Hawk Mountain Council, BSA

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2023 National Scout Jamboree

Only 3 openings remain for female Scouts BSA or Ventures!

While the Hawk Mountain Council currently does not have any openings for Male Scouts BSA or Ventures, please contact Brian Beddow at the Council Service Center to be placed on the waiting list or to attend with a neighboring Council.

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When the first National Scout Jamboree was held in Washington, DC in 1937, Dan Beard lit the opening campfire using flint and steel. Scouts from all 48 states brought the wood that was used in the campfire. Since that time, an additional 18 National Jamborees have been held and you have an opportunity to join the 19th National Scout Jamboree at the Boy Scouts of America’s world-class facility, the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia from July 19 through 28, 2023.

National Scout Jamborees are one of Scouting’s pinnacle events. Jamborees are an opportunity for more than 15,000 Scouts, Venturers, and Scouters, to come together for fellowship, high adventure, and an exciting once-in-a-lifetime program!. Hawk Mountain Council is planning to host two Troops totaling 72 youth and 8 adults, this includes both female and male participants and adult leaders. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!   The Council will continue to add additional troops and/or patrols based on demand.

Activities Include:

  • World-class zip lines
  • The third-largest shooting sports venue in the world
  • Large arena shows
  • 2nd largest skate park in the US
  • Kayaking & whitewater rafting
  • Rock climbing and rappelling
  • Mountain bikes, BMX, & ATVs

Scout Participant Qualifications:

  • MUST have a current BSA membership with a Scouts BSA troop at the time of Jamboree
  • MUST be at least a First Class Scout by the first day of the Jamboree (July 19, 2023)
  • MUST be at least 12 years of age by the first day of the Jamboree (July 19, 2023) and has not reached their 18th birthday by the last day of the Jamboree (July 28, 2023)
  • Be approved by their unit leader and local council
  • Available to participate in pre-Jamboree training experiences with council contingent
  • Complete a BSA Health & Medical record
  • Participants are responsible for their uniforms (two complete field/class A uniforms), personal gear (e.g., mess kit and sleeping bag), and spending money
  • All Troop gear such as cots, tents, stoves, troop pots/pans, tables, etc. will be provided by the Hawk Mountain Council or the Summit

Contingent Fee: $1,850 (until October 31, 2022) Participants must register in the National Jamboree system to receive this price!

Contingent Fee: $2,065 (Starting November 1, 2022) The National BSA is increasing their fee to attend NOT the Hawk Mountain Council.

Contingent Package Includes:

  • Jamboree training, team building weekend, and shakedown weekend events (includes meals and program supplies)
  • National Jamboree fee (all meals included)
  • Bus transportation to and from Reading, PA, and Summit Bechtel Reserve, WV (Jamboree location)
  • Hawk Mountain Council Jamboree Swag Bag (T-shirts, water bottle, backpack, Jamboree unit number patches, Jamboree patch sets, Jamboree hat)

Payment Schedule:

Non-refundable deposit $250 Due upon registration
2nd payment $500 June 1, 2022
3rd payment $500 October 31, 2022
Final payment $600 February 1, 2023

Monthly payment plans can be arranged upon request.

Adult participation:

The council has already selected the adults needed to support the Jamboree Contingent. If you have questions regarding adult leaders, please contact Jim Milham at the Scout office by calling 610-926-3406

For more information about the National Jamboree Staff, visit https://jamboree.scouting.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Read more…]

Citizenship in Society Merit Badge

Citizenship in Society Logo

Citizenship in Society is a new merit badge that will be required for the rank of Eagle Scout as of July 1, 2022. The emphasis of this merit badge for Scouts to explore ways to live the Scout Oath and Scout Law.  This merit badge is different; there will be no merit badge book and there is no “correct” answer for any of the requirements. Download the merit badge requirements and the merit badge workbook below. This parent letter gives background information about this new merit badge and who to contact if there are questions regarding the subject matter: Parent Letter Citizenship in Society 03.2022 Signed.

Download the merit badge requirements here: Citizenship in Society MB Requirements

and the merit badge workbook here: Citizenship in Society MB Guidebook. NOTE: This is not an official BSA document and is not required for any class but can be helpful in earning the merit badge.

Merit Badge Classes

Council Staff will offer a class on four Mondays: July 11, July 18, July 25, and August 15. Each session begins at 7:00 pm in the second floor conference room at the Council Office. Participants must attend all sessions to complete the merit badge and participation is limited to Scouts that are ages 15+ and/or Life rank.  For more information and to sign up, please CLICK HERE. Prerequisites for this class may be downloaded here: Citizenship in Society Prerequisites for Scouts

As more classes are scheduled, they will be posted 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

 

 

 

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 ideas on an outing?

Or maybe you just need some ideas of places to take your family for a vacation or a long weekend.

Take a peek through this list of 149 locations that are good for your unit (or family) to visit. The criteria being that it had to be in Pennsylvania, specifically the eastern portion of the state (using Harrisburg and State College as general guidelines), similar to WFMZ’s “One Tank Trips” feature.
The three lists below are the same, but are sorted differently: by the name of the location, by the county where the location is found, and by the general category that the location falls under. Feel free to download whichever you prefer. The location categories are located at the bottom of the page.

[Read more…]

STEM Scouts

STEM Scouts is a national pilot program from the Boy Scouts of America, focused on fun ways for girls and boys, grades 3 – 12, to learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Using hands-on activities, STEM Scouts also encourages young minds’ natural curiosity and helps build interest in the STEM-related careers that are crucial to our future economy.

The Hawk Mountain Council is home to 17 STEM Labs in Berks and Schuylkill Counties.

To learn more about STEM Scouts including where to find a Lab near you, Click Here.

Order of the Arrow

Order of the Arrow

The Order of the Arrow is a recognized official program activity of the Boy Scouts of America, intended to recognize those scouts who best exemplify the Scout virtues of cheerful service, camping, and leadership.

Founded in 1915 by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson at the Treasure Island Camp of the Philadelphia Council, just seven years after British General Sir Robert Baden-Powell invented scouting in the United Kingdom, the Order of the Arrow is the uniquely American “honor society of scouting”.

Kittatinny Lodge 5

Kittatinny Lodge 5, Order of the Arrow, is a service organization registered with Hawk Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America, in Reading, Pennsylvania and the surrounding area, serving Berks, Schuylkill, and a small portion of Carbon Counties. Kittatinny Lodge 5 also provides cheerful service to Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, the council’s camp.

Scouting’s National Honor Society

Purpose

The purpose of the Order of the Arrow is fourfold:

  1. To recognize those Scout campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives
  2. To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit
  3. To promote Scout camping
  4. To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others

History

History

The Order of the Arrow (OA) was founded by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson in 1915 at the Treasure Island Camp of the Philadelphia Council, Boy Scouts of America. It became an official program experiment in 1922 and was approved as part of the Scouting program in 1934.

In 1948 the OA, recognized as the BSA’s national brotherhood of honor campers, became an official part of the national camping program of the Boy Scouts of America.

Membership

The OA has more than 176,000 members located in lodges affiliated with approximately 327 BSA local councils.

Lodges

Each local Boy Scout council is encouraged to have an Order of the Arrow lodge. Each lodge is granted a charter from the National Council, BSA, upon annual application. The OA lodge helps the local council provide a quality Scouting program through recognition of Scouting spirit and performance, development of youth leadership and service, promotion of Scout camping and outdoor programs, and enhancement of membership tenure.

Sections

An Order of the Arrow section consists of lodges within a geographic area of the region. Once every year, representatives of lodges in the section come together for a conclave to share in fellowship, skills, and training. All of the elected section chiefs form the conference committee for a national Order of the Arrow event, which is held under the guidance of the national Order of the Arrow Committee.

Leadership

Region Leadership

The regional chief is the youth leader of the region elected by the section chiefs for a term of office specified by the national Order of the Arrow Committee, which coincides with the term of national chief and vice chief. This election is held in conjunction with called meetings of the section chiefs to elect the national chief and vice chief, as well as to plan a national Order of the Arrow event.

The regional Order of the Arrow chairman is an adult appointed by the regional director. The professional adviser for the region is a staff member assigned to the position by the region director.

National Leadership

The national chief and vice chief are Arrowmen selected by the section chiefs, who form the national Order of the Arrow conference committee. They serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, representing the youth on national OA policy. They also serve as the presiding officers for the national OA event. Their term of office is specified by the national committee. They are advised in their responsibilities by the national committee chairman and director of the Order of the Arrow.

The national OA committee chairman is appointed by the chairman of the national Boy Scout Committee. The professional adviser is the director of the Order of the Arrow, a member of the national Boy Scout Division staff.

Purpose and Mission

Purpose of the Order

To recognize those campers — Scouts and Scouters — who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives, and by such recognition cause other campers to conduct themselves in such manner as to warrant recognition.

To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit

To promote Scout camping, which reaches its greatest effectiveness as a part of the unit’s camping program, both year-round and in the summer camp, as directed by the camping committee of the council.

To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

Mission of the Lodge

The mission of the lodge is to achieve the purpose of the Order of the Arrow as an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America in the council through positive youth leadership under the guidance of selected capable adults.

Career Exploring

Exploring is learning for life’s career education program for young men and women who are at least 14 (and have completed 8th grade) and not yet 21 years old. Adults are selected by the participating organization for involvement in the program. Color, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, economic status, and citizenship are not criteria for participation.

[Read more…]

Venturing

What is Venturing

You love exploring your passions, making new friends, and discovering the world. You’re always looking for an adventure. Rappelling a cliff. Perfecting your shot. Designing a robot. Kayaking into the sunset. Exploring your faith. Volunteering at an animal shelter. The choice is yours! Each activity provides an opportunity to shine and learn more about yourself and the world around you. Venturing is youth-led and youth-inspired. You’ll acquire life skills and gain experiences that will prove to be valuable regardless of where your future takes you, all while having a blast: leadership, event-planning, organization, communication, responsibility – the list goes on!

Join Venturing

Venture Crews are located in neighborhoods across the two county area.

Find a Crew Near You

Learn More

You love exploring your passions, making new friends, and discovering the world. You’re always looking for an adventure. Rappelling a cliff. Perfecting your shot. Designing a robot. Kayaking into the sunset. Exploring your faith. Volunteering at an animal shelter. The choice is yours! Each activity provides an opportunity to shine and learn more about yourself and the world around you. Venturing is youth-led and youth-inspired. You’ll acquire life skills and gain experiences that will prove to be valuable regardless of where your future takes you, all while having a blast: leadership, event-planning, organization, communication, responsibility — the list goes on!

Learn More

Cub Scouting

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 selves. It’s fun, hands-on learning and achievement that puts kids in the middle of the action and prepares them for today – and for life.

 

Aims and Methods

Aims and Methods: The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

There are four aims of Scouting: citizenship, character, personal fitness, and leadership.

The methods of Cub Scouting are: living the ideals, belonging to a den, advancement, family involvement, activities, serving the community, and the uniform.

Click Here For more information on the Aims and Methods of Cub Scouting

Benefits

Benefits: Scouting works!

Over the past several years Scouting has partnered with colleges, universities, and foundations to study the impact of the program.

Learn More about the Benefits

Join Scouting

Join Scouting: Our youth grow up fast. Give your son or daughter a valuable gift by encouraging him to join Cub Scouting today. The time you invest in him today will make a difference in the person he becomes tomorrow.

Scouting in the Hawk Mountain Council is provided locally in neighborhoods across the two county area through churches, community organizations, or other groups of interested citizens. Please visit our Unit Search Tool to find Scouting near you.

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 […]

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 […]

Summer Camp 2023

Welcome to the Hawk Mountain Council Summer Camp Page We have a great summer lined up for you and hope you will join us at HMSR or at the Southern … [Read More...]

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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

  • Hawk Mountain Council Volunteer Disclosure
  • Scouting for Food Report Form
  • Scouting-for-Food-bulletin-insert.docx
  • Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation Map
  • National-Recruiting-Campaign-Kit-PowerPoint.pdf
  • Scout Leader Inspection Form
  • 2023 Camp Meade Key Scheduling Dates and Rate Schedule
  • HMSR BBQ Form

Other Forms >>

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The Latest News…

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