HOOSIER TRAILS COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA 5625 EAST STATE ROAD 46 BLOOMINGTON, IN 47401 - 9233

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 34 BLOOMINGTON, IN

Hoosier Trails Council Boy Scouts of America

www.HoosierTrailsBSA.org 5625 East State Road 46 Bloomington, IN 47401

Scout Shop & Office Hours Monday - Friday 10 am to 5 pm

Scout Shop Saturday - 10 am to 2 pm Sunday - Closed

Phone 812.336.6809 * 800.844.6809

Trail Signs is the official newsletter of the Hoosier Trails Council, that communicates with more than 6,000 families in south-central Indiana. Newsletter submissions to gsteenberger@bsamail.org.

Hoosier Trails Council Scout Shop 5625 E State Road 46 Bloomington, IN 47401 812.287.8349

Store Hours Monday-Friday: 10:00 am-5:00 pm Saturday: 10:00 am-2:00 pm

Hoosier Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America HoosierTrailsBSA.org

Hoosier Trail Signs May—Jul 2018

National Executive Board Approves Lions Integration Into Cub Scouts Program Recognizing the success of the national Lion pilot program, the Boy Scouts of America’s Board of Directors has approved integrating Lions into the Cub Scout program empowering chartered partners with packs to offer the experience to Kindergarten-age children nationwide.

Integrating the national Lion pilot into the Cub Scout program enables chartered partners, along with the adult leadership in the pack, to offer the program to Kindergarten-age children, which families have requested and appreciated in markets where the pilot was offered to date.

For more information on this announcement, please see the attached FAQ document. Plus, be sure to check Scouting magazine's "Bryan on Scouting" blog and Scouting Wire — as well as the BSA's official social media channels —for additional coverage.

https://247scouting.com/web/BSA145/attachment/document_15187054330_3339.pdf

Retention Convention Now is the time to start thinking about your program for the upcoming Scouting season just a few short months away. Hoosier Trails Council would like to help you get things kicked off at a great event designed to give you the materials you need and the support you want. We will be going over all of the new programs available for all Scouting units, new ways to support your members and leaders, tips on recruiting, and much more. We will also have several table discussions lead by knowledgeable Scouters that focus on the things that are important to you. This is a great way to start your year and its fun too. Come to our eastside option on May 8th or westside option on 10th to find out more. Feel free to invite leaders from your group no matter how long they have been in the program because new things are added all the time.

From the Scout Executive’s Desk Scout Executive, Glen R. Steenberger This is a great time of year for the council, having just completed the Council Gala where we honored several awesome Scouters for their dedication; Spring Camporees are underway; the Council Annual Business Meeting has occurred; and we are putting the final touches on our summer programming line-up.

I joined Scouting over forty years ago, so that I could go to summer camp, where great memories were forged into my soul, memories that have kept me returning to camp ever since. Specifically, my Scouting at camp instilled in me self-reliance, a sense of adventure, people-skills, perseverance, creativity, and a love for the natural world. It is funny that none of these top-of-mind outcomes are found on an advancement report. Often I am challenged by attempting to explain the outcomes of our programs to funders, or United Way volunteers, but it can be challenging to convey the impact that our movement has on young people. Our program’s depth goes far beyond the awards that are earned, the service hours performed, the time spent on honing skills, as we transform our participants into their better-selves. My mother could not have known that when she signed me up for Scouts that I would dedicate my life to the movement. Nor did she know that I would establish life-long friends and mentors, as a result of registering. How could she have been aware that all of those advancements earned, hours spent on outings, the “camping laundry” washed, dollars spent, patches sewn, projects completed, and miles driven would establish the core of who I would become?

I find myself reflective and emotional as I think of the trail that I have been blessed to have traveled, thanks to Scouting. Perhaps this is because, I believe that we are on the brink of a great new chapter in the history of our organization. In the coming months we will expand our program options for girls and I delight in the prospect of presenting the magic that I have witnessed to an expanded pool of future leaders. We are rooted in our traditions, but it is sometimes easy to overlook that our movement also has a tradition of adapting to remain relevant with the times. Family Scouting is a logical continuation of the work we have dedicated ourselves to. Who will the youth that we recruit become as a result of our flexibility, vision and dedication? Honored to be your Scout Executive,

Memorials & Tributes Thomas Nickel Marjorie Focke

Narlon C Littell Janetta Robinson

John Winks Randy & Marilyn Brown

Nick Ivey Randy & Marilyn Brown

Dr. Donal Kaderabek Margaret & James Hansen Marilyn A Miller Conner Prairie Alliance

A gift to our council’s memorial/tribute fund is a thoughtful way to express respect, gratitude, and sincere affection. Your gift honoring a loved one, friend, and others in times of sadness or joy will enrich the lives of the thousands of youth served by our council.

Day Event, Location, Time

May 2018 4 Professional Staff Meeting, Council Service Center, 5625 East State Road 46, Bloomington, 9:00 am

4-6 Cub-O-Ree Adventure, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

8 Retention Convention – East Side (LL and HH), 1st United Methodist Church, 240 Poplar Street, North Vernon, 6:30 pm

10 Retention Convention – West Side (WAP and WRT), Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, 2700 E. Rogers Road, Bloomington, IN 47401, 7:00 pm

14 Commissioner Cabinet Meeting, Online, 7:00 pm

15 Council Executive Committee Meeting, The Seasons Lodge, 560 State Road 46, Nashville, 6:00 pm

18-19 Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills Training, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

18-19 BALOO Training, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

19 Council Executive Board Retreat, The Seasons Lodge, 560 State Road 46, Nashville, 9:30 am

18-20 Order of the Arrow Brotherhood Weekend, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

20 Order of the Arrow Lodge Executive Committee Meeting, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

28 Council Service Center & Scout Shop Closed for Memorial Day

June 2018 1 Professional Staff Meeting, Council Service Center, 5625 East State Road 46, Bloomington, 9:00 am

2 District Management Team Training, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman, 10:00 am 1:00 pm

2-9 MSR Staff Development, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

10-16 Boy Scout Summer Camp Session #1, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

11 Commissioner Cabinet Meeting, Online Meeting, 7:00 pm

12 Council Executive Board Meeting, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

13 Council Advancement Committee Meeting, Online Meeting, 7:00 pm

17-23 Boy Scout Summer Camp Session #2, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

23 Cub Scout Splash-O-Ree, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

24-30 Boy Scout Summer Camp Session #3, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

July 2018 1-7 Boy Scout Summer Camp Session #4, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

4 Independence Day - Council Service Center & Scout Shop Closed

9 Commissioner Cabinet Meeting, Online Meeting, 7:00 pm

8-14 Boy Scout Summer Camp Session #5, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

12-14 NYLT Staff Development, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

15-21 National Youth Leadership Training, Maumee Scout Reservation, 12975 West County Road 925 North, Norman

19 Council Membership Committee Meeting, Online Meeting, 7:00 pm

30-4 National Order of the Arrow Conference, Indiana University, Bloomington

Regularly check our online calendar at www.HoosierTrailsBSA.org for additional information and updates!

Council Dates

Venturing We also are planning to bring Venturing to Summer Camp! July 8-11 at Maumee, we will be hosting a Venturing Mini Week. We’ll have activities to help work on awards, a ton of cool opportunities for adventure, and if you are planning to be part of NYLT Staff, you’ll already be at camp for staff development at the end of that week. Individuals can come as part of a provisional crew, or you can register to bring your whole crew. We’ll be sending out information as soon as we finalize a few details. We hope to see you there!

Order of the Arrow

Brotherhood Weekend: Renew your commitment to service and to new friends in the Order of the Arrow at the Brotherhood Weekend on May 18-20 at Maumee Scout Reservation. This is the time when our lodge gives back in a big way and serves our camp by dusting off the winter powder and getting camp ready for some awesome summertime camping adventures. We are always looking for adult group leaders to help with the many new projects around our property. Your role is to assist the Elangomat in directing the work of the group. This is a great opportunity to give back to your lodge and our youth Arrowmen. Please sign up soon so you don’t miss out on this great opportunity to serve and to get an early start on camping at beautiful Maumee Scout Reservation! We will do some work and have a lot of fun too.

Ordeal Weekend Ordeal weekend will follow summer camp and we will welcome all the new candidates who have been called out this summer. Mark your calendars for August 10-12 as this is the weekend when we induct new members into our Lodge. Scoutmasters should make every effort to get newly elected youth and adults to this truly meaningful event. We also need every active Arrowmen to come out and give your service to make the Ordeal special and memorable for each new member; you will make some great memories yourself. Following the Ordeal, new members will have the opportunity to enlist in numerous leadership roles in Nischa Chuppecat Lodge.

National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC): The National Order of the Arrow Conference is the premier event of the Order of the Arrow, and is Scouting's second-largest national event. In 2018, several thousand Arrowmen from across our nation are expected to gather at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. This next NOAC will be held on July 30 - August 4, 2018, at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. The total cost is expected to be $525. Please sign up for this event online as soon as possible. We have very limited spots available!

Enabling Great Programs Friends of Scouting Our fundraising team continues to make great strides toward achieving a record-breaking level of support for our programming, doing so in a narrower window of time. Our appreciation goes out to Dr. Denis Ward, Vice President of Fundraising, our district FOS workers, and all those who have given to the 2018 campaign. Proceeds from FOS help to pay for: • Insurance for Participants • Property maintenance, development, supplies, and utilities

• Administrative support (records processing, reservations, membership registration, advancements, popcorn sale administration, ScoutBook)

• Executive support (program development, recruitment support, communications, customer service)

• Marketing & Communication (newsletters, Website, social media) • Program Supplements (summer camp, NYLT, Jamborees, council-led Cub Scout activities, recognition events) • Recognition & Awards

• Assistance to Individuals (Camperships, Outreach Initiatives)

1973 Society A new recognition program has been set up to support the 2018 Friends of Scouting campaign, the 1973 Society. You see, our council was incorporated in, you guessed it, 1973. This program establishes a three year commitment from a donor to support the society through a planned annual gift amount, which can be fulfilled in various ways. This program is designed for those faithful supporters that contribute to FOS annually and allows the council to focus upon identifying new donors; rather than renewing gifts. For more information: gsteenberger@bsamail.org

Family Scouting Additional information on Family Scouting is scattered throughout this publication on the excitement of inviting females to more of our programs, starting this fall with Cub Scouts and February 2019 for Boy Scouts. The Hoosier Trails Council is eager to offer our expanded program options to the families of south central Indiana. For the latest details on this opportunity, please visit the Family Scouting information link on the homepage of www.HoosierTrailsBSA.org.

Recent HTC Eagle Scouts

James E. West Fellowship Award This award is recognition for support of the Hoosier Trails Council, BSA Endowment Fund of $1,000 or greater. There are various levels of the award, depending upon the size of the gift. The council’s endowment fund provides annual operational support to the council from the earnings of the gifts made to the fund, which are held in perpetuity. James E. West Fellowships are a tremendous way to honor a new Eagle Scout, outstanding Scout leader, or other significant life events. This win-win stabilizes the success of our annual youth programming, while recognizing greatness. For more information, contact gsteenberger@bsamail.org.

Major Gifts Initiative Update The Hoosier Trails Council has launched a Major Gifts Initiative with emphasis on securing our fiscal future. Our goal is to raise almost $6 million via contributions to support projects in order to improve our facilities. For details on future projects, including plans and renderings, visit the MGI link on the www.HoosierTrailsBSA.org homepage. Recent contributions include: • Ellison Campfire Arena - Coming Summer 2019 • Hill Campsite Improvement - Coming Summer 2019 • Haddad Foundation Aquatics Equipment - Summer 2018

• Gehring Gift to MSR A number of investments are underway presently at Camp Louis Ernst and Maumee Scout Reservation. Again, visit the MGI link on the council’s homepage for the latest details.

In 1911, Baden-Powell took the first steps in training Scouting’s leaders by organizing a series of lectures and activities. Wood Badge provides the opportunity to: Understand Scouting as a family of interrelated, values-based programs providing age-appropriate activities for youth. Recognize contemporary leadership concepts and discover how they are relevant to the Scouting movement and life in general. Apply the skills learned as a member of a successful working team. Renew one’s commitment to Scouting by sharing in an inspirational experience that provides Scouting with revitalized leadership. And, Have FUN! Many consider Wood Badge to be a peak experience of their Scouting careers. It has served as a source of training and inspiration to thousands.

Brigham Mickel Kleinhenz Troop 514

Jarrett Scott Rose Troop 409

Jaron Gleb Callahan Troop 148

Isaiah Christian Smith Troop 190

Logan B. Miller Troop 190

George Richard Beiderhake III Troop 604

Caleb Patrick Valentine Troop 605

Samuel C. Boyles Troop 693

Ethan Alexander Hill Troop 693

Joshua Roman Eckstein Crew 643

Simon Matthew Terpening Troop 721

Adam Wayne Bushorn Troop 605

Andrey L. Ruegsegger Troop 140

Christopher Douglas Laymon Troop 634

Eduardo Ladeira Duro Troop 557

Dalton Patrick Clark Troop 348

Colin Nathaniel Stone Troop 121

Keith Robert Belakiewicz Troop 224

Joseph Donald Yoder Troop 555

Thomas Philip DiLavore Troop 100

Carter A. Davis Troop 409

Dallin Michael Anderson Troop 514

Kameron Wayne Fletcher Troop 156

Noah Franklin Shoaf Troop 514

2018 Platinum Journey to Excellence Unit Recognition Program The Hoosier Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America is striving to provide quality, meaningful programs to the young people in our area, to aid them in achieving their full potential in life. It is understood that the true benefit of the Scouting movement comes directly from our Scouting units and if we are to improve the standard of our programs, units will make the difference.

In 2018, we will honor those units that go above and beyond the call of duty for the young people they serve. These special units will be designated as Platinum Level Journey to Excellence Units and will lead the way for the rest of the Council. This special recognition will not come easy, but will bring worthy praise and tools to continue to build and strengthen the unit.

Platinum Level Journey to Excellence Units will receive the following tokens for their heroic effort: • Collector’s edition Council Shoulder Patch for each registered member of the unit.

• A framed Certificate of Achievement for the unit’s trophy case.

• HTC Summer Camp/Activity Discounts, $5 per Cub Scout Registrant, $10 per Boy Scout Camp Registrant.

• Free cloth rank advancement for your recharter year.

• Special recognition in the Trails Sign’s on www.HoosierTrailsBSA.org and at the Annual Council Gala.

• Recognition item for the unit leader that will identify the accomplishment.

In order for a unit to achieve this high recognition, there are seven elements that must be fulfilled: • Achieve Gold Level Journey to Excellence Status for 2018.

• Properly record rank advancements for youth within 2018.

• Provide a summer camp/activity (Cub Scouts) for Scouts and have an increase in youth participation over 2017.

• Achieve membership growth over December 2017, and recharter on-time.

• Achieve unit’s Friends of Scouting Goal. (Goal is established by Unit-Serving Executive and the unit leadership.) Must have presentation before June of current year.

• Partner with the Council by participating in the Council Popcorn Sale and average $100/Scout in sales.

In order for Scouting to have the greatest impact on a young person’s life, we must retain Scouts in our programs as long as possible. Platinum Level Journey to Excellence Units will stand on the foundation of quality programming and strive to fulfill the promises of fun and adventure. Just as a Scout’s honor is sacred, as is your commitment to provide the best programming possible, and we hope to recognize your unit as Platinum Level Journey to Excellence Unit. For more information about this program visit us at www.HoosierTrailsBSA.org

Cub Scout Pack #123 Holds Successful Food Drive With over 85 volunteer hours put in to the project, Cub Scout Pack #123 of Bloomington was proud to provide 1,619 pounds of food to the Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM) Emergency Pantry this year! A total of 24 Scouts and Scout siblings and 16 adults collected donations at the Bloomington Walmart. They collected donations from Walmart customers, then delivered the donations to MCUM and helped to sort the donations for the pantry. Committee Member Lynn Puhr reports that in 6 years of completing this service project, the pack has collected over 10,000 pounds of food for MCUM’s Emergency Pantry. Outstanding job, Scouts! Cub Scout Pack #123 is chartered by the Clear Creek Elementary School P.T.O. The pack is proudly led by Cubmaster Drew Graves, Committee Chairperson Chris Kilander, and Chartered Organization Representative Joyce Rusch. For more information about Cub Scout Pack #123, or to submit your unit’s story, please contact Jason Triplett at jason.triplett@scouting.org.

Serving Daviess, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, and Orange Counties White River Trails District

White River Trails Calendar May 8 District Management Team Meeting, Bedford LDS Church, 1010 22nd Street, Bedford, 6:30 pm 10 Retention Convention, Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, 2700 E Rogers Rd, Bloomington, 7:00 pm 17 Commissioner Staff Meeting, Meeting via WebEx (Online), 7:00 pm

June 5 District Management Team Meeting, Bedford LDS Church, 1010 22nd Street, Bedford, 6:30 pm 7 Join Scouts Recruitment Training, Martin County Community Building, 2668 U.S. Highway 50, Loogootee, 7:00 pm 14 Commissioner Staff Meeting, Meeting via WebEx (Online), 7:00 pm

July No District Meetings

District Dinner Awards The District Recognition Dinner was held March 10th, at the Lawrence County Museum of History, in Bedford. The evening consisted of excellent food, fellowship, and a fireside chat, delivered by Glen Steenberger and Mark Wilson, as they shared with those of us in attendance the 2017 achievements of the district and council. We celebrated together the district’s growth in membership and units,

plus, popcorn sales exceeded the district’s 2017 goal by more than $12,000. In addition, we handed out some very well-deserved awards, recognizing volunteer leaders across the district. We also heard about the many exciting opportunities planned for summer camp 2018, as Kevin Trojan gave us insights into this year’s camp activities.

Leader Recognitions: During the District Recognition Dinner, a handful of volunteers were recognized for their excellent service throughout 2017. Both longtime Scouters, Mark Bredehoft (Troop 457) and Tony Beckett (Pack 387 and Troop 385) were honored as recipients of the District Award of Merit, as they were recognized for their contributions to Scouting. The evening also witnessed Amy Force (Pack 499) receiving the District’s “Spark Plug Award” and Kristen Bell (Pack 338) recognized as the “Unsung Hero.” Please congratulate them when you have an opportunity. Finally, a hearty “thank you” goes out to every volunteer that was a part of the great Scouting movement in the White River Trails District in 2017. Your contributions and support will have a lasting impact on the families in our units. Thank you!

Merit Badge Fair a Success! The White River Trails District held it’s 5th Annual Merit Badge Fair at Bedford North Lawrence High School on Saturday, April 7th. Over 100 Scouts, and many Scouters, participated in the day’s events. This year Scouts had the opportunity to learn about various merit badges such as, Communications, Railroading, and try Eagle Quest, which, allowed Scouts to learn basic Scout skills. Also offered were Aquanaut and Wet Eagle Quest, which, were taught in the school’s pool, allowing Scouts to complete their BSA swim test, while satisfying other requirements. Additionally, Webelos were offered four different adventure pins to choose from.

A huge thank you goes out to the many volunteers who taught classes this year! A BIG THANK YOU goes out to Brandi Gilbert for her hard work in coordinating the Merit Badge Fair. For the event to be a success, it took much time and focus to plan and implement it. In addition to coordinating the event, Brandi also serves as one of our Roundtable leaders. Be sure to join us again next year – you won’t want to miss it!

District Chairperson Mark Young 812.279.5304 oldfolksboogie1978@gmail.com

District Commissioner Jeff Williams 812.709.0180 jawilliams212@gmail.com

District Executive Rod Kates 812.219.5880 Rod.Kates@Scouting.org

Join Scouts Night Training The White River Trails District (WRT) experienced membership growth the past three years due to aggressive recruitment. As a matter of fact, WRT was the top recruiting district during the month of August, last year. This year, the goal of setting the recruitment standard is once again ours to claim. However, recruiting youth is not just about numbers. It is about making as large of an impact on youth, families, and communities, as possible. With this goal in mind, we must position ourselves for success! How is this done? First, it will take strategic planning at the unit level. Units must look at their area, develop a vision of where they want to be, and determine the steps to make it happen. Secondly, the unit comes together to plan their Year in Scouting (YIS), and be prepared to share their calendar of activities with families during Join Scouts Night in August. Finally, plan for your unit to attend the Join Scouts Night Training on Thursday, June 7th, at the Martin County Community Building for our annual Join Scouts Night Training! Beginning at 7:00 PM, units will have the opportunity to demonstrate their recruitment speech, receive feedback from peers, and refine their presentations. Other opportunities will include sharing tips and tricks with each other to maximize recruiting efforts. See YOU there!

Commissioner Corner: A Thank You, Scout Troop and Cub

Pack Program Planning, “Keeping Your Youth Engaged During the School Summer Break”

I would like to open by expressing my appreciation to all of the Unit Commissioners for their efforts; thanks for everything that you do to help units succeed! In 2017, HTC achieved Bronze status for the JTE Unit Contacts category. Our unit contacts were up for the third year in a row and this was noted by BSA Area President during the HTC Charter presentation in March. Keep up the good work; let’s achieve Silver status for 2018! Unit Leaders, if you aren’t seeing a Unit Commissioner on a reg-ular basis, please let your District Commissioner know. Unit Commissioners are a great resource for the unit leadership and they aim to please!

By the time you read this there might still be time to get your Cubs to the May 4th-6th “Cub-O-Ree Adventure” at Maumee. Cub parents should also be provided information about the “Fish-O-Ree” at Maumee on May 10th. Information and registra-tion for both events can be found on the Calendar link on the Council website. Retention statistics show that units that par-ticipate in Council wide Cub Scout events have a much higher retention rate. Don’t let your Cubs miss out on these great exciting activities!

A critical event for unit Leadership is the May Program Planning Retention Convention. Plan to have at least one representa-tive attend either in North Vernon on May 8th or Bloomington on May 10th. There are exciting new tools being rolled out to help you improve your program!

Many Packs may be winding down for the summer, but don’t let the fun hibernate for the summer! Keeping the Cubs active helps retain them and provides for some great family fun. Review the requirements for the Summer Time Pack Award. This can be earned as a Den or as a Pack. Boys who participate in an event each month earn a pin which is different each year. Consider fun and easy-to-plan activities such as a day hike, a bike rodeo, a trip to a baseball game, a pancake breakfast or a swim party at local pool. You might even consider organizing a Pack overnight camping trip. BALOO (Basic Adult Leader Out-door Orientation) Training provides all that you need to know to plan and execute a fun-packed event. BALOO Training is scheduled for May 18th-19th at Camp Maumee. Packs that qualify earn a ribbon and certificate as well as extra credit to-wards the Journey to Excellence (JTE) award. Making “Gold” JTE is a significant milestone in creating a top performing Pack. And that extra step beyond “Gold” to “Platinum” results in financial incentives including discounted Council Activities and free rank patches.

Troops that are successful in bringing in those fifth grade Webelos have a plan that “pulls” those boys (and their parents) from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting if they have not already “crossed over”. This includes a plan for follow-up on all fifth grade boys who were on the Cub Pack charter in December but did not join your Troop. Ask your District Executive or Unit Commissioner for that list. At this point you should be considering individual contacts and offering a personalized home visit with the boy and his parents. This could be the Scoutmaster or an ASM along with an active well uniformed Boy Scout from the Troop. Maybe a youth who is in his first year or maybe an Eagle Scout. The sales pitch would include a troop history of the past year’s activities and plans for summer camp and the Troop plan for the upcoming scout year. Try it. To keep those new scouts you will need to make sure that you have a plan for camping at least once a month during the summer in addition to summer camp. For the long term relationship consider recruiting one of your committee members to be a Unit Commissioner for your unit and for the Packs which are the natural source of new boys in your neighborhood.

If you have a committee member or other Scout parent that you think would be a potential candidate for Unit Commissioner please get in touch with your District Commissioner or me.

Yours in Scouting, Mark Wilson, Council Commissioner m.l.wilson@comcast.net 812-350-8542

These plates can be used as standard vehicle registration plates for passenger cars, recreational vehicles and trucks weighing less than 11,000 pounds. 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.

2017 Program News

Vice President of Program Program Director York Lemley Kevin Trojan 812-375-9706 812-272-2368 KLemley@vanausdall.com Kevin.Trojan@Scouting.org

Training

The Boy Scouts of America offers many great training opportunities for adults to understand the roles and responsibilities of leadership along with many other focus areas of interest to the Scouting program. Many trainings are available each week at Scout Camp to increase your knowledge in outdoors, first aid, aquatics, training development and more.

Update Your Youth Protection Training by October 1, 2018 In early February, the BSA introduced newly updated youth protection training that is required for all volunteers before October 1, 2018. Even if they took the previous training prior to the February rollout, it will need to be taken it again. The updated mandatory training, includes three modules and a test that takes a little over an hour to complete. The Mandatory and Recommended training modules draw on research from experts and survivors in the field of child abuse and maltreatment to identify the contributing factors and threats across the spectrum of child abuse, including: bullying, neglect, exposure to violence, physical and emotional abuse, and child sexual abuse. Once completed, volunteers will not have to retake the training for two years. In addition to updated training, the BSA recently announced new policies to ensure compliance with mandatory training requirements, including:

• As of January 1, 2018, no new leader can be registered without first completing Youth Protection Training. • As of January 1, 2018, no council, regional, or national leader will be allowed to renew their registration if they are not

current on their Youth Protection Training. • As of September 1, 2017, no unit may re-charter without all leaders being current on their Youth Protection Training.

Registrars no longer have the ability to approve charters without full compliance. • Effective June 1, 2018, adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must

be registered as a leader, including completion of a criminal background check and Youth Protection Training. The 72 hours need not be consecutive.

Altogether, it’s a bold new approach that will serve as just one part of the BSA’s ongoing effort to enroll the entire community in the fight against child abuse both in and out of Scouting.

Wood Badge: Wood Badge is right around the corner and is promised to be an exciting, action-packed program! Over two weekends, August 17-19 and September 7-9, Wood Badge is designed to provide adult members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their Scouting positions and in other areas of life demanding leadership of self and others. The course centers upon the concepts of servant leadership and leaving a legacy. The key elements are 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. Participants will then develop and carry out a series of ticket projects designed to benefit your Scouting involvement and the unit you are associated with. All of these things are achieved while creating new bonds of friendship and support that span unit, district, council, and movement. No matter your position in Scouting, this course is for you. Come and take your place and experience “Magic in Leadership.”

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) You still have time to sign up for our National Youth Leadership Training Course focusing on team-building, making ethical decisions, leading others, communicating, servant leadership, and planning. This is accomplished by the use of 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. It would be fair to say that the Scouts also have some fun along the way. 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 on July 15-21 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. Scholarships are available online and provide up to $130 off registration fees.

Serving Brown, Monroe, Morgan, and Owen Coun- Wapehani District

Wapehani Calendar

May 3 District Management Team Meeting, Hoosier Trails Council Service Center, 5625 E. State Road 46, Bloomington, 7:00 pm 10 2018-2019 Retention Convention (West), Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, 2700 E. Rogers Road, Bloomington, 7:00 pm 24 District Commissioner Staff Meeting, Liberty Christian Church, 2010 Liberty Church Road, Martinsville, 7:00 pm

June 7 District Management Team Meeting, Hoosier Trails Council Service Center, 5625 E. State Road 46, Bloomington, 7:00 pm 13 Join Scouts Night Recruitment Training, Liberty Christian Church, 2010 Liberty Church Road, Martinsville, 7:00 pm 13 District Commissioner Staff Meeting, Liberty Christian Church, 2010 Liberty Church Road, Martinsville, 8:30 pm

Think Fall – Recruitment, That Is! It may be hard to tell which season it is right now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t think about Fall Recruitment! With only a few short months until we will be welcoming new boys – and girls – to Cub Scouts, we can’t let Mother Nature’s seasonal confusion distract us and not “Be Prepared!” There is a lot to do in order to make your unit’s recruitment the most successful it has ever been. If you have not already talked with your Chartered Organization about Family Scouting and reached a mutual decision, Chartered Organization and Cub Scout Pack, on Family Scouting participation that needs to be done as soon as possible! Chartered organizations are key decision makers for Scouting units as the true “owner” of the unit. If you would like any assistance meeting with your organization, please contact Jason Triplett at jason.triplett@scouting.org. Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 14, at 7:00 PM! Our annual Join Scouts Night Recruitment Training will be taking place at Liberty Christian Church near Martinsville. We’ll talk about recruitment strategies to help your unit succeed! This fall, it isn’t going to be enough to show up at the school with a stack of applications. We need to “Be Prepared” with plans to succeed – plans for leadership recruitment and training, plans for the year’s meeting and activity dates, and plans for how your unit can effectively budget. That’s a lot to ask for just to recruit Scouts, right? You may even want some help. How can JSN Recruitment Training help? This summer, we will once again be establishing “Office Hours” dates in each community! These nights are designed to offer help in key areas of planning for Scout recruitment nights. In these one-on-one meetings we will address the needs of your specific unit as opposed to general information for all units. We’ll talk about past recruit-ment results and practices and ways to improve for 2018. We’ll talk about calendar development and budgeting to cover those awesome activities and marvelous meetings. These meetings will be for your benefit, so be sure to sign up when the dates and times become available! As always, alternative appointments are also available.

District Honors Outstanding Leaders The Wapehani District held its annual Recognition Dinner on Thursday, March 8, at the Ellettsville First United Methodist Church. Attendees enjoyed a hearty dinner prepared by the

Ellettsville United Methodist Women before our evening of fellowship and recognition. With several hardworking and dedicated leaders, a number of awards and recognitions were given. The Unit Unsung Hero Award is presented on behalf of a Scouting unit that wishes to recognize an outstanding adult who has helped them succeed in the prior year. Awards were presented to Trent Carney of Boy Scout Troop #148 Bloomington, Robin Donaldson of Cub Scout Pack #160 Bloomington, Matt Mullins of Boy Scout Troop #148 Bloomington, and Lindsey Smith of Cub Scout Pack #136 Bloomington. The district also presented Scouter of the Year Awards for top leaders in Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting. Our Cub Scouter of the Year was Tiffany Willingham of Cub Scout Pack #129 Ellettsville. Our Boy Scouter of the Year was Jim Hall of Boy Scout Troop #148 Bloomington. The District Sparkplug Award is presented to a volunteer whose enthusiasm and passion is contagious within the district. For those who have not yet met this year’s recipient, when you do, you’ll discover the passion he has for Scouting! The district awarded Don Francis of Boy Scout Troop #119 Ellettsville and the Wapehani District Advancement Chairperson with this year’s Sparkplug Award. The Wapehani District had the distinct pleasure of presenting three District Award of Merit recognitions for 2017. We received some fantastic nominations and were able to honor three dedicated Scouters: Amber Kent, Committee Chairperson for Cub Scout Pack #160 Bloomington and District Recruitment Chairperson; Lesa McCartney, New Member Coordinator for Boy Scout Troop #148 Bloomington and District Family FOS Chairperson; and Julie Ramey, Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop #148 Bloomington and Newsletter Advisor of Nischa Chuppecat Lodge #212 of the Order of the Arrow.

The Wapehani District congratulates all award recipients and thanks all leaders for their hard work to make Scouting successful in Brown, Monroe, Morgan, and Owen Counties!

District Chair Lloyd DeWar 812.336.3532 ldewar@bluemarble.net

District Commissioner Randy Cox 765.342.9153 bluegill@scican.net

District Director Jason Triplett 219.863.6564 jtriplet@bsamail.org

Serving Bartholomew, Decatur, Jackson, and Jennings Counties Lenni Lenape District

East Side Retention Convention The annual Hoosier Trails East Side Retention Convention will once again be held at the 1st United Methodist Church in North Vernon on Tuesday, May 8th at 7:00 pm. This annual gathering of the Lenni Lenape and Hoosier Hills unit leaders will give the opportunity to network with other leaders, share your experiences, and have your questions answered regarding program planning, council and district events, training opportunities, and the importance of advancement. At this year’s Retention Convention, there will be a number of booths to visit prior to the training sessions. We will have the Popcorn Sale table, the Wine-A-Ree table, the 5k Table, and the Bartholomew County Fair table, to name a few. Remember to put this important event in your unit calendar and we hope to see all the greatness that constitutes Lenni in attendance.

Join Scout Night Training Lenni Lenape continues to shine in membership so let’s keep it up! It all begins at the

Join Scouts Night Training event on Tuesday, June 5th at the 1st United Methodist

Church in Columbus. Fall recruitment is primarily focused on Cub Scouts but what does

a Cub Scout become? Yes, a Boy Scout 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. This year

we are welcoming Family Scouting in the majority of our Cub Scout Packs. This this an

important change in recruitment and we must be ready to give the new families the

greatest program on Earth. At the Join Scouts Night Training we will have on hand:

posters, applications, and yard signs for all the units and their communities. We will

discuss the community marketing approach and

the important 7 Points of Contact to make a

successful fall recruitment. 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 will be

asked to spend 2 hours prior to the join week in

your county to get the word out in the

community; and where needed, 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, so with that success we

want to build on utilizing the youth in our

troops to interact with the Cub Scouts. Make

plans to send a representative or two from your

unit to attend this training and capitalize on the

recruitment theme this year.

Lenni Lenape Calendar

May 8 Lenni Lenape Commissioner meeting, 1st United Methodist Church, 240 Poplar St, North Vernon, 6:00 pm. 8 East side Retention Convention, 1st United Methodist Church, 240 Poplar St., North Vernon, 7:00 pm.

June 5 Lenni Lenape Join Scouts Night Training, 1st United Methodist Church, 618 8th St., Columbus, 7:00 pm.

July No scheduled roundtable, or commissioner meetings due to Boy Scout summer camp.

District Chairman Rajesh Thyagarajan 812.344.2689 Rajesh.thyagarajan@cummins.com

District Commissioner Blake Hudman 812.552.3190 tehwoodshop@hotmail.com

District Director Jon Ocheltree 812.336.6809 jocheltree@bsamail.org

Cub Scout Camping & Activities This year has a lot to offer to the Cub Scouts in your Pack. We defiantly don’t want you to miss out on anything! Check out some of these great opportunities.

Cub-O-Ree: Celebrate the best of what spring and the Cub Scouts have to offer and enjoy the beautiful setting of Maumee Scout Reservation. This pirate themed event starts on Friday evening with check-in from 5:00-7:00 pm. and an opening treasure hunt at 7:15 pm to start the adventure right! Then, we will learn how the pirates navigated the open seas without a GPS. Saturday will be filled with an exciting all-day and evening programming and conclude with Sunday breakfast. Overnight family camping is provided (please bring your camping gear). Activities include: Shooting BB Guns, Archery, Fishing, Campfire Program, Pirate Ship Regatta, Water Activities, and more! Spend the night under the stars and hear the beautiful sound of nature, just like the Boy Scouts! This is a time you won’t forget and a special opportunity to spend time with your Scout. This event is open to registered Cub Scouts, and is great for boys who just joined the program. Check-in begins at 5:00 pm. at the camp administration building, adjacent to the camp parking lot. Once you are signed in, we will show you to your campsite where you can settle in and get ready for your weekend! Please check the weather forecast for the weekend, and make sure you are prepared and dressed appropriately. This is a “rain or shine” event! Please look online for additional information and register for this great event!

Splash-O-Ree: June is a hot month and we want you to cool off at Scout Camp, MSR! We will take all the great things that you look forward to in the summer and put them into one event. New this year, the Cub Scout Splash-O-Ree with be the ultimate day at the beach. We will go fishing in beautiful Lake Tarzian, swim in crystal clear water, boat, and play lot of fun water games with all your best friends. Join us on June 23rd at Maumee Scout Reservation all day long and bring your friends. Registration is open online at the council website. This will give your Scout families an opportunity to see summer camp all set up and check out our program areas while you enjoy your day on the water. This day-long event for Scouts and potential Scouts and their families. Scouts are invited to attend this activity and bring a fishing pole to learn the fundamentals of fishing and much more. You may stay as long as you want and participate in as many activities as you choose. Please be sure to pack a sack lunch or you are welcome to purchase a lunch at a reasonable price from our Order of the Arrow Cafe'. Weekend camping will not be available for this event as it is in conjunction with Boy Scout Summer Camp.

Boy Scout Summer Camp Scouts, please remember to sign up for camp as the early bird deadline will soon pass us by. May 15th is when you will miss out on an amazing deal for camp. Summer camp is where we deliver the promise of Scouting through the adventures we offer. This year we will have all the great experiences for one convenient price – that’s right, no extra charges this year for any merit badges or older Scout programs! This is the highlight of a Boy Scout Troop’s program year, and our staff is ready to help make that a reality for you and you’re Scouts. We have a lot of new things to offer this year including several new merit badges and new activities in our adventure programs. Registration is open right now and you can reserve your week, campsite, and even select merit badges and activities for your Scouts. Also, remember to order your personalized summer camp troop T-shirts at maumeetrooptees.itemorder.com. Please don’t hesitate to register, as camp sites fill up fast and now it is more convenient that ever to register. Remember that we offer provisional weeks of camp for Scouts who are unable to camp the same week with their troops or would like to return for a second week at half price! View all the details in the 2018 Leader Guide and on our website at www.HoosierMaumee.org.

Advancement Hoosier Trails Council wants to help you in keeping your advancement records up to date. We know that your Scouts are earning ranks and awards throughout the year and they should get credit for that. Just purchasing the awards is not enough, we need to put them into ScoutBook for these to be official. Now you are able to sync your advancement records with the council office so you only need to enter advancements in once. If you are a current subscriber, we will have your new access code available at the retention convention to update your membership plan. Your records are a vital step in the process of each Scout moving along the trail. Log onto your account and update your records to your recordkeeping smooth and accurate. Download the new Scouting app on your device to see more personalize features and allow parents to have more ownership over their Scout’s trail to Eagle.

Summer Fun Challenge in the Sun O’er the Hoosier Hills! Dust off the flip flops and get ready for a great summer! The Hoosier Hills District has some wonderfully adventurous and active troops, packs, crews, and posts. This summer we’re issuing you a photo challenge. Take pictures of your adventures and submit them for a chance to win a picnic for your Scouts. Runners up will receive a Hoosier Trails water bottle to stay hydrated on their next adventure. Here are the guidelines: • Pictures must be taken by a youth member.

• Pictures must be taken during an official Scout activity, such as a campout or hike.

• At least one official Scout item must be visible in the picture.

• All pictures must be taken during the months of May, June, or July. • Submissions are due via email to jules.erwin@scouting.org by July 31st. • By submitting a picture, you grant permission to be included in the District and/or Council

marketing materials.

Get out there and show us your stuff. We want to see what our Scouts are doing!

Congratulations to our District Award Winners! Early this spring, we had our annual chance to honor the volunteers who serve our beautiful Hoosier Hills District with humor, grace, and hard work for our Scouts. The Johnson Family provided a delicious main course and salad, the Summer Camp program picked up an excellent cake for us, and just as we do with so many other things, we all pitched in the rest of the food! It was an evening where we get to look back at the year and give thanks to each other for helping out and being part of this awesome team. We also hosted the Council Key 3 for a Fireside Chat. Thank you to them for being part of our evening! An enormous thank you to Mike Macku for making this all possible…and making the PDFs fillable! Here's the folks you can pat on the back when you see them around the District:

• Commissioner of the Year; Mike Kramer • Cubber of the Year; Derek Preston • Cubmaster of the Year; Jason Jackson • Den Leader of the Year; Sarah McMullen • Scouter of the Year; Dave Sonksen • Scoutmaster of the Year; George Beiderhake • Spirit of Scouting Award; Emily Preston, Derek Preston, and RJ Brown • Spouse of the Year; Shawna Uhlmansiek • Inconspicuous Award; Bob Dixon • Gene & Mary Kinnett Grant; Troop 604 • District Award of Merit; Dale Harden, Brandon Johnson

Serving Dearborn, Jefferson, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland Counties Hoosier Hills District

Hoosier Hills Calendar May 8 East Side Retention Convention (LL and HH), 1st United Methodist Church, 240 Poplar St, North Vernon, 6:30 pm 17 Hoosier Hills District Management Team Meeting, South Ripley Elementary School, 1568 S. Benham Rd., Versailles, 7:00 pm 17 Hoosier Hills Commissioner Meeting, South Ripley Elementary School, 1568 S. Benham Rd., Versailles, 7:00 pm

June 7 Hoosier Hills Join Scouts Recruitment Training, The Saint Florian, 345 E Ripley St, Osgood, 7:00 pm 21 Hoosier Hills District Management Team Meeting & Cookout, Versailles State Park, Versailles, 7:00 pm 21 Hoosier Hills Commissioner Meeting & Cookout, Versailles State Park, Versailles, 7:00 pm

(Not meeting in July.)

District Chairman Marc Cerniglia 860.212.2284 m.cerniglia@etczone.com

District Commissioner Bob Mattingly 812.438.3182 rjmattbsa@hotmail.com

District Executive Jules Erwin 812.320.6621 jules.erwin@Scouting.org