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Can my family continue to participate in Scouting in 2020?
YES!
Having served in Scouting for over 20 years, I have had unique experiences and growth opportunities that have helped me in service to my unit and my family. Scouts BSA provides some of the best leadership and service training one can get.
While contemplating the value of continued service in Scouting during the Church Reception at the 2018 BSA National Annual Meeting,
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had the following to say. "...Please keep your shoulder to the wheel. Let me stress again, 'This isn't a divorce.' It's growth. We're not in any way disavowing any of those virtues of Scouting. This is about children. We hope that you keep serving. Let me say it again, 'Keep Serving.'"
2020 is just around the corner. Youth, families and leaders can at this moment dual-register in a community unit, or decide to create a Scouting unit of their own. We have recently been presented the main aspects of the new Church initiative for Children and Youth, and this appears to be highly compatible with Scouting, to include allowing a young person to complete goals in both programs efficiently and simultaneously. This issue of Saints & Scouts will explore each of these topics...and as always, please continue to visit our Facebook page for more timely updates... enjoy!
-Trevor Bender
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Want more information on how to find Scouting resources near you? Please contact us or take the "Continuing the Adventure Survey" below to let us know how we can help your family make a smooth transition in 2020.
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Building Resiliency in Youth
In the September 2019 issue of the Ensign, there are several articles related “Raising Resilient Children”. In an article titled "Resilience - Spiritual Armor for Today's Youth", Elder Robbins describes the need to strengthen our youth so they are more likely to finish a tough first year of college, or complete a full term of missionary service.
Resiliency can come through doing hard things, such as meeting a demanding work schedule while attending High School, or trying new things, such as mastering a musical instrument or team sport. Inherent in the Scouting process are many opportunities to develop resiliency, such as completing a week-long backpacking trip, or navigating the process to become an Eagle Scout. Completing four years of seminary will help our youth develop resilient testimonies of Jesus Christ and His restored Church.
It is my sincere desire that by continuing to serve as a leader in Scouting, I can provide one more avenue for our youth to choose to develop resiliency in their character development.
- Trevor Bender
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The September 2019 Ensign
Resilience—Spiritual Armor for Today’s Youth
By Elder Lynn G. Robbins
Of the Seventy
"Learning to develop the Christlike virtues of faith, patience, diligence, and resilience, among many others, cannot happen without opposition. Our Father in Heaven, therefore, allows us to face difficult challenges and do hard things. How can we ever become like our great Exemplar if we don’t face trials similar to those that made Him who He is? Likewise, how can we as parents help our own children progress if we don’t allow them and even encourage them to do hard things?
It is the hardships, the struggling, and the stretching that help us develop resilience—the ability to get up, dust ourselves off, and continue on the strait and narrow path. That path is often steep and rocky, and we will all have our share of stumbles and setbacks. It is the Lord’s gift of unlimited second chances that enables us to move forward with resilience."
To read the entire article, please click here.
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New Children and Youth Initiative
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
With the introduction of the new Children and Youth Initiative by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 29, 2019, we are excited to share with families how participation in Scouting can be a part of the goals set by children and youth. The images below demonstrate how a youth or child participating in the new Church initiative can select Scouting activities in the areas of Personal Development as well as Service and Activities. As always, the values of Scouting combined with the structure of the Church can help our children and youth stay focused on the Savior and "become men and women of integrity."
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For a PDF of the images above and a description of how they can be used, please click the link below.
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For Church members looking for a new Scouting home
From Bryan on Scouting, July 30, 2019
"How you can welcome families moving from LDS units to your pack or troop"
by Bryan Wendell
Mati Mayfield encourages members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to explore the BSA's unit locator tool, found at BeAScout.org.
Families can enter their ZIP code, and the site shows the closets Cub Scout packs, Scouts BSA troops, Venturing crews and Sea Scout ships.
Once families have identified a few nearby units, Mayfield suggests a few more steps:
1. Visit more than one unit. “You might find that one suits your family more than another one, even if it’s a bit farther away,” she says. “Not all units Scout the same way.”
2. Visit your top unit more than once.
3. Take the family and a friend to the unit meeting.
4. Ask questions* and get contact information. “Getting contact information from their New Member Coordinator means that you can ask questions when you get home,” Mayfield says. “Not all questions come to mind while at the meeting.”
Click here to read the full post by Bryan on Scouting.
*Don't be afraid to ask about weekend activities and how you can participate while still keeping the sabbath day holy. Scouters are very respectful and focused on the needs of the youth and their families. Many unit leaders are accommodating. We also recommend parents get involved when ever they can. ~ Saints & Scouts
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COMMUNITY SCOUT UNITS WELCOMING LATTER-DAY SAINT FAMILIES
The following units have responded to a Council wide request to share their information with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They understand the unique traits that make us, well, Latter-day Saints. To find out what units are opening their doors in your area, please click on your Stake to see a list of Packs, Troops, and other Scout units.
Carlsbad
Chula Vista
Del Mar
El Cajon
Escondido
Imperial
Penasquitos
Poway
San Diego
San Diego East
San Diego North
Santee
Vista
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Why I Am Staying in Scouting
By: Trevor Bender
There are a number of reasons why a youth, family or leader would choose to participate in Scouting. I have shared a few throughout this newsletter that influenced my decision to continue participation in 2020 and beyond. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and I am certain readers can think of other factors that would apply to their decision making process.
Wood Badge for example, is the premier one-week leadership course that has transformed the lives of so many Scouters. I took the course in Seattle in 2009. Not only did it make me a better Scoutmaster, but a better husband and father. As a result of my Wood Badge training, I look at youth development and goal setting in a very different way, and have subsequently made improvements in my own life. To continue my own development and those of others, I will serve as a Troop Guide at the upcoming National Wood Badge Course to be held at the Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia in January 2020.
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Most of us reading this newsletter are familiar with the Scout Oath and Law, and agree that abiding by its 12 points and other precepts, will better help our youth make ethical and moral choices. Combining this with the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides an even stronger moral foundation. We are not asked to serve just the youth of the Church, but where we can; we are to make a difference in the lives of all of our Heavenly Father’s children. I believe my continued service and leadership to Scouting will benefit the youth of many faiths, and perhaps most importantly, help give an ethical and moral foundation to those of no faith at all.
I hope that the above has shed some light on the positive benefits of continuing your personal service and family participation in Scouting. I look forward to seeing you in Scouting in 2020...let the adventure continue!
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If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Service & Transition Team, or your local District Executives or Stake Representatives.
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Trevor Bender
Chair
619-346-8786
trevor.bender@cox.net
Serving the North Stakes:
Carlsbad
Del Mar
Escondido
Penasquitos
Poway
San Diego North
Vista
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Amy Tadlock
619-616-8767
tadlock_family@yahoo.com
Serving the South Stakes:
Chula Vista
El Cajon
Imperial
San Diego
San Diego East
Santee
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Need more information?
Contact your District Executive or
Stake Representative
Carlsbad Stake
Jeff Boswell
Camille Graff
Chula Vista Stake
Enrique Teigeiro
Tyler Goold
Del Mar Stake
Jeff Boswell
Todd Wilson
El Cajon Stake
Erin Gillette
Michael Erickson
Escondido Stake
Thomas Farmery
Marlene LaLanne
Imperial Stake
Trent McClure
Dale Howard
Poway Stake
Laura Scheid
Josiah Drew
Penasquitos Stake
Laura Scheid
Matt Romney
San Diego Stake
Rob Canton
Ken Batson
San Diego East Stake
Erin Gillette
Greg Middleton
San Diego North Stake
Rob Canton
Kent West
Santee Stake
Erin Gillette
Hugh Hagues
Vista Stake
Thomas Farmery
Bryce Hall
For more information on the Exploring Program
Contact Trent McClure, Exploring Director
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Visit us online!
The Latter-day Saint Scouting Service and Transition Team has a website, Facebook, and Instagram. Follow us for the latest updates.
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We are here to serve you.
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Website
For those who want to make 2019 the best year yet and continue the adventure in 2020, we want to help you find the right program to meet the needs of your family.
Visit the Website
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Subscribe to the Saints & Scouts newsletter to stay informed about future updates regarding the Latter-day Saint Transition.
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