It’s been a little over two years since TAC suspended face-to-face Scouting. In my previous capacity as a District Commissioner and now as the Council Commissioner, I was overwhelmed in that time by the positivity and resourcefulness of leaders who have found ways to keep our youth engaged with Scouting and the way that ideas, program plans and resources have been shared. We have expanded the use of online virtual meetings to keep our units and leaders informed of changes in TAC and in the BSA and over that time we have embraced the technology and the new reality and now have a better insight into their wants and needs. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to each and every one of you for everything you have done and are doing for TAC Scouting!
Normandy Camporee
Normandy is just a few days away and is really the first effort by TAC in getting back outdoors. Its success depends upon you! For many of you, this will be your first, and possibly, only time to participate in the Normandy experience. It only occurs every three years. The efforts of Dick Meijaard and his team of TAC volunteers should not go unnoticed. His knowledge and inexhaustible strength have left indelible marks on all aspects of the camporee. If you see Dick and his staff in Normandy, Thank each of them for a job well done!
TAC Outdoor Training
TAC’s Wood Badge course this year is at Camp Freedom, Oberdachstetten, Germany from July 17-23, 2022. Wood Badge is Scouting’s advanced leadership and team-building training for adult leaders involved in all of Scouting’s programs including Cub Scout, Scouts BSA and Venturing as well as council and district leaders. Yes, that means you too! Here is more information on Wood Badge: https://tac-bsa.org/training/woodbadge/.
This year’s TAC National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) will be held from July 10-16, 2022, at the Wild B.O.A.R. site in Grafenwöhr, Germany. NYLT is an exciting, action‐packed program designed to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home units and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others. NYLT is a six-day course that centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE, what they must KNOW, and what they must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the patrol goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership. If you would like more information about BSA Leadership Training or arrange a presentation to your unit, contact Andrew Wright, the 2022 Summer NYLT Director. Email: andrewwright675@btinternet.com.
World Scout Jamboree
2023 World Scout Jamboree – The United States Contingent is still accepting applications for participants (youth) and International Service Team (IST) members for the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea. Space is limited. For more information, and a link to apply, go to WSJ2023.US. Will your Scout be 14-17 years old in 2023? Would they like the chance to attend a truly epic scout camp, becoming a member of the US Contingent and have the adventure of a lifetime? The World Scout Jamboree is a World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) event, attended by tens of thousands of Scouts from around the world aged 14 to 17. It happens every 4 years, each time hosted by a different country. 2023 may feel like a long time away but to become a member of the US Contingent you need to act soon.
I encourage each of you to take advantage of what TAC Scouting has to offer.
Yours in Commissioner Service
Jeff Arter
