Applications/Nominations
due on
1 December 2016
for the District Award of Merit
can be sent to the BSA office at 1400 Gillam Way/attention Jack Daly.
Applications can be found online, just click on BSA District Award of Merit.
The District Award of Merit will be awarded at the Council Recognition Dinner on 4 February.
The Midnight Sun Council is looking for a number of individuals that would be interested in joining our Camp Builders program.
The Camp Builders are individuals interested in improving our camp, Lost Lake. They will assist Ranger Rick in minor maintenance work, such as painting, hammering, etc.
Professional skills are not necessary, but a willingness to help out is. If you are interested in periodically going to camp, please contact Stephen at Stephen.smith@scouting.org or call the Earl & Pat Cook Service Center at 907-452-1976.
Come join our team today!
CHARTER RENEWAL
Some of its key characteristics:
o Simpler and easier to use
o Accessible through Internet Advancement (advancements.scouting.org)
o Same login as for Scoutbook
o No access codes necessary
o Single screen for all data review and validation
o Uploads of new applications, YPT, or CBC forms easy to manage
o Will be used for ALL units, including Exploring Posts and Clubs
o Easy electronic approval by COR or designee
o Payment at Scout Service Center
o Commissioner Dashboard will be available to monitor unit progress
Check out available resources:
Please share with your units that might need additional guidance on using the Online Recharter system and system updates.
Charter Renewal Exception for 18-year-old Venturing and Sea Scouts Members
An unintended consequence of our change in registration requirements has placed a burden on units, districts, and councils in getting high school students currently registered in our Venturing and Sea Scouts programs who turn 18 during their senior year to complete an adult application and take Youth Protection Training in order to recharter. Effective immediately, the following exception will be introduced:
Adult Application Exception
Application: To any youth member during the year of high school graduation who:
1. Turns 18 years of age;
2. Is actively participating and registered in the same Venturing or Sea Scouts program unit as they were before turning 18; and
3. Meets one or more of the following:
1. Has not yet graduated from high school;
2. Has graduated from high school, been accepted to attend college but has not yet started classes;
3. Has graduated from high school, enlisted in the armed forces, and is scheduled to report but has not yet reported for duty;
4. Has graduated from high school, applied to serve in a service or religious program, (e.g., ministry, mission, VISTA, Peace Corps, etc.) but has not yet begun their service.
Exception: A youth member who becomes an adult program participant or Scouter by virtue of turning 18 years of age who and for so long as they meet the requirements and continuously maintain their registration in the same unit does not need to submit an adult application or complete Youth Protection Training. The exception is no longer applicable if the requirements are no longer met or after December 31 of the year of graduation, whichever is sooner.
As a part of the Charter Renewal process, the paperwork will indicate that new Venturing participants need to complete the Adult Application and take Youth Protection Training. For any other youth registrant age 18 or over who is continuously registered in the same unit, please disregard the warning.
Additionally, when processing the charter, the registrar may receive a warning, but again, disregard this (warnings maybe disregarded, whereas errors must be resolved) and complete the charter renewal process.
click here to see more information on Merit Badge Councelor Orientation Supplemental Adult Training
Thank you for your interest in the programs of the Northern Lights High Adventure Base.
The Midnight Sun Council, Boy Scouts of America, based in Fairbanks, Alaska, operates the Base.
The mission of the Base is to provide a remote outdoor experience to youth and adults within the Scouting program.
After you have read the Planning Guide and have any other questions, or would like to discuss a trek in detail, please call us at 907-452-1976.
You find links to our High Adventure Planning Guide and Trek Reservation form below.
The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members.
If you haven’t taken your Youth Protection Training yet this year or are in the middle of it, try to get it completed before June 1st, otherwise you’ll have to take the updated version and lose any progress in the old version you may have had.
The Youth Protection (Y01) online training course will now work on mobile devices.
Volunteers can access YPT at my.scouting.org and complete the training from their tablet!
IMPORTANT: The training certificate is not automatically produced upon completion of the training course!
Volunteers will need to return to the My Training page to print their certificate. Improvements are in the works to prompt the volunteer to return to print the certificate.
Welcome to the Midnight Sun Council Commissioner Corps!
We currently have 14 commissioners serving the youth of Northern Alaska. Unit commissioners are volunteer Scouters who provide the primary link between their assigned units and the district and council. They carry out this responsibility by periodic visits to unit meetings and other events, contacts with the unit’s leadership, and interactions with the unit committee and charter partner. They then report these contacts, including assessments of the unit’s health, via my.scouting.org. Unit commissioners have a role in timely annual unit re-chartering, in urging the development and use of the unit service plan and its associated Journey to Excellence performance evaluation, in assuring stable and effective unit leadership, and in passing news, information and other communication back and forth between the council and the unit.
Because of all these important functions, commissioner training is essential. Our commissioners (unit commissioners, roundtable commissioners, district and council commissioners) are required to complete the following trainings to be considered “BSA Trained”:
– Youth Protection Training (available online at My.Scouting.org)
– Commissioner Basic Training (an 8-hour classroom training session, part of the University of Scouting)
We have offered the CBT nearly every quarter since Q4FY16, with the only missed quarters being due to a lack of students needing the course. Of our 14 commissioners we currently have the following 100% compliance rate (1 March 2020):
– YPT 14/14
– Basic Training 14/14
In addition to these standards, our council established the College of Commissioner Science in 2014. Since then, the following degrees have been earned. Many others are working on earning these advanced commissioner degrees
Class of 2015
Nicole Z. Hansen – Bachelors
Class of 2016
Brenda H. Stapp – Bachelors
Tyson J. Forbush – Bachelors
Nicole Z. Hansen – Masters
Class of 2017
F. Lawrence Bennett – Bachelors
Donald A. Frazier – Bachelors
Michael J. Galloway – Bachelors
Teresa N. Jones – Bachelors
Bradley J. Kilburn – Bachelors
Shannon L. Price – Bachelors
Alan F. Skinner – Bachelors
Mark A. Smith – Bachelors
Anthony P. White – Bachelors
William D. Wood Sr. – Bachelors
F. Lawrence Bennett – Masters
Michael J. Galloway – Masters
Tyson J. Forbush – Masters
Donald A. Frazier – Masters
Bradley J. Kilburn – Masters
Mark A. Smith – Masters
Brenda H. Stapp – Masters
William D. Wood Sr. – Masters
Anthony P. White – Masters
Class of 2019
Julie E. Cole – Bachelors
Class of 2020
Robert O. Jones Jr. – Bachelors
F. Lawrence Bennett – Doctorate
Since 2014, Midnight Sun Council commissioners have completed 15 BCS degrees, 10 MCS degrees, and 1 DCS degree. Many of these commissioners are no longer in our council, but we know they are well trained in whatever council they have moved to over the years.
So come join our commissioner corps! Serve units, serve youth, learn scouting, win awards! See you in our corps!
LIONS
Starting August 1st, the start of the 2018/2019 program year, Lions will no longer be a pilot program and will be full members of the Cub Scout, Scouts BSA program. There is a lot of excitement coming to the Scouting world this fall, especially in Cub Scouts. Please see the email below and the FAQ attached. Grab something to hold on to, this is going to be a great ride!
Statement Regarding the Integration of the Lion program into the Cub Scout program:
Recognizing the success of the national Lion pilot program, the Boy Scouts of America’s Board of Directors have approved integrating Lions into the Cub Scout program empowering chartered partners with packs to offer the experience to Kindergarten-age children nationwide.
The Midnight Sun Council has a proud tradition of bringing the best possible Scouting experience to the youth of our community.
In 2023 we served 8,898 young people in the interior of Alaska with programs that build character, personal fitness, and citizenship. Each year the Midnight Sun Council recognizes the unselfish, grass-roots service of its volunteers at an annual dinner in their honor. This year we plan on honoring:
•Eagle Scouts from the 2023 Eagle Scout Class
•James E. West Fellowship Award recipients
•Local volunteers for the Council Silver Beaver Award
•Local volunteers for the District Award of Merit
•Veteran Award recipient
•Unit Leader Award of Merit
•Incoming Board and District volunteers
Your participation in this dinner will pay special tribute to these deserving Scouts and Scouters and will underscore the importance of the Scouting program as our council continues a proud history of service to this community. We have a great program planned for the evening.
Click here for more information and RSVP
Space is limited, reservations are required.
Call 907-452-1976 or visit the Council Office to RSVP by February 7th, 2024
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