Rip Van Winkle District, Scouting America

09/02/2026

🚨 Big Recruitment Update from Twin Rivers Council! 🚨

Our Recruitment Page has been completely rebranded and is now the new Recruitment Hub with resources, information, and support to help your unit make recruitment events more engaging and successful. https://trcscouting.org/recruitment-hub/

We’re also excited to launch a NEW Rental Program for our units!

Units can now browse available recruitment equipment, check availability, and submit rental requests through the new system.

All previously submitted rentals are still valid and have already been entered into the new system.

The previous Google Form will now be used only for printed material requests, including recruitment flyers and other printed resources.

Rental equipment and activity requests should now be submitted through the new Recruitment Hub.

From displays and recruitment materials to games and hands-on activities, we want to make it easier for your unit to have the tools you need to create a great recruitment event.

08/28/2026

How can your Cub Scouts connect with Scouts in 170 countries—without leaving home? Join us to learn all about Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the Internet (JOTA/JOTI)!
Held each year on the third full weekend of October, JOTA/JOTI is an international Scouting event that brings Scouts together through amateur radio and the internet. It’s an exciting opportunity for Cub Scouts to discover other cultures, learn how Scouting is different—and the same—around the world, and experience the global Scouting community firsthand.
Ruth Barnes Shaw joins us to share how JOTA/JOTI works and how your pack can get involved.
Whether you’re a longtime JOTA/JOTI participant or have never heard of it before, tune in to discover how you can open a whole world of Scouting to your Cub Scouts!

08/27/2026

PIN FIRST.

ADVENTURE NEXT!

Before you pack the tents and chase fall adventures, give your BeAScout pin a quick refresh.

Families are searching for units like yours right now. Don’t let an outdated pin be the reason they don’t find you.

https://www.scouting.org/pin/

It’s time to escape the indoors and help families discover Scouting!

08/25/2026

🧭 Set your unit up for success with the "Big Three"!

When onboarding new families, keep it simple by giving them what they need most:

💵 Cost (Dues)
📅 Calendar (Key Activities)
📞 Contacts (Key 3 Leadership)

By locking in your unit's Big Three, you directly support the core pillars of the Twin Rivers Council, Scouting America's Unit Pathfinder Award, building a transparent budget, a solid year of adventure, and strong leadership continuity.

👉 Download the Big Three template today and hand it out to prospective families at your next recruiting event!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-zfWXZ99clSd6dKJDg3etGElupy9mxzg/view?usp=sharing

08/24/2026

📌 Unit Leaders: Is Your BeAScout Pin Up to Date?

Thousands of families visit BeAScout.org every day looking for a Scouting unit for their child, but right now, only about 40% of BeAScout pins have been updated with the latest information.

Please take a few minutes today to review your unit’s BeAScout pin and make sure your meeting location, meeting time, contact information, and other details are accurate and up to date. For a family searching for Scouting, an outdated pin or missing information could be the difference between reaching out to your unit or moving on to another opportunity.

Updating your pin takes only a few minutes, but that small effort could help connect a family with a lifetime of Scouting adventure, friendship, leadership, and character development.

👉 Log in at https://my.scouting.org/ to update your unit’s information.

For instructions and more information, visit https://scouting.org/pin/.

Please share this with your unit leaders and membership volunteers. Let’s make sure every family searching for Scouting can find us!

08/21/2026

Service to the community is an important part of the Scouting program. Learn from Dallas DJ Hawkeye (Mark Rybczyk) about this great service project, and how your pack can get involved.

08/21/2026

Units, don't forget to order your popcorn today! Today is the deadline for popcorn booth orders.

08/18/2026

🏫 Unit Leaders: Ready for Fall School Open Houses & Flyer Approvals?

Back-to-school season is right around the corner! Now is the time to secure your unit’s presence in local schools across Ulster and Greene Counties before calendars fill up.

Take these proactive steps this week to get ahead of fall recruitment:
⚬ ✅ Request District Approval: Submit your recruiting flyers to the Superintendent’s office early if your district requires central approval.
⚬ ✅ Secure Open House Tables: Reach out to local elementary and middle school principals now to reserve a recruiting table for upcoming Open Houses or Orientation nights.
⚬ ✅ Prepare Your Materials: Download customizable flyers from the BSA Brand Center and generate unit-specific QR codes on my.Scouting.

08/18/2026

Scouting is even more fun with friends!

This fall, Scouting America Outfitters is bringing back the FREE Recruiter Strip Emblem promotion for 2026! Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA members, and other Scouts can earn this special patch by inviting a friend to experience the fun, adventure, and excitement of Scouting.

Here’s how it works:

✅ Invite a Friend - A Scout brings a friend to a den, pack, or troop meeting and introduces them to Scouting!

✅ Get Signed Up - When the new Scout officially joins, the Scout who invited them completes the special Recruiter promo flyer or postcard. These are found in the 2026 Cub Scout Welcome Kit and at local Scout shops.

✅ Claim the Patch - The Scout takes the card to the local Scout shop and receives a FREE Recruiter Strip Emblem!

It’s simple: Invite. Welcome. Earn.

Encourage Scouts to bring a friend along for the adventure and earn a special patch along the way!

08/15/2026

We will be slightly delayed in opening the Rip Van Winkle District Scout Shop today.