Meetings will be facilitated discussions from 7:30-8:15, followed by an additional 15-30 minutes of networking, fellowship, and free-form discussion.

Flyers

Activity, training and reference flyers will be uploaded here as they become available.  New flyers are marked with an “*” and announced monthly in the News and Flyers. 
To assure you get the News and Flyers subscribe to the All SH adults list.

Many event flyers provide links to their Pathway to Adventure calendar items http://www.pathwaytoadventure.org/calendar/  providing more information and online registration.  

See  Flyer distribution for more information about flyer submission and distribution.

Announcements at Roundtable provide clarifications, updates and useful color (e.g. details of the camporee outside of location, fee and registration), not available even with the electronic flyer, so attending roundtable is an important part of staying informed.

JANUARY (new flyers indicated by *)
2019 01 News and Flyers

Cub Scout flyers

Activities / Events
Arrow of LIght Bridging Ceremony reservation info 2018 
Cub Scout Campout at Wild West Town 2019 summer 
Cub Scout Day Camp Safari Adventure 2019 07 20 V2 *
Family Camp 2019 08 02 *
Museum Night at Wild West Town 2019 04 27 
Pinewood Car Cut Out Clinic 2019 02 
Pinewood Derby PTAC All Districts notice 2019 * 
PTAC 2019 Camporee volunteer requestV1 2018 11 01V2 
Service Project at BACT workdays 
Swimming qualification and merit badge workshops 2019 03 19 
Webelos Camps_Owasippe and Napowan 2018 08 3 V2 *

Training
BSA volunteer training requirements 
Chartered Organization Representative Training is Now Available Online 
New Member Coordinator training online
PositionTrained Requirements_All Programs_2017 04 
Scout leader knot recognition 2019 
Scoutbook training 2019 02 28 *
Scouting U online for Cub Scout Leaders 
What_makes_a_trained_leader
Wood Badge-PTAC course 2019 09 20 *
YPT instructions for online course (1) 

Reference 
Adding a new myRoster Account 
BeAScout instructions
BeAScout Unit Pin Management v1 (8-2018) 
BSA Family-Program-Fact-Sheet-1 
BSA Family-Program-Infographic and time line 
BSA Incident Reporting Form 680-676_WEB 2017 07 
BSA unit Fiscal Policies and Procedures FAQs 032015
BSA-safety 
Bullying Awareness 
Charter Certificate Printing - How to and FAQ *
Cook County Forest Preserves Picnic and Event Fee Sheet 2019 
Cub Scout editable recruiting flyers 2018 04 11 (1) 
Cub Scout Parent Guide 2017 
Eisenhower Matrix how to accomplish goals
Family Scouting success for Packs 2018 11 01 
Guide to Advancement 33088 
How to Execute a Sign-Up Night
Ideas for Webelos to Boy Scouts Transition 
Lion Program introduced FAQ 
Lion Scout parent flyer 
Membership Card Print and FAQ *
Millennials and Scouting 2018 05 03 
Online_Reg_UnitGuidebook 
PTAC apparel web store 2016 08
PTAC communications menu V4SH
PTAC Professional Staff Org Chart 2018 02 01 
PTAC Social Media resource handout 
Recruiting Resources 2018 04 06 
RT Oct-Den Leader Resource list
RT Oct-Pack 222 Handbook
RT Oct-Pack Information Sheet
RT Oct-Parent Handbook package - form
RT Oct-What to do now as a new pack member
Scoutbook intro presentation from BSA material 2017 12 23 *
Scouts BSA Brand-Training-12-4-18 *
Scouts-BSA-Dos-and-Donts-2018 11 08 
Scouts BSA_Intro Presentation 10302018 
Scout Uniform Checklist
Social Media Guide
Unit Budget - how to do better 2018 04 
Unit New Member Coordinator-Brochure_pdf_05_19_2017 
Weblos to Boy Scout Transition Planning Chart 

Troop experiences for Webelos flyers

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)

National Youth Leadership Training, NYLT, is a one-week advanced leadership training experience for Scouts who want to become more effective in leading and teaching.  

The 2019 PTAC course will be held at Owasippe Scout Reservation in Twin Lake, Michigan. There will be two sessions, one beginning June 16 and one beginning June 23. Registration opened online on January 1. 

Fees for the 2019 NYLT course will be $280, which includes transportation from one of several locations within the borders of the Pathway to Adventure Council to and from the Owasippe Scout Reservation. “Camp Cash” may be applied and Scholarships are available.

To be eligible to attend a course Scouts must be 14 years old or 13 years old and have completed 8th grade.  Members of a Scouts BSA troop must also be First Class rank or above.  In 2019 only, girls registered in Scouts BSA may attend NYLT without first achieving the First Class rank if they meet the age requirements and complete Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST).  Girls registered as Venturers do not need to achieve the First Class rank, but must complete Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC) prior to participating in NYLT.  

Scoutmasters, identify Scouts who should attend NYLT and encourage them to take the next leadership training step.  Registration opened online January 1, 2019 More  Questions: email nyltptac@gmail.com

Family Scouting success for Packs 2018 11 01
Family Scouting - Continuity & Change for Troops
Family Scouting success for Troops 2018 11 01

BeAScout Unit Pin Management v1 (8-2018)

Spending time outside helps you live longer

https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2018/08/08/study-verifies-what-scouters-already-knew-spending-time-outside-is-good-for-you/

Catch the Adventure resources:
Bookmarks (pdf)
Catch the Adventure postcard (pdf)
Catch the Adventure poster (jpg)
Scout Me In sticker (jpg)
To order resources, contact our District Executive at Jennifer.Lennon@scouting.org

BSA Today 
– a new series of short videos featuring information and updates on timely topics in Scouting.
Each installment will provide you with news you can use.
https://scoutingwire.org/marketing-and-membership-hub/bsa-today/?utm_source=scoutingwire

Family Scouting program 

Here are two one page flyers with information about the Family Scouting program and the roll out timeline.

http://pathwaytoadventure.org/media/upload/Family%20Scouting%20Changes.pdf

https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Family-Scouting_Infographic_v10-1.pdf

Here is a link to two videos explaining the transition to family program.

https://scouting.webdamdb.com/bp/?utm_source=scoutingwire&utm_campaign=swvolunteer7182018&utm_medium=email&utm_content=#/folder/4549987/

 

Making millennial families welcome to Scouting

Membership appeals and program features that attract and retain millennial families was the subject  of the presentation by Dan Gille, marketing professional and Central Regional volunteer on the National Camping Task Force Outdoor Program Support Committee, given to the Signal Hill District.  See what Dan Gille has to say.

Dan Gille interview

Here are the take-a-way's from Dan Gile's session:

Welcoming millennial families to Scouting

Scouting experiences millennial families find attractive

• Outdoor – parents want ways to have their children outdoors.  Parents feel their children spend too much time with indoor activities. Scouting is about camping and outdoor activities.  Let parents know of your outdoor activities when introducing them to Scouting, post pictures and videos of unit outdoor activities to build awareness of the unit and your outdoor activities. 

• Values –This generation of families’ feels ethical standards is important, accepts and feels comfortable with diversity in family structure, heritage and other ways, and desires to be socially responsible.  Let parents know the values Scouting promotes and develops, e.g. courteous, kind, respectful, self-reliant and confidence; and how opportunities for developing and showing these traits are part of the unit program, e.g. monthly meeting programs and unit activities.  Unit postings on social media should show how Scouts are making a positive impact on themselves and the community. 

• Service – making a positive impact on the environment and society is a value and activity of interest for millennial families. Many Scouting activities align with this desire to be of service; e.g. unit and Scout service projects that contribute to the community or those in the community; would appeal to families. Including a food drive or cleanup day in the program are ways for Scouting to be of service to community and others.  Let families know about community service program elements that your unit has in the schedule.  Post photos and results of the projects on social media and share with peers. 

Millennial families are frequently single parents or parents with two careers therefore they value their time and are careful how they spend their time.  They have had technology exposure all their life and find it a tool for making the most of their time.  They use mobile devices to accomplish tasks and maintain contact with their peers.  They respect and value the experiences of peers more than advertising. Video through social media, e.g. Facebook, YouTube, Instagram; are ways to communicate on a peer basis with millennial families.  Units should be active in generating photos and stories about their Scouts among the unit members and sharing them with other they know.  In this way awareness of the Scouting unit and the values it delivers will become known. Awareness can be translated into Scouting engagement for a family by personally asking them to attend and join the Pack or Troop.

Question to ask in evaluating and designing your unit programs and operations practices to appeal to millennials:

Are the unit programs and operations compatible with an understanding that parents make decisions for their family and their children based on what they desire for their family; i.e. outdoor activities, personal values, positive community impact; consistent with their financial resources, i.e. provides value for the money (not necessarily cheap), and respectful of their time; i.e. time spend is felt useful and unnecessary activities eliminated, e.g. online registrations and payments available, meetings conform to announced schedules, accommodate the schedule of a single parent or parents with two spouses working. 

Transparency is important to parents.  They want to know what is involved in the Scouting program.  What will their children be doing and learning as Scouts, what is done to fund the program, what time commitment is needed to be part of the unit?  Transparency means being honest about the program, finances and time commitment when communicating with parents.  If the program has value and presented so the value is apparent, being transparent will help engage families and provide positive peer recommendations. 

These session take-a-way's from the session provided by Dan Gille are a result of extensive research on what interests, attracts and retains millennial families to Scouting.  He presented the results of those studies, and actions all units and Scouters can use to attract and retain membership.  If you desire to improve membership appeal, build your volunteer base, and retain new families in your Scouting program, review the presentation and Session Take-a-way's then apply the information to your unit new member initiative.

Millennials and Scouting 2018 05 03 (ppt)
Millennials and Scouting 2018 05 03 (pdf)

Recruiting Resources

Cub Scout Packs and Boy Scout Troops can now create their own recruiting flyer using the editable PDF template.  There is a flyer for Cub Scouts and one for Boy Scouts, select the one you need, enter the information desired; e.g. recruiting event, time and location; then print your full color flyer for distribution.  Here are the editable PDF templates: Boy Scout editable recruiting flyers 2018 04 11 / Cub Scout editable recruiting flyers 2018 04 11 (1)

Online recruiting flyer ordering is available too.  Provide unit and contact information, quantity of flyers needed, when needed, any notice to appear on the flyer, and they will be delivered to you.  Here is the link to order your custom recurring flyers

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeru5ml7Ek7fQn9lXtUCsPGzFgAz6BG6vqQTpQmago09b3aiA/viewform?usp=sf_link

If your unit needs help in gaining school access, organizing a recruiting event or holding school boy and girl talks; contact David Tafur, Field Director, at david.tafur@scouting.org.  Please provide two weeks advance notice. 

Recruiting is more than handing out flyers, so here are some helpful tips on how to make your recruiting efforts successful. More information

Signal Hill District Membership Chairman Brad Epstein, email bepsteinsx666@aol.com

EXPOSURE TO NATURE KEY TO DEVELOPMENT

A new study shows regularly experience with the outdoors, such as provided by Scouting, boosts children’s brain development.

The study from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health and the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health has found that long-term exposure to green space during childhood is associated with structural changes to the brain that lead to improved memory and less distraction. Additionally, children who grew up in environments with more exposure to nature had more activity in the regions of their brain associated with learning and social skills. More at https://scoutingwire.org/exposure-nature-key-development

Proof that Scouting and sports can coexist

from Bryan on Scouting:  http://eepurl.com/bV50pv