Programming
Den Chief Online Training
Have you had your Boy Scouts take their Den Chief Training? In-person is always best.
But online is better than none. This requires Flash, so it will not work on Apple mobile devices. If your computer does not have Adobe Flash already, you can download it for free from Adobe.com.
Den Leaders, Scoutmasters, and future Den Chiefs should all take the training just to make sure that everyone is on the same page.
Den Leaders should have a short bullet-point list of expectations to share with the Den Chief and Scoutmaster to provide accountability and ease of cooperation. Here is an example of where you can start.
YPT renewals: Reasons and Methods
As part of council’s effort to keep people current on their Youth Protection Training status, they send out emails reminding persons needing training that expiration is approaching. A quick how-to for online YPT is available here.
This past week, District has sent out its own emails emphasizing the need for YPT renewal, too. This message is slightly different. The council only seeks renewal of YPT near deadlines. The District request emphasizes the importance of completion before October 1, 2017 for persons expiring before March 1, 2018.
Why the inconsistent message? Well, we have posted previous articles about rechartering. The problem is that National Council has allowed different local councils around the country to use different rechartering cycles. We are on the calendar year basis, so our units’ charters expire on December 31st each year. Some council expire on February 28th/29th each year. Having a universal rule on YPT is hard to explain with different local councils having differing charter expiration dates.
So, we simplify it by telling you how the myriad different rules on YPT and rechartering all fit together. As the above-linked article indicates, the optimal time for Crossroads of America Council members to renew YPT is between March 1st and October 1st each year. If you came from another council, you might have experienced a different optimal cycle due to rechartering differences.
Unit Committee Chairs, please make sure that you have a YPT Champion. You or a more tech-saavy member of the Key 3 can authorize a unit member to see the Training Manager records. A Unit Key 3 member can go on my.scouting.org to the Organizational Security Manager. Under “Functional Positions,” you can select “YPT Champion.” Use the green plus sign to designate a person to do this job. Please remember that this designation must be renewed every year, otherwise your YPT Champion will be locked out.
Your YPT Champion should be familiar with problems of training records not showing up on my.scouting.org if there is a conflict between BSA Member IDs on the unit roster versus on the my.scouting.org. For more information on how to reconcile this problem, see this flyer from National Council or our previous article.
To help units get YPT done easier, we are offering YPT at the next two (Sept and Oct) Roundtables beginning at 6:30 pm. We will use the video and mark all participants as having their YPT up to date. You can then stay for Roundtable.
Units can also use the YPT videos from YouTube (you will have to pause at critical times for conversations) and Facilitator’s Handbook to run their own in-person YPT. This is a great way to get new parents trained on YPT. It generally gets great reviews for first-timers to better understand how we protect their kids. You can see the National Council Website for overview information. Please make sure that the Unit Key 3 update the participants’ training records in the my.scouting.org Training Manager immediately. (The YPT Champion should be able to do this, too, if I am not mistaken.)
Misbehavior, Ideals, and Scouting
As I have watched the news this past weekend, I have seen families flooded by storms. I have seen individuals bring themselves to action with their own fishing boats saving lives, individuals delivering clothes and material to the Houston Convention Center, and first responders from all over the country arriving in Houston to support the local Houston first responders.
Moments later, I watched a news report about Antifa supporters attacking Neo-Nazis and similar protesters, using disturbing techniques from decades ago.
What contrasts these two sets of stories present about our modern American experience!
Scouting represents one of the most powerful sources of good in America today. We teach morality and citizenship through 12 simple points. The Scout Law is a powerful tool for teaching good citizenship and good choices.
Yet in modern scouting I see some well-intentioned persons in the national office pushing the latest buzz phrases of “anti-bullying.” This is a profound mistake and flaw in the scouting program. It is a mistake that unintentionally contributes to conflicts rather than calms conflicts. (I must admit the BSA’s approach is less egregious than other similar campaigns that I have seen. There are fewer “don’t” phrases and more “here are things to watch out for”.)
Have you ever watched your son run around a pool deck, right next to a lifeguard? What does the college-aged lifeguard usually do? The lifeguard yells, “Don’t run!” What happens? Your son may slow down to a jog or to a walk or to a skip. Very quickly though, the lifeguard’s admonition is forgotten. Almost certainly in the next 5 minutes, the lifeguard will again be yelling, “Don’t run!” again. Is this a lesson that boys just don’t listen?
What happens if the lifeguard changes her admonition? What if she yells, “Walk!”? In my personal experience, the lifeguard won’t have to contend with jogging or skipping. She will have to contend with running 5 minutes later. With a second admonition of “Walk!” she will likely have to intercede less often. Overall the pool deck will have more kids walking. Read the rest of this entry »
Report from Council Training Committee
REMEMBER NORTH STAR IOLS October 27-29.
From Council Training Committee Scribe Barbara Blue:
NEW UPCOMING EVENT: Council is conducting a Tiger Scout Forum.
Forum will happen in October and November—Tiger leader/parent will attend BOTH sessions. All new Tiger Cub Den Leaders will be invited to the Forum by the district. These will occur on the same night at the District’s Roundtable. These may or may not be at the same location as the District’s Roundtable. Tiger leaders will be taught how to do adventures and they will receive things to help. They will also be trained as Tiger Cub Den Leaders during this forum. A Training Team member needs to be involved with this Forum, but the person(s) running the forum should be about the same age as Tiger leaders—25 to 35 years old. The Training Committee members will be copied on emails about the Forum.
OTHER NEWS:
David Cobb sent an email to previous instructors at University of Scouting asking if they will teach again. Catalog is ALMOST done. Hopefully the pdf version will be out next week to start sharing. There are about 25 new classes—many of the aimed at Cub Scout Leaders.
Wood Badge is in September. 39 are signed up. Looking for at least 8 more participants. First weekend at Ransburg and second weekend at Redwing. Matt Best will be asking for contact information for your district’s social media person— watch for it! Or send it to him so he can promote WB. scoutmastertrp303@att.net.
Del-Mi District and Northstar District are teaming up to do an OLS on October 28. They are looking for instructors so if you know someone who can teach a session, send contact information to [Event Chair Stephen Heath (troop 358) arow89@att.net].
Del-Mi District is also hosting Scoutmaster Specific Training and BALOO Training on September 30 at Camp Belzer.
Reports from some people unable to attend this evening:
From Wabash Valley (Terre Haute area):
- Boy Scout Leader Specific, Saturday, September 2, 9 am to 3 pm at Camp Wildwood
- Cub Scout Leader Training, Thursday, September 21, 6 to 9 pm at Camp Wildwood
- Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills and Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders, Saturday, September 23, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Fall Camporee at the Vigo County Conservation Club. This does require overnight camping.
- Cub Scout Leader Training, Wednesday, October 11, 6 to 9 pm at Camp Wildwood
- Den Chief Training, Saturday, October 28, 9 am to 4 pm at Camp Wildwood
- Boy Scout Leader Specific Training (i.e., Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop Committee Chair/Member), March 17, 2018, 9 am to 3 pm at Camp Wildwood
- BALOO Training, Saturday, April 7, 2018, 8 am to 4 pm.
- Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills & Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders, Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. More details soon. This does require overnight camping.
- Den Chief Training, Saturday in May, 2018, more details soon.
Also, spread the word, see attached flyer for Catholic Retreat for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts who are Catholic.
From Pathfinder District (Greenwood area):
- Autumn Leader Training, Saturday, September 9, 8 am to 2 pm at Greenwood United Methodist. See attached flyer or visit https://scoutingevent.com/160-pfautumntrng992017
- WRFA course dates are turned in for 2018 and will be available soon
From Golden Eagle District (Muncie area):
- Committee Challenge and Unit Chair Training, September 6, 7 to 9:30 pm at Muncie Scout Service Center
- Lion Den Guide Training, September 11, 7 to 8 pm at Muncie Scout Service Center
- Den Leader Training, September 12, 7 to 9 pm at Muncie Scout Service Center
- Den Leader Training, September 13, 7 to 9 pm at Muncie Scout Service Center
- Unit Training Coordinator Training (all unit types), September 20, 7 to 9 pm, at Muncie Scout Service Center
- Unit Training Coordinator Training (for Troops and Crews only), September 27, 7 to 8:30, at Muncie Scout Service Center
- Den Chief Training (4 hours) and “Do-it-to-it” Eagle’s Knob, October 21, at Camp Redwing
- SM/ASM Position Specific Training, October 27, 6:30 to 10 pm at Camp Redwing
- Cub Leader Position Specific Training, October 27, 6:30 to 10 pm at Camp Redwing
- Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills and OWLS Training, October 28, 8am to 5 pm at Camp Redwing
- BALOO, October 28, 8am to 3 pm at Camp Redwing
- Venturing Position Specific Training, October 28, 8 am to 5 pm at Camp Redwing
- Troop/Pack/Crew Committee Challenge, October 28, 3 to 5 pm at Camp Redwing
- Intro to Backpacking, October 28 to 29, 5 pm Sat to Noon Sunday at Camp Redwing
- Outdoor Ethic Guide Training, November 3, 6 to 10 pm at Muncie Scout Service Center
- And More in 2018 (see attached flyer)
Here are all the flyers referred to above.
- Boy Scout Leader Specific 9-2-17
- Catholic Scout Retreat 2017
- Cub Leader Specific 9-21-17
- Cub Leader Specific 10-11-17
- Den Chief Training Flyer 10-28-17
- GE DENCHIEF TRAINING flyer- OCT2017
- GE NEW DEN LEADER TRAINING flyer-SEPT2017
- GE NEW LIONCUB GUIDE TRAINING flyer-SEPT2017
- GE TRNG SCHEDULE flyer-080117
- GE UNIT TRAINER TRAINING flyer-Sept2017
- IOLS-OWL 9-23-17
- OE GUIDE ORIENTATION COURSE NOV2017 CAC flyer
- OE GUIDE ORIENTATION COURSE Outline Sep2016
- OE GUIDE&LNT TRAINER COURSE APR2018 CAC flyer
- PF Fall Training 2017
For more information on training, see the Council Training Hub. (If the calendar is blank, select “Category” in the upper left corner of the calendar window, then check “Training,” then “Apply Filter.” The entire list of trainings should then appear month-by-month.)
Remember that the following trainings must be done in person and are NOT available on my.scouting.org:
- Introduction to Outdoor Leadership (IOLS) (required for scoutmasters, assistant scoutmasters, and venturing advisors and associate advisors);
- Outdoor Webelos Leaders Skills (OWLS) (required for Webelos Den Leaders);
- Basic Outdoor Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) (Required for at least one adult leader on a Cub Scout Pack campout);
- Den Chief Training (Required for boy scouts seeking to fulfill their Postion of Responsibility through being a Den Chief to a Cub Scout Den).
All of these trainings are offered above at least once.
Fall Camporee 2017 Report
On Sunday, August 13, 2017, the Camporee Committee met to discuss the upcoming camporee at the Lafayette, Indiana Subaru Plant. This camporee will include a plant tour Friday evening, October 6, 2017. The tours will leave at three different times throughout the evening. The last tour will end close to midnight.
The plant will be shutting down at midnight for a two-week line maintenance cycle. Consequently, the timing for when we can tour is extremely tight.
This means that troop arrivals will be pressed against the need to go on the tour.
Each troop’s Key 3 (COR, chair and scoutmaster) should have received emails with more details on planned events (like plan tours) and possible events (like merit badge topics addressed). Here is the information shared before the meeting. Updates are forthcoming.
The meeting had a lively debate about the balance between patrol competitions, advancement, and participating in unique scouting events. These all reflect adult opinions or second-hand information from scouts transmitted through adults.
All scoutmasters encouraged to talk to their Patrol Leader Council about what their members like to see in camporee.
Subaru offers a lot of opportunity for merit badge work on Automotive Maintenance and Traffic Safety with a dolop of Truck Transportation. While these are all possible, some troops’ adults expressed concern that advancement would push aside patrol competition. The committee took those concerns to heart and is looking at how competitions could be used to complete some of the merit badge work simultaneously. Essentially making learning fun.
There were a lot more details shared at the meeting, so expect more information in the coming weeks. This is just a quick report and summary. The simple version is Friday, October 6, 2017 from 6:00 pm to Sunday, October 8, 2017, be there.
If you have feedback, please share it with the camporee committee and make sure that you have a representative at the next camporee committee meeting (scheduling forthcoming).
Report on Venturing Round Up
Here is a report on the successes of the Inaugural Venturing Round Up. Some great pictures, thanks to Sugar Creek Unit Commissioner Howard Griffith.
Changes Coming to YPT before Jan. 1st?
From Crossroads of America Council’s Director of Training Jay Soucy:
There may be changes to the Youth Protection Training that will take [p]lace this year. I expect to hear more before the end of the month. Which means it will be out of social Media sooner.
So, be on the look out and share what you learn first.
How Do I Take Online YPT Again?
So you want to do your online training for YPT, but you can’t remember where to go?
NOTE: Remember if your YPT expires before March 1, 2018, you need to take YPT or VYPT before October 1, 2017 in order to avoid problems with your unit’s rechartering process this fall.
First, go to http://my.scouting.org.
Second, log in to your existing account. (Try to avoid creating a new account, because it generates a new, separate BSA Membership ID. That can create future problems. But if you need a new login account, you need one.)
Third, using the button in the upper left corner, select “My Dashboard.”
Fourth, using the button just below “My Dashboard,” select “My Training.” Your screen should now look like this:
Fifth, select “Retake Course.”
Sixth, when you are done, make sure to print out or save your Certificate of Completion.
August 2017 Eagle Scouts
Congratulations to our newest Eagle Scouts who passed their Boards of Review on August 
9, 2017:
District Information for Venturers
Since Venturers are expected to handle many of the logistical issues that adults handle in Boy Scout Troops, the question arises about district information for Venturers.
Should Venturers keep themselves aprised of district newsletter and blog updates?
Not every Venturer may be interested or have a need to keep current on District affairs. It may be highly worthwhile to have Crew Presidents and Vice-Presidents subscribe to the newsletter.
They will get one email per week about news in the district. They can find Cub Scout and Boy Scout events that the Crew may wish to volunteer to staff. This can help the Venturers progress on advancement from Venturing Award to Discovery Award to Pathfinder Award to the Summit Award (Venturing’s highest award). Each award has substantial service hour requirements.
Service hours are not strictly defined on who can benefit. This is from an FAQ on Venturing (2015):
Q: What is the scope and definition of service hours? Does service to the crew count as service hours, or does the service have to be outside the crew, or outside of scouting and does the crew member have to have advisor approval (for personal service)?
A: The Handbook for Venturers offers this definition of service:
A service is a valuable action, deed, or effort carried out to meet a need of an individual, a group of people, or an organization. An act must be both valuable and address a need of the recipient to qualify as an act of service. The variety of service project ideas is boundless. And, with your capabilities as a young adult it becomes your responsibility to choose those opportunities which best fit with your personal and crew values and to to bring about significant positive change for the individual or organization that you serve. Service is a great place to stretch your leadership muscles.
In counting service hours, service provided as a member of the crew and as an individual are both expected. There is no expectation of Advisor approval for service provided on an individual basis. The “how and why” of the service provided by the individual is a great topic for discussion during an Advisor conference.
Service to the crew (such as for Pathfinder Award Requirement 5) is a separate service requirement for the benefit of the crew and its members and does not “count” toward accumulating service project hours as described in the handbook extract above.
Within this definition, a crew can choose to serve a Cub Scout Pack or Boy Scout Troop or District Activity. The only requirement for crew service is that the crew has to decide to define and plan its participation in advance.
Many scoutmasters express concern in having a Venturing Crew associated with the Troop. The fear is that older boys will leave the troop in favor of the crew. By offering service back to the troop as part of the crew program, not only is this fear not realized, but additional troop staff is suddenly available.
Having crew officers aware of what is going on in the district, neighboring packs and troops allows the crew to choose service hour opportunities back to those units. So does Pack 358 want Venturers to help with the hayride or other offerings? Posting the request through the district website can help.
Let your venturing officers know that they can subscribe here.
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
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