2022 Camperships Announced

As we approach the Spring, summer camp is just around the corner! Did you know that the Palmetto Council provides nearly $5,000 in camperships each year to help scouts attend a BSA Council summer camp, day camp, or a National High Adventure Base? All camperships are awarded based primarily on financial need and in keeping with the Scouting philosophy of youth helping to “pay their own way,” no campership can exceed more than 50% of the total registration fee. The campership request form can be completed by either a scout’s unit leader (Committee Chair, Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, or Advisor) or parent/guardian. The deadline to submit a campership application this year is Friday, April 1. Campership requests received after that date will only be considered if funds remain. To submit a campership request: https://palmettocouncil.org/camperships

Palmetto Council NESA Committee Announces 2021 NESA Outstanding Eagle Class

Spartanburg, SC – The Palmetto Council National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) Committee is proud to announce our 2022 NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Recipients:  John Gordon & Larry Fann.  This award, popularly known as the NOESA, is granted to Eagle Scouts who distinguish themselves in their life work and who share their talents with their communities on a voluntary basis.

About John Gordon:  John is a native of Clover, SC where he earned his Eagle in Troop 38.  His organizational expertise is driven by more than 15 years of operational and leadership experience at some of the area’s most respected conservation and recreation facilities including the U.S. National Whitewater Center, YMCA Camp Thunderbird, and YMCA Camp Cherokee. This experience prepared him to assume his responsibility as the Executive Director of the Anne Springs Close Greenway, solidifying his position as a regional leader in outdoor education and recreation. In 2021, John was selected to be a Liberty Fellow, an incubator for exemplary leadership in South Carolina.  Fellows make a lifelong commitment to use their creativity, network, and energy to move South Carolina forward.

About Larry Fann: Larry is a native of Spartanburg, SC where he earned his Eagle in Troop 19.  Larry, is an electrician by trade and owns his own business, Fann Electric Company, Inc.  Larry has always been a great supporter of Scouting and offers his time and talents to work with scouts and other youth to teach them many skills and trades. Larry is such a firm believer in the principles of scouting that he has the 12 points of the Scout Law painted on his company truck.  Larry goes above and beyond to make sure all youth have the opportunity to be a Scout regardless of their background.  For many years he supported a predominately Hispanic unit that worked with youth from the Lone Oak Community as well as students at the SC School for the Dead & Blind.  In addition to Scouting, Larry is active in his church, the American Legion & VFW.  

The Palmetto Council NESA Committee will award the NOESA recognitions, along with honoring the Palmetto Council 2021 Eagle Class, during the NESA Recognition Event on March 6, 2022 at 3:00 PM at Grace Lutheran Church in Rock Hill.  Register to attend as we recognize these Eagles at https://scoutingevent.com/549-nesa

Source: https://scoutingevent.com/549-nesa

Scouting Anniversary Week/Scout Sunday Recommendations

As we are quickly approaching Scouting Anniversary Week & Scout Sunday, we are requesting for your unit to consider ways to engage and recognize your charter partner.  Scouting would not happen without our Charter Partners and over the last year we have come to appreciate their loyal support even more.  Let’s be sure to use the upcoming opportunities to recognize their support and strengthen our ties.  Listed below are eight suggestions.  Consider choosing four: 

 

1. Post a Charter Partner shout out and thank you on all the unit’s social media profiles

2. Drop a thank you flyer with stats on the unit’s Scouting success in the bulletin

3. Do a volunteer project to benefit the Charter Partner (counts towards Journey to Excellence)

4. Write a thank you letter that all Scouts can sign sharing the success of the unit to the Charter Partner’s leadership committee

5. Piece together a collage of pictures from the scouting year the Charter Partner helps enable, frame it, and present as a gift to your Charter Partner’s committee 

6. Be as involved in the Scout Sunday service as you possibly can (serve as ushers, provide a bulletin message, picture/video presentations, scripture reading, flag ceremony, recite the oath & law, lead a prayer, ask members of the congregation who were Scouts to stand, formerly present the annual charter, award religious emblems, connect Scouting for Food to the service, etc.).  A full list of ideas can be found HERE

7. Invite the charter partner executive committee to a meeting

8. Have at least 50% of the unit participate in Scout Sunday

Risk Mitigation for In-person Unit and Council Events (Updated January 2022)

Risk Mitigation for In-person Unit and Council Events

In accordance with updated recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and local and state health agencies, Palmetto Council is updating its recommended guidance for in-person meetings and events.

  1. Before resuming any meetings or changing COVID precautions check with your charter partner to ensure they approve. Rules or guidance from your charter partner must be followed. Please respect their wishes.

  2. Individuals at higher risk of severe illness (older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions) should consult their physician prior to participation in any group activities.

  3. All participants should review their current health prior to participating in any activity. Individuals with temperatures and other symptoms of COVID-19 should not participate.

  4. To maximize protection from the Omicron variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, fully vaccinated people should wear a mask while indoors.

  5. Unvaccinated individuals should continue taking preventative measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19. These include wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart, and washing hands regularly.

  6. All units should continue to keep a detailed roster of participants for all meetings and activities, so they are prepared in the event that contact tracing is required.

  7. Unvaccinated individuals and those who have completed the primary series of recommended vaccine, but have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible who believe they may have been exposed to Coronavirus must quarantine for 5-days prior to participation in any Scouting activity.

  8. People who are fully vaccinated, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people, do NOT need to quarantine after contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested at least 5 days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask indoors in public for 10-days following exposure

  9. Individuals, regardless of vaccination status, who have had COVID-19 (confirmed by testing positive using a viral test) within the last 90 days and have subsequently recovered and remain without COVID-19 symptoms do not need to quarantine or get tested after close contact.

  10. Proper sanitation and the ability for handwashing should be present at all events.

  11. Sleeping arrangements on camping trips should be limited to one person per tent, unless all occupants of the tent are fully vaccinated.

  12. Carpooling to events may resume as long as all members of the carpool are fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated individuals are encouraged to continue traveling within their family unit.

  13. All local, state, and federal safety guidelines should be followed. Please review guidelines for not only your unit’s meeting location, but the location of any camping/activity destination. Regardless of vaccination status, all scouting members are encouraged to continue respecting any mask mandates in place at meeting or event venues.

  14. Ensure all BSA Youth Protection guidelines are adhered to.

  15. It is recommended that these guidelines be shared with each member of your unit and posted during all meetings and activities.

Vision 2026 - Palmetto Council's Five Year Strategic Plan Announced

Come learn about Vision 2026, the Palmetto Council’s five year strategic plan, at one of our four presentations:

  • Thursday, January 13 @ 6:30 PM: Daniel Morgan Round Table (Palmetto Council Office, Spartanburg)

  • Saturday, January 22 @ 2:00 PM: University of Scouting (Buford Street UMC, Gaffney)

  • Thursday, February 10 @ 6:30 PM: York Round Table (Woodland UMC, Rock Hill)

  • Tuesday, February 22 @ 6:30 PM: Zoom Presentation (Click Here to Register)


Silver Beaver Nominations Due 12/1

The Silver Beaver Award was introduced in 1931 and is a council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients of this award are registered Scouters who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council.

The nomination form is available HERE and must be submitted to the council service center no later than December 1, 2021. Completed nomination forms can be mailed to the Palmetto Council Service Center OR emailed to palmettocouncil@scouting.org.

Click HERE for a list of Palmetto Council Silver Beaver recipients over the years.