Important Changes to the Boy Scouts of America's
Youth Protection Training Policies

Recently, the Boy Scouts of America announced important changes to its Youth Protection policies. The purpose of these changes is to increase awareness of this societal problem and to create even greater barriers to abuse than already exist today in Scouting.
Effective June 1, 2010:

• Youth Protection training is required for all BSA registered volunteers, regardless of their position.
• New leaders are required to take Youth Protection training before submitting an application for registration. The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time the application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins.
• Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer's Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered.

To find out more about the Youth Protection policies of the Boy Scouts of America and how to help Scouting keep your family safe, see the Parent's Guide in any of the Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting handbooks, or go to http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx. 

Northern Lights Council, BSA
Dickinson State University (DSU) New Scholarship Program

The Northern Lights Council, Boy Scouts of America and Dickinson State University are pleased to announce the “Character Counts” Scholarship. Up to two scholarships will be awarded annually to High School seniors who have been registered in a Boy Scout Troop or Venturing Crew as youth for a minimum of three years. The scholarship provides 50% of tuition to attend Dickinson State University and its approximate value over a 4 year period is 10,500 dollars. The 2010 scholarship application deadline is June 25th, 2010. Download an application.

This scholarship program is a reflection on the acknowledged positive impact that Scouting has on the character development of youth. It also recognizes the value of the long-term and continued participation of youth in the Scouting program. On the 100th Anniversary celebration of the Boy Scouts of America the “Character Counts” scholarship is an exciting addition to the Northern Lights Council Scholarship program. Combined with the “Matt & JoAnn Butler Youth Development Scholarship” the Northern Lights Council and its supporters work to increase the benefits available to youth involved in Scouting in their pursuit of higher education and beyond.

What do you get when you combine the great outdoors, close to 3,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and their leaders and families? The party of the Century! And, wow – what a party it was! The Northern Lights Council celebrated 100 years of Scouting on the Capitol grounds in Bismarck over the weekend of June 4-6.

Thanks to Co-Chairs Tim Tello and Larry Maslowski and the hard work and dedication of hundreds of Scout volunteers this celebration was spectacular in every way. Thank you to Governor John and Mikey Hoeven, the ND State Branches of Government, the ND State Historical Society, Adj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk and the North Dakota National Guard, the Red Cross and to all the companies, organizations and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this Scouting celebration a reality.

Special thanks goes to our Centennial sponsors for helping make this a successful celebration for Scouting in the Northern Lights Council:

Silver Eagle Sponsor – Scheels, MDU Resources Group, Baker Boy, AT&T, Pepsi, BNSF, Forum Communications Printing, Eye Center of the Dakotas

Eagle Scout Sponsor – Dacotah Paper Company

Eagle Sponsor – Starion Financial, Midcontinent Communications, D-S Beverages, Inc.,
Gate City Bank

This was indeed a unique and memorable experience for all of us in the Northern Lights Council and we will be sharing it with you over the course of the next couple of weeks . . . pictures, letters and articles will be posted.  For more information click here.

If you would like a copy of the commemorative program book please visit your local Scout office.  You can still pre-order your photo DVD.