WoodBadge 1

Woodbadge 1 Top Up on November 7th 9am-9pm at St. Georges Anglican Church, 9 Granville St, Barrie, ON   $30.00
Pre-Requisite is module 1 & 2 online

For our new leaders, though only module 1 is a requirement before you can be counted as ratio, the entire WoodBadge is required within one year to remain as a leader.  This is a wonderful opportunity to network with other leaders and really get the gist of what being a Scout Leader is all about.

This course is a hybrid.  Our trainers have recognized the advantages and disadvantages of online and in-person training.  In short, on line training is very helpful in covering the drier subjects, however it fails to adequately build the skill base of our scouters so that they can support a strong program.  Traditional residential, in-person training helps scouters develop the network of relationships in scouting, provide them with hands-on, practical skills they can bring back to the group, and increases retention of scouters (a.k.a. less likely to leave scouting!).  However the drier content limits the time available to do the more program-related training.  So, by relying on the online training to deliver modules 1 & 2, and focusing our in-person training to those aspects that will build their skills as scouters and make them want to stay in scouting, the trainers have come up with a great model for WB1 training!
With respect to the program itself, the training will have a strong emphasis on the Canadian Path; as we have to all adapt to it this year, this training is very timely and the more scouters you have trained on the Canadian Path, the easier it will be for your group to make the transition.
One of the fringe benefits of this is that the time required for the training is less than before (one day), and accordingly, the cost is much less as well.  Scouters who take this training will greatly benefit your group!  This applies to new scouters to a section, as well as scouters who completed their online training previously but do not have residential WB1 training.

Ringtail

Popcorn All Around

Since 1989, Canadian Scouts from all across the country have sold over $100 million of Scout Popcorn, with 60% of funds raised have gone directly back to local Scouting activities such as: summer camps, Jamborees, canoe trips, group excursions, and to help subsidize registration fees. Since the inception of the program, local Scouts have raised nearly $60 million dollars in support of their local activities making the Scouts Popcorn program one of the top fundraisers in Canada.

The fundraiser has a high return rate with 60% going back to support local Scouting. That translates to $60 million raised since the program's inception.
In 2013, Scouts Canada had sales of nearly $9.5 Million dollars that returned over $5.7 million dollars to local Scouting.

Local Scout groups decide how they will allocate their funds raised, such as supporting camping and international trips or purchasing camping equipment.

The 2011 top seller was an 11-year-old girl from British Columbia who sold $17,038, raising $10,223 for her Group and earning herself $1,022 in scholarship funds towards her post-secondary education.

Rewards can be seen at: http://www.scouts.ca/popcorn/rewards.html

Post-Secondary Scholarship Program

Through Scout Popcorn sales, Scouting youth have the opportunity to participate in a scholarship program and raise money for their post-secondary educations.

Scouts who sell $2,500 of popcorn in a single year will receive six per cent of their total sales for that year and each year going forward, to be invested into an account to be applied to future education expenses, including tuition, books, housing and other fees.

Through the scholarship program, $54,000 has been given out to 77 youth across Canada for their post-secondary education expenses.

There are currently 915 Scouts in the program.

Canadian Forces

Customers can also choose to send a gift of popcorn to Canadian Forces bases in Canada and overseas.

Gifts come in denominations of $30 and $50 and are delivered in bulk in the New Year.

Occasionally, people may wish to pay by cheque.  If so, please have them make those out to Scouts Canada.

Safety Information

• NEVER enter anyone's home
• NEVER sell after dark unless you are with an adult
• NEVER carry large amounts of cash with you
• NEVER give personal information
• NEVER sell in front of stores or malls without permission. A responsible adult must be present
• NEVER sell at stop lights or street corners
• NEVER go to dimly lit areas or places where you are not clearly visible
• ALWAYS walk on the sidewalk and driveway
• ALWAYS sell with another Scout or with an adult you know
• ALWAYS notify your parent or group leader of any strange activity immediately
• ALWAYS walk away from any dangerous or uncomfortable situations
• ALWAYS fundraise in areas you know
• Make a list of friends, family, relatives, and neighbors to contact instead of selling door-to-door.

Benefits

Popcorn sales have other life learning benefits too. In addition to raising money, youth develop valuable business skills and learn about financial responsibility, marketing strategy development and time management while also increasing their self-esteem and confidence in the process.

Youth also have fun as they engage in friendly competition, vying for the coveted top seller spots and the fantastic prizes.

Any questions, feel free to reach out to me.

Ringtail

Food Drive - Success!

This week, the 1st Alcona Scouting group worked together to raise food for the Innisfil Food Bank and are very pleased to report that between the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts we collected 850lb of food which was dropped off to the Innisfil Community Church on Thursday evening.  We want to thank all of the homeowners who graciously opened their doors and cupboards to us over the nights of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Overall it was a very positive experience for the boys and girls of the group who learned that much more about the importance of community involvement and how they can make a difference.

From l-r: Dylan Slade, James Austen and Riley McMullen from 1st Alcona Scouts sit with the pile of food the group has collected.

This meeting: Food Drive and more...

As we do not have access to the school this week, we will be out collecting food for the local food bank.  With Thanksgiving coming up we are aware that there are many families in the area who could use as much assistance as possible, so we will be going door to door collecting non-perishable food items.
As parking at St. Francis of Assisi may be at a premium, we will meet at the South East corner of the Nantyr Shores parking lot to set up teams, and head out from there.  I have been recommended to target MacLean Street, but if anybody who lives in the area has another recommendation please send it my way.  If every child in the group (pending 28) show up we should be able to do very well by dividing into 7 groups of four.  To this point, as our new leaders are not able to be counted as part of ratio I am asking if as many parents as possible will be available to walk with their children it would be greatly appreciated.  Please supply your child with a strong shopping bag - preferably not a plastic one - to collect the food stuffs.  Also, if anybody has any boxes to hold the food items I would appreciate it.  Finally, if I could get some volunteers to follow along the kids in their vehicles to collect the items I'd appreciate it.  One vehicle per team would be perfect.
The food will be delivered to the Innisfil Community Church along with the Cubs and Scouts collected food.  We raised 500lb of food last year with the Cubs alone...I see no reason why we shouldn't able to double that this year.

Popcorn paperwork is in, and I will be handing out the forms and envelopes.at the end of the meeting.  We have two wonderful parents who have stepped up to assist with coordinating the collection of money (thank you Mandy and Lori!).  We have a fairly short window to do the sales this year...it's looking like money will need to be collected on October 21th, and the products should be available by the first week of December.

For those of you who have already received their PRC forms from me, can you please let me know if you've gotten them into South Simcoe Police?  I have more now for those who have asked...please approach me so I can get them into your hands.  I need to ensure that the plans I have for the rest of the fall and winter will work with available leaders...and I need to know how many sets of badges, scarves and neckers I need to order for investiture in October (that's right, leaders need to be invested too!).  I will have a new leader discussion either prior/post the following meeting so that everybody understands what they still need to do and/or what is expected of them as leaders in 1st Alcona Beavers.

Any questions, do not hesitate to reach out.

Ringtail

Meeting #2: International Week of Peace

We’re back on Wedneday, September 23rd at St. Francis of Assisi.  This week we celebrate the Scouting “International Week of Peace" with some games, a craft and an interesting story that I dug up.

 Because we are short handed until our new leaders all have their PRC’s completed, could I ask for some help with the craft?  I have some child sized scissors, but if anybody has a pair to bring along and be willing to work with their child it would make for short work.  Very simple craft…cutting out a dove template and tapering some paper for wings.

We are very close to 30 members of the colony now…which means we need to have at least 6 leaders at all times.  If you have interest in being a leader, if you have not yet spoken to me about it and/or you have not received a PRC form yet, please let me know.  We could use your help.  Full time, Part Time, doesn’t matter…I just value your time.

Just as a note, next week we will not be in the school due to a school booking.  However, we already have our activity planned.  The Cubs will be going around on Tuesday near Holy Cross to collect food for the food bank, and we will be doing the same in and around St. Francis on Wednesday.  Hopefully between the two groups we will raise a decent amount of food just in time for Thanksgiving.  We definitely could use your help with that, by chaperoning your children.

Another note, especially for the newest members of the colony, similar to how the girl guides raise funds by selling cookies, Boy Scouts sell Popcorn.  I have not yet received our order form packages, but if you would like to look up details you can go to http://www.scouts.ca/popcorn/ .   This is a wonderful way for us to raise funds for the group, and the benefits for your own child are excellent.  I will blog details on this asap.

Final note, at last mention, we did not yet have anybody who had taken responsibility for the 1^st Alcona Group Popcorn Coordinator.  This is a role that does not require a PRC, collects the money/maintains the numbers and coordinates getting the popcorn back to the individual families through leaders such as myself.  Not a lot of work, just too much extra for myself and the Cubs and Scouts section leaders to take on ourselves.  Let me know if this is your cup of tea.

 

Yours in Scouting,

Ringtail

Some notes for Parents

Tonight is the night!  1st Alcona Beavers are back for the 2015-2016 Scouting year. 

There is a fantastic six page document on the Scouts Canada website that I highly recommend you download and read over.  It really fills in a lot of the questions that you may have about the program and about how you and your children fit into it.

I decided not to print it out as a small rainforest would suffer as a result.

You can find it here:

http://www.scouts.ca/ca/welcome-scouting-week

Much more content coming...

Ringtail

2015-2016 Registration Night

The 1st Alcona Scouting group will be having a registration night on Wednesday, September 9th from 7-9pm at the Innisfil Recreational Complex (7315 Yonge Street). Leaders from all three available sections will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. Boys and Girls are both welcome into our programs.

Our Beaver Scout program (ages 5-7) opens the door for your child to discover the world. It is filled with a little bit of everything – outdoor activities, games, music and sports. Along the way, Beaver Scouts meet new friends, learn cooperation and teamwork while developing self-confidence and most importantly as their motto states "Sharing, sharing, sharing".

With the Cub motto of "Do Your Best" front and centre, Cub Scouts (ages 8-10) are encouraged to try new and more challenging activities. Learning important first aid skills, paddling a canoe for the first time, or leading a game at camp will open the door for Cubs to try other adventures they never thought possible.

Our Sea Scouts (ages 11-14) continue to develop their leadership and community service skills, while enjoying outdoor adventures like sailing, rock climbing and lots of camping. Their motto is "Be Prepared", which they use in working together with other young people to accomplish thrilling challenges.

Scouts Canada provides a safe environment for youth to develop into healthy, helpful and engaged citizens of the world. Our promise is to help youth develop the tools and strategies they will need for success. We are always looking for new leaders. Please reach out to our registrar Terry-Lynn if you have any questions or would like to participate (toybiz4u@yahoo.ca).