And Registration is through:   www.myscouting.org (Events Reservation section)

Click Here for Philmont Fall Training Opportunities

I?ve also attached information on the 2009 National Outdoor Adventure Summit, which also takes place at Philmont. This event is scheduled for October 14 ? 18, 2009. It takes place every two years and alternates location between Philmont and the Florida Sea Base?so it won?t happen again until the fall of 2011. This, too, is a great opportunity for professionals and volunteers involved in camping, high adventure and property management.

Jamboree Site Selection

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES VIRGINIA SITE NO LONGER BEING CONSIDERED FOR NATIONAL SCOUTING CENTER

DALLAS - August 4, 2009 - The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has determined that its proposed site in Rockbridge County, Virginia, for the National Scouting Center, which includes the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, is being withdrawn from consideration due to the significant restrictions on land utilization. For the past few months, the BSA has been studying the challenges around land use and what would be needed to prepare the site to host a number of activities, including a national summer camp, quadrennial jamboree, and other programs. The site is currently owned by the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts.

"The Goshen site is a remarkable piece of property, and although we believe we can solve the technical issues to make it work, it's simply too restrictive from a land utilization perspective to do what we need to do for the amount of investment that would be required," said Jack Furst, national chairman and lead volunteer for the National Scouting Center.

"We said all along that we needed to study the issues, and we're appreciative of those in Rockbridge County who supported our efforts as we went through this process," he added.

In February, the BSA announced that after an extensive 18-month process, it had selected sites in Virginia and West Virginia to explore the vision of a National Scouting Center. This announcement allowed the BSA to proceed with investigation and negotiations in those states to explore the issue further. The plans called for a permanent home for the national jamboree in Goshen, Rockbridge County, Virginia, and the new high-adventure base in Fayette and Raleigh counties, West Virginia.

The organization recently signed an agreement to purchase 10,600 acres, some of it reclaimed mining property, near Beckley, West Virginia, and announced that it would develop a new high- adventure base to complement its existing three bases in Minnesota, New Mexico, and Florida. The BSA expects to close on the property later this fall.

"In light of our recent decision concerning the Goshen site, we'll be looking to see if the West Virginia property can support a jamboree, but we have a lot of work to do there before we can make that determination," Furst explained.

About the Boy Scouts of America

Serving nearly 3.5 million youth between the ages of 7 and 20, with more than 300 councils throughout the United States and its territories, the BSA is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The Scouting movement is composed of 1.2 million volunteers, whose dedication of time and resources has enabled the BSA to remain the nation's leading youth-service organization. For more information on the BSA, please visit www.scouting.org.

More information about 100 Years of Scouting can be found at www.scouting.org/100years

California Capitol March

The California Capitol March is kicking off Boy Scouts of America's Centennial Celebration. 10,000 scouts, scouters, families and friends will meet at Raley Field on Sat. October 24 and walk to the State Capitol to present to Governor Schwarzenegger a report on the state of scouting in California. After the presentation we will walk back to Raley Field for lunch, entertainment, games and many other surprises.

Members of twelve different Councils have signed up, from all parts of the state and we are looking forward to having many more join our March.

This is a great opportunityon a large scale to participate buy you will have to register soon. The Early Bird registration of $25.00 (includes lunch, neckerchief, patch, sponsor bag and more) goes up after August 15th to $30.00. Thereis also special sibling/family prices as well. For more information go to www.gec-bsa.org/program/capmarch

Voice of the West Newsletter

I'd like to introduce to you the Voice of the West.  This new quarterly publication from the WR-NJCOS is meant to be a quick read publication to help Scouting Professionals partner with their local Jewish communities in promoting Scouting opportunities and delivering a Religious Emblems program.  Please distribute to staff to help them gain insights about Jewish Scouting that will help them start new units, retain youth and deliver better programs. Click Here to View Newsletter

Ellen Marks
Western Region Chairman
National Jewish Committee on Scouting
Boy Scouts of America

Local Scouts in News

Scouts have fun in the sun - Kevin Trudgeon, Staff Writer

REDLANDS - Standing on the black asphalt parking lot of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Saturday afternoon, 9-year-old Luke Lopez could not have been happier. View Full Story 

STANTON & RIVERSIDE - Americanism Scout Invitational & Eagle Scout's Taps Draws Tears, Ovation View Full Story

Popcorn 2008 top ten sellers in our Council were: