Last update: 12/05/24  - Subscribe to Newsletter below or email your friendly neighborhood DE: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Eagle Scout Project Ideas:

***St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church on Grandin Rd is developing a pollinator garden and want a gazebo in the middle. They believe it would be an amazing Eagle Scout project! Please contact Lawrence Legg at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

***Unity Church on Green Ridge Road is looking for a scout who might be interested in repairing an old bridge on their property. This church hosts the Virgnia Master Naturalists program and many other conservation activities. Contact David Sink at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Lewis Pillis with Tree Stewards This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - signs for the Garden City natural area replaced with treated wood and routed letters.

Friends of Virginia Rivers Leah Schultz This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - have many local river kiosk projects they would love to pass along to an Eagle Scout.

Virgninia Musem of Transportation has several ideas that could use an Eagle's Touch - contact: John Jamison at 540.342.5670 EXT 106 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Habitat for Humanity - project classes available for packs or troops, Scouts aged 14 and up can volunteer and work in Habitat RESTORE and Scouts/Adults aged 16 and up can work on project sites to build houses - great volunteering opportunities! No training required and might tie in with some Merit Badge possibilities. Don't forget, Eagle Scout opportunities are available too! Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Community News:

I am affiliated with the Virginia Master Naturalists and we are always looking for volunteers or opportunities to work with youth. From making Bird Boxes, to planting trees, to cleaning around our rivers, nature hikes, local events and unit talks. If scouts need a certain expert for a merit badge or conservation hours, I have connections so please don't be shy, just ask. 

Need a night off from planning a meeting? Schedule a talk from one of the following knowledgeable volunteers:

Importance of Trees in the Urban Environment by the engaging speaker, Acadia Lewis from Virginia Tech, Virginia Forest Education Foundation program This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. **possible check offs for the Environmental Science merit badge

Native Trees in the Environment by Lewis Pillis with Tree Stewards This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Units can also sign up for volunteering opportunities to plant! - 

Sound the Alarm and Home Fire Safety through Red Cross. Fun talk with activities for kids! Scouts can then help support the program by educating their friends and family about home fire safety and help register households for free installation of fire alarms. Contact: Jordan Brown, Disaster Services Program Manager office: (540)777-3613 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Blue Ridge Orienteering Club has some events throughout the year! Check them out: Blue Ridge Orienteering Home Page

Roanoke City Councilman, Phazhon Nash - an Eagle Scout who is willing to talk at any scout unit about the Community Merit Badges! Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to help coordinate this.  

High Adventure Campout “HAC” For all youth 14 and up and Venturing Scouts! Time to enjoy some extreme scouting programs! Blue Ridge Mountains Council - HAC - it - up!! (scoutingevent.com) -Rescheduling  to March14th-16th

December:

December 12th - Roundtable!! Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church 1837 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 7:30PM

January:

January 3rd-5th - Winter Campout at Powhatan for Troops - Merit Badges available and Adult Training opportunities Blue Ridge Mountains Council - Winter Camp 2025

January 9th - Roundtable!! Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church 1837 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 7:30PM

11th - OA Winter Banquet

13th-15th - Council staff, including Heatherlynn Moore will be at a Training conference - You should bug Laura at the office for any questions or just because - :)

January 18th - Wytheville Community College (snow date January 25th) - More information to come

January 31st - Council Recognition Dinner - TBD

February:

February 8th - Railyard Dawgs Scout night - Will need color guard link for tickets is open: Berglund Center Coliseum - Rail Yard Dawgs Hockey Official Tickets | Roanoke, VA

HAPPY 115th BIRTHDAY SCOUTING! FEBRUARY 8TH!! - Our new name will start on this day: “Scouting America” but don’t worry, the legacy of The Boy Scouts of America still continues in every letter of the Scout Law.

February 13th - Roundtable!! Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church 1837 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 7:30PM

21st-23rd Klondike - More information soon!

March:

March 1st - GED of Scouting - Locust Grove UMC at 3415 Locust Grove Ln, Salem, VA 24153 Registered adults and parents of youths are welcome for this fun training event! More information soon. (University of Scouting will be postponed until the fall)

March 13th - Roundtable!! Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church 1837 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 7:30PM

14th-16th - HAC - High Adventure Campout!

22nd or 29th - Possible dates for Merit Badge College at Transportation Museum

April:

10th - Roundtable!! Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church 1837 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24015 7:30PM

11th-12th - Trout-o-ree

Scouting for Food middle of this month TBD

25th - District Pinewood Derby at Transportation Museum

May:

2nd-3rd - Spring Camporee

8th - Great Valley District Awards Dinner

Thank you for making scouting possible!

If you would like one of your unit events listed here, or to help with one of the events, please email your Great Valley District Executive at - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2024 Goals for the District:

• 2 New Unit Coordinators to assist in helping new units grow - talk to Dick Hancock.
• Increase adult volunteers engaged and trained - more district training events scheduled.
• Increase in Roundtable attendance from all units - Mel has regained control of all Roundtables and has some great plans for the meetings.
• Increased Crossover engagement from pack to troop - Troops should engage earlier to interact with local packs and spread the fun of scouting!
• 8% growth in scouting youth registered by the end of the year - working on "Adopt a School" program between units and local schools, contacting local PTAs and asking for support, even searching help from School Boards to help open up opportunities to talk with the local youth.
• FOS - working with local units to encourage donations from families, businesses and persons who want to support scouting.

If you would like one of your unit events listed here, or to help with one of the events, please email your Great Valley District Executive at - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thank you for making scouting possible!