Join us at the Camp Shands Opening Ceremony of the
NEW Aquatics Center, Staff Housing and Training Pavilions!

We will Add the Water - You Add the Fun!

Saturday, May 21st from 11am to 2:30pm
11:00am - Opening Ceremony at Aquatics Center
11:30am - Picnic Lunch
12:30pm - Open Swim (Swim test required in the last 12 months)

RSVP for FREE LUNCH and a COMMEMORATIVE PATCH at www.nfcscouting.org/calendar > May 21st
 

Key Steps:

• All Packs are encouraged to host a special event at the end of the summer to invite all members to get re-engaged for the new school year.
• Have a theme and make it fun! One idea: throwing/making boomerangs to signify everyone's return to school and Scouting.
• It could be a picnic or a campout - whatever works for your unit.
• The key is - doing something fun and inviting all members to participate!
• Your Boomerang Back to the Pack must be held prior to any sign-up nights in the fall.

Promotional Help

• To support your "Boomerang Back to the Pack" the North Florida Council will mail a promotional postcard to each member of your Pack, as well as, any dropped youth, inviting them to attend.
• You should promote the event through your own communication tools - email and phone. Every family should receive a personal invitation.
• To ensure the postcards are mailed in a timely fashion, fill out a commitment form and turn in at your May Roundtable. Final deadline is June Roundtable.

At Your Event:

• Use this time for new leader engagement. When parents arrive with their son, invite them to fill out a Talent Survey. Encourage every parent to help the Pack at some level.
• Have a chart that shows all of the Pack "positions" with names or blanks beside each one to show who has volunteered and what openings there are. Have adult applications to fill out.
• Have youth applications on hand should any new siblings or boys be on hand to join.
• Collect registration fees for following year.

Do you need a physical for Camp or for Back to School?

As part of the North Florida Council, BSA's growing relationship with CareSpot they are offering Scouts discounted physicals from now through August in a variety of locations throughout north Florida.

Jacksonville Locations  / Gainesville Locations / Ocala Locations

NATIONAL EAGLE SCOUT ASSOCIATION
OUTSTANDING EAGLE SCOUT AWARD

The NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award (NOESA) is a prestigious recognition granted by the local council's NESA committee to Eagle Scouts who have demonstrated outstanding achievement at the local, state or regional level. It recognizes Eagle Scouts of any age whose efforts have made a positive impact closer to home.

Do you know an Eagle Scout you would like to nominate?
Please visit www.nesa.org/outstanding_eagle.html to view requirements and get the award submission form.
Nominations are due by May 16, 2016

Completed applications and supporting documentation can be sent to: 
NESA Committee Chair, c/o North Florida Council, BSA, 521 S Edgewood Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32205

Anyone is eligible to nominate. Nominators will be notified of the receipt of the application and the decision of the committee.

NOESA recipients will be notified by the committee and invited to the annual Gathering of Eagles in August.

The North Florida Council is excited to announce that its application to serve as a 2016-2017 pilot council for Lion Scouts has been approved by the National Council, Boy Scouts of America.

What is the Lion Program? Lions is for kindergarten-age boys and is aimed at building a foundation of character and introducing families to Scouting and outdoor fun.

There has been a lot of interest from Cub Scout Packs so here's what you need to know:

• Because this is a pilot program, interested NFC Cub Scout Packs MUST apply to participate.
• Therefore, Packs cannot start a Lion Den without being first approved for participation.
• To apply, Packs MUST complete the “NFC Lion Application” and send to Tawny.Slaughter@scouting.org on or before Friday, June 3, 2016.
• Interested Packs should review the details about the Lion Cub Program. Please take note of the new volunteer positions of Lion Guide and Lion Coordinator.
• To be approved to participate in the pilot, your Pack must identify a Lion Guide and a Lion Coordinator. Please note: as described in the materials, the Lion Guide must have successful experience as a Den Leader.
• Selected Packs will be notified of their selection in June. At that time, more information and materials will be available to approved Packs for training of volunteers and program planning.

Some other key points about Lions: 

• Lions join with a parent or caring adult partner
• Lion Dens are made up of 6-to-8 boys and are part of a Cub Scout Pack.
• Lions wear a special Lion t-shirt.
• Lions and their adult partners meet just twice a month: once as a den and once on an outing or Pack meeting. Lions use the Lion Adventure Book.
• Lions do not participate in fundraising efforts.

You can learn more about the Lion Program here: http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2016/04/28/lion-scout-imagery-including-hats-t-shirts/