It is officially go-time! We are calling absolutely ALL Cubs, Scouts, and Venturing Crews to come out and march with us in the Happy Birthday America 250 Parade in Gypsy Hill Park, Staunton!
This is our moment to bring the noise, show off our massive Scouting spirit, and represent the council in front of the whole community. We’ve been given the honor of being float #174, which means we will be part of the Grand Finale to close out the celebration with a bang.
The Float: Camp Shenandoah Lake Scene!
Get hyped, because our float is going to be epic! We are transforming a trailer into a mini Camp Shenandoah lake and beach scene. We’ll have blue “water,” a sandy “shoreline,” and even a kayak right in the middle with a Scout wearing a life jacket inside with oars!
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Cubs: As many as we can fit will get to ride the float! You’ll be sitting along the “shoreline” edge of the trailer with fishing poles, dangling cardboard fish off the side.
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Older Scouts & Crews: You will be marching alongside and behind the float with Camp Shenandoah staff, bringing the energy!
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Special Guest: Keep an eye out for Baldy riding in the center of the cab!
The Game Plan & Vital Details
Here is your mission briefing for the big day:
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Where to Meet: We will be located near the corner of Thornrose Ave. and W. Beverley St. Look for our Camp Shenandoah lake float—that’s where we are rallying! For those dropping off Scouts, the Staunton First Church of the Nazarene is right at that location and is likely a good place to pull in and drop off Scouts who would like to be in the parade.
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Timing: The Float MUST be in place by 8:45 AM. Plan for Scouts to arrive between 9 and 9:30 AM. The parade kicks off at 10:00 AM sharp.
- Uniforms: We want to look sharp out there! Everyone needs to be rocking their Class A uniforms.
- Show Your Colors: Got unit flags? Bring ‘em! We want to see the flags for your Pack, Troop, or Crew flying high all the way down the route.
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Handouts & Flags (NO THROWING!): We’ve got the fun stuff covered. Walking Scouts will be handing out red, white, and blue bags stuffed with Scouting stickers, BeAScout cards, and candy directly to the crowd. Remember: absolutely no throwing items into the crowd—everything must be handed directly to spectators! We will also have mini American flags for everyone to wave.
The Virginia Headwaters Council is excited to kick off another great year of Scouting with Join Scout Week, August 24–30, 2026. Every Cub Scout Pack in the Council is expected to host a Join Event during this week to welcome new families and introduce them to the adventure of Scouting.
A successful Join Event is one of the most important tools for growing your pack and ensuring that more youth have the opportunity to experience everything Scouting has to offer. Whether it’s a fun activity night, ice cream social, rocket launch, bike rodeo, or traditional sign-up night, we encourage every pack to plan an engaging event that showcases the excitement of your program.
Submit Your Event Information
Once your pack has finalized the date, time, and location of your Join Event, please submit the information to the Council Membership Team using the form below:
VAHC Fall Recruitment Event Submission Form
Submitting your event early helps the Council promote your recruitment efforts and connect interested families with your unit.
Free Advertising Available!
To support your fall recruitment efforts, the Virginia Headwaters Council is once again offering FREE Facebook, Instagram, and Google advertising for unit recruitment events. These professionally managed digital advertisements can help reach families in your community and drive attendance at your Join Event. The earlier you submit your event details, the more time we have to promote it!
Membership Resources
The Council Membership Team has assembled a variety of tools and resources to help your Pack, Troop, or Crew recruit new members and build a successful program. To access flyers, guides, marketing materials, and other membership resources, visit:
https://www.virginiaheadwaters.org/resources/recruiting/membership/
If you have questions or need assistance planning your Join Event, please contact the Council Director of Membership, Michael Werling, at Michael.Werling@scouting.org. We look forward to helping your unit welcome new families and make this fall recruitment season the most successful yet!
Effective June 1, 2026, Scouting America is expanding access to Scouting for military-connected youth by waiving the $85 national youth registration fee for eligible families. This program applies to youth members only and is available for both new and renewing online registrations. The initiative is funded nationally through philanthropic efforts.
Eligible families include those with current service in the Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard. The waiver covers only the national youth registration fee, reducing the $85 cost to $0 after the required verification and discount code process is completed. Local council fees, unit dues, optional add-ons such as Scout Life magazine, and processing fees still apply.
To receive the waiver, families should select “Get Military Discount Code” during the online registration process, complete the verification steps, receive the verification code, and enter it at checkout. Once the code is applied, the national registration fee is reduced to $0. The $85 fee may initially appear during checkout but will be removed after the verification code is entered. The waiver is available only for online registrations.
The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) will award nearly $500,000 in scholarships in 2026 to deserving Eagle Scouts to help continue their educational adventure in an undergraduate program, associate degree program or skilled trade program. The application window is open now through January 31, 2026.
✅Eagle Board of Review Date:
Must be on or before January 24, 2026
✅Application Must be Completed and Submitted
By 11:59 pm CST on January 31, 2026
✅Announcement of Scholarship Awards:
June 10, 2026
Review the complete application timeline and eligibility requirements here.
The 2026 Winter Swim will be held on Sunday, January 4 at Fork Union Military Academy and is open to all Scouts (and Scouters for the training session) in VAHC.
The VAHC Aquatics Committee will be offering Swimming Merit Badge, Lifesaving Merit Badge, Scouts BSA Rank Advancement, Pack Program (one adventure for each rank), non-swimmer skills development classes, and also adult “Aquatics Supervision Swimming and Water Rescue” training. This year there will be no SCUBA program and no open swim checks for summer camp (only offered as part of classes). Open Swim checks for summer programs will be offered in May/June.
Pre-registration is required for all classes, all class sizes are limited, and registration is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, questions, or to volunteer to staff the event, please contact Jay Fox or Eric Cutright.
Scouting America created the short-term NCAP program to ensure all council- organized overnight camping activities, not just long-term camps, meet national standards for quality and safety. The program helps councils improve their short- term camps by providing comprehensive guidelines and a framework for administrators to manage programs and facilities, while also ensuring the well- being of youth members. This helps elevate the camper experience, ensures continuous improvement, and maintains a high level of safety across all Scouting camping programs.
Ensures consistent safety: The program provides clear, applicable short-term standards to help ensure that health, safety, and sanitation provisions are met for all council-organized overnight events.
Promotes continuous improvement: NCAP encourages councils to regularly review and assess their camps, leading to improvements in both the quality of programs and the condition of facilities.
Standardizes all council-run camps: The short-term camp standards were extended to a broader range of activities, ensuring that any council-organized overnight camping event, regardless of length, adheres to the same high standards for quality and safety.
Provides training and resources: The program includes training for short-term camp administrators to equip them with the skills needed to manage these camps effectively, covering areas like risk management, program planning, and facility Oversight.
What is a Short-Term Camp?
A short-term camp is any council-organized overnight camping program, whether one-time or continuing, that is one, two or three nights in length where the council or its agents (districts) provide the staffing and may provide program and food services, and includes camps conducted off council properties. National training courses are subject to the short-term camp requirements, regardless of format or duration.
Dennis Camp, a trained Short-Term NCAP Administrator, has agreed to work with Chris Axford, our Council NCAP lead, to establish the program within the Virginia Headwaters Council. If you have any questions on the Short-Term NCAP program please feel free to reach out to Dennis at 7bczoo@gmail.com or 757-478-7027.
Scouting America has announced that, following a successful pilot, ScoutsBSA Troops will have the option to become co-ed Family Troops starting December 15, 2025, with Chartered Organization approval and required steps completed. Additional details are expected to be released over the coming weeks.
The Family Troop option is designed to give Chartered Organizations added flexibility especially within communities that don’t have enough youth for separate boys-only and girls-only troops. ScoutsBSA Troops will continue to have the option to remain single gender.
Please contact VAHC Director of Membership Michael Werling with any questions.
Troop 1028 and 1029 are pleased to offer FREE Pinewood Derby car construction workshops to local Packs each year in January and February in Scoutmaster Eric Cutright’s amazing woodworking shop.
The Troop Scouts will help the Cubs pick a design, find parts, assist with gluing, figure out next steps, help with axle treatment, provide encouragement so Cubs don’t get overwhelmed, and help Mr. Cutright monitor power tool usage (mainly stationary belt sanders, drills, and drill presses – Mr. Cutright does all the dangerous stuff for them).
Cub parents and leaders are responsible for general behavior control, and maximum capacity is 8-10 car builders (Scouts, siblings, or parents) per 90-minute session.
Find out more on Troop 1028/1029’s website, contact Scoutmaster Eric Cutright (ericcutright@comcast.net), or use the QR code below:
The Silver Beaver Award is the highest recognition a Scout council can bestow. Introduced in 1931, it is awarded for distinguished service within a council by registered adult Scouters of exceptional character and is given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service.
The Silver Beaver Award is given to those who do not seek it. To receive the Award, a Scouter must be nominated by a registered Scouter on a Nomination Form provided by the National Office. Recommendation Letters are encouraged to be included with submitted Nomination Forms. The number of Awards that can be given each year is based on the number of units in the council. The Virginia Headwaters Council may bestow two Silver Beaver Awards annually.
Please take time to nominate those Scouters who warrant recognition for their distinguished record of service. Completed nomination forms may be submitted via email along with any letters of recommendation to silverbeaver@virginiaheadwaters.org.
All nominations must be received by November 30th.
Merit Badge University is BACK! Join us November 15, 2025 for merit badge classes. We have an exciting schedule this year, including both Eagle Required and Optional badges. Adult training will be available for leaders, as well. General cost is $10/youth participant with some badges having additional costs for supplies. Bring a lunch and get ready to learn and earn badges!
Featured badges include Citizenship in the World, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Communications, First Aid, Sustainability, Archaeology, Movie Making, Journalism, Art, Plumbing, and more. Please join us for this one-day event at Blue Ridge Community College from 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
