Fall is an exciting time in the Flint River Council!
Over 1,000 new Scout families are joining Scouting at their local school in the 8 counties that we serve. It's great to see the excitement in the eyes of boys as their parents sign them up for the experience that is Scouting.

Scouting doesn't happen without Leaders; and it's not always excitement that we see in the eyes of parents when they sign up to be new leaders! We want you to know how much we appreciate your willingness to serve as a leader in your son's Pack or Troop. We also want you to know that there are resources and people in your District and Council waiting for the opportunity to help you be successful.

You will make a lasting impact.
Make no mistake; your involvement will have a deep and lasting impact on the youth that you serve. Know this; the youth that you serve will have a deep and lasting impact on YOU!

Scouting.org resources are at your fingertips.
The place to start is with an online visit to https://myscouting.org. Look under the Training Tab and select E-Learning to see a menu of available online courses to help you be a better leader. We all need Youth Protection Training and then you can select the courses best suited for your new leadership position.

Visit the Council website.
Take the time to visit the Council website at www.flintrivercouncil.org where you can find contact information, a Council calendar of events and news about happenings in your District and the Council.

Visit the Scout Shop.
It's worth a visit to one of two local Scout Shops (directions on the council website) to shop for printed materials and uniforms. The helpful staff at the Scout Shop is ready to answer many of your questions and give you guidance on many things.

Thank you very much for volunteering! We'll be in touch to make sure you have the tools you need and we're working hard to help you be the best leader you can be. What? You didn't volunteer to be a leader in your son's Unit? Great news! It's not too late. Talk to your Unit Leaders or call the Council office and we'll get you signed up to share the excitement!

Calling all Cub Scout Families!

November 22-24

The fun at Lawhorn Scouting Base continues in the Fall with out Cub Fall Fun Weekend and we look forward to seeing you there!

Fall Fun Weekend is camping at its best! The crisp fall air and the beauty of camp provide the perfect backdrop for this weekend of fun for the whole family.

The cost is a low $19 per person for our platform tents-families pay for a maximum of 3 people for a family of 6.

Become a qualified instructor and join the top notch C.O.P.E. Team at Lawhorn Scouting Base!

Training is open to individuals age 16 and older and will begin Friday, November 8 at 7:00pm through Sunday, November 10 at 7:00pm. Use your training as an instructor for others or your own Unit.

Come to camp November 15-16 and enjoy this fun filled weekend of climbing for ALL Cub Scouts. Webelos can participate in both climbing and rappelling as they journey closer to becoming Boy Scouts.

Just $20 per Scout and $5 per adult covers the cost! (Note: If not staying the night, no charge for adults.) Space is limited so make sure you register by November 5th! 

Calling All Webelos!

Join us on Saturday, December 7 at the Summit YMCA Newnan Complex to earn activity pins and have a blast!

On-site registration opens at 12:00PM. Early registration cost is $15 per Scout or $20 the day of.

Earn up to 2 Activity Pins:

Aquanaut          Engineer
Artist                 Geologist     
Athelete            Readyman
Citizen              Scientist

Friday, December 13
9:00AM - 2:00PM

Join us for a day of service at the Griffin Scout Service Center! There will be projects for all skill levels, such as pressure washing, brush removal, window washing, gutter cleaning and more.

Lunch will be provided, so grab your work clothes and tools, bring a friend and come on out! Feel free to bring your tools as well: chainsaws, pressure washers, wood chippers, or just yourself.

Let's make this the biggest and best work day our Service Center has ever seen!

If you plan on attending, please contact Cindy McLeroy at 770-227-4556 or cindy.mcleroy@scouting.org

 Lawhorn Scouting Base will host an action packed climbing and rappelling weekend December 14-15 at the Eagle Mountain Climbing Facility. Those over the age of 13 can also go for a ride on our 480' zip line!

A fee of $20 per Scout and $5 per parent for this weekend includes overnight camping on Saturday night in one of the platform tents in the Flint River Adventure Area. Check-in will be Saturday, December 14 at 8:00am and the activities begin at 9:00am. (If just staying for the ay, no charge for adults)

December 27-31

Have you ever wanted to:

...swim with Polar Bears?
..."snowboard" in the South?
...spend the night "Out Cold"?

Then you are ready for Polaris Winter Adventure!

Register now for the Polaris Winter Adventure featuring traditional merit badge sessions, troop activities, and high-adventure opportunities. Polaris includes unique adventures and evening activities found no place else. Activities include the Polar Bear Swim, Out Cold overnight, a Yukon Experience and much more!

Come with your Troop or as a Provision Scout.

Leaders-The Polaris Leader Guide is available at www.lawhornscoutingbase.org. Contact us to lock in your campsite before they fill up! Don't miss out on this great weekend of camp!

Only 50 slots remaining for this event! Reserve your spot today!

January 11, 2014 from 8:00AM - 2:00PM

Lawhorn Scouting Base is expanding its Campmaster Corps!

Love the outdoors and working with youth? Looking for more opportunities to get away from the daily grind? Join the Campmaster Corp!

Campmasters are trained individuals or families that volunteer at camp on weekends to assist with groups. They select their own time and frequency of service, but usually serve two or four times a year. Training will include problem solving, camp operations, a tour of camp facilities and training in the general Campmaster duties.

For more information, please contact Laura Lovell at laura.lovell@scouting.org

Order of the Arrow Banquet

Register now for the Order of the Arrow Banquet that will be held December 6, 2013 in the Camp Thunder Dining Hall at 7:00PM. All family member are welcome so make plans to attend now!

O/A Lodge Leader Development

Come join your fellow Lodge members for the 2014 planning sessions and leader development on December 7, 2013. Topics will include all areas of leadership and will help at the Lodge level and in your individual chapters.

Klondike - January 24-26, 2014

Mark your calendars for Klondike! Remember, not only Order of the Arrow members may attend, but Troops as well. Registration will be open soon, so make sure to discuss plans with your PLC now!

Attention All Scouts!

The Atlanta Hawks are extremely excited to offer a special ticket offer out to your Scout group for our Boy Scout Nights this season!

Our first Scout Night is Friday, December 13 at 7:00pm, where the Atlanta Hawks will take on the Washington Wizards at Phillips Arena.
 

• The first 100 people to purchase tickets through this offer will enter early to watch pre-game shoot-around!
• Each Scout will receive a FREE Atlanta Hawks patch (while supplies last)
• Ticket deals are available for most games throughout the season

Click on the Atlanta Hawks' logo to download the flyer and contact Ryan Coller with the Atlanta Hawks for more information!

The Harlem Globetrotters are also offering special ticket pricing to your Scout group for our Boy Scout Night in 2014!

Scout Night is Saturday, March 15 at 1:00pm.

Click on the Harlem Globetrotters' logo to download the flyer and contact Ryan Coller for more information!

BIKE - PADDLE - RUN

Are you looking for a fun and exciting activity for your Troop, Pack, family or friends? Next year, the Lawhorn Scouting Base will introduce the first Flint River Adventure Area race series!

Six high adventure races will make up the series. You can participate in all six, or just a few. Put a healthy lifestyle first in the new year for your family and Scouts by training for these races!

Races will be appropriate for ALL participants of ALL skill levels - whether you're a pro on a mountain bike or in a kayak for your first time. All races are open to the public as well, so put together a training team of friends, neighbors, or co-workers!

All participants will receive a limited edition 2014 race series t-shirt. Registration will soon be available online!

February 22 - Mountain Bike Challenge
March 15 - Duathlon: Bike and Run
May 10 - Flint River Canoe Race
August 2 - Kayak Skills Competition
September 20 - Thunder Mudder Run
November 8 - Backcountry Trail Run                                                        

Reserve your spot now for Camp Thunder in 2014 and experience all the thrills of summer camp along with whitewater rafting! With so many amazing things on the horizon in 2014, don't be the Troop that misses out on the adventure.

NEW FOR 2014 ONLY!

$50 off for the first 200 Scouts registered for Week 5 or 6. Don't delay-registration is now open!

Some weeks already 75% FULL! Book your reservations today!

Call the Camping Department at (770) 227-4556 or for details and to reserve your campsite. See you at Lawhorn!

January 25, 2014

Join Scout Leaders from throughout the Southeast for a full day of leadership development and community collaboration at Patriots Point on the Charleston Harbor. This is a day full of keynote speakers, breakout session, a luncheon and more!

The cost for this event is $10. Registration is online at PatriotsPoint.org/ScoutSummit and is due by November 15. Click below to learn more.

Robert M. Gates, a Distinguished Eagle Scout and our nation’s 22nd secretary of defense, has been elected to the national executive board of the Boy Scouts of America. Gates will serve as a member of the executive committee and as the national president-elect.

Gates’ appointment was made upon the recommendation of national volunteer and professional leaders, including the BSA national nominating committee.

For the full article click on the link below.

In order to continue to deliver the nation's foremost youth program, it is occasionally necessary to increase membership fees so that we can offset rising administrative costs. For this reason, the Boy Scouts of America is increasing its membership fee from $15 to $24 per year to all registered Scouts and adults effective January 1, 2014.

Silver Beaver nominations need
to be received in the Council Office by December 31, 2013.



 

Has your Unit looked at the requirements for the Council Scout Safe Award?

You may qualify to receive a ribbon and a certificate that you can proudly display in your meeting place. Show that your Unit is one that strives to put the safety of its youth and volunteers first!

Catholic Scouts interested in earning religious emblems should contact their Troop Leaders or their Church.          

Boy Scouts can earn Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII while Cub Scouts can earn Light of Christ and Parvuli Dei. For additional information about these emblems, visit www.aaccos.org or contact Ynes Ortega at ynes.ortega@gmail.com

The Hornaday Award is the foremost conservation award in the Scouting program. Six Scouts and four volunteers have been recognized with a Hornaday Badge in the Flint River Council since 2010. Units also have an opportunity to earn a recognition for conservation service.

If a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer is interested in the Hornaday Award program, the following steps should be taken PRIOR to beginning with any work outside of the Merit Badge requirements:

1. Read all information regarding the requirements and expectations on the National BSA Hornaday webpage.
    
2. Contact the Council Conservation Committee, Keith Larson at 678-525-7713 or keith_larson@bellsouth.net

The Griffin Scout Service Center will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holidays on Thursday, November 28 through Saturday, November 30. We will resume regular hours on Monday, December 2.

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!