During this hard time, we know that it is challenging to continue Scouting. We will now be offering free online Merit Badge classes to Scouts! Sign up for your Scouts this week!
Scouting at Home Page now LIVE!
Need resources to continue Scouting at home? Check out our new webpage with all the information you need to Scout at home!
Closed due to COVID-19
Effective Tuesday, March 24th, we our store and office will be closed due to the COVID-19. We apologize for this inconvenience but your safety and the safety of our staff is our top priority.
We are here to serve you. While the office and Scout shop may be closed, we will still be working from home in order to serve you and our Scouting community best. Please reach out to us for anything we can help do to serve you. Below, you will find the best contact information for the staff.
We are working to set up a Scouting from Home web page as one place for you all to go to find information for how to continue Scouting. Please stay tuned to our website and Facebook for the most up to date information.
For membership, unit service, fundraising, Scout shop and general questions, please reach out to Bobbi Gordon at 513-490-2565 or bobbi.gordon@scouting.org.
For all summer camp and program questions, please reach out to Stewart Smith at 605-872-1713 or stewart.smith@scouting.org.
For all questions for our Scout Executive/CEO, please reach out to Corey Davis at 605-858-8083 or corey.davis@scouting.org.
For all accounting questions, please reach out to Dawn Baker at dawn.baker@scouting.org.
New Office Hours Beginning April 1st!
Beginning April 1st, we will be opening from 10am to 1pm and 2 pm until 5pm!
Annual Leadership Breakfast Postponed to May 14th
Due to COVID-19, we are postponing our Annual Leadership Breakfast to Thursday, May 14th at 6:45AM.
Black Hills Area Council Response to COVID-19
Dear Scouting Family,
As always, your safety and the safety of all our members, volunteers, and employees is our top priority. We know there are questions and concerns about how COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, could affect local Scouting programs in Black Hills Area Council Please know that we are monitoring developments regarding COVID-19 both locally with our Council Health Supervisor and through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The following information regarding events and prevention measures is based on the latest available guidance. As this is an evolving situation, this information is subject to change. We will continue to update you on relevant developments, and we appreciate your understanding of any necessary adjustments in the interest of health and safety.
Status of Council Events
At this time, the following events have been cancelled or postponed:
- Black Hills Area Leadership Breakfast – Originally scheduled March 25th.
- Scout O Rama and Pinewood Derby – Originally scheduled March 21st.
You may monitor event updates here.
Decisions about unit meetings and activities should be made by unit leadership and chartering organizations based on the unit’s individual circumstances and current CDC and local health department guidelines.
BSA Polices to Prevent the Spread of Illness
The Boy Scouts of America continues to have policies and procedures in place that help protect participants from contracting an illness at large Scouting events. These include the Annual Health and Medical Record and the Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist.
Everyday Preventive Measures
Even with those important policies in place, it is critical that we all take these everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:
- Stay home when you feel sick.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash your hands before and after doing so.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve/elbow, not your hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Do not share personal items such as cups, water bottles, eating utensils, etc.
- Avoid shaking hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
If you have a fever, cough, or other symptoms associated with COVID-19, or if you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you should isolate and not attend any Scouting events. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
Should you have any questions or concerns about a specific upcoming event or activity, please reach out to your local district executive. We will do everything we can to answer your question using the information available to us.
Yours in Scouting,
Corey J. Davis
Registration for Cub & Webelos Resident Camp is Open!
Cub / Webelos Resident Camp Registration is now open for this summer. The theme this year is “Medicine Mountain: In The Movies!”
The leader guide and all other information about camp is all live on the registration page. So follow this link to come out to Medicine Mountain and have a great time at camp “In the Movies”
Register for the 2020 Olympic Games- Cub Scout Day Camp edition!
Day camp registration is LIVE! Scouts can begin registering on March 1st! We will be holding 3 day camps in different locations around the Council! Check out the information at the link below! Remember, if you register by May the 4th, there is a discount!
To go with the Olympic Games this year, our Day Camp theme is the Olympics! Come out and have fun in Cub Scout Games through the Black Hills!
Merit Badge Midway Course List is Live!
The Class Catalog for Merit Badge Midway is now LIVE! Head over to this link to find out what all is available during the 2020 MBMW! Registration opens February 10th at 12AM! Merit Badge Midway will be taking place March 6th and 7th at the School of Mines! Some classes are being held at Western Dakota Tech this year as well!
If you need Merit Badge books for your Scouts, they MUST be ordered by Friday, February 21st by noon in order to ensure they arrive on time! We aren’t keeping most of our Merit Badge books in stock anymore so please email bobbi.gordon@scouting.org to place your order!
Come to the Mountain, Unleash Your Superpowers!
Introducing our 2020 GIRLS ONLY Campout! An event where girls can come out to camp to learn basic Scout skills to help them get ready for summer camp! Our goal is to empower the girls into feeling as comfortable in their skills as all of the other Scouts! This is an event for Webelos, Arrows, and Scouts BSA GIRLS ONLY! Because of a grant from the Central Region the fees for the girls to attend has been waived.
Parents are welcome to attend but will have to pay a fee and will required to camp separately.