Golden Gate District Leader Updates

January 2026

Meet our new District Executive: Marisol!

Dan Newmark, District Chair, and Paul Lanzi, District Commissioner, are very excited to welcome Marisol Gonzalez as our new District Executive and the final member of our District Key 3. Marisol joins us from the Greater Yosemite Council, where she was previously serving as District Executive for 2 of their 3 Districts.

Scroll down to read Marisol's introduction in the Key 3 Corner section below!

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?

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For All Adults

Nominate a Leader for Recognition Today!

Due by March 30

We are looking forward to the 2026 District Recognition Dinner (date TBC). We want to recognize MORE leaders than ever, but we need your HELP. Please nominate worthy adults, including scout leaders, using the below link. Questions? Email us at ggd-awards@googlegroups.com.

Nominate a leader (free!)

January District Roundtable

January 20 @ 7 pm via Zoom

January's Roundtable topics will be: 1) Jamboree and 2) Recording attendance -- tips, tricks and best practices. We'll have a guest speaker, Peggy Bimbi, to answer all of your Jamboree-related questions!

See the District Website for information on upcoming roundtables.

Leader Education and Discovery presentation

LAST CALL: LEAD For Adult Volunteer Training

January 24 2026 @ Diablo Valley College

Once a year, GGAC puts on one of the largest adult scouter training sessions in the country. Choose from among dozens of courses that cover topics from holding Pack Meetings with Pizzaz to amazing Service Project Ideas to topics like MESH for Scouts. Some of the scouters from our District will be teaching courses this year -- come say hi!

More information and registration here

Scout Leader Training Roundup

See all of the Scout Leader training opportunities nearby! This is the ONLY place where you'll find courses from Marin, Pac Sky, Silicon Valley Monterey and Golden Gate Area Councils.

Cub Scout Leaders:

BALOO

January 24-25 @ DVC + Camp Herms: https://scoutingevent.com/023-BALOOWinter2026

March 14-15 @ TBD: Not yet available to register via PacSky Council

March 21-22 @ Fremont: https://scoutingevent.com/023-106213

March 28-29 @ Camp Royaneh: https://scoutingevent.com/023-106946

April 24-25 @ North Bay: Not yet available to register via GGAC

May 2-3 @ Camp Tamarancho: https://www.boyscouts-marin.org/event/baloo-basic-adult-leader-outdoor-orientation/3131283

August 29-30 @ TBD: Not yet available to register via PacSky Council

Cubscout Leader Position Specific Training

October 10 @ Camp Tamarancho: https://www.boyscouts-marin.org/event/cub-scout-leader-specific-training/3131409

Scouts BSA Leaders:

Troop Committee Challenge

February 2 @ Fremont: https://scoutingevent.com/023-106210

Merit Badge Counselor TrainingFebruary 7 @ Centerville Middle School: https://scoutingevent.com/023-106211

Scoutmaster Position Specific Training

April 18 @ Fremont: https://scoutingevent.com/023-106215

March 14 @ San Leandro: https://scoutingevent.com/023-109146

May 2 @ TBD: Not yet available to register via PacSky Council

February 4 + 11 @ TBD + March 7-8 @ TBD (Note: High Adventure Training): https://training.goldengatescouting.org/okpik/

Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS)

February 7 @ San Jose + February 28-March 1 @ Camp Chesebrough (Note: Chinese Language): https://scoutingevent.com/055-2026_BSLTiOLS_inChinese

March 13-15 @ Camp Chesebrough: https://scoutingevent.com/055-105787-243694

March 14 @ San Leandro + April 4-5 @ RLM: https://training.goldengatescouting.org/iols/

March 25 @ Pleasanton + April 10-12 @ RLM: https://training.goldengatescouting.org/iols/

April 19 @ Fremont + May 22-24 @ RLM: https://scoutingevent.com/023-106216

May 2-3 @ Camp Tamarancho: https://www.boyscouts-marin.org/event/iols-intro-to-outdoor-leader-skills/3131284

November 7-8 @ TBD: Not yet available to register via PacSky Council

For All Scouts

Trash-the-Trash Day 2026 - Registration Now Open

May 2, 2026

Scouts Trash the Trash Day is an international Messengers of Peace project for Scouts around the world, where each Scout is challenged to bring a friend or family member along and pick up at least one Kilo (2.2 pounds) of trash each on the first Saturday in May.

The idea for Scouts Trash the Trash Day came from the scouts of Troop 1206 in Helena, Montana after realizing that there are several days throughout the year that Scouts get together and do the same thing on the same day. Days like Jamboree on the Air and Internet, Jamboree on the Trail, Trees for the World, World Neckerchief Day, but there was not a day for Scouts to all get together and clean up their communities. Thus Scouts Trash the Trash Day was started. Scouts are asked to bring a non-scout with them on this day of service in order to double the impact of their trash cleaning effort.

Scouts Trash the Trash Day is about more than just cleaning our planet, it is a day to show the world what Scouting is about, educate individuals about Scouting and recruit new boys, girls and adults into the Scouting movement.

Register here

Warriors Scout Nights - Tickets Now Available for Purchase

Sunday, February 22

Below are the links that will allow you to purchase tickets at the Group rate with no fees or taxes. If you are looking to secure 10 or more tickets, or are looking to book a Fan Experience Program, please contact Andrew Sheets directly so he can assist with seating your group together.

Game Details: Scouts Day #2

Date: Sunday, February 22^nd
Opponent: Denver Nuggets

Ticket Prices:

Upper Level: $100-$115 Per Ticket
Cache Creek Club (Sections 126-129): $200 Per Ticket

Click Here To Purchase

COMING SOON: Golden State Valkyries Scout Night

TBD!

Details are still coming together, but your District team is working directly with the Golden State Valkyries to set up a Scout Night during the Valkyries 2026 season! Likely to be in the early fall, expect tickets to be less expensive than the Golden State Warriors tickets, and no less fun!

Cub Scouts

The words "Pinewood Derby" in stylized text

Pinewood Derby Workshops

Generous units and adult leaders offer Pinewood Derby Workshops, where scouts can bring their dreams and their uncut Pinewood Derby car block, and leave with a fully cut car block! Check out these events:

January 24 @ Foster City: Drop-in / no registration required

February 14 @ Camp Tamarancho: Must register in advance using this link

Scouts BSA

LAST CALL - Join in for Jamboree 2026

Signups for our Council's contingent will close in the next ~2 weeks, or when the Jamboree Troop(s) fills up -- whichever comes first. There are currently 29 scouts and 5 adults signed up to be part of the contingent; in the most-likely scenario there is room for a total of 54 scouts and 6 adults (there are other scenarios where there are only 4 scout spots left at present). There is NO confirmed date for the next Jamboree.

See a photo diary from the 2023 Jamboree here to get a sense of the kind of activities scouts will experience.

We will be discussing Jamboree at the (zoom) Roundtable at 7pm on January 20 -- scouts, parents and adult leaders are all welcome to attend!

Register / More Information

LAST CALL - New Merit Badges: Cybersecurity and AI - any interest?

The new Cybersecurity and AI Merit Badges have recently launched. Would your unit be interested in participating in a Merit Badge Day focused on these two Merit Badges?

Let us know if you are interested

Upcoming Events

Fun District Events coming up!

Sunday, February 22 - Warriors Scout Night #2

TBD Date - District Recognition Dinner 2026

Key 3 Corner

Featured this month: District Executive Marisol Gonzalez

Hello everyone! My name is Marisol Gonzalez, and I am honored to be your new District Executive.

A little about me…I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and moved to California in 2012. I am the proud mom of two boys, ages 14 and 12, who are both still active in the Scouting program.

I began my Scouting journey in 2017 when my oldest son joined Cub Scouts as a Tiger. It was through the Cub Scout pack that I discovered a new passion for Scouting and went on to serve in many volunteer roles, including Den Leader, Cubmaster, Assistant Cubmaster, Pack Committee Chair, Council Popcorn Co-Kernel, Wood Badge staff and Camp and Program Director for the Webelos Outdoor Adventure Camp in the Greater Yosemite Council.

I am currently serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 939 in Livermore, CA, and as Troop Committee Chair for a female troop that my husband and I founded in Tracy, CA. I am also part of the Tiger Cub Safari staff where “Tigers Rule and Others drool”!

Previously, I served as a Marketing Assistant for the Greater Yosemite Council in Modesto, CA, where I later transitioned into a professional role as District Executive, supporting two of the council’s three districts.

When I am not Scouting, you can find me hiking, camping, visiting festivals around the Bay Area and Central Valley, or visiting “happy mouse land.”

I am excited to continue my journey as a District Executive with the Golden Gate Area Council. I firmly believe that Scouting is an incredible program for empowering youth, building confidence, developing leadership skills, forming new friendships, promoting independence, and most importantly, having lots of FUN!

I hope to see each one of you very soon!

Yours In Scouting,

Marisol Gonzalez
Golden Gate District Executive
Marisol.GonzalezCuevas@scouting.org
c. 925-599-8651

2026 Service Hours

Have you reported your unit's service hours?

Data as of 1/19/26

No hours reported yet! Who will be the first?

Need help reporting your service hours? Check out this online guide and email GGD Commissioner Paul Lanzi if you have questions.

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