Silver Comet Outdoor Leader Training is coming! This is for all Cub Leaders and Troop Leaders so please pass this on to all of the Adults in your Unit that need to be trained for their position. The Scouts in your units deserve trained Leaders! Online registration is open now.

BALOO for Cub Leaders will be Saturday September 15th 8am to Sunday September 16th 12 pm. BALOO – Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation for Cub Scout leaders is an energetic training event that will provide the necessary knowledge and skills for a Pack and/or Webelos Den to be able to go family camping. This is the new Course that combines BALOO and the former OWLS training, and it will cover everything you need to know to plan and run an overnighter.
This is a 1 ½ day training that includes an overnight and an online pre-requisite to be done before the course.
Completion of BALOO is mandatory for a minimum of one adult on a pack overnighter.
Cost is $25 and includes all meals. Come learn the basics about camping with your cubbies and also some fun outdoor games and hiking ideas!

Registration Links and more information can be found on the Silver Comet District website Training Page.

ITOLS for all Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters is Saturday September 15th 8am to Sunday September 16th, finishing approximately 12 to 1pm. Cost is $15 and includes Saturday lunch and all course materials. Learn skills your scouts will need for rank advancement like the patrol method, selecting a campsite and setting up, cooking, and cleaning up as a patrol. Come set up an ax yard, orient a map, and have a fun campfire program Saturday night.
Walk-ins cannot be accommodated as food and materials need to be purchased for the weekend.
Registration Links and more information can be found on the Silver Comet District website Training Page.

If you have any questions, please contact the Silver Comet Training Chair. We hope to see many SCD leaders in attendance for the weekend.

Our hard working, multi-talented District Executive Drew Doherty is moving on from the Atlanta Area Council to pursue his career, and we wish him every success in his future endeavors.
In his nearly 3 years here in Silver Comet Drew made many friends and met just about all of our Scouters as he worked to make the District a great place for Scouts and Families to get the most out of the Scouting Program.

Drew, from all of us, Thank You for your support, dedication, and enthusiasm for Silver Comet Scouting.

Drew sends the following note to all:

Over the past three years, I’ve been blessed to work with some of the most incredible, generous and caring people I’ve ever met. I want to thank each and every one of you for all that you’ve given me even beyond Scouting. Your friendship, guidance and so many kind words will continue to stay with me as I continue to grow and pursue a new career.

Thank you. Y’all are truly awesome!
-Drew Doherty

2018 and 2019 will see many changes to Scouting from the Lions Program and welcoming girls to Cub Scouting this year, to the start of Scouts BSA and girl troops forming in early 2019.

There is also the all new YPT online course that every registered adult must complete by September 30, 2018 in order to participate and remain registered in Scouting.

To keep up with all that is happening BSA has made various resources available, and here are a few that will help you understand and become familiar with the changes affecting the area of the Scouting Program you are involved with.

Family Scouting Q and A for June 12, 2018: Cub Scouts - Boy Scouts/Scouts BSA - Order of the Arrow - Adult Supervision/Youth Protection.

What You Need to Know About Lions Integrating With Cub Scouts.

The new "YPT2" course, and how to access the online training. (Your completion Certificate will now be emailed to the address used to set up your my.scouting account)

If you have questions your Unit Commissioner is your first resource for answers and guidance.
And, Thank You for all you do for the Scouts in your Unit and in our Silver Comet District.

BSA is planning to replace Internet Advancement with Scoutbook Lite (SBL) in mid - 2018.
Though the pay version of Scoutbook can be synchronized to interface with Scoutbook Lite which is a free application, third party programs such as Packmaster, Troopmaster, etc. will not initially do so.

Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Unit Committee Chairs and Advancement Coordinators, please familiarize yourselves with the resources below so you will be ready to transition your Unit to Scoutbook Lite advancement reporting when BSA initiates the transition and retires Internet Advancement.

The actual transition date will be widely publicized when it is announced.

BSA Initial Scoutbook Lite announcement: https://scoutingwire.org/scoutbook-lite-replace-internet-advancement-2018/

Jan 12, 2018. Scoutbook Blog information on Scoutbook Lite: https://www.scoutbook.com/mobile/blog/84/scoutbook-lite-to-replace-internet-advancement-but-not-scoutbook/

Atlanta Area Council Advancement Committee - Internet Advancement to Scoutbook Lite transition information.

Safe Scouting practices and youth protection are at the heart of the Boy Scouts of America and the Atlanta Area Council’s mission.
In order to continue providing a safe and secure environment for today’s youth, the Boy Scouts of America have developed a new version of the Youth Protection Training program to be taken by all BSA volunteers and staff.
The new training, which is fully supported and endorsed by the Atlanta Area Council, launched to the public this month and covers all BSA Program areas (Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, Exploring).

All registered leaders must complete the new YPT2 training by October 1, 2018.

For a guide to taking the new Training on my.scouting.org click here.

For the Atlanta Area Council's full announcement, including "five things you need to know about the launch of the new Youth Protection Training" click here.

At our 4th Annual Silver Comet District Awards Banquet on Thursday March 8th, three of our most engaged and deserving Scouters were honored with the District Award of Merit.

Mike Calvert, our long serving and popular Activities and Civic Service Chair, Samantha Schuster, our truly dedicated and super motivated Training Chair, and David Stockwell, one of our longest serving, consistent, and enthusiastic District Eagle Board Chairs were recognized for their many years of outstanding service to the Scouts and Scouters in their Units, in our District, and in our Council.
The time, experience, and expertise these three individuals have so generously devoted to Scouting over the years have brought many memorable experiences and the true Spirit of Scouting to the Scouts, and to their fellow Scouters throughout our District.

Congratulations to Mike, Samantha, and David, and Thank You from all of us for your outstanding contributions to Scouting, and to our Silver Comet Scouts.