ROUNDTABLE
ROUNDTABLES ARE THE 1ST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH
When: Thursday, August 6, 2009
Where: Christ the King Church
1900 14th St S, Moorhead, MN 56560
Time: 7:00PM
Topic: School Night for Scouting Training
It’s almost August, and that means Roundtable is about to start again. First, we would like to encourage ALL LEADERS to attend Roundtable. We have been working hard over the summer to plan fun and informative topics for this year’s Roundtable. Roundtables will be held the first Thursday of every month.
The September 3 Roundtable will cover Popcorn training and materials. August-May. It will be held at Christ the King Church (1900 14th St S, Moorhead, MN). Roundtable will be from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.
Mark your calendar, and we will see you the first Thursday of the month at 7:00PM.
CUB SCOUT DAY CAMP – LOTS OF FUN, STILL TIME TO ATTEND!
153 Cub Scouts attended the first day camp in June at Sandhills Archery Park in West Fargo. There is still time to sign up for the second Day Camp on July 10-11. Boys had a fun time with archery, bb-guns, games, leatherwork project, wood projects – making bug condos, ecology hikes, fishing and egg drop. Thank you to the thirty plus staff members and all the walking den leaders from the packs. The Detriot Lakes Day Camp at Dunton Locks is June 24-25. Call the Scout Service Center at 701-293-5011 to sign up for any of these camps or if you have questions.
WEBELOS & CUB RESIDENT CAMPS – STILL LOTS OF ROOM!!!!
If you have a Scout going into grades four and five this fall – He is a Webelos Scout now! The BSA graduates all Cub Scouts on June 1. You earn three to four activity badges this summer. The program has been tweeked for a two year rotation. Imagine coming home with most the activity badges you need for Webelos rank and about half you need for the Arrow of Light. In addition to advancement, it’s fun with campfires, swimming, star study, archery, bb-guns, ecology hikes, etc.
If you have a Scout going into grades two and three this fall – he can attend Cub Resident Camp. Again, lots of fun, earn some Wolf and Bear advancements and have lots of fun. Check out the leader guidebook on line www.nlcbsa.org and click onto camping. Call the Scout Service Center of available dates and questions.
REDHAWKS GAME IS JULY 25TH
The RedHawks have invited Cub & Boy Scouts to a game, a clinic before the game and a campout in the outfield. Interested???? Download the information and reservation form. Also contact Cindy at the Scout Service Center. Many families get general admission tickets, but reserve tickets are available. Scouts only on the infield for the clinic, bring your glove and a pen for autographs. Batter Up!
UNIT COMMISSIONERS
The Northern Sky District is currently looking for Unit Commissioners. Do you know anyone who has Scouting experience that would like to help units thrive and succeed? Commissioners serve a very important role by offering support and resources to ensure each Scout has a quality Scouting experience. If you or anyone you know would like more information on being a unit commissioner please contact District Commissioner Norma Osten or Bob Blaeuer at the Scout Service Center.
ANNUAL PROGRAM PLANNING
This time of year is ideal for your Pack/Troop/Crew Annual Program Planning. Planning your unit’s program is essential in making sure your year has enough fun-filled activities to keep Scouts excited, and also ensures your budget for the expenses your unit will endure.
Program Planning should take place in the form of a meeting with Parents, Committee Members, and the boys in your unit. You should brainstorm all of the activities you did in the past and would like to do again. Put all of these ideas on a flip chart. Then, brainstorm the activities you have never done before and would like to incorporate into your program. Once you have your completed list, simply start plugging those programs, as well as the costs, into each month of your Scouting year. Don’t forget to have school calendars and the 2009-2010 Council calendar handy so you don’t overlap programs. We have budget planners available to help you in this process. These can be emailed out electronically and will assist you with this program planning meeting. Feel free to contact Bob at 293-5011 to ask for one of these.
- Please make an effort to hold a program planning meeting. This will make a huge difference in how your program and Scout year is run.
- Make your unit calendar available to new parents when their son joins your pack or troop.
SPRING & FALL CAMPOREES
Thank you to Sylvia Medd, chair of the Spring Camporee and those on staff. Nine troops and 86 Boy Scouts attended at Brewer Lake. The theme was cooking and Scouts got to cook at all stations using box ovens, hobo stoves, dutch ovens, etc. Scouts were kept busy cooking and sampling. Afternoon games included: pancake flipping race, egg race, gunny sack race; with leaders participating. Planning is underway for the Fall Camporee.
Troops are encouraged to have a representative on the planning committee. Please contact Rick Mohan or Rick Laufenberg Fort Abercrombie, south of Fargo or Fort Ransom, south of Valley City, have been mentioned as a possible location. Remember you can’t spell Scouting without the “outing”. More details to follow at Roundtable and on the district web page.
POPCORN IS COMING! POPCORN IS COMING! SEPTEMBER 3RD
Download a Unit Popcorn Sign Up Form
Popcorn Sales are right around the corner! Popcorn Sales are a great way for your Pack or Troop to build your budget and Scouts earn their way to Day Camp, Cub & Webelos Resident Camps, Winter Camp or Boy Scout Summer Camp.
Highlights for this year’s sale: New Product, updated prizes from Trail’s End including gift cards and more options for the district Top Salesman!
Each Unit received a sign up sheet in the annual program planning packet. Please make sure your unit has signed up to sell this fall by returning that form. Email Sandy Meyer or call the Scout Service Center at 293-5011 or toll free at 877-293-5011 and tell us who your Popcorn Chair will be. A Popcorn kickoff party will be held in September. The date and location will be announced later.
CUBMOBILE DERBY
Please join us for the annual Cubmobile Derby on Saturday, October 10, 2009. This event is open to all registered Cub Scouts. The Cubmobile Derby promises to be an exciting, fun-filled day of racing, sportsmanship, and teamwork for all involved.
The registration fee for the event is $12.00 per Cubmobile. A concession stand will be available to purchase lunch and snacks, or you may bring your own to the event.
Each Race Team must have a minimum of two members and a maximum of five members. The race will be run and timed by individual cars, and each Scout will race two times. Each team must have their own car and a team coach. Each team will be participating for trophies in the overall event. Participation recognition will be given to each Scout entered. A change this year, cars must have a floor and only solid tires are permitted for safety reasons. Contact the Scout Service Center for car designs.
NATIONAL SUMMERTIME PACK AWARD
All Cub Scout Packs are eligible to receive the National Summertime Pack Award. This is awarded to Packs that continue to have program for their boys over the course of the summer. All your Pack has to do to earn this award is participate in a Pack activity in June, July, and August. This could be any activity, such as a Pack Picnic, Day Camp, Scout Day with the Redhawks, etc. There is a special National Summertime Award pin available for boys who attend all three Pack activities. There is also a special Pack Certificate and ribbon that you could get for earning this award. Please plan to earn this award this summer!
Find out more about the program through the BSA web site:
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Awards/Boys/index,-d-,b.aspx
Download a form at:
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/CubScoutingForms/forms.aspx
FALL ROUND-UP
Come and See what is new for Fall Round Up this year!
To help you be successful in your recruiting, we have set up a District Fall Round Up Training. It will be on Thursday, August 6, at 7:00 p.m. at Christ the King Church at 1900 14th St S, Moorhead. It is important each pack has a representative attend this meeting.
Fall Round Up provides us an opportunity where we can invite hundreds of boys to join the wonderful world of Scouting. Last year we recruited over 400 new Scouts!
At the training, we will give you everything you need to run a successful Fall Round Up program. We have a process for you to follow. Come to the meeting and get the tools you need to make you and your pack successful.
Below is a list of items that need to be addressed in August:
- Call School, reserve a booth for the “Meet your Teacher Night”
- Call School, reserve a space to have your sign-up night
- Order flyers, wristbands, and posters from the council office – 293-5011.
- Plan a fun activity for your “Meet your Teacher Night” booth
- Make sure to have all materials present at “Meet your Teacher Night”.
- Posters, flyers, wristbands
- Pens
- Sign-up sheet
- Activity
- Display board
- Etc.
Call everyone who stopped by your booth two to three days before your sign-up night and remind them of your sign-up night.
CLIMBING TOWER TRAINING
Have you been trained on the Northern Lights Council climbing tower? Are you interested in using it for a unit activity? Training is August 29, location TBA. This is an all day training, pizza lunch provided. Cost is $10 per adult. You must be at least 18 years of age. Two instructors are required to operate the tower with the lead instructor at least 21 years of age. Training is good for two years. Contact the Scout Office at 293-5011 or toll free at 877-293-5011 to get signed up! The climbing tower is located in the Fargo area from mid-August through December.
WELCOME CREW 694!
The Northern Sky District would like to welcome it’s newest unit, Crew 694 in Frazee, MN. Crew 694 is chartered by the Becker County Sportsman’s Club and will put a focus on Shooting Sports and Outdoor Adventure. Welcome Crew 694!
NORTHERN SKY DISTRICT LEADS COUNCIL IN MEMBERSHIP
The district ended May with 200 more youth than in 2008! This means more youth enjoying and receiving the benefits of Scouting. Northern Sky District also leads the council in unit retention with 93% of the packs, troops, crews and posts rechartering. Congratulations unit leaders, commissioner staff and district committee members for helping nearly 2,600 youth throughout our district.
SCOUTING FOR FOOD
Scouts and leaders collected 29,000 pound of food this spring for area food banks. THANK YOU! Spring was challenging for everyone and the food drive was twice rescheduled. Many packs and troops adjusted their schedules to help families in the Red River Valley. Although this was less food collected than last year, this is still a very important community Good Turn. Participating communities included: Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Kindred, Detroit Lakes, Ada, and Hawley.
ARCHERY & BB-GUN INSTRUCTOR TRAINING HELD
Fourteen leaders from three districts took training in early June. These leaders can now run ranges at council and district events like: day camp, resident camp, camporees, special shooting events for Webelos, etc. This training is good for two years. A second training will be offered this summer. Watch the web site for information or look for a
district e-mailing to leaders. Do we have your e-mail address?
CHURCH YOUTH GROUPS ENJOY VENTURING PROGRAMS AT CAMP WILDERNESS
This summer several church youth groups are taking advantage of great programs at Camp Wilderness: Canoe trips on the Crow Wing & Mississippi Rivers, low and high COPE courses that help with leadership development, campfires, being in the out of doors, etc. Meals are provided. In addition to having fun, camp helps the participants come together as a group. If your high school youth group is interested in these programs, give us a call at the Scout Service Center.
FRIENDS OF SCOUTING NEARS GOAL
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Friends of Scouting campaign this year! The district is currently at 86% of its goal of $160,500. Congratulations to the Family Division which has gone over goal. If you would like to make a contribution or your business could make a contribution of funds or materials, please contact the Nate or Bob. Material donations include: printing, vehicle oil changes, motel rooms for in town staff meeting, copy paper, office supplies, etc. Call Bob, Nate or Trent for more information.
