There is a District Committee Meeting Thursday January 23 at 7:00 pm In Person at Hapeville First Baptist Church at 612 College St, Hapeville GA, and Over Zoom.  This meeting is for District Level Volunteers and Helpers who support our Scouting America Units in the Southern Crescent District.  More here.

Want more Fun in your Scouts Scouts BSA Troop program?  To keep current Scouts and attract new Scouts?  See this page with links to dozens of Troop Program Resources. 

Reminder to all that there are three types of Fifth Graders who can join a Troop in the Scouting America program:

1. Anyone aged 11 or older (through age 17) 
2. Those who are 10 years old and have earned the Arrow of Light Award
3. Those who are 10 years old and register on or after March 1

That’s Right.  A 10 Year Old 5th Grader need not be a Cub Scout to Join on or after March 1!

Don't get us wrong ... we want as many Fifth Graders to get the Arrow of Light Rank (that's why we provide help in doing that through these resource pages and plans).

Those first two types have been the rule for years … but opening to any 5^th Grader on or after March 1 was a new membership opportunity started in the spring of 2022 (it was announced in late April, effective as of April 18, 2022).

You can reach out to all Fifth Graders and their families:

• Certainly those in your favored Packs today.
• Work with Packs to see if they retained contact info for those who “almost” joined last fall.
• Contact any families in your Scouts' Fifth Grade Classes to “come join our Troop”.
• Plan fun events they can join.  Cookout?  Local Hike?  Bike Ride?  Axe Yard?  What do your Scouts want to do?

More about recruiting into Troops is found at scoutingatl.org/ScoutsBSARecruiting.

Notes from the November District Committee Meeting are attached at the bottom of this calendar entry, including topics about upcoming events like District Awards Banquet February 8, District Pinewood Derby March 29 and Key Leader Conference January 18, plus discussion of Troop Recruiting, standing up one or more Troops of Girls, doing a day camp or twilight camp, recruiting commissioners to help units, and more.  Email webmaster@southfultonscouting.com if you need a reminder about the login. 

Our Activity Ideas, Month by Month page has suggestions for fun things you might do.  February highlights from that page include:

• Celebrate Scouting's Birthday, through a Scout Sunday or Scout Sabbath observance and/or some other fun event or, maybe, a service project for your Chartered Organization or community ... and what better way to celebrate Scouting than Service, like Scouting for Food Service Project, which can now be done at any time. 
• There is an Atlanta Area Council Cub Scout Stem Day on February 1.
• Maybe a Pack Pinewood Derby? 
• OK, you might be thinking "Where is the Blue & Gold Banquet? -- isn't that required to be in February?"  Nope. Doesn't have to be, though it often is -- if that suits your Pack.  Some Packs have more fun if (1) more Scouts have finished their "Rank Badge" and get recognized at the Banquet, and (2) Den Leaders don't have to RushRushRush to get done by February.  So feel free to: Keep It Simple, Make It Fun – do your Banquet when Ranks are Done!!  
• Or go somewhere on the Great Big List of Places to Go and Things to Do ... find something your families like.

Highlights of the most recent District News were these (click links for information):  Gone Home: Rest In Peace Mrs. Stafinee Patterson  ... Helping Units in Your District ... and from the week before: Gone Home: District Scouts Honoring President Carter ... Camp Cards Information - You Can Register Now For This Easy Fundraiser ... Key Leader Conference NOW ON January 25 ... Save the Date -- District Awards Banquet February 8 ... Save the Date -- District Pinewood Derby March 29 ... Opt In, Opt Out ... Email webmaster@southfultonscouting.com if you need a reminder about the login.