Scout-O-Rama Is This Weekend
Excitement is in the air for Scout-O-Rama 2008, scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 17, at Irvine Valley College. There are over 26 corporate booths, 178 Scout and Council booths and 60 Service Units confirmed for a day of fun in the sun.
If your unit is planning to participate and has not yet turned in the unit participation form for Scout-O-Rama, please download the form today from the Council website at www.ocbsa.org and send it immediately to reserve your spot.
If you have any questions about Scout-O-Rama, please call Ken Camp at (714) 546-4990 x143 or you can e-mail Ken at kenc@ocbsa.org.
Back Bay Science Center Open House
The Back Bay Science Center at Upper Newport Bay is being designed to provide a fun, active, challenging, hands-on place focused on Grades 7-12 (and community college/university) to learn and research environmental protection, restoration, and estuarine water quality.
An open house will be held on Saturday, May 31 from 10am - 4pm. The event encourages the public to visit the new facility and gain a better understanding of the Center’s mission and future plans. Even though the interior of the Teaching Lab is still a work in progress, the Center is working closely with our partners to finalize the design, funding, and purchasing elements.
For additional information, contact Robin Madrid, Education Program Coordinator of the California Department of Fish & Game Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve at Back Bay Science Center, at 949-640-9956 or rmadrid@dfg.ca.gov.
Learning For Life - Art for Our Youth Fundraiser
It's your last chance to purchase tickets for a special fundraiser for BSA’s Learning for Life that will take place on Saturday, May 24 from 6:00 – 11:00 p. m. at the Masterpiece Fine Art Showroom, 1945 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach, 92651.
Enjoy a collection of artwork by world renowned artists on display. Selected artworks will be available for purchase by silent and live auction. Proceeds will be donated to the educational program designed to meet the needs of youth and schools in the Orange County area.
To RSVP, contact Maria Escobar Wiese at 714-546-8558 ext.166 or mariaw@oclfl.org.
This week, the Orange County Council Boy Scouts of America is proud to spotlight Rachel Rash. January 2009 marks Rachel’s 10 year anniversary with the Council. During her tenure, she has held a variety of positions and is currently the Assistant to Director of Field Services where she is responsible for supporting the council field operations.
Rachel was born in Fountain Valley, but lived on 100 acre ranch in Mazatlan, Mexico until she was five years old. She was home schooled until the age of 14 and then made the transition to public high school. Rachel, who is also bilingual in Spanish, enjoys playing and teaching chess, various types of music, and reading.
Rachel currently attends the University of Phoenix and will receive her Bachelor degree in Psychology in April 2009. Her future plan is attend graduate school to pursue a Masters degree and a Ph.D in Psychology. Rachel is engaged to Joel Cueva whom she has known for 14 years.
Wilderness First Aid Basics Program
The Wilderness First Aid Basics program to meet the requirements for organizations based in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, but is a good basic course in backcountry emergency response for almost any location. This 20 hour course is for those who work, live or play in remote areas – away from the usual EMS service. Even though the emergency workers near these areas may be trained to search for and rescue those in need, there may be a delay in the notification of assistance, the time required to get to the patient, or in moving the patient to more advanced treatment.
The course dates are Saturday and Sunday, June 14 & 15, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Newport Sea Base; 1931 West Coast Highway.
The cost to attend is $150 and is due no later than June 1, 2008. ONLY the first 30 paid participants are guaranteed a spot in the class. Contact Joe Aschenbrenner (714) 546-4990, Ext. 102. Download: 2008 Wilderness Flyer
Honoring Old Glory on June 14
Flag Day is just around the corner. This is an excellent opportunity to gather with fellow Scouts in a flag-raising ceremony, participate in community services, or join others in singing the National Anthem.
Is your Scout Troop involved in a unique Flag Day ceremony? Tell us about it. Send stories to Mitzu Perez at mitzup@ocbsa.org.
California Scout of the Year Results Announced
Seven of the Eagle Scout/Quartermaster Sea Scout/Venturing Silver nominees from Orange County Council demonstrated the highest level of achievement, leadership and community service ranking in the top half of 35 competitors from the entire State of California.
Earlier this year, Orange County members of the Western Region contingent played a key role in driving home the true meaning of the “Price of Freedom” by organizing the national memorial service formally honoring the memory of Lieutenant Laura Mankey, USN (a Sea Scout Quartermaster) who died when her Nighthawk helicopter crashed into the sea last year.
The combat veterans of Orange County nominated candidates to the FFVF and awarded their neighborhood community Scouts of the Year with funding for the airfare to Philadelphia in support of the Orange County Council and Freedoms Foundation.
Orange County combat veterans of VFW California District 2 led the state with nine neighborhood community nominees from Orange County Council, BSA. Of the nine nominees, two have demonstrated superior citizenship, leadership and accomplishment to win distinction at the state- level as a “California Scouts of the Year”.
Outdoor Education Center Construction Updates
Construction Progress
The Nature Center is starting to look like a building! Workers are steadily installing windows, walls and cabinetry as they near completion of the building and adjacent activity pavilions. School groups, Scouts and other program participants will use the Nature Center as a laboratory to study soil and plant science, ecology, geology, hydrology and other –ologies! The Nature Center will also feature an ethnobotanic garden, which will have plants that were historically and are currently used for food, medicine and raw materials by people.
A great example of an ethnobotanically important plant is yucca. All of the parts of yucca have been used by humans throughout history and pre-history. The leaves contain fibers that can be softened and woven into rope, net and cloth. The flowers are edible and tasty raw. The roots can be pounded until they produce a lather, which can be used as soap. All kinds of plants are used to make things that we use every day. When kids come to understand this, they also understand their connection and dependence upon the natural world.
Upcoming events
Boy Scout Troops are still being recruited to help with trail building at the Outdoor Education Center on June 7 and June 14. Please contact Christine Kirk, Outdoor Education Center Director, at 800-436-2119 or christineK@outdooreducationcenter.org if you are interested.
Council Safety Training Day
The following trainings will be hosted by the Orange County Council on Saturday, June 14, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. :
Trainings include Safe Swim Defense - Safety Afloat - Trek Safely
Climb On Safely - CPR/First Aid ($$-additional cost) and
Health and Safety Training
RSVP by June 1, 2008 to rm@ocbsa.org. Click here to download registration form.
Newport Sea Base Summer Day Camps
Summer is just around the corner and programs at the Newport Sea Base are filling up quickly. Reserve your spot to be part of the fun this summer at the Sea Base. Take advantage of these popular Summer Day Camps!
Special Summer Day Camps at the Newport Sea Base:
| Squids |
|
Weekly, June 23 -August 15
9 a.m. -12 p.m. OR 1 p.m. - 4 p.m |
Fee: $100
|
| Junior Aquatics Camp |
|
Weekly, June 23-August 15
9:30am – 3:30 pm |
Fee: $235
|
The Newport Sea Base is open to the public, boys and girls ages 6-18. Visit www.newportseabase.org for the youth application and waiver.
95% FOS Report May Meeting
The 95% FOS report meeting will take place on Wednesday morning, May 21, 7:30 a.m., at the William Lyon Homes Center for Scouting.
The last report meeting featured 11 of the 16 districts represented. The meeting theme this year is the “World Series of Fundraising.” At 71% as a council, $1,121,619 of the $1,623,00 goal has been captured. See you at the ballgame!
Scout-O-Rama Top Ticket Sellers
Congratulations to this year’s top seller for Scout-O-Rama ticket sales: Christian Redman of the Rancho Del Mar District who sold an outstanding 800 tickets!
Below is the list of the top seller for each district. Thank you to all the boys who sold tickets. Also, thank you to all the parent volunteers who donated their time and effort to the sales. It could not happen without everyone working together.
| NAME |
DISTRICT |
# OF TICKETS SOLD
|
| Christian Redman |
Rancho Del Mar |
800
|
| Cody Cook |
Los Amigos |
500
|
| John Joe Fallon |
Ahwahnee |
325
|
| Seamus Fallon |
Ahwahnee |
325
|
| Jack Steiert |
El Camino Real |
300
|
| Wesley Burrington |
Saddleback |
250
|
| Nicholas Milton |
Canyons |
235
|
| Charles Carrowell |
Portolla |
225
|
| Scott Herron |
Orange Frontier |
215
|
| Michael Whyte |
Pacifica |
211
|
| Daniel Cavender |
El Capitan |
155
|
Philmont Scout Ranch – Council Contingent
Ever heard of Philmont Scout Ranch? If you’ve been around Scouting for any length of time at all, you’ve definitely heard someone spout off about how awesome it is! It’s touted as THE premier high adventure base in the Western United States. Philmont Scout Ranch, located in Cimarron, New Mexico is 138,000 acres of pristine wilderness in some of the most magnificent, picturesque mountain settings in the country, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains…and it belongs to the Boy Scouts of America…which means it belongs to YOU!
Every year the Orange County Council organizes a contingent of 6 crews totally about 11-12 Scouts and leaders in each crew. Most Troops or Venture Crews who attempt to book a trek at Philmont on their own find themselves on a long waiting list lasting perhaps several years. But with the Council contingent, your opportunity may be just a year away.
The Philmont Trek committee is conducting a 2009 Trek orientation meeting on Wednesday June 4 at 7 pm at the Scout Office in Santa Ana. Information including Trek fees, travel arrangements, training, programming, trek requirements and other trip particulars will be presented. If you are at all interested in the 09 Trek, please plan to attend or send a representative from your unit. Contact Marty Cutrone, Director of Camping, at (714) 546-8558 x146 for additional information.
Sign Up For the 2010 National Jamboree at Scout-O-Rama
The 2010 National Jamboree will be held in Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, and it will be a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Scouting in the US. The Orange County Council has set a goal of sending 10 troops to the Jamboree, and signups are now being taken.
Over 40,000 Scouts and leaders are expected to attend. For Orange County Scouts, the trip will include a sightseeing tour of some of our national treasures, such as Washington DC.
Stop by the 2010 Jamboree display at Scout-O-Rama (Saturday, May 17 from 9:00-4:00 at Irvine Valley College). We’ll be located on Council Row. You can learn more about the event, meet some of our Scoutmasters, and – most importantly - sign up for the Jamboree. A $300 deposit is needed to reserve your spot.
The Jamboree will be the highlight of your Scouting career. Sign up now!
Powder Horn Course Space Is Still Available
Orange County Council is hosting the Western Region 2008 Powder Horn Course. These courses are limited and only offered in all of the Southwest once or twice a year.
Dates available for 2008 are May 29-31 (Thu – Sat) at the Oso Lake Scout Camp in Rancho Santa Margarita and June 5-7 (Thu – Sat) at the Will J Reed Scout Park in Long Beach.
Powder Horn is an advanced training opportunity designed to exposeVenturing or Boy Scout Leaders to activities and outdoor skills resources necessary to operate a successful Venturing Ranger or Troop High Adventure Program. This course is available to all adults leaders over 21 who have completed their Leader Specific Training – Cubbing, Scouting, Varsity, Venturing, or Sea Scouting.
The course fee is $250, includes one ticket to the Orange County Council Annual Venturing and Sea Scouting Recognition Banquet June 7 (Sat night) where the Powder Horn Graduation Ceremony will be held.
For additional information and reservations, please contact Chuck Williams, Powder Horn Course Director, at chaz3rd6@netscape.net or 714-349-0877.
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