Smiley News Update

Spring Scouts BSA Camporee: May 21 -23, 2021  Only 31 Spaces left!


Get registered now for the FUN!

We will be gathering at Camp Fletcher, Stevens Point for our Camporee, the first in person-overnight, event in over a year.  Please prepare your Scouts for some fellowship and fun.

The Camporee will be limited to the first 100 registered attendees.  This is to comply with the Council’s COVID regulations.  Tent camping will be allowed, one per tent, allowing us to have the whole weekend for our camporee. The theme of the camporee is a MYSTERY. 

Troops are asked to come ready to do 1-2 demonstrations of any requirements from Scout through First Class ranks for Scouts to work on. There will be a Camporee Patch design contest, so have your Scouts start drawing now.  We are also planning some star gazing, weather permitting, and trivia based on the Scout Handbook, so make sure all Scouts bring their Handbook along.

Click HERE to register

Help the Samoset Council Hit Our Friends of Scouting Goal

The Samoset staff and volunteers have made amazing progress towards reaching our annual Friends of Scouting campaign goal. The Samoset Council has raised $172,490 which is 70% to our goal of $244,000! Please help us hit our goal by June 1st!

The Friends of Scouting annual giving campaign is crucial to the success of the Samoset Council and to the continuation of exceptional youth programming for all families. If you are member of a Troop, Pack, Crew, or Ship and have not scheduled your Friends of Scouting presentation with your Unit Serving Executive please do so as soon as possible. If you work for a business that might be interested in donating, please contact Amanda Flannery at amanda.flannery@samoset.org .

 If you are interested in supporting Scouting in your local community, please visit https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/SMILEY or text Smiley to 71777. Donate today and receive one of these amazing recognition items!

2021 Work Trek Thank You!!

Thanks to all the units that helped this past two weekends at camp.  We had units from all over the council and a few of out of Council units.   We had around 125 volunteers the first weekend and around 110 on the second.  Several new projects were completed to include:

  • New campsite work at Shoshoni and Ottawa
  • New program shelter at Akela’s World
  • Power to additional campsites
  • New basketball backboards at Personal Wellness
  • Shotgun shelter repairs
  • Plus lots of raking and cleaning

Smiley’s Stampede 5K – Thank you!!


The Smiley’s Stampede 5K organizers would like to thank our sponsors Connexus Cares, Surgical Associates, Lora Bladow Re/Max, Timekeeper Distillery, and SOL Nutrition for sponsoring the event this year.  We also want to send a BIG Thank You to all the participants, and the cat, ??, for making our event a successful one!


The Samoset Council Outreach program will be benefit from funds raised. 


Thank you again! Hope to see you all next year!

COVID Update


Samoset Scouters:


Recently our Risk Management Committee met to discuss our current COVID plans for meetings, events, and building use.

The committee made the following decisions to better ensure the safety of our Scouts and Scouters:


Unit Meetings and Outings: There will be no change to unit meetings and outings. There is a 50% room capacity for meeting in building spaces with social distancing and face coverings. Outside, groups of up to 100 participants are allowed with social distancing and face coverings if within 6 feet.


Council Activities/Trainings/Events: Depending on the location the above protocols are in place like unit meetings and outings.


Camp building use: There is no change, as bunk houses and smaller cabins are not available to be rented.  McCormick Lodge is now available for day use only with the maximum occupancy of 50% room capacity.


Council Committee Meetings/Wausau Homes Service Center: We are encouraging committees to remain virtual, yet if groups want to meet in person they may with proper social distancing and face coverings in place.  Schuette Hall may be reserved with 50% room capacity.


The committee will continue to review and update our guidelines as necessary to ensure a quality Scouting experience for all.

For any questions, please feel free to contact Michael Vangelov, Director of Support Services at 715-355-1450.

Music Merit Badge

Brought to you by....Wausau Conservatory of Music 

Does it seem like getting your music badge is a daunting task? WCM can help you earn it in one week!

WCM in partnership with the Samoset Council for Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes are pleased to offer this one week course in music understanding and appreciation for Scouts wishing to earn their music badges.

Based on the requirements of both organizations, scouts and other interested youth will learn about music theory fundamentals, composition, music history and basic music copyright laws. They will also be part of a music ensemble, learning to play their compositions and a few pieces on hand chimes.

The course will culminate with a recital of the students' compositions intermixed with the concert pieces they learn.


Register today at HERE.

Samoset Scouters, the 2021-2022 Council Resource Guide is now available online!

Units can use this guide for help in:

  • Planning their program
  • Funding their program
  • Growing their program
  • Understanding training opportunities
  • Rechartering your unit

In addition the appendix contains info from council camping opportunities to safety reporting information to name a few. We hope all units and their leadership will review the information in this guide to be better prepared to lead their units. This year the resource guide is only available online and it does not contain the council calendar which can be accessed separately on the council website.

Access it Here

UPDATED YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING MODULES

 

Over the decades, the Boy Scouts of America has been a leader in developing training and policies designed to keep young people safe. Over time, these policies have become standard with organizations across the nation. True youth protection can be achieved only through the focused commitment of everyone in Scouting.


The National BSA has heard feedback form volunteers in the field and are now releasing updates to the mandatory online adult Youth Protection Training to include items such as:


  • New mobile friendly design.
  • Updates to the certification test to make questions less ambiguous.


National BSA will communicate when this new release is available – the target date is June 1st, 2021It is recommended that anyone who has started the online training prior to this date complete the training as the new versions will cause the loss of any progress in a module.

Wood Badge

Wood Badge is an advanced leadership course available only to Scouters that is designed to strengthen the skills of unit leaders to better deliver the mission of Scouting. This training is on par with corporate-level workshops and will deliver you the skills to build stronger units.

You can expect to develop knowledge in project planning, conflict management, mentoring, leading change and more! This course is for Scouters in at all levels of the program and will help you understand more about what Scouting is and why we do it. The presentations include a mix of games, activities, demonstrations, and engaged conversation, along with other methods of delivery. Outside of having fun, building experience, and networking with fellow leaders, you will ultimately get to think about the practice of Scouting, and live together in the spirit of the Scout Oath.

Click Here to register for Wood Badge happening August 27th-29th.


IOLS

Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills is the perfect course to bring your Scouting knowledge together. If you are a new Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster this course is for you. The outdoor portion of Scouting is a crucial part of the Scouts BSA program and helps to develop young leaders while participating in outdoor events. Scouting is all about challenges, learning new skills and overcoming adversity while being part of a team. To help provide these opportunities to more Scouts you need a certain set of information and skills, which is where IOLS comes in to develop your knowledge.

You will learn how to build a fire, use Scouting tools, cook outdoors, care for the environment and much more! If you are new to the program, you’ll come out of this course looking and acting like a seasoned camper. Having taken this course, Youth Protection Training and the Scoutmaster-Specific Training course, will make you a “fully trained” Scouts BSA leader.

Click Here to register to IOLS training happening May 14th-15th

As you meet with your committee and other parents to plan your Scouting group’s calendar and budget for the upcoming year, please start the discussion on your popcorn sale.  

The first thing you need to establish is your Unit’s Popcorn Kernel. Here is a list of the duties the Popcorn Kernel will be responsible for:

  • Attend popcorn kickoff in August.
  • Host a unit sale kickoff.  Establish the goal and focus on fun incentives!
  • Coordinate and promote your unit’s “Knocking for Popcorn Campaign” during the sale.
  • Ensure all families in your unit receive sales materials (some join late or miss the unit kickoff)
  • Collect popcorn orders and prize selections from each Scout and combine them to create your unit’s order.
  •   Place “Winner’s Circle” prize orders.
  • Make sure all qualifying Scouts get the prizes and incentives they earned.
  • Complete blue bonus prize form and turn in at popcorn pick up along with selling roster.
  • Coordinate pick-up with your distribution site and distribute popcorn to the Scouts of your unit.
  • Collect money from Scouts and turn in check to the Samoset Council.

This year you have the option to participate in “Show and Sell”. Your unit will have a low-risk opportunity to increase your sale by ordering product in advance.  Product can be sold door to door, at work, at family gatherings or at store fronts.  Samoset Council is offering increased commissions based on your show and sell participation as well as success.  Now is the time to discuss with your Unit the option of “Show and Sell”.

Outreach Program Employment


The Samoset Council Outreach program is hiring summer and year-round help!

Are you or your Scouts interested in working for the Samoset Council? The Outreach Program has several positions available.

Summer help:  Driver, Program Specialists, and STEM Specialists. We also have openings for year-round Program Specialists. 


If you or anyone you know is interested, please email janice.watson@samoset.org or call 715-409-0819

Fall Recruitment Resources

 

Do you know that Samoset Council provides these items to you for Fall Recruitment?

  • Flyers
  • Posters
  • Open House Kits
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Giveaways
  • Many More resources!

Send us your Facebook and Instagram link and we will promote your unit through Geofencing.  Don’t forget to reach out to your Unit Serving Executive, they are also able to drop off items to you and your schools.   

 

Remember we are always here for you!  Just let us know what you need!

For more information, please call 715-355-1450.