News
Leaders, did you know you could become trained to use our Lake Erie Council mobile climbing walls?
We have multiple trainings coming up this fall. Visit our facilitator training schedule at https://scoutingevent.com/440-MobileClimbingTraining.
Once you get trained, you can rent out the walls for recruitment and unit activities without the need to book an instructor.
On Saturday, June 22, Lake Erie Council hosted the first annual Safety Services Competition at Tri-C West in Parma.
We had 14 different posts represented and over 100 youth and adult volunteers.
The Explorers participated in several challenging scenarios from door entry to search and seizure to crisis intervention. Some of the exploring alumni came back to assist. Medals and ribbons were handed out for the top teams as well as the fastest time on the obstacle course. Plans have already been in the works for next year’s event.
Timmy Hargate was diagnosed at an early age with autism and an extreme speech delay.
Thanks to years of hard work and the help of dedicated professionals, he is now an Eagle Scout.
At age 7, Timmy enrolled at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Lerner School for Autism. The school uses treatment based on applied behavioral analysis in an educational setting to serve students from the age of earliest diagnosis through 21.
He gradually learned how to communicate with a speech-generating device that allows him to type in words or pre-programmed responses on an iPad.
Timmy’s father, Ed, says Timmy is “very smart and he understands what people are saying to him. He’s just not able to verbally communicate very well without a speech-generating device.”
At age 11, he joined Troop 461. Over the years, he moved up the ranks, culminating with the completion of his Eagle Scout service project earlier this year.
Timmy is 20 and earned the highest rank in Scouting through the BSA’s rules concerning advancement for members with special needs.
“The school and Scouts are his two principal activities, and they keep him busy,” says Ed. “Lerner School has really helped him learn how to communicate with his peers and adults, and being in Troop 461 has done a lot for his socialization skills.”
The project Timmy chose was certainly not an easy one. He planned, organized and managed the annual summer field day event for the students at the Lerner School.
Timmy worked with his teachers over a period of several weeks to select activities and games that would be appropriate for his fellow students. He recruited fellow Scouts to be responsible for each activity. He marketed the event by creating posters, supervised the setup process on the day of the event, oversaw the management of all activities on the big day and supervised tear-down when it was over.
In short, it was everything you would expect of an Eagle Scout service project.
“I am so proud of Timmy and happy to be a part of his accomplishments,” says Phoebe Mason, a speech language pathologist at the Lerner School. “He’s made so much progress over the years, and has become a real leader at the school and in Scouting.”
The Lake Erie Council lost a dear friend today. Charles “Bud” Ford was a member of our Scouting family since 1967 when he joined Pack 620 at Gesu Church. In all, Bud gave 61 years (52 in Cleveland) of his life to change young lives through the Scouting program. He was a servant leader, a mentor, and a trusted friend. We will miss his boundless energy, his passion, and friendship.
In Bud’s own words,
“Using the Scout Oath and Law as guidelines, I managed to apply those moral and ethical principles to my work and my relationships with others. That brought trust and respect from those with whom I associated.”
“Being an Eagle Scout meant that I wanted to give back to the Scouting movement as an adult leader. I think my enthusiasm for the Scouting program has helped many young men have fun while learning the importance of setting goals and accomplishing them. The increased emphasis on boy-run troops has helped more young men learn how to plan a strong and active program and then put it into action with their newly acquired leadership skills.”
As a Distinguished Eagle Scout, Bud’s list of Scouts achievements is truly impressive. Click here to read. We salute and honor Bud’s Scouting legacy.
Funeral arrangements will be posted when finalized.
Leaders, have you ever gone to summer camp with your Scouts and discovered you were jealous of all the fun they were having? Have you ever wanted to go back to a camp just for you? Now's your chance! Wood Badge is an advanced, national leadership course open only to Scouting volunteers and professionals.
Spanning between two weekends, theWood Badge Course and the training you will receive allows you to build stronger Scouting units, give you a deeper understanding of what Scouting is and why we do it. Throughout the course, you will learn stages of team development, coaching and mentoring skills, servant leadership, you will be given the opportunity to work with Scouters from across the council, and much more.
Not only will you leave the course with more experience, valuable lessons, and lasting memories, but if two adults from your Unit or Charter Organization attend this summer, you will also earn a free cabin rental at any of our three camp properties!
Parents and family members, do you know a great way to let your Scout know you are supporting them through their Scouting journey? A simple letter or care package from home. Many Scouts receive care packages each week while they are attending any of our three camps.
If you wish to send your Scout a care package, please include the name of the camp, address, Scouts name, unit number, and week they are attending camp.
Once the mail arrives at camp, our Staff will ensure it gets into the hands of your Scouts.
Beaumont Scout Reservation
2429 OH-45
Rock Creek, OH 44084
Hiram College, in conjunction with the Lake Erie Council, Boy Scouts of America, recently announced a new scholarship that recognizes high achievement and college match. As part of the agreement, up to five exemplary Eagle Scouts will be selected by the Boy Scouts of America and awarded the scholarship, worth 50 percent of tuition and mandatory fees in the traditional college program beginning fall 2019.
“We are honored to announce our partnership with Hiram College and the new Eagle Scout Scholarship,” said Marc Ryan, Scout Executive/CEO, Lake Erie Council, Boy Scouts of America. “Eagle Scouts must value perseverance, discipline, leadership, accountability, and achievement to succeed. These values build character in a young person that is sought after and needed in today’s world and communities.”
Hiram College has long been committed to educational excellence, helping students develop a 21st-century skill set and mindset that will allow them to thrive in personal lives where societal changes are constant and complex. Sherman Dean II, director of the admission at Hiram College, believes that the core values Eagle Scouts develop closely align with that the College.
“Hiram College is excited to partner with the Boy Scouts of America, Lake Erie Council, on the new Eagle Scout Scholarship,” said Dean. “We look forward to providing these exceptional Eagle Scouts with an equally exceptional educational opportunity that will allow them to continue development of the qualities they have already established.”
Scouting is more than just an outdoor program. “Families and youth will see Lake Erie Council, BSA as the go-to destination to deliver affordable college education to our best and brightest as evidenced by their attainment of the Eagle Scout rank,” said Donald W. Kaatz, President, Board of Directors, Lake Erie Council. “We are grateful for our special relationship with Hiram and hope more universities and colleges will follow their lead.”
For more information about Hiram’s Eagle Scout Scholarship, email Sherman C. Dean II, Director of Admission, Hiram College: DeanSC@hiram.edu.
The Lake Erie Council is your home for family camping experiences! Start and end your summer by reserving a spot at Beaumont Scout Reservation for our Family Camping Bookend Weekends during Memorial Day and Labor Day. If that does fit your schedule, Family Camps will be offered all summer long. If you are you looking to stay close to home this summer while still doing something completely different, we have four themed weekends of outdoor family adventures at Camp Stigwandish .
Activities include aquatics, boating, swimming, shooting sports, wrist rockets, crafts and projects, nature, sports, theme night, campfires. Register today to join in on the fun!
Register today to join in on the fun!
Who is ready to have some Fourth of July fun? Join us on Friday, July 5, 2019 at Camp Stigwandish for Red, White, and Boom!
Events include: rock climbing, water rockets, shooting sports, Scouting games, GAGA, crafts and so much more!
Dinner will be provided at the dining hall. After enjoying a meal with family and friends, the Lake Erie Council invites you to continue the celebration at Beaumont Scout Reservation for even more programming and a state-of-the-art fireworks display. Register today for this free Fourth of July event that you will never forget!
The Lake Erie Council Spring Staff Changes:
Congratulations to Matt Feehley who has been promoted to Senior Unit Serving Executive. In this new role, Matt will continue serving our Scouters in Cub Scout Service Area 7 and take on some additional leadership responsibility.
In the past, Matt has served as the district executive (DE) for the Grand River district for 2 1/2 years. Matt has grown Cub Scouting in his district now service area for the past two years.
Congratulations to Julia Hearne who has also been promoted to Senior Unit Serving Executive. Julia will continue to serve our Scouts in Inclusive Scouting while taking on some additional leadership responsibilities.
In the past, Julia has served on camp staff at Beaumont Scout Reservation and has helped with all major council events. Julia has also helped grow our inclusive Scouting program over the past few years!
Finally we would like to thank and wish Erica Henkin, Unit Serving Executive on the Young Adult Impact Team, good luck in her future endeavors. Erica will be leaving the Lake Erie Council on May 10th to start a new and exciting career at Cleveland State University as the Coordinator, IoT Innovations and IoT Collaborative Center.
