Welcome Michael Werling
The Virginia Headwaters Council is excited to announce that, effective September 15, Michael Werling is joining our professional staff as the council’s Director of Membership. He will focus on growing Scouting across our communities, starting new units, expanding outreach, and ensuring that more young people and families experience the adventure of Scouting.
An Eagle Scout, Michael is an accomplished non-profit executive with more than a decade of experience in engagement, volunteer relations, fundraising, budget management, and program development. He has a strong record of cultivating meaningful partnerships with corporations, faith-based organizations, and individuals. His leadership has advanced community engagement initiatives, donor relations, and large-scale special events, ensuring strong connections between organizations and the communities they serve.
Since 2022, Michael has served as Community Development Specialist with the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC), where he manages relationships with more than 70 community partners and oversees fundraising campaigns. Prior to joining CAC, Michael spent seven years in leadership roles with the National Capital Area Council, Scouting America. As District Director and earlier as Senior District Executive, he managed budgets, led membership growth initiatives, and directed operations for major programs, including summer camp operations in both the U.S. Virgin Islands and Virginia. Under his leadership, annual fundraising goals were consistently achieved, new community units were created, and youth membership steadily increased.
Michael is a graduate of the University of Virginia and his wife Cindy is a teacher. Please join us in giving Michael a warm welcome to the Virginia Headwaters Council team! Together, we’re committed to growing and strengthening Scouting in our neighborhoods and empowering the next generation of leaders.
Fall Pop-Up Scout Shop
The Virginia Headwaters Council will be hosting a pop-up Scout Shop at the council office (617 Greenville Avenue, Staunton, Virginia 24401) from September 2 through September 30! More details, including info about several cool new items, will be available soon, so be sure to stay tuned to the council’s social media channels for the latest.
Please click here to pre-order any Cub Scouts or Scouts BSA advancement items or uniforms from the VAHC pop-up Scout Shop.
Scan to create your preorder now!
Free Recruiter Strip Emblem Available!
Any Scout will tell you: Scouting is better with friends. As we reach the tail end of summer and look towards the coming school year, it is the perfect time to recruit friends to discover the joys of Scouting!
There’s a patch for learning skills. A patch for adventure. Even a patch for helping others. But did you know there’s a patch for bringing a friend into Scouting? You can earn yours in only five simple steps!
Here’s how to earn your official recruiter patch:
- Talk to a friend about what you love in Scouting.
- Invite them to a meeting or activity.
- Help them see what makes it awesome – fun, friendship, and real adventure.
- If they join, you qualify for the free Recruiter Strip Emblem, fully subsidized by Scouting America Outfitters!
The Virginia Headwaters Council has a Scouting America Outfitters pop-up shop at the council office (617 Greenville Avenue, Staunton, Virginia 24401), during the month of September where families can pick up theirs. Fill out the form linked here and bring it to the council office pop-up shop to receive your FREE patch.
Introducing Scoutly: the AI Chatbot
Scouting America has announced the launch of Scoutly, a powerful new AI assistant designed to provide instant, reliable support to the entire Scouting community.
Scoutly is more than a search tool – it is an interactive chatbot trained on an extensive, contained knowledge base of official Scouting America resources. This ensures a safe, child-friendly experience without relying on external internet searches. Key features of Scoutly include a Dedicated Knowledge Base, Merit Badge Expertise, Simplified Registration, and Round-the-Clock Support.
Scoutly is now available 24/7 on Scouting.org and BeAScout.org, providing answers to a variety of Scouting questions. You can interact with Scoutly by selecting the floating Scoutly icon on the lower right corner of each of these websites.
2026 National Scout Jamboree
The 2026 National Scout Jamboree—a ten-day spectacular from July 22 to 31, 2026 at the iconic Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia—is now open for registration to members of the Virginia Headwaters Council.
Why This Is Not Just Another Summer Camp
- 360° of Adventure: The Jamboree isn’t your typical camp: it’s an immersive time of fun, friends and fellowship with hands-on adventure that takes you places you never thought you’d go and challenges you to try things you never thought you could.
- High-Octane Activities at The Summit:
- Whitewater rafting and kayaking in stunning New River Gorge
- Rock climbing at Boulder Cove, the world’s largest outdoor climbing facility
- Mountain biking, zip-lining, archery, skateboarding, bouldering, fishing, skeet shooting, patch trading, and more!
- A Truly Immersive Experience: The Jamboree isn’t just activities; it’s an unforgettable journey—an immersive world where Scouts push their limits, build confidence, and connect with peers from across the nation.
At-a-Glance Highlights
| Feature | Details |
| When & Where | July 22–31, 2026 – Summit Bechtel Reserve, Glen Jean, WV |
| Activities | Rafting, climbing, biking, zip-lining, skateboarding, shooting, and more |
| Adventure Appeal | 10,000-acre facility tailor-made for leadership through action |
Registration is now open through the Virginia Headwaters Council website. Don’t wait—secure your spot and get ready to unlock an epic chapter in your Scouting journey.
Register here to be part of the Virginia Headwaters Council contingent: https://scoutingevent.com/763-99336-231390
More information about the Jamboree: https://jamboree.scouting.org/
Cub Scout Aviation Day is on the way!
April showers might bring May flowers but it’s bad news for aviation events. That’s why Cub Scout Aviation Day (CSAD) at Gordonsville Municipal Airport was forced to reschedule to September 6-7 and is now the first major event of the school year. CSAD will include airplane fly-ins, a tour of planes, remote-controlled plane demonstrations, an inflatable planetarium, Air of the Wolf beltloop, Tiger’s Sky is the Limit beltloop, a B-52 pilot, bi-plane ride raffles, and so much more! Do you know someone who flies? Invite them to fly in to CSAD! Please ask them to contact Daman Irby at irby@virginia.edu for more fly-in information.
Scouts who registered in the spring are all set for September and their t-shirts will be there waiting for them. Advanced registration for the event and the opportunity to order t-shirts has been turned back on and will remain open through August 20. Advanced registration for daytime activities from 12:30-4:00 pm costs $12 per Cub Scout, and day and evening activities including camping is $17. T-shirts are $15. Entry at the gate is $22 for the day or day/evening. Newly joined Cub Scouts will receive the advanced registration price at the gate, so you can use the event to promote joining the program! Non-scout family members are free!
Scouts BSA members and adult leaders! Cub Scout Aviation Day is in need of volunteers to help assist and lead stations at the event. Individuals, patrols, or full units are encouraged to be a part of the program. Contact Daman Irby at irby@virginia.edu if you are available to help. For more information and to register for Cub Scout Aviation Day, please visit: https://www.virginiaheadwaters.org/events-camping/aviation-day/
A one-page flyer for the event is also available for pack or den distribution.
Upcoming Council Activities
UPCOMING COUNCIL ACTIVITIES:
PINEWOOD DERBY
The Mountain Valley District will host a Pinewood Derby on Saturday, August 16th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Valley Mall in Harrisonburg.
Race Your Car – Bring your Pinewood Derby car and compete for the fastest time.
Build & Customize – Don’t have a car? No problem! Stop by our build station to create your own. Discover Scouting – Learn about the adventures of Cub Scouts and how to join the fun.
More Activities – Enjoy hands-on activities, meet local Scout leaders, and explore what Scouting has to offer.
Whether you’re a seasoned racer or just curious about Scouting, this event is open to everyone. Bring your friends and family for a day of fun and friendly competition. Register today!
AQUATICS WEEKEND
Bring your Troop out to enjoy the weekend on the water at Camp Shenandoah! The event will be held on September 13-14. More information will be available soon.
CUB FUN DAY AT CAMP SHENANDOAH
Get those newly signed up Cubs out to camp to enjoy a day of fun. This will be held on Saturday, September 20th. Packs will have the option to camp out overnight. Registration will open soon.
APPLE HARVEST CAMPOREE
Registration is now open for this amazing event. This is one of our most popular events so don’t wait to get your Troop signed up today. The theme this year is Halloween.
UPCOMING SAVE THE DATES:
- 2nd Annual Zombie Run – Saturday, October 25
- Merit Badge University and Adult Training – Saturday, November 16th
- Winter Camp at Camp Shenandoah – January 16-18, 2026 LOOKING FOR MBC
- Klondike Derby at Camp Shenandoah – February 6-8, 2026
Wrapping Up Popcorn and Peanuts
We want to thank everyone who participated in the popcorn and peanut sale this year for a great season! It was our first year with a new popcorn vendor, Pecatonica River, and everyone seemed to be happy with this change of pace. While we had fewer units participating and brought in roughly $125,000 in total sales, the council and our units kept more money for their fundraising efforts because of this change in vendor. In addition, the customer service with Pecatonica River was phenomenal. All of us know that Scouting costs money, and the efforts of our Scouts in the selling of popcorn and peanuts is one way that our units and our council can help cover those costs.
We are also excited to let you know that the patches for the sale have arrived. Please reach out to Anne Blair to arrange pickup for those.
We’d also like to congratulate the top sellers in the council:
- $300 gift card Hudson I., Troop12 $6737
- $200 gift card Brandon C., Troop 79 $3400
- $100 gift card Mason H., Pack 222 $3085
Congratulations to those Scouts and to all that participated this year! For those units that didn’t participate in 2024, we hope you will consider taking part in 2025 as the changes with Pecatonica River have improved the experience in many ways and encouraging our Scouts to help pay for their program is an important component of this.
If your unit is still expecting patches and council rewards, please contact Anne Blair at hwanganne@hotmail.com or Shane Eppard at pnp@virginiaheadwaters.org
Silver Beaver 2025: Chris Axford
It is with great pleasure that the Virginia Headwaters Council is announcing the selection of Chris Axford as a recipient for the Silver Beaver Award in 2025.
In his nomination, it was stated that he is clearly not a “one and done” sort of Scouter. He has been both an Assistant Scoutmaster and a Scoutmaster for one of our female units. He is a member of several Council level committees and has been a swim instructor as well as Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor. He is also an Aquatics Merit Badge Instructor. He has been the lead advisor for trips to Sea Base and to Philmont. In his “spare time”, he has also served as our Camp Shenandoah Aquatics Director when needed. Community service has included many years as a Little League Coach and Basketball Coach at the local YMCA.
The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Scouting program. Upon nomination by their local Scout council, and with the approval of the National Court of Honor, only registered adult leaders are eligible recipients of this award. Those leaders must have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council. The Silver Beaver is an award given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. It is given to those who do not seek it.
The Virginia Headwaters Council is only allowed to present two Silver Beaver awards this year. The number is based on the number of Scouting units within the Council. It will be awarded at our council’s recognition dinner taking place on March 1st, 2025.
Silver Beaver 2025: Kyle Enfield
It is with great pleasure that the Virginia Headwaters Council is announcing the selection of Kyle Enfield as a recipient for the Silver Beaver Award in 2025.
In his nomination he was given credit as being instrumental to ensuring a safe and an enriching experience for everyone involved in a time when human contact between our Scouts was sorely needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. His protocols also allowed the Council to safely host a Wood Badge course in 2021. He has served as a Committee Chair and Charter Organization Representative. He has been a Cubmaster and a Webelos Den Leader, and several other positions. He has been on several committees at UVA Health and has led several summer internship type courses for high school to college age youth interested in medicine. He serves in the Vestry of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Scouting program. Upon nomination by their local Scout council, and with the approval of the National Court of Honor, only registered adult leaders are eligible recipients of this award. Those leaders must have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council. The Silver Beaver is an award given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. It is given to those who do not seek it.
The Virginia Headwaters Council is only allowed to present two Silver Beaver awards this year. The number is based on the number of Scouting units within the Council. It will be awarded at our council’s recognition dinner taking place on March 1st, 2025.
