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Trail Signs
December 2023 - January 2024
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Service above self! Trail Signs newsletter is our bi-monthly newsletter.
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Please take note of upcoming Council Service Center & Bloomington Scout Shop Closings:
- Service Center Closed November 20-24
- Service Center Closed December 22 & 25
- Scout Shop Closed December 22-January 1
- Service Center Closed January 1
- Service Center & Scout Shop Closed January 15
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Join Us for a Year Full of Fun and Activities! |
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Winter Rendezvous - 30 Year Anniversary
January 19-21, 2024
Maumee Scout Reservation
Get your sleds tuned and your skills sharpened and don't forget to check the forecast for the Winter Rendezvous, January 19th-21st at Maumee Scout Reservation. The FEAST has an amazing menu. New Klondike stations! Muzzleloaders and Shotguns this year! New general competitions and a few new surprises we will unveil closer to the event.
Heads Up Units! You will now have the ability to pre-register for the following once you register your unit online.
- Pre-Register up to 2 sleds time slots
- Pre-Register for tokens to the shotgun and muzzleloader stations
- Pre-Register your Feast Seating preference
- Pre-Register your campsite preference (units who have financially sponsored a dedicated campsite will be given top priority for their campsite they have sponsored.)
The sooner your unit registers the sooner your unit has opportunities to pre-register for those items listed above.
We will have 2 online leader (scoutmaster and SPL) meetings via zoom leading up to the event. 1 meeting will be formatted for units who have never been to Maumee or the Winter Rendezvous and the other will be for those who need to understand the updates from previous events. Details in the adult leader packet.
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Cub Scout Winter Spectacular
January 27, 2024, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Maumee Scout Reservation
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This is an excellent way to spend the day in the crisp air of the winter enjoying the scenery of beautiful Maumee Scout Reservation. Scouts will be challenged in many winter-themed activities that will prepare them for cold weather fun and camping. Events will be designed to encourage teamwork and physical activity that is based on wilderness survival and everyday living in the arctic. We are anticipating snow and sub-freezing temperatures so it is vital that you are prepared with warm clothing and boots. We will have some warming stations and hot chocolate ready to go so don't forget your hats and mittens. Events will happen throughout the day from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. The entire family is welcome to this fun event that will be sure to be a BLAST of cool air!
Please remember to pack a sack lunch and dress for the weather.
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It is Recharter Time
The Boy Scouts of America offers an online charter renewal process for units. Listed below are several resources to assist with a smooth and improved charter recharter renewal process. All units currently registered with the BSA need to complete this process on a yearly basis.
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Cub Scout STEM-O-Ree & NOVA
February 17, 2024
Ivy Tech - Bloomington Campus - 200 Daniels Way
This is an awesome one-day FREE Cub Scout activity that supplements local pack programming. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the following STEM-related Cub Scout activities: Computers and Design, Physics, Science, Astronomy, Mathematics, Engineering, Robotics, and more. Scouts can also work on earning their NOVA Award. 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 fun event that gives a jump start to 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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Eastside Merit Badge Day
February 24, 2024
Ivy Tech Community College, Madison Campus
590 IVY Tech Dr., Madison, IN
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This event is free for youth and adults that register by February 20. Scouts and Scouters that are not preregistered will be charged a $5 fee.
LUNCH WILL NOT BE PROVIDED, but there will be a canteen with drinks and snacks, and we will be letting scouts pre-order slices of pepperoni, sausage, and cheese pizza before 10:30 AM.
We plan to have Adult Leader Training ongoing throughout the day in the auditorium. Scouts should be scheduled for a class or helping in Eagle Quest/ merit badge class (please get preapproval). Scoutmasters, please have the scouts Blue Cards filled out with their information before you come on Saturday, and with the Scoutmaster’s signature.
Walk-ins and late registrations will be charged $5 fee and are not guaranteed an event patch. Scouts may not be able to get in preferred classes.
Please note, Units must meet the two deep leadership there.
If you have questions, please send an email to Jeff Kelley
All classes will have a limit of 20 Scouts, unless noted. We are limiting troops to only 4 scouts per merit badge, per session to allow an equal opportunity to all. Everyone should be in the auditorium by 8:45 am. We will have a short opening before the first session begins and we will assemble again at the end of lunch before the third session (12:50-1:00pm)
The goal is to try and complete the merit badges on this day, but many of the merit badges have prerequisites that the scout needs to bring signed off, evidence from their parents and/ or Scoutmaster, or need to bring in the work. Registration will open soon.
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Summer Adventures for Everyone, Maumee is Ready! |
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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. |
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This is a “don’t miss event” for all Cub Scouts (Kindergarten - 3rd Grade) that is sure to be the most enjoyable Scouting experience 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 Scoutcraft 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.
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Webelos can get a taste of what the Scouts BSA program is like by attending Resident Camp. At camp your Scouts will experience what is like to attend a Scouts BSA summer camp at Maumee Scout Reservation but is a smaller setting designed for Cub Scouts. This will include a Scouts BSA experience where your Scout will become part of a patrol, elect a patrol leader, make a patrol flag, patrol yell, and use the patrol method. We will have all our program areas open for Scouts to enjoy fishing, waterfront activities, shooting sports, Scoutcraft, nature, STEM, and much more while camping under the stars! Our staff is ready for a great time with your Webelos, teaching them the very things that will help them advance to the Scout Rank. Bring your own tent, sleeping bags, and personal gear. All meals will be provided.
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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. 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.
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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!
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Webpages to Support Scouting Operations |
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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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2024 River Pass and Lodge Dues
Save big and plan to attend all the lodge activities this year! 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 $115. You will be preregistered to all the council-level events. The 2024 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 2024 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*
Lodge Resources
As Scouting’s National Honor Society, the Order of the Arrow is an integral part of the council’s program. Our service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting to America’s youth. Visit our page often to view new activities, leadership opportunities, calendar dates and much more. We recently welcomed our new slate of officers and you can view all this information at the links below.
Winter Feast
We have a lot to celebrate, and this past year will be highlighted at our annual winter feast event on January 6th at the Seasons Lodge in Nashville. We encourage all members to attend and recognize our past youth officers as we welcome our new 2024 Lodge Executive Committee. A great dinner 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! Save your seat today and register now.
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FUNDING AWESOME SCOUTING ADVENTURES |
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Monday, December 4: $$ goes towards providing Camperships to enable low-income Scouts to attend life-changing Scouts BSA summer camp in 2024. A matching donor will match the first $938 of support, which will allow us to sponsor 10 youth with ½ paid camp fees. Summer Camp at Maumee Scout Reservation offers a warm and personable experience where each Scout feels seen and valued. We strive to create opportunities to truly learn and explore lifelong passions, life skills, citizenship, leadership, skilled trades and even a life path in our hands-on merit badge program. True knowledge and building of skills are the goals.
Tuesday, December 5: $$ goes towards providing area youth the opportunity to participate in one our afterschool STEM Cub Scout programs. There are a number of these highly sought after programs across our territory. Matching donor will match the first $600 of support, which will allow 10 youth to benefit from this fun and fulfilling program, learning new concepts, and skills that may lead to a future field of study, or profession. These programs supplement the offerings of local community centers, working to build interest in science, technology, engineering, and math, outside of a classroom setting.
Wednesday, December 6: $$ goes towards purchasing program supplies for our very popular summer camp skilled trades program area, where participants learn skills such as automobile maintenance, electronics, home repair, plumbing, robotics, and welding. A matching donor will match the first $775 of support, which will allow at least 450 Scouts to participate in these programs as a part of their 2024 summer camp experience. This investment is designed to broaden the horizons of participants, and to perhaps turn them onto interests that can last a lifetime.
Thursday, December 7: $$ goes towards underwriting the costs associated with a 2024 Council Merit Badge Day, where Scouts have multiple options to work on and or complete badges that help them to advance on their trail to attaining Eagle Scout. (Board Member) will match the first $750 of support, which will allow at least 200 youth to participate in one of these meaningful activities, that introduce them to new skills, and build their sense of self-worth. Scouts can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as they earn merit badges. There are more than 135 merit badges, and any Scout may earn any of these at any time.
Friday, December 8: $$ goes towards enabling Cub Scouts to attend the 2024 STEM-O-Ree for free! This is an awesome one-day Cub Scout activity that supplements local pack programming. Scouts have the opportunity to learn about many STEM-related activities: computers and design, physics, science, astronomy, mathematics, engineering, robotics, and more. The entire family is welcome to this fun event that gives a jump start on earning requirements towards Cub Scout advancements and will pique interest in cool technologies of today! A matching donor will match the first $1,250 of support, which will allow 165 youth to benefit from this great program at no cost to their families and cover the programming cost of the event.
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Holiday Popcorn Sale
The fall popcorn sale is still available, and we have plenty of opportunity for your Scouts to continue their efforts to reach their target goal. This year we are offering a sale to support our military and local heroes during the holiday season. We know that many units started a little latter in the year and many new Scouts did not have a chance to sell and help raise money for towards your goal. Now is the time where you can request inventory to sell door to door or at storefront locations with no risk. Please contact the council office and we will help you select the right product for you. Return what you do not sell, and no penalties will be assessed. We want to be sure that you have every opportunity to sell all you can and now is a good time to start thinking about the best stocking stuffers or a little treat after you holiday meal. Nothing is better than Trails End popcorn while you watch your favorite team compete in the big game! You and your unit will still receive a 30% commission; however the prize program will be closed at the end of December Trails End.
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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 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!
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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.
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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 |
Update Your Training for Re-Charters
Re-charter time is upon us, and it is great to “Be Prepared” and have all your training in place. 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.
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Advanced Leadership Training
Hoosier Trails Council offers Wood Badge, the best advanced leadership training opportunity available in the Boy Scouts of America. 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 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!
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National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
Each year the National Youth Leadership Training Course focuses on team building, making ethical decisions, leading others, communicating, servant leadership, and planning. This is accomplished using presentations, games, simulations, and other activities that reinforce the content of the course. It is all put on by the youth leaders with coaching from some of our most experienced adult leaders. If you are looking for a great opportunity for your older Scouts to learn some advanced leadership skills, this is the training they will need. It is held at Maumee Scout Reservation each summer and promises to be a great adventure for your Scouts. Consider inviting your current or future unit leaders to this premier training, it will be beneficial to your Scouts and your troop or Crew. Scholarships are available upon request. Register for NYLT 2024!
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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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New 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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To ensure the safety of participants, the Boy Scouts of America expects leaders to use the four points of SAFE when delivering the Scouting program. Included below are examples of real incidents in Scouting where at least one of these four points was not followed. Please do not put participants at risk by ignoring these principles.
S = Supervision
Youth are supervised by qualified and trustworthy adults who set the example for safety.
- Three youth went on a backcountry trek without adult supervision. One teenage Scout died of heatstroke.
- A 12-year-old Scout was alone in a dug-out sand dune that collapsed on him. He died later that day.
Scouting policies like two-deep leadership and the buddy system safeguard against tragedies like these.
A = Assessment
Activities are assessed for risks during planning. Leaders have reviewed applicable program guidance or standards and have verified the activity is not prohibited. Risk avoidance or mitigation is incorporated into the activity.
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Two Scouts were burned while lighting a homemade stove. They had made the stove out of a soda can and were trying to fuel it with HEET®, a liquid fuel additive. The use of homemade stoves is prohibited.
- A Webelos Scout slipped and fell 25 feet into a ravine while hiking with older Scouts who were exploring an unpaved trail. The boy hit his head on rocks and suffered severe brain trauma. He was airlifted to a local hospital and never regained consciousness.
Understanding and following the guidelines contained in program materials and the Guide to Safe Scouting helps keep all youth safer in our programs.
F = Fitness and Skill
Participants’ Annual Health and Medical Records are reviewed, and leaders have confirmed that prerequisite fitness and skill levels exist for participants to take part safely.
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An 18-year-old assistant Scoutmaster, who had recently tested as a beginner swimmer during summer camp, drowned while attempting to swim across a river with two younger Scouts on a unit outing.
- A 38-year-old Webelos parent suffered a fatal heart attack during an overnight backpacking trip with his son’s den. The parent had been denied participation in a similar hiking activity due to poor physical condition and a body mass index greater than 40.
Fitness is an aim of Scouting. Knowing who can and should participate in a particular activity — by having the necessary fitness and skill to do so — keeps youth and adults SAFE.
E = Equipment and Environment
Safe and appropriately sized equipment, courses, camps, campsites, trails, or playing fields are used properly. Leaders periodically check gear use and the environment for changing conditions that could affect safety.
- A 13-year-old Scout fell about 20 feet from a zip line at a commercial rock gym facility and landed on his feet, injuring his left foot. Witnesses say the youth was seen using the zip line without properly fastening the restraining carabiner.
- Three Scouts were sitting on a picnic table under a metal carport during a severe thunderstorm when they were struck by lightning. A safe building during a storm is one that is fully enclosed with a roof, walls, floor, plumbing, and wiring.
“Be Prepared” is not just a motto but a method to follow to be safe. Using the right equipment for the right activity and in the proper location keeps Scouting SAFE.
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Congratulations, Recent Eagle Scouts |
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Owen Glen Caldwell, Troop 121
Trinity Rose Kessinger, Troop 1148
Jack Thomas Bandy, Troop 119
Eli Robert Dodge, Troop 717
Benjamin C Dixon, Troop 100
Conner Lee Axsom, Troop 559
Duncan Lawrence Uhlmansiek, Troop 605 Dominic Martini, Troop 646
Jackson Brian Moser, Troop 646
Brenden Philip Jennings, Troop 121
Robert John Doyle, Troop 693
John Calvin Kimmer, Jr, Troop 717
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