The Guide Council Newsletter: December 19, 2024 Edition

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Appleton Scout Shop will be closed from December 23, 2024, to January 2, 2025.

The Bay-Lakes Council Service Center will be closed December 23–27, 2024, and will be open the week of December 30, 2024 – January 3, 2025, but will be closed January 1.

The Silver Beaver Award is given by the National Council, Boy Scouts of America upon recommendation of the local council to persons who have given outstanding service to youth over an extended period of time. The local council presents a limited number of Silver Beaver Awards each year, according to the number of registered units in the Council.

This award is bestowed upon only those persons who have given continued, unselfish and effective service to the community, usually through the programs of the Boy Scouts of America, but not limited to Scouting. Because individuals may not nominate themselves for this award, only those persons who have been nominated by their Scouting peers are considered. It is the intent of the Silver Beaver Committee to select the most deserving based on the applications submitted.

The Voyager District Winter Rendezvous with klondike derby will take place January 18, 2025, at Green Isle Park in Allouez. All districts and Scouts in fifth grade and older are warmly invited. Cost is $10 Scouts BSA youth / $5 adults / FREE for fifth grade Arrow of Lights. The first 100 persons registered will receive a commemorative event patch. Come and join us for a fun day of friendly Scouting Skills competitions! This year’s events will include a nature trek, orienteering course, fire building, and other surprise skills, so Be Prepared! We will have our traditional Stone Soup and cap off the day with the Klondike Derby Race!

Get your sleds and Troops ready for the 2025 Gathering Waters District Klondike Derby on 1/25/25 at Rock Ledge Park in Seymour, WI! Registration begins at 8:00 AM and the event will go until 3:30 PM. This year’s event will include competition in: fire building, orienteering, first aid, lashings, sledding, and team building skills! Get ready to compete to win the coveted traveling Fry Pan Award! There will also be an adult Dutch Oven Competition, cooking from 9:00 -11:30 AM, taste testing/judging will be at lunch time, time to win that Golden Spatula Award!

DETAILS ®GISTRATION >

Lakeshore District & the Beshkno Chapter of the OA invites all Troops, Crews, & Ships to join us for our Klondike Derby, on January 18, 2025, at Camp Rokilio. The theme this year is "The Lost Camp of Rokilio" think "Lost World" & "Jurassic Park" but in the snow with Scout skills! This is a unit event and cost $15 a person. Click the image above for more information & to register.

Is your unit looking for some exciting winter programing?

Bay-Lakes Council Camps has great options for you!

Polar Cubs:

Polar Cubs is a unique winter program for Cub Scouts and their families. Campers are grouped into “Super Dens” keeping those from the same Pack together. Super Dens rotate through various activities led by staff members. The program focuses on outdoor winter adventures with some indoor activities.

GARDNER DAM ADVENTURE BASE / Feb. 14-6 | Feb. 28-Mar.2

Campers have the option of a Friday night OR Saturday night stay or attend Saturday only. The overnight option includes indoor accommodations in one of our heated buildings, indoor showers and restrooms as well as meals prepared for you. The program will start Saturday about 9:00 AM and end around 4:00 PM. Lunch will be provided. Attending Friday overnight through Saturday, check-in will be about 7:00 PM and checkout on Saturday. Attending Saturday overnight, check-in on Saturday and check-out on Sunday around 9:00 AM. All meals are included if you stay overnight.

Arctic Adventure:

Arctic Adventure, a winter adventure program for Venturers and Scouts BSA with a variety of outdoor and indoor activities. The Okpik winter camping program is an option for Arctic Adventure participants. A virtual day of Okpik winter camping training is being planned and more information (date & zoom link) will be sent to registration contacts. Participants can practice Okpik winter camping skills during their winter camping adventure at Arctic Adventure!

GARDNER DAM ADVENTURE BASE / Feb. 7-9 | Feb. 21-23

Program Highlights:

Indoor lodging & dining
Snowshoeing
OKPIK winter camping option
Quinzhee / Winter Shelter Building
Snow Sculptures
Jerky making and dehydrating foods
Indoor bouldering wall
Snowshoe construction
Cross-country skiing
Downhill skiing on Saturday (day trip from Gardner Dam with additional cost | option based on interest)
Sew fleece items (neck gaiters & more)
Food & winter cooking
Winter activities and games
Ice fishing (option based on interest)
Hearty meals and trail snacks to keep you well-fed for winter activities
Board games, card games, movies
Optional overnight outdoor camping Sat. night

Participants are required to have BSA medical and consent form, part A&B, upon arrival in camp and are responsible for their personal clothing, bedding, and personal care items. Additional information with the suggested list of items to bring will be sent prior to the event and posted to this registration.

Estimated costs:

Arctic Adventure weekend | $55 base fee (includes lodging, food, standard program)

Arctic Adventure Saturday only participants $40

**Potential** downhill skiing option on Sat. with housing at Gardner Dam pending | additional cost to be determined.

For more information contact Mike Mailand at mike.mailand@konwapos.org or (920) 915-7901.

Hiawathaland Ice Climbing Adventure:

Join us for a weekend of adventure and experience a whole new way of climbing! Check out the frozen beauty of the Pictured Rocks area.

CAMP HIAWATHA Feb. 21-23

Scouts, BSA or Venturing Crew members who are 14+ and adults get a chance to experience Ice Climbing!

Lodging: heated cabins with 2 twin bunks (4 per cabin) in the snowshoe village.

Open to participants 14 and older. All participants must meet BSA height/weight guidelines. All attendees MUST be BSA currently registered youth or adults prior to arrival. 20-person limit for Ice Climbing per weekend. Waitlist available.

COST: $TBD per person. Includes lodging, food, transportation, all equipment, and guided training. Meals in camp will be served in Snowshoe Lodge. Saturday lunch will be on the ice wall. $40 per person if you come for the weekend, but do not ice climb. All Participants will receive the New Hiawatha Winter Adventures Patch!

ITEMS TO BRING: Sleeping Bag / Bedding / Pillow. Personal items for overnight stay. Warm hat/gloves/snow pants/jacket for spending the day outdoors.

PROGRAM:

• Friday: Check-In after 5:00 PM Eastern at Camp Hiawatha.

• Friday 9:00 PM: Cracker Barrel with presentation on Ice Climbing.

• Saturday - Load bus / training / gear up / travel to ice curtain / CLIMB!

• Sunday - Breakfast will be provided / departure by 10:00 AM.

If you have any questions, please contact Erick Kestila at erick.kestila@baylakescamps.org. You can also sign up for the weekend if you would like to stay at camp on the family side cabins and pay the non-climber rate for the weekend.

2025 Maple Syrup Season: Celebrate 20 years of Maple Syrup at Bear Paw Scout Camp.

Family, fun, and advancement opportunities this winter!

bearpawmaplesyrup.com

Maple Syrup Days Open House

Join us on Saturday, March 22 2025, and explore camp and participate in activities for families with Cub Scout aged children (5-11 years old). Events include a pancake toss, leather working, tree tapping, pudgie pie making, pinecone bird feeder construction, and more!

$15 Admission includes a Pancake & Sausage brunch with Bear Paw's very own maple syrup!

Maple Syrup Days

Maple Syrup Days will take place Saturday, March 29 and April 5, 2025. These single day programs are designed for Scout aged youth (6th grade and up).

The First Year program encompasses the maple syrup process from tree to table. From history, sap collection, evaporation, and bottling, Scouts participate in each activity in a “round-robin” style. The Advanced Program offers Merit Badges and in-depth sessions about syrup production.

Badges include Forestry, Entrepreneurship, Plant Science, and Engineering. Scouts returning to the program have options to learn more about maple sap collection, maple stand management, cooking with maple syrup, maple syrup confections, water chemistry, and syrup grading. The $30 admission includes breakfast, lunch, commemorative patch, and custom labeled 8 oz. bottle of Bear Paw Maple Syrup.

Is your unit looking to earn 2025 Bay-Lakes Council camp rental credits? Follow the link below and sign up by January 15, 2025, for your Family Friends of Scouting Presentation. Contact Kallee Kissling if you have any questions.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP >

Troop 2 and the community service they provide was recognized by Appleton Downtown Inc. The troop and Paul Shrode received their Volunteer of the Year award. A beautiful plaque is on display at the First United Methodist Church where they have met continuously since 1919.

Paul is also the winner of the Fox Cities Chamber Community Service Volunteer of the year award. rode, a Michigan native, moved to Appleton in 1982 to join the staff of Lawrence University, having served in administrative roles at four other colleges and universities. He served as Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Memorial Union for 25 years at Lawerence, where he helped start the college’s Volunteer Center, opened the first campus store, and supervised the campus pub, among many other things. He concluded his 47 year career at Fox Valley Technical College as Director of Outreach Programs.

In 1982, Shrode began service on the first Octoberfest planning committee in 1982, and has served on the committee in almost every role ever since. He is currently Octoberfest Committee Chair. In addition to Octoberfest, he has been involved with a multitude of other community organizations, including Boy Scouts, Appleton-Fox Cities Kiwanis Club, Appleton Education Foundation Board, Rotary Multicultural Center board, and many more.

He is married to his wife Stacy, and they have one son. When he isn’t busy with community projects, he is active with his church, where he cantors and sings with the choir. Paul also serves on the Bay-Lakes Council Executive board as Vice President of Membership.

Troops, Crews, and Ships, camp as units at the Bear Paw Scout Camp Spring Camporee! This is your chance to complete a merit badge or finish one that you started at summer camp or just come for a the fun! During registration, Scouts must register for specific programming from the activities being offered. This year will be a joint Star Wars themed camporee effort between Gathering Waters, Voyageur, and Twin Lakes Districts! May the 4^th be with you!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO >

Scouting’s flagship event is one-of-a-kind. It’s a gathering of tens of thousands of Scouts, leaders, and Jamboree Service Team members that showcases everything that is great about the Boy Scouts of America. Over the course of 10 summer days, once every four years, the Boy Scouts of America gathers together. Scouts and Scouters who attend will explore all kinds of adventures—stadium shows, pioneer village, Mount Jack hikes, adventure sports and more—in the heart of one of nature’s greatest playgrounds. With 10,000 acres at the Summit to explore, there’s no shortage of opportunities to build Scouting memories.

The 2026 National Jamboree will host approximately 20,000 Scouts BSA, Venturers, Sea Scouts, Explorers*, unit leaders, JST (Staff), and visitors. To attend the National Jamboree, a Scout must:

Be a currently registered member of Scouting America in a Scouts BSA troop, Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship:

If attending as a member of Scouts BSA, a Scout must be at least 12 years of age and no older than 17 years of age.
If attending as a member of a Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship, a Scout must be at least 13 years old and have completed the eighth grade or is age 14 and not yet 21 years of age.
To attend the National Jamboree as a contingent adult leader, an adult must: Be a currently registered member of Scouting America. No less than 21 years of age Note: Assistant Scoutmasters aged 18-20 are encouraged to register for JST (Staff) or register and participate as a member of a Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship.

Bay-Lakes Council will be forming a contingent of Scouts and Venturers to attend the 2026 Jamboree. The contingent is considering travel and touring options. Fees for council contingent members is not finalized and will depend on costs for travel and touring. It is estimated that the cost will be $2,750 to $2,950 for contingent members. Youth and adult leaders interested in joining the Bay-Lakes Council contingent as a participant or leader can use the link below to fill out an interest form. Those who complete the interest form will be invited to help decide our travel and touring options. We will keep you informed about Jamboree planning and let you know when local registration for the contingent is open. Registration and payments for contingent members (youth participants & adult contingent leaders) will be done through Bay-Lakes Council.

Those interested in serving as a member of the Jamboree Service Team (JST/staff), are encouraged to apply now. Go to Home - National Jamboree to learn more and to submit your application or contact us with questions.

Bay-Lakes Council Jamboree Contact: Mike Mailand / mike.mailand@konwapos.org

The approach of a New Year, a fond and heartfelt farewell to our friends in the Upper Peninsula as they transition to the Michigan Crossroads Council, and to those members of our Scouting family who are aging out or who have decided to place their energy elsewhere and opt out of Scouting, the crossing over of our Arrow of Light Scouts into troops, there are many ways in which we “turn the page” at this time of year. Just as when we read a good book and turn the page to a new chapter, we do so with the benefit of all we have learned, the impressions we have formed and the attachment we form through relationships in the story, in Scouting we turn the page filled with the skills we have learned, the friendships formed and the growth we have experienced. Yet as we turn that page, we look forward with great anticipation, filled with hope and even excitement for what will come next.