Conquistador Council

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Centennial Jamborall- Albuquerque August 13-15

Want to celebrate the BSA Centennial at a multi-council event at Kirtland AFB  in Albquerque?

Want to get your fall Scouting program off to a great start at an exciting event that will challenge, enthuse, and inspire your Scouts?

Want to have the added value of providing an unusual program opportunity that takes advantage of the historical museums and sites in Albuquerque– something very different from the usual Scout outing?

Then the August 13-15 Jamborall is for you!

Put it on your calendar as the event to kickoff your fall program!

More information is developing and will be distributed as it arrives.

Camporall- April 9-10-11 NMMI

An exciting weekend of activity is planned for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Explorers at New Mexico Military Institute on April 9-10-11.

Activities include aquatic fun, a scavenger hunt, map and compass, sports, obstacle course, shooting range, and more.  The planned activities will test Scout leadership as well as Scout skills.

Cub Scout activities, for Saturday, will be planned using requirements from activity badges, academic and sports awards.

Overnight camping will be for Webelos, Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Explorers.

Information will be mailed to all Cub Scout and Boy Scout families soon.

Start your pack, troop, crew, and post planning now.

For interested groups from other councils, or for more information, contact the Conquistador Council at 575-622-3461 or email conquistador@scouting.org.

Callling All Eagle Scouts- Dedication Ceremony Feb. 6

All Eagle Scouts (including alumni) are invited to the Eagle Scout Dedication Ceremony on February 6 at the S.P. Yates Scout Service Center in Roswell.

The event program includes dedication of a tile listing the names of the 2009 Eagle Scouts that will be added to the Eagle Scout patio where similar tiles name all of the Southeast New Mexico and Conquistador councils’ Eagle Scouts.

The ceremony will include a re-dedication to the meaning of the being an Eagle Scout. 

Adult Eagle Scouts will be invited to join the National Eagle Scout Association chapter, and also invited to participate in a Dowling or Wehinahpay camp work party to prepare the camps for summer use.  A project will be selected and identified as a NESA project.

For more information about the Eagle Scout event contact the Conquistador Council at 575-622-3461, or email conquistador@scouting.org.

Jamboree CSP

Council 56th Recognition Banquet and Annual Meeting

The Conquistador Council met for the 56th annual meeting on November 21, 2009 at the New Mexico Military Institute, hearing the annual report of the council committees, and conducting the election of council members at large, executive board and advisory board members, and council officers. 

The council officers are Ron Wiser, president, Mike Kennedy, president-elect, Mark Gormley, council commissioner, and Davis Bennett, treasurer.  Guy Eichsteadt, Scout executive, is a non-voting officer.

The leaders were challenged to keep the council growing in membership, provide the program services, and to keep the council fiscally solvent.  In the area of membership, all heard that more than 50% of the elementary schools in the council do not have a Scouting program and that the council leadership must be more aggressive in raising the funds necessary to provide the program support that is necessary for the future of Scouting in the area.

Following the annual meeting, volunteer leaders were recognized for their efforts in providing a quality Scouting experience to the youth of the council in the areas of quality unit program, membership growth, trained leadership, camp attendance, Boy’s Life subscriptions, advancement, and other areas.

Several William D. Boyce new unit organizers were recognized for their effort to extend Scouting into more areas by organizing new Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, and Venture Crews.

The Distinguished Commissioner Award was presented to John Dewey, Judy Jones, and Wilber Jones.

Five new James West Fellows were recognized for their contribution to the council endowment fund:  Clyde Harrison, Gene Weber, Marsha Weber, Grant Hunter, and Joe Dillard.

Harrison Drilling Company was recognized for their contribution by drilling a new well at Camp Jim Murray and installing a state of the art pump and bringing the electrical system up to code.

The Oil Patch District took home the Harold De Shurley camping award for a second year having exceeded 100% summer camp attendance.

Also recognized were Emlyn Evans  and Ben Cloutier who played an instrumental part in saving the life of another person.  These two Scouts are an example of what Scout training and preparedness is all about.

The high point was the recognition of the Silver Beaver Award recipients (see related article).

It was a good day of recognizing and honoring those who deliver the Scouting promise of personal growth and outdoor adventure to the young people of the Conquistador Council.

Wehinahapay-Open Program Week- July 4-10

Come to the mountains, come to Wehinahpay.  Enjoy the peace of the high forests, the soothing breeze, or the energy and excitement of a mountain storm!  Relax in the high places.

Wehinahpay Specialty Week is a new idea and will use an “open program” concept.  Camp staff will be on hand and a variety of program opportunities will be available.   Typically this week has low Scout attendance so the camp is open for more opportunties.

Scout Family Camping:  Want to camp in the high mountains of New Mexico without the hassle of a community or state campground?  Someplace peaceful and secure?  Check out Wehinahpay for Scout family camping.  (Details are still being worked out, but should be available soon.)  There is plenty for a Scout family to do in the mountains of New Mexico!

Venture Camp:  Crews can take advantage of all the programs offered in camp, from Outdoor Living Skills to COPE and Climbing, to Shooting Sports to Fishing.  Try out some backcountry hiking and test your backpacking skills!

Traditional Troop Camping:  The full Boy Scout program will be available for troops attending camp this week.  One advantage is that fewer Scouts means more learning opportunity!  Or, if your troop wants to conduct it’s own program of exploring the New Mexico mountains, using Wehinahpay as a base camp, that can be arranged also.

Cub Scout and Webelos Family Camp:  Activities are planned for the Cub Scout and Webelos Family Camp.  Information will be distributed to pack leaders soon.  This multi-day program provides outdoor learning opportunities preparing Cub Scouts for the Boy Scout adventure.  It’s a great get-away time for Cub Scout families.

Contact the council service center for more information and to get on the reservation list:  575-622,3461 or conquistador@scouting.org

DAY OF TRAINING March 6, 2010

The council-wide “Day of Training” is set for March 6 in Roswell, again using the rooms provided by the LDS church and in the S.P. Yates Scout Service Center.  Information will be distributed at December roundtables.

The “Day of Training” is intended to provide specialized training courses, requested by leaders, that are not provided in other training events or not in enough depth. 

Every participant has something to offer, so bring your “best practices,” success stories, and any materials that you wish to display or share with others.

A schedule will soon be distributed.  Sessions are for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Venturing, Junior Leaders, Commissioners, and District/ Council leaders.

The Junior Leader Workshop is a very good session and Scoutmasters are encouraged to bring their “Green Bar” team to learn more about patrol and troop leadership.

The session for Unit Committee Operations will be very valuable to help all unit leadership understand the importance of the unit committee in the overall Scouting scheme.

Mark your calendar and plan to join in this special training day.

For more information contact the council at 575-622-3461.

Camp Strategic Planning Group

Under the leadership of Rich Kestner, the council has formed a Camping Strategic Planning Committee, to establish the future of camping programs in the Conquistador Council.  Each district was represented during the initial meeting.

Discussion centered on three main topics:  What unique features do our Scout camps offer in competition to other camps; what are we doing now in camp that will bring Scouts back to camp; what can we do on our facilities year-round for Scouts and other youth organizations.

A number of ideas were presented, such as adding a “float trip” to the Dowling program, backpacking at Wehinahpay, a summer-long community day camp at Dowling, and a special program weekends at both camps during the off-season that will increase use.

The committee did consider review the impact of increased use as it relates to the costs of operation and maintenance, property utilization, camp programs to be offered, and methods to increase use of the properties.

The committee also discussed additional merit badges and the need to recruit future camp staff.

Future information gathering meetings will be conducted in each district and at roundtables.

For more information about the camps and camping programs of the council contact Conquistador Council at 575-622-3461 or email conquistador@scouting.org

Council Camporall 2010

April 9-10-11 is set for the next Camporall at New Mexico Military Institute.

Initial thoughts for program include:  For Boy Scouts– field games, swimming, bowling, marksmanship, and a merit badge midway; For Cub Scouts– a “belt loop extravaganza,” field games, swimming, and a pinewood derby; For Venturers/ Explorers- similar activities.

Scouters and others are needed to help make this happen (especially the field games and the merit badge midway).  If you want to help, or can arrange for other volunteers, please talk with your district leadership today.

Let’s make this the highlight BSA Centennial event of the year!

Centennial- Council Camporall 9-11 APRIL 2010

Council Camporall 2010, April 9-11

Plan now to attend the 2010 council camporall at N.M.M.I. in Roswell.

Planning information will be distributed soon at December roundtables.

This Centennial Year event is for all Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, Explorers, and Scouting alumni.  Activity plans are developing around the campus program resources, the more unusual merit badges, and Webelos activity badges.

In the plans is a council-wide Order of the Arrow “Call Out Ceremony”  using the ceremonial teams from each chapter of the Kwahadi Lodge, W.W.W.

Last year’s emblem, designed by the cadets, is still for sale at $10.00 from the council Scout shop.  Credit card orders can be placed by contacting the council service center at 575-22-3461, or order by sending a check in the amount of the purchase to Conquistador Council BSA ,

2603 N. Aspen, Roswell, NM 88201. 

There are limited quantities so place your order now!