Action Items
On the Calendar
Passing of Robert Squyres
Long-time Northern Trail Scouter, Robert Squyres passed away this week at the age of 89. Robert was a force. Robert received the District Award of Merit and the Robert E Little Award from Northern Trail, and the Venturing Leadership Award and the Silver Beaver from Circle Ten Council District.
He was a great advocate of Venturing and was the driving force behind many high adventure activities inside and outside Scouting. As a leader for Troop 890 and Crew 890, his contributions were unparalleled. Robert was the Advisor for Crew 890 when that crew started Venturing Rendezvous as a unit program. He then oversaw Rendezvous moving to Northern Trail District and then, coinciding with his tenure as VOA Advisor, to Circle Ten Council where it was promoted to 2 events a year: The Gathering and Venturing Rendezvous. Through this one program he touched thousands of youths throughout the region/territory where Circle Ten resides. We have not even scratched the surface in describing the positive impact Robert had on so many youths over the years.
In the latter part of his scouting career, Robert mentored most of the Northern Trail leaders involved in Venturing and in High Adventure. You could always count on Robert setting up and demonstrating the "model" campsite at Northern Trail's biannual Backcountry Advanced Training program at Camp Meisenbach. While Robert was a "true" backpacker and hiker, spending most of his time taking crews to so many wilderness locations.
As of this writing we don't have any details on arrangements, but his Facebook page will likely have more information added as it become available.
Webelos/AOL Resident Camp at Camp James Ray
Several Sessions to chose from in June 2024
Webelos/AOL Resident Camp at Camp James Ray is a 4 day and 3 night stay. Webelos/AOL Resident Camp offers a wide variety of fun and challenging programs for your Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts.
Cub Scout Resident Camp at Camp James Ray is a 3 day, 2 night stay for your rising 2nd and 3rd Grade Scouts. Cub Scout Resident Camp will offer a wide variety of fun-filled and challenging activities for your Cub Scouts: experience an overnight stay in the great outdoors, discovering Nature, Scout Skills, Sanford Aquatic Center and much more.
Experience beautiful Lake Texoma down at the water front fishing or exploring the many trails at Camp James Ray.
Friends of Scouting
Please, make your pledge today.
Here is a pledge card you can print out and send in.
You can email Patti Otte [email protected] and she will contact you.
You may give online here, but be sure and enter Northern Trail in the district field.
Your contrabution helps:
Signup for Summer Camp
Time to get signed up for Summer Camp
Summer camp is fun, unique, challenging and rewarding. In addition to the fun, camp provides opportunities for skills development, leadership, teamwork, and self-reliance.
Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Camp
Cub Adventure Camp (formerly Twilight Camp), June 10-14, 2024
Calling all Cub Scouts from Tigers to Arrow of Light Scouts!
Event Details:
More information here.
Upcoming Training
Youth Protection Training
For many of us our YPT card will expire soon. Now is the time to go to my.scouting.org and take the on-line training. Get it done now before the rush. Without a current card you cannot participate in any scouting activity.
While you are there, check out Hazardous Weather and Safe Driving Training.
Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops
Camp Wisdom, April 6, 2024. Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) course teaches Scouts with leadership positions about their new roles and the organizational and leadership skills needed to most effectively reach success in that role. Completion of ILST is a prerequisite for Scouts to participate in the more advanced leadership courses such as National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT). Flyer
Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Training
Classroom, April 6, 2024, Outdoor camp-out April 27-28, 2024.
IOLS provides adult leaders the practical outdoor skills they need to lead Scouts in the out-of-doors. Participants will works as Patrols at this hands-on training. Upon completion, leaders should feel comfortable teaching Scouts the basic skills required to obtain the First Class rank. All Troops are required to have IOLS trained leaders and all SM/ASMs are required to have it to be fully trained. Read more.
Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) April 27-28, 2024
BALOO is an overnight training event that introduces parents and leaders to the skills needed to plan and conduct Pack outdoor activities, particularly Pack camping. The training includes campsite selection, outdoor event planning, parent involvement, health & safety, equipment, cooking, and an introduction to camping skills.
All Packs are required to have a minimum of one (more recommended) for any and all overnight events. Read more.
NRA Basic Instructor Training (BIT), April 6, 2024 / September 7, 2024
The Spring NRA Basic Instructor Training (BIT) is scheduled for April 6, 2024 at Camp Wisdom. BIT is good for 2 calendar years and a current BIT is required prior to taking any NRA Instructor Training.
These BIT classes do not come around often so sign up so you can start taking the Instructor courses (Rifle, Shotgun, Pistol, Black Powder) as they come up. FYI, Range Safety Officer does not require BIT.
A huge amount of training materials is available on-line including position training and Youth Protection. Access your account here. If you don't have an account, it is easy to set up. You can access your training records and set up a complete training program.
Religious Emblems
Two of the fundamental principles of Scouting are that a "Scout is reverent" and that a scout does his or her duty to God. One way scouts can demonstrate this by earning the religious emblem of their faith. As the last sentence implies, the requirements for these awards are administered by the scout’s faith. In most faiths there are religious emblems for every level of scouts, from a brand new lion to a venturer. The emblems is typically awarded by the youth’s religious body and may be worn on the scout uniform. A silver square knot on a purple background can also be worn on the uniform in place of the actual emblem. Most faiths also have an emblem for adults which, in most cases, is awarded based on a nomination.
As the Northern Trail District Religious Emblems Coordinator, I would welcome the opportunity to speak to your unit about the religious emblems program or to speak with your unit committee about why your unit should have a religious emblems coordinator. Please feel free to reach out to me, Hank Voegtle, to schedule a presentation or if you have any questions at 214-769-5040 or [email protected].
It's time to register your unit for Order of the Arrow Elections. Units are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible to reserve their date and time. The deadline for all elections this season is March 30th.
Contact Kevin Smith [email protected] to request an election date.
The Order of the Arrow is an honor camper service organization. Each district has a chapter and members are chosen by their peers.
Contact [email protected] with questions.
Northern Trail has an active commissioner staff with deep scouting knowledge. Get to know your commissioner. Your commissioner can help you and your unit resolve problems and pass along some ideas to make your program even better. Our District Commissioner is Bram Franklin, who may be reached at: [email protected].
If you are having trouble reaching your commissioner, contact Bram and he will assist you.
Commissioner Service
Have your scouts aged out of scouting? Are you looking to apply your scouting skills? Commissioner service is a way to continue contributing to scouting by mentoring unit leaders, hosting roundtables and helping staff events. Training is available! Contact our district commissioner Bram Franklin [email protected] for more information.
Website and Newsletter
Our newsletter and website reach a very large audience in Northern Trail. If there is something scouting related which needs to be on the website or the newsletter, please do not keep it to yourself, let us know. [email protected]
If we need to fix a broken link or have incorrect information, please take a moment, and let us know. [email protected]
Do not keep the newsletter to yourself! Everyone in your unit should be receiving the newsletter and be aware of the website. sign up is easy, just send them to: Newsletter sign up . Do not forget to sign up on Circle Ten to receive updates from the council.
Looking for something in a recent newsletter? Several years of past newsletters may be found here.
Yours in Scouting,
John Slaughter
Northern Trail Communications Committee
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