Hawk Mountain Council, BSA

Ready to Take Wood Badge?

Wood Badge is BSA’s premier leadership training program that was started in 1919 by Lord Baden-Powell, founder of Scouting and Wood Badge’s first Course Director. This program came to America in 1948 and is continually adapted to reflect current BSA policies and best practices for leadership development, and utilizes the best training techniques available.

Reflecting the best of nearly a century of Scouting experience, Wood Badge draws upon the most current leadership models used by corporate America, academic circles and successful organizations throughout the country.

I highly recommend taking Wood Badge and taking is earlier in your Scouting career, rather than later.
-Chas Clifton, Port Neches, TX

Wood Badge opened my eyes to the vast diversity within Scouting and how Scouting helps all people.
-Carson Holmes, Garland, TX

Through Wood Badge, my unit became more youth focused and youth led.
-Jim Grossman, Chesterfield, MO

Purpose of Wood Badge

The purpose of Wood Badge is to develop skilled leaders who can strengthen Scouting units in achieving the mission of the Boy Scouts of America.

When we accomplish the mission of Scouting, we do it in the units. Therefore, the short form of the purpose is, the purpose of Wood Badge is to strengthen units.

Although the course is different today, what Baden-Powell said in 1919 still applies:

One of the purposes of Wood Badge training is to get Scouters to think about the practice of Scouting, to meet together, to exchange experiences, and to live together in the spirit of the Scout Oath.

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2021- Spring Product Sale

Scouts of the Hawk Mountain Council so impressed the Whitley’s Peanut Factory in the fall of 2020 by being one of their top producing councils in the Country, that Whitley’s wants to help Hawk Mountain Scouts earn their way to camp this summer! 

Packs, Troops, and Labs are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to earn their way to camp by participating in the 2021 Spring Nut Sale. Units will earn up to 40% commission on their total unit sale.  Units and Scouts should participate in the sale to reduce or eliminate the cost of summer camp or other planned scouting trips for the summer of 2021.

A simple product line of five items creates a formula for success. Troops Salted Virginia Peanuts, Troops Honey Roasted Virginia Peanuts, Salted Jumbo Cashews, Whit’s Party Mix, and Peanut Brittle are the five delicious choices.

The spring sale will begin March 1. Orders will be due to the Council by April 1. The product will be ready for distribution by approximately April 12.  Please complete the Commitment Form and email it to joshua.potts@scouting.org. We will contact you when flyers are available for pick up at the Council Office.

Spring Sale Commitment Form

Order Flyer & List of Products 

Summer Camp Kickoff Information Sessions

 

The Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation 2021 Summer Camp season is just around the corner.

We are offering several different Zoom Opportunities for you to join us and learn more about the summer programs.

Scouts BSA (Camp Meade) Information Sessions

  • Thursday, 1/21/2021 @ 7:00 PM – Register using the form below
  • Thursday, 2/18/2021 @ 7:00 PM – Register using the form below

Cub Scout Camp (Camp DuPortail) Information Sessions

  • No additional sessions are scheduled at this time

If you have any questions please contact Michele Bement.

Virtual Scouting Hub

Face-to-face meetings may be on hold, but Scouting continues, and great ideas for units can be found here at the “Virtual Scouting” Hub.

 

211 is a free, confidential, non-emergency, 24-hour information and referral service that connects people in Berks County with local community resources and health and human services. Dial 211, visit pa211east.org/Berks or text your zip code to 898211.

 

 

 

New – STEM Scouting Activities

Learn new STEM skills with the new Limited Edition STEM Scouts Bridge Engineering Kit.

Learn More and Register

Activities for All Scouts

Cyber Chip: As Scouts do more and more activities online, the Cyber Chip moves to the top of the “must do” list. The Cyber Chip activities include developmentally appropriate online safety lessons and activities.

 

Emergency Preparedness Award: Activities are broken out for each Cub rank and each Scouting program, including Venturers, Sea Scouts, and adults! (That means adults can earn this, too!)

 


BSA Crime Prevention Award: Although the site explaining this award has not been updated for awhile, the award is still available to Scouts of all levels!

 

Cub Scout Resources

30-Day Challenge calendars for each Cub rank

Cub Scout Preview Adventure: Protect Yourself
Cub Scout Preview Adventure: Yo Yo

Cub Scouting Activity Videos

(NOTE: These videos were not created by Hawk Mountain Council, BSA or Boy Scouts of America)

Cub Scout Activities you can do from home

Scouts BSA Resources

Requirements for all merit badges can be accessed on Scouting.org!

Merit Badges you can start from home (Online Videos)

(NOTE: These videos were not created by Hawk Mountain Council, BSA or Boy Scouts of America)

Trail to 1st Class

Click the ranks below to access videos and instruction to help new Scouts learn and prepare for the challenges ahead over the coming weeks. We would like to thank Del-Ma-Va Council for allowing our Scouts to use this resource that they have created!

(NOTE: These videos were not created by Hawk Mountain Council, BSA)

STEM SCOUTING

Adult Resources and Training

Put down the streaming remote! Pick up your laptop or tablet…My.Scouting is always open! Adult Scouting volunteers and leaders can always find training modules online, including Youth Protection Training, position-specific modules, hazardous weather refreshers, safety afloat, and more!

Are you fully trained in your position? No? take this time to be fully trained.

You are fully trained? Then take this time to be cross trained!

Online Merit Badge Counselor Training

Are you an active leader in the Scouts BSA program who also serves as a Merit Badge Counselor? Have you wanted to become a new Merit Badge Counselor? All merit badge counselors are required to complete training for their position.

New Leaders

New leaders who are new to the Scouts BSA program and wish to serve as a merit badge counselor are asked to complete the online training at my.scouting.org which includes an introduction to Scouts BSA.

Experienced Leaders

Hawk Mountain Council recognizes that some leaders are very experienced with the operation of a Scouts BSA troop and also serve as merit badge counselors. We have prepared an online training that meets the national training requirements for Merit Badge Counselors for those who are already experienced and familiar with the Scouts BSA program. Complete this training by watching the video below and then reporting it to the training committee as directed at the conclusion of the video.

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).

Virtual Meeting Information

Video Conferencing is a great way to stay connected with your units! This Bryan on Scouting article has links to Webex, Zoom, and Google. It offers an example of a Troop to the east of us that is up and running with remote meetings using Webex.

Cyber-security – Zoom Safety Guidelines

 

ScoutShare

This website is a great resource for Scouting Leaders! This website is not a Hawk Mountain Council Website.

Silver Beaver Dinner and Celebration

The Silver Beaver Award is the Council level distinguished service award. It is awarded to volunteers who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. The 2020 Hawk Mountain Council Silver Beaver Award recipients are:

Jim Kohler – Frontier District

Walt Sheehan – Cacoosing District

Ed Stock – Council Executive Board

Terry Troutman – Black Rock District

The award ceremony was held in conjunction with our Gathering of Eagles Event.  It was prerecorded and went “live” on November 8, 2020 at 7:00 pm. To view the event on YouTube, click HERE.

Scouts BSA?

What is Scouts BSA

Scouts BSA is the traditional Scouting experience for youth in the fifth grade through high school. Service, community engagement and leadership development become increasingly important parts of the program as youth lead their own activities and work their way toward earning Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout.

 

Join Scouts BSA

Scouts BSA has a lot to offer, but don’t let the number of merit badges scare you away. With exposure to a uniquely hands-on learning experience and the opportunity to earn merit badges reflecting each Scout’s budding interests, youth unlock a world of discovery around them and forge a path for the future.

Find a Scouts BSA Unit

 

 

 

Camping at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation

The Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation is a 700-acre tract of land dedicated to offering Scouts the chance to experience the beauty of the outdoors. We serve over 2,000 Boy Scouts each summer. We are proud to be involved with the Forest Stewardship Program through the state of Pennsylvania.

Camping is the great outdoor adventure of Scouting. The most crucial element of camping is that each Scout should have the opportunity that the Boy Scout Handbook promises.

Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation offers long-term camping (6 nights) to Boy Scouts from the Hawk Mountain Council as well as other visiting Councils. Our Camp operates 7 weeks during the summer with 20 Campsites available to Troops. The Scouts sleep in platform tents on canvas cots. We offer a variety of programs, merit badges and, of course, a well-stocked Scout Shop.

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