To Hell in a Handbasket

On Saturday, November 13 for the 24th consecutive year, the Hawk Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America will be collecting non-perishable food donations from homes across our area on Saturday, November 13. If you received a plastic bag with the Scouting for Food information printed last week, that means Scouts in your neighborhood are participating.

All you need to do is fill the bag with your donated food, leave it by your front door or mailbox by 9:30am on the morning of the 13th and the Scouts will pick it up!

Last year, the Boy Scouts collected 55,000 pounds of food for the Greater Berks Food Bank. Let’s help make this year’s food drive even more successful!

This past weekend I completed a 16-hour course to become a certified Trainer by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics headquartered in Boulder, CO.  It was a fantastic course that enhanced my understanding of the seven principals of Leave No Trace, and providing a wealth of knowledge to enable me to educate others on the practices and ways that we can ensure our outdoor activities are low impact to preserve our natural resources so those that follow can enjoy the same experience.

If anyone is interested in organizing an awareness session for Scouts, youth, or other organizations, please let me know.

The Boy Scout Trail has posted the requirements for the twelve new Cub Scout Belt Loops and Sports/Academic Pins on their website.

The new Sports loops and pins are:

• Hiking
• Skateboarding
• Kickball
• Horseback Riding

The new Academic loops and pins are:

• Video Games
• Reading and Writing
• Photography
• Pet Care
• Nutrition
• Good Manners
• Family Travel
• Disabilities Awareness

These requirements are also available in the 2010 edition of the Cub Scout Academics & Sports Program Guide.