Smiley News 

October 2022

A monthly newsletter for families and leaders of Samoset Scouting - Where Camping is King!

Welcome New Scouts & Families!

To all our new Scouts and families, welcome to the Samoset Council Scouting community - Your adventure starts now!

• Visit the Samoset Council website at Samoset.org.

• Follow us on Facebook for daily news!

Making the Sunrise News! 

Ayden, a Cub Scout from Pack 438 and Samoset Council Scout Executive & CEO John Overland were guests on Channel 7 WSAW's live morning show Thursday, Oct. 6. They talked about popcorn and how to join Scouts. Ayden talked about all the fun things he likes to do with the Scouts!

It's That Time - 2023 Unit Recharter!

It’s hard to believe that summer is already over, fall is here, and winter is just around the corner… and, on top of that, we all get to go through the process of getting all of our Units rechartered for the 2023 calendar year!

The timeline for this process is as follows:

• October 15: The recharter window opens.

•  December 1: Council will need to get all Unit’s submissions no later than December 1 in order to process them by the deadline of December 31.

The good news is that we’ve been through the new online process once now, and National BSA has made some good improvements to the system and guidelines which should make this year go much more smoothly.

The 2023 Samoset Unit Recharter Leader Guide contains some very useful information and reference materials. Please take a look at this information and get started collecting the required documentation, applications, youth protection training updates etc, and contact your respective Commissioners, Unit Serving Executives, and Council staff if you have any questions.
To view or download the Guide, go to our Charter Renewal webpage and click the link at the top of the page. 

In Case You Missed It - NRG Radio Visit 

We had some fun at the NRG Media radio station in Stevens Point on September 13. Unit Serving Executive Phoenix Bise, and VP of Membership and Pack 435 Cub Master Kevin Janis, went on air and talked about joining Scouts.

They interviewed with The Big Cheese (107.9), Kori with a K (96.7) and Big Red (106.5)! After that, we launched some rockets! The ads were posted on each radio station's Facebook page and the radio interviews were aired on September 22, Join Night.

Unit Serving Executive Phoenix Bise laughs while being interviewed by Big Red (Y106.5) to promote Samoset Council Join Night.

Your Safety Moment - Selling Popcorn Safely

Scouts are out selling popcorn through Sunday, October 23.Scout leaders and families should remind their Scouts of these fundamental safety tips:

• ALWAYS sell with another Scout or with an adult.

• NEVER enter anyone’s home.

• NEVER sell after dark unless you’re with an adult.

• DON’T carry large amounts of cash.

• ALWAYS walk on the sidewalk and driveway.

• ALWAYS be courteous.

Youth from Pack 496 got creative with a Drive-Thru popcorn sale as part of the unit's Show & Sell. The popcorn costume, smiling faces, and easy-to-read sign attracted attention!

New Unit Serving Executive
Welcome Eathan Zimmerman!

Eathan, who formerly served as a Samoset Council Youth Outreach Coordinator, was recently hired to the Field Team as a Unit Serving Executive. We're excited for him to join the team! Read below to learn a little about our newest Unit Serving Exec.

"I'm a creative leader dedicated to producing engaging lessons and activities for scouts of all ages. With over a decade of scouting experience and having earned my Eagle Scout rank, I have a strong understanding of the ideals and needs of the scouting program.

In my free time I enjoy gardening, photography, and scuba diving. As an entrepreneur and a small business owner, I am goal-oriented and driven to succeed. I am thrilled to join the Samoset Council Field Team and will do my best to improve the program in any way I can."

New Customer Service Associate
Welcome Ashley Gau!

Ashley joined the Samoset Council on Monday, August 29. She is the newest customer service associate and comes with an extensive background in both hospitality and retail. Ashley spent the last five years in healthcare.
She was born and raised on a dairy farm in Central, Wisc. Ashley and her husband, Jeff, have two daughters Norah and Ryah. They love traveling the country, hiking and exploring state and national parks.

They have a rabbit named “Waffles” and a small herd of Guinea pigs. Recently the family started fostering rescued rabbits. Ashley also raises monarchs to release in hopes to increase the population. She enjoys helping animals and making the world a better place. Welcome Ashley!

The Topic at the First Roundtable is...Roundtable
Please attend your first RT to help create what your meeting model will look like

After receiving feedback from many in the Scouting community through a survey, we have some exciting changes for Roundtable (RT) gatherings. Roundtable is meant to be yours so thank you for taking the chance to give your feedback and let us know what you think it should be.

We are moving more towards an area-specific model that allows you to mold your RT experience into something that fits your area best. Please attend your first RT to help create what your model will look like. RT’s are also a great place to find out about upcoming events, activities, trainings, and Scouting opportunities.
Visit the Samoset Council Calendar for times and locations. 

NEW Council Shoulder Patch Now Available!

The 2022 Samoset Council Shoulder Patch is now available at the Scout Shop.

The design, created by Assistant Council Commissioner Dan Symmank, was voted the winner in a council-wide contest in May.


The contest is held annually and submissions are welcome from Scouts, Scouters, and members of the community. Pictured below is a rendering of the winning design. Pictured below that is the finished patch. Get yours today at the Scout Shop!

Scout Shop - Special October Saturday Hours!

The Scout Shop is open this Saturday, October 8 and Saturday, October 22 from 10am -1pm.

Stop in, get your gear, and check out our new items!

Samoset Council Fall Camporee 2022

All Tied Up in Scouting
October 21-23

We will be focusing this event on Knots and Lashings. We will plan to have a variety of stations related to knot tying and lashings and a lashing competition to end the day!

If you or your Scouts would like to volunteer to help or have any questions, please feel free to contact Brian Boyd at nosocks68@gmail.com or call 715.459.8531.

Location: Grand Rapids Lions Club/2411 36th St So. Wisconsin Rapids

Cost $10

Scouts BSA Catholic Religious Emblems
Scout Recognition Mass Set for Samoset Council Feb. 5, 2023

Calling all Boy Scouts interested in earning their Religious Emblems:  Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII. If your unit does not offer classes and you want information on classes please contact Cindy at catholicreligiousemblems@gmail.com or call 608-783-4911.

Scout Recognition Masses have been set up in conjunction with Scout Sunday, Samoset's is Feb 5 at Holy Spirit Parish in Stevens Point, 2151 Stanley St, Stevens Point, WI 54481.

Venture Crew 450 Explores Upper Peninsula, Shipwrecks, Pictured Rocks

Guest Article

By Melanie Hocker

Venture Crew 450 Advisor

This summer, 12 members of Venture Crew 450 went to the U.P. of Michigan and spent five days exploring the coastline of Lake Superior. First it was to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at White Fish Point. There are many shipwrecks near this location of Lake Superior including the famous Edmund Fitzgerald. There were very informative displays with artifacts from the sites of the wrecks.

We spent the night at Tahquamenon Falls State Park. It's a beautiful area and we would like to go back there to do some kayaking on the Tahquamenon River.

The next day we traveled to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Everyone had a blast going down the log slide, but it was quite a workout coming back up. The slide is a sand dune that was used to slide logs down to the lake for waiting ships. Later we toured a glass-bottom boat to see shipwrecks out in the bay at Munising. That evening we were flying kites on sand point beach.

The next day we traveled to The Adventure Mine to take a tour to learn about copper mining in the U.P. A few of our brave members rappelled to the next level down. They exited by going over a big crevasse on an Indiana Jones type swinging bridge.

We finished up our trip at Fort Wilkins State Park at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. We explored the fort and spent time enjoying the rocky beach at Mary McDonald Preserve nearby.

On our last day, we stopped to tour the Quincy Mine on the way home.  One of our members is a geologist and we learned a lot about the unique rocks and minerals found in the U.P. 

We all came home exhausted, but we enjoyed it all and learned a lot. It was a great trip!

If you love exploring, making new friends and discovering the world, then THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX and join Venturing!

Upcoming Training Opportunities! 

Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation 
BALOO training is required for any Pack wanting to overnight camp

Wood Badge & NYLT Banquet Set for November!