Pio Pico District Newsletter: May 2023

Welcome to May Pio Pico!

I hope everyone has been enjoying the warmer weather. It’s about that time when the school calendar ends, we have finals and graduation ceremonies for new academic accomplishments, and that means Summer is just round the corner. It is time to start preparing for summer break. There is always a lot to do during summertime. Either by heading out to the sandy beaches and exploring the tide pools with your cub scouts, exploring the mountains in a high adventure get away, or you are packing up your backpack for a campout in the back country, or better yet, at camp! Camping is a great way to explore the wonders of the great outdoors. However, it can be a little tricky and sometimes confusing for inexperienced beginners. Like what size tent do you need, what type of kitchen equipment is needed, how to create a menu, and where to camp? It is no wonder why it can be a little intimidating for a newbie. But do not fret, we are scouts, and we are prepared! There is an ample number of experienced leaders to help new parents enjoy their first time at camp and more so, there are new scouts who are camping without mom and dad this summer for the first time. So, start creating your check list and check it twice - it is time to start organizing your adventures!

Where to Camp

Camping is a great way to get outdoors. From camping with your family, your friends, or if you are a solo camper. There is nothing like taking time away from the hustle and bustle. From mountain camping to beach camping. Some camp in cabins, others in a tent, and there are the RV’s and car camping. It doesn’t matter how you camp, there is a campsite for everyone. Most public lands are open to campers and typical fees range from $4.00 to $10.00 dollars per night, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

But where do Scouts go to camp? Camping has been the heart of Scouting for generations and there are hundreds of campgrounds across the nation that range with all kinds of activities that include everything from day and weekend camps, unit, and family campouts, to long-term camps and high adventure trips. Our Golden State has fifty-seven active camps sites! Here close to home in the Greater Los Angeles Area Council we have five great camp sites that are loaded with amazing fun filled camp adventures. Where will you be heading out this summer for camp?

Green and Gold Celebration Troop 72

Troop 72 just celebrated their 50th anniversary Green and Gold celebration on April 23rd. Thank you, Mr. Chon Cervantes for the encouraging message as well as receiving the Charter certificate from Scouts BSA National. Also in attendance were our district leaders Joe Soria and Kiran Ingale (their Chartered Representative). Other distinguished attendees include Larry Good (Scoutmaster when Brian Best became an Eagle Scout in Troop 72), Angelo Wang and Izzy Villa.

Congratulations on celebrating 50 years of scouting as a unit. Here’s too many more scouting adventures to come!

Ad Altare Dei Catholic Award

Five Scouts from Troop 375 Montebello earned the Ad Altare Dei Catholic Award.

I would like to congradulate and recongize the following Scouts who worked hard at earning this achievement: Adam Lopez, Benjamin Garnica Gonzalez, Daniel Alveno, Sebastian Bembi, and Emiliano Llamas.

I recently learned that the "Ad Altare Dei" (AAD) is a program developed by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) for Boy Scouts of the Catholic faith. Its purpose is to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person by encouraging him to actively live out his Catholic Christian faith. This gives the boy the opportunity to develop his spiritual side according to the beliefs of his own religion, to be "morally straight". The AAD program is designed to be used with adolescent boys 13 and 14 years old. Other older Scouts may work with the program. Before beginning this program, you must be Catholic and a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America, active in your troop for 6 months, and have completed the sixth grade. You must complete the program before their 18th birthday to receive the recognition. The program itself consists of eight sections. These parallel the seven Sacraments. The Scout is encouraged to work with other Scouts on this program, under the guidance of a certified Religious Emblems Counselor. The AAD program consists of discussions, activities and projects which help you learn your religion better. These are best done with a group of other Scouts. The length of time for completion of the program is about 6 months.

Upon completion, the Scout is presented with the Ad Altare Dei emblem. This is a bronze cross suspended under a bar and ribbon of the Papal colors. The BSA has authorized the wearing of this emblem on the Scout uniform.

The appropriate Scout knot can be worn on the uniform to indicate the emblem was earned.

The Boy Scouts of America Honoring Veterans

Every year, thousands of Scouts across the nation are up right before sunrise to dress in their Class A uniforms to volunteer their service in reverence to our fallen soldiers for Memorial Day. These Scouts, both boys and girls, even our youngest Cub Scouts are up at 5:30 AM. They don’t have to wake up and venture out to the National Cemetery, but they do, and they are honored to be there to be a part of this remembrance moment. They show their pride for our service men and women who bravely fought for our safety and for our country. I am proud to be a part of such an amazing organization that is instilling our youth with moral virtues and with such ethical values.

The scouts gathered in the thousands to place American flags throughout the Los Angeles National Cemetery, to honor those who served and sacrificed their lives for our country. This has been a tradition of Los Angeles National Cemetery but because of the past three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was put on hold. I have to say it was a sight to see so many Scouts out and volunteering to place ninety- thousand flags on Saturday May 27^th, 2023.

Ian McLain from Troop 330 was able to speak with CBS news anchor, Tina Patel, about why he participates in the Memorial Day flag ceremony and what it means to honor our veterans to him. Ian is on a mission to raise awareness about the Vietnam war through his Eagle Project, “Remembering Our Heroes”. (A copy of his Eagle Project flier has been attached to the Newsletter email)

If you would like to hear his interview, please visit CBS website by clicking on the direct link: A talk with L.A. National Cemetery flag placement ceremony volunteer

Recognitions

If you would like to give a shout out for a newly trained leader, please send me their name and training completed and I will add it here!

Stay informed at the District Roundtable!

Round table falls on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Roundtable is now meeting in person, and we want to see you there!

Thank you to all the Scouters that came to our May IN PERSON Roundtable meeting to welcome Bob Kirkjian to our District. What a warm reception Pio Pico gave him. We had over 50 Scouters in attendance. It was amazing to see so many new faces participating in the break-out sessions. There was a lot of networking and learning going on. If you have any ideas for break-outs let us know! Thank you to all our break-out leads for your time and energy. Don't forget to look at what we have planned for our summer Roundtable meetings and break-out sessions.

We hope to see you at the June Roundtable Picnic on June 14th!

We Will Meet at Palm Park at Picnic tables 6-9 PM

Camp Card Campaign is here!

The camp Card sale is designed to help Scouts earn funds to help offset the cost of their Scouting experience. Participating units in this program will earn 50% commission ($5.00) for each $10.00 Camp Card they sell. The sale begins March 1st and ends June 30th.

You can sign up and pre-order camp cards by going to GLAAC website and under Support Scouting, click on Unit Fundraising Opportunities (links below) for more details or contact the District Camp Card Chair.

Camp Card Pre-Order Form

Camp Card Guide Book

Staff at Summer Camp!

Camp Big Horn at Circle X Ranch is looking for Youth and Young Adults to help staff for their 2023 Summer Adventures. This opportunity will not only provide having endless amounts of fun while earning a paycheck, but it will also enrich valuable skills! Please see flyer for more info!

If you would like to apply, please click the link below:

Application for Summer Camp Staff

Recruitment Materials

If you want any of the items below, please email Virginia or Cameron Summers.
There are wristbands, flashlights, stickers, Boys Life minis, and recruitment envelopes.
Please Contact Virginia Wetzel for more details: varcourt@twc.com