Silver Beaver Award Nomination Deadline Announced

Deadline:  December 1, 2015

The deadline for applications for the Silver Beaver Award Class of 2016 is December 1, 2015.  Please find the award application link below where you can download a fillable .pdf file.  Once you have downloaded and filled the application, you can either mail a hard copy to the Palmetto Council Service Center (Att: , Linda Fant, 420 S. Church St., Spartanburg, SC 29306) or you can email the saved pdf file to Linda Fant (email:  linda.fant@scouting.org).  

Reflections of a Middle-Aged Wood Badger

(Originally published Saturday, September 26, 2015 in S5-551-15 Issue 11 of The Gilwell Gazette.)

                Two Scouting people have been much in my thoughts over the past few weeks. One is a 12-year old boy, just a few years into Scouting. The other has spent much of his life in Scouting. Both have needed our prayers lately, as well as all of the expertise and crare modern medicine can provide.

                I know Keeghan Brown through two belt loop colleges I hosted a few years ago in the Palmetto Council. He was one of 80 youth we had in 2012, and among the 65 boys we had in 2013. I still have copies of his ‘Bachelors’ degree in Academics and Sports Belt Loops and Pins on my computer. He has been very active in Scouts during his few short years in the program.

                Less than a month ago, he was considering the possibility of playing football this fall. As of yesterday evening, he was coming out of a several-hour open heart surgery in Charleston, and the hopes and prayers for the time being are that he can soon breathe on his own. His parents are going through a trial I cannot imagine and which I can barely think about without losing my composure.

                Just a matter of days separate endless possibilities and a previously unthinkable possible end.

                Meanwhile, in Spartanburg, Dick Kugler’s family recently gathered at Spartanburg Regional to surround this father, grandfather and lifelong Scouter with love and gratitude during his last days. Kugler, a recipient of the Good Shepherd Award, most recently served as a unit commissioner and committee member with both Pack 11 and Troop 11 in the Palmetto Council. He made it a point of pride to join both the pack and troop on campouts, including one frigid overnighter last fall at Landrum, SC; and a week of Boy Scout camp at Camp Bob Hardin in summer 2014. He joined my Bear den a few years ago to talk about his days as a Cub Scout, somehow managing to hold their attention better than the den leader (me) as he pointed out the changes to his beloved program over the years.

                Dick Kugler, after a lifetime of serving others, passed away today in Spartanburg.

                The span of time between these two lives is considerable, and yet they share a common bond with each other and with me. That bond is Scouting, and it is strong enough that the same people in South Carolina are praying for a little boy’s recovery in Charleston and for a family’s peace and strength in Spartanburg.

                Where does that leave the middle-aged Wood Badger? Here are just a few thoughts. First, there are no guarantees. We cannot know when we wake up whether we have another hike or another campout left before we ‘go home.’ A well-respected, excellent staffer told his patrol this afternoon that he didn’t know whether he would ever give another presentation, or serve on another Wood Badge staff. It’s true. He doesn’t, and neither do I. Nor do you.

                Second, the personal connections that we form through Scouting can be lasting and powerful, if we but make them so. Some Scouters never speak with their Wood Badge patrol members again, while others look forward to frequent get-togethers. That choice is mine and yours to make.

                Third, the training that you are receiving this weekend—no, that’s not right – the training in which you are actively participating will allow you to impact many people through Scouting and cross paths with others who want to make a positive change in our community and world. That is a wonderful thing, and not something to take lightly. I would not know Keeghan Brown and his family today, and I would only know Dick Kugler as a member of my church’s choir, if I had not met them through the gift of Scouting.

                So, if tonight you decide to lift up two lives and two families in prayer, please consider adding a word or two of thanks for a program that touches those lives, those families, and many more besides.

-By Michael Wiggins

Promotion Announcement for Camp Ranger

We are proud to announce that our Camp Bob Hardin Ranger, Mr. Steve Kay, has been selected as the property superintendent for Camp Bud Schiele in Rutherfordton, NC. Camp Bud Schiele is a 1,045 acre facility operated by the Piedmont Council with an annual attendance of over 7,300 youth and adult leaders. This promotion opportunity will bring Steve closer to his extended family while continuing the proud traditions established here in the Palmetto Council. He will begin his new assignment on October 15, 2015.
Best wishes can be sent to Steve via email at Steven.Kay@scouting.org or sent to the Council Service Center to his attention.
Please join us in congratulating Steve and his family on his promotion.

Palmetto Council Recognizes Leaders for Service to Hispanic Families; Launches Multi-Cultural Markets Service Initiative

Spartanburg, SC – The Palmetto Council of the Boy Scouts of America will recognize two adult leaders for their service to Hispanic families during a ceremony on September 2, 2015. Mr. Michael Tolman and Mr. David Walters will be recognized with the Vale la Pena Service Award for their work in the Boiling Springs community.

The Vale la Pena Service Award recognizes outstanding service by an adult or organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for Hispanic / Latino youth.

Michael Tolman – Michael serves as Scoutmaster of Troop 125, chartered to the Boiling Springs Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is being recognized for his work in helping Hispanic families grow in the Scouting program while encouraging youth members to take on roles of responsibility within the troop. He routinely teaches youth members to live by the Scout Oath and Law while making good life choices.

David Walters – David serves as Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 125, chartered to the Boiling Springs Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. David is being recognized for being a pioneer in the recruitment of Hispanic youth to join Scouting in the Boiling Springs community. He has been recognized as an “invaluable resource” for families of new youth members when they join the troop.

These awards are the first recognitions presented as part of the council’s Multi-Cultural Markets Service Initiative, launched in September 2015. This initiative will focus on building sustainable Scouting programs in diverse neighborhoods with no Scouting presence. The service initiative is being led by Mr. Victor Durrah, Jr., who was recently recognized by the Spartanburg County Foundation with the Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership and Community Change for his work with outreach programs in Spartanburg.

Skyuka Lodge Announces 2015 Centurion Award Winners

The Centurion Award aims to highlight “Hometown Heroes,” or Arrowmen who have meaningfully contributed to the forming, maturing and ongoing operational excellence of their local council’s lodge, and who, in doing so, inspired others to follow in their footsteps.

This award is a one-time recognition associated with the centennial anniversary of the OA that is bestowed by the national Order of the Arrow committee.

The following deserving brothers form Skyuka were selected from the many deserving brothers who have kept Skyuka Lodge and the ideals of our order strong over the last 100 years.

Eight Fort Mill Cub Scouts Receive Supernova Award

On Monday, June 1, 2015, Pack 832 at Philadelphia United Methodist Church in Fort Mill, SC presented eight Cub Scouts with the Dr. Luis Alvarez Supernova Award.

There have been many Scouts to earn the Nova awards, but these eight Scouts are the first in the York District and the Palmetto Council to earn the Supernova Award. To date there have been less than 50 Cub Scouts earn the Supernova Award nationwide. 

To earn the Supernova Award, Scouts are first recommended to earn two Nova Awards. The Nova Awards are awards based on different Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) subjects. The awards were created in 2012 to excite the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of America to look at the S.T.E.M. fields as a career choice. Most of the Cub Scouts of Pack 832 completed the Supernova Award by earning the "Science Everywhere" and the "Swing!" Nova Awards.

To earn the Nova Awards, Scouts were required to discuss subjects in different science fields, watch (or read) science material and discuss the items with a counselor. Then, the Scouts had to earn multiple belt loops above and beyond any they earned for rank. For each Nova Award, they were also required to perform a science experiment using the scientific process (or scientific method) for each Nova Award. After earning at least two Nova Awards, the Scouts were then allowed to start work on the Supernova Award.

The Supernova Award takes the Scouts deeper into S.T.E.M. fields. Each Scout was required to do research on Dr. Luis Alvarez, whom this award is named after, as well as 3 additional scientists of their choosing.  The Cub Scouts discussed their findings with their Council approved mentor. They also met a pilot who uses STEM everyday in his career and discussed what they learned with their mentor.

Each Scout was required to earn his Math and Science Academic belt loops and academic pins. Most Scouts also earned the Weather and Geology belt loops and academic pins, the Geography belt loop, and  the Softball belt loop or the Hockey belt loop.

Congratulations, Scouts!