The Guide Council Newsletter: August 14, 2025 Edition

Why Do We Offer Wood Badge?

To build stronger Scout units. Wood Badge strengthens your Scouting unit - your child’s unit - by empowering you and your leadership team with the skills, vision, and energy needed to lead more effectively and deliver a truly impactful program.

To have fun and reignite your passion. Just as our youth grow through fun, challenging, and life-changing adventures, Wood Badge gives you the chance to do the same. It’s your turn to discover, laugh, reflect, and rediscover the spark that brought you to Scouting.

To connect with others. Wood Badge brings you together with Scouters from across the region, forming a valuable network of like-minded leaders. The relationships you build here will inspire and support you long after the course ends.

To understand the “What” and “Why” of Scouting. You’ll gain deeper insight into the purpose behind Scouting’s programs and methods - understanding not just how we do things, but why they matter in shaping the next generation.

To gain lifelong skills and perspective. From communication and conflict resolution to servant leadership and team development, Wood Badge provides practical, real-world tools that stay with you - for Scouting and beyond.

To strengthen every group you lead. The lessons you take from Wood Badge will enrich not only your Scout unit, but also your workplace, your family, your faith community, and any team you serve.

Wood Badge is an immersive, hands-on leadership course that brings Scouting’s Aims and Methods to life through dynamic team development experiences in an active outdoor setting. Designed for adult leaders, it equips participants with the tools, insights, and confidence needed to deliver a high-quality program that empowers youth to grow into their full potential.

Partial scholarships are available to help offset the cost of the course. To learn more or to apply please contact Course Director Jess Medinger.

Registration for the 2025 popcorn sale is now live. As we did last year, kernel profiles from the previous sale were cleared, so everyone will need to make a new profile. They can use your same information as years past, you just need to select new user the first time around. Here are exact instructions with how to register:

Click on the button below.
Click “account log in”
Click “My account”
Click “create unit profile”
Enter Council Key” “635BLC”
Follow prompts to choose, district, unit type and number
Enter a username, password and all other information being requested
Click “submit”

Contact Kallee Kissling if you have any questions.

Certified Angling Instructor Training is now available! Are you searching for programs that will lead to member recruitment, reactivation, and retention? Then we think we have just the Scouting America Supplemental Training course for you! Like many things in Scouting, the Scouting America Certified Angling Instructor (CAI) training course is designed to be fun with a purpose!

What can Certified Angling Instructors do?

Teach the Scouting America Fishing Basics course.
Train and qualify Scouting America Angling Educators.
Serve on your Council’s Fishing Committee or Start one.
Be a subject matter expert for Fishing Derbies, Summer Camp, Merit Badge clinics, and fishing related advancement.

Course Highlights:

Become recognized as a Scouting America Certified Angling Instructor and receive an Official Train the Trainer Certification CS-61 and a CAI patch.
Learn basic fishing and fly-fishing skills including fly casting, fly tying, knots, and how to teach them. Receive the materials to assist you in delivering the program as well as online resource locations.
As a CAI you will have the opportunity to get fishing and fly-fishing equipment at greatly reduced rates for teaching Scouts.

Participants will:

Understand available resources for unit angler education program development to inspire member recruitment and retention.
Gain education and insight through active participation in dozens of Angling Education learning activities.

Activities include:

Age and Skill-Level based programs
Focused on the aims of Scouting America Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, Sea Scout, and Venturing programs.
Focus on the methods that include Outdoors, Angling and Conservation.

Who can attend:

All registered adult volunteers.
Youth, that are 15 years or older can participate and must have earned their Fishing & Fly-Fishing Merit Badges.
Open to both In-Council and Out-of-Council attendees.
No prior fishing experience is required.

6 Virtual Course Date Sessions from 6:00-8:00 PM:

(All 6 classes are required to receive your Certified Angling Instructor Certification)

Class 1: Wednesday, September 10 - Intro, Pack and Troop fishing programs
Class 2: Wednesday, September 17 - Fishing Tackle
Class 3: Wednesday, September 24 - Safety, Ethics, Fishery Management, and Knots
Class 4: Wednesday, October 1 - The nature of fish, Where to find fish, and Fishing Basics
Class 5: Wednesday, October 8 - Casting, Fishing, Cleaning and Cooking
Class 6: Wednesday, October 15 - Planning Fishing Events, Angling Educator, Special Offers, Deliver the Promise, and Graduation

Cost is $10. For questions, contact Course Director, Kathy Myszewski at pinkbuffalo4@gmail.com.

Mark your calendars! The 23rd annual Bay-Lakes Council Sporting Clay Shoot will be held on Friday, September 5th at Triple J Wing & Clay in Brillion, WI. Contact Kallee Kissling if you have any questions.

Tomorrow is the Last day to submit your Scouting Story and be entered for a chance to win 3 Packers Tickets!

At this year’s Golden Eagle event on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the Bay-Lakes Council will honor “Mentors of Scouting.” Scouts earn numerous merit badges, each steppingstone toward new skills and passions. We want to hear about a merit badge that sparked a lifelong career, interest, or hobby—and the mentor who made it unforgettable.

With your story submission, you will be entered into a Packers ticket drawing, which includes 3 tickets to Saturday, August 23 game vs the Seattle Seahawks. These amazing seats are located behind the Packers bench on the 30 yard line. Please submit your story by August 15. Winner will be notified after August 15.

If you currently serve or have served as a Merit Badge Counselor/Volunteer, or you are someone whose career path was impacted through the mentorship of a Merit Badge Counselor, we ask that you complete this form. If you have an impactful story taking a merit badge that was life changing or have a merit badge counselor who was inspiring, we'd love to hear your story and recognize it. A limited number of submissions will be selected and highlighted at the event.

Join us on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, in the Atrium of the Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field for the 2025 Golden Eagle Event. This unforgettable evening will feature promising excitement and entertainment for all attendees with special guest speaker Mark Murphy, Past President of the Green Bay Packers, and a live and silent auction.

Come be part of a heartwarming celebration “Honoring Scouting Mentors" volunteers and leaders within Bay-Lakes Council as we unite with corporate and community leaders to empower our young Scouts and future leaders. Your presence and support at this event will help us continue our vital mission and services for the youth in Eastern Wisconsin.

Please consider supporting us this year with a sponsorship, by attending as an individual or family, a donation to the event, or with an item to be used in the silent auction.

EVENT REGISTRATION & SPONSORSHIPS >

Register your unit to participate in our 37^th Annual Scouting for Food Drive October 11-18, 2025.

Scouting for Food has been a Scouting tradition in Bay-Lakes Council for 36 years. This important community service event makes a huge impact for those in need and instills in our Scouts to help other people at all times.

The need for food is in high demand, and we have found the food banks and pantries we partner with really do need our help. Scout units can participate in several different ways including distributing food collection bags in their communities the first weekend and collecting them on October 18, hosting a collection bin or drive at their chartered organization or school that week, or stationing at local grocery stores on the 18th. Collected donations always stay with local pantries.

There will be a unit coordinator training on Thursday, September 4^th at 7:00 PM on Zoom.

Scouting for Food Unit Coordinator Meeting

Time: Sep 4, 2025 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 839 8967 9275

Passcode: SFF2025

Now is the time to join Scouting America, as we deliver on Scouting’s “Good Turn” motto.

Have you been thinking about a Philmont Trek? Now is the time to sign up for the 2026 Bay Lakes Council Philmont Contingent!

What is it? Every year ,the council reserves a number of spots at Philmont. This means that your unit does not need to find a complete crew with adult leadership and hope to get assigned a crew in the yearly lottery. All you need is to sign up yourself, or yourself and a buddy or two, (with or without an adult leader). You will be assigned a crew with like-minded adventurers from around the council. An orientation meeting will be held in December for the entire contingent, and after that crews will hold monthly meetings to get to know each other, pick their itinerary, and prepare for the trek.

What is an itinerary? Philmont Scout Ranch covers 250,000 acres and it is impossible to see it all in one trip. Each crew chooses a specific itinerary that includes your route, campsites, and activities along the way. You will have a chance to explore the wonderful back country of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Cimarron, New Mexico. You will also have a chance to experience living history at the original lodges and homesteads on the property with staff in period dress. You will participate in Scouting activities beyond the confines of summer camp such as rock climbing in the mountains, horseback riding through meadows, blacksmithing before exploring a gold mine, or climbing high mountain peaks (up to 12,441 feet), and the list goes on.

When is it? The contingent will depart Saturday, July 11, 2026, to travel by coach bus, Amtrak train, and shuttle bus to base camp. You will spend 11 days and 10 nights at Philmont, then arrive back home on Saturday, July 25, 2026.

Who can go? The Council contingent is open to registered male and female youth and adults. Youth must be at least 14 years of age or 13 and have completed 8th grade by the time their trek begins.

How much does it cost? The contingent budget is $2,345 which includes all travel, the Philmont fee, and (2) contingent class B quick dry t-shirts. A $500 deposit will secure your spot in the contingent, with remaining payments to be made in October, December, February and April.

Why sign up now? Spaces are currently available, but you will want to sign up soon in order to secure your spot in contingent. All spots will be filled on a first come basis, but unused spots may have to be turned in for other Councils to use. Philmont is truly “Scouting Paradise” -- an adventure you will not want to miss.

To sign up, complete the registration and mail your $500 deposit to the Council Service Center (PO BOX 267, Appleton WI 54912) and the Council coordinator will be in touch with you with further details. Adult leaders, please pass this on to youth and parents in your unit. If you have any questions please contact Corey Davis or Jerry Dold.

As the old adage goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him or her drink! Now I’m not suggesting that our Scouters or our adults are like horses, although let’s face it, without horses we would have made little progress in this nation or around the world through history! Steady, dependable, sure-footed, willing to carry a burden or pull their weight, there are many attributes that might fit our dedicated and caring adult leadership. Still, Scouting has provided so many excellent resources and so many of our adults remain unaware of them. Isn’t it time that we all take a drink?