Utah National Park Council Newsletter

By Heidi Sanders
Jun 27, 2013

Committing and recommitting to fulfilling your Duty to God

The Duty to God award is part of the religious emblems program of the Boy Scouts of America.

“A Scout is reverent. He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion.”

No matter your faith or religious group, the religious emblems program encourages all Scouts to develop their faith and to better live the Scout Law. The Scout Law represents an ideal of a young man who is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, reverent. No young man or adult always maintains the ideal. It is a struggle and a challenge especially for young men who are still exploring and learning about who they are.

The religious emblems program supports a Scout in achieving and finding strength to live the Scout Law and to guide a Scout through the challenges and uncertainty in their environment.

For the LDS population this is achieved through fulfilling ones Duty to God. The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaimed:

You live in a day of great opportunities and challenges – a day in which the priesthood has been restored. You have the authority to administer the ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood. As you prayerfully and worthily exercise that authority, you will greatly bless the lives of those around you. This program, along with the scriptures and For the Strength of Youth, will help you fulfill your responsibilities. Heavenly Father has great trust and confidence in you and has an important mission for you to fulfill. He will help you as you turn to Him in prayer, listen for the promptings of the Spirit, obey the commandments, and keep the covenants that you have made. You will feel a great sense of accomplishment as you fulfill your duties, and you will be prepared to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, receive the covenants and ordinances of the temple, worthily serve a full-time mission, and become a righteous husband and father. My the Lord continue to bless you in these efforts.

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles promised young men that their “achievement of the Duty to God Award will provide…a living testimony that will sustain you throughout your life.”

For LDS young men who hold the Aaronic Priesthood, the Duty to God award helps prepare young men to live their oaths and covenants and to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and obtain the blessings that are made available to them as they do so and fulfill their purpose and mission in returning back into the presence of their Father in Heaven with their families.

But no matter your religion, we invite all Scouts, leaders and volunteers to recommit themselves to fulfilling their duty to God in living the Scout Law.

Video by Trapper Trails Council serving northern Utah, southern Idaho & Western Wyoming

Author: Heidi Sanders | Marketing & PR Director, Utah National Parks Council

Cub Scout Leaders Call To Monthly Roundtable

Dear Cub Scout Leaders,

The Stake Presidency, Stake Primary Leadership and I have been working to better support, train and inspire all our Ward Primary Presidencies and Cub Scout Leaders to be adequately prepared and qualified to serve effectively in your Ward Cub Scout programs, as they assist parents in helping young boys on the path of becoming righteous priesthood holders.  Attached is a letter from The Stake Presidency expressing their feelings, commitment and support of the cub scout leaders and programs.  A key element in helping these leaders is to attend the monthly cub scout roundtable training that the Alpine District puts on each month.  Currently of the 100+ that are invited from our stake, less than 10 typically attend and 4 of them are Stake leaders. 

President Livingston has suggested that a face to face, priesthood-directed discussion, from the bishopric counselor over primary, about this letter and topic, be held with all the Primary Presidencies and Cub Scout Leaders, is the first place to start.  We urge that for at least the first few months, all of the adult leaders involved in cub scouting attend roundtable together and help develop a vision for how it can help and bless them in their callings.  After a period of time and a proper vision is established for your Ward, then a sustainable divide and conquer plan for attendance at roundtable may be sufficient.  I will follow-up with each Bishopric Counselor to get feedback on their discussions with the cub leaders and how as stake leadership we can give meaningful support.

Roundtable is typically held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00pm at the Hollowcrest Building, 10962 N 6400 W, Highland, UT.  The next one is July 11th and then for August there is no Roundtable but leaders are encouraged to attend the Cub Scout Leader Pow Wow (more info will be coming).  September will be back to the regular time and place.

Our intent is truly to help your Ward Cub leaders, boys and programs. 

Sincerely

Ron Ward

Stake HC

BSA Annual Health and Medical Record

Annual Health and Medical Record
(Valid for 12 calendar months)
Policy on Use of the Annual Health and Medical Record
In order to provide better care for its members and to assist them in better understanding their own physical capabilities, the Boy Scouts of America recommends that everyone who participates in a Scouting event have an annual medical evaluation by a certified and licensed health-care provider—a physician (MD or DO), nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Providing your medical information on this four-part form will help ensure you meet the minimum standards for participation in various activities. Note that unit leaders must always protect the privacy of unit participants by protecting their medical information.

Note: This record is provided as a fillable PDF, and members are encouraged to fill it out on their computer, then print the record (rather than printing the record and filling it out by hand). Doing this will improve the readability and accuracy of each member's medical information. For additional information about safeguarding your medical information, click here. 

Parts A and B are to be completed at least annually by participants in all Scouting events. This health history, parental/guardian informed consent and release agreement, and talent release statement are to be completed by the participant and parents/guardians.

Part C is the physical exam that is required for participants in any event that exceeds 72 consecutive hours, for all high-adventure base participants, or when the nature of the activity is strenuous and demanding. Service projects or work weekends may fit this description. Part C is to be completed and signed by a certified and licensed health-care provider—physician (MD or DO), nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. It is important to note that the height/weight limits must be strictly adhered to when the event will take the unit more than 30 minutes away from an emergency vehicle, accessible roadway, or when the program requires it, such as backpacking trips, high-adventure activities, and conservation projects in remote areas. See the FAQs for when this does not apply.
Part D is required to be reviewed by all participants of a high-adventure program at one of the national high-adventure bases and shared with the examining health-care provider before completing Part C.

• Philmont Scout Ranch . Participants and guests for Philmont activities that are conducted with limited access to the backcountry, including most Philmont Training Center conferences and family programs, will not require completion of Part C. However, participants should review Part D to understand potential risks inherent at 6,700 feet in elevation in a dry Southwest environment. Please review specific registration information for the activity or event.
• Northern Tier National High Adventure Program .
• Florida National High Adventure Sea Base . The PADI medical form is also required if scuba diving at this base.
• Summit Bechtel Reserve

Risk Factors
Based on the vast experience of the medical community, the BSA has identified the following risk factors that may limit your participation in various outdoor adventures.

• Excessive body weight
• Heart disease
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Diabetes
• Seizures
• Lack of appropriate immunizations
• Asthma
• Allergies/anaphylaxis
• Muscular/skeletal injuries
• Psychiatric/psychological and emotional difficulties

Prescriptions
The taking of prescription medication is the responsibility of the individual taking the medication and/or that individual’s parent or guardian. A leader, after obtaining all the necessary information, can agree to accept the responsibility of making sure a youth takes the necessary medication at the appropriate time, but the BSA does not mandate or necessarily encourage the leader to do so. Also, if state laws are more limiting, they must be followed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Information about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) may be found at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/ .

• Philmont Scout Ranch: www.philmontscoutranch.org or 575-376-2281
• Northern Tier National High Adventure Program: www.ntier.org or 218-365-4811
• Florida National High Adventure Sea Base: www.bsaseabase.org or 305-664-5612
• Summit Bechtel Reserve: http://summit.scouting.org/ or 304-250-6750
• National Scout jamboree: www.bsajamboree.org

June 13 2013 Dutch Oven Roundtable @ Heritage Park Pavilion

Varsity Scouts Combined YW Ice Skating Activity

Here is the video made from the ice skating activity on January 23, 2013, held at the Seven Peaks Ice Arena in Provo, Utah.

How I Pack My Backpack

American Fork Recreation Outlet Store manager Patrick McCrary, shows how he packs his backpack.

By Heidi Sanders
May 24, 2013

Pfc. Cody Towse, a Life Scout, returns home

Pfc. Cody Towse was a Life Scout. After graduating from Salem High School in 2011, Cody decided to enlist in the U.S. Army instead of serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of his training. Cody wanted to serve in the military in wartime because he believed he could use his skills as a certified EMT and volunteer firefighter to save lives.

And that is what he did.

On Tuesday, May 13 in Afghanistan, Cody died from the blast of an improvised explosive device (IED) as he was treating another soldier. He will be returning home to his family either Wednesday, May 29 or Thursday, May 30. Cody’s body will arrive at the Provo Municipal Airport but the specific day and time are yet to be determined. Cody was 21 years old.

Friends of the Towse family are requesting as many Scout leaders and Scouts in uniform holding U.S. flags to line the procession route anywhere along the route from the Provo Municipal Airport to I-15, through Spanish Fork, Salem and on to Elk Ridge. Scouters will be joining members of local fire departments, police departments and the Utah Highway Patrol along the procession route. If you are able to help honor this American hero, please contact Julie Blaney for more information at 801-885-1007 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/blaneyjulie.

Article on Cody Towse http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56331642-78/towse

Author: Heidi Sanders | Marketing & PR Director, Utah National Parks Council