scouts with the best possible experience! That includes access to great, accurate information… and we think YOU are an important source! We would love to hear from you about your positive experiences with HOVC.

[Leave a Review]

Friday 5 & Courier Newsletters

Get the top news stories of the week and month by subscribing to our Friday 5 and Courier newsletters. We'll keep you updated on the news you need every Friday at noon. Subscribe and view the archives by visiting the link below.

[Get the News]