Service above self! Trail Signs newsletter is our bi-monthly newsletter.

The 28th Annual Winter Rendezvous is scheduled for January 21-23. Filled with tons of fun and excitement, the event is going to be awesome during the 50th Year at Maumee! This year, the event will include activities for all levels of Scouting, Cub Scouts included! In addition to overnight-camping (Scouts BSA and Webelos), the ever-popular Klondike Challenge is back and open to all Scouts. Units should think about forming teams and honing some their Scouting skills that will be tested throughout the course. Other activities include One-Tough Voyageur, which, is an individual obstacle course, an OA Fire Challenge, age-appropriate shooting sports, participate in period-dress, and the yummy cooking challenge. Speaking of cooking, no one will want to miss Cracker Barrel and the Great Feast, which, takes place on Saturday evening! The cooks always provide a variety of tasty foods, some remaining a mystery after the fact, so, bring your plate, fork, and cup to enjoy the food and fellowship. Events will begin at 9:00am, Saturday, and will continue throughout the day. Be watching the Hoosier Trails Calendar for more information and to register for the event.

Popcorn time is all the time this year. The sale has been extended for your convenience. Your unit may have recently started back up and your leaders are just now talking about a fundraising plan. One thing, for sure, is that we need a way to fund great programming for our Scouts and selling popcorn has proven to be the easiest and most profitable approach. In times like this, Trails End has made selling convenient and safe for your Scouts. We have developed a great resource page on our website to help you plan and carry out your sale like a pro. Even if you are new, we think you will find everything you need to reach your goal. Check out all the resources available to you to continue your sale or get one started. Remember, we are ready to help answer questions you may have or assist in planning your sale to reach your goals. Contact Kevin Trojan to help get you started!

In 2022 we will celebrate 50 years of serving kids at Maumee Scout Reservation. Throughout the year will be looking back over the years, conducting special celebration events and looking to the future.

To stay up-to-speed on the celebration, please visit our special site that communicates what event is next or takes a hike down memory lane: https://www.maumee50th.org/

On November 1, the Boy Scouts of America launched the new Citizenship in Society merit badge. This merit badge encourages Scouts to explore important topics around diversity, equity, inclusion and ethical leadership and learn why these qualities are important in society and in Scouting. Beginning July 1, 2022, the Citizenship in Society merit badge will be required for any youth seeking to achieve the prestigious Eagle Scout rank. For more details on this merit badge, please visit: www.scouting.org/dei. 

Over the years, new merit badge subjects have been added while others have been retired, depending on societal changes, technology, and the interests of our Scouts. When the Medicine merit badge was first introduced in 1991, it was primarily developed to focus on the “doctor” side of human health care delivery. As the fields of human medicine expanded through specialization, support services, and technology, it became apparent that Scouts were interested in learning about other areas of human health care and medical support. However, because it would have been impossible to develop an individual merit badge for each field of interest in the health care domain, the BSA has decided to create a single merit badge that will encompass a wide variety of health care careers: the Health Care Professions merit badge [2021]. 

The Scouts BSA troops, Venturing crews, or Sea Scout ships in your council should register now to attend one of the BSA’s four National High Adventure Bases in 2022. Share the Open 4 Adventure website with unit leaders and interested Scouts, and help them learn about incredible opportunities like catching your dinner off a sailboat in the blue water of the Keys, dipping your paddle into a crisp Canadian lake, climbing a rock face in a West Virginia gorge, or cowboying down a path cut by Kit Carson in the New Mexico backcountry. 

Calling all Cub Scouts! The Hoosier Trails Council is hosting its annual STEM-O-Ree on February 19^th. Cubs of all ages and siblings can enjoy a full day of activities learning about computers, physics, engineering, mathematics, robotics, art, and much more. Scouts can also work on earning their NOVA Award. This event is great for the entire family and at a cost of only $15, you can’t go wrong. Come out and gain lots of new ideas for activities and experiments that you can take back to your Pack. This event fills up fast and is sure to bring amazement and adventure to your Scouts. Please remember to pack a sack lunch or enjoy some of the great restaurants located close by for your convenience. Register online at HoosierTrailsBSA.org and look for more information at your Roundtable meetings.

Scouts and Scouters, summer camp is coming and we are gearing up for some great times at Maumee Scout Reservation to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of our beautiful camp property! We have a lot to celebrate and many opportunities to learn about the past and continue our legacy. This will be a unique summer and we have plans to give you a taste of what is to come at all the major HTC events starting with the Winter Rendezvous. We have campsite reservations live and a full menu of merit badges and programs available shortly – we just need you to register today and reserve your spot as space is limited. We are excited to get back to camp and we do need you to go to our MSR web page for considerations that are vital in your unit’s planning process. Along with a robust list of great merit badges and evening activity, we will host several special activities to commemorate the 50^th year of MSR. More facility and campsite improvements have been made and we are waiting to host your adventure of a lifetime. Please reserve your week today and join us for a much-awaited summer camp experience! Check out this great website to give you a flashback to our past and let’s get excited about camping in the outdoors! If you would like to share a story about a special time for you at MSR, we would invite you to check out our Kudoboard and upload your pictures and experience.

The River Pass is a onetime payment for all the events of the up-coming year. This is a great way to get a discount on activities that you already attend and it’s only $75. You will be preregistered to all the council-level events. The 2022 River Pass is now available online and can be purchased along with your annual dues which is $15 for the year. If you register for your 2022 River Pass - All Access, annual dues are included! This is a great way to save time and money. Get your River Pass today and automatically be signed up for ALL activities and events for our lodge. *This pass is not valid for section or national events*

The Brotherhood was defiantly awake at camp! What a wonderful theme and weekend for the Fall Fellowship. This event provided a lot of opportunity for fun, training, and a lot of activity with friends. Scouts and Scouters enjoyed some time together and a lot of cool activities kept the attention of our members. We also held elections for lodge positions for the 2021-2022 year. Please join me in congratulating Andrew Norrington as our returning Lodge Chief and his team of Vice Chiefs, Pierce Allen, Nate Wells, Javier Paredes, Jon Drake, Paul Bontrager, and Harrison Hall. For a complete list of officers, visit HoosierTrailsBSA.org. We will honor them and our newest Vigil members at the Winter Feast on January 8, 2022.  

The 2021 year will be highlighted at this great dinner event. We encourage all members to attend and recognize our past officers as we welcome our new 2022 Lodge Executive Committee. A great meal will be served and special awards will be presented to distinguished members for all their hard work and service. Please do not miss out on this great opportunity!

Renew Plates Online: Currently, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles offers Online Registration for your vehicle. Once you create an account, you can choose your specialized license plate. It's fast, easy and best of all - no standing in line! 

The Boy Scouts of America is the recipient of all proceeds from the sale of vehicles donated to One Car One Difference® and specifically designated by the donor to support the BSA. With your help, Scouting will continue providing youth the opportunity to try new things, give service to others, build self-confidence, and reinforce ethical standards. Use the form on the right side of the page to donate your vehicle, and help us ensure the future of America's youth.

Each year, Hoosier Trails Council offers two of the best advanced leadership trainings opportunities available in the Boy Scouts of America. Leadership in your unit changes all the time and you grow from year to year. It is important to arm new members with the great knowledge, techniques, discipline, and strong habits that exist in some of our most noted leaders. National Youth Leadership Training (Youth) and Wood Badge (Adult) focuses on team building, making ethical decisions, leading others, communicating, servant leadership, and planning. It is all put on by experienced youth and adult leaders with the most up-to-date resources that are provided by the BSA. If you are looking for a great opportunity for your older Scouts, Ventures, and adult leaders to learn some advanced leadership skills, these are the trainings they will need. Registration will soon open for the courses and you will be able to sign up online. They are held at Maumee Scout Reservation each year and promise to be a great adventure for all Scouts and Scouters.

Re-charter time is upon us and the number one item that holds up a charter from being completed on time is training. Leader training is a vital part to ensuring that you are providing a quality program for your Scouts and ensures that new leaders are comfortable in their rolls. Many leaders are recruited in the last half of the year and we need to be sure they are supported with the most up to date training opportunities as they dive into their positions. Most leader trainings are available online and we also provide opportunities throughout the year for face-to-face trainings. The first training that is expected from every adult leader is Youth Protection Training. We are asking all leaders to update this each year to be sure you have all the latest information and to serve as a reminder of how important this training is for all adults. This is a great session to learn what the BSA requires from all adult leaders who will be working with our most valuable asset – our youth. Please log onto our website to complete this training and take a look at some of the other opportunities that you can take advantage of.

Remind units to use SAFE Transportation Checklist and Pre-Trip Inspection for planning transport and completing a vehicle pre-trip inspection. The SAFE Transportation Checklist and Pre-Trip Inspection are available here.   

Concept - The Quality Unit Executive works in conjunction with the council’s professional staff, Commissioner staff and membership growth volunteers to improve the quality of unit program and increase the youth retention rate in assigned Scouting units. This position will focus upon organizing new Scouting units across 18 counties in south-central Indiana, making a positive impact upon youth and families through the Scouting movement.

Interested in learning more about this opportunity, contact Glen Steenberger.

Now that your families have settled into the school year, I hope you’re looking forward to the holiday season. The leaves changing and the cool crisp air bring some of that frozen precipitation (it pains me to say that “s” word). If you are like me, you like the changing seasons. We love to spend time outside even it is with a few layers of clothes on. The days are getting shorter but with lower temps brings lower humidity that made summer uncomfortable. We like this time of year for fires outside in our fire pits or inside our fireplaces. It’s a great time to gather as families.

Another sign of the season is our annual recharter process. Unit leaders (your Committee Chairs, Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, etc.), be sure that your adult leaders have updated their Youth Protection Training (aka YPT) in preparation for recharter. YPT training must be completed annually now. Be sure to get it done as soon as possible (thank you).

With the colder weather, it is still time to encourage and challenge our Scouts to stay outside with proper clothing, gear, and preparation. Our Scouts love to enjoy fishing, hiking, camping, and exploring the great outdoors even in challenging weather. Check out some of the upcoming programming activities our staff and volunteers have planned for January. Our Order of the Arrow Lodge members are gathering for their Winter Feast on January 8^th. The folks in Muscatatuck District have organized the Muscatatuck Ski Day at Perfect North Slopes. Also, for those winter campers is the Wapehani Winter Rendezvous at Maumee the weekend of January 21-23. There are so many opportunities for adventure this winter! Check the Council Calendar for more details and to sign up online. Even though it’s getting cold outside, Scouting provides adventure to make these cold days warm up with outdoor adventure!

For those that are needing fundraising help, please note that popcorn season has been extended for those that need fundraising solutions. What a great way for our Scouts to learn about salesmanship and promote a product that supports Scouting! Remember, if you’re not big into eating popcorn, you can still support our fundraiser by donating popcorn to our military. Popcorn also makes for great gifts this upcoming holiday season.

Finally, I would like to mention that I have been approved as a Philmont Ambassador to share information with individuals and units all of the high adventure, training and family camping that Philmont has to offer year-round. I look forward to making presentations to your units and/or roundtables in the coming months/years.

As always, it is my pleasure to serve the commissioners, volunteers, and most importantly our youth in south central Indiana. If you need to contact me, my email address is: [email protected]