Hawk Mountain Council, BSA

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From the Trail #3

Protecting our Youth

Dear Parents, Leaders and Supporters,

We care deeply about all victims of abuse and sincerely apologize to anyone who was harmed during their time in Scouting. We believe victims, we support them, we pay for counseling by a provider of their choice, and we encourage them to come forward.

The BSA has taken significant steps over many years to ensure that we respond aggressively and effectively to reports of sexual abuse. Today, the Volunteer Screening Database – a tool the Centers for Disease Control recommends for all youth-serving organizations – serves as one of BSA’s many strong barriers to abuse, which also include:

  • Ongoing mandatory youth protection education for all volunteers, parents, and Scouts;
  • A leader selection process that includes criminal background checks and other screening efforts;
  • A leadership policy which requires that at least two youth protection trained adults will be present with youth at all time; prohibits one-on-one situations where adults would have any interactions alone with children – either in person, online, or via text;
  • Prompt mandatory reporting to law enforcement of any allegation or suspicion of abuse; and,
  • A 24/7 Scouts First Helpline (1-844-726-8871) and email contact address (scouts1st@scouting.org) to report any suspected abuse or inappropriate behavior.

We believe victims and remove individuals based on only allegations of inappropriate behavior. We steadfastly believe that one incident of abuse is one too many and we are continually improving all our policies to prevent abuse. This is precisely why we fully support and advocate for the creation of a national registry overseen by a governmental entity, similar to the national sex offender registry, of those who are suspected of child abuse or inappropriate behavior with a child, and thus allowing all youth serving organizations to share and access such information.

We call upon Congress and other youth serving organizations to support this initiative. The BSA also regularly convenes leaders from other youth-serving organizations, as well as experts in the youth protection field. Sharing of information is one of the key focus areas of those discussions. Experts note that among the general US population, one in six men have experienced sexual abuse or assault at some point in their lives. This is an unacceptable public health and safety problem that must be addressed, and we seek to be part of the solution along with all other youth-serving organizations.

Please call me with any questions.

Jim Milham
Scout executive/CEO

Hawk Mountain Council
Boy Scouts of America
Jim.Milham@scouting.org
610-926-3406 x1225

From the Trail #4

Dear Scout Leaders, Parents, and Supporters,

Summer is just about over, and school is back in session! What does that mean for Scouting? Joining Nights for Cub Scout Packs are starting now and new families (boys and girls) will be able to join our great program. Click here to find a pack near you!

This year we have a new theme to encourage new Cub Scout Families to try Scouting – Slime Me In! That’s right, every Cub Scout that joins a pack this fall will get a container of light-up slime. This theme is in line with our focus on STEM at all levels of Scouting.

What can you do to promote Scouting in your neighborhood?
1. Invite a friend of your son or daughter to join your pack.
2. Post your Pack’s recruitment night on your social media account.
3. Put a recruitment sign in your front yard or business.
4. Let people know they can find a pack or troop at www.BeAScout.org.
5. Share positive stories about Scouting with family, friends, and co-workers.

Also, Hawk Mountain Council has a great first event for all Cub Scout Families. Attend our annual Cub Adventure Weekends at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation on October 19 or October 26. Camping is available each weekend and this year’s theme is Everyday Heroes! LeeAnne Granus and her team are planning an amazing program that will excite all of our Scouts.

Lastly, thank you to all the unit leaders who make Scouting possible in our communities. Without our 2,000+ leaders, we could not run the amazing programs that I know are happening every day!

Hope to see you on the trail!
Yours in Scouting,
Jim Milham
Scout Executive/CEO

From the Trail #2

Scouting Leaders, Parents and Supporters,

Summer camp is in full swing at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. Scouts from HMC and beyond are enjoying a great summer filled with merit badges, fun and fellowship! Over 2,000 youth will visit HMSR this summer in Camp Meade and Camp DuPortail! And when I meet community leaders, they always remember their time at summer camp and how it impacted their life for the positive!

I am proud to announce that HMSR successfully earned the National Camp Accreditation Program or NCAP for the 2019 Camping Season at Camp Meade! Congratulations to staff for all their hard work!

Willits Dining Hall phase 1 is complete with a new electric service, HVAC system, floor, ceiling and new windows and doors! Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with this project. Phase 2 will include a new roof, upgrades to the kitchen equipment and new ventilation system in the kitchen. A special thanks to Craig Snyder who helped organize our project to allow a successful bidding process for the contractors who helped complete the work. As an update to girls in all Scouting programs, we now have over 175 girls in Cub Scouts and our 4 Scouts BSA Troops for girls. This is a historic time for the Boy Scouts of America and HMC volunteers have embraced the challenge! Nationally, over 20,000 girls joined Scouts BSA in 2,000 troops since the beginning of February!

Hope to see you on the trail!

Jim Milham, Scout Executive
Hawk Mountain Council

From the Trail #1

Scouting Leaders, Parents and Supporters,

Welcome to the new Hawk Mountain Council website and my new blog! I am proud to announce that this new website was made possible to our new Council Marketing Committee lead by Brad Small, VP of Marketing and team of great volunteers. A special thanks to Phil Black who is our volunteer Webmaster (like a Scoutmaster) for his tireless work. From everything to training our staff – he has done an amazing job! I hope you find the website enjoyable and ask that you provide feedback to Jim Milham.

I am proud to announce that we have over 150 girls in Cub Scouts and we just started 4 Scouts BSA Troops for girls. This is a historic time for the Boy Scouts of America and HMC volunteers have embraced the challenge! Nationally, over 14,000 girls joined Scouts BSA in 1,900 troops since the beginning of February! Please check out this great article in the Reading Eagle

[Read more…]

National Youth Leadership Training

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is the premier youth leadership program offered by Hawk Mountain Council. NYLT is an exciting, action-packed program designed to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home troops and crews, and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others.

Become a Merit Badge Counselor

Become a Merit Badge Counselor What expertise do you have to share with Scouts? Check out the list of merit badges and their requirements. To become a merit badge counselor or to change your list of badges offered, complete the Merit Badge Counselor application and a new adult application (using position code 42), and take the Merit Badge […]

HMC Summer Camp Photo Contest

Click & Shoot! Here's your chance to win a Cabela's gift card and see your photographs appear on the Hawk Mountain Council website and other … [Read More...]

More...

Places to go with your Scouts

Have you and your committee been stuck trying to pick out somewhere to take your pack or your den? Is that Patrol Leader's Council stumped for … [Read More...]

Cub Scouting

Cub Scouting is fun for the whole family.  In Scouting, boys and girls start with their best right now selves and grow into their very best future … [Read More...]

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Questions on Scouting? Just use the "Contact" link in the main menu and get in touch!

Download Forms

  • 2022-Youth-Protection-for-Adults-at-Camp.pdf
  • 2022-Swim-Classification-Form.pdf
  • Secure the Adventure Case Statement
  • Venturing Peer to Peer Cards
  • Media Alert
  • NYLT SAFE Policy
  • Scouting-for-Food-bulletin-insert.docx
  • Scouting for Food Report Form

Other Forms >>

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The Latest News…

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