Jayhawk Area Council

Serving Scouting in the Topeka, Kansas area

Ian Lamb

Nominations for Sunflower District Awards

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We are excited to continue the adult volunteer, youth, and community awards for the Sunflower District, Jayhawk Area Council, Scouting America. Click HERE to electronically submit your nominations.

Nominations are due on or before Thursday, March  13th, 2025. Nominations received after this date will not be accepted for this Scouting year. We need the nominations to ensure that all awards are ordered by the time of the award presentation at our Sunflower District Dinner on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025. Award winners will be alerted ahead of time in order to plan on attending.

Award Categories

Adult

Outstanding Scoutmaster Award (Any registered Scoutmaster or Ass’t Scoutmaster within the Sunflower District)
Outstanding Cubmaster Award (Any registered Cubmaster or Ass’t Cubmaster within the Sunflower District)
Outstanding Den Leader Award (Any registered Den Leader or Ass’t Den Leader within the Sunflower District)
Outstanding Scouter Award (Any registered volunteer Scouter within the Sunflower District)
Outstanding Commissioner (Any registered Unit, District or Council Commissioner within the Sunflower District)
Outstanding District Committee Member (Any registered Sunflower District Committee Member)
Outstanding Popcorn Kernal (Encouraged to be registered as a Unit Committee Member)
Outstanding Chartered Organization

Youth

Go Getter Award (Any registered Scout within the Sunflower District)
Order of the Arrow (Any registered Scout, who is an OA member within the Sunflower/OT OA Chapter)
Above and Beyond Award (Any registered Scout within the District showing outstanding service to others)
Outstanding Eagle Scout (Youth still involved in the Troop)
Frontiersman Award (Scouts that attended troop campouts, summer camp, district campouts -consistently)

Community

On My Honor Award (To any Outstanding Scouting Alumni)
Outstanding Eagle in the Community (Nominated any Eagle Scout of any age)
Scouting Salute to Outstanding Community Leader
Outstanding Benefactor Award (Any longtime donor)
Outstanding Friend of Scouting (any Scouting donor)

Special Awards

Unit Leader Award of Merit (The Unit Leader Award of Merit replaces the Scoutmaster and Venturing Crew Advisor award of merit programs. This new recognition has revised requirements, and Cubmasters and Skippers are also eligible for this recognition.) (See additional nomination form)

District Award of Merit (Any registered volunteer Scouter within the Sunflower District that has given at least five years of service to the Scouting and/or District – Highest Award in District) (See additional nomination form)

2024 Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40 Banquet Recap

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On November 14, 2024, the Jayhawk Area Council hosted the annual Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40 banquet to celebrate the event’s 15th Anniversary and the 2024 Class of Honorees.  Since is inception in 2010, this event has honored 30 young leaders making a positive impact in our community.  These leaders embody the character and skills developed through Scouting’s programs, contributing significant community service hours, leadership and demonstration of their commitment to giving back. 

The 15th Anniversary brought a celebration of recognizing remarkable young leaders, with nearly 90% still active in the area, contributing to their communities and businesses.  The diverse group of honorees reflects the brightest talent in Topeka and Shawnee County. Please join us in welcoming the 2024 Class of Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40.  

Photo credited by Keith Horinek.

BALOO and IOLS Training

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If you are a leader in Cub Scouts or Scouts BSA these trainings are for you!

NEXT TRAINING IS APRIL 12-13th, 2025 AT FALLEY SCOUT RESERVATION

Register HERE!

What is BALOO? BALOO is the Cub Scout training required for leaders and any parent who participates with the den or pack outdoor event, including overnight campouts. BALOO training is comprised of two components – an online component and a practical hands-on component. The online portion consists of introductory and basic information that is built upon through the outdoor practical training session. 

YOU SHOULD ATTEND BALOO IF:

  • You are a Cubmaster, Asst. Cubmaster or Webelos Leader
  • You are planning to lead Scout camping events
  • You wish to enhance your camping skills

What is IOLS? The Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) course builds and expands on the concepts and themes introduced in Scoutmaster Position-Specific Training and provides Scouters with the confidence to take youth into the outdoors. Specifically, this hands-on program gives adult leaders a practical introduction to the patrol method of a Scout-led troop by teaching many of the practical outdoor skills they need to lead Scouts in the out of-doors. In addition, the teaching methods, activities, and games model the variety of teaching used effective and engaging Scouting programs. The skills sessions presented in Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills closely follow the Scouts BSA 

YOU SHOULD ATTEND IOLS IF:

  • You are a Scoutmaster, Asst. Scoutmaster, or transferring Webelos Leader 
  • You work with Scouts or Ventures in the outdoors
  • You are planning to lead Scout camping events
Scouting Adventures