APRIL/MAY 2024

MESSAGE FROM OUR DISTRICT CHAIRMAN!

Hi. My name is Victor Vergara and I am Mercer Area District’s (MAD) new Chairman, and I am excited. I’m here! I’m here to help our District to provide extraordinary service, quality training, deliver opportunities for our youth and scouters. 

I am a life-long Scouter (once a scout always a scout) and being the District Chair enables me to give back to scouting even more than being a unit leader. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) program has been a part of my life for a long time and has been an incredible experience for my kids.

The role of Mercer Area District is to mobilize resources to assist in the growth and success of Scouting units within our geographical area. This means that the district works with chartered organizations and community groups to organize and support our units so that our youth members receive a better program.

I would be negligent if I did not thank everyone that has volunteered in the past, and to our current volunteers on the District committee. I know that they have been doing their best and are key to making sure that Mercer Area units have the necessary tools to run their unit programs.  

However, in order to ensure that our units get the tools and resources needed to run a quality program, the district committee needs your help to make sure that we can provide a worth-while services for our youth and help prepare our leaders for the roles they volunteered for.

To be honest, no volunteer organization can function without willing volunteers…yes you. Be the one to help provide programs to keep our youth and leaders. Do you like numbers, we can use you. Do you enjoy teaching, then your skills are needed. Do you prefer serving in the background while making sure that the work gets done, your services are needed. There are many ways you can help, so please reach out and contact me or Janet L. Boris (our District Executive) if you can help in any capacity.

DISTRICT DINNER - ALL ARE WELCOME!

The Mercer Area District Dinner will be Wednesday, April 24, 2024 starting at 6:30PM at Villa Mannino in Bordentown, NJ. The price is $30 per person. This was lowered thanks to a generous donation towards the event. Come for fun and fellowship!

The District Award of Merit is the highest award that a District can bestow upon an adult Scouter.

2024 Mercer Area District

District Award of Merit Recipients:

Deborah Vivona

Rob Herb

Luis Valcarcel

The Mercer Area District will be presenting these awards at the district dinner on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

ADVENTURE CON: For Packs, Troops, Crews, and Ships!

All units will want to send a representative to join WCC for an expo of Scouting and local activities that you'll want to include in your unit's program plan!

May 21, 2024 at Bucks County Community College. Booths are open from 6PM to 8:30PM. Arrive anytime!

The WCC Scout Shop will be closed on Tuesday, April 23. The board room at the council service center is used as a polling location, and that day is the primary election in Pennsylvania. The council service center will still be open that day, and staff will be available to assist via phone and email.

TRAINING

Wood Badge is an advanced leadership program for adults. Cradle of Liberty Council and Washington Crossing Council are partnering to offer Wood Badge on May 17-19 and June 8-9, 2024. Registration is now open. Held at Camp Hart at the Musser Scout Reservation.

BALOO: Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation is an engaging training course that will cover everything Cub Scout leaders need to know to plan and run a pack overnighter. BALOO training is required for Cub Scout packs to go camping. The BSA requires at least one BALOO-trained person on each pack campout. BALOO is being offered Saturday, April 20th to Sunday, April 21st at Ockanickon Scout Reservation, 5787 State Park Road, Pipersville, PA.

IOLS: Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills is a training course for current/future Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters and other registered adults interested in improving their basic Scout Skills. Saturday, April 20th to Sunday, April 21st at Ockanickon Scout Reservation, 5787 State Park Road, Pipersville, PA.

ROUNDTABLE REMINDER!

Roundtables are held the 2nd Wednesday of the month.

Gathering is at 7:00PM and the meeting begins at 7:30PM.



Meeting are in-person unless otherwise noted.

Our Lady of Sorrows

East State Street, Mercerville, NJ 08619

(Meetings are held in the basement of the building that is to your right as you turn into the parking lot.)

Upcoming Roundtable dates:

• May 8 - Cub Scout Program Changes

Changes are coming to the Cub Scout program effective June 2024. Click here for more information...even better attend the May Roundtable to learn more!

District Committee Meetings are normally held the 3rd Wednesday of each month via Zoom.

ADVANCEMENT NEWS

Advancement Q & A Zoom Meeting - May 1st

7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 871 5987 9554

Passcode: 823089

On Thursday, April 18th, the Washington Crossing Council will be sharing some "cliff notes" for the upcoming changes to the Cub Scout program. These will be emailed to all Scouters who are registered as Cubmasters, Pack Committee Chairs, and Den Leaders. Any other Scouter who would like to receive this update can add themselves to the mailing list by clicking here.

SUMMER PROGRAMS: Cub Scout Day Camp and Cub Resident Camp 2024

Space: Out of this World!

Blast off for space exploration this summer at Cub Scout Day Camp. Make new friends while participating in archery, fishing, STEM, and Scout skills. Join us for an “out of this world” experience.

June 24-28: Core Creek Park, Langhorne, PA**                                    

June 24-28: Mercer Park County Park East, West Windsor, NJ

July 8-12: Rosedale Park, Pennington, NJ                                              

July 15-19: Sauerland Outdoor Center, Lebanon, NJ                               

Aug 5-9: Ockanickon Scout Reservation, Pipersville, PA                   

** Staff is needed for Core Creek so if anyone is interested, please contact Janet L. Boris.

Cub Scout Adventure Camp at

Ockanickon Scout Reservation

Session #1   July 28–July 30

Session #2   July 31–August 2

The Cub Adventure Camp will be run by the Ockanickon Summer Camp Staff… and they are excited to bring their enthusiasm to Cub Scouts through this new program. This is absolutely going to be a great time for cubs as they interact with the seventy plus staff that make scouting magic happen year after year.

Packs will camp in tents provided by the camp and all meals will be served in the camp dining hall.

Congratulations to Kristi Reading! As Kristi said, "Scouting has helped me to be a better parent and friend." We couldn't agree more. Mercer Area District appreciates all the outstanding leaders who give so much of their time and talent to Scouting.