click here to see more information on Merit Badge Councelor Orientation Supplemental Adult Training
High Adventure Reservations
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.
Youth Protection Training (soon to be known as Safeguarding Youth)
The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members.
Youth Protection Training
(soon to be known as Safeguarding Youth)
Scouting America Launches
Enhanced Safeguarding Youth Training
Scouting America has unveiled a new comprehensive Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT) program, reinforcing its unwavering commitment to creating the safest possible environment for young people. This updated training represents a significant step forward in Scouting America’s multi-layered approach to youth protection.
The new training is mandatory for all registered adult volunteers and has been developed with insights from leading experts in child safety, law enforcement, and child psychology. It incorporates the latest strategies for recognizing, responding to, and preventing various forms of abuse, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
Reminder: The Midnight Sun Council requires all registered adults to complete their youth protection training on an annual basis.
Key Features of the Updated Training:
Comprehensive Focus: Our new Safeguarding Youth Training (formerly Youth Protection Training) program reflects the more comprehensive nature of the training and its focus on safeguarding youth from all threats.
Inclusive Content: The training covers a wide range of topics, ensuring volunteers are well-informed about potential risks and best practices for youth protection.
Annual Refresher Courses: Recognizing the ongoing need for education and awareness, Scouting America will now require annual refresher courses, estimated to take 15-20 minutes, to keep youth protection knowledge current.
Alignment with Best Practices: Scouting America regularly consults with experts to ensure its policies and training reflect the most up-to-date knowledge and prevention techniques in the field of youth safety.
Focus on Prevention: The training emphasizes proactive measures to prevent abuse and create a culture of safety within Scouting.
Your existing Youth Protection Training remains valid until its expiration date, at which point the new Safeguarding Youth Training will be required.
Scouting America’s proactive approach to youth safety underscores its dedication to providing a secure and enriching environment where young people can learn, grow, and thrive. The launch of this enhanced Safeguarding Youth Training demonstrates a continuous effort to adapt and improve safety measures, ensuring the well-being of all Scouts remains the top priority.
Starting September 1,2024, changes were made to our Youth Protection Guidelines.
The first change is that Youth Protection is now being known as Safeguarding Youth.
Some highlights are changing the buddy system, sleeping accommodations, and reiterating some already known rules.
Please click here to view/download a breakdown of the changes
The Unit Key-3 will no longer be able to edit the YPT dates. As of March 4th, 2024, the BSA will be requiring that the Criminal Background Check is completed before you can become an active adult leader.
Units that are rechartering, should encourage their leadership to check on and update their YPT if it has been at least a year since they last completed it. Remember that this can be done individually or the leadership can set up a training date for their unit to complete it all at the same time. Please remember that if your unit does their Youth Protection Training as a unit to turn in a Training Attendance report to the Council with the updated information. This form is available at the Council office or click here to download.
As a reminder the Midnight Sun Council requires our adult leaders and merit badge counselors to complete their YPT yearly.
Please check your YPT training as some members are past the one year date required by the Midnight Sun Council
The Boy Scouts of America’s updated youth protection training doesn’t just talk about the dangers of child predators – it shows how they work to gain access to their victims.
The BSA introduced newly updated youth protection training that is required for all volunteers.
The updated training, which includes three modules and a test that take a little over an hour to complete, draws on research from experts in the field of child abuse and maltreatment to identify the contributing factors and threats across the spectrum of child abuse, including: bullying, neglect, exposure to violence, physical and emotional abuse, and child sexual abuse. Once completed, volunteers will not have to retake the training for two years.
New to this version of the training program are video interviews with psychologists and law enforcement professionals who discuss the root causes of abuse, how to recognize it, and how to respond.
“There is no substitute for hearing directly from experts who have spent their careers studying child predators and abusers,” said Michael Johnson, the BSA’s director of youth protection. “They shine a new light on the challenge we all face in protecting kids and how parents and volunteers can put barriers in place to keep them away.”
Some of the most impactful aspects of the training are interviews with abuse survivors, who give their first-hand perspectives. “In developing this training, we discussed whether or not to include survivor videos,” said Johnson. “It was the right decision. Their testimony is powerful and highlights how predators work and the tragic impact like nothing else.”
In addition to updated training, the BSA recently announced new policies to ensure compliance with mandatory training requirements, including:
As of January 1, 2018, no new leader can be registered without first completing youth protection training.
As of January 1, 2018, no council, regional, or national leader will be allowed to renew their registration if they are not current on their Youth Protection Training.
As of September 1, 2017, no unit may re-charter without all leaders being current on their Youth Protection Training. Registrars no longer have the ability to approve charters without full compliance.
Effective June 1, 2018, adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must be registered as a leader, including completion of a criminal background check and Youth Protection Training. The 72 hours need not be consecutive. All together, it’s a bold new approach that will serve as just one part of the BSA’s ongoing effort to enroll the entire community in the fight against child abuse both in and out of Scouting.
Need help with the training? Find out more in the How-to Guide for Taking Youth Protection
Youth Protection Training Now Available on Mobile
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.
Commissioners Training
Training the Commissioner Corps
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!
Lion Cub Scout, Scouts BSA Program
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.
Medal of Merit Award
The Midnight Sun Council was honored to present the Medal of Merit Award to ten of the twelve individuals who earned it at our closing campfire last night. The remaining two will be presented at a future date. The awards were presented to participants and leaders of last year’s National Youth Leadership Training course (NYLT), who came across a wildfire and were able to put it out before it went too far. In a state where a fire can burn millions of acres, this was a great job well done. There were houses in the vicinity, but the nearest firehouse was at least an hour away. Using what they had, and engaging passing motorists, they were able to save the nearby houses, and prevent a catastrophe. Yes, these Scouts and Scouters set a fine example of teamwork, leadership, and what it means to be prepared. Congratulations and thanks to each one of you!
BALOO
Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) Training
Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation is a training event that introduces parents and leaders to the skills needed to plan and conduct pack outdoor activities, particularly pack camping.
Ask children why they want to be a Cub Scout, and nine times out of 10 they’ll answer “to go camping.” Cub Scouting has designed Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) training, so Cub Scouts, along with their parents or some other adult, can participate in a successful overnight camping experience.
In the future, leaders can organize a pack camp-out at a location approved by the local council. It is a great way for families to have fun and build confidence in outdoor skills. This kind of camping isn’t the rugged high adventure outing geared toward older Scouts. It is what you might call “soft camping”, where families can simply drive up to a campsite and pitch a tent within a few feet of their vehicle’s rear bumper. The emphasis is on family fun activities that don’t require lots of advanced outdoor skills.
How do you get started?
A member of your pack committee needs to attend BALOO training. The six-hour BALOO session will give your pack’s outdoor activity leader the tools to conduct a safe and successful overnight. The Outdoor portion will take place at a location approved by the local council.
An online course (Baloo Prerequisite Training) is also available through My.Scouting.org.
You can take the BALOO training online to replace the in person training sessions. You do NOT have to do the in person AND the online training. Its one or the other.
Completion BALOO classroom training or online training and outdoor portion will qualify Scouters to be certified to take their scout units family camping.
With proper planning and your BALOO-trained leader, your pack should be set for a fun and exciting weekend event.
UPCOMING BALOO Training Opportunities:
Save the Date for BALOO training!
click here to view/download flyer
Who: All Cub Scout adult leaders, interested parents, Committee Chairs, and Committee Members who would like camping as part of their pack program.
What: Cub Scout Outdoor Leadership Training
Where: Lost Lake Scout Camp
Why: To take your Cub Scouts Camping!
When: April 4,5 2025
start at 6pm on April 4th and end by noon on April 5th.
Cost: ($ TBA) per participant for food and supplies
Register and pay at:
Midnight Sun Council office
907-452-1976
or click on the link below to register online
https://scoutingevent.com/696-95816
PREREQUISITE: BALOO Prerequisite Training V2 (35 minutes) on my.scouting.org
All participants will need to go online to My.Scouting.org to complete the pre-requisite BALOO training.
Sign in or create an account and remember passwords for this site. All currently registered members can call the Council office at 907-452-1976 for a member I.D. number and directions to My.Scouting.org. If you do not have an account, you can create one. BALOO candidates will need to complete BALOO pre-requisite training before attending the “Outdoor Experience”.
click here to view/download 2025 Spring BALOO – Save the Date flyer
Super Saturday
Super Saturday
Boy Scout Leader Training
This Event has been cancelled! Sorry for any inconvenience!!!
Commissioners
Welcome to the Midnight Sun Council Commissioner Corps!
We are currently in need of unit commissioners to assist with serving the youth of Northern and Interior Alaska!
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.
We invite you to consider joining our commissioner corps! Serve units, serve youth, learn scouting, win awards!
See you on the team!
Contact Larry Bennett, Council Commissioner, benco@alaska.net, 907-479-5118.
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