Tecumseh Council

Boy Scouts of America

News

Popcorn Sale

by

2026 Popcorn Sale Calendar

  • August 6             Popcorn Kickoff – 6:00 pm in the Council Office
  • August 8             Show & Sell Order form due (order must be on council form).  You can email (jenny.spencer@scouting.org) place online on popcorn website or bring to Council Office.
  • August 21            Popcorn Distribution between 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm at Camp Birch in the Dining Hall.
  • August 22           Popcorn Distribution between 8:00 am and 9:30 am at Camp Birch in the Dining Hall.
  • August/September Conduct individual unit popcorn kickoffs and start selling popcorn.
  • September 25       Show & Sell Payment due for 4% bonus commission (must pay for ½ of current show & sell invoice).
  • October 20        Popcorn Returns – The return times on October 20 are from 1:00 to 6:00 pm at the dining hall.  No popcorn will be accepted after October 20.
  • October 20        Popcorn Take Order Form due – either placed on popcorn website, brought to office, or emailed on council form to Jenny.spencer@scouting.org.
  • October 30        All popcorn money is due to Council Office – earns 4% bonus commission.
  • November 6        Popcorn Distribution from 3:00-7:00 pm at Camp Birch in the Dining Hall.
  • November 20      Final day to turn in all Magical awards
    • All prize orders from the prize company should be entered online in the popcorn system prize link.  Order of the Magical Dragon, Camp Birch Key and Magical Register MUST  be completed on COUNCIL FORMS and emailed to Jenny at Jenny.Spencer@Scouting.org or brought to Council Office.
    • High Achiever – must be entered in Popcorn System through Scout Sales.
    •  Late submissions will not be honored by Tecumseh Council or Campmasters.
    • Prize orders will not be released until the popcorn bill is paid in full.   

2026 Magical Popcorn Incentives

  • Magical Awards are from Kellar Marketing & Tecumseh Council.
  • Popcorn Wonder – Each Scout who sells “7” items will receive a Wands Wonders & Popcorn Patch.
  • Online Owls – Each Scout who sells $400 by online Owl will receive a $10 amazon gift card.
  • Birch Cat Circle – Scouts who sell $625 will have a choice of a Hanging Hammock, Lego Friends Friendship Movie Night, Hexbug Mechanical Bugs-Wasp or Multi-tool w/hammer & case.
  • Order of the Magical Dragon –Scouts who sell $1,500 or more will be invited to attend a magical dragon bowling pizza party.  All Scouts attending will draw a dragon egg for prizes ranging from $5 to a game system.
  • Camp Birch Key – Free week of Summer Camp at Camp Birch in 2027.  Cub Scouts must sell $2,400 & Scouts BSA must sell $3,000.
  • Wizard Portkey to Adventure – The highest selling Cub Scout and Scouts BSA Scout who sells the most popcorn will receive a gift card to Nova Adventure Park in Kettering.  In addition, there will be one Wildcard Scout who also will receive a gift card.  That scout’s name will be pulled from the Scout register, and they must have sold $500 or more.
  • $3,000 High Achiever– New Camping Package or Visa Debit cards for 4% of total Sales.  Must be entered into popcorn system.
  • New Commission Structure – base commission is 25%, additional commissions are below:
    • 2% – Earn Bonus commission if unit representative attends Popcorn Kickoff
    • 4% – Earn Bonus commission if unit pays for 50% of Show & Sell invoice as of and by September 25, 2026.
    • 2% -Earn Bonus commission if unit increases sales over last year by 10%.
    • Exception – if unit sold more than $20,000 last year the unit only needs to increase sale over last year’s sales.
    • 4% – Earn Bonus commission if unit pays for entire popcorn invoice on or before October 30, 2026.

Popcorn Forms

Popcorn Newsletter

Questions?

Please contact Jenny Spencer at Jenny.Spencer@Scouting.org or 937-325-6449 x103

Limits on Merit Badge Counselors

by

Limits on the number of merit badges an individual may be a counselor for:  Scouting America’s Guide to Advancement states on page 42 in section 7.0.0.3 that “Ideally, Scouts should work with a variety of adults so that they can gain insights and learn from examples offered from a variety of perspectives and approaches to life.  Earning a large number of merit badges from a small number of counselors, or only from counselors known to the Scout, robs the Scout from the opportunity to learn and grow.”

In keeping with the spirit and intent of this paragraph it is the policy of the Tecumseh Council, Scouting America Advancement Committee that individuals will be approved to be counselors for no more than 25 merit badges.  The committee reserves the right to make extremely limited exceptions under extreme and limited circumstances.  All current merit badge counselor approved to council more than 25 merit badges will be asked to inform the advancement committee of their 25 merit badges they prefer to counsel by July 1, 2026.

If you have any questions about this, please contact your district advancement chair.  The Mad River District (Logan, Champaign, & Clark Counties) Advancement Chair is Greg Free at gregfree64@gmail.com.  The Sycamore District (Greene & Clinton Counties) Advancement Chair is Darren Thomson at dutchovenchef@gmail.com. Or the council advancement chair, Rick McClelland at jrmcclella@aol.com.

Military Family Fee Waiver

by

The Military Family Fee Waiver will be effective June 1, 2026. Scouting America is committed to expanding access to Scouting for military-connected youth.

OVERVIEW

Scouting America is waiving the $85 national youth registration fee for eligible military families through a verification and code process during online registration.

  • Youth members only
  • New and renewing online registrations
  • funded nationally through philanthropic efforts

ELIGIBILITY

Youth in families with current service in:

  • Active Duty
  • Reserve
  • National Guard

FEE COVERAGE

  • $85 National Registration Fee – Waived

Reduced to $0 after verification and code application. Applies only to the national fee.

HOW IT WORKS

  1. National fee reduced to $0
  2. Select “Get Military Discount Code”
  3. Complete verification process
  4. Receive code
  5. Enter code at checkout
  6. National fee reduced to $0

ADDITIONAL COSTS

Local council, unit, optional add-on (e.g., Scout Life magazine), and processing fees may still apply.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHO QUALIFIES?

Eligible youth in Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard families.

WHY DOES THE $85 FEE APPEAR?

The national fee appears at checkout and is removed after the verification code is applies.

WHAT DOES THE WAIVER COVER?

The waiver applies only to the national youth registration fee. Other local, unit, optional, and processing fees may still apply.

IS THIS AVAILABLE FOR ALL REGISTRATIONS?

No-this waiver is available for online registrations only.

Digital Resource Guide

by

What is a Digital Resource Guide?

A Digital Resource Guide supplements merit badge pamphlets by consolidating current and relevant learning resources in one place.

Designed to be accessible and self-paced, the guide uses videos and interactive elements to support independent and engage learning.

The guide offers practical tools and ideas to help leaders organize meetings and tailor instruction to varying knowledge levels.

This is a supplemental learning guide, NOT a replacement-tool. The guide supports traditional merit badge learning alongside a counselor by bridging printed materials with interactive, real-world applications.

Check it out here: https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/digital-resource-guides/

Safeguarding Youth Refresher Training

by

The new Safeguarding Youth Refresher Training has launched to help you renew this annual required training. 

If you have completed the full Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT) course and it is currently active or has expired within the last 7 days, you are eligible to take the Refresher Training. 

If your full SYT training has been expired for 7 days or more, you will need to complete the full Safeguarding Youth Course again before receiving credit. 

If you have not taken the full 90-minute Safeguarding Youth Course, you must take that before taking the 20-minute refresher. If you take the 20-minute refresher but don’t take the full course, you will not get credit for SYT.

Participants taking the Refresher Training must successfully pass the exam on the first attempt to receive credit for the Y01 training code. If the exam is not passed, the system will automatically route you to the full Safeguarding Youth Course to ensure a complete review of the material. Once the refresher exam is failed, the refresher course cannot be relaunched, and the full course must be completed. 

The Safeguarding Youth Refresher Training will be available in English and Spanish in the Volunteer Learn Center under the following course titles: 

  • Safeguarding Youth Refresher 
  • Curso de actualización SYT 

Thank you for your continued commitment to safeguarding youth and helping ensure a safe environment for all. 

Scout Store News

by

New Merit Badge Resources Are Here!

Now it’s easier than ever for Scouts to work on their merit badges with fresh videos and online resources.

Updated merit badges include:

Nuclear Science, Sustainability, Exploration, Genealogy, Painting, Sculpture, Dog Care, Fingerprinting, Scholarship, Robotics, Insect Study, Mammal Study, Environmental Science, Graphic Arts, Music, Pets, Family Life, Bird Study, Nature, Animation, Reptile & Amphibian Study, Digital Technology, Home Repairs, Camping, and Hiking.

 Scouts and leaders can find everything in one place at the Merit Badge Hub: https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/

The Hub makes it simple to:

  • Find updated requirements
  • Download pamphlets
  • Access videos and guides
  • Gather all resources in one place

All Existing Merit Badge Pamphlets at the Tecumseh Council Scout Shop are now Buy one, Get one FREE! 

New Cub Scout Rank Tees

These brand-new Cub Scout Rank Tees feature glow-in-the-dark graphics that kids will love! (limited supply)

Den Leader Resource Cards

Den Leader resource cards are IN STOCK!  Get them while they last!!

Maple Syrup

Camp Birch Maple Syrup is in stock and ready to make your breakfast extra yummy!  $12 and made here at Camp Birch!

Online Ordering

Don’t forget to take advantage of our new ONLINE ordering system Internal Forms – Customer Online Order Request Tool (jotform.com) where you can easily place your order from home, we fill the order and have it ready for you to pick up at your convenience!  Or, you can pay with a credit card and we can ship to you (shipping cost at your expense) So now it’s easier than ever to get your scout outfitted for the Scouting season! 

Scout Store Hours

Monday-Friday from 10 am-5 pm

Scout Store Contact Info

  • 4057 Swimming Pool Road, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387
  • Manager – Traci Free
Scouting Adventures