Golden Gate Area Council - Boy Scouts of America

Special Announcement!

The Golden Gate Area Council-Boy Scouts of America offices will be Closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day.

We would like to wish everyone a fun and safe holiday.

Let’s all cheer on these amazing Eagle Scouts representing Team USA at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Meet the four Eagle Scouts competing in the 2024 Summer Paralympics We’ve got a discus thrower, a wheelchair rugby athlete, a long-distance runner and a para archer.

Tonight’s Eagle Gathering Campfire at Camp Herms has been a huge success. With over 60 people attending.

Thank you everyone who came out this evening.

Connor Brock selected to serve as Silverado District Executive

After an extensive search, we are proud to announce the selection of Connor Brock to serve as the Silverado District Executive, effective September 1, 2024. Most recently, he served as the Camp Wolfeboro Director for this year’s resident camp.
Connor is from Catonsville, MD, where he was a Scout and earned the rank of Eagle and the Summit Award in the Baltimore Area Council. He served several different resident camps over the last 10 years in a multitude of positions.

Professionally, he currently works for the Anne Arundel County Department of Health as a Contact Tracer. Connor has completed three years of college, working towards a BA in Elementary and Special Education.

We are excited to have him join our team and learn the role of District Executive. We are confident that his program background will be a great fit as he serves the volunteers in the Silverado District.

Alyssa Padia Promoted to Senior District Executive

We are excited to announce that Alyssa Padia has been promoted to the role of Senior District Executive. In this role, she will give direct support to the volunteers in the Herms District and assist her Field Director, Jeff Smith, with the overall support and leadership to the North Service Area professionals and districts.

Alyssa began her career with the Golden Gate Area Council as the ScoutReach Director two years ago. In this position, she was responsible for building the professional team, creating a standardized curriculum across all school programs, and growing the program to serve more youth. She excelled in this position and was quickly recognized as a leader with great passion for Scouting and serving her community.

Alyssa grew up in a Scouting family and her sons are involved in the program today. In her volunteer time, she serves in a leadership role with Scouting units chartered to Richmond Police Athletics League, as well as volunteering with a traditional troop. Her true passion lies in serving disadvantaged youth and making a difference
in her community.

We are excited to see her continue to grow in her role as a professional Scouter and know that she has a bright
future ahead of her.

Personnel Announcement!

Mike Charlesworth Promoted to Director of Program Development (Twin Rivers Council, Albany, NY)

We are pleased to announce the promotion of Mike Charlesworth to a Program Director and Camping Development role with the Twin Rivers Council in Albany, New York. In his new role, Mike will increase program revenue through camping and other programs such as Wood Badge, NYLT, and Order of the Arrow. He will also serve as the staff advisor to the Properties and NCAP volunteer committees. He will assume his new role on October 1.

Mike started his career in 2011 as a District Executive with the W.D. Boyce Council in Peoria, IL. He was promoted to District Director in 2018 and moved to the Heart of America Council in Kansas City, MO. Mike then moved out to the west coast and was an asset to the Golden Gate Area Council team for six years. Over those six years Mike served as a District Director, Field Director and most recently as a Development Director. Mike says his move to the west coast was quite an adventure and that the diversity of serving the Bay Area has increased his social awareness and made him better at serving all youth and volunteers of many ethnicities.

Mike’s professional accomplishments include growing the Sporting Clays back to back years, growing the popcorn sale to over $900K, hosting a successful Mission Peak leadership breakfast, Membership Growth Team in 2018 and Leadership 60 in 2019. He has had great success with membership and fundraising and is turning the page moving to program. After spending over a decade in 3 different Councils across the Midwest and California, Mike knows what it takes to grow the program: achieving a proper balance of recruiting, fundraising, and volunteer involvement. He also practices the concept of servant leadership.

Please join me in congratulating Mike on his promotion to Director of Program Development. Mike will be missed but we are proud of his accomplishments and know he will be an asset to his new council. His leadership in his new position will deliver quality Scouting experiences to the young people we serve.

🚨 Exciting News for Cub Scouts! 🚨

The Golden Gate Area Council-Boy Scouts of America is thrilled to announce our Fall Cub Scout Recruiting Campaign! 🍂✨

This is the perfect time to join or invite new friends to our awesome Cub Scout family. Check out all the exciting offers available for our Cub Scouts and their Units! Don’t miss out on the fun and adventure awaiting you this fall.

Check out this amazing opportunity!

Be one of the 1st 500 youth to join Scouts BSA and receive this exclusive San Francisco Giants Baseball Cap!

Register your youth today at: www.GoldenGateScouting.org

Last Chance to Sign Up for The Popcorn Fundraiser!

If your Unit hasn't signed up for the Popcorn Sale, Take advantage of Storefront Claiming by clicking below to sign up your Unit!
Registration: https://bit.ly/4fbQJzx
Trail's End has partnered with our Council to provide Units with storefront booking by contacting storefronts in your area which you can now claim.
As a Kernel, all you will need to do is sign in, claim reservations, and encourage your Scouts to claim shifts and sell!
🍿

Trail’s End | Raise More. Scout More. The Scouting Fundraiser. Over 70% Supports Our Local Scouts*

2024 GGACBSA District Summit

It's not too late to join us!! The last day to register for Fall Wood Badge 2024 and receive the early-bird discount is this Sunday, August 11 at 11:59pm!

Our incredible staff has been working hard (and having fun!) preparing for an unforgettable course! Will we see you there??

Experience leadership, camaraderie, and outdoor adventure like never before. This is your chance to enhance your skills, connect with fellow Scouters, and make lasting memories. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to grow and lead!

Fall 2024 Course Dates and Locations:
Camp Herms - Friday 9/13 to Sunday 9/15
Camp Royaneh - Saturday 10/12 to Sunday 10/13

Register now and be part of the legacy! 🌲🔥
https://scoutingevent.com/023-WoodBadgeFall2024

Congratulations to Eagle Scout Kenneth Rooks for making it to the finals in steeplechase! He'll race for a medal on Wednesday.

Read more about Eagle Scout Olympians at https://go.scoutingmagazine.org/eagleolympics

Scout Executive Mike Hale traveled to the Wente Scout Reservation to see old friends and make new ones. What a summer it has been. With over 4500 scouts in attendance at our Scouts BSA Camps. And thousands more in our Cub Camps. Lots more program yet to enjoy this summer .

Go Scouting America!

🚨 Attention Cub Scout Leaders! 🚨

Starting August 1, 2024, there will be updates to the Cub Scout camping policies in the Guide to Safe Scouting. These updates are based on the program changes from June 1, 2024, and include:

🌟 Separate policies for Webelos dens and Arrow of Light den/patrols.
🌟 Updated camping policies for Webelos dens.
🌟 Updated camping policies for Arrow of Light den/patrols.

Please note, these updates do NOT affect the Barriers to Abuse or other youth protection policies in the Guide to Safe Scouting. Be sure to review these changes and share them with Cub Scout leadership in your council. These updates will also be included in the new BALOO training syllabus.

Life Scout and soon to be Eagle Rank Adacus was just interviewed on Fox Channel 2 and did a brilliant job representing Scouting, both in Benicia and in the world in general.

Today is the Ribbon Cutting of his project. What a great young man to represent Scouting!

Congratulations to the family on all your hard work in raising such a great young man. Enjoy the moment and the moments to come celebrating your son.

Congratulations Yerba Buena Lodge. One of 10 lodges in the country to complete phase 6 of the Order of the Arrow's Thrive Program. We were recognized at the Lodge Leadership Dinner last night at the Natioanal OA Conference in Colorado. Thank you Jessica, Anastasia, and Ananya along with their officers and Advisers for all of your hard work.

🍂🏕️ Join us for the 2024 Fall Woodbadge! 🏕️🍂

Experience leadership, camaraderie, and outdoor adventure like never before. This is your chance to enhance your skills, connect with fellow Scouters, and make unforgettable memories. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to grow and lead!
You want to participate in a Wood Badge course because of things you will learn and do. Below are just some of the benefits.
Stronger units: You will make your Scouting unit and your sons’ and daughters’ units stronger.
What and why of Scouting: You will have a deeper understanding of what Scouting is and why we do it.
Experience: You will learn and experience things that will stay with you in Scouting and the rest of your life.
Fall 2024 Course Dates and Locations:
Camp Herms
Friday 09-13-2024 7 AM to Sunday 09-15-2024 5 PM
And Camp Royaneh
Saturday 10-12-2024 7 AM to Sunday 10-13-2024 5 PM
Register now and be part of the legacy! 🌲🔥
https://scoutingevent.com/023-WoodBadgeFall2024

The Oakland Ballers are hosting a fundraiser for The Golden Gate Area Council-Boy Scouts of America.

They are selling discounted tickets to the Oakland Ballers game for Sunday, August 4th, 2024, at 1:05 PM. Every ticket you buy raises money for our Council. Choose tickets in the 1st Base Line General Admission section to support the GGACBSA

Sale ends midnight August 3rd. You have to buy your tickets before then. This fundraiser is only for the game on Sunday August 4th, 2024.
Costume contests, Trick-or-Treating, and all sorts of scares as we celebrate Halloween a few months early!!

Get Your Tickets Today at: https://ggacbsa-21688059.hs-sites.com/oakland-ballers-scout-day

Yerba Buena Lodge 719, waiting to board the plane to travel to the University of Colorado, Boulder for 6 days of fellowship, training, shows and a ton of fun at the National OA Conference.

Scout Executive Mike Hale visited the Muir District Day Camp in Concord. Mark and Trinity lead an awesome team of volunteers who ran a stellar program for the Scouts. Lots of hands on and exciting activities.

Three cheers for Muir!

Scout Executive Mike Hale had a chance to enjoy the opening of the program at the Chief Solano Cub Scout Day Camp in Fairfield.

We want to thank Liz and Karla and their team for what looks like to be the beginning of a great three days. Scouts were happy and enthusiastic, with lots of volunteers on hand to help out.

Cub Scouting was "Off to The Races" with many antique cars on hand as part of our Day Camp theme this Summer.

🏅 Meet the 13 Eagle Scouts representing Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics!

🦅 From Basketball to Water Polo, these athletes embody the values of Scouting and the pursuit of excellence. Let's cheer them on as they compete in Paris!

🏀 Canyon Barry - 3X3 Basketball
🏊 Shaine Casas - 200m Individual Medley
🚣 Peter Chatain - Men's Eight Rowing
🏃‍♂️ James Corrigan - Steeplechase
🏊 Ryan Held - 4x100m Freestyle Relay
🤽‍♂️ Drew Holland - Men's Water Polo
🚴‍♂️ Grant Koontz - Track Cycling Omnium
🔫 Henry Leverett - Rapid Fire Pistol Shooting
🏃‍♂️ Conner Mantz - Men's Marathon
🏃‍♂️ Kenneth Rooks - Steeplechase
🛶 Aaron Small - K-2 Sprint Canoeing
🚣 Christian Tabash - Men's Eight Rowing
🏃‍♂️ Clayton Young - Men's Marathon

Their journey from Scouting to the world stage is a testament to hard work and dedication. Let's support these incredible athletes as they go for gold! 🌟🥇

Scout Executive Mike Hale returned to Camp Wolfeboro to find the camp bustling with Scouts.

Mike extends his heartfelt thanks to Connor Brock and his entire team for an exceptional summer. Our Scouts are thoroughly enjoying their time at Summer Camp.

Joining Mike on his visit were Brian McGuire, Director of Field Service; Joe Barton, Director of Support Service; Alan Young, Program Director and Elijah Gonzales, Senior District Executive.

Hooray for Taco Tuesday!

This past Saturday, Scout Executive Mike Hale helped celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Troop 48, chartered to the Community Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg.

Congratulations to Richard Byle, the Scouts and parents.

Scout Executive Mike Hale traveled to the Wente Scout Reservation this week. He is very thankful for the leadership team that is there.

He met with the great volunteers that dedicated their week to Scouting. Scouts are in great spirits. Wente is a gem!!