Scouting News! Council Leadership Development Committee   Our Council Committee meets every 2nd Tuesday of each month at Flag Plaza. Make sure that someone from your district is attending and keeping up on the latest information about training events and leadership development. We hope to see every district represented at our next meeting. Scouting for Food Annual “Good Turn” Will Help the Hungry On April 1 the council will launch its 22nd annual Scouting for Food drive in partnership with the United Way to combat the ongoing problems of hunger in southwestern Pennsylvania. The council developed Scouting for Food in 1987 as a result of urgent requests from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to help the hungry during April when food reserves are depleted. Last year, Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland county food banks distributed 5.5 million units of supplemental food support from the drive to 120,000 people. Roger Oxendale, president and chief executive officer of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is general chairman of the 2007 drive. The drive will involve over 6,000 Scouts, 250,000 employees and organization members in companies, schools, churches, government agencies and community organizations. Scout Family Friends of Scouting Chairman   DISTRICT CHAIRMAN Beaver Valley V. Bill Smith Conestoga Dana Krieger Fort Pitt Barbara Sylvester Frontier Liz Stumpf Greene Earlene Schifko Japeechen Kenneth Volle Mon Valley Jan Rice Mingo Trails E. Ward Reighard Seneca Rich Bogovich Steel City Joan Davin Tecumsa Bob Barca Attention Scoutmasters!  Any new Boy who joins your Troop this spring is invited to attend a special program for free. Activities, fun and a great Outdoor Adventure will be provided. So mark down the following dates and locations and be on the look out for more information in the very near future. May 9th and 10th Heritage Scout Reservation (Trailblazer Program)  May 31st  Camp Guyasuta Learn more about conducting Troop Open House to recruit new Scouts>>>>> Camp Leader Orientation Meetings  Summer camp is almost here and we are sure that your Scouts are looking forward to the fun, sun and adventure. The Camp Promotion and Outdoors Committee has arranged for two leader orientations to be held. At least one camp leader is strongly urged to attend one of the two key meetings. Thursday, April 17, 2008 – at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Steubenville Pike, Robinson Township. Registration & crackerbarrel begin at 6:30 p.m., the program begins at 7:15 p.m. (Crackerbarrel provided by Enda Lechauhanne Lodge #57, Order of the Arrow)  Saturday, May 10, 2008 – Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., the program begins at 9 a.m. at Heritage Reservation. Lunch will be provided.  We strongly recommend that leaders who are attending camp for the first time attend the orientation at Heritage Reservation on May 10. A tour of camp would be advantageous. The program will include details on Cub Scout camp and Boy Scout camp, with an emphasis on advanced planning, medical forms, leaders guide books, programs offered, advancement, and plenty of time for questions and answers. As the summer nears, please remember these important dates and procedures. Troops with less than 15 Scouts in camp may be required to “double up” in a campsite. If the troop has not submitted its deposits by the Early Bird date of April 4, for the minimum campsite capacity of 15 Scouts, the camp reserves the right to reassign the troop to another campsite. For Cub Scout camp, the individual deposit fees must be submitted by April 4 to hold the number of spaces that your pack has reserved. Beyond this date, your space will be made available to other packs. CANOE RENTALS Camp Guyasuta is ready to help your unit with canoe rentals for spring, summer and fall unit canoe trips. We have recently purchased new canoe trailers to get you and the canoes safely to your canoeing site. Canoes, Paddles, PFD’s and the trailers can be reserved by calling our Customer Service Representative at 412-325-7922. Risk Management – Footwear at Aquatic Areas Through the years similar accidents across the country such as someone’s shoelaces being caught in the oar locks of an overturned boat or being caught on stray debris or fishing line have resulted in drownings.  Statistics are hard to come by, perhaps because such occurrences are simply listed as drownings or accidents and not specified.  However, these kinds of accidents are more prevalent than they should be and they are easily preventable.  The solution is simple: Water safety instructors and anyone else connected with water safety should promote the wearing of slip-on shoes around the water. There have always been canvas boat shoes and now padded rubber “water shoes” and Crocs are available and becoming popular. Although it may seem easier and less expensive to just throw on a pair of old tennis shoes, for a small amount of money, it is well worth wearing shoes that a person can just slip off if the need arises. Recommending that a person wear slip-on “water shoes” is just as important as practicing the buddy system and using flotation devices for personal safety. The use of “water shoes” should be suggested and incorporated when teaching water safety. Shoelaces present a variety of risks and wearing inexpensive slip-on shoes can more easily avert potential tragedy.

Important Notice:   Early Bird Scout deposits due April 4 to hold your spaces at Heritage Reservation A special patch will be given to all Scouts who submit their $25 camp deposit on time. Units are reminded that the April 4 deadline is very important for camp planning purposes. As promotion continues, collecting this deposit is the only way to confirm who from your unit is planning to attend. Troops who do not have the minimum campsite deposits of at least 15 Scouts paid by April 4 could be reassigned to another campsite without notice. For Cub Scouts Packs, the individual Scout $25 deposit must be submitted by April 4 to hold the number of spaces your unit has reserved. Beyond this date, your Scouts spaces will be available to other Packs who have more Scouts who wish to attend camp.  This procedure has been developed to allow the reservation system to adjust for the many changes that occur. Units estimate Scout attendance early on, sometimes a year in advance. These figures increase and decrease. Weeks close out quickly, but in fact, as the summer nears, space becomes open for more Scouts to attend. This system provides the camping department with accurate information to allow other units to attend of increase attendance. No boy should ever be turned away from summer camp and this plan will help to avoid this from occurring.  SUMMER JOB OPPORTUNITIES The job market is tight and the competition is heating up.  Do you have a job for the summer?  NOW is the time to apply for a staff position at Heritage Reservation or Camp Guyasuta.  We need 21-year-olds to serve as Aquatics Directors, a Discovery Director and Assistant Director and 18-year-olds that can be program area directors This is a perfect job for high school seniors, college students, teachers or retirees, and an excellent addition to any resume if you are considering a career in working with youth such as an educator or youth minister.  Give us a call if aquatics, climbing, biking, shooting and outpost camping are your specialties.  You must have an interest in living in the outdoors and working with Scout age youth in a camp setting.  Your room and board will be provided.  Please call (412) 325-7921 for an application or more information.  Popcorn Sale Returns $1 Million to Scouting The 2007 sale was the council’s 18th, and Scouts set a new record—$1.6 million in total sales, enough popcorn to fill 16 tractor-trailers. More than 7,000 youth learned valuable salesmanship skills while earning money for summer camp and other programs, with over $1 million going directly to supporting local Scouts.  Special thanks to new council popcorn chair Liz Stumpf and her dedicated committee, who increased sales 7 percent over 2006. Buyers were able to purchase popcorn for our military; more than 2,200 containers were shipped overseas, including a new Gourmet Caramel tin that promotes Scouting. Tiger Fun Day  All Cub Scout Packs are encouraged to participate with your District’s Tiger Fun Day. Fun Day is designed to provide an orientation for kindergarten boys and parents. The event has round robin stations for the participants. The stations include activities like archery, crafts, games, and special Tiger Cub Parent Orientation Programs. Fun Day is not only an enrollment program for recruitment, but most importantly, it helps your pack to plan for future programs. In other words, your pack will already have your new leaders recruited and can start setting up your dens and activities for the fall.  Please note when you sign up the new Tigers, invite them to participate with your summer activities. Contact your district membership chairman or district executive to get involved with the Fun Day. Exploring Exploring is expanding in the Greater Pittsburgh Council. This career based program is providing students ages 14-20 an opportunity to learn and work “hands on” in a specific field of interest. Exploring is co-ed and is open to all non-Scouts, Boy Scouts or Venturers.  The Council is further expanding career programs in fire safety, law enforcement, engineering, law, government and many more fields. Please see our current Explorer Posts below and if you would like any information about these Posts please email or call Rhonda Brncic at rbrncic@bsamail.org or 412-325-7971. If you work in a field that you believe would benefit young people and provide them with this opportunity please also contact Rhonda Brncic. Explorer Posts   Post 105 IBEW(Electrical Workers)   Skilled trades Post 95 Allegheny General Hospital   Medical field Post 261 UPMC Braddock   Medical field Post 260 Jefferson Hospital   Medical field Post 637 Pittsburgh Technical Institute   Science and technology Post 596 University of Pgh. School of Medicine   Medicine Post 741 Pittsburgh Role Playing   Arts Post 1847 UPMC Mercy Hospital   Medical field Post 190 UPMC Shadyside Hospital   Medical field Post 191  UPMC Health Plan   Business Post 132 UPMC McKeesport Hospital   Medical field Post 192 UPMC St. Margaret Hospital   Medical field Trail’s End is the most profitable fund-raiser. Popcorn income makes a big difference. 70% profit goes to your Pack or Troop and to your Scout Council to support local programs. Popcorn income helps meet a family’s Scouting expenses. Boys pay for their camp and a whole lot more.