Cub Scout Yukon Trail

There's gold in them there hills - the hills of Round Valley!  The HAD Yukon Trail will be held on Sunday, March 2.

The Yukon Trail is a Hunterdon Arrowhead District tradition founded in appreciation of the gold prospectors who braved rugged conditions in search for gold in Alaska and the Yukon as part of the Klondike Gold Rush. The success of the Yukon Trail is driven by the full participation of all units in the district. Cub Scouts put their Scouting skills to work in the field, demonstrate teamwork and Scout spirit, and have fun together in the outdoors on a winter day.  Local troops demonstrate leadership by running stations for the Cub Scouts.  

As of the writing of this newsletter, it seems most likely (99% sure) that the Yukon Trail will be held at Round Valley Recreation Area. If there's a change, it will be announced promptly.

More info:  https://sites.google.com/view/had-scout-activities/2025-yukon-trail 

Questions: hadscoutactivities@gmail.com

Online Den Leader Training Available

One of the most important parts of having a successful Scouting program is having trained leaders. For a den leader, his/her knowledge of the program and how to conduct it directly impacts the Scouts’ experience.

There are a number of ways for a new leader to be trained. A series of in-person trainings were just conducted in Q4 of 2024. However, an online version of the training is always available.

To access:

1. Login to my.scouting.org and select the “My Training” on the home screen.
2. Scroll down the page to the “Training Courses by Program” section and click on “Cub Scouting.”
3. On the Cub Scout Learning Page, select Den Leader Training and enroll

Cub Scout Adventure Camp at Ockanickon Scout Reservation

ATTENDANCE OPTIONS

Cub Scouts can attend as part of a pack contingent or as a family (an individual Cub Scout with a parent). Only youth registered in Cub Scouts may attend. A pack must have at least two registered adult leaders to attend the camp. In addition, a Tiger Scout must have an adult partner attend. Packs of eight or more Cub Scouts can earn free adult slots.



ZOOM INFO SESSION - EVERY PACK SHOULD SEND A REP

Want to know what Cub Scout Adventure Camp is all about? The camp program team will host an additional information night via Zoom. The team will give a brief program overview and then answer questions. The next opportunity is Wednesday, March 19 at 7pm.

Scouting for Food

HAD Scouting for Food, February 8, 2025:  Scouts from throughout the county will be participating in storefront collections to benefit our local food pantries at a time when donations are usually low, but demand is high. Let's restock the pantry shelves!

District Roundtable

The next roundtable will be on Wednesday, February 12, at North Hunterdon High School. The topic will be "What is position training?".

See the full roundtable schedule for the year at the button below.

Scouts BSA: NJ State Police Camporee

Advancement News

Message from Advancement Chair Art Dunn:

Welcome to 2025!  As usual there are updates to Scouting forms, procedures, and guides for the start of the new year, and 2025 is no different.  We have a new Guide To Advancement, a new Eagle Scout Rank Application, and updates to Merit Badge requirements that will take effect on January 1, 2025.  At this point I am not aware of any changes to the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook; the current one has the number 2023a dated February 2024 on the very first page.

I have not seen or heard about any changes to the Cub Scout Advancement Requirements as of now but will share them when I do.

One change is to the Eagle Rank Application, there are now only four references required.  The following are the instructions straight from the Guide To Advancement:

References: Must list names and contact information for four people who are willing to serve as references for the Eagle candidate.  These may be Scout leaders, teachers, employers, coaches, other Scouts, etc. References do not need to be 21 or older.  Parents and other relatives are strongly discouraged from serving as references.  The current unit leader and committee chair are not eligible to serve as references; their signature on the application is their endorsement.  See also Section 9.0.1.7

Per the Guide To Advancement, Section 7.0.4.3, any Scout beginning to work on a merit badge must use the updated online Merit Badge Hub requirements. Scouts who have already started a Merit Badge may continue using the old requirements until the merit badge is completed or switch to the new requirements.

I am still trying to review all the new requirements, procedures, and forms to see what has changed, but that will take a while.

Some helpful links are below 

The council website has been updated with the new Eagle Scout Rank Application.

Thank you for all you do for Scouting.

Art Dunn – Hunterdon Arrowhead Advancement Chair

• Guide to Advancement
• Merit Badge Updates

Upcoming Events! Mark Your Calendar

Plan Ahead:

• Klondike Derby: January 24-26
• Commissioner Staff Meeting: Feb 3
• February Roundtable: February 12
• Presidents' Day (WCC Office Closed): Feb 17
• Yukon Trail: March 2
• March Roundtable: March 12 (Zoom)