Scouting for Food

This year the Las Vegas Area Council collected over 200 tons of food to help support those in need in the Las Vegas area.  Our food drive was kicked off in our southern district where they collected 11,000 pounds of food in the Lake Havasu area.  On November 18th, thousands of Scouts enjoyed a picture perfect day as they gathered bags of food from neighborhoods throughout the Vegas Valley.  Most of the food gathered was taken to drop off sites throughout the valley.  Once the food was dropped off it was then sorted, boxed and delivered to the Salvation Army.

Scouts were able to go to Channel 8 and kick off the food drive in Las Vegas with Dave McCann and the morning show.

We would like to thank our sponsors and partners in this great effort. 

• Smith's food stores provided the bags and allowed us to use their stores as a collection site.
• Freeman corporation helped with signs, banners and logistics
• United Way ponsored much of the expense.
• Anderson Dairy
• DTR Transport

Cub Scouts collecting food in front of one of the Smith's drop off sites.

One of our many Troops manning a collection site.

Scouts and Leaders sorting the food as it arrives.

Special thanks to Jim Ness our Council Scouting for Food Chairman and the District Scouting for Food Chairman.  Without their efforts we would not be able to accomplish this much needed service for our community.  Thanks you to all those who donated and helped the life of someone in need.



New Road at Del Webb

Anyone who has been to Del Webb knows that it is one of the most beautiful camps around.  They also know that the road to middle camp is a little scary and needs some help.  This fall the Las Vegas Area Council has invested in a new road for our campers.  The one mile stretch form upper camp to middle camp has been improved by adding material, installing drainage and making pull out spots on the roads so that traffic can get by each other with out having to back down the road.  The road coming into camp was also made wider and has new drainage and base put down on it as well.

The improvements to the new road give the Council the ability to bring heavy equipment down to middle camp to build new buildings, make program improvements and most importantly it gives us a safe way in and out of camp.  The Las Vegas Area Council is committed to our camping program and will continue to make needed improvements to enchance saftey and program at all of our camps. 

INDY CARS AND BOY SCOUTING

The Boy Scouts of America and Indy car racing has formed a great relationship and Dale Coyne Racing has even sponsored a Boy Scouts of America car. 



On Wednesday October 12, 2011 the number 19 Dale Coyne Racing Boy Scouts of America car was part of an openhouse held at the Reynolds Resource Center.  Around 1,200 people came to meet the owners Dale and Gail Coyne and hundreds of kids even had a chance to sit in the drivers seat of a real Indy car.  While some waited in line to sit in the car others took advantage of Uncle Bills Wall.  There were and estimated 600 climbers who tried to conquer the wall.  Tickets for the Sunday race were handed out and some of the scouts enjoyed watching Down and Derby and eating popcorn in the conference rooms.

The car and the climbing wall were then taken to the Indy Fan Zone at the Mandalay Bay resort for a three day showcase experience.  Many people came by and climbed the wall, sat in the car and learned more about Scouting.  The highlight of the week was when local Scouts were teamed up with the actual Indy car racers and raced pinewood derby cars down the tracks.  Many of our Scouts beamed with excitement as they raced their cars.  Each driver signed their cars and gave them to the young Scouts.

Racers watch with anticipation as their cars go down the track

The Final Four

Special thanks go out to Dale Coyne Racing for sponsoring the Boy Scouts of America Car.  Also special thanks to Alex Lloyd for driving the Boy Scout Car and representing the Boy Scouts with honor.

Our Scouts had a great experience and will never forget this experience.

Unfortunatly the race ended tragically when 15 of the cars were involved in a massive wreck.  Dan Wheldon was tragically killed and the race was canceled in his honor.

Along with Dale Coyne Racing, Alex Lloyd and the #19 Boy Scouts of America car, Scouting offers its deepest condolences to those who knew and loved Dan Wheldon. We are a proud partner with IndyCar and tragic accidents like this impact our entire family. Today – and in the coming weeks – the thoughts and prayers of the Scouting community are with everyone touched by this very difficult and unfortunate situation. There is an innate desire in mankind – young and old alike – to go higher, farther and faster and Dan was and will continue to be an inspiration to us all.

 - Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive, The Boy Scouts of America

 

 

The Las Vegas Area Council and the Boy Scouts of America would ask you to keep the family and friends of Dan Wheldon in your prayers.

Influential Women In Scouting

The Las Vegas Area Council held its inaugural Influential Women In Scouting recognition evening on September 23, 2011.  Many of the volunteers of the Las Vegas Area Council often put in years of behind the scene service and are never given the thanks and appreciation they deserve.  Most of the time these good volunteers are women, so the Las Vegas Area Council decided to have an event to honor the many women who keep Scouting going at the ground level.

This year we honored 14 women who have spent most of their lives dedicated to cheerful service in the Boy Scouts of America.  Thousands of hours have been spent and thousands of lives have been changed for good because of the efforts of these women.

Back Row:  Brenda Swan, Prascilla McAvoy, Anne Jones, Sandy Hess, Susan Edington, Susan Wamser, Patti Guerin, Candy Krausman
Front Row:  Doris Ankenman, Fran Fagan, Nancy Cramer, Penny Straton, Linda Friedrich, Brenda Grassley (not picutred)

The evening was highlighted by a powerful speech from Mayor Carolyn Goodman who talked about how the values of Scouting are needed more today than ever before. 

A special thanks to Commissioner Mary Beth Scow and her committee for making this such a remarkable event.

Uncle Bills Wall

In the spring of 2011 a generous board member donated a 32 foot mobile climbing wall to the Las Vegas Area Council.  The wall will be known as Uncle Bills Wall in honor of our annonymous donors uncle.  This past summer the wall provided confidence building experiences to Scouts at Kimball Scout Reservation, and Del Webb Adventure Base.

Look for Uncle Bills Wall at Scout Expo, District Camporee's and other special events of the Las Vegas Area Council.