Trail News of Note

Web site facelift!  Better navigation, cleaner look, updated Org Chart with email addresses and phone numbers -- check it out!  We are not done yet, but its a start.  If you have any suggestions, ideas or comments, please let us know!

Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Specific Training on Saturday, November 8th!  Part of the Training Continuum for Adult Leaders, this training is for all Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters and interested participants.

Chief Seattle Council will be holding a Friends of Scouting 2009 training class on Saturday, November 20th beginning at 7:00PM at the Council Resource Center. Each unit should plan on sending a representative. For more information contact our District Executive Miranda Otjen at motjen@seattlebsa.org 

Announcement at November 20th Roundtable of upcoming Scout Advancement Opportunity!  An Assistant Scoutmaster from Troop 573 in Woodinville belongs to the Lake Washington Ham Club (http://lakewashingtonhamclub.org) whose mission is to offer amateur radio instruction to children and their parents. Both of his boys have taken the class, and they love it. Their next class starts in Jan, and they would like to invite all scouts to attend. (This is a great way to get the radio merit badge, and there are advancement opportunities for cubs as well.)  A member of their club will stop by the November roundtable for a quick demo and announcement.

Klondike Challenge February 20-21!  Annually around the country, the BSA puts on it's own version the Klondike Challenge to put it's members to the test! Webelos, Boy Scouts, Varsity, Venturers - time to start dusting off your sled or build a new one because Klondike will soon be upon us. We have a new location! Ensign Ranch, the same place as Camporee, will host our Klondike this year. And a later date too - February 20-21. For more information and to register, Klondike also has it's own web site this year at http://klondike.sammamishtrails.org or contact the Klondike Director, Dale Rae, at Dale@dfrae.com.

Troop Committee Challenge: This training is a fun way to build your team, whether you are new or a seasoned Committee Member. We bring this valuable training to you!

Cub Scout Recruiting Ideas!  Fall Cub Scout recruiting is underway. Our goal to enable as many boys as possible to have the opportunity to join Scouting and gain experiences that last a lifetime. Follow the above link for a list of recruiting ideas.

WashJam 2009 -- it's coming August 20-23, 2009!  Got it on your calendar yet?  For only the second time in Washington State History, the Boy Scouts of America will host this all-state Jamboree. Co-sponsored by the Chief Seattle Council and Pacific Harbors Council, WashJam will attract youth and leaders from all over the Puget Sound region. Each will assemble at Fort Lewis Army Base, just south of Tacoma, Washington on August 20-23, 2009, for the most exciting Scouting event of the year. Check out the web site for more details and to sign up your unit!

Register Now for National Jamboree 2010!  The 100th birthday of Boy Scouts of America will be in 2010. To help celebrate, there will be National Scout Jamboree in Fort AP Hill, Virginia July 25th thru August 10th of the same year. Chief Seattle Council will be taking 5 troops. Scoutmasters have been selected and applications are now open for youth that may be interested in attending. Please select the above link that will bring up an information document on how to sign up or volunteer at the Jamboree.

Important Links

Sammamish Trails District Calendar at a glance.  Download this or print it out for a quick glance at the coming 18 months or so of District events.   For more up-to-date information, please consult the main calendar by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

District Publicity Request Form. This on-line form is used by the District Publicity Chair to coordinate putting articles in the local newspapers about Scouting events and service projects.  Just fill it out, submit it, and it is emailed directly to our Publicity Chair.

Where Units Meet.  We have some information on where units meet, including some web sites. This should help people looking for a unit to join.

Merit Badge Clinics for Boys Scouts are offered on the same Thursday nights as Roundtables and the second Saturday of each month.

The Heron News Flash is the monthly publication of the Sammamish Trails District.  For the current issue as well as back issues, go to the Newsletter page.

Sammamish Trails Popcorn Web Site! This site contains everything you need to manage your Popcorn orders.

District Awards and Recognition. As a volunteer driven organization, Boy Scouts of America strives to recognize its outstanding volunteers. At the link provided, you will find nominations forms for many awards, both for outstanding work at the unit level, and exemplary leadership at District level.  To recognize outstanding contributions at the unit level, consider nominating a volunteer for the Spark Plug award. Each level of scouting leadership is recognized through Cubmaster, Cub Leader, Scoutmaster, Scout Leader and Venturing awards. District involvement is recognized with the District Award of Merit or the Blue Heron awards. If you have any questions, please contact  tracey@boyerkenney.com or call 425-836-0709. Nominations are due February 12 and award recipients will be recognized at the April 16 District Volunteer Recognition Dinner.  Download the whole awards packet here.  Download list of past winners here.