CategoriesBlog by

Changes to My.Scouting.org

Unit management is about to get easier with the retirement of ScoutNET 
You’ve been asking for updates to the functionality of BSA tech products. And, with ScoutNet’s retirement, we’ll be better equipped than ever to deliver technology that meets the requests of units and councils to manage registration and rechartering effectively and electronically.
 

WHAT DOES SCOUTNET’S RETIREMENT MEAN FOR YOU?

Soon, you’ll find the following improvements made to some of your most frequently used tools:
 
· Registration and charter renewal tools moved to My.Scouting, where our existing online registration site lives.
· New registrar features on My.Scouting, like a new dashboard offering advanced search, person maintenance and additional reporting features.
· For all units with a December 31 renewal date, expect a simplified recharter system for both internet and paper rechartering within Internet Advancement 2.0.
 
· New unit self-service tools on My.Scouting:
o This month, a new feature called Position Manager will be added to the My.Scouting tools allowing units to change the registration position of anyone in the unit – no paper application required. For example, if a Cubmaster steps down and a unit committee member replaces her, the unit’s chartered organization representative or their designee can adjust her position without delivering paperwork to the council.
o In addition to the inter-unit transfer feature added this winter, parents and volunteers will be able to transfer to a unit in a new council without filling out transfer forms and new applications – and their records will be automatically transferred to the new council.
 
These are just some of the changes coming your way as My.Scouting continues to grow in supporting the needs of units and councils in the Boy Scouts of America.
 
 
 
CategoriesLost Lake Scout Camp by

COPE

ZipLineblue

 

Lost Lake Scout Camp
Midnight Sun Council, BSA Cope/Zipline/Climbing

COPE Information

Initiative Games – Games of 10-15 Minutes / team challenges requiring the group to plan and work together to solve a problem and/or accomplish a goal. They can also require the group to actively look out for each other through spotting, which increases group trust. (No age requirement)

Low COPE – The area has (10) elements from a wall, trust fall, beams, etc. to teach team work & communication (Age 8 and above)

Climbing wall/tower – A 40’ tower with climbing faces and (2) rappeling walls Age 8 (shoulder height only applicable to climbing only) (Age 10 and above)

Zipline – A 300 foot zipline for the brave (Age 10 and above)

High Cope – High Ropes (30’ above ground) course. This course will challenge even your best climbers! (Age 10 and above)

Note: BSA age requirements are utilized from the “The Guide to Safe Scouting”. (Age 8 & up) Bouldering or Climbing no higher than the climbers shoulder. (Age 10 & up) Climbing, Rappelling and zip lining.

rock climbing 1

Costs:

Initiative games: $5 per person depending on participant numbers

Low COPE: $10 per participant (3-4hrs)

Climbing/Rappelling wall: $20 per participant (3-4hrs)

Zip line: $10 first zip $5 per zip after first zip line experience

High COPE: $40 per participant (3-4hrs)

Staffing– All activities are managed by a BSA certified course director. Certain help from adults is expected

Equipment/Course – All ropes and hardware are purchased, logged and retired on schedule. Safety equipment includes helmets, harness and gloves when needed. The course is inspected and certified each year by an outside agency

 

Activity Consent Form and Parent/Legal Guardian signature required to be on file prior to activity (Pg. 3 of COPE Packet).

 

For appointment scheduling contact the Midnight Sun Council by phone at (907) 452-1976 or stop by the Earl & Pat Service Center located at 1400 Gillam Way Fairbanks, AK 99701. Questions can also be E-mailed to Stephen Smith at the following email address stephen.smith@scouting.org 

Click on the links below to view and download COPE Packet:

COPE Packet (page 1)

COPE Packet (page 2)

Activity Consent Form and Parents/Legal Guardian signature (page 3)

CategoriesTraining by

Cub Scout Basic 101

Cub Scout Basic 101

 

                                                                                                       Who:         All Cub Scout Leaders

                                                                                                       What:       Cub Scout Leader Basic Training

                                                                                                       When:      9 am to 3 pm Saturday, January 27, 2018  (Bring a sack lunch)

                                                                                                       Where:     Midnight Sun Council, BSA office

                                                                                                       Why:          Growing Scouting in your Program

                                                                                                       Cost:           $5.00

                                                                                                       Pre- Registration ends on January 26, 2018 by close of business

                                                                                                       RSVP to the Midnight Sun Council office

                                                                                                       (to help facilitate planning/copies/light snacks)

 

                                                                                                       For more info contact BSA office at 452-1976

                                                                                                       or via email at john.daly@scouting.org

                                                                                                       Jack Daly cell: 907-385-5011

CategoriesCouncil Resources by

Overnight Camping Requirements for Second Class, First Class to Change

 

HAtents2

The number of overnight campouts required for a young man to earn the Second Class and First Class ranks will be reduced under new requirements that take effect Aug. 1, 2017.

But the total number of camping nights a Boy Scout will experience in the program as he progresses toward the rank of Eagle Scout will not change.

In 2016, alongside the release of the 13th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook, the BSA increased the number of campouts required for Second Class to three since joining from two. It increased the number of campouts required for First Class to six since joining from three.

The August 1, 2017, revisions return the number of overnight campouts to pre-2016 levels but preserve the amount of time spent outdoors.

The change maintains a focus on life-changing outdoors experiences while recognizing that not all outdoor activities need to include overnight camping. For more, read a full explanation in “Bryan on Scouting.”

CategoriesTraining by

Merit Badge Counselors and Adult Members

Youth Protection Training! Remember that all leaders need to keep up with this important annual training!

We are updating our list of trained adult leaders and merit badge counselors and in doing this we have discovered that some of the trainings have not been completed. One major training that seems to be missing is the Youth Protection Training that is required of all registered adults of the Boy Scouts of America.

youth protection training

We are asking that all adult members and merit badge counselor’s take Youth Protection (YP) training to comply with the National Boy Scouts of America and the Midnight Sun Council’s rules and regulations. The Youth Protection Training is to be completed on a yearly basis to comply with the Midnight Sun Council’s board of director’s rules and regulations.

We are asking that you complete the Youth Protection Training, to avoid being dropped as a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America and this could have a big impact on continuing in your Scouting unit that you are registered with, as well as being a merit badge counselor.

You can complete this training online at the following website https://my.scouting.org where you will sign into your my scouting account or if you are new to my scouting and do not have an account you will need to create an account using your member id number. If you do not remember or know your member number, contact our registrar at 907-452-1976.

When you get into your account go to the upper left corner and click on Menu then my dashboard, then my training and the Youth Protection Training will pop up. Chose the (YP) training that applies to your Unit. Cub Scout/Boy Scout is the first (YP) training.     If you are a merit badge counselor you will take the Cub Scout/Boy Scout YP training.   If you are registered with a Crew you will take the Venturing YP training. If you are registered with a Post you will take the Exploring YP training.

After you have completed the training please print your certificate and email a copy to yvonne.orsini-boone2@scouting.org so that it can be added to your profile.

 

Thank you,

Registrar
Midnight Sun Council, BSA
Phone: 907-452-1976 Fax: 907-452-1977

 

CategoriesCouncil Resources by

American Wood Badge Alumni

New Affinity Group Targets Wood Badgers AWBA

For nearly seven decades, Wood Badge has been Scouting’s premier training course for adult leaders. In every BSA council, Wood Badge-trained Scouters are known by their beads, their tartan neckerchiefs, their theme song (“Back to Gilwell”), and their commitment to providing the best possible program for Scouts.

Now, 69 years after the first American Wood Badge course, Scouting Alumni and Friends has created an affinity group, American Wood Badge Alumni (AWBA), to connect Wood Badgers with each other and with the BSA. Its mission is to build a network of alumni for the betterment of American Wood Badge, the Boy Scouts of America, and especially local Scout councils.

“Two of our most prominent and largest affinity groups, Eagle Scouts and members of the Order of the Arrow, already have a well-defined alumni program,” says SAF Senior Vice-chair Rick Bragga. “What better group to go to next than Wood Badgers?”

One advantage of creating the new network is that Wood Badgers tend to be among the most spirited and committed of Scouters. Another advantage is that they’ve all had a similar experience, no matter when or where they took the course. Bragga knows that firsthand. He took Wood Badge in Wisconsin in 1970, even though he lived in Illinois. He then reconnected with the course in Oklahoma, where he attended law school, and Virginia, where he now lives. “The spirit and the purpose of it I think transcend course and place,” he says.

As the AWBA mission statement says, a key purpose of the group is to support local councils. To that end, the group’s website, www.americanwoodbadge.org, offers information on how local councils can engage with and re-engage Wood Badgers. Ideas include everything from planning service projects at local camps to promoting upcoming courses to holding Wood Badge reunions. “As with all of our alumni programs, we want the opportunity to have them tell their story, and then we want an opportunity to tell the BSA story,” he says.

Bragga thinks reunions will be a key entry point. “Are we going to have a feast? Well, we’re going to have a mini-feast. Are we going to sing the song? You bet. Are we going to have a fire? Absolutely. Are we going to swap stories? Oh my gosh, the stories that will be swapped!” Bragga says. “But all of that leads to an ending which is purposeful: to allow people to feel good about it and to find ways for them to stay connected or to reconnect with a local council.

To join AWBA, a Wood Badger must first join Scouting Alumni and Friends at www.scoutingalumni.org, either as a Hiker (free) or Pathfinder ($35) member. From there, they simply set up a profile and choose the appropriate Wood Badge patrol critter.
For more information, visit www.americanwoodbadge.org or www.facebook.com/WoodBadgeAlumni/.

CategoriesDistrict Programs by

OA Summer Picnic

Cub Scout/ Order of the Arrow  Summer Picnic

 
When:  AUGUST 12TH, 2017  10 am – 4 pm
 
Where:  Lost Lake Camp, 12660 Lost Lake Rd
 
Fee:       $10.00 per person due by August 9, 2017
 
Early Registration Fee is $5.00 per person if paid by August 3, 2017
 
Bring the family and join the Order of the Arrow for fun in the sun and food at Lost Lake Camp!
 
Click here for flyer
Click here for OA Picnic Registration form