Buckskin Council and Tri-State Area Council will conduct a combined course for 2010.  The course begins May 21, 7:30 a.m. to May 23, 5:00 p.m. and June 4, 7:30 a.m. to June 6, 5:00 p.m. at Camp Chief Logan, near Chapmanville, West Virginia.  The Course Director is Mark Linville.  For more information on the course and to register download the attached brochure or call Buckskin Council at 304-340-3663.

Wood Badge for the 21st Century

Annual Health and Medical Form

Everyone loves a parade!!

Come on down in July 2010 and be part of the Grand Centennial Parade of the Boy Scouts of America. 

The Tri-State Area Council has been invited to send a marching unit of 21 Scouts to particiate in the July 25, 2010 Grand Centennial Parade.  The marching elements will begin assembling by 11:00 am. Participants will need to plan to be in Washington, DC by 10:00 a.m.  The parade will begin on Constitution Avenue in the heart of our Nation’s Capital, from 7th Street NW to 17th Street NW, past many prominent and historic monuments and the White House. This is the first BSA parade to be held on Constitution Avenue since the 1937 National Jamboree.

If your Unit, Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Venture Cew, are planning to visit the Nation's Capital around July 25 and are interested in particiating in the Grand Centennial Parade of the Boy Scouts of America, please contact Rick Loudin at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 304-523-3408 ext. 109 as soon as possible.   More details in the attached article.

Grand Centennial Parade  

Looking for a way to raise money for summer camp?  The Council kicked off "Nuts" for Scouting fundraiser on Thursday, February 11 at each District Roundtable.  Crews, Packs and Troops can pick up a packet with order forms, and information on the sale dates from your District Executive.  Additional order form can be downloaded from the link below. 

Each Unit will receive 40% from the total Unit sale.  The Scout who sells 17 items will receive a "Nuts" for Scouting patch plus have their name placed in a drawing for a "Wii Game System".  For each page of 17 items sold, the Scout will have their name added to the drawing for the "Wii Game System."  The name of the winner will be drawn by the Executive Committee.

Nuts for Scouting 2010

The Tri-State Area Council serves the youth in 11 counties, they are; Kentucky - Boyd, Lawrence, Carter and a small part of Greenup, Ohio - Lawrence, Gallia and Meigs, West Virginia - Mason, Cabell, Lincoln and Wayne counties.

The Tri-State Area Council has three camping facilities for Scouting units and the community to enjoy, they are; Kentucky - Camp Cherokee, located at Yatesville Lake State Park, Louisa, Ohio - Camp Kiashuta, located in Chester, and West Virginia - Council camp, Camp Arrowhead, located in Ona.  Camping reservation can be made through the Council Office, 304-523-3408. 

University of Scouting is training for all Cub Scout leaders, Boy Scout leaders, Venture leaders and Boy Scout Den Chiefs.  Training courses will teach basic leadership procedures for each program level.  Boy Scout Den Chiefs, First Class and up, will learn the leadership skills needed to work with Cub Scouts and Webelos to complete the requirements for the Den Chief Service Award. 

National Youth Leadership Training - NYLT simulates a month in the life of a troop.  It is a six-day course that reinforces and expands upon Be-Know-Do leadership.  Scouts learn a number of leadership skills and concepts.  They learn about the stages of team development and how to match the most appropriate leadership style with the developmental stage of the individual or team.  The course has many challenges for the youths, including its culmination where they undergo a quest for the meaning of leadership, which they then present to the entire NYLT troop.

Check out the first digital edition of Scouting magazine!  It's available on http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/.  Click on the image of the magazine cover to start reading.

Digital Scouting is also available from MyScouting.org by clicking on same cover image.  The digital edition is a work in progress designed to make Scouting magazine an even more useful tool for our members.  Watch for improvements such as embedded video and links to forums, blogs, and podcasts.  Be prepared.  If you don't have a MyScouting login, create one today!

Power of Scouting in Haitian Relief Efforts

The news coming out of Haiti is very grave.  So many citizens are missing or are in need of immediate care.  "Our hearts and prayers go out to those suffering at this very diffcult time," said BSA International Commissioner Jim Turley.

There is one small beacon of hope.  World Scouting has been in contact with a member of the Scouts and Guides of France who happened to be in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, during this horrific earthquake.  "This Scouter reports that our brother and sister Scouts are helping in the relief effort.  No one should ever underestimate the power of Scouting!  'Be Prepared' are not just words on a piece of paper.  Rather, they are a call to action," explained Turley.

Agencies trained in disaster relief are already on the ground in Haiti.  Additionally, the U.S. is sending military troops and supplies to further assist rescue and relief efforts.  But there are still a number of ways members of the BSA can help in Haiti.  The biggest need right now is financial resources to purchase emergency supplies; later it will be to help rebuild once the emergency of the coming days has passed.

The most efficient way to meet immediate needs is through your local American Red Cross Chapter.  The BSA has a long-standing relationship with the American Red Cross and has every bit of faith that monetary donations will be put to use in the most effective way.

Also the World Organization of the Scout Movement is accepting donations to meet immediate needs.  BSA members may visit their Web site at: http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/news/2010/solidarity_with_haiti

For rebuilding projects, our members are encouraged to make contributions to the BSA's World Friendship Fund.  All monies collected here will be set aside for future projects requested by the Scout Association of Haiti.  To conduct a local fund raising program, contact your local council for World Friendship Fund brochures (No. 130159), posters (No.22609), coffee can labels (No.22620), and DVDs (No. 22611).

Roger Schrimp, chairman of the BSA's International Committee, adds, "At the end of the day, it does not matter how big or small an individual's contribution is.  We all give what we can afford.  That's what we do in Scouting.  These are our friends, our fellow Scouts.  They need our help.  'On my honor, I will do my best' is a pledge that each of us has taken as a Scout."

In celebration of the Boy Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary, the BSA and licensee DK Publishing will produce a new photo book to document Scouting as it exists today.  This book, Boy Scouts of America:  Today, is scheduled to be released in October 2010 and will incorporate both professional and amateur photographs of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers engaged in activities that represent the 12 points of the Scout Law.

A couple a weeks ago I had the opportunity to speak to a group of volunteers and parents around a campfire.  I find out the most interesting things doing this and also find out some of our problems we need to work on.

What is Friends of Scouting and why is it so important to contribute to the annual Friends of Scouting Campaign?  Two great questions! Friends of Scouting (FOS) is the annual giving campaign of the Tri-State Area Council, BSA, which provides the necessary funds to ensure a quality Scouting program for youth. More specifically, by supporting FOS, you help us keep:

Each District was given information on the upcoming 2009 – 2010 year in programming such as Family Camp, Cub and Boy Scout Resident Camps, Scouting of Food, and many other exciting things. Also the Cardinal and Muguyoh districts’ had a chance to meet their new Executives; Chris Luciano has accepted the District Executive position for Muguyoh and David Stults joins us as our new Field Director and District Executive for Cardinal. MGM celebrated with their Paraprofessional, JR Spencer, as he received his Wood Badge beads.

If you are thinking Changes!?!, Changes!?!, Changes?!? You have got the idea. In addition to new Executives, new and exciting programs, there is a new way of providing the program information. In the unit program packets your leaders received a CD that contains a "Map of the Programs" and Information for the upcoming year. What? You did not attend the District Program Kickoff. Well you are in luck. The Council has placed the "Map of Programs" on the official site of the Tri-State Council ( www.tsacbsa.org ). Click on the link below to view the inforamtion provided and keep coming back to the Council's website for more information as we go throughout the year.

We look forward to seeing you at all of our Scouting events in the upcoming year!

Winter hours for the Tri-State Area Council Scout Shop are Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed on Saturdays.  

Paintings of Norman Rockwell and Joseph Csatari are on display at the Huntington Museum of Art from January 23, through February 27, 2010.

Marshall University's Merit Badge College is Saturday, February 20, 2010. 

Winterplace Winter Sports Days are January 31 and February 28, 2010.  Registration form is in the November/December "Pathfinder",

Make plans to attend the February 8th, 2010 Eagle Scout and Volunteer Dinner, 6:30 p.m. at Steele Memorial United Methodist Church.  Registration deadline is February 5, 2010.  Eagle Scout and a guest are invited to attend free and Silver Beaver recipient and a guest are invited to attend free, but registration is required with the Scout Office before February 5th deadline.

Link :  Map of Programs – www.tsacbsa.org/kickoff  

Note: The Map of Programs CD will automatically open on Windows based computers. If the CD does not automatically start or you are a Mac user, you will need to follow the steps listed below.

PC & Mac CD Instructions

1) Place CD in CD Drive. 
      (If "Program Kickoff" information does not open automatically go to Step 2.)

2) Browse the CD and double click "Index.html" and page will open.

12 OPENINGS FOR THIRD CREW, REGISTER TODAY!!! 

The Tri-State Area Council has just received a Third Crew confirmation.  Fill out the application below and bring in your deposit to the council office, 823 Adams Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia.  

It's time again!  We are now forming 2 crews of 12 persons each to enjoy the scouting adventure of a lifetime, "Philmont 2010."  The date has been set for June 26th through July 10th, 2010.  Philmont is a 215 square mile area in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northeastern New Mexico.  Just imagine backpacking for 10 days in this amazing place.  You will be hiking in altitudes from 6,700 to over 12,000 feet above sea level.  Your adventure will take you from high mountain deserts to lush green forests, to soaring heights above the tree line.  Philmont is truly "Scouting Paradise."  And you are invited to join us!!!     

We need eager Scouts and Scouters to sign up now.  Philmont takes a lot of planning and you will need to get ready soon.  Philmont will challenge you physically, mentally, and spiritually.  You will find out what you are capable of achieving.  Backpacking for 50 to 75 miles in the mountains with 35-50 pounds on your back has a way of helping you to get to know yourself more deeply.  But it is not just backpacking, there are programs all along the way.  There are over 35 different programs offered in the back country of Philmont.  Take a look at the Philmont website www.philmontscoutranch.org for some descriptions and pictures of Philmont.  Better yet, find someone who has gone to Philmont and let them tell you some stories from their experience.    

You and your crew will decide what adventure you want to take.  It's up to you.  There are 35 different treks, each with its own challenges and opportunities.  Maybe you will pan for gold outside of an old goldmine, or race burros against other crews from other councils, or maybe your trek will be bushwacking through Carson National Forest, or ...  you will decide! 
 

Are you ready for the adventure?  Are you up to the challenge?  If you are, contact Ed Dzierzak at 304-634-8189 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it    for additional information.

Application for Philmont