HEADLINES
Scouting America and U.S. Secret Service Launch New Online Safety Partnership
Follow this link for details on safety for our youngest scouts.
July Jokes from Scout Life Magazine
To have a little fun in July (and all year-round) check out these jokes
Let’s Grow Scouting Together!
Saturday, July 18 at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom
This training will bring together key ideas around planning, recruiting, and retention. We’ll spend time digging into best practices for recruiting youth and adult leaders, with real-world strategies you can put into action right away. We encourage every unit to have a representative attend—Unit Key 3 and Membership Coordinators would especially benefit.
Register here! Once you have registered, you should receive the Zoom link.
If you don't receive a link, please email:
Scouting America and the Department of War
Here is the letter on this subject.
Have You Taken the New Safeguarding Youth Training?
In May 2025, Scouting America introduced the new Safeguarding Youth Training. This training replaces Youth Protection training. Safeguarding Youth Training is an annual training course with a shorter refresher course available for completing the renewal training.
Read more here! Contact Michelle Pisias at for more assistanceOur New Council Name
Exciting News!
As a result of the merger between Golden Empire Council and Southern Sierra Council, we are excited to take the next step in unifying our Scouting community under one shared identity.
While our mission and values remain the same, our reach has grown—now serving 21 counties across California. With that growth, we wanted a bold, inclusive name that reflects the strength and scale of who we are today.
We are proud to announce our new name: Greater California Council.
This new name represents more than just geography—it reflects our commitment to bringing Scouting to more youth, strengthening communities, and continuing the legacy of leadership and service across our expanded region.
Same mission. Same values. One unified Council.
Scouting America Partners with America250 to Inspire the Next Generation of Civic Leaders
Scouting America is joining with the commission America250 to work with the next generation of civic leaders. America250’s mission is to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial. Details are available from the Scouting News Room with information and websites included.
Scouting Handbooks Are In Multiple Languages!
The Scouting America handbooks are available now in Spanish and Mandarin. Details regarding the multi-lingual handbooks are available here.
Language should never be a barrier to participating in Scouting—that’s why handbooks are now available in multiple language options through print-on-demand and digital formats. Multilingual (translated) editions are available in Spanish and Mandarin (Traditional and Simplified) for: - All Cub Scout rank handbooks - The Scouts BSA Handbook
CALLING ALL LEADERS!
Membership Issues
If you any questions or would like to learn more about our district events, district needs, roundtable, or other initiatives you may want to implement within the district, please contact our District Chair, Paul Bryant (); our District Commissioner, Keith Underwood (); or our District Roundtable Commissioner, Andrea Peterson ().
Also, check out Council Support information at: https://www.scouting.org/council-support/
Is your unit short of membership? Check out how to earn a Recruiter Strip and more members
To subscribe to the Council's newsletter, go to http://www.gec-bsa.org, scroll to the bottom of the page and fill out the newsletter form.