Happy Scouting! Due to the COVID-19 challenges, we have opted to take this opportunity 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 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
TIMELY SCOUTING NEWS









Join Scouts Recruitment Training

This year JSRT is virtual only, but we have collected the views of many awesome HTC Scouters that share their thoughts on how your unit's marketing efforts can be successful this fall. Check out this video!
A successful fall membership campaign begins at the Join Scouts Night Training, which will be offered online & via this communication. 

Fall recruitment is primarily focused on Cub Scouts but what does a Cub Scout become? Yes, a member of Scouts BSA and what better way to help the pack that feeds into your troop but to join in the excitement and fun of Cub Scout recruiting.  Upon completing the Online Join Scouts Night Training units will be provided with: posters, applications, and yard signs. We will discuss the community marketing approach and the important 7 points of contact to make it a successful fall. The county “join weeks” will be scheduled as it was last year and we will need to enlist the help of volunteers to assist with the school talks; volunteers to spend 2 hours prior to the join week in your county to get the word out in your community; and where needed, help support us at the schools on the official county wide join night and open houses.

Last year we had an amazing team of adults and youth talking to the youth in the schools. We would like to build on that success by continuing to utilize our Scouts BSA troop members to interact with the Cub Scouts. Completion of the Join Scouts Night Training is required for all units to qualify for Platinum JTE in 2020 so please make special plans to send at least one representative from your unit to attend this training and capitalize on the recruitment theme this year.

Plans are also in the works to address COVID-19 distancing challenges, stay tuned .

Exciting news: New Cub Scouts receive their Pinewood Derby car as a welcome incentive this Fall Recruitment!
Council Reopening Plan Updated

The Council Service Center and the Bloomington Scout Shop have reopened with new hours of operation and reopening policies, please click on the re-opening plan below for details. Camping properties remain closed temporarily to help to prevent the spreading of the coronavirus that is plaguing the United States. 



Council Service Center/Scout Shop Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am-2pm (Scout Shop Only)
UPCOMING SCOUTING ADVENTURES
Cub Scout Shoot-O-Ree
 
Hoosier Trails Council is looking forward to hosting the Cub Scout Shoot-O-Ree in the great outdoors, at Maumee Scout Reservation. We know that your Cub Scouts are suffering from cabin fever and we want to get them outside to enjoy some fun and games as soon as we can. We have made a few changes to the schedule and activities to ensure that we can practice safety and follow recommended guidelines. This event will be extended into multiple weekends to lower the number of people on the property for this popular activity. We will not be able to provide overnight camping and pre-registration is mandatory so we can keep track of the number of participants. More information will come out shortly via www.HoosierTrailsBSA.org , our Facebook Page , or through your Unit Commissioners at Roundtable. Our first weekend will be hosted on September 12th or 13th, followed by September19th or 20th at Maumee Scout Reservation. This event is open to registered Cub Scouts and is especially great for boys and girls who just joined the program. Activities are open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 pm on Saturday and 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm on Sunday with check-in starting one hour before the event on each day. Activities will include BB Shooting, Archery, Sling Shots, Water Balloons, Rubber Band Shoots, and more. Please bring your own lunch. Bring your family digital camera for a special Camera Shoot Scavenger Hunt.
 
Please check the weather forecast for the day of your choosing, and make sure each participant is prepared and dressed appropriately. This is a “rain or shine” event!
 
Pre-Registration is mandatory. Save time, money, and hassle by using our online registration system through www.HoosierTrailsBSA.org and select the event from the online calendar.
Scouts, BSA Summer Camp
 
Summer camp threw us a lot of curve balls this year, but a Scout is prepared. We thank German American Bank for sponsoring this memorable experience for all your Scouts during the camping season. Scouts had opportunities to attend virtual camps at home, in Hoosier Trails Council, or all over the country and we hope that they took advantage of as many of these as possible. Many troops also provided a safe outdoor adventure for their Scouts and I am sure that you have some great memories to share. We would like to know about how you made Scouting happen during this time. Each year, we compile a camping report to track the number of nights that are spent in the outdoors. This year is a little different but we still want to know as we have all been taught that a night in your tent is just as fun in the woods, in your yard, or in your living room. If your Scouts participated in a week of camping in any form, please send your stories and attendance to Kevin.Trojan@Scouting.org . Registration for 2021 summer camp will open on December 1 st . We look forward to a summer at Maumee Scout Reservation! 
Hoosier Trails 5k Run/Walk

The fourth annual Hoosier Trails 5K will be held on Saturday, November 14th at Ceraland Park in Columbus, Indiana. It is our mission to encourage personal growth among area youth by promoting physical fitness and outdoor adventure.

There is simply no better place to develop character and personal fitness than in the company of a small group of intrepid souls on a high adventure outing. High adventure works because it draws upon familiar Scouting values, and puts them to the test. Preparation and physical fitness are not merely outcomes, they are part of the cost of admission. The Hoosier Trails 5K was conceived to help smooth your road to adventure by emphasizing the importance of physical fitness, sharing trip information between Scout units, and promoting teamwork. 

As always, every entrant will receive a custom patch, and members of the same Scout unit will be formed into teams. Awards will again be given to the top three male and female Cub Scouts, male and female Scouts and male and female community members. The top three teams will receive customized flag totems and one lucky team will be randomly drawn for a Lodge outdoor cooking table.

Go to   www.hoosiertrails5k.org  to for more information and to register for the race.
National Scout Jamboree

Registration is now open for Scouting’s flagship event. Once every four years, the Boy Scouts of America gathers together for this ultimate experience. Scouts and Scouters who attend will explore all kinds of adventures—stadium shows, pioneer village, Mount Jack hikes, whitewater rafting and kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing adventure sports, and more—in the heart of one of nature’s greatest playgrounds. National Jamboree is the best of Scouting rolled into 10 days of friends, fun and adventure! You won’t want to miss out, get ready to Face the Challenge and sign up to attend the Jamboree! The total cost for each participant will be $1,800. In addition to this once in a lifetime event, the cost includes transportation by tour bus to and from The Summit, meals, personal Jamboree duffel and day pack, special patches, and more.

Reserve your space now with a $300 non-refundable deposit. You will have plenty of time to make subsequent payments per the schedule provided in the registration portal. We do not want you to miss out! Scouts must be First Class and twelve years old by the beginning of jamboree. Register Today!
Council Gala

The Hoosier Trails Council will go virtual for the annual Leader Recognition Gala on August 30 th to recognize adult leaders for outstanding service to the council, units, and their community. We will be recognizing the Silver Beaver Award recipients, our highest honor, along with many other awards. We will also be congratulating our 2019 Eagle Scouts for their outstanding accomplishments. Please do not miss this opportunity to celebrate and recognize our fellow leaders for great achievement. Registration will open soon, and you will receive information on how to join in on the fun. Even online, this is going to be exciting and special for our Hoosier Trails Council family. Registration will be available via www.HoosierTrailsBSA.org
FUNDING AWESOME SCOUTING ADVENTURES
IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THIS YEAR'S POPCORN SALE

  • The Hoosier Trails Council has rejoined Trail's End Popcorn.
  • The Scout Councils within Indiana have unified so that all Popcorn Sales are the same.
  • COVID-19 precautions will change how we conduct sales.
  • Sale timing restrictions have been lifted to be more flexible for units to be successful.
  • Unit commission structure has changed. 
  • Prize program has changed.
  • Product line-up is different and matches online offerings.
  • Trails End Sales App and Credit Card Readers bring expanded resources to the sale.
  • Trainings and Council Kickoff moved to online.

TODAY'S ACTION ITEMS!
  1. Register Your Unit to Sell Here
  2. View Popcorn Video message on this page.
  3. Sign-up for an Orientation Webinar Here (Text WEBINAR to 62771)
  4. Help Your Scouts to Download the APP (Text APP to 62771)
  5. Prepare to begin sales July 1st.
  6. Visit the Council's Popcorn Page for more information.

Family Sales Guides are now available from your District Executive, or from the Council Service Center.
Sanitizer Sale Support Scouting

Be Prepared! For limited time, the council will be offering Scout units the opportunity to sell hand sanitizer to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and raise programming support for your Scout unit. As society transitions from being sequestered, companies, churches, schools, and families are going to be seeking this product. A Scout is Clean, a Scout is Helpful, a Scout is Prepared!
  • No Risk to Unit
  • $30/gallon compared to $45-70 online
  • Take Orders & Fulfilled within the Week
  •  Use Unit’s Connections to sell in bulk
  •  $7.50 unit commission, Sell 100 Gallons, earn Unit profit of $750

Register your unit to sell by emailing:  Jon.Ocheltree@scouting.org
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 Boy 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! 

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.
Support the Hoosier Trails Council in Non-traditional Ways

Presently, the Hoosier Trails Council is working towards fulfilling our 2020 Friends of Scouting need to fund our life-changing programs. Here are some ways that your family can support Scouting that you may not have thought of:
 

  • AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose from nearly one million organizations to support. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_se_rspo_laas_aas 
ADULT & YOUTH TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
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 joins 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.
COMMUNITY BULLITEN BOARD
Congratulations, Recent Eagle Scouts
William Thomas Likens - Troop 552
Ethan Daniel Belcher - Troop 224
Benjamin Matthew Blanz - Troop 588
Luke G Sherman - Troop 555
Noah Thomas Hamilton Brown - Troop 173
Dennis Wayne Moore III - Troop 332
Colton Glenn Colgate - Troop 646
Bryan Z Rohrig - Troop 631
Justin Michael Lillis - Troop 631
Michael Richard Reisinger - Troop 559
Matei Thomas Cloteaux - Troop 549
Adam Christopher Hales - Troop 552
Fletcher Braeden Miskuf - Troop 332
Trevor Johnathan Lee - Troop 148
Logan Tanner Lee - Troop 148
Seth Daniel Harrison - Troop 224
COMMISSIONER SERVICE
Attention, All Commissioners: "As Schools Reopen - Our Scout Units Need You!"
  
This message is addressed specifically to Commissioners of Hoosier Trails Council, as a reminder of your value to Scout units. Since March of this year, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impeded nearly every facet of how we have had to conduct Scouting programs for our youth and for Scout unit leaders. 
 
As we prepare for a new Scout year, we will be faced with new challenges for how we assist our Scout leaders. Based on what we have already experienced these past few months, because of the required COVID-19 precautions, we can anticipate even more restrictions and limitations imposed upon Commissioners for how we will be able to assist unit leaders beginning this next school year.
 
As local schools reopen, to be effective, Commissioners can support Scout Leaders by:
 
1.     being prepared to be more creative in presenting "Scout Talks"
2.     helping get the word out to join the Scout program by way of distributing information on flyers, yard signs or social media site for attracting new Scouts, and
3.     joining with Scout unit leaders to conduct "Join Scout Nights" recruitment drives
 
Every Scout year brings new adult unit leaders and volunteers who will be urgently seeking your guidance and assistance, as a Commissioner, to help point them in the right direction on the road to success. Commissioners at every level must be visible, accessible and helpful. Commissioners must also establish strong relationships, not only with new Scout leaders unit leaders, but, also, with veteran Scout unit leaders, already having established Scout programs, as well. 
 
Journey to Excellence (JTE):  The key to every Scout unit leader’s success is assured by satisfying the requirements outlined on the JTE scorecard for their particular unit. The JTE scorecard for Cub Scouts, Scout Troops and Venture Crews have different criteria for success and for achieving the “Gold” rating, which is the highest evaluation level.   Remember, as Commissioners: Our goal, in Hoosier Trails Council, is to help every Scout unit earn the Gold rating for 2020.
 
The JTE is an annual report, from January to December, and rewards the success of a unit based on the unit’s meeting the standards for a quality Scout program and demonstrating continuous improvement. The results are listed on the scorecard and then submitted to the Scout office in December when each Scout unit's Re-charter is due.  
 
All Commissioners are highly encouraged to review the JTE for your assigned units, with your Scout unit leaders, “as early as possible” .  Commissioners can obtain a copy of the JTE scorecard from your District Commissioner or District Executive, or it is also found online at Scouting.org 
 
“The Bottom Line”: Commissioners must continue to help all Scout Unit leaders achieve the goals of Scouting. 
 
"Commissioners: Our Scout Units Need You!"
 
Lindsey A. Smith, Council Commissioner