***UPDATE*** Roundtable cancellation for January

Leaders and Parents:

Please see the email below from our District Commissioner in regards to January SoQua District Roundtable.

Yours in Scouting,

James Hulgan | District Director

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Daniel Boone Council
SoQua District

333 West Haywood St.
Asheville, NC 28801
P 828.254.6189 ext. 27 |  F 828.252.4818 | M 423.443.9181

James.Hulgan@scouting.org  |  www.DanielBooneCouncil.org

Follow SoQua District on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/291268280966787/

Hello leaders and parents,

It is with regret that we have to call off round table for this month due to the icy roads and cold weather. While normally we would reschedule for next week, there is a holiday next Monday and we cannot do it the following week due to scheduling conflicts for the facilities.

We will continue our roundtables next month, on February 6th.

Please be aware of some training opportunities coming up and important information on events: (WE NEED UNITS TO SIGN UP FOR THE DISTRICT BANQUET)

·         Derby Cut-out – January 14

·         Trainers EDGE – January 28

·         District Training/Commissioner Training Workshop – January 24
(for District Committee and Commissioners Staff ONLY RSVP Required follow link to register.)

·         Snowshoe Staff and Leader Orientation Meeting – January 29

·         SoQua District Banquet – February 10
(We encourage all units to participate in the District Banquet. There will be lots of fun, awards and door prizes.)

·         SoQua Webelos Crossover Ceremony – March 5

·         District Pinewood Derby – March 18

·         Boy Scout Summer Physical Day – March 18

·         Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training (Hosted by SoQua/Terrora Districts) – March 18  *registration soon

·         Cub Scout Leader Specific Training (Hosted by Cataloochee District) – March 18 *registration soon

·         Wood Badge – Weekend 1–April 21-23 and Weekend 2–May 5-7
(Wood Badge is the premiere adult leadership training program of the Boy Scouts of America and is recognized by Scouting organizations around the world.)

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email at lmgittings@gmail.com

I hope to see you all next month at SoQua Roundtable Monday, February 6!

Yours in Scouting,

Lisa Marie Gittings | SoQua District Commissioner

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Daniel Boone Council
SoQua District

828.545.2863

lmgittings@gmail.com

Are you ready to RACE? ***UPDATE*** Cut-out day January 14 and SoQua District Pinewood Derby March 18

SoQua District Pinewood Derby is Saturday, March 18, 2017 <--Click here for details

Pinewood Derby Cut-out Details Below

Long Before Derby Day Dawns... CHAMP CAMP Gets You Race-Ready!

As packs across the country prepare for their annual Pinewood Derby events, Scout Shops are planning a pretty cool pre-event of their own!

It's CHAMP CAMP! On a fun-packed Saturday in January - Cut-out day has been postponed to Saturday, January 14 due to possibility INCLEMENT WEATHER - the Asheville Scout Shop becomes home to the best racing know-how you can find. So whether you're a first-time builder or a seasoned competitor, you can drop in anytime during regular store hours to:

• Learn the tricks that can shave seconds off your race time
• Discover precision tools that can streamline your build
• Find out your car's exact weight
• Some Scout Shops even have BSA Practice Tracks!
• Ask the questions that make the difference when you get back home
• Shop an awesome selection of Pinewood Derby tools and supplies

Plus, keep in mind, you can drop into the Asheville Scout Shop any time throughout the month of January for a free weight check at any stage of your racer's design!

Asheville Scout Shop
(828) 253-4949
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Saturday Hours)

The Why of the Pinewood Derby: What Scouting Goals Are Accomplished?

In general, the Scouting program tries to avoid events with a single winner or even class winners. The Cub Scout standard is, after all, that a boy should do his best. We do not, for example, tie advancement to whether a Cub Scout beats the other members of his den in a foot race, but rather to whether he betters his previous standards. The primary methods of the Cub Scouting program—including the goal of personal achievement—are based on individual achievement and accomplishment rather than individual victory at the expense of another’s defeat.

The goals of Cub Scouting are not often extended to include competition or competitive sports, though the goals of character development, sportsmanship and fitness, and respectful relationships can easily be seen to give a special perspective on our very competitive world. 

While, in some ways the pinewood derby is a special case (principally because it is so much fun), we can use the pinewood derby to further the goals of Cub Scouting. We can broaden the derby’s simple one-winner perspective to a program all participants can feel good about.  At the same time, we need to be alert to the possibility of problems that can spoil the boys’ fun and discourage Cub Scouts and parents. Sometimes these problems have actually caused youth to drop out of Cub Scouting.

Given that competitive events like the pinewood derby can raise
emotional levels beyond what is appropriate, what Scouting goals does
the pinewood derby help a Scout achieve?

• Sportsmanship and good citizenship is taught by following the derby rules and cheering on friends and den partners as they race against others in the pack.
• Personal achievement comes to any boy who picks up a woodworking tool and shapes raw wood into a sleek design. And, by learning woodworking, he prepares himself to more easily serve in the Boy Scouting's service projects. 
• Family understanding is enhanced because building a pinewood derby car puts the boy and his mom, dad, or other adult partner into a close and sometimes intense learning experience over, potentially, many hours.

It is very clear that any boy who can cheer on a friend in a derby race, when his own car has been previously eliminated, must be said to have had his character developed, if not his car-building skills. But finally, and probably most convincingly, participating in the derby is fun. This is especially true if participation is stressed, and personal achievement is very broadly defined and rewarded.

So let’s start to have some fun.

Architecture Merit Badge - February 4, 2017

Architecture is not just the special buildings like cathedrals, museums, or sports stadiums we read about or see on television; it is as normal as the homes, places of worship, schools, and shopping malls where we live, worship, work, learn, and play every day. However, architecture is more than just common shelter; building has always satisfied the human need to create something of meaning. Even the simplest form of architecture is a work of art that requires thought and planning. ”

The Architecture merit badge was one of the original 57 merit badges issued by the Boy Scouts of America in 1911.

Pre-Registration is REQUIRED NO WALK-UPS

Class is limited to 20 Scouts!!!

For SoQua Activities and Registration Click Here

Architecture Merit Badge

Saturday, February 4, 2017

9:00AM-2:00PM

Class Location:

Daniel Boone Council Office
333 W. Haywood St
Asheville, NC 28801

Cost: $5 per youth

29th Annual Operation Snowshoe "Webelos Are You Ready?"

Click here for Registration and Leaders Guide

Dear Cubmasters / Webelos Leaders:

Your Operation Snowshoe Chief is happy to announce plans for Operation Snowshoe 2017, a Webelos winter camping experience. The event is scheduled for February 25   and February 26, 2017 at Camp Daniel Boone. Operation Snowshoe is for all Webelos Scouts, Leaders and interested parents. Siblings of any age are not permitted at this event. Being Youth Protection Trained is required for all adults.

The registration fee is $15.00 per Scout, Leader or Parent.  Completed registrations received by January 9, 2017 will give your patrol an extra 10 spirit points. Completed registrations received by January 29, 2017 will receive an extra 5 spirit points. Registration cut-off is February 6, 2017 to participate. NO EXCEPTIONS.  We highly recommend advance registration through the Scout office to avoid a late registration cost of $20.00 per person after January 29, 2017, instead of the on time cost of $15.00 per person.  Late registrations are not guaranteed patches and receive no extra points.  No extra points will be awarded after January 29, 2017. The adult leader in charge and the field chief MUST attend the organizational meeting on Sunday January 29,2017 at 2:00 PM at the Daniel Boone Council Service Center. Extra leaders and parents are encouraged to attend.

  

NO REGISTRATIONS ACCEPTED AFTER FEBRUARY 6, 2017

*No refunds given after February 6,2017, without approval of Snowshoe Chief*

Our objective is to provide a meaningful and challenging learning experience for all Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts. We also want it to be an enjoyable event for all.

Operation Snowshoe is a Webelos winter camping experience for every unit, large or small, experienced or inexperienced. It is a Patrol-oriented event, meant to develop and test Webelos scout skills. Patrols will camp and participate under the leadership of their own normal patrol leaders.

Every participating patrol will win 2 ribbons or a lot more!

Attached are the details of this event.  After you have read this book and if you have questions please call me at 828-775-7941.

Come and join us for the 29th Annual Operation Snowshoe!

Arrow of Light patrols that have crossed over still may participate but must still wear the Webelos uniform.

Yours in Scouting,

Phil Winchester

Snowshoe Chief

Help a Scout in Need "The Ethan Giving Tree"

The Asheville Scout Shop is providing an opportunity for the scouting community to help local scouts members who may be in need of uniforms and uniform items.

This help will be done through The Ethan Giving Tree program through December 19, 2016. The Ethan Giving Tree program works on a donation basis. An Ethan Tree, similar to an Angel Tree, is set up in the Scout Shop with Ethan Cards on it. Each card will have the first name of the Scout along with the uniform items that they need. There will also be a space for other items they may want such as books, crafts, camping items, etc. Customers and Scout supporters can purchase the item(s) in their local Scout Shop and give them to the store staff to collect for each child.

If you have any like to help or questions, please contact the Asheville Scout Shop by email at the ashevillescoutshop@scouting.org or phone us at (828) 253-4949.

Looking for something fun to do in November?

Scout Nights with the Charlotte Hornets!

SAVE THE DATES

Friday, November 11^th & Saturday, November 26^th

Tickets Starting at just $22! Include Patch and exclusive Hornets gift!

Scout Nights:

Friday, November 11^th, 2016

Toronto Raptors vs. Charlotte Hornets

Doors Open: 6pm
Game Starts: 7pm

Saturday, November 26^th, 2016
New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Hornets
Doors Open: 6pm
Game Starts: 7pm

"Come attend our 2016 Charlotte Hornets Scout Nights in November. We will be offering two separate nights this year so that everyone has a chance to attend! Come watch your Charlotte Hornets take on Superstars from two of the Eastern Conference’s best teams!"

If you are looking for something fun to do in November, then look no further, this looks like it will be a fun event. Last season they had almost 1,500 Scouts and their family's in attendance. There will be patches given to every Scout and donations will be given back to each council represented.

For more information please click here!  

Cub Scouts Looking to do something in September?

Cub Scout Shooting Sports Day

Saturday, September, 17

9:00am-11:00am

Covenant Community Church

11 Rocket Drive

Asheville, NC 28803

Registration Form
Facebook Event Page

As decades of Cub Scouting have shown,

most boys love to shoot!

Come out and enjoy doing what Cub Scouts Love to do!!!

Beyond capturing that enthusiasm, the Boy Scouts America created the Cub Scout Shooting Sports Awards program to encourage in Cub Scouts the development of safe shooting practices and proficiency in shooting sports. As a Cub Scout participates in shooting sports activities and works toward an award, he not only builds confidence in his abilities, but he also develops self-reliance, sportsmanship, and conservation awareness—all elements of good character valued in Scouting. Through experiential learning guided by a knowledgeable adult, Cub Scouts will learn the safe and responsible use of BB guns, slingshots, and archery equipment. The goal is for the Cub Scout to have fun in a safe environment, not to become an expert marksman, range master, or hunter.