GivingTuesday2020

America needs Scouting Now, More than Ever

This year #GivingTuesday is December 1, and we’re asking you to rally with us to create maximum impact. This is your chance to help bring the values and mission of Scouting to even more families in 2021.

So, we’ve set a big goal: Raise enough money in a single day to bring the benefits of Scouting to 25 or more new families in 2021. We can’t meet this goal without you.

We’re asking Scouting investors to consider a gift of $100 or more. It costs the Hawk Mountain Council $200 per Scout or $16.66 per month, to deliver the program each year on #GivingTuesday. Our hope is to help provide Scouting to 25 families with an overall goal of $5,000

If you have the ability to support Scouting at this time, we have a couple of ways that you can give online.

1. Follow this #GivingTuesday link and make a one-time gift to support the delivery of the program.

Or,

2. Follow this Herbie Hawk Society link and make a monthly contribution.

Importantly #GivingTuesday relies on the limitless potential of social media. Help us rally the troops by sharing and tagging your posts with #GivingTuesday and #ScoutOn.

Make sure to ask your smartphone to set a reminder or paper your refrigerator with notes. Whatever works to remind you that #GivingTuesday is on December 1, 2020.

From all of us at Hawk Mountain Council, thank you for your support on #GivingTuesday, and every single day you help bring Scouting to more youth.

Thank you for the consideration of a gift at this time.

Yours in Scouting,

Jerry Blecker – Council President

Randy Weidner – Vice President of Finance

Spirit of Scouting Virtual Event

The 2020 Spirit of Scouting Virtual Event was held on November 17th via YouTube Live.

We were pleased to honor Pete and Santina Connors for their outstanding commitment to the community and reflecting the values of Scouting in their everyday lives.

This event has raised over $11,000 to support the Scouting programs of the Hawk Mountain Council.

If you would like to see the event please click the video below.

To support Scouting through our Spirit of Scouting please follow the link below or Text: hmcspirit to (844) 615-4269

Give Now

Thank you to our generous lead sponsors:

Gathering of Eagles and Silver Beaver Recognition Event

On November 8, the Hawk Mountain Council held its annual Gathering of Eagles and Silver Beaver Recognition Event. We recognized the 107 young men that have followed the Scouting path to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout in 2019 along with 4 Silver Beaver recipients.

Congratulations to all our Eagle Scouts and Silver Beavers!

This event was held virtually via YouTube and can be watched below.

A special thank you goes out to all our sponsors.

Look for information soon on the 2021 event.

“Virtual” Tent-In

Secure the Adventure – “Virtual” Tent-In

Goal Achieved

The Hawk Mountain Council’s first-ever “Virtual” Tent-In raised 104% of the $36,000 goal!

Congratulations to all of our “Tenters” for their outstanding work and making this event a success.

You can watch the entire event here.

We will keep the fundraising links open through the mid-part of next week if you would like to contribute.

Thank you to all who donated to Help Us Secure the Adventure in the Hawk Mountain Council!

Make an Online Contribution Make a Pledge

Virtual Tent-in Report – 11-6-2020

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Help Hawk Mountain Council, Secure the Adventure by participating in our “Virtual” Tent-in.

This unique event will lock you into a “Virtual” Tent where you will need to ask friends and family to help you get back on the Scouting Trail with a donation to the Hawk Mountain Council.

Hawk Mountain Council is a non-profit organization that relies heavily on the financial support from its Scouting community through Friends of Scouting (FOS), community special events, and from the revenues generated from our summer camp programs at HMSR. The Coronavirus pandemic severely impacted these programs.

We need your help to “Secure the Adventure” so that we can continue to offer a quality Scouting program to the youth in our community.

Giving our Scouts the opportunity to be involved with the adventures that Scouting provides, especially the outdoor activities our camp supports, is now more important than ever.

Commit to raising $250, $500, $750, or $1,000 by asking your friends, family, and other Scouters to Help Get You Out of the Tent.

See our Virtual Tent-In Flyer

Special Recognition Patches for Tent-In Participants (Limited Edition)

Backpacking Tent Level – $250
Two-man Tent Level – $500
Cabin Tent Level – $750
10-man Expedition Tent Level – $1,000

(patch levels are cumulative – earn all four by reaching the $1,000 level and beyond.) Each patch has a special border.

How does it work:

Sign up Today or Nominate a Friend – Click Here
Join us for our Kickoff on September 29 @6:30 pm
Set your Tent-in Goal and seek support from friends, family, and fellow Scouters
- You will get to set up your own fundraising page
Join the “Virtual” Tent-in via Zoom on Thursday, October 29 for one hour

What does the “Virtual” Tent-In Support?

HMSR Year-Round Operations
Virtual Merit Badge Delivery
Training & Support of over 170 Scouting Units
Program Support for over 6,500 youth annually

Support the “Virtual” Tent-In Today

Make an Online Contribution – Click Here
Make a Pledge (must be paid by 12/31/2020) – Click Here

Tent-In Participant Resouces

Virtual Tent-In - Zoom Background

Virtual Tent-In - Facebook Cover Photo

Virtual Tent-In Participant - Draft Email

Virtual Tent-In Kickoff Video

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

“Lava Lamp” – way to teach about different liquid densities with household materials
Cup Gliders
“Never Ending” Fountain
Foam Plate Gliders
Harmonica – “Air of the Wolf” Achievement
Balloon Rocket – “Air of the Wolf” Achievement
Armpit Fudge
Cub Scout Knots (many different ones, 40 minute video!)
Quick video to teach Cub Scouts the Scout Oath
“Akela’s Corner” – ~10 minute video that covers a few different aspects

(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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