Become a Certified Angler Instructor

Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, said "A fisherman does not bait his hook with food he likes. He uses food the fish likes" The same is true for Scouts and it turns out that fishing is what Scouts want. In fact, fishing comes in as fourth on the list in a recent survey of Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA participants about what they want from Scouting. 

Because fishing is so popular, the BSA has developed the Certified Angler Instructor (CAI) program and now are offering this unique training online over the next few weeks. The training will be offered in six modules that will be taught online every Tuesday at 9 pm from January 25 through March 1, 2022. There is a $10 fee to cover the cost of the patch and shipping. In the past, this training with travel and lodging has often run into hundreds of dollars so this is a very inexpensive option. To register, click here. You will be sent a Zoom link after you register

The CAI Training course is taught using the E.D.G.E. Method, in an effort to provide Scout Leaders/ Camp Staff with the tools necessary to design, develop and provide leadership to BSA fishing programs. Participants include current and future Council Camp Program Directors, Camp Fishing Staff Members, Merit Badge Counselors, Cub Scout Day Camp Staff, Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Sea Scouts and Venture Staff.  Unit Leaders wishing to grow their membership with an active outdoor program!

Den Leaders, Assistant Scoutmasters, Committee Members, Star, Life and Eagle Scouts.  You will become prepared to instruct Scouts in fishing and fly fishing while using fishing to plan outdoor activities in all seasons.  This includes outdoor and indoor skill development and preparation. Leaders who take this course qualify as fishing and fly fishing merit badge counselors.

The CAI course syllabus includes age appropriate skills using fishing tools and techniques for their Scouts, ranging from Cane Pole to Fly Fishing

The course will 

• Highlight best practices on content delivery, in both the classroom and the field.
• Provide a positive fishing experience & improve your council’s fishing program
• The skills learned in the course can be used to increase membership in your unit, district and council
• Participants will become confidant in fly tying and fly casting, knot tying and catch and release practices.
• CAI offers quality fishing gear at value pricing/cost effective purchase power for units and Councils alike.

For more information check out these links:

• What is a BSA Certified Angler Instructor
• Informational Brochure
• Training Opportunities
• https://www.bsafishing.com/

Training for 2022

Most of our units have completed their rechartering and are looking toward a new year in scouting for their unit. Often during the new year celebration we reflect what has been done, and how we can do a little better in the coming year.

We wanted to share what our District has done this last year in the way of training. The Council updates us every quarter to let us know how we compare to other districts in the Crossroads of the Wsest Council. At this time, the Old Ephraim District has 42.76% of it's adult leaders who are trained in their position. We are tied for first place with another district in the Council. That is encouraging, but we feel we can do better.

For 2022,  the Old Ephraim district has two Face-to-Face trainings planned. The first is on Saturday, March 5th and the second Saturday, October 8th. Both trainings will start at 8am. Please add these dates to your Unit calendar and then encourage your adult leaders to be there if they haven't been trained. We have experienced trainers who are ready and eager to give you the help you need. If those dates won't work remember that online training is available for every scouting position.

BSA has an excellent resource to make scouting units excel and improve year by year. It is called Journey to Excellence! (JTE) It helps units plan quality programs all year round. The Boy Scouts of America explains it like this:

“Scouting’s Journey to Excellence (JTE) is the BSA aspirational planning, performance and recognition program designed to encourage and reward success of our units. It is meant to encourage excellence and continuous improvement in providing a quality program at all levels of the BSA.

The JTE standards are based on achievements the previous year or previous few years, both individually and for the creation of national standards.” (found online at: BSA Journey to Excellence)

Each year a new score card for Journey to Excellence is posted. Your unit can print it off and plan how you will achieve the goals set. Remember scouting is a journey we all take and we improve little by little.

Happy New Year Old Ephraim District!

Photo: 2022 text on wooden blocks by Marco Verch under Creative Commons 2.0

District Eagle Scouts in 2021

We are proud to announce that the Old Ephraim district had 43 Eagle Scouts for the year 2021! The Eagle Scout Coordinators could not have done it without the district Advancement Committee.

• We call on them to help with all the Eagle Scout Board of Reviews
• We ask them to help in approving Eagle Scout Projects.
• They help educate units with advancement.
• They have helped scouts who have been left behind when the massive change took place.
• This last year we had to say good-bye to a great scouter who is greatly missed due to Covid-19.

We love the scouting program and what it makes of the youth & their leaders!

 
Here are a few reminders as we head into the New Year of 2022!

• Eagle Scout Boards of Review are held twice each month on the first Tuesday and the third Thursday. 
• Boards start at 6 pm and there may be up to three in an evening
• Eagle Scout Boards of Review are only scheduled after all of the documents the scout needs for their Eagle Scout Board of Review have been received
• Unit leaders and parents are notified when the Board of Review will take place and invite them to be there as a support
• When approving Eagle Scout projects, two to three people review the project. 
• Scouts should use the Eagle Scout workbook (Jan 2021) and send it by email to be approved
• It takes a few days to look over all aspects of each project. Sometimes revisions are needed
• Each project should be typed for several reasons
• First, it makes it easier to read for those who review it, and changes are easier to make when needed.
• Second, each Eagle Scout project plan is saved until the Eagle Scout Board of Review
• Remember that Eagle Scout applications can be filled out right in Scoutbook! 
• All pertinent  information in Scoutbook will be automatically filled in on the application.
• This also gives the unit, council office and the Eagle Scout Coordinators a nice clean copy to scan and send to the National office after the scout's Eagle Scout Board of Review