Colonial District December 2023 Newsletter

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Colonial District December 2023 Newsletter

Latest news and updates from the Colonial District of Central Florida Council BSA.<!–

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Warm congratulations to our latest Colonial District Eagle Scout, Ethan Nicholas Alexis of Troop 23.

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Our Colonial District Director Brian Gorman is being promoted within the Central Florida Council. Effective 1/1/24, Brian will be the Field Director with responsibility for multiple counties including Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole. Please join us in congratulating and supporting Brian in his new role as Field Director. 

 

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Lodja Hadjo (the Colonial District chapter of the OA) is hosting a toy drive at the December Roundtable!

If you are able, please bring new, unwrapped toys to the Roundtable.

As a reminder, the Colonial District Roundtable is being held on the SECOND Thursday this month, December 14th, so it is a week ahead of the school holiday break. 

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The Central Florida Council is gearing up for a Great Camp Card Fundraising Campaign in 2024! The Camp Card Fundraiser is an excellent opportunity for Scouts to raise money for their unit and their programs by selling discount cards in their local community. These cards offer discounts to popular local businesses, and the proceeds from the sales go directly to support the Scout’s unit.

There will be three Virtual Camp Card Kickoffs offered—December 9th, December 15th, and January 18th. Please make sure your unit is represented at one of these Virtual Camp Card Kickoffs so you receive the maximum commission. Unit’s must be represented to earn the full 45% commission. Register for your preferred Virtual Camp Card Kickoff HERE. 

If you have any questions, reach out to Cherise Czaban at [email protected].

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Thank you to all the Scouts and Scouters who participated in Scouting for Food this year and helped to make it such an awesome success! We had 18 Packs and 24 Troops in Colonial District participate, and together our district collected approximately 44,492 pounds of food from our generous communities! 
 
Across Central Florida Council, our Scouting units collected a whopping 297,595 pounds of food!

Heartfelt thanks to our Colonial SFF chair Kelli Chou for leading this service project for our district. If you haven’t already, please be sure to record your unit’s service hours for SFF and other service in Scoutbook (instructions further down in this newsletter). 

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Sign-in to Scoutbook, https://scoutbook.scouting.org/
Select ‘Internet Advancement’ from the menu. (Note: Only certain positions have access to the Internet Advancement system. If you don’t see ‘Internet Advancement’ you may not have access. See explanation above.)
Select all scouts who have completed a given service activity (checkmark on left of name)
Click ‘Record Progress’ (located on gray bar) and then ‘Service hours’ 
Identify the date of the service project on the calendar, then click ‘Create New Activity.’
Complete the fields for project information, location, and details. 
Indicate amount of participation hours using the ‘basic’ if everyone did the same number of hours. (Basic is usually good enough for cub scouts.) 

Scouts identified in step 3 are included already. 
Estimate number of non-registered participants (siblings and parents) in the fields that request that information.
To include registered leaders, click on ‘Add Person’ in the top right of this page and select the registered leaders’ names from the list. 

Click ‘Record and Finish.’ 

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University of Scouting is returning to Edgewater High School on Saturday, January 27, 2024! This is an annual one-day supplemental training event for volunteer leaders, youth (age 11 and up), and parents at all levels in every Scouting program: Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, District, or Council. It is a very special day of teaching, leading, inspiring, and above all fellowship with your fellow scouters across Central Florida. There is no fee for this event for scouts and adults affiliated with the Central Florida Council. But you do need to register for the classes you will attend! 

The Catalog of Classes is now available for review. The registration link should be live soon. See https://scoutingevent.com/083-UofS for all the details (and registration link, when available)! 

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More information and registration: https://scoutingevent.com/083-68177

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Colonial District 
12/14/23 Colonial District Roundtable—December
1/12/24 – 1/14/24 Colonial District Webelos Woods

Central Florida Council 
12/8/23 – 12/10/23 Cub Holiday Weekend at Camp La-No-Che
12/21/23 – 12/24/23 Winter Camp Session #1
12/26/23 – 12/31/23 National Youth Leadership Training 
12/28/23 – 12/31/23 Winter Camp Session #2
1/4/24 – 1/7/24 Winter Camp Session #3
1/19/24 – 1/21/24 Camp La-No-Che Activity Weekend 
2/3/24 Central Florida Council Leadership Summit
2/16/24 – 2/18/24 Camp La-No-Che Activity Weekend 

Order of the Arrow 
1/5/24 – 1/7/24 Ordeal Weekend 1
1/12/24 – 1/14/24 Ordeal Weekend 2
1/19/24 – 1/21/24 Ordeal Weekend 3
2/9/24 – 2/11/24 TNAW at Camp La-No-Che

Be on the lookout in January for NEW Merged District Calendar with dates for the Merged District’s Events, including monthly Roundtable meetings.

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Did you know that Colonial District scouts/units are welcome to attend events hosted by districts throughout the Central Florida Council? Below are some of the upcoming events that your scouts/unit can register for today. And best of all, many of these events are included in the CFC Program Fee (so no additional cost). More information and registration for each event can be accessed through the council calendar at  https://www.cflscouting.org/calendar/

Cub Scouts
1/12/24 – 1/14/24 Riverside District Webelos Woods
1/19/24 – 1/20/24 Timuqua District Webelos Woods
 

Scouts BSA
12/8/23 – 12/10/23 Seminole District Fall Camporee
 

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We would like to invite you to the Colonial District Roundtable, which is typically held on the third Thursday of every month at Centre Point Community Church (9580 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32825). Doors open for gathering at 6:30pm, and opening flag is at 7pm. Roundtable is a great way for Scout leaders to share ideas, network and get information about our Council and District. Ideally, every unit in our Council should try to have at least one leader attend every month so that you can take what you learn to your Units!

This month’s December Roundtable will be held on the SECOND Thursday of December, Thursday 12/14/23, so it is a week ahead of the school holiday break. Program breakout groups will be offered for Cub Scout leaders and Scouts BSA/Venturing leaders. 

Our Colonial District chapter of the OA, Lodja Hadjo, is hosting a toy drive at the December Roundtable. If you are able, please bring new, unwrapped toys to the Roundtable.

If you have any announcements or messages you would like to present or convey at Roundtable, please contact Mike Hockman, Roundtable Chair, at [email protected]

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Colonial District Webelos Woods for Webelos and AOL scouts and their families is coming up January 12-14, 2024 at Camp La-No-Che! This Campout features friendly competitions in individual events and patrol/pack events, including a Lash Box Derby Car race for patrols that build a car. In the evening, patrols will perform Campfire Skits and participate in an amazing flag retirement ceremony led by Crew 911.

This event is covered by the Council Program fee, so there is no charge for attending. However, attendees must REGISTER by the 1/11/24 deadline and make plans to prepare their own meals at camp. 

Registration and Participant Guide: https://scoutingevent.com/083-ColonialDistrictWebelosWoods#

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Cub Holiday Weekend 2023 is an event for cub scouts and their families at Camp La-No-Che the weekend of December 8-10, 2023! This year’s theme is a Hawaiian holiday celebration, complete with an evening Luau party and Santa!

More information and registration: https://scoutingevent.com/083-CubHoliday

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Scouts BSA Winter Camp is back at Camp La-No-Che! Three sessions to choose from: Dec 21-24, Dec 28, 31, or Jan 4-7. Winter Camp is an excellent event for your Scouts new and old to head outdoors and have a blast! From our New Scout Program: Trailblazers, to our high-adventure programs for your older Scouts, come home to Camp La-No-Che this Winter and give every member of your Unit an unforgettable experience!

More information and registration: https://scoutingevent.com/083-wintercamp

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Howdy Partners! Winter National Youth Leadership Training is coming to Central Florida Council, and registration is live! Come be a trailblazer and take your leadership to the next level!

NYLT is an exciting, action packed week designed to provide youth participants with the leadership skills and experience they can use at home, at school, on the job, and at their unit level. NYLT is designed for Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts: 1st Class Rank or above (similar for Venturing and Sea Scouts).All Scouts must be 13 years of age by the 1st day of course.

Register today to get the early bird rate!
– Early Discount: $ 275.00 (by 11/27/23 11:59pm)
– Regular Price: $ 300.00 Registration (closes 12/06/23 11:59pm)
***Please Note: add $75 for Out of Council Units***

More info and registration: https://scoutingevent.com/083-nyltwinter

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Celebrate the new year, and the great Florida camping weather by scheduling a Trip to Camp La-No-Che in January & February.  Your Pack, Troop, or Family can build and customize their own trip. Plan your own activities, or take advantage of camps list of program offerings which are being offered at a reduced rate for all scouts to enjoy! The pricing is a la carte depending upon what you would like to sign up for. Two Activity weekends are being offered: January 19-21 and February 16-19. 

More information and registration: https://scoutingevent.com/083-CLAW

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Do you have skills to cook over an open fire? Do you have the skills for basic lashings? Do you want to expand your scouting skills to interact with other International scouts? 

There are limited openings for scouts to join the 2026 Blair Atholl Patrol Jamboree that will be held in Summer 2026 in the Highlands of Scotland. Scouts must be 14-17 years old at the time of the trip, which departs mid-July 2026. 

The application process begins in January 2024. This is a two-year team building and fundraising process. 

If you are interested in learning more about this event, check out the Blair Atholl website: https://www.jamborette.org.uk

For inquiries related to the 2026 local contigent, reach out to: 
– Brian Ribaric, 2026 Scotland Contigent Leader, [email protected]
– BJ Knapp, Central FL International Representative, [email protected]

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BALOO and IOLS Training Opportunities

The Fall BALOO and IOLS courses have all concluded. Check back in the new year for Spring BALOO and IOLS offerings! 

Wilderness First Aid 
Sat. 1/20/24, 8:30am – Sun. 1/21/24, 5:30pm
USSF Transmitter Complex, Palm Bay, FL

This course is designed to prepare adult Scouters and youth age 14 and older with critical skills to manage first aid emergencies in the wilderness and is required for any high adventure program such as Philmont, Northern Tier, or other similar programs. Training certificate is good for two years.

More information and registration: https://scoutingevent.com/083-WildernessFirstAidCertificate#

Wood Badge Advanced Leadership FOR ADULTS.

By taking Wood Badge, Scouters will acquire valuable tools such as listening, communicating, conflict management, project planning and leading change. Participants will better learn to understand and appreciate diversity and differences in our society. They will learn skills that will make them a better Scout leader!
 
Registration is NOW open for the Spring 2024 Wood Badge course! Cost is $195. 

-Orientation: February 10, 2024 via Virtual meeting, 3-4pm
-Weekend 1: February 23 – 25, 2024 @ Camp La-No-Che
-Weekend 2: March 16 – 17, 2024 @ Camp La-No-Che

More information and registration: https://scoutingevent.com/083-74880
 

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Now is the time to take our Colonial units to the next level. Improve the communication within your unit and pick up a few activities to share with your youth. Wood Badge is for all leaders: Cubs, Scouts BSA, Crew, and Ships. Cost is $195. 

More information and registration: https://scoutingevent.com/083-74880
 

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Michelle Adamick is the Colonial District Merit Badge/Nova/SuperNova Coordinator. All requests to become a Merit Badge Counselor or Nova/SuperNova mentor should be submitted to Michelle at [email protected]. 

If you are unsure of the status of your application to become a Merit Badge Counselor or a Nova/SuperNova Mentor, please send Michelle an email and she will advise. 

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OA brothers, Lodja Hadjo is having a Holiday Party at the December Roundtable! There will be cookie decorating, Holiday Music, and maybe karaoke! Hope to see you there!

Check out the Tipisa Lodge OA website for information on Ordeals scheduled on multiple weekends in January as well as other news and events: www.tipisa.org

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You can share this newsletter with others in your unit by generating a shareable link. Simply click on “View this email in your browser” at the top of this email. Then you can share the URL of that web-based version with others. 

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The Colonial District Monthly Newsletter is published on the first Sunday of each month. If you have announcements to be included in the newsletter, please email your request to [email protected] at least one week ahead of a given month’s publication date.  

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Colonial District BSA · 1951 S Orange Blossom Trl · Apopka, FL 32703-7747 · USA