Update to Scouts BSA joining requirements
Update to Scouts BSA joining requirements opens the door to more young people
While Scouts love to climb mountains and hike across rugged terrain, their path to joining Scouts BSA shouldn’t be met with similarly daunting obstacles. To that end, a change to the Scouts BSA joining requirements will make it easier for young people to join a troop alongside their friends and classmates.
Effective April 18, 2022, the Scouts BSA joining requirements have changed. They now state that a young person can be a member of Scouts BSA if they meet any of these requirements below.
New Scouts BSA joining requirements (effective April 18, 2022)
- At least 10 years old, currently in the fifth grade and register on or after March 1
or
- At least 10 years old and have earned the Arrow of Light Award
or
- At least 11 years old (but not yet 18)
As a reminder, the previous joining requirements stated that a young person could be a Scouts BSA member if they met any of the requirements below.
Old Scouts BSA joining requirements (prior to April 18, 2022)
- At least 10 years old and have completed the fifth grade
or
- At least 10 years old and have earned the Arrow of Light Award
or
- At least 11 years old (but not yet 18)
In comparing the two sets of bullets, you can see that the change primarily applies to young people who are still in the fifth grade. Thanks to the change, a 10-year-old who wants to join a Scouts BSA troop in March of their fifth grade year (or beyond) is welcome to do so.
An option to cross over
Some parents might wonder whether a Cub Scout working on Arrow of Light must move to a Scouts BSA troop if they turn 11 but haven’t finished the rank.
The answer is no. The pack can continue to work on rank advancement as normal and move the Scout into a troop when they complete the rank or at the regular program roll-up in June.
In other words, the only mandatory crossover is when they have completed the fifth grade. Like all the other ranks in Cub Scouting, once school ends, the Cub Scout is now the next rank.
Legends & Heroes Banquet
Legends and Hero’s Award Banquet
COME BACK SOON FOR MORE INFORMATION!!
We would like to take this time to remind everyone that our program is funded from local donations and every single dollar raised stays here and benefits the local youth. If you would like to donate to the Midnight Sun Council to help provide program supplies for kids at summer camp, please call (907) 452 -1976 or you can visit our donate button from Facebook.
You may direct any questions to CJ Stewart, Stephen Smith or Stacy Brandon at the Earl and Pat Cook Council Service Center at 907-452-1976
50th Anniversary EPA Award Reaches Conclusion
As part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 50th anniversary in 2021, the Boy Scouts of America and the EPA partnered to create an award for members of troops, crews and ships.
The objective of the EPA award was to combine a variety of disciplines to challenge and educate youth; introduce them to the breadth of the EPA’s involvement in environmental protection and conservation; and encourage them to research, investigate, experiment, demonstrate, survey, and study air pollution, water pollution, solid and hazardous waste, and ocean dumping.
As planned, the award program was available from January 1 – December 31, 2021, and has now concluded. Scouts who earned the award during 2021 can still order their award from National Supply until March 31, 2022.
Clarification – Eagle Scout Requirements – Citizenship in Society
Eagle Scout candidates will continue to use the current rank requirements until June 30, 2022, and will not be required to complete the new Citizenship in Society Merit Badge as long as they complete all of the current Eagle Rank requirements before July 1, 2022.
They do not have to submit their final Eagle Scout application nor complete their Eagle Scout Board of Review prior to July 1, 2022, but must complete all current Eagle Scout requirements before then.
Starting July 1, 2022, Eagle Scout candidates will be required to complete all Eagle Scout requirements including the new Citizenship in Society merit badge.
As has been the practice, the Local Council will be responsible for verifying in the system the Eagle Scout candidate and their completion of the Eagle Scout requirements.
The Local Council will determine those Scouts that meet all requirements before July 1, 2022, under the current requirements, and those Scouts that fall under the new Eagle Scout requirements as of July 1, 2022.
Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC)
Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC) Has Been Updated!
The Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews Course (ILSC) has been created to help Venturers learn and practice the attitudes and skills that good leaders demonstrate. The course is a series of lessons divided into three modules: Leading Self, Leading Others, and Leading Crews. The syllabus contains six and a half hours of instruction, but a course’s length may vary depending on facilitators’ choice of games, the content chosen for more extensive discussion, and the needs of the crew.
Completion of ILSC is a prerequisite for Venturers to participate in the more advanced leadership courses, such as National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) and Kodiak.
The 2021 Revision of Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC) instructor-led course includes the following major changes:
• This version of ILSC was reviewed by the NYLT task force to ensure that it was compatible with the new NYLT syllabus.
• Course format revised to make it easier to read online or as a downloaded document.
• EDGE is now referred to as Scouting EDGE to align with NYLT during the Team Development session.
• Leadership tied to the Venturing motto “Lead the Adventure.”
• Venturing terminology updated.
• Vision session revised to align with NYLT “Start with Why” (reference to mission statement eliminated).
• Distinction between delegating and tasking added to the session on delegating.
• Session on calendaring (time management) added.
• Session on keeping the crew on task added.
• New games/activities with options added (a few activities were “retired”).
• Feedback from Venturers included as sidebars.
The updated material can be found at https://www.scouting.org/training/youth/.
Questions? Email Kathy.Craig@scouting.org.
Online Training for Distinguished Conservation Service Award
New Online Training for Distinguished Conservation Service Award
In response to the needs of Scouts working toward the BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award, Scouting U and the Outdoor Programs Team have released a new training program for BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award Advisors and Council Conservation Committee members. This training will only be available online.
These new training programs are available by logging onto https://my.scouting.org and launching the BSA Learn Center.
When the Learn Center opens, you can search the catalog and select the DCSA Advisor/Committee Training Learning Plan.
The eight courses in the Learning Plan are arranged in order of completion (top to bottom) to allow the participant to complete the 2-hour training program in segments, making it easier to complete.
Completion of this training will award training code H114 – BSA DCSA Adviser/Committee Member, which is required to be an advisor or committee member that guides Scouts to a higher level of service, while also guiding them to a higher level of success in the completion of their projects.
Camper Auction
Great News!
The Midnight Sun Council has been gifted a 28ft bumper pull camper trailer! This 2008 SPREE is in great shape as everything works as it should and the roof has no leaks! It even comes with a weight distribution hitch! Unfortunately, we are unable to use it for Scouting programs and events. With the donors blessing, we have decided to hold an auction to find a new home for this camper. The proceeds will be used to support our Scouting program.
THANK YOU TO LAST FRONTIER AUCTION
for donating their services to promote and manage the auction!
Anyone who wishes to bid on the trailer need to visit their website and click the online auction button or download their app (APP available on Google or Apple under Last Frontier Auction). For your convenience the direct link to the auction is below.
Bidders will need to register and part of the registration process is providing a credit card. However in order to raise the most funds, it is stated in the rules that the successful bidder will be given the option to pay via cash, certified funds, or a credit card (4% processing fee).
If you are interested in looking at the camper trailer it is located at the Midnight Sun Council Boy Scout office
at 1400 Gillam Way in Fairbanks.
The camper can be unlocked for viewing during our normal business hours 9am till 5pm M-F
Minimum reserve must be met
Bidding starts at $5000
If you like what you see please place your bid at
Bidding ends December 8th at 8pm.
Winning bid will be announced during our 38th Annual Distinguished Citizens Award Banquet that evening.
What’s new in BSA’s 2021 Guide to Advancement
The Guide to Advancement has been updated with some pretty important changes.
Please read the following article for the highlights:
In Scouting, it’s said that feedback is a gift. It’s also a critical component of the Guide to Advancement, the BSA’s official trail map to the mechanics of advancement in Cub Scouts, Scouts …
blog.scoutingmagazine.org
Hazardous Weather Training Expiration Emails
New My.Scouting Hazardous Weather Training Expiration E-mails
For direct contact leaders, staying current on Hazardous Weather Training is an important part of offering a safe Scouting program and needs to be renewed every 2 years.
Like Youth Protection Mandatory Training, My.Scouting will now provide notification e-mails at 14-30-60-90-day intervals prior to expiring. Upon expiration of a person’s training, an e-mail will also be sent.
These notifications are important. Knowing how to recognize and manage weather and environmental risks is key to keeping our participants SAFE in Scouting’s outdoor classroom.
Please take the time before you venture out on your next outdoor adventure and update your training by going to https://my.scouting.org/ and then selecting the BSA Learn Center. You can quickly access the course in the Learn Center by selecting My Learning and typing “hazardous weather” in the search box. Clicking the “Retake” button will take you to the course so you can “Start Again” and complete it to update your training record in My.Scouting.
Thank you for all you do in serving youth and keeping Scouting safe!
