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Trail Signs
October - November 2024
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Service above self! Trail Signs is our bi-monthly newsletter. | |
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Please take note of upcoming Council Service Center Closings:
- November 28 & 29, Thanksgiving
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EXPLORE THE WORLD OF SCOUTING
Westside Fall Camporee
October 18-20, 2024
Maumee Scout Reservation
12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman, Indiana
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Cost: $20 per Scout or Leader
Special: $10 per Cub Scout (Parent included) – see below
The third weekend in October every year isJamboree on the Air/Jamboree on the Internet – the largest Scouting event in the world by number of participants. We will have opportunities for Scouts to connect with other Scouts by ham radio and internet all day Saturday.
In addition to JOTA/JOTI participation, we will have a number of Saturday morning activities for fun and learning, including displays on World Scouting and information on the World Friendship Fund, the International Spirit Award (earnable by Cubs, Scouts, Venturers, and Leaders), the World Conservation Award, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Messengers of Peace, U.S. Passport applications (another requirement for Citizenship in the World), how to earn your Interpreter Strip, and how to tie the international Friendship Knot for your neckerchief (no more lost slides!). There will also be a geography game to test your knowledge of the countries of the world. (There will be a special game more suited to Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts than the geography game.)
In the afternoon, the units in attendance will provide the program. Each unit will choose a foreign country to teach the other Scouts about (including its Scouting program). We will have a midway where units will present displays on their chosen countries; also, each unit will offer a participatory activity – a game, activity, dance, or food from their chosen country that all the Scouts can try.
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Encourage a Friend to Sign-up for Cub Scouts Today!
For only 40 cents/day the possibilities are endless for your child! From Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA to Venturing and Exploring, the programs offered by Hoosier Trails Council open opportunities for all interests. Our membership extends across south-central Indiana, so there’s plenty of opportunity no matter where you live. There are many benefits to becoming a Scout:
- Scouts have the time of their lives making new friends and learning new things in environments designed to help them succeed.
- Camp programs use natural surroundings to provide youth with opportunities for physical, mental and spiritual growth.
- Scouting promotes character development, citizenship training, and mental and physical fitness.
Our mission is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them values that emphasize trust, loyalty, friendliness and other prized principles.
When compared to the cost of sports and many other activities, there is no doubt that Scouting delivers great value to its members! Costs include Scouting America membership fees, uniform costs, and nominal activity fees that may be charged locally. Of course, these costs may be offset by unit fundraising and other available scholarship funds.
Through our programs, we provide youth with many unique and educational experiences. Scouting teaches outdoor skills, the value of servant leadership and giving back to the community. Scouts develop positive character and leadership traits that will last them a lifetime.
Use the locator map (www.BeAScout.org) to find a Cub Scout pack in your community. Questions or need more information, contact Jon Ocheltree, 812-336-6809.
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Cub Scout STEM-O-Ree
February 15, 2025
Ivy Tech Community College
200 Daniels Way, Bloomington, IN
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Join us on February 15, 2025 at Ivy Tech in Bloomington for this awesome one-day FREE Cub Scout activity that supplements local pack programming and brings innovation and excitement into your pack! Participants will have the opportunity to learn about many STEM-related Cub Scout activities: Computers and Design, Physics, Science, Astronomy, Mathematics, Engineering, Robotics, and more. This activity is designed to last all day with check-in starting at 8:15 and closing at 3:15 pm. Events will be scheduled and in sequential order throughout the day.
The entire family is welcome to this great event that gives a jump start on earning requirements towards Cub Scout advancements and will pique interest in cool technologies and arts of today!
Please remember to pack a sack lunch or enjoy some of the great restaurants located close by for your convenience.
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2025 SUMMER ADVENTURES FOR EVERYONE!
Maumee Scout Reservation is nestled in the northern section of the Hoosier National Forest providing an environment surrounded by pristine wilderness with a crystal-clear private lake. You may see deer, turkey, hawks, osprey, snakes, frogs, birds of all types and even bald eagles, not to mention the beautiful night sky and sunrises over Lake Tarzian.
Visit HoosierMaumee.org for more information.
Cub Scout Family Camp – July 18-20, 2025
This is a “don’t miss event” for all Cub Scouts (Kindergarten – 4th Grade) that is sure to be one of the most enjoyable Scouting experiences of the year. Spend time in our different program areas throughout camp, learning and having fun. You will have an opportunity to enjoy beautiful Lake Tarzian to fish and swim or perhaps try a kayak for the first time. Spend time in our Handicraft area to make a special project to take home or advance your Scout skills at our Scout Craft area. Shooting Sports will be open so you can see how well you can find your target, or you can go on a beautiful hike to see all that Maumee has to offer. Bring your own tent, sleeping bags, and personal gear. All meals will be provided.
Scouts BSA Summer Camp – Week 1: June 1-7, Week 2: June 8-14, Week 3: June 15-21, Week 4: June 22-28
2025 SITE SAVER NOW OPEN – Save your spot for 2025 Today! Visit HoosierMaumee.org
Scouts can spend time at evening programs to enjoy the best lake in Indiana, throw tomahawks, shoot rifle, do some branding, play ga-ga ball, and more. During the daytime hours Scouts can choose from over 50 merit badge offerings to work on their trek to Eagle Scout. For older Scouts that may not need any badges or just want different opportunities, we have you covered as well in our Eagle Landing and Mountain Man areas where you can try activities and partake in adventures designed specifically for the older Scouts including Cowboy Action Shooting. Summer Camp is one of the top experiences any Scout will have, enjoying a week-long adventure in the outdoors while making new friendships and deepening existing ones with other members of your Scouts BSA Troop. The memories made during camp will remain with you for the rest of your life.
Summer Camp Staff Application
Maumee Scout Reservation provides life-changing experiences to hundreds of Scouts each summer. Programs and employment opportunities include positions in Aquatics, Eagle Quest, Shooting Sports, Nature, Handicraft, STEM and Skilled Trades, Scoutcraft, Trading Post, Dining Hall Operations and many more. If you are 14 years old or older and would like to be a part of the Maumee family helping change the lives of our Scouts and ourselves, please click on the link above and apply today!
Plan your Summer Adventures at Maumee Scout Reservation!
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Renew your Annual Scouting Membership
In order to renew your members who are still in their grace period (60 days following their membership expiration date), there are a few options;
- The parent can renew their Scouts through the parent’s My.Scouting account. The parent linked to the Scout will most likely be the one that was noted on the youth application. They should also be the one that received the renewal emails. Please note that to access all the renewal features, the renewal needs to be done on a computer. Those using a mobile device may not be able to complete the process.
- The parent may pay the $145 annual registration fee ($65 in the case of adult members) directly to the unit. The unit will then contact the council to arrange payment and process the renewal. The fees will be charged to the unit account as was done previously.
- The unit may go directly online to the roster in ORGANIZATION MANAGER and select members for renewal and pay directly with a credit card. Only key-3 or key-3 delegates can perform this function.
Please DO NOT have your members that are renewing use the online application process. That should be reserved for NEW MEMBERS only!!! Submitting a new application will result in a new BSA number and registration and may result in the loss of previous membership and advancement records.
ALL members, youth AND adults, must be approved by the unit (any of the key 3 for youth and the COR or COR-delegate for adults) before they will appear on the roster. Please see the email sent by our Registrar, Holly Barton, to unit key-3 on September 20, 2024, for instructions to complete this process. This approval is done under the MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL ORDERS tab that appears following the Roster in ORGANIZATION MANAGER.
If you have members that wish to renew after their grace period has expired, only option 2 above may be used. Please contact our office directly for assistance.
All adults renewing their membership should have a youth protection date AFTER December 1, 2024. Those renewing their membership without updating their YPT may have their membership suspended until YPT has been completed.
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Fall Fellowship Weekend
Nischa Chuppecat Lodge is excited to invite all members to the Fall Fellowship on October 4-6 at Maumee Scout Reservation. This is a great opportunity to celebrate all that our lodge has to offer with fun, food, workshops, and activities all weekend long! We will also be electing our lodge officers for the 2024-2025 year of service. Join us for some fellowship and participate in the silent and live auction of patches and Scout memorabilia of years gone by. A lodge committee meeting will follow on Sunday and all members are invited to attend. Register today for this awesome event!
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Webpages to Support Scouting Operations | |
We have been hard at work developing resources to broaden communications and improve the level of service provided by the council website, check them out today:
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FUNDING AWESOME SCOUTING ADVENTURES | |
Don’t forget to hold the date on your calendar for the Hoosier Trails Council’s 15th Annual Wine-A-Ree. As always it is the first Saturday in November, and this year it will be November 2nd.
VIP tickets are available through registration on the council’s website and that will allow you early admission and an additional commemorative shot glass. VIP tickets are $60 in advance and the doors open at 12:00. General admission tickets are also available for $30 in advance and $40 the day of the event and doors open at 1:00. This year the silent auction will move to a virtual platform to allow for easier bidding if you choose not to stay for the entire day, and more information will be put out soon.
There are already 12 confirmed vendors and there are plans to add several more wineries, breweries, and distilleries to the mix. Plan to come out and support this great event while spending time with your friends.
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Popcorn Sale
We are very excited about this year’s popcorn sale and are making great progress during the opening weekends throughout our communities. Our first weekend brought total sales up over 30% higher than last season and this means more money in your pockets right from the start for adventures you have planned for this year! Keep driving and visit our popcorn page often for the latest information about the sale. We still have thousands of unclaimed storefront hours that are available right now. This is a perfect opportunity for new families to get involved with the help of seasoned sellers at the same location. Please remember to use all methods of selling your product and don’t forget to knock on some doors. If you have not had a chance to register for selling popcorn, please follow this link to start the process. We have lots of great resources on our council popcorn page that will provide you with all the information you will need for your sale.
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Council Executive Board Member, Jerry Hill shares his thoughts on supporting Scouting via a planned gift. | |
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Scouting License Plates
These plates can be used as standard vehicle registration plates for passenger cars, recreational vehicles and trucks weighing less than 11,000 pounds. This is not a vanity plate, so special numbers or messages cannot be accommodated. Your plate selection is good until your next registration renewal. When you purchase an Indiana Scout license plate, you indicate your personal support of Scouting and add financially to the Hoosier Trails Council Endowment. How can you participate? When you renew your plates, an additional fee is added on to your basic renewal fees, and that money is contributed to the Hoosier Trails Council endowment fund.
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!
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Support the Hoosier Trails Council in Non-traditional Ways
One way in which you and your family can help support the work of our council is through registration in the Kroger Community Rewards Program! By simply buying your family’s groceries, you can help contribute to our council’s overall success. Sound easy enough? Get on board today.
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ADULT & YOUTH TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES | |
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National Youth Leadership Training
July 7-12, 2025
Maumee Scout Reservation
12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman, Indiana
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NYLT, which stands for National Youth Leadership Training, is a leadership training program designed to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home troops, and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others. Each year, Hoosier Trails Council offers this unique and valuable youth-led, six-day course to teach Scouts what a leader must Be, what a leader must Know, and what a leader must Do.
Scouts learn leadership, communication, ethical decision-making, planning, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and teamwork. Scouts also participate in multiple, fun outdoor activities and challenges. Led by a highly trained youth staff, the course is designed to represent one month in the life of a typical Scout troop, including the troop structure, Patrol meetings, Patrol Leader Council meetings, Troop meetings, and it culminates in a troop event. Content is delivered in an outdoor setting as Scouts are guided through the stages of team development and are introduced to interconnecting concepts through the use of memory aids which allow the youth to understand and employ leadership skills quicker. Each patrol has a Troop Guide, and each patrol member serves as Patrol Leader for one day during the week, allowing them to implement their own personal vision of success. These skills come alive during the week, as patrols go out on a Quest to find the Meaning of Leadership. NYLT is not a summer camp, but an intense week-long leadership conference that is challenging work, but with tremendous payoff to the youth and their troops, schools, communities, and other areas of their daily lives.
NYLT eligibility requires that by the time the course starts a Scout must:
- Be registered as a member of a Scouting unit
- Have current BSA Health and Medical Records (Forms A, B, and C)
- Be at least 13 years old
- Have earned their First Class rank or Venturing award
- Be recommended by their Unit Leader
NYLT Course 251 will be held July 7th-12th, 2025. Registration is currently open, so sign-up now to fill one of the limited spots. An early registration discount and limited scholarship opportunities are available. Do not miss this amazing opportunity! We cannot wait to see who wants to be one of the next great youth leaders!
Registration link https://scoutingevent.com/145-86937
NYLT Staff Opportunities
Apply now to register for a youth staff member position of NYLT 251! Applications are available for both new and returning staff members. The youth serving as NYLT staff members model appropriate leadership skills in everything they do. They expand on the knowledge and skills they learned as a participant of NYLT. Dive deeper into the curriculum as you prepare for and deliver the next Hoosier Trails Council NYLT course in 2025!
Please contact the Course Director with any questions.
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Wood Badge Training:
Register for 2025!
Hoosier Trails Council offers Wood Badge, the most advanced adult leadership training opportunity available in Scouting America. September 2025 may sound like a long way down the trail but now is the time to register! Leadership in your unit continuously changes and grows 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.” It is all put on by experienced adult leaders with the most up-to-date resources that are provided by Scouting America. 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 for the September 5, 2025 course is open and you can sign up today!
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Update Your Youth Protection Training
With fall membership season just around the corner, it is not too early to schedule your unit Youth Protection Training plan. Each year, any new adult that you have join your unit as a leader must go through and understand Scouting’s Youth Protection Guidelines. Recruitment time is the best opportunity each year that you will have to encourage your new parents to take this course online or in person. Scheduling this training up front will also put you in a good position for your unit recharter deadlines. Youth Protection Training is the best course around for sharing Scouting’s barriers to abuse and keeping our young people safe.
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Reminder: Suicide Prevention Month – Mental, Emotional and Social Health Initiatives
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and Scouting America is doing its part to address this critical issue.
Suicidal behavior is complex and multilayered. Because of this, suicide prevention strategies must operate at multiple levels. Scouting America’s initiatives are intended to educate everyone about mental, emotional, and social health (MESH) in Scout-aged youth.
Preventing Youth Suicide Safety Moment
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Using a Safety Moment in Scouting Activities
Safety Moments are exactly what the name implies: opportunities to prepare for an activity, review safety measures and report incidents correctly. Topics of this new series include incident reporting helps, safe use of medication in Scouting, weather-related safety, winter activity, and winter sports. Search for Safety Moments Here
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Council Safety Webpage
This new page has been created to bring safety resources to your fingertips, so that our Scouting participants have safest adventures possible. We invite you to become familiar with this great resource: https://hoosiertrailsbsa.org/program-resources/scouting-safely/
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Recent Eagle Scout Award Recipients | | |
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Logan McCloud Worden, Troop 119 Nathan Timothy Cottongim, Troop 219 Magnus Neal Thorstenson, Troop 231 Colton Teeters, Troop 121
Zander Jesse Lee Tate, Troop 472
Talia Gregory, Troop 1148
Carolyne Anthony Doyle, Troop 1693 Jackson Laine Smith, Troop 190
Jeremy Alexander Jackson, Troop 631
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