Serving: Briarcliff Manor, Buchanan, Chappaqua, Cold Spring, Continental Village, Cortlandt, Crompond, Croton, Crugers, Furnace Woods, Garrison, Jefferson Valley, Kitchawan, Millwood, Mohegan Lake, Montrose, North Highland, Nelsonville, Ossining, Peekskill, Phillipstown,  Putnam Valley, Scarborough, Shrub Oak, Toddville, Van Cortlandtville, Verplanck, Yorktown, and Yorktown Heights

Units on the Web Packs 28 Croton-on-Hudson 36 Montrose 45 Van Cortlandtville 49 Ossining 83 Ossining 103 Buchanan / Verplanck 118 Furnace Woods 134 Mohegan Lake 164 Yorktown Heights 165 Yorktown Heights 206 Chappaqua 251 Yorktown Heights Troops 1 Chappaqua 18 Briarcliff 28 Croton 38 Shrub Oak 41 Putnam Valley 45 Van Cortlandtville 49 Ossining 164 Yorktown 165 Yorktown Heights 173 Yorktown Heights 174 Yorktown 238 Shrub Oak 284 Peekskill 353 Putnam Valley 911 Yorktown Crews 1005 Yorktown Add a Unit

Webelos Klondike
February 6, 2010
9 am – 2 pm
FDR State Park

New This Year
*Design our patch contest (see attached)
Revised Scout Skill Stations
20% Early Registration Discount

The Webelos Klondike is an annual event held in order to bring Webelos and Boy Scouts together. It features stations run by Boy Scouts where the Webelos develop teamwork skills as well as individual Scout skills. It is a great opportunity to promote the Webelos to Scout transition.

Each den will need to bring:
Tour Permit - Klondike sled - Den Flag – First aid kit – Blanket – Tarp – 2 six ft. poles –Large garbage bag – one large container of hot cocoa mix – and 2 BSA registered adults*

Each Webelos will need:
Lunch – Reusable hot cup – Compass – 6 ft. piece of rope – Flint and steel set
If your Pack does not have a Klondike sled and is unable to build one; a Klondike sled may be borrowed from a local Troop. We would be happy to help locate one for your use.

* All registered adults participating MUST be Youth Protection trained. Hazardous Weather training is encouraged.

Pre-registration is encouraged and would be appreciated.
For any questions email 2010campoptonline.net or call Ian Yearwood at (914) 773-1135x238

Webelos Klondike Flyer, Registration Form  [PDF, 65K]
 

Council Key Leadership to conduct Fireside Chats in Districts
All Scouting volunteers are welcome to attend……

During the month of February and March the Westchester-Putnam Council Key Leadership (Key 4) consisting of Sheriff Don Smith, Council President, John Callahan, Council Commissioner, Dave Walsh, Council Executive Vice-President and Marc Andreo, Council Scout Executive will be conducting Fireside Chats at each Districts Roundtable.

These Fireside Chats (as they are being called) are a great way for the Westchester-Putnam Council to hear from you our valued volunteers on how things are going in Scouting, and how we as a Council may be able to assist you in your efforts to serve young people. It will also be an opportunity for the Council Key 4 to share with you the future of Scouting in our two Counties and what new and exciting services are planned.

While a part of the agenda will be hearing about the programs and services offered by the Westchester-Putnman Council, the bulk of the evening will be set aside to listen and address your thoughts and concerns regarding Scouting.

This is a great opportunity to get informed about Scouting in our area and we hope that you will take advantage of this most valuable evening. You may attend any one of the following dates. No reservations are needed. We hope to see you there.

Calendar of planned Fireside Chats

Algonquin District
Date- Monday, March 1, 2010
Place- St. John & Paul School – 280 Weaver St. – Larchmont, NY
Time- 8:00PM

Manitoga District
Date- Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Place- Van Cortlandtville Elementary School – 3100 East Main St. Mohegan Lake, NY
Time- 7:30PM

Mohican District
Date- Thursday, March 4, 2010
Place- Council Service Center – 41 Saw Mill River Rd. Hawthorne, NY
Time- 7:30PM

Troop 273 Yorktown Eagle Scouts
On Thanksgiving weekend, four brothers reunited to celebrate a shared achievement. Jason and John Davin of St. Patrick’s Troop 173 of Yorktown were awarded the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in Boy Scouts. The masters of ceremonies for their Eagle Court of Honor were their older brothers and Eagle Scouts, Joseph and James Davin. Special guests in attendance at the ceremony were: Senator Vincent Leibell, Westchester County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, Assemblyman Greg Ball, and Yorktown Police Chief Daniel McMahon. Their fellow scouts, leaders, friends, and family also joined in the celebration.

To attain the Eagle rank, Jason coordinated a service project that entailed refurbishing the gardens at the St. Patrick’s Stone Church in Yorktown Heights. There were 21 gardens, which were cleared, weeded, and mulched. Donated shrubs and trees were planted with the help of his fellow scouts and families for a total of 200 service hours. Jason has earned 45 merit badges, a bronze palm, and held many leadership positions in the Troop, including his present role of Senior Patrol Leader. He is also a Brotherhood member in the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s national honor society. As a junior at Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers, Jason consistently excels in his coursework and was recently inducted into the National Honor Society. Jason is also active in soccer, winter and spring track, lighting and stage crew for Kennedy and HOPE productions.

For his Eagle project, John coordinated the refurbishment of and landscape improvements to the grounds of the Yorktown Police Headquarters and Justice Court. Over 300 hours were completed by fellow scouts and leaders doing litter removal, weeding, mulching and landscaping. John has earned 30 merit badges and is a brotherhood member in the Order of the Arrow. As a freshman at Kennedy, John is also an honors student. He is not only active in soccer and track but also likes to build sets on stage crew with his brother.

Jason and John Davin were awarded the Eagle Scout rank at an Eagle Court of Honor hosted by their parents, Richard and Rosemary, and brothers, James, a second-class midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy and Joseph, a second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Cub Scout Leader Basic Training
2009 - 2010
Cub Scout Leader Basic Training has been changed significantly for 2009 and beyond. The new basic training for Cub Scout Leaders now consists of five short courses: three are available online and two classroom sessions.

The three online courses can be accessed through My Scouting at: https://myscouting.scouting.org/_layouts/MyScouting/login.aspx. Follow the instructions to establish an account and begin your training with these three online courses:
• Fast Start for your position
• Youth Protection
• This is Scouting (this course is the revised New Leader Essentials course)

The following two classroom courses are required as part of the Basic Training process:
• Part 1 consists of two 45 minutes sessions: Introduction to Cub Scouting and How We have Fun
• Part 2 consists of one 90 minute session on Cub Scout Leader Position Specifics - Training relevant to your position (Tiger Cub Den Leader, Wolf or Bear Den Leader or Assistant, Webelos Den Leader or Assistant, Cubmaster or Assistant, Committee Chairman/Member of Committee, Pack Trainer)

IF YOU ARE ALREADY TRAINED BUT HAVE ACCEPTED ANOTHER POSITION:
You need to be trained for the position designated by the patch on your uniform. If you have taken the above training or previous Cub Scout Leader Basic Training courses, you only need to attend the Cub Scout Leader Position Specifics course for you new position.

Cub Scout Training Schedule  [PDF, 43K]
 

Troop 174 Yorktown Heights Visits U.S.S. New York
Members of Manitoga District's Troop 174 Yorktown were on the road this Veterans Day with a trip to the newly commissioned USS NEW YORK, the Navy's newest warship. Our Scouts paid tribute to the soldiers manning the vessel and all those who have ever served in our Armed Forces. The Ship itself is a memorial to the memory of those killed in the destruction of the World Trade Center, as 7.5 tons of steel from those structures were incorporated into the USS New York. Special thanks to the personnel of the Navy and Marines that interacted with visitors to the ship and provided security while we were there.

Two Scouts Awarded Eagle Scout Rank
On Sunday, June 7, 2009, James Patrick Pryor and Andrew Joseph Trovato were awarded their Eagle Scout badges and medals at a Court of Honor held at St. Patrick’s Parish Center, in Yorktown Heights, NY. Both young men are part of Boy Scout Troup 173, which is sponsored by St. Patrick’s Church.
James, a Cortlandt resident, is a 2009 graduate of Walter Panas High School. He plans on attending Westchester Community College in the fall and transferring to SUNY Delhi following his freshman year. His Eagle Scout project was refurbishing a neglected area at Chase Memorial Cemetery, in Cortlandt Manor. He currently is registered as an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 173.

Andrew, a Somers resident, recently completed his junior year at Fordham Preparatory School located in the Bronx, NY. Andrew is a lector at St. Patrick’s Church and will spend one week this summer in Tennessee working with Habitat for Humanity, building a home. His Eagle Scout project involved beautification and erosion control of the entrance walk to St. Patrick’s School in Yorktown. He currently is the troop’s Senior Patrol Leader.

The Court of Honor was attended by Scouts, parents and friends of Troop 173, as well as by a number of local dignitaries who recognized the accomplishments of these two Eagle Scouts.

According to information from the Boy Scouts of America, to earn the Eagle Scout rank, the highest advancement rank in Scouting, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. The organization reports that less than five percent of all Scouts in the U.S. reach Eagle Scout rank.
Candidates for Eagle Scout must meet several requirements. Scouts must earn 21 merit badges, including 12 that are required such as camping, citizenship, first aid, emergency preparedness and fitness. Candidates must also serve in a Troop leadership position, plan, develop and carry out a worthy service project, and appear before a board of review. An Eagle Scout assumes the solemn obligation to bear a duty to God, country, fellow Scouts and mankind in general.

About Troop 173
Troop 173 is chartered by St. Patrick’s Church, Yorktown Heights, NY. The Troop meets Monday evenings at 7:30pm at the lower stone church meeting hall. For more information on our Troop, please visit our website at www.troop173-yorktown.org.

Roundtables, District Commissioners, and District Committee Meetings
Manitoga Roundtable meets on the first Tuesday of each month that school is in session at Van Cortlandtville Elementary School in Mohegan Lake. The school driveway is called Constitution Drive and it is opposite the middle entrance to the Cortlandt Town Center shopping center on Route 6 between Peekskill and "downtown" Mohegan Lake. (There are 3 entrances to the shopping center, each controlled by a traffic light. For map orientation, the westerly entrance is opposite Westbrook Drive.) The school sits on the north side of Route 6, on a hill with its long side facing the road. As you face the front (Route 6 side) of the building, you enter the property at the westerly end of the building. Drive east through the main parking area, and park up the hill near the easterly side of the building. We start at 7:30pm and must finish before 10pm. We meet in a room near the middle of the right (easterly) side of the building. Cub Scout and Boy Scout Roundtables meet in adjacent rooms.

The District Commissioners meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Holy Name of Mary Church at 110 Grand street Croton, NY. For more information or questions regarding the Commissioners meeting contact Al Pucci.

The District Committee meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm at the Van Cortlandtville Elementary School, Route 6 in Mohegan Lake, NY. For more information or questions regarding the Committee meeting contact Bob Tendy, bobtendygmail.com, (845) 526 2121.

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).

Manitoga District Unit Service
Have you ever wondered who to call with Unit operation questions, or where to get resources? In addition to the professional staff of the Council, the District has a group of uniformed commissioned volunteers who are commissioned and dedicated to serve the needs of the Units that they are assigned. Ideally there is one Unit Commissioner for every 2-3 Packs, Troops, or Venturing Crews.

The Manitoga District Commissioner, Ernie Wieting, has recruited several volunteers to be Unit Commissioners. These people are to be friends and counselors of Unit Leaders. They are effective communicators, providing the resources of the District and Council to the Units they serve. Another description of Unit Commissioners is that they are Scoutings bridge to the Unit and the Chartering Organization. Specifically, the Unit Commissioners are to:
• Maintain a close liaison with the Chartering Organization of the Unit.
• Work to assure effective and active Unit Committees.
• Facilitate the on time annual charter renewal.
• Help the Unit Committee with the selection and recruitment of Unit Leaders as needed
(although the actual appointment is approved by the Chartering Organization.)
• See that Unit leadership gets adequate training.
• Cultivate and maintain the best possible ongoing relationship with the Unit Leader.

Listed below are people serving as Unit Commissioners in the Manitoga District and which
Units they have been assigned to serve. For additional information about the Manitoga District Commissioner staff, or to recommend a person for the staff, please call Ernie Weiting.

Unit Commissioners: Unit(s) assigned (P=Pack, T=Troop, C=Venturing Crew)
Adolphus Bobo: P/T28 Croton, P/T36 Montrose, P/T49 Ossining
Howard Davidson: P53 Putnam Valley, T284 Peekskill
Peter Harmon: T 1 Peekskill
Rick Kast: P238, T238
Joseph Lalak: P6 Briarcliff, T18 Briarcliff, Po 2089 Croton, C 2470 Ossining, C2051Briarcliff
Jean Line: P127 Peekskill
Margaret Lipscomb: P45 Van Cortlandtville, Crew 1005 Yorktown
Laura Trusler: Unassigned
Wayne Gable: Unassigned

Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat Training Online
Online Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat Training - Each segment of training is done separately and will take 10-15 minutes. At the end of the training you will be asked to input your name, unit number, and BSA council. After a few minutes the screen will show a completed "training card" for you to print -- keep a copy for your records, and send one copy to your unit and a copy to the council office in order to update your training files.

For over three quarters of a century, the Boy Scouts of America has worked to develop the character, citizenship, and personal fitness of America's youth - and to do it safely! As a major youth serving organization, the Boy Scouts of America has a unique opportunity to help protect the youth of our nation while participating in aquatic activities.

Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat Training is required to be updated every two years.

NOTE: This course uses Flash Player version 6 or better. When you begin the course the program should check your system to ensure it has the proper Flash Player installed and provide directions if it is not. However, you may wish to go ahead and download and install the latest update prior to starting the course.

www.scouting.org/pubs/aquatics

Scouts Need your Help
Manitoga District has opportunities on the following committees

• Activities & Civic Service Committee
• Advancement & Recognition Committee
• Camp Promotion & Outdoor Committee
• Finance Committee
• Leadership Training Committee
• Membership Committee

Cub Advancement Reminder
The first rank a boy earns in Cub Scouting, if he joins as a first grader, is the Tiger rank. He then must earn the Bobcat badge before starting the Wolf book. If a boy joins in the second, third, fourth, or fifth grade, he must earn the Bobcat badge before starting the appropriate book for his grade level. Bobcat is considered a rank advancement. Therefore remember to report it on your Pack advancement report, when the badges are purchased at the Scout Shop. Please remember, every second, third, fourth, or fifth grader who joins a Pack should earn their Bobcat within the first month of joining the Pack.

The Commissioner Concept
In 1911 the local Council Commissioner, called the "Scout Commissioner," was "the ranking scout master of the local council and preside[d] at all scout masters' meetings as well as at all scout field meets. It [was] also the duty of the scout commissioner to report to and advise with the Chief Scout concerning the scouts in the district." [From The Official Handbook for Boys, Boy Scouts of America, page 11 (1911)]

Not much has changed in 90+ years. Today, the Commissioner is the liaison between the local Council and the Scouting Units. The Commissioner's mission is to help Unit leaders to keep Units operating at maximum efficiency. The Commissioner is successful when Units effectively deliver the ideals of Scouting.

Unit Commissioners are assigned to one or more Units, but they are not alone. They work hand-in-hand with the District Commissioner, Assistant District Commissioners and the Roundtable Commissioners to help Units provide the best possible Scouting program, which ultimately helps assure that individual Scouts have the best opportunity of developing good character traits, participating citizenship skills, and personal fitness.

From its inception, the Commissioner Staff has been dedicated to Unit service as a friend and partner in Scouting, with a single objective - the welfare of the Troop, Pack or Crew.

We have made good progress in expanding the Commissioner Service in our District, but there are still many opportunities available for service to Scouting. Working with our Units "where the rubber meets the road" is a great way for adult volunteers to play a key role in "delivering the promise" of Scouting to the youth of our community. 

The Commissioners meet the second Tuesday of the month at Mildred Strang Jr. HS Library at 8 p.m.

If you would like to be a part of the Commissioner Service, or know of any prospects who might like to serve, please pass along contact information to Ernie Wieting, Manitoga District Commissioner.

New BSA Troop Open-House Plan 
Many Boy Scout Leaders have expressed that they are worried about the dwindling number of boys in their Troop. We have some new materials to support the Troop Open-House plan to recruit Boy Scouts. We all know that it can be difficult to recruit older boys, but it is not impossible. There are many ways to present Scouting to this age group, and if we work together, we can make sure to continue to offer the promise to all youth who are interested, as well as preserve the life of our Troops. 

Great Program
One of the ways to make sure your Scouts receive a good program is to become trained. The Westchester-Putnam Council offers several training opportunities. Information is available at the Council Office and Roundtables or here. 

Every boy deserves trained leaders. All leaders should be trained for the position they currently hold. 

• Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)
• Cub Scout Leader Basic Training
• Cub Leader Supplemental Training
• Cub Scout Leader Roundtable
• Cub Scout Leader PowWow
• Den Chief Conference
• Fast Start Training
• Leadership Development Conference
• Scouter Wood Badge
• Webelos Leader Outdoor Training

Manitoga District Units