Program Planning for January 2025
Things to Remember This Month:
- Scouts, Start Your Engines – Pinewood Derby Days
- Empower Your Parents with Elective Adventure Ideas
- Istrouma Area Council Office and Baton Rouge Scout Shop are closed to commemorate the New Year's Day (Wednesday, January 1, 2025). Both will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
- The Istrouma Area Council Office and Baton Rouge Scout Shop are closed on Monday, January 20, 2025 for the Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday.
January Council Events
Unit Camping
Check with your unit on camping activities for this month.
STEM Club
January 4
ALL Scouts (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Sea Scouting/Venturing programs) along with NOVA Counselors are welcome to join us monthly, as you can.
LEARN MOREOA G1 Section Impact Summit
January 31 - February 2
Step into the future with the Section Impact Summit! This isn’t just any training - it’s a launchpad for the leaders of tomorrow within the lodges of Section G1.
REGISTER
Climbing Tower Training @ ASR
January 31 - February 2
Be part of our team running our climbing and rappelling tower. We will be holding a training to become a tower boss or a staffer for our tower, the Avondale Beast.
REGISTERNorthshore District Roundtable
January 9
Monthly program offered by Northshore District that gives leaders hands-on experience and provides a forum for leaders to offer and receive help from their fellow Scouters.
LEARN MORECapital Service Area Rountable (serving Central, Southern, and Western Districts)
January 16
Monthly program offered by Central, Southern and Western District that gives leaders hands-on experience and provides a forum for leaders to offer and receive help from their fellow Scouters.
LEARN MOREEagle Service Project Application Due
January 17
All 2024 Eagle Scouts may be nominated for the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams Service Project of the Year Award. Today is the deadline for submission.
LEARN MORESilver Beaver Applications Due
January 17
Take advantage of this great opportunity to ensure that deserving volunteers are recognized for their dedication and outstanding service to the Istrouma Area Council. Silver Beaver applications are due today.
LEARN MORE
Council Program Committee Meeting
January 30
Join us to discuss and decide/plan program initiatives for the entire Council.
LEARN MORE
Hybrid Light Fundraising
January 1-31
Perfect Scout Fundraiser for your unit. Can be sold by Take Order Form or Show N Sell. The product can be consigned from Scout Office. Additionally, Units can set up an online storefront with HybridLight and sell directly online.
LEARN MOREJanuary Planning Items
Other Notable Activities
- Pinewood Derby Champ Camp - January 18
- The National WWII Museum's Scout Week 2025 - January 25 - February 2
Work Camp Staff
Are your Scouts looking for the experience of a lifetime? We hire older scouts to serve on camp staff at Avondale Scout Camp. Older Scouts and adult leaders are invited to be a part of something truly important as they teach valuable skills, traditions and values to camp participants, Camp Staff Application.
Simpler Plans (and more!) for Every Cub Adventure – Even Electives!
In the Rank by Rank section of the Cub Advancement page resources are links to every Cub Scout Adventure, with videos to show you how it’s done (including BSA videos en español) plus simpler “streamlined” and “family-led” plans derived from the Den Leader Guide Plan, but made simpler and easier to use. Share with your families, and let them help lead and succeed – both in your Den and at home (if they need to “make up” for missed meetings. Check out the Cub Scout Advance leveraged from the Atlanta Area Council.
Pinewood Derby Racing
A highlight for many Cub Scouts (and parents) is racing in a Pinewood Derby – in your Pack, maybe also your District. Racing can happen any time, but is common in the early part of the year. Don’t have a track? Ask other Packs about borrowing one. Got a track? Be helpful and invite other Packs to join you or borrow it. Plenty of information at scoutshop.org/pinewood-derby and scoutlife.org/pinewood-derby/
Guide to Safe Scouting: Updated Safety Afloat and Tow Sports Policies
The following updates have been made to the Guide to Safe Scouting:
- Safety Afloat-Qualified Supervision: Added – “In addition, when swimming is in conjunction with towed activities or motorized watercraft a designated observer or designated lookout must be no less than 18 years of age and present on the watercraft.”
- Tow Sports – “The designated observer must be no less than 18 years of age and present on the watercraft.”
Questions? Email health.safety@scouting.org for Guide to Safe Scouting related questions and outdoorprograms@scouting.org regarding aquatics.
Mandatory Hazardous Weather Training
The training is designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to handle adverse weather conditions, thereby enhancing our preparedness and response capabilities during scouting activities. Please reference the S.A.F.E checklist for all activities. To learn more about safety training, please visit the Health and Safety website. This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all our members and youth.
Click HERE to view the latest Frequently Asked Questions document.