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VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3
MARCH 2015
MONTHLY
EDITION
Western Los Angeles County Council
NEWS, EVENTS
AND
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
RELATED
TO SCOUTS AND SCOUTING IN THE WESTERN
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
COUNCIL OF THE BOY
SCOUTS OF AMERICA
On the Web at:
www.bsa-la.org
Hyperlinks guide
you throughout
each edition!
Inside this issue:
Eagle Event
Scout Sentinel
1
Eagle Recognition 2
Dinner: April 28
Camp Emerald
Bay History
3
Advancement
4
Journey to
Excellence
6
Venturing
7
Membership
Workshop
8
Law Day Recap
9
Arborist Program
10
Bear Mt. Event
11
Rollover Notice
12
Camping
Department News
13
Badge Midway
14
Roundtable
15
The Official Newsletter of the W.L.A.C.C. serving the Antelope Valley, Balboa Oaks, Bill
Hart, Cahuenga, Crescent Bay, Las Colinas and Scoutreach Districts and Exploring Division
Camp Card Kickoff
Team up with our local Camp Card
merchants and the WLACC as a partner
in your fundraising efforts for
2015. The Camp Card Sale is a
great way to help your unit
raise money with very little
effort. Each card includes a
variety of discounts to be
used at local businesses and
at only $5.00, they are a fantastic value. Scouts earn 50% commission on each card sold. The average Scout unit
typically sells between $1,000 and $2,500 dollars in their Camp Card Sale. Think what
your unit could do! The new card features two main tear offs and eight reusable discounts.
Continued on Page 2...see “Camp Card”
Eagle Alumni Event
Slated for March 24
Dennis Zine Scheduled
As Guest Speaker
The first Eagle Scout Alumni mixer of 2015 will be
held on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 in Calabasas. All
Eagle Scout Alumni are invited and encouraged to
attend this fine opportunity to meet prominent
Eagle Scouts Alumni in the region.
The Honorable Dennis Zine, former Los Angeles
City Councilman, is the guest speaker for this
event. The mixer will be held at the Pedalers Fork
Restaurant in Calabasas (an Eagle-owned restaurant).
The cost to attend is $20.00 which includes appetizers and soft drinks. The restaurant’s full bar will
be open as well.
The Council’s Eagle receptions are held quarterly
throughout the Council. This is a chance for the region’s Eagles to get together,
learn more about the current going-ons in Scouting, network and met other Eagles in
the same—and different—professions.
Space is limited. Register to attend at:
bsa-la.doubleknot.com/event/eagle-scout-alumni-association-mixer/1680466. For further information, please contact David Lasher at [email protected] or (818)
933-0104. Help make this event a success. Join us on March 24 in Calabasas!
2
Annual Eagle Recognition Dinner Slated for April 28
The time of year to honor the Eagle
Scout Class of 2014-2015 is fast approaching!
In 2014 (and early
2015), over 280 Scouts earned their
Eagle Scout Badge throughout the
Council.
To recognize their achievements,
the Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner
will be held at the Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills with Eagles,
their families, friends and guests
invited to attend this special event
commemorating their achievements.
p.m. Those Eagles being honored—all 2014 Eagles and
those Scouts who have earned their Eagle Scout Badge
between January 1 and April 1, 2015—may attend for free.
Individual and cor- Eagle Scout Honorees Attend
porate sponsorships for Free with Our Compliments
are needed for this
great event. Tickets are $65.00 each. Sponsorships are
available ranging from $65.00 to $2,500. Sponsors allow
the Council to continue to offer the dinner program to the
recent Eagle Scouts for free. You are encouraged to sign
up to attend as soon as possible and, if possible, agree to
be a sponsor. To sign up for this festive event at the Odyssey Restaurant, please click here.
For more info, please contact Hamlet Shirvani at 818-933The dinner will be held on Tuesday, 0121 or [email protected].
April 28, 2015 at the Odyssey Restaurant from 6:30-9:00
Camp Card Kickoff from Page 1
The new card features two main tear offs and eight reusable discounts. The cards cost $5.00 with $2.50 returned to
the Scouts that market and sell them. To attend the kickoffs, register via the Doubleknot links below:
Camp Card Westside Kickoff Event
Camp Card San Fernando Valley Kickoff Event Camp Card Antelope Valley Kickoff Event
2015 Cub Day Camp Theme and Date Announced
For 2015, the Council’s Day Camp Theme is “Take Flight”. Please join us
for a fun-filled week, where we will strive for the big blue skies as we
“Take Flight”. All Webelos, Bears, Wolves, as well as Tigers (with a parent) will have a great time at our “Take Flight” themed camps. They will take advantage of indoor activities, arts,
crafts, songs, shooting sports and lots more, while earning Cub advancements.
The Council’s Cub Day Camps will be held at five different locations in our Council: In the Crescent Bay District at
Camp Josepho, week of June 15-19, 2015 and week of June 22-26, 2015; Antelope Valley, Desert Sands Park, week of
June 15-19, 2015; Bill Hart, Camp Verdugo Oaks, week of July6-10, 2015, week of July 13-17, 2015 and July 10-11, 2015
(Family Overnighter). Las Colinas, LDS Church, Woodland Hills, week of July 13-17,2015; Balboa Oaks & Cahuenga,
LDS Church, week of July 27-31, 2015; and Scoutreach, LDS Church, week of June 22-26, 2015 (must be registered with
Scoutreach Cub Scout packs only). For more information visit bsa-la.org.
Adult Leader Awards Recognition Dinner Scheduled
The annual Balboa Oaks District dinner to recognize the commitment of the District’s
outstanding adult leaders will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.
This event will be held at the Church of Latter Day Saints in Granada Hills at 11315
White Oak Avenue, Granada Hills, 91344. The reservation deadline is Thursday,
March 5, 2015. For more information, contact Paul Brown at (818) 601-1054.
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In 2015
Camp Emerald Bay will celebrate its 90th birthday! To recognize this historic milestone,
the Scout Sentinel is printing a series of articles on the history of the camp. The third installment follows:
The Beginning of Summer Camp on Catalina Island
In early January of 1925, the Crescent Bay Council Board
of Directors agreed that Camp Kee-Koo-Too-Yeh in the
Santa Barbara Mountains near Saugus, site of the 1924
Summer Camp, was simply "too hot". A cooler location
was needed and Donald Monroe, Bert Davies and Dana
Burkes were dispatched to check out a new proposed
site in Sycamore Canyon beyond "the Malibu". For reasons unknown, that location did not pan out.
Two weeks later, the Council began floating an idea for
holding its annual summer camp on Catalina Island. Responses from Scoutmasters and Scouts were favorable,
leading to discussions with the Santa Catalina Island
Company, the primary landowner, to secure a suitable
location. A campsite was chosen and announced by
Scout Executive Donald Monroe on February 18, 1925.
However, what is not commonly known is the original
location chosen for the Catalina Camp was not at Emerald Bay. Donald Monroe selected (or had been offered
by the Santa Catalina Island Company) a
beach near Ballast Point lagoon, across Isthmus Cove, in
what today is
known as Catalina, or "Cat", Harbor.
The site had recently been used
by a Hollywood
"moving picture
company" as the
backdrop for a
South Seas tale.
Movie props including Hawaiian coconut palms, thatched huts and a
building with wide veranda were left behind; all available
for use by the Scouts. As an additional attraction, a Chinese junk built in 1753 called the Ning-Po ("Peaceful Water"), sat grounded in the shallow lagoon across from the
campsite.
The vessel, which had served at one time or another as a
merchant, smuggler, slaver and pirate ship arrived at
Catalina in 1917. It ultimately met its demise in 1938
when, according to some stories, it burned to the water
line after being rammed by a runaway flaming prop ship
used during the filming of another movie.
The Ning-Po, a Chinese Junk at anchor south of Two
Harbors in the 1930s.
In 1952, Explorer Sea Scouts located the remains of the
Ning-Po's main sub-mast during an extreme low tide.
They sawed it into small pieces and then used the pieces
as trading items at the 1953 Boy Scout National Jamboree at the Irvine Ranch in Orange County.
In 1952, Sea Scouts saw the Ning-Po mast recovered from the Lagoon.
Plans Develop for First "Camp Catalina"
From the beginning, the summer camp on Catalina Island
was referred to as Camp Catalina or the Catalina Camp. No
evidence has ever been found indicating that any other
name was contemplated or used. Crescent Bay Council's
camp also soon became known as Crescent Bay Camp to
differentiate itself from Pasadena Council's camp on Catalina Island at Cherry Valley. But despite the various references and names, Camp Emerald Bay as not the name of
the camp when it started in 1925.
Continued on Page 5
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WLACC sets date for 100% Internet Advancement
Consistent with National’s direction, the Advancement Committee has set November 15, 2015 as the target
date for 100% use of Internet Advancement (“IA”) by all Units, throughout the Council. Toward this end,
each District Advancement Committee will be holding IA training sessions throughout the year.
Beyond the District training, vital information, “Getting the Most From Internet Advancement” is available on
line; the download is available from one of the following two BSA websites: scouting.org/BoyScouts/
AdvancementandAwards/resources.aspx and scouting.org/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/resources/
advancementpresentations.aspx. If you have questions about the Internet Advancement process, please
contact your District Advancement Chair and/or your District Executive.
Spanish Translation of Advancement Education Presentations
The third Advancement Education Presentation has been translated into Spanish and is posted at the Educational Presentations
link at National’s web site: scouting.org/advancement. The three available Spanish
translations are:
-“Entrenador del Proyecto de Servicio para Eagle Scout,” (Eagle Scout Service Project
Coach).
-“Esenciales para los Consejeros de Insignias de M`eruto” (the Essentials of Merit
Badge Counseling), and
-“Adelanto Efectivo en la Tropa” (Effective Troop Advancement).
The Big Ride
2015 High Adventure
Boy
Scout Cycling
Event
Join the biggest scout cycling event in the West!
Staged again from the
beautiful Santa Fe Dam
Recreation Area...fantastic
camping with other amenities (like boating). All units are
invited from all Districts and Council! The Big Ride occur
Friday, June 12 through Sunday, June 14, 2015 Santa Fe Cycling has been an important part of Scouting for decDam Recreation Area, 15501 East Arrow Highway in Irwin- ades as evidenced by this 1930s BSA cycling photo.
dale. This is a great chance to make new friends, have a
great weekend campout and a truly active outing!
The event flyer can be found here . The filing deadline is The Cycling Merit Badge has existed
Thursday, May 21st.
See the flyer and contact Vance Pomeroy at
[email protected] or (661) 361-5619 with any
question. If you know any units or scouters that might
want get some thrills on two wheels - or know of scouts
who are working on their Cycling Merit Badge - please forward this email to them.
since 1911.
A mountain biking option
was added just over a century later in
2012. Learn more about this Eagle required badge here.
5
Camp Emerald Bay History continued from page 3
Transportation of Scouts, equipment and supplies to
Camp Catalina was more involved and expensive than previous "drive-in" summer camps held by Crescent Bay in
1922-24. The initial plan included taking campers by bus
from Scout Headquarters in Santa Monica to the Wilmington Terminal in San Pedro, where they would board either
the Steam Ship Avalon or Catalina for travel across the
channel. Upon arrival at the Island port in Avalon, transfer
to Isthmus Cove would be made on a smaller boat where
campers were then supposed to hike a mile across the
Isthmus to the campsite with their blankets and personal
gear. Scouts would camp in small tents (not the eight-man
pyramid tents used in previous years) to be supplied by
the Council along with all food,
mess gear and everything else needed for camp life.
In an ambitious move, Donald Monroe announced that Catalina Camp
would be open three full months,
from June 15 until September 15.
Troops were assigned specific weeks
but Scouts were welcome in camp
any and all times during the summer.
The cost for a week-long period plus
transport was set at $15.00 and additional weeks in camp were $10.00
each. A savings program was devised where campers bought 25¢
stamps from the Council which were
then pasted onto a special card. The
card held $15.00 worth of stamps
and when full, was turned in to
Scout Headquarters along with a registration application.
Arrangements for Camp Catalina continued through the
spring of 1925. The length of the camp session was expanded from a week to ten days. Sometime in March, the
idea of providing small tents for the campers was abandoned in favor of using the Council's 8-man pyramid tents
again. However, the pyramid tents were still at Camp KeeKoo-Too-Yeh, which resulted in the ill-fated retrieval expedition during Easter break that dumped the tents and other camp equipment into a steep ravine. A second attempt
to get the tents and equipment out by hand proved suc-
cessful and everything was shipped to Catalina by barge.
In early June, A. L. Reese, of the Venice Boat Company,
presented two row boats to the summer camp and the
Council rented two canoes and a motor boat to round out
the 1925 camp fleet. Crescent Bay District Council also announced a full daily Catalina Camp program in the local
papers.
Camp Catalina Relocates to Emerald Bay
Sometime before Camp opened in June, 1925, Crescent
Bay switched locations from Ballast Point in "Cat" Harbor
to Johnsons Landing at Emerald Bay. The historical record
is surprisingly quiet as to exactly why or when this happened, suggesting that the Council
wanted to down-play the move. Given
that few, if any of the Scouts or Scoutmasters were familiar with either location, it probably was inconsequential
to troops that were simply looking
forward to spending a summer vacation on Catalina Island. It has been
reported the camp site was changed
when it was discovered that "Cat"
Harbor was filled with sting rays. But
Johnsons Landing had its drawbacks
too. The Emerald Bay parade grounds
leading out to the waterfront were
covered with cactus. And other than
the big Eucalyptus and three fig trees,
there was almost no shade, the primary reason why the Council did not
want to return to Camp Kee-Koo-TooYeh.
But whatever the reasons, Emerald Bay was undoubtedly a superior location. Scouts, equipment and supplies could be brought directly into camp without hiking
overland. And the waterfront opened directly to the Pacific Ocean, providing unsurpassed dramatic beauty and immediate access to the Island coastline. After the decision
was made to relocate the camp, a Camp Manual was printed and distributed to Scouts within Crescent Bay Council
as a promotional item to recruit attendees. It included
Camp rules, programs, awards, songs and personal equipment lists.
Coming in April: Camp Emerald Bay: 1925. The Scout Sentinel thanks Dr. Jeff Morley for providing this historical
information. Dr. Morley, a long-time Scouter at Camp Emerald Bay, earned his Eagle Scout Award and is the
Founding Director of the Crescent Bay Historical Project found at www.crescentbaycouncil.org.
6
2015 Journey to Excellence
Advancement remains a key Journey to Excellence (JTE) benchmark. The 2015
Advancement Committee’s Goal is for each District to improve their JTE Advancement score by 2 to 6% over 2014. Naturally, that translates to the same
results for individual units.
Advancement is a part of the Program reporting; the four other categories
are Finance, Membership, Program, Unit Service and Leadership/Governance. The JTE format is more than a reporting tool. It also is equally useful as a planning tool to help guide your Unit’s direction. The 2015 JTE forms may be
downloaded from the following web site: scouting.org/filestore/mission/pdf/2015_JTE_Council_Scorecard.pdf. Use
the form, plan your work and work your plan!
The most current materials for Scouters involved in advancement administration can be found at scouting.org/
Advancement. Resources are available via the Advancement Resources page for Eagle Scout Rank Applications, Eagle
Scout Service Project workbook, educational presentations and much more.
Did you Know?
Have you ever seen a “Signing” or
“Español” patch on a Scout uniform? Youth and adults may wear
this strip if they show their knowledge of a foreign language or
sign language for the hearing impaired by:
Carrying on a five-minute conversation in this language.
Translating a two-minute speech or address.
Writing a letter in the language (does not apply for sign language).
Translating 200 words from the written word.
Many languages qualify for the interpreter strip. Check with your
unit for more information.
There is even a Morse Code Interpreter Strip. Youth and adults may wear this strip if they show their knowledge of
Morse code by:
Carrying on a five-minute conversation in Morse code at a speed of at least five words per minute.
Copying correctly a two-minute message sent in Morse code at a minimum of five words per minute. Copying
means writing the message down as it is received.
Youth Protection Event Held At Scout Shops
On Saturday, March 7, 2015 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the American Family Society, a non-profit
organization, will be on hand at the Valley Scout Shop to take a fingerprint and DNA sample as part of
a youth protection event. No personal information regarding the child is required and NO information
regarding the child is kept on file. Both the fingerprint card and the DNA sample are provided at the
time to the family. Children of all ages are invited to participate. The cost is $5.00. A similar event will
take place on March 28 at the Antelope Valley Scout Store. Call (818) 781-1296 for additional information. A Fingerprinting Merit Badge counselor will attend these events.
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Every Kid in a Park Initiative
Announced
From sea to shining sea, our country is home
to gorgeous landscapes, vibrant waterways,
and historic treasures that all Americans can
enjoy. But right now, young people are
spending more time in front of screens than
outside, and that means they are missing out
on valuable opportunities to explore, learn,
and play in the spectacular outdoor places
that belong to all of them.
The White House has launched the Every Kid
in a Park initiative, which calls on each of our agencies to help get all children to visit and enjoy the outdoors and inspire a new generation of Americans to experience their country’s unrivaled public lands and waters. Starting in September, every fourth-grader in the nation will receive an “Every Kid in a Park” pass that’s good for free admission to all
of America’s federal lands and waters -- for them and their families -- for a full year.
Because we know that a big reason many kids don’t visit these places is that they can’t get there easily, we will also
help schools and families arrange field trips and visits by providing key trip-planning tools and helping to cover transportation costs for schools with the greatest financial need. For example, the National Park Foundation -- the congressionally chartered foundation of the National Park Service -- is expanding its program to award transportation grants
for kids to visit parks, lands, and waters. The President has also requested new funding in his FY 2016 Budget to support youth education programs and to support transportation for school outings to parks for students from low-income
areas.
And because the great outdoors is one of our greatest classrooms, we are making sure that more kids can benefit from
the wide range of educational programs and tools that already exist. For example, a number of our agencies participate
in Hands on the Land, a national network connecting students, teachers, families, and volunteers with public lands and
waterways. And the National Park Service is launching a revised education portal featuring more than 1,000 materials
developed for K-12 teachers, including science labs, lesson plans, and field trip guides. With this kind of support, we
can help our children become lifelong learners -- both inside and outside the classroom.
Survival
Venturing
Course
Offered
WLACC VOA inviting all youths in
Venturing,
Sea
Scouting,
Boy
Scouting, and Girl
Scouting program
to attend Survival
Venturing. At this
event Venturers
and Scouts will
participate in different Wilderness Survival skills. This
event is not a training session. It is an experience activity
in different phases of the Wilderness Survival course. All
Crews, Ships, and Troops will participate in team events of
4-5 Venturers and Scouts! There will be guest speakers
during the event from different organizations. All participants will camp in tents and cook their own meals
throughout the weekend. A t-shirt will be available for
purchase for $15.00 with pre-order as well.
All register participants must be at least 13 years of age
and completed eight grade and must not reach the age of
2
1
.
Register online no later than Wednesday, March 18. After
that date, you may email Mr.T.to check on available space.
Register online here.
Questions: Please contact Tanadet Itsarapakdetam, “Mr.
T.”,
the
Council’s
Venturing
Chairman,
at [email protected] or 818-671-7673.
8
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) Course Offered
NYLT is a six–day course delivered in a troop and patrol outdoor setting with an
emphasis on immediate application of learning in a fun environment.
Built on the successful legacy of JLT, the new NYLT integrates the best of modern
leadership theory with the traditional strengths of the scouting experience. It also
emphasizes the important tenet of servant leadership.
While adult staff are present for support, youth leaders set the example with the
youth staff leading the teaching. All BSA policies regarding Youth Protection are
followed throughout the NYLT program.
The course starts on Sunday, June 14, 2015 and will end on Friday, June 19, 2015 at Camp Josepho. Sign-ups can be
made online through Doubleknot or by coming into the Scout Office. For further information, please contact the
Course Director, Marty Price at [email protected] or Steve Gonek at [email protected].
Annual Webelos Open House to Be Held on March 7
This is the Scouting event you have been waiting for! Northridge Troop 911’s
annual Webelos open house extravaganza! March 7, 2015 from 10:00-3:00
p.m. at the Northridge United Methodist Church at 9650 Reseda Boulevard.
Even bigger and better than last year! Troop 911 invites all Webelos and
boys who are not yet eighteen to learn about Boy Scouts. There will be lots
of activities, exhibits and fun! Free food and drinks too! Giveaways and the
unveiling of the Troops Scout gravity event! Don’t miss it!
Attend the Joint Council
Membership Workshop
The Western Region-Area 4 leadership has
scheduled a Joint Ventura County and WLACC
Membership Workshop on March 21, 2015 from
8:00-12:00 p.m. This membership event will be
held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at
32165 Watergate Road in Westlake Village, CA 91361. Check
-in begins opens at 8:00 a.m. with light refreshments served.
The workshop will begin at 8:30 a.m. with program specific
breakouts. Register here.
Click the photo below to jump to the Crescent Bay Historical Project YouTube Channel!
9
Eagle Scout Service Project Request:
Legos Wanted
Pack 550 Life Scout Eric Barlog is collecting Legos to provide in kits to underprivileged children. He will be collecting all used (and new) Legos on March 7, 2015
via the Troop’s Charter Organization, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church at
18437 Superior Street in Northridge (in Room 14) from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Bring your Legos! They also request empty tennis ball cans, cardboard boxes,
packing tape, and any Lego mini-figures. Questions:
contact Eric at
[email protected] or (818) 522-9857.
Need volunteers for YOUR upcoming Eagle Scout Service Project? Send an email with the
details to [email protected]. Be sure to include the pertinent facts: who, what,
why, when, where and any special skills or supplies that might be required or helpful for
the success of your project!
July 2016 Opportunity to Attend Philmont Scout Ranch
The Council is pleased to announce that we have
been allotted two Council Contingent Crews to
attend Philmont Scout Ranch from July 10-22,
2016. Interested parties should contact Andrew
Sisolak at [email protected] if interested. The participant fee for youth and adults
is $870 and this does not include the cost of
travel (to New Mexico).
At this time we are looking to identify either
a unit(s) that would like to utilize and manage these crews, or individual adults and
scouts who would like to participate in a
Philmont experience on a provisional basis. An initial deposit of $100 per participant
is due to WLACC by April 15, 2015 to hold
places.
Law Merit Badge Day Success
Seventy-five Boy
Scouts earned the BSA Law Merit Badge at a special one-day
merit badge clinic held at the Pepperdine University School of
Law.
Several local attorneys covered all the requirements of
the merit badge, joined by
Culver City Police Chief Scott
Bixby who fielded questions
about law enforcement past
and present.
The presenters were impressed with the caliber of Attorney, TV judge and WLACC Board Member Tanya
Acker volunteered as the mock trial judge and disquestions asked...it seemed cussed engaging topics such as Brown vs. Board of
obvious by the end of the Education.
event that at least a few future attorneys were present in the gallery. The Council
extends a special thanks to Pepperdine University for accommodating the Council
with the use of their authentic courtroom. Our sincere thanks to Ben Shatz, Tanya
Acker and Phil Greenwald—distinguished attorneys AND WLACC Board Members;
Richard Magleby and Alexander Schwab, both government lawyers and Eagle Scout
Pepperdine Law Professor Rich- Alumni; former Scout Police Explorer, Culver City Police Chief Bixby and David Kim,
ard Cupp—one of several pre- Manatt, Phelps & Phillips attorney and the aforementioned Professor Cupp.
senters at this special event.
10
Scoutreach Growth Continues
The Council’s Scoutreach After-School Scouting Program has
started two new groups at Sharpe Elementary and the New
Academy. Program Director Maricela Orendain is very excited
about the new sites and welcomes our new Scout families. As
the Council moves into Spring, the Scoutreach Division will be
focusing on recruitment and is looking for new schools to host
a Scoutreach unit. A number of Scouts have also been learning new Scout skills and advancing in Cub Scout rank.
Wilderness First Aid Course Offered
Join Wood Badge organizers on May 30-31, 2015 in Woodland
Hills for a Wilderness First Aid Course.
The 16-hour course is designed to teach participants how to care for someone in the field when help is an hour or
more away. Going far beyond the basics, this course will include scenarios to help you practice and hone your skills so
you’ll be able to respond when the need arrives. It is a fully-approved BSA curriculum, and fulfills the First Aid Requirements for High Adventure teams as well the No. 1 item of the Venture Ranger Award.
Participants must be 14 years or older and have a current CPR/AED Certification. If you need to update your CPR/AED
a short, 4-hour course, can be arranged ahead of time. The cost for the total of both days, including lunch and course
materials is $85.00. This great training opportunity will be held at the Prince of Peace Church at 5700 Rudnick Avenue
in Woodland Hills. Contact Robert Hanson via email at [email protected] to register or more information.
The 2015 FOS Campaign continues!
Don’t miss your chance to get your custom FOS shoulder patch. The patch is
our gift to you with your annual donation of at least $260. FOS funds maintain and improve our camp facilities,
provides camperships for families in financial need and much more! Donate
online at www.fos.kintera.org/wlacc or
contact your unit’s FOS coordinator!
Arborist & Forestry Merit Badge Weekend
at Camp Emerald Bay: March 13-15, 2015
Camp Emerald Bay invites Scouts and Scouters to a weekend of learning and helping
the environment. The merit badge will be offered to Scouts who fully participate in
this weekend’s work projects and observations. All attendees are asked to help
with work projects. Fees are minimal to reflect the contribution made to camp. This
merit badge will give you the opportunity to learn more about the management of
forestry. Qualified professional staff and counselors will be teaching this merit
badge. The Catalina Express with depart Berth 95 in San Pedro at 7:00 p.m. on
March 13. Registration for the event and for the ferry is required.
The maximum enrollment is forty Scouts. The cost to attend per Scout and/or volunteer is $60, which includes food and tent camping. To register or for more information visit campemeraldbay.org or (818) 933-0130.
11
12
National Policy: Use of Pre-2005 Manufactured 15-Passenger Vans Prohibited by BSA
Effective September 1, 2015, the use of 15-passenger vans manufactured before 2005 are no longer allowed for use in connection
with Scouting programs and activities. Any 2005 or later 15passenger vans may be used if equipped with Electronic Stability
Control and seat belts for all passengers as well as the driver. This
applies to all vehicles, regardless of ownership.
This prohibition must be effectively communicated to all unit
leaders and chartered organization representatives in a manner
that ensures it is received and understood. The use of pre-2005
15-passenger vans could result in there being no BSA GLIP insur- This Utah rollover killed nine students—just one of
ance coverage available in the event of an accident.
dozens of fatal rollovers associated with 15-Pax vans
In the late 1970s, vehicle manufacturers began modifying cargo vans by adding seats and marketing them as passenger vans. The length of these vehicles was extended and additional seats were added; however, the wheel base remained the same. The result was a proliferation of passenger vans that had handling characteristics unfamiliar to even
the most experienced drivers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) subsequently determined that 15-passenger vans with
ten or more occupants had a rollover rate nearly three times that of one carrying fewer than five passengers. A major factor was the high center of gravity of the vehicle when loaded.
In 2001, NHTSA issued a cautionary warning to the public about the increased rollover risk under certain conditions.
Key findings in the report from NHTSA indicate that:
Fully loaded 15-passenger vans are three times more likely to
roll over during an emergency maneuver (such as swerving to
avoid a hazard).
Non-professional drivers overestimate their skills.
Failure to wear seat belts dramatically increased the likelihood
of not surviving a rollover.
Beginning around 2004, vehicle manufacturers began equipping
these vans with Electronic Stability Control, or ESC. While ESC has
not totally eliminated the rollover hazard, ESC vehicles are reportedly more stable and thus pose less of a risk in operation.
The BSA has determined that the risk posed by the use of 15passenger vans manufactured before 2005 are such that they should not be used. Most pre-2005 vans without ESC
have already been retired and are no longer in use.
Below are safety tips issued by NHTSA for anyone planning a trip in any 15-passenger vans, which should be provided
to all Scouters who may be called on to operate a 15-passenger van in connection with Scouting:
Make sure that the vehicle is properly maintained and drivers are trained and experienced in operating 15passenger vans and are properly licensed. See safetyworksmaine.com/training/online_classes/15passvan.pdf.
15-passenger vans are very sensitive to loading and should not be overloaded under any circumstances.
Make sure that properly sized tires are being used on the vehicle.
Before every trip, drivers should check the tires for proper inflation and make sure there are no signs of excessive or
uneven wear. The “penny test” is a good indicator of whether tread depth meets the minimum requirements.
Make sure all passengers wear seatbelts.
13
Camping DEPARTMENT Update
Webelos, Webelos...calling all Webelos!
Each of our camps has awesome programs for Webelos this summer! Your scouts can
play in the surf, climb a mountain, or make a movie...we have it all! Camp Emerald
Bay has the first annual Webelos Adventure Camp taking place August 9-12. This will
give your Webelos a taste of their scouting future. they will camp in traditional Boy
Scout style, sleeping in two-man scout tents. They will enjoy all their meals in our dining hall with a view of the bay. Along with all the ocean-based programs, they will also
have the opportunity to shoot at our Archery and BB ranges. There is no other camp
like Camp Emerald Bay, it will be an experience they will remember forever!
To register for Camp Emerald Bay Webelos Adventure click here!
Camp Whitsett Webelos Sessions
Camp Whitsett will have two sessions for Webelos this year. Session one is June 28–July 1, Session two is July 1–July
4. We will be happy to host your Webelos at majestic Camp Whitsett. We will be rolling out the new Adventure program for this year’s camp. However, if you have second year Webelos who are working on the current program
please contact us and we will try to work on a specialized program for your Webelos. We hope to see you at camp.
To sign up for Camp Whitsett Webelos Resident Camp Session One click here.
To sign up for Camp Whitsett Webelos Resident Camp Session Two click here.
Camp Josepho, Webelos Resident Camp is a Moviemaking Adventure. Don’t miss this 4 day/3 night program, it will
allow Webelos to make the jump from the Cub Scout Day Camp experience to a traditional Boy Scout camp. We will
have industry professionals mentoring the Webelos and helping them make their own short film. This camp will also
give the boys a taste of traditional summer camp life. Click here to register for Webelos Resident Camp.
Cub Parent Weekend at Camp Josepho, May 8-10, 2015 This will be one of the final events before
the roll out of the new Cub Scout Program. Your scouts will have the opportunity to earn some of the belt
loops that will be going away. Plus, they will have so much fun shooting BBs and arrows on our ranges. We
will have crafts and cooking and there will be special Webelos events, and there is no place like Camp Josepho. Register today by clicking here.
Flyer and Doubleknot (Registration) Links:
Shooting Sports Camp at Camp Josepho Flyer
June 28 & July 2. Register here.
Webelos Movie Camp at Camp Josepho
Session 1, July 9-12, Session 2, July 16-19. Register here.
Boy Scout First Year Resident Camp at Camp Josepho
Session 1, July 9-12, Session 2, July 16-19. Register here.
Boy Scout Moviemaking Experience at Camp Josepho
Session 1, July 9-12, Session 2, July 16-19. Register here.
Boy Scout Robotics, Programming, & Game Design
Experience at Camp Josepho
Session 1, July 9-12, Session 2, July 16-19. Register here.
The 2015 WLACC Camping Guide is Available,
Click Here:
14
MARCH MERIT BADGE MIDWAY MADNESS!! TWO DISTRICTS—TWO EVENTS
1st Event: Bill Hart District Hosts Merit Badge Midway on March 21
There are two great Merit Badge
Midways in March! What great
opportunities to earn merit badges
in one location! First, the Bill Hart
District is hosting a Merit Badge Midway at the LDS Church in Saugus at 19513 Drycliff Avenue (on the corner of Camp
Plenty Road). To attend you should register immediately. This special event will place on Saturday, March 21, 2015,
from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The following merit badges are offered (although some might be full at this time): Astronomy, Backpacking, Camping, Chemistry, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the
World, Communication, Cooking, Digital Technology, Emergency Preparedness, Engineering, Fingerprinting, Family
Life, First Aid, Hiking, Home Repairs, Inventing, Journalism, Music, Painting, Personal Fitness, Photography, Public
Speaking, Rifle Shooting, Scholarship, Stamp Collecting, Textiles and Traffic Safety. Additional merit badges may be
added to the schedule. There will be a Trail to First Class training. Please call the Bill Hart Service Center at (661) 2846330 or email [email protected] with questions or concerns. Scouts are Expected to wear Class: A: uniforms. Beverages,
snacks, and lunch will be available for purchase. Additionally, Troop 48 will offer a pancake breakfast from 7:30 -10:00
a.m. for a $4.00 Donation; it includes pancakes, eggs, sausage and juice/milk.
2nd Event: Balboa Oaks District on March 28
Do not miss Midway Mania! That’s right, Balboa Oaks District is hosting another Merit Badge Midway at the LDS
Church in Northridge at 17101 Plummer Street (on the corner of Plummer and
Amestoy, just west of Balboa Boulevard). Mark your calendars, but more importantly remember to register early
as midway classes fill quickly! This special
event will place on Saturday, March
28, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration/Check-in is at 8:00 a.m. The
Midway schedule with updated information
is available on the District's website
here. Look for the "early" schedule. Additional merit badges will be added to
the schedule. The District recommends that
interested Scouts monitor the District’s
Midway webpage as badges, requirements or
schedules may change.
A special
lunch-time addition of the Sustainability Merit Badge will also be available. Please
contact
Ralph
Ward
at
[email protected] regarding this
great opportunity to earn merit badges!
Find the complete list of merit badges available at this event at:
balboaoaks.bsa-la.org/merit_badge_midway.php
New Cub Scout Program Update
Hundreds of volunteers
have been working for the past three years to make the new program
more dynamic and exiting for today’s youth and families, keeping us on
track for the following deliverables:
March 31 – Revised position-specific training released in online and in-person versions (NOTE: a “trained” leader
doesn’t need additional training for the new program).
May 1 – English language handbooks and key leader resources will be available in Scout Shops and, as ebooks,
on Amazon.com. Spanish language resources will be available 45-60 days later.
June 30 – Insignia supporting rank advancement, like adventure loops and pins, will be available in Scout Shops and
on www.scoutstuff.org.
For the latest info on changes coming to Cub Scouting, head to www.scouting.org/programupdates . There you’ll
find FAQs, transition guidelines, presentations and other materials to support the new program launch.
15
District
Roundtable
Information
Have you attended a District Roundtable recently? A tremendous amount of current programming information, Scouting opportunities and other information is conveyed at each
and every roundtable. See the schedule below for each district’s unique roundtable information.
Crescent Bay: March 12 & April 9 , 6:45 p.m.
Antelope Valley: March 3 & April 7, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
750 East Avenue J, Lancaster, 93535
(6:00 p.m. Dinner)
3400 Sawtelle Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90066
Balboa Oaks: March 5 & April 2, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
17101 Plummer Street., Northridge, 91325
Las Colinas: March 11 & April 8, 7:00 p.m.
4501 Deseret Avenue, Woodland Hills, 91364
Bill Hart: March 5 & April 2, 7:30 p.m.
27405 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus, 91350
Cahuenga: March 12 & April 9 , 6:45 p.m.
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, 91601
The Council’s Eagle Scout Alumni Association has
Custom Eagle Scout created a unique, custom-designed lapel pin for
Alumni Pin Available Eagles in our region. The cast metal pins (shown
here) are a great way to show your Eagle pride
while helping Scoutreach, our Council’s effort to help at-risk youth in the region.
The pins are $20.00 each...the proceeds from the sale of each pin are contributed to
Scoutreach.
Purchase your pin today at the Council’s Van Nuys office. The Council’s Eagle Scout
Alumni Coordinator, David Lasher will also mail you a pin for $20.00 (including shipping). Contact David at [email protected] or by phone at (818) 933-0104.
Boy Scouts of America
Western Los Angeles County Council
16525 Sherman Way, Unit C-8
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(818) 785-8700
www.bsa-la.org
The Scout Sentinel is the official monthly newsletter of the Western Los Angeles County Council, Boy Scouts of America. To provide story tips, submit photographs or request additional information, please contact the newsletter’s
editor, David Lasher at [email protected] or call (818) 933-0104.