McKenna & Owen Host Eagle Scouts in Olympia
Twenty six Eagle Scouts from across the state gathered in Olympia for the annual Report to the State on February 8th and 9th. Scouts and parents enjoyed an opening banquet, co-hosted by Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen and Attorney General Rob McKenna. Both gave inspiring speeches that promise to resonate with these young men for years. On the following day the group of Eagle Scouts made a visit to the capital campus that included a tour, job shadows and a closing reception with McKenna. A unique and memorable event also coincided with our trip as a resolution honoring the BSA was passed by the Senate. This initiative was led by Senator Don Benton along with half a dozen other Senators and the Lt. Governor expressing their support by standing and addressing our Eagle Scouts seated in the gallery above. This was a truly wonderful experience for our Scouts. To view the Senate proceedings of Resolution SR 8620 being passed, click here. To view the Resolution, click here.

2011 Scouting for Food
The doorhangers have been distributed to units and the council is ready for another amazing year in Scouting for Food. We have again teamed with the Pacific Harbors council to help provide an excellent service to our food banks, and need your help to reach our goal. If you are a unit coordinator and need more doorhangers, be sure to contact your district coordinator to obtain some so your unit is prepared for the 19th! This year, all units participating will receive a Scouting for Food Ribbon as well as recognition in our monthly newsletter, the eTotem. If you do not know your district coordinator, plase click here for the council Scouting for Food page.

50th Eagle Scout Recognition Banquet
The Chief Seattle Council is celebrating it's 50th Eagle Scout Recognition Banquet on Wednesday, May 12, 2011. To honor the accomplishments of new Eagles (Class of 2010-2011) along with fellow Eagles, please join us at 6:30pm for dinner and program at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue.

These new Eagles will have the opportunity to attend the banquet for FREE – thanks to other Eagles and businesses that will serve as sponsors. Parents and guests will also get an opportunity to view the program over a seated three course dinner at a discounted price of $50/pp. Invitations have been mailed out to all new Eagles and their parents.

The night promises to be one that will be remembered forever and treasured by all. There will be mystery Keynote speakers to add to the excitement!

The council is calling out to all past Eagles from the area to join the celebrations and make it a Gathering of Eagles. If you would like to sponsor a new Eagle Scout over dinner or, as a past Eagle would like to attend the Eagle reception, please make reservations on the Eagle Banquet Website. Reservations are required in advance.

Scholarship Opportunities
All Eagle Scouts from the Chief Seattle Council in their junior and senior years in High School also have an opportunity to apply for four college scholarships varying from $3,000- $5,000. All complete applications need to be mailed into the Scout office by Tuesday, April 19, 2011. Click here for the application.

For any questions, please contact Keka Majumdar at 206-902-2329 or email at kmajumdar@seattlebsa.org.

Cub Scout Day Camp
Mark your calendars for a week of summer day camp fun as we celebrate "Cubs at Sea!" As always, we'll have great crafts, games, programs, and activities for all Cub Scouts. Day camp registration packets will be distributed through your district day camp director or district executive beginning in February. Early Bird registration ends May 18, 2011 and the cost is $70. You can attend any open session, in any district. Click here for the Day Camp flyer, or here to visit the Day Camp page on our website.

CAMP STAFF OPPORTUNITIES
Camp staff opportunities are available for Scouts and Venturers to work in our camp program for 2011. Positions include summer camp at Parsons, Pigott, and Brinkley. In addition, weekend positions are available for Camp Sheppard. Click here for an application.



PROVISIONAL CAMP
Do you have Scouts going to camp with their troop but want to go for a second week? Provisional Troop is the answer! Available at Camp Pigott and Camp Parsons – click here for more information.

Camp Updates
Camp Sheppard is experiencing a bustling 2011 season! Aside from a full camp nearly every weekend since December, there has been a variety of projects going on around camp, including: repainting an entire cabin interior, repainting the dining hall bathroom, installing a new toilet and faucet in the dining hall bathroom, rewiring a number of areas in camp, replacing fire extinguishers, building new target stands for archery, and routering a new camp entrance sign.

Upcoming projects in February and March will include replacing the campfire bowl backstop, replacing a parking lot light, adding several new sinks in the dining hall, replacing the formica in the dining hall, and replacing the fence around the dumpster. There is still a sizable list of projects around camp, so if you have a chance to make it up to Sheppard to help out, let us know. Our next work party is scheduled for April 9th and 10th. Contact Ranger Harrison Laird at hlaird@seattlebsa.org for more information.

Camp Brinkley is in the initial phase of a major renovation. Since the first of the year, the ranger house is 90% complete. We are also completing a remodel of the camp office to now include a leaders' lounge. A new parade field is planned for spring and a new hot water heater has been installed in the health lodge. The adult work party (first weekend of every month) is looking for additional adults to prepare camp for this summer. Contact Ranger Pat at campbrinkley@earthlink.net.

Camp Pigott is busy preparing for summer. Projects include additions to the campfire bowl, campsite development, the new OA longhouse, the chapel, a new swim beach tower, a remodel of the eco-con building, and new trails for mountain boarding. Also, the lake is now stocked with rainbow trout. Work parties are the 3rd week of each month. Contact Ranger Dave at camppigott@earthlink.net for more information.

Camp Parsons has been busy since the first of the year. Electrical repairs have been made to the health lodge, the back store room of the new SMG is almost complete, sailboats are being repaired, the new trading post is staked and ready for construction. The initial plans for the new dining hall are almost complete with permits to follow. The next work party is March 12th and 13th. Contact Ken at kenmcedwards@gmail.com for more information.

2011 NYLT Now Open
NYLT
Camp Pigott
July 11-26 (Mon.-Sat.)
August 15-20 (Mon.-Sat.)

The 2011 NYLT sessions are now open! The National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) Conference is like Wood Badge for youth. It's an exciting, action-packed program designed to provide youth members of the Boy Scouts of America with leadership skills and experiences they can use in their home troop or Venture crew and other situations demanding leadership of self and others.

CLICK HERE for more information on NYLT, to view the brochure and to watch the promotional video.

Climbing Instructor Training
If you have climbing and rappelling experience and your unit has an active climbing program, then Climbing Instructor Training is for you! This course will provide the opportunity to become a certified BSA climbing instructor, where you will learn safety, supervisory skills and BSA guidelines. For information and registration, click HERE.

C.O.P.E. Instructor Training
Project COPE is the BSA's premier program to develop creative, bold, self-aware leaders. This COPE Instructor Course will prepare you to facilitate safe, effective and fun COPE activities. Take this course to improve your own team leadership skills and to help deliver COPE training to Scouts and Venturers in the Chief Seattle Council. For information and registration, click HERE.

Aquila Marble Tournament