News
Swim Test Monday
Don’t forget that Monday, April 17 is the swim test at Pike High School’s Aquatics Center.
See this article for more details
and Update on North Star Swim Test.
What makes a healthy scout unit? Roundtable has the answers
Programming is the key to a successful scout unit. April is the time when programming becomes overwhelming in scouting, too. Summer camp is coming up. Units wrap up their winter advancement efforts. Cub Scouts prepare to advance to the next year’s program on June 1st. Families are in town before they disappear over summer vacation.
When school starts back up, scout units need to be ready with their next program calendar for the recruitment season that will begin.
As a result of this, scouting oriented websites and Roundtables all turn to planning better programming.
First, Thursday’s Roundtable will be on Dreaming Big on Programming, at St Luke’s UMC, Luke’s Lodge. We will talk about how to make the plan more exciting for scouts. More excitement drives better recruitment. More excitement drives more adult participation. We will have pizza beginning at 6:45 p.m. We will start at 7:00 p.m. We will welcome our new Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner Bill Buchalter. Bill will lead the Cub Scout breakout after the general session.
Second, National Council’s ScoutCast did a short piece on planning and budgeting this month. It is worth a listen.
Third, National Council’s CubCast did a short piece on retention of scouts and the role that good programming plays in retaining scouts. Listen it, too, not just if you are a Den Leader.
The podcasts are great for stimulating new thoughts, but they don’t offer you feedback. Attend roundtable to hear from veteran scouters who are looking to help you improve. They have the experience to help stimulate your thoughts and help you build toward success.
Come see us Thursday!
Upcoming MBU . . . at a real university
There is a true Merit Badge University coming up. This term used to refer to opportunities to work on merit badges with university professors and researchers in the field.
Over the years, it has devolved into a generic term of any large gathering of merit badge classes.
Wabash University is going back to the original concept . . . some of our district’s former scouts, according to rumor, helping organize it.
Here is more information from Jessica Hofman, Sugar Creek’s District Executive via Con Sullivan:
Want to learn about game design from a theater professor and video game reviewer? Or help with a research study on turtle behavior as you learn the material for the Reptiles and Amphibians merit badge? Or learn about astronomy from professors who have taught courses on Mayan archeoastronomy? Or consider how buildings are designed from a Roman Architecture and Archeology expert?
These are just a few of the offerings at the Merit Badge College at Wabash on May 6th! All of the badges (except First Aid) will be taught by college professors who are experts in the subject. The cost is $20, and includes a T shirt and lunch. There will be fun lunchtime activities and sessions for parents to learn about scouting and college opportunities. You can register at https://www.scoutingevent.com/160-WabashMBC Registration closes on April 15th, and classes will fill, so register early!
Wabash’s faculty already has a strong relationship with council. One of their economics professors is Sugar Creek’s district commissioner.
This is a great opportunity for older scouts to go visit the beautiful campus in Crawfordsville and work with Wabash’s impressive faculty . . . with no grade pressure!
Here is more information:
Sugar Creek District2017 Wabash Merit Badge CollegeJoin us for a great learning opportunity and chance to work on your merit badges at an awesome venue! Join us at Wabash College for the first annual Wabash Merit Badge College. Reserve your spot now!
- The college will be at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana on Saturday, May 6th.
- There will be two sessions (one from 9:30 to Noon and another from 1:30 to 4:00) with lunchtime activities in between.
- Registration Cost is $20.00 for Scouts which includes courses, lunch, and a event T-shirt
All Day Merit Badges (requires both morning and afternoon sessions):
- Robotics
- Space Exploration
- Reptile and Amphibian Study
- Game Design
- Animation
- First Aid
Half Day Merit Badges (offered in one or both sessions, but does not require both sessions to complete):
- Nuclear Science (afternoon, might open morning if there is enough demand)
- Architecture (morning or afternoon)
- Medicine (morning or afternoon)
- Astronomy (morning)
- Citizenship in the World (afternoon)
- Family Life (morning)
Lunch Break Activities:
- Chemistry Merit Badge
- Ultimate Frisbee on the Mall
- Activities for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class Ranks (tree and plant identification, knot tying, flag etiquette, map and compass/GPS navigation course around campus)
Take a look!
REMINDER: district meetings in next 2 weeks
NOTE: one date ROOM CHANGE!!!!
Tomorrow Thursday, April 6, 2017 will have two meetings at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N Meridian St, GREAT ROOM, 2nd FLOOR, Indianapolis, IN 46260. This is a change due to the church’s conflicting events.
- District Committee at 7:00 pm.
- District Commissioners at 6:00 pm.
Roundtable. Then next week we will introduce our newest addition to the Commissioner Staff at Roundtable, our new Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner Bill Buchalter. Bill is the immediate past Cubmaster of Pack 830 and its current Chartered Organization Representative.
Our Roundtable title is inspired by Rocky & Bullwinkle:
“Programming: How do we make Big Dreams Real,” or “Planning for Unit Growth and Success.”
We will be focusing on how to make your unit more successful. We will have a short presentation and — with your help — lots of good discussions. We are planning for separate discussions of troops/crews and packs.
Please invite to participate your
- committee members,
- unit leaders (e.g., Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, or Crew Advisor),
- Crew Presidents, and
- SPLs (might be worth inviting, too).
If your unit has a history of success, we need you to help mentor other units at the meeting, so please come support our newer leaders.
All attending units will receive a calendar of upcoming events to assist your unit’s planning.
Ember Meeting Postponed due to Spring Break
From Ember Advisor Greg Hoyes:
Brothers
Do to many people being on Spring Break, April’s Ember meeting will be on April 9th, instead of April 2nd. We know that still not miss everyone on Spring Break, but hopefully some people will still be able to attend on the new meeting date.
Hope to you everyone a week from Sunday.
Yours in the FireGreg Hoyes XXX
North Star Ember Adviser
New District Boundaries Official
The executive board approved new district boundaries last night. Welcome to our 4 new units! Troop 72 and Pack 72 at Tabernacle Presbyterian and Pack 747 and Troop 180 at St Richard’s School.
Conflicting Info on Tour Permits [UPDATED]
For years you have been trained to file tour permits for all trips not to council camp grounds.
We have heard rumors that this was changing.
Interestingly, if you view the National website, nothing has changed. Let’s wait to see how this develops.
UPDATED 3/31/17 at 9:50 pm: It is official.
Boy Scout leaders can now get trained anywhere at any time
News from Dallas is that Scoutmaster Specific Training for Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters is now available online like Committee Training and Merit Badge Counselor Training.
Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Training remains face-to-face training.
Request for Increased Scout Power at 500 Festival
From Greg Jacoby, Council and Troop 174:
Dear Scouts:
Based on the success of our involvement last year, [North Star District] and all other scouts from the Crossroads Council have been asked to increase the presences of the Boy Scouts at the 500 Festival. The Boys Scouts have been involved in many behind the scene activities with the 500 Festival but one the council goals it makes Boy Scouts more visible in the community.
One way to get the Scouts out in front, is to have them help with the Mini-Marathon and so we have been asked to man water station number 17 at the Mini-Marathon on May 6. It is the water station just before the end of the race, and is located on the IUPUI campus making it very easy to get to and park.
This activity is for all the Scouts, Cub Scout and Weblos. Additionally, this is open to all their family members. This is one of the only activities that children accompanied by an adult leader can volunteer during the 500 festival.
We need 80 people to come help, (two shifts of 40, one early morning and then mid-morning) The water station is open from 7 am to 1pm. People can work all morning, or in 4 hours shifts. If you are interested in getting involved, please let me know by email and then sign up on the web site https://2017mmpit.my-trs.com/.
Attached is the 500 Festival volunteer web site sign up instructions.
Thanks for your help and as always call my cell 317-828-6230 or email gjacoby@bdmd.com if you have any questions.
Yours in Scouting
Greg Jacoby
PLEASE SIGN UP ON LINE BY APRIL 12 2017
1. Log onto our Pit Station volunteer website https://2017mmpit.my-trs.com/
2. Click on the “registrar now” link
4. Welcome to the 500 Festival online registration, please read the important information
5. Click the purple” Volunteer Registration” button on the right side of the page.
6. Select “500 Festival Volunteer
7. select individual and then create your account
Thanks for helping to promote Scouting.
Questions? If you have any reach out to Volunteer Intern, Stephanie Forsythe via email sforsythe@500festival.com or 317-614-6113 or Program Manager, Jennifer Livesay at jlivesay@500festival.com
Spring Camporee Training
North Star District is planning on holding three training sessions at the Spring Camporee at Camp Ransburg on Saturday, April 23rd.
- Scoutmaster Specific Training. Required for all scoutmaster, assistant scoutmasters, and scoutmaster-candidates to be rechartered in October 2017. (4 hours, likely beginning at 9:00 am.) National keeps promising that this will be offered online eventually. To date, it has not. This is recommended for Junior Assistant Scoutmasters.
- Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (with Outdoor Webelos Leadership Skills). This is required for all Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters, and Webelos Den Leaders. It is highly recommended for Cubmasters, Junior Assistant Scoutmasters, and Troop Committee members camping with scouts. This is an in-person only class. This will start 9:00 pm Friday and run from 9:00 am Saturday through dinner time Saturday. (We will try to get done early.) Eagle Scouts earned since 2002 are automatically waived for this class, since the class is designed to teach the Scout to First Class Scout Curriculum under the current Advancement system. Notify Con or Jeff if you have any eligible for this waiver, and we will talk you through how to proceed.
- CPR and AED training. This will likely be offered twice. Once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Class space is limited. This is required for at least one person on a high adventure outing.
We are happy to have scouters join us as faculty. Long classes are easier on the student if they get a variety of faculty throughout the day.
We will be posting a sign up for these classes shortly.
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
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