News
The Council Office will be closed for the holidays: Nov. 23,24,25, Dec. 23,26 and Jan. 2,16.
The Leaders Guide for the 2012 Boy Scout Summer Camp at Camp Noyo has been released.
Rewood BSA Scout friendly vendors.
Council President Herb Williams discusses Camp Masonite Navarro and the efforts to save it.
Local scouts help with retire flags in Windsor. [Press Democrat Article}
Cub Scouts of Fortuna Aiming High February Fundraiser will Benefit Relay for Life
Effective March 1, 2011, what are currently known as local and national tour
permits will be superseded by what will be called the tour plan. *The online
tour permit system will be suspended. Units complete this form when planning for local, national, or international adventure. The plan helps ensure the unit is properly prepared, that qualified and trained leadership is in place, and that the right equipment is available for the adventure.
- Link to new Tour Permit
- Link to FAQ
1) The council is the reviewer of all tour plans; there is no regionalreview required.
2) The tour plan consists of a tour planning worksheet to be completed by the unit/contingent. It is retained by the council and a tour plan is returned to the unit after processing.
3) It's on standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper!
4) There is a 21-day advance notice requested for units to submit the planfor your review.
5) A single point of contact (not on the tour) for council use is included.
6) Defined reasons/times when a tour plan must be submitted for council review:
a. Trips of 500 miles or more
b. Trips outside of council borders not to a council-owned property
c. Trips to any national high-adventure base, national Scout jamboree, National Order of the Arrow Conference, or regionally sponsored event
d. When conducting the following activities outside of council or district events:
· Aquatics activities (swimming, boating, floating, scuba, etc.)
· Climbing and rappelling
· Orientation flights (process flying plan)
· Shooting sports
· Any activities involving motorized vehicles as part of the program
(snowmobiles, boating, etc.)
e. At a council's request (allows council to add review times based on local needs)
7) There is an updated Pledge of Performance.
What is not changed?
1) A council can define "local" tour plan review needs in addition to the above.
2) The Scout executive still needs to have in place a policy/procedure for tour plans.
3) Requirements for qualified supervision, training, insurance, etc., remain unchanged-for example, CPR and Wilderness First Aid requirements for high-adventure camps.
The electronic version of the Winter Sports Safety section (item #3) in the Guide To Safe Scouting reads as follows: APPROPRIATE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED FOR ALL ACTIVITIES. THIS INCLUDES THE RECOMMENDED USE OF HELMETS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN WINTER SPORTS SUCH AS SLEDDING AND OTHER SLIDING DEVICES. THE USE OF HELMETS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: DOWNHILL SKIING, SNOWBOARDING, AND OPERATION OF SNOWMOBILES (FULL FACE HELMETS).
Currently the District of Columbia has a helmet requirement which states that it is unlawful for any person under 16 years of age to ride roller skates, a skateboard, sled, coaster, toy vehicle, sidewalk bicycle, scooter, or any similar device without wearing a protective helmet of good fit, fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the helmet. Other states including Pennsylvania are engaged in discussions with various groups regarding similar legislation. Massachusetts is considering the requirement that children 12 and under wear a helmet during sledding, snowboarding and ice skating.
A task force of the Health & Safety Team has been tasked with reviewing this topic further.
Help our organization by buying and selling on eBay.
The council is pleased and excited to announce that the Redwood Empire Council Centennial Patches have arrived at the Santa Rosa Office!
These patches are numbered 1 through 100. The council has pulled patches #1 and #100. These two patches will be auctioned off at a later date to be announced. The remaining patches can be purchased for $100 each.
The actual patch has a 3-D look to it which is much more impressive than appears in this attachment. This is a limited patch offer – don’t miss out on having one of these special patches!
Nearly 300 Scouts and Scouters from all over the United States were named to the Boy Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary National Hall of Leadership for making a "significant difference in the life of another by the extraordinary service they have given … and the Scouting virtues they have modeled," according to a BSA release about the event.
Miwok District’s Sonoma-area Commissioner John Neville was named as Redwood Empire Council’s inductee. John’s involvement in scouting spans over 65 years! So he’s been involved in scouting for about 2/3rds of BSA’s history! After raising 15 children of his own, he could have easily retired. But his continued involvement in scouting has been an inspiration to everyone John interacts with. When asked if he has any words of wisdom for the rest of us scout leaders, he says, "It is all about helping young boys to become responsible adults. But, they already know that, which is why they are involved."
Youth safety is the No. 1 concern of the BSA.
To increase awareness of this societal problem and to create even greater barriers to abuse than already exist today in Scouting, the Boy Scouts of America is implementing several important changes to further enhance its Youth Protection policies.
Effective June 1, 2010:
-- Youth Protection training is required for all registered volunteers.
-- New leaders are required to take Youth Protection training before they submit an application for registration. The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins.
-- Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer's Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered.
For more information, see:
Tour permits are supposed to be submitted a minimum of two weeks before your trip. We can not ensure it will be processed prior to your event, otherwise. Tour permits may be emailed to northcoastscouter@redwoodbsa.org, faxed to 707-546-8137, mailed or dropped off at a service center. Thank you for your cooperation.
Download this Methods of Invitation recruitment guide for some great ideas on how to get more kids to come to your recruitment evenings.
To order materials for your Recruitment Event, download the Recruitment Materials Order Form.
Chiropractors may not sign medical forms. (Click on link to read more.)
Click here to download the County of Sonoma's Bike Safety Resource Guide.
Put away that MP3 player and listen to the radio to hear the latest spots advertising the Boy Scouts. In case you miss them, here are the recordings for the first to spots:
Scout units who wish to participate in paintball activites should know that this is not permissable for a scout unit. Please see the attached letter from National regarding restricted activities for scouts.
The Council's new climbing wall is available for rental for your next scout meeting or event. To reserve the wall, use these docments:
- Rental Fees
- Wall Reservation Form -- submit it to the Council office
- Climbing Wall Consent Form (non-BSA member)
- Climbing Wall Consent Form (BSA Member)