Jayhawk Area Council

Serving Scouting in the Topeka, Kansas area

waynepancoast

Gray to Join Jayhawk Area Council Staff

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Scout Executive Wayne Pancoast is pleased to announce the addition of Caleb Gray as the Pony Express District Executive effective August 18, 2025.  His responsibilities include membership, fundraising, and program support for Marshal, Nehama, Potawatomie and portions of Wabaunsee counties. 

Caleb studied at University of Arkansas where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science. After serving numerous positions in the food research industry, the “Scouting bug” never left him, and he chose to make a career change to youth service.

Caleb is an Eagle Scout currently residing in Sabetha, KS. He has served as an Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 48 in Prairie Grove, Arkansas and Troop 77 in Sabetha, Kansas.   As a youth in Arkansas, he was active in the Order of the Arrow Lodge receiving his Vigil Honor. He served two summer camps as staff; Camp Orr in the Westark Area Council and our own Falley Scout Reservation.  While in college, he joined Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity affiliated with Scouting America serving in numerous leadership roles.  He was recognized as with the E. Fay Jones Service to Scouting Award by Alpha Phi Omega.

Please welcome Caleb Gray to the Jayhawk Area Council Family.

Theisen to Join Jayhawk Area Staff

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Scout Executive Wayne Pancoast is pleased to announce that Nicholas Thiesen has been hired as the Sojadi District Executive effective May 20, 2025.

Nick Theisen (pronounced Tyson) graduated from ITT Technical with an associate degree in Computer Aided Drafting along with some additional certifications.  He currently lives in Post Falls, Idaho and has spent the last ten years working for Buck Knives, Inc.

Nick has a combined 25 years of Scouting experience.  He is an Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow and is Wood Badge trained.  He has served in numerous volunteer roles including Assistant Scoutmaster, Den Leader and Unit Commissioner. As a commissioner, he has earned his doctorate at the College of Commissioner Science and has most recently served as an Assistant District Commissioner in charge of recruiting. The den he served as den leader recently crossed into a troop. He is a District Award of Merit recipient and has earned the Arrowhead Award, Commissioner’s Key and Distinguished Commissioner.  This year, he took the inaugural online Commissioner Seabadge.

Nick is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He has served on the honor guard and held numerous roles including Grand Knight.  He is excited to join the Jayhawk Area Council.

Please welcome Nick to our council.

Ian Lamb Receives Promotion

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It is with mixed emotions that I announce Ian Lamb has been promoted to the position of Field Director for the W. D. Boyce Council in Peoria, Illinois.  In his new role, he will serve on the council’s management team and provide direct supervision to the field staff covering 14 counties in central Illinois.  He will begin his new assignment on May 6.

Ian joined the Jayhawk Area Council on August 16, 2018 as the District Executive for the newly created Sunflower District.  He was promoted to the position of District Director on January 1, 2022 with primary district service for the Pony Express District.  He has also covered the Sojadi District during his tenure on the Jayhawk Area Council Staff.  In addition to his district assignment, Ian has been our staff advisor for the council’s annual product sale and for the Dzie Hauk Tonga Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.

Ian is an Eagle Scout from Haysville, KS. He and his wife Amira currently live in Lawrence, KS.  He earned his Bachelor of the Arts degree in Sport Management from Wichita State University. Ian also holds an Associate of Arts degree from Cowley College. He served as an Assistant Webelos Den Leader for Pack 328 in Arkansas City, KS for two years. He is Wood Badge trained through our council course and was inducted as a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow through our Lodge.

Please join me in congratulating Ian and Amira as they embark on their next chapter.

Wayne R. Pancoast
Scout Executive
Scouting America, Jayhawk Area Council

BSA Announces Membership Fee Changes

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Effective April 1, 2024, the Boy Scouts of America will eliminate the $25 one-time joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting.  They have also increased the regular annual registration fees by $5.00 for youth in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts along with a $5 increase for all adult volunteers.  Below is the new fees structure that will take effect on April 1, 2024.

  • $85/yr for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting participants ($5 increase)
  • $65/yr for all adult volunteers ($5 increase)
  • $25/yr for Merit Badge Counselors (No change in fee. Only for Merit Badge Counselors not already registered as leaders*)
  • $50/yr for Exploring participants Youth & Adult (No change in fee)
  • $100/yr unit renewal/affiliation fee (No change in fee)
  • $15/yr for Scout Life magazine (No change in fee)

*Those adult volunteers that are registered in a unit, district or council position do NOT need to pay an additional $25.00 to be a merit badge counselor. Only those who are solely registered as a merit badge counselor pay the $25.00 annual registration fees. This is to cover annual background checks.

KEY VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP CHANGES COMING THIS FALL

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The Jayhawk Area Council is pleased to announce additional changes in leadership of our council committees.

Chaz Havens has agreed to serve as the interim Council Leadership Training Chair. He will work closely with key volunteers to operate our Wood Badge, NYLT, IOLS, BALOO, and Wilderness First Aid courses as well as providing support to our district training coordinators to ensure all leaders are fully trained in their registered position. Chaz is active on the council’s Wood Badge staff and is a past Scoutmaster of Troop 249 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Topeka.

John Gray has agreed to serve as the Interim Council Commissioner.  He will work with our District Commissioners to ensure each unit is served by a trained unit commissioner. In this role, he will provide support to the council’s operating program committees – training, outdoor programs, and advancement. John is a past District Commissioner for Pony Express district, is active on the Dzie Hauk Tonga Lodge cook crew and has been active on the Shooting Sports Committee. He is also a member of this Fall’s Wood Badge Staff. Jim is from Sabetha having been active with Troop 77.

The interim titles are effective immediately pending formal approval per our council bylaws at our Council Executive Board meeting in September. We that these two great volunteers for their service to the Jayhawk Area Council.

Updates Coming to BSA’s Barriers to Abuse

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  As part of our ongoing commitment to abuse prevention, the Boy Scouts of America is updating the adult supervision requirements for overnight activities. This update enhances the minimum “two deep leadership” requirements by additionally requiring every adult present on overnight activities to be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America. These adults must submit an adult application and registration fee, undergo a criminal background check, a volunteer screening database check and must complete mandatory Youth Protection training.    

A limited exception for parents and legal guardians of Cub Scout youth attending overnight with their children is planned due to the family centric nature of Cub Scouting. All Cub Scout Packs, Scouts BSA Troops, Venturing Crews, Sea Scouting Ships, Exploring Posts, council, and district overnight programs will be required to comply with this update by September 1, 2023. The BSA encourages early adoption prior to the effective date. This updated Barrier to Abuse can be referenced as part of the Guide to Safe Scouting, Youth Protection and Adult Leadership section, Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse. Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs will be expanded to include additional FAQs as they are developed.

Thanks to every leader and parent for their help in keeping our Scouts safe.
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