Civic Service
Participating in service projects is one way that Scouts keep their promise “to help other people.” While a Scout should do their best to help other people every day, group service projects are a way have large, lasting influences by helping our neighbors. These projects and efforts to benefit others can imbue leadership and hard work in Scouts that not only benefit our communities, but imbue lasting character traits to the future youth leaders within our Scouting program.
Our goal as the Civic Service Committee is to create opportunities for Scouts to participate in civic service experiences through community impact projects and public engagement activities that strengthen our community relationships, create a positive impact, and further the aims of Grand Canyon Council.
If you are a Scouter or community member who would like to get involved with the Civic Service Committee, offer ideas, or have questions, please contact our Civic Service Committee Chair.
Vianney Careaga
Civic Service Committee Chair
Grand Canyon Council
Vianney.care@gmail.com
Civic Service Links
Public Engagement
Report to the State
The Report to the State is an opportunity for scouts to communicate to state officials the service and benefits that scouting provides Arizona. This report is to be presented by scouts to the state legislature, the governor, and, if possible, the state supreme court.
The tradition of sharing the successes of the scouting movement with the citizens of Arizona dates back to when scouting was first introduced to Arizona. The Report to the State allows scouting to present a report of strength, growth, service, and demonstrates the effective implementation of scouting values in the community.
Fiesta Bowl Parade
All scouts at least 13 years old are invited to participate as banner carriers in the Fiesta Bowl Parade! What a great way to walk tall and finish off the year of Scouting in the Fiesta Bowl Parade in front of thousands of people and on live TV!
The Grand Canyon Council’s Parade Committee and Fiesta Bowl Parade Banner Committee needs your help to carry banners in front of the parade floats, dignitaries, and sponsors. We are searching for the first 70 scouts that register for this event. The invitation is open to Scouts BSA of any rank, OA members, Sea Scouts, and Venturing Scouts who will be at least 13 years old at the time of the parade. The parade length is just under two miles. All Scouts must be in the following standardized uniform.
Please contact Fiesta Bowl Parade Committee Chair Avery Thresher for more information.
Color Guard Flag Ceremonies
Color guard flag ceremonies are a great way for Scouts and Scouters to display their patriotism and citizenship. Schools, city councils, and civic organizations periodically request Scouts to lead a presentation of colors and the Pledge of Allegiance at functions and events, and we should should do our best to answer these calls to patriotism! While showing our patriotism and citizenship, Scouts should also be sure not to appear to endorse any particular political party or leader and follow guidelines for rallies or political events.
The Civic Service committee aims to have at least one Color Guard ceremonial team available to represent Scouting and display citizenship in each District and community throughout our state. If your pack, troop, crew, ship, or OA chapter has a color guard team, or if you would like to assist with coordinating teams throughout our Council, please contact the Civic Service Committee Chair to notify them of your interest and ability to do so!
Memorial Day Cemetery Flag Placement
Each Saturday before Memorial Day Scouts from across the Grand Canyon Council visit the National Memorial Cemetery to place flags at the headstones of the veterans who have served our country. The Tuesday morning following Memorial Day, Scouts and leaders return to the National Cemetery to collect the flags and bundle them up for use on the next holiday.
Any unit may participate in this service, and all materials are provided by the National Memorial Cemetery. Units may call the National Memorial Cemetery at 480-513-3600 to confirm their intention to participate.
Community Impact
Scouting for Food
Scouting for Food is an opportunity for Scouts throughout the Grand Canyon Council fight hunger in our communities. Scouting for Food is the leading service program for Boy Scouts of America and is a part of the national BSA program – Good Turn for America.
In partnership with local food banks, this council-wide service project will beginning January as Scouts distribute door hangers in their neighborhoods to announce the upcoming food drive. Days later, Scouts will return on the first Saturday of February to collect donations from doorsteps and deliver them to their local food banks and pantries.
The 2021 date for Scouting for Food is Feb. 6th, 2021. Additional information may be found on our Scouting for Food page.
Council Day of Service
An inaugural Council-wide Day of Service is scheduled for November 14, 2020.
The Civic Service Committee aims to coordinate Scouting’s service efforts with our cities, chartered organizations, parks, and community partners to provide a boost to our Arizona communities during the recovery efforts of Corona Virus and begin to have a lasting impact. Further information will be released as soon as they are organized.
Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the National Honor Society of the Boy Scouts of America, composed of Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives as elected by their peers. Members, known as Arrowmen or Brothers, are organized into local youth-led lodges that harbor fellowship, promote camping, and render service to Boy Scout councils and their communities.
Wipala Wiki lodge is the Order of the Arrow lodge for Grand Canyon Council. While our council headquarters are in Phoenix, we have roughly 700 members from all around the state of Arizona. Our lodge was formed in 1950 and is going strong 70 years later. Our lodge makes up one-fourth of Section W-6W, and is a part of the Western Region.
Reporting Unit Service Hours
Entering your unit service projects is a pretty simple process:
- Get your UNIT ID from your District Activity Chair, recharter paperwork, Council registrar, or District Executive. If you have already entered hours for your unit in the past, you do not need to do this again! First time users click here.
- Log-on to the Journey to Excellence (JTE) website. There is a link to enter your Community Service Projects on this site.
- If you are going to the JTE website for the first time, enter the UNIT ID; after that, the program will ask you to create a personal User ID and password. From that point forward, you will be able to log-on without the UNIT ID; your User ID and password associated with that UNIT ID will log you on in the future to enter additional projects for your unit. If you have logged on to the JTE website before, enter your User ID and password as prompted.
- After you have logged-on, a screen will appear with three options under which you can enter or view Community Service Projects. Click the appropriate option for your project. In most cases, you will click the link to “Enter a Service Project.”
- Headings with different types of projects will appear. Click the one most appropriate to your project. A heading doesn’t exist to describe your project, no problem! Click “Other” under “Other Services.” You can enter any type of project under this heading.
- Fill in the information it asks for, including the date of the project, how many youth participated, how many adults participated, and total number of hours. You can include all participants in your calculations, Scouts, Scouters and non-Scouters!
- Click “Submit Report” to log your hours! You can also print a certificate to present at an upcoming event for the unit or the organization for which you did your service project!