Westchester-Putnam Council, BSA - Algonquin District

Akela Campfire
Algonquin District will hold the 2008 Akela Campfire at Alpine Scout Reservation on May 17th and 18th. Cost will be $25 per person and includes evening dinner in the dining hall and breakfast. If your pack wants to cook individually, then please contact Sean Byrne SByrnebear.com or Paul Knudsvig Paulpdknudsvigaol.com As soon as possible.

The theme for the Akeka Campfire this year is to be American Cub Idol and each Pack must prepare a contestant/contestant to be a Cub Idol. Activities will help gear the cubs up for their finale. The District will provide a panel of judges for the "acts". Adults are encouraged to

Timing of the event will be as follows:
Friday May 16th
6:00 PM Camp roads and gates close to all traffic
6:00 PM – 12:00 volunteers arrive and setup camp for the weekend games

Saturday May 17th
7-11 Packs arrive and setup tents, bag lunch in campsite or buy from dining hall
11:45 Opening Ceremony in front of Dining Hall
12:00 Noon Shotgun Start for activities
12-5:00 Afternoon activities
5:00 PM Possible Catholic Mass
5:30-7:00 Dining Hall 2- seating’s. 5:30-6:15 and 6:15 – 7:00
7:15 PM Tiger Crossover at Campfire
7:45 PM Campfire Program
9:00 PM Back to sites
11:00 PM Lights out for all campers

Sunday May 18th
7:00 – 9:15 Breakfast at dining hall
9:30 – 2:00 Campsite cleanup and checkout

For more information please contact Sean Byrne via e-mail SByrnebear.com

Algonquin Akela Campfire Flyer and Registration Form [PDF, 168K]

Algonquin and Four Rivers District Camporee
Under a threatening sky, the fun loving Scouts of the Algonquin and Four Rivers Districts squared off to compete in International Games at the 2008 Camporee held at 5 Island Park (I still only count 3 islands) in New Rochelle on April 26, 2008. The morning’s games included a Biathlon (bike ride to BB Range and back), Cabor Toss, Stone Throw, Torch Carry, Drag Race (lash ‘em tight or lose your guy!), and a non-competitive astronomy station. After the lunch break we had the honor of hosting an OA Tap Out before the games resumed. The late afternoon/evening featured the Chef de Cuisine cooking competition, and the evening schedule included the wildly popular Manhunt!

Our thanks to the dedicated Scouters from the combined Algonquin and Four Rivers Activities Committee including Charlie DeChamps, Al Tozzi, Anthony Paterno (who else can get such focus from Scouts demonstrating astronomy during the DAY!), Bill Langham, Henry Doerr, Andy Maher, Donna Ragusa, Leo Marks, Brian Webster, Victor Lagama, Tony Blandi, Frank Russo (our Illustrated Man), Dave D’Lugin, Evan Feldman, and a host of others who stepped up to make it a memorable day for the boys.

A big OA cheer for Simon & Brad, who came in full Native American regalia for the Tap Out.

A big atta boy to the brave judges who put their GI tracts on the line to help with the Chef de Cuisine. Big thanks to Dave D'Lugin, Frank Russo, Fred Gervat, John Callahan, Roger Stewart, and (Mr. Toque himself!) Bill Langham.

We also thank our professional staff (Tiffany Deygoo, Roger Stewart, Bob Willett and Dan Conniff) who helped make this event possible.

Yours in Scouting,

Richard Schraudner
Algonquin District

Donna Ragusa
Four Rivers District

Rye Pack 2 Pinewood Derby
Pack 2 Rye enjoys an evening of competition and fun at their Pinewood Derby held on February 8, 2008. Congratulations to the winners and to all who participated in this event! Photos by Stefan Radtke

Unit Service is Provided by the District Commissioner Staff
Volunteers called Unit Commissioners provide direct coaching and consultation for unit adults to help ensure the success of every Scouting unit. The most important thing a commissioner does for a unit is to develop a close relationship with unit leaders to prove that somebody cares about him or her. This person is the connecting link between the Boy Scouts of America and the unit leader. This person does at least three things each month for each unit:

1. He or she visits a unit meeting or the unit committee meeting and stays long enough to give and take information about the unit program.

2. He or she phones each unit leader between unit meeting visits to see if help is needed.

3. The commissioner makes a thorough appraisal of each unit’s needs for successful operation and seeks out the resources of the district to meet those needs.

Additionally, the unit commissioner helps units prepare for charter renewal and leads them through the process and the Quality Unit application process.

Currently there are 12 people who are registered Commissioners in the district. If your unit needs some help or guidance, District Commissioner Tom Robb may be contacted and he will get one of these unit commissioners to help support you.

The District Committee Carries Out Four Functions of District Operations
The Algonquin District has a group of over 20 people assigned to carry out the following four operational functions to support the program of the units in the district. These are Membership, Finance, Program, and Unit Service. Each of these functions has sub committees that carry out tasks and activities designed to ensure the growth and success of Scouting units within the district territory. A quick summary of each function is:

Membership: The Membership function strives for growth through the organization of new Scouting units and growth through new members joining existing units.

Finance: The Finance function sees that the district provides its share of funds to the total council operating budget through the Friends of Scouting campaign.

Program: The Program function concentrates on helping Scouting units with camp promotion, special activities including community service, training adult volunteers, and youth advancement and recognition.

Unit Service: The Unit Service function provides direct support to each unit within the district.

Conservation Resource Guide
Conservation is a basic part of the BSA mission. Scouting embraces Leave No Trace, requires conservation-related activities for rank advancement, and encourages conservation service projects to the community. The new Conservation Resource Guide identifies Westchester-Putnam agencies engaged in nature and conservation activities. Organized by District, the Guide is intended to enable ‘one-stop’ access for any Westchester-Putnam Scouts and Scouters seeking sites for troop conservation projects, nature-related advancements, or outdoor activities (including William Hornaday Award, Leave No Trace Award, Boy Scout Rank Advancement Nature Requirements, and Eagle Service Projects).

Webelos to Scout Transition
It should be the goal of the Cubmaster and Webelos Leaders to graduate every Webelos Scout into a Boy Scout troop. The key to accomplishing this is to begin promoting Boy Scouting when Cub Scouts are still in their Tiger, Wolf and Bear dens, and to sell the sizzle of the great outdoors. Scouting should be viewed as an ongoing adventure, and the progression should be as normal as moving from elementary school to middle school.

Boy Scout troops should assign an Assistant Scoutmaster or a troop committee member to be responsible for new Scouts, which would include developing a relationship with the Cubmaster and the Webelos Leaders. This person serves as a resource during Webelos overnight activities and builds enthusiasm among boys and their parents for the exciting challenges that await them in Boy Scouting.

Training
Would you send your son to school on a bus whose driver was not trained? Would you feel comfortable knowing that your child's teacher wasn't trained? Of course not! Why don't we hold our Den Leaders, Cubmasters, and Scoutmasters to the same standard. While there are literally hundreds of possible training courses that you can take in Scouting, to be considered a TRAINED leader you must complete two courses, New Leader Essentials and the Specific training for your position.

Roundtables
The Algonquin District Roundtables are held the first Monday of the month at Sts. John and Paul RCC School, Weaver Street in Larchmont, 8:00 p.m. Each Pack and Troop is asked to have one or more leaders in attendance. Why?? Because the Roundtable is when the theme for the next month is going to be discussed, ideas exchanged, announcements made about future District and Council activities, leader training courses, and recruiting ideas for units. Adult leaders and parents are always welcome.

Commissioner Corps
The District Commissioner's staff meets the first Wednesday of the month at St. James the Less in Scarsdale at 8:00 p.m.

A unit commissioner is a friend to the Scout unit - troop, pack or crew - and provides information and assistance to the Unit Committee. Often, a unit commissioner is someone who was once involved in a unit, and now has time to share their experience with other Scouters in their communities. Commissioners provide many services to the units they serve. Their primary responsibility is to be the liaison between the unit and the district. They will occasionally attend committee meetings, and also attend unit meetings at other times. They will always make themselves available for ideas and will be a resource for help and guidance.

Communities in need of Commissioners:
Harrison
Pelham
Rye
West Harrison/Purchase

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