Happy Scouting! Due to the COVID-19 challenges, we have opted to convert Trail Signs newsletter to an online format, instead of a hardcopy that was mailed, quarterly. We have shifted to a publication that will be issued six times a year and should be more timely and easier to connect to additional resources. I hope that you enjoy and benefit from this newsletter and it helps us to have some great Scouting adventures in the coming months! Glen R. Steenberger, Scout Executive

Pre-Registration is strongly encouraged to ensure that everyone has a meal choice. Save time and hassle by using our online registration system through www.HoosierTrailsBSA.org and select the event from the online calendar.

Warm weather is approaching and we know Scouts are ready to get outside and away from screens. Scouts like to have fun and we are committed to do our part to help you make that happen this spring! It was a challenging time to sell popcorn last fall and this may be an issue for your bank account. Hoosier Trails Council is working with Trails End to help your unit bounce back and your Scouts raise funds for these incredible outdoor activities. Several Cub Scout activities are coming up and we hope that you will pass this message on to your families so they are ready. We have worked hard to make all of our activities as safe and risk free as possible. Each event has specific details, on our calendar, about what we have planned and how you can join in the fun. We also have some good information about summer camp at Maumee Scout Reservation or on our website at www.HoosierMaumee.org. Registrations are open and space is limited but we still have room for you – come check us out!

Online selling is open right now and we are encouraging your unit to sell until April 30^th to give you plenty of time to raise money for outdoor adventures. Please click on this link and register your unit to sell popcorn today and don’t forget to check out our Popcorn Page for all the details and to see the new products.  

Any questions about this process should be sent to [email protected], Scout Executive.

Deam Wilderness & Pate Hollow Weed Wrangle 2021

Are you concerned for the health of our forests? Keep them green by helping Hoosier National Forest and Monroe County Identify and Reduce Invasive Species (MC-IRIS.org)

We will show you how with easy ways to identify and control invasive plants not native to our forests. No previous knowledge required, just bring your interest in learning. Our trained experts will guide you on trails to target areas for pulling plants. Joining our team will give you the opportunity to Work on your Merit Badge – Plant Sciences, build up your resume for a future career and support our environment!

Mid late April and early May to find emerging garlic mustard populations on the Hays, Grubb Ridge and Pate Hollow Trails. June to September to pull Japanese stiltgrass on Hays, Grubb Ridge and Pate Hollow Trails.

All trails are south of Bloomington off of Hwy 446. Moderate hikes with some 30 -60 minute hikes to target areas. Weed Wrangle duration 3-4 hours. The Hays Trail trailhead is located on Hays Road. Grubb Ridge Trail trailhead is located at Blackwell Horse Camp, Tower Ridge Road Deam Wilderness Pate Hollow trailhead is located directly behind the Paynetown State Recreation Office. Pate Hollow

Show your interest to join one, or more Weed Wrangle days as an individual, or group. Indicate your time frame of participation. Need a week day for your group? Contact Gillian Field [email protected] Or simply sign up here now! https://signup.com/go/ZmYbYBr

Calling all Cub Scouts! The Hoosier Trails Council will host its annual STEM-O-Ree on April 10^th at Maumee Scout Reservation. Due to health guidelines and location restrictions, we have opted to move this activity to the springtime and in an outdoor location to keep families as safe as possible and who doesn’t want to spend a day at MSR! Cubs of all ages and siblings can enjoy a full day of activities learning about computers, physics, engineering, mathematics, robotics, art, and much more. This event is great for the entire family and inexpensive, so you can’t go wrong. Come and gain lots of new ideas for activities and experiments that you can take back to your Pack. Register today and look for more information at your Roundtable meetings.

Join us for the Cub Scout Fish-O-Ree! This day-long event is designed for Scouts, friends, and their families. Scouts are invited to attend this activity and bring a fishing pole (we provide worms) to learn the fundamentals of fishing, have fun, enjoy fellowship, and meet new friends. We will have many fishing related game and activity stations close by for some fun while your bait is in the water. You may participate in any of the exciting stations at your leisure. Bring a sack lunch or we will provide a hotdog lunch free of charge. Register today and look for more information at your Roundtable meetings.

We know its hard come up with ideas for your Scouts to advance in rank and still make it fun to participate in meetings and activities, especially when you are not able to be face-to-face. Hoosier Trails Council would like to help you make Scouting an adventure all year round. We have developed a Scouting at Home page full of advancement, activities, and ideas from all over the country. This is a great resource for families who are not able to attend in-person meetings or who may miss a meeting because of a scheduling conflict or vacation. You can direct them to all the tools they need to keep up with your unit and not fall behind in advancement. We will also host additional Virtual Merit Badge days and rank advancement assistance towards the end of the year for Scouts BSA members who were not able to join us at Maumee Meets Online. Please visit this page often and see the many ways you can enrich your Scout’s program with a few clicks of the mouse. 

Scouters, summer camp is coming and we are gearing up for some great times at Maumee Scout Reservation! We have campsite reservations live and a full menu of merit badges and programs available – we just need you to register today and reserve your spot as space is limited this year. We are excited to get back to camp but we do need you to go to our MSR web page for a list of changes and 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 the fourth year of our Mountaineer Challenge – The Hiveranno. This is a great program that tests your skills as a Scout and gives you an idea of what life was like back in the day. It is open to adult leaders and Scouts that are First Class and above. More facility and campsite improvements have been made and we are waiting to host your adventure of a lifetime. We missed seeing you last year but that is going to change. Please reserve your week today and join us for a much-awaited summer camp experience!

Donors that support FOS at the one-Scout cost level of $166 or more will receive a commemorative thank you coin that is shown above. We have made it very simple for you to make a contribution, text "2021htcfos" to (844) 615-4269 and you will receive a reply text that will allow you to contribute via your phone.

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.

Leadership in your unit continuously changes and grow from year to year and it is important to arm your new leaders with the great knowledge, techniques, discipline, and strong habits that exist in some of our most noted leaders. The Wood Badge course centers upon the concepts of servant leadership and leaving a legacy. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on “how to.” The skills come alive during the week as the patrol completes a patrol project based upon what they have learned. It is all put on by experienced 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 adult leaders to learn some advanced leadership skills, this is the training they will need. Registration is open for the course and you can sign up today! 

Whether you are a Scout, an outdoor enthusiast or you work in a remote environment, our Wilderness and Remote First Aid Course gives you the skills you need to respond to an emergency when help may be delayed. Please join us in the beautiful setting of Maumee Scout Reservation for a weekend of great training. You will need to bring a tent and equipment for overnight camping. For more information, please visit our registration page.

Each year, Hoosier Trails Council offers two trainings that are designed to instruct leaders on providing great outdoor experiences for Scouts of all ages. Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) is for all Cub Scout parents that plan to camp with their Cubs. Completion of this course qualifies the participants for the 2-Deep Leadership that are required on Cub campouts! BALOO is a two-day course designed to teach Pack parents and new Cub Scouts leaders, with minimal camping experience, how to plan and carry out an entry-level outdoor experience for the pack. You will gain increased confidence and a willingness to plan a pack campout. For more information and to register for BALOO training, visit our page.

Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills Training (IOLST) is a hands-on program that gives adult leaders the practical outdoor skills they need to lead Scouts in the out-of-doors. Imagine having hands-on knowledge of setting up a campsite, pitching a tent, hiking, outdoor cooking—all the skills necessary to see the Outdoor program of the Boy Scouts of America come to life. The skills sessions presented in Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills closely follow the Scouts BSA Handbook and are meant to serve as an adult training outline. By using these skills sessions in conjunction with the handbook, trainers can be sure new leaders are proficient in the basic outdoor skills through First Class rank. Each skills session references specific chapters in the handbook. Hands-on participation makes the best learning tool, so participants should leave the training experience knowing they can show their Scouts how to accomplish outdoor skills while fulfilling rank requirements. For more information and to register for IOLST training, visit our page.

Joshua Thurn Tait - Troop 148

Jacoby Charles Ward - Troop 585

Jayce Alexander Abraham - Troop 552

Sydney Rosyln Anderson - Troop 1148

Sophie Giselle Kent - Troop 1231

Laura Duro - Troop 1557

Samual Robert William Cain - Troop 557

Lukas Josef Hoehn - Troop 557

Caden James Wininger - Troop 472

Braydon Henry Carr - Troop 518

Laura Ladeira Duro - Troop 1557

Nickolas James Hardin - Troop 193

Sean Michael Mannix - Troop 717

Spencer Allyn Shaum - Troop 637

Ty Allen Wesley - Troop 193

Nathan Keith Brackee - Troop 148

Samuel Joseph Dixon - Troop 100

Tyson Jacob Gregory - Troop 148

Joseph Louis Lorenzo - Troop 457

Kaden Shay-Daniel Miller - Troop 457

Kieran M. Millson-Draude - Troop 646

Elijah Vincent Plasse - Troop 522

Alexander David Wissmann - Troop 555

Noah Benjamin Bridges - Troop 119

Braidan Lee Fletcher - Troop 541

Cyrus William McComas - Troop 605

Chase Alan Sears - Troop 348

Thomas Sterling Brooks - Troop 193

This will be the last Trail Signs article I write as the Hoosier Trails Council Commissioner. I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to all Scouters, volunteers and members of the HTC Council staff for their support. 

This message would not be complete without mentioning how COVID-19 severely impacted much of our regular Scouting programs in HTC. However, despite all the hardships and challenges we faced during this pandemic, I was also impressed by how many of our Packs, Troops and Crews leaders were able to improvised their operations and did not let COVID stop them from conducting Scouts unit meetings or functions. In person unit meetings, virtual events and programs, merit badge advancements, high adventure training, outdoor camping and hiking activities, are all examples of how Scout unit leaders proved to be undaunted by COVID. And, they did so while adhering to the health and safety protocols directed by our professional health officials for keeping our membership safe. “You guys are Awesome!”

Effective April 20^th, John Rombach will become the new Hoosier Trails Council Commissioner. When John officially takes over the responsibility of this important position, he will formally introduce himself to you. Ahead of John assuming his new role in this position though, I will tell you that he come to us with vast knowledge and experience in Scouting. John is also highly skilled in Commissioner Service and is very friendly and personable - you are going to enjoy working with him.

Please contact me at: [email protected]