This year also marked Camp Royaneh’s 100th Anniversary <https://royaneh100.org/>—a milestone celebrated by hundreds of GGD Scouters at the March Gala and the July 27th in-camp celebration. Combined the two events drew nearly 1,000 attendees. Pictures from the celebration should be on the website shortly. The event felt like a true reunion, with Scouters from ages 7 to 80+ participating in open program areas as well as sharing stories and memories including a brief talk by former Governor Jerry Brown also a GGD alum.
The memories made by our campers will last a lifetime. Your efforts to get your scouts to camp is so important and appreciated. We look forward to GGD continuing its camping tradition in 2026!
This email goes to all registered adult leaders in the Golden Gate District (San Francisco/Daly City). Want an easy way to share this with others who may be interested?
Calendar changes: On August 18, 2025, the Scouting Calendar and the Announcements feature in the MyScouting Mobile app will be discontinued. Unit leaders can continue to use the calendar feature in Scoutbook Plus. This should help eliminate confusion when events were only showing up on or the other calendar -- now there is only one Unit event calendar, and it's in Scoutbook+.
Parent links to scouts: Last week, it was announced that Scoutbook Plus would start warning parents/guardians to validate all connections by December 31. This will help cut down on confusion where parents were connected to their Scout in Scoutbook, but not in My.Scouting -- which led to them not receiving the renewal notifications for their scouts (even though they could sign off advancement for their Cub Scouts/see their unit calendar, etc in Scoutbook). One way to help parents with this is to have them log into Scoutbook+and if they see a warning message about the connection to their scout going away on December 31, they need to go through the confirmation process.
Questions? Contact your Unit Commissioner for more help, or contact Paul Lanzi, District Commissioner, if you do not have a Unit Commissioner.
Advancement: Now exclusively recorded in Scoutbook+
Effective August 15
During the weeks of August 4th - August 15th, Scoutbook will be migrating advancement entry (including Awards) for Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouting to Scoutbook Plus. In addition, the ability to generate advancement purchasing reports for Scoutshop purchases will be migrated.
Users may find these functions through Scoutbook, but during and after this migration they will be re-directed to Scoutbook Plus to record advancement and run purchasing reports (Redirection will occur for leaders, youth, and parents but not for merit badge counselors as their user interface will remain unchanged.)
At the July roundtable, we dug into the topic of advancement in scouting. Thank you to all of those who attended for the great and creative conversation! You can find the slides from the discussion here.
Plan now for a great Scouting for Food 2025! Once again, we will be collecting food and donations to benefit the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. If your unit will be participating for the first time OR you want to update your collection area on the map, please contact Paul Lanzi (ggd.commissioner@gmail.com).
IN PERSON: BALOO and IOLS Training Mega Super Regional List
Various Dates
Need to complete BALOO training so your Cub Scout Pack can go camping? Want to tackle IOLS to complete your ASM/Scoutmaster Position-specific training? Well, you're in luck -- this is the MEGA list of all regional offerings currently available. You will find this list NOWHERE ELSE.
Don't procrastinate in signing up as these trainings WILL fill up!
The ONLY Wood Badge course our Council will offer in 2025 -- and you're invited! Wood Badge is advanced scouter training, with a heavy dose of fun. Over the course of these 5 days, you'll meet scouters from around the north state, gain valuable scouting skills -- and maybe learn something new about yourself. Trained Leaders Are Lifesavers - come join us!
As Robin said in his remarks at the Good Scout Dinner, "we're throwing a great party, we just need a few more friends to join us!" Thinking ahead to recruiting methods, check out this new toolkit for recruiting from pediatrician offices:
A Scout is Clean! Let's make an impact on our waterways by joining all of California for a cleanup day. This service project is good for families, dens, packs, troops, patrols, ships, posts, or crews! Patches are available for purchase at $3 a patch for your unit. Please indicate where you would like to pick up the patches. Patches are available 4-6 weeks after the event.
The Fleet Week BBQ is a San Francisco scouting tradition. The Sea Scouts are kind enough to host all scouts and their families at the Sea Scout base in Aquatic Park. This is the PERFECT place to watch the Fleet Week Airshow as the United 777, Canadian Snowbirds, Patriots Jet Team, US F-35s and other airshow planes flight directly overhead. We have a great lawn space to enjoy the show from, and you'll get to meet and hang out with other SF scouting families.
We are seeking an event lead to run the event this year. As the event lead, you'll help to promote the event to SF (and regional) scouting units, coordinate with the Troop running the BBQ, help to check in participants (sign up and payment is done online in advance) and make sure everyone is having a fun time. You'll still have plenty of time to enjoy the airshow yourself as well!
Save the date! This year's ScoutZone will be at the Sunday Streets in the Excelsior District (along Mission St) on Sunday, October 19. We'll have another great event, and it's a fantastic time to recruit new scouts into your unit! Each Pack, Troop, Ship, Post, Crew and Club is invited to host a fun activity!
Scout-O
Sunday October 26 @ Briones Park
Are you and your troop ready to test your map reading and problem-solving abilities? Are you ready to pass the map and compass requirements for First Class, Second Class, or the Orienteering merit badge? The Bay Area Orienteering Club is pleased to offer the thirty-first annual Scout-O, a cross-country map and compass adventure designed to test the map reading ability, compass skills and backwoods savvy of any troop or pack, regardless of size or experience.
Registration is first-come-first-served and there will be a cap on the number of attendees!
Join Half Moon Bay's Troop 255 at San Bruno Mountain to explore one of the trails in the Pacific Skyline Council's Foggy Trails series of hikes.
Start your Cub Scout year strong with a guided nature hike, learn about the Six Essentials for Cub Scouts and the Outdoor Code, and get started on the path to three Foggy Trails hikes to earn your special council patch. The Saddle Trail is approximately 2 miles in length, which meets the Outdoor Adventure requirement for the older ranks.
Did you know that we now have the ability to do recruiting events (including Join Nights) at select SFUSD schools? We do! Plan your Fall Recruiting activities now!
Join us for a Morning or Afternoon of Archery, Air-powered BB, or Slingshot for Cub Scouts!
This fun-filled day will teach safety and proper air-powered BB, archery, and slingshot shooting techniques as well as give Lions through AOLs an opportunity to focus on their Rank Specific Shooting Sports adventures for Archery, air-powered BB or Sling Shot.
We have a wide range of activities available including: Sailing, rowing, kayaking, canoeing, SUP, swimming, archery, and hiking. Scouts also have the opportunity to practice markmanship skills with a .22 rifle at no additional cost. Special sign ups will be required. More info will be provided to registered attendees prior to the event. Registration is open and will close on August 22nd.
Go on a magical adventure, defeat monsters, and solve puzzles at the Grand Moot!
Grand Moot is an outdoor adventure roleplaying scenario (OARS) where each Scout will take on the role of a villager attending Grand Moot. Each villager has different magical abilities and attributes - similar to classes in a videogame or tabletop game - and must work together to complete various scenarios. Scouts can roleplay with NPCs, defeat monsters in fast-paced physical combat, explore the beautiful trails of Hi Sierra, and negotiate with other Scouts to advance their village's goals.
Participants will receive materials to create tools and costumes at the event. They will recieve leatherworking materials at the event. If they have completed the Leatherwork merit badge they will be able to work on advanced armor projects.
September 26-27 @ Solano County Fairgrounds (Vallejo, CA)
NorCal Advance-o-Rama is going be a fun-filled event for scouts and adults alike. Scouts under the rank of Star will be able to work on a variety of requirements in the Trail to First Class. We are offering a wide variety of merit badge sessions for scouts to start, continue or complete. Adults will have the opportunity to take training for Scoutmaster / Assistant Scoutmaster, Merit Badge Counselor, and Troop Committee.
Safety at Sea is a hands-on youth maritime safety event where you will make new friends, launch flares, swim in a survival suit, and learn how to guard against water accidents. It includes fire safety training, first aid & CPR training, learning about boats, and more. Please join us at Yerba Buena Island on September 27th. All scouts 14 and older (or 13 and graduated 8th grade) are welcome!
Mountain Rendezvous (including black powder shooting)
Friday September 26 - Sunday September 28 @ Camp Hi Sierra
Where else can you shoot black powder rifles, throw tomahawks and knives, and learn to live in the mountains?!
This is a 1840s event emphasizing the lifestyle of the old trapper days for Scouts BSA Troops and Crews. The time is set from 1825 - 1840 when the first Rendezvous was held. So, if you can, please dress, camp and eat as in the 1800. Think of this as a Camporee in the frontier! Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind event. Your scouts will be transported to a different time for an amazing experience and learn period-oriented skills.
We will hold our 13th annual Nuclear Science Day for Scouts event at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. This in-person event targets boys and girls from the 8th grade or higher who are active members of scouting organizations. There is no cost to attend. Registration details are NOW available; registration closes on Sept 12 or when the event reaches capacity.
Service Opportunity: Excelsior Community Food Pantry
Every Saturday morning @ SF Campus for Jewish Living (302 Silver Ave, SF)
We distribute free groceries to registered participants every Saturday morning (10:15 AM - 12:30 PM) in the parking lot at the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living (302 Silver Avenue). We do not require advance sign-ups, and welcome volunteers of all ages (including supervised children). If you ever find yourself with a free Saturday, please consider volunteering with us—even just one time will help.
Troop Leader Guidebook - National Seeking YOUR Input
The Troop Leader Guidebook (formerly the Scoutmaster Handbook) is getting an update! National wants YOUR input to make it even better. Have suggestions or feedback? Email us at scoutsbsachair@scouting.org - your voice matters!
Sunday, October 12 - Fleet Week at the Sea Scout Base
Saturday, October 18 - Jamboree On The Air / Jamboree On The Internet (JOTA/JOTI)
Sunday, October 19 - Scout Zone @ Excelsior Sunday Streets
Sunday, October 26 - Bay Area Orienteering Championships "Scout-O" (all ages)
Key 3 Corner
Featured this month: District Chair Robin Praeger
Thanks to you our incredible volunteer leaders, GGD, continued its tradition of scouts and camping. GGD led the Council with the highest percentage of Scouts attending GGAC overnight camps! Studies show that summer camp not only strengthens Scouting skills but also builds personal and social growth in youth. Keep up the great work.
Our season began with two fantastic District Day Camps:
Camp Yunakin in Golden Gate Park, mid-June, with 40+ participants
Maritime Explorer Day Camp at the Sea Scout Base in Aquatic Park, running five weeks
We closed the season with strong attendance at Webelos/AOL Adventure Camp at Camp Royaneh, A quote from one of the scout leaders that attended with her daughter this year sums it up perfectly: "I have to get the Pack to go to adventure camp next year!"
Our next District camping event -- and the final one for this year -- will be our Scouts BSA/Sea Scout/Explorer/Venture Scout Camporee coming up in September, out at Camp Royaneh. It'll be another great opportunity for our San Francisco scouts to connect with nature, and build their scouting skills.
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