, BSA PRESIDENT David Sprynczynatyk COMMISSIONER Mike Briggs Northern SCOUT EXECUTIVE Roger B. Hoyt HiLites Winter 2017-2018

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS! SCOUTING SIMPLY WOULDN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS. Volunteers are the heart and soul of Scouting. You are mentors, You teach children they matter. You teach them to give back to roles models, trainers, teachers, counselors, advocates, supporters, the community. And, give back they do. Together with you, the advisors and friends. Northern Lights Council Scouts invest over 89,450 hours of service each year to strengthen our neighborhoods and enhance quality of Nationally, nearly 1.2 million adult volunteers serve Scouting in life. a variety of roles; Cub Masters, Den Leaders, Executive Board Members, camporee chairs, Scoutmasters, camp masters—you Thank you to each and every one of our volunteers for your service name it. In the 76 counties that the Northern Lights Council serves, to Scouting and for every day you give back to your community. 3,114 registered adult leaders dedicate their time, talents, and It is because of you that the remains the resources week in and week out, not because they have to, but foremost youth program of character development and values- because they want to help shape the future. They want to give boys based leadership training in America. and young men and women opportunities to learn, grow and be better citizens. Opportunities that many kids would not otherwise have without Scouting and the volunteers who make it happen.

Table of Contents Council Calendar Page 2 Council Annual Meeting DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY Silver Beaver 1 BSA Offices Closed 2-4 Winter Camp Report to the Governor 8-10 OA Indian Winter Scouting for Food 8-10 Winter Camp 5-7 Winter Camp 4 Scout Sunday 9-11 Staff Planning Conference 7 Report to Governor (Tentative) Page 3 Scout’s Honor 9 Cub Winter Wonderland at Wilderness Commissioner Corner 12-14 OA Winter Fellowship 9-11 Winter Camp 13 Council Staff Meeting Eagle Scouts 12-14 Winter Camp 10 Wilderness Romp 13 Council Risk Management Meeting (GTM) Page 4 JTE/Training 15 Martin Luther King Day-BSA Offices Closed 16 Council Annual Meeting via IVN 15 Executive Board Meeting 19 Executive Committee Meeting 16-18 Winter Camp Page 5 Membership 19 Council Commissioner Meeting (GTM) 19 Fargo Force Hockey 19 President’s Day-BSA Offices Closed Page 6 Endowment-How You Can Help 25-26 BSA Offices & all Camps Closed 19-21 Winter Camp 23-25 Winter Camp

25 Council Camping Committee Meeting (GTM) 20 Council Advancement Meeting (GTM) Page 7 Friends of Scouting 26-31 Boy Scout Winter Camp at Wilderness 28 Council Camping Committee Meeting (GTM) 26-28 Winter Camp 22 Council Camping Committee Meeting (GTM) Page 8-10 Camping/Program 30 Council Commissioner Meeting (GTM) 27 Council Day Camp Meeting (GTM) 31 Happy New Year! Page 11-16 Districts 30 Council Day Camp Meeting (GTM) 28 Council Staff Meeting NORTHERN HILITES - 2 December 2017 - February 2018 Game and Fish SILVER BEAVER NOMINATION Department Honors Theodore Note: All nominations for the are confidential. The Silver Beaver Award is the highest award the Council can Roosevelt Award bestow upon a volunteer Scouter in recognition of distinguished service Council and its youth. Nominees are not only judged on their In honor of Theodore Roosevelt, the North Dakota Game and Fish outstanding volunteer service at the Council level, but their overall Department has developed the “TR Award”. This award is intended to service to youth. recognize those North Dakota youth that have highly developed outdoor skills and are actively involved in Girl Scouts of the USA, Boy Scouts of America, ELIGIBILITY: Any registered volunteer Scouter who resides within the or 4-H. The goal of this award is to promote: development of a healthy mind boundaries of Northern Lights Council, and who is at least 21 years of age, at the and body, good citizenship, a strong conservation ethic, an understanding of time of nomination. the states’ natural history, and the ability to handle oneself in the outdoors NOMINATING PROCEDURES: Any individual may submit a National BSA while enjoying a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities. Silver Beaver Nomination form (all other forms will not be accepted)! Each person nominating a Scouter must submit their own individual official nomination The existing programs developed by Girl Scouts of the USA, Boy Scouts form, rather than (1) with multiple signatures on the form, or (2) reproducing one of America, and the 4-H constitute nomination form with different nominating persons names, addresses; the purpose more than 80 percent of the award of this is to obtain as much information as possible about the nominee. No more requirements. The remaining 10 to 20 than 3 letters of recommendation will be accepted with the Nomination Form. percent of the award requirements are The BSA Silver Beaver Nomination Form must be received no later than Friday, composed of educational programs January 5, 2018. Send Nominations to Northern Lights Council, BSA, Attention: that the North Dakota Game and Fish Silver Beaver Selection Committee, 4200 19th Avenue South, Fargo, ND 58103. Department provides such as Hunter Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Council website at www.nlcbsa.org Education, and the National Archery The Silver Beaver Award will be presented at the Council Annual Recognition in the Schools Program. Luncheon on Saturday, April 7th in Bismarck, North Dakota. In addition to training our youth for a wide variety of outdoor adventures, it is hoped that this award program will assist in the retention and involvement of North Dakota youth in 4-H, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts.

Adult advisors wishing to obtain copies of the TR Award Workbook may down load and print them off the North Dakota Game and Fish Department Website (http://gf.nd.gov/education/theodore-roosevelt-award-workbook). If you have additional questions, contact Bill Jensen at 701-220-5031. COUNCIL ANNUAL RECOGNITION BANQUET Saturday, April 7, 2018 in Bismarck The Council’s Annual Recognition Luncheon is held to SCOUTING FOR FOOD recognize volunteers from across the Council. The March 17 – March 24, 2018 highlight of the banquet is the presentation of the Silver Beaver Awards, the highest recognition presented on the During the week of March 17 (SFF Info Drop) – March Council level. The 2018 Luncheon Banquet will be held 24 (SFF Food Collection), Scouts are encouraged to take on Saturday, April 7 in Bismarck, ND. Watch at for part in our Council-wide community service project, more details on the Luncheon. Scouting for Food. Annually, the Northern Lights Council collects nearly 100,000 lbs of food for local food pantries. To see the difference that our Scouts can make in just one short week is truly astonishing. Look for more information on our website at www.nlcbsa.org. Council Annual Meeting FEBRUARY 16, 2018 The Annual Meeting of the Northern Lights Council, Boy Scouts of America, Inc., will be held at 8:00 AM, Friday, February 16, 2018 REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR via the Interactive Video Network (IVN) with locations in Fargo, ND; Grand Forks, ND; Bismarck, ND; Dickinson, ND; Minot, ND; FEBRUARY 2018 and Williston, ND. The purpose of the meeting is to elect Officers and Every February the Northern Board Members for the 2018 Scouting year, and to hear reports from the Lights Council has the privilege Operating Committees. to present the annual Report to the Governor. To make this Nominations for board membership positions must be submitted to the program a success we reach Council Nominating Committee in writing no later than January 6, out to local Scout leaders from 2018. across the council to nominate their very best Cub Scouts, Boy Please send to: Ed Schafer, Council Nominating Committee Chairman Scouts, Venture Scouts and Explorers to lead the program, Northern Lights Council, BSA, that is sponsored by the 2017 Report to the Governor in Bismark 4200 19th Avenue South Bismarck Rotary Club. This is a great opportunity for Scouts to gather in Fargo, ND 58103 the Capitol City of Bismarck and update our North Dakota Governor on everything that is happening in our Boy Scout Council. Those eligible to vote include: Chartered Organization Representatives registered and currently representing a Chartered Organization within the After the program; all Scouts, family members and leaders will have the Council’s geographical boundaries, and registered duly elected Council opportunity to take part in a special guided tour of the North Dakota state Members-at-Large. No voting by proxy as indicated in the Council Capitol. Bylaws.

More information and the nomination form can be found on our website Roger B. Hoyt at www.nlcbsa.org. Corporate Secretary/Scout Executive December 2017 - February 2018 NORTHERN HILITES - 3 Scout’s Honor Commissioner Corner EXECUTIVE THOUGHTS ONE HOUR A WEEK

ADVANCING THROUGH THE RANKS I received a nice card from Roger Hoyt the other day. Inside was a note of encouragement In our careers and professional lives, advancement is and appreciation for what we do in support of Scouting and I value the message. What almost always a good thing. It is what most career really got me, though, was the front of the card (pictured below). We’ve all heard about minded adults strive to achieve, advancing in their how Scouting only requires “about an hour a week” from adult volunteers and . . . well, chosen profession. Advancement or promotions usually maybe a bit more time than that is needed. come as a result of having the experience and success in Why do we do it? It usually starts with wanting to be involved with our son(s). As a current job to warrant more responsibility, a new title we’ve all seen from the Yardstick presentation (if you aren’t sure what I’m talking about, and maybe even a higher salary. However, there are Google “boy scout yardstick story”), our ability to provide positive influence to our times when I have seen a promotion go south. It usually children is a small window of time. The moral, ethical, and practical lessons that involves someone desiring a position, which just doesn’t Scouting provides is something that will influence them through their life. After a while, fit their skill sets. though, our participation in Scouting becomes more than just that. We enjoy the events, Advancing through the programs of the Boy Scouts of we enjoy the tradition, we enjoy the people. America is always a good thing. Whether you are I attended a meeting a couple of weeks ago, where a number of different Boy Scout involved in Cub or Boy Scouting, or Councils were represented. While talking to a fellow Scouter from a different Council, he Exploring, advancement is a way to tell that our youth made the comment that if he decided to stop being involved in Scouting, he’d be separated members are learning and picking up important lifelong skills. It also shows they are from all of his friends. What we do, what keeps us involved is more than just Scouting. being recognized for their efforts. Once they have earned the patch, badge, pin, award, The program forms the basis, but it’s the friendships and camaraderie that we develop that coup or rank, they have accomplished a goal and are publically recognized and keeps us going. I know of some units that have had more adults attend summer camp, rewarded for their efforts. Advancement is also a key indicator that units are providing than kids. Parents whose kids have aged out still want to be a part of that fellowship. a quality program with trained leaders. How do we encourage the development of this attitude? Make it about more than just One of our Journey to Excellence criteria is to measure the percentage of youth Scouting. In our District we hold a pot luck barbecue in the spring for District volunteers. advancing in our programs, specifically Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Increasing this This is a great opportunity for all of those that have been a part of making the District a percentage by emphasizing advancement on the unit level is key to ensuring our Scouts success to get together when they don’t have to concentrate on FOS or camporee staffing. are engaged and our units have trained leaders providing a quality program. Accurate We get to know each other better and become more comfortable in working together. record keeping is also important for us to know who is advancing and when. One way Providing those events that are a bit outside the Scouting realm can be a great catalyst for to ensure Scouts get engaged and “hooked” early in the program is to work with every building a team that will function well. Other possibilities could be a holiday social, Scout to achieve their Bobcat badge, or Tenderfoot Rank as quickly as possible. All bringing pizza to a District Commissioner meeting, or holding a cookout for your final new Cub Scouts who joined this fall should have earned and been recognized with their Roundtable before summer. Bobcat rank by now. If that has not happened in your unit, what will you do as a leader Another facet of this is bringing in new volunteers. Go out of your way to make them or parent to ensure that it does? feel welcome, invite them into conversations, ask their opinions, and make sure they are a part of any social events that you hold. Without new volunteers, a program can slowly If your unit has not already done so, please appoint an Advancement Chairman on your deteriorate as the “old guard” begins to change their involvement. unit committee to work with direct contact leaders to ensure all Scouts are advancing and that proper record keeping takes place so Council records are accurate. Let’s make Scouting is a great organization and I don’t stay sure all our Scouts advance through the Scouting ranks. In doing so they become involved because of the Troop meetings, the Prepared…For Life. campouts, or the delicious cooking . . . I stay involved because of the great people, Scouts and Thanks for giving your time, talents and resources to our youth, Scouters, that I am able to associate and work with. How about you? Roger B. Hoyt Yours in Scouting, Scout Executive Mike Briggs Council Commissioner

EAGLE SCOUTS District 1 District 8 Dylan Swanson Troop 523 Lisbon Kiwanis Club Gwinner, ND Gordon Isler Troop 001 St Michael’s Catholic Church Men’s Club East Grand Forks, MN Connor Fitzgerald Troop 523 Lisbon Kiwanis Club Lisbon, ND Thomas Hugo Troop 013 Holy Family Catholic Church Grand Forks, ND Tyler Hoffarth Troop 013 Holy Family Catholic Church Grand Forks, ND District 3 Ryan Pilon Troop 016 United Lutheran Church Grand Forks, ND Mitchell Oswald Troop 302 Grace United Methodist Church- FF Elizabeth, MN Ian Helgeson Troop 070 Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Park River, ND Ethan Jeffries Troop 304 First Lutheran Church - FF Fergus Falls, MN Timothy Dunham Troop 130 St Mark’s Lutheran Church Grand Forks, ND Adam Cooper Troop 304 First Lutheran Church – FF Fergus Falls, MN Justin Mark Troop 304 First Lutheran Church – FF Fergus Falls, MN Daniel Zitzow Troop 321 Perham Lions Club Perham, MN District 10 Harrison Maas Troop 346 Bethel Lutheran Church Wahpeton, MN Phillip Jacobs Troop 1032 St. John’s Lutheran Church Dickinson, ND Jessie Archuletta Troop 9047 Dickinson 2nd Ward Bismarck, ND Stake Dickinson, ND District 4 Christian Hall Troop 9047 Dickinson 2nd Ward Bismarck, ND Stake Dickinson, ND William Mateer Troop 418 Friends of the Knights of Columbus Council #4718 Alexandria, MN Tanner Schafer Troop 423 Glenwood Lutheran Church Glenwood, MN District 11 Zack Staton Troop 485 Benson VFW Post 1403 Benson, MN Christopher Brazelton Troop 1026 Dickinson United Methodist Church Dickinson, ND Bailey Van Wyck Troop 491 VFW Post 4582 Lowry, MN District 12 District 5 Matthew Knapp Troop 1416 First Lutheran Church, Minot Minot, ND Adam Laschkewitsch Troop 214 Faith United Methodist Church Fargo, ND Cord Redding Troop 1416 First Lutheran Church, Minot Burlington, ND Adam Sayler Troop 222 Nativity Church of Fargo Fargo, ND Bryce Haug Troop 1416 First Lutheran Church, Minot Minot, ND Jack Lingle Troop 225 Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral Fargo, ND Daniel Poynter Troop 225 Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral Fargo, ND Nathan Friedt Troop 1534 Harvey Kiwanis Club Harvey, ND Jacob Stinar Troop 229 Southwest Fargo Optimist Fargo, ND Jackson Herman Troop 232 VFW Post 7564 Fargo, ND District 13 Abel Nelson Troop 242 Fargo 2nd Ward, Fargo ND Stake Casselton, ND Ethan Vallie Troop 1006 First Presbyterian Church Bismarck, ND Jakob Sailer Troop 246 Living Waters Lutheran Church West Fargo, ND Shawn Holweger Troop 1011 Benevolent Protective Order Elks #1199 Bismarck, ND Hunter Howe Troop 274 Horace Lutheran Church Horace, ND Braden Pitcher Troop 1029 Bismarck 1st Ward, Bismarck ND Stake Bismarck, ND Nicholas Anderson Troop 276 Atonement Lutheran Church Fargo, ND Benjamin Harvey Troop 1043 Hazen Lions Club Hazen, ND Matthewscott Dale Troop 276 Atonement Lutheran Church Fargo, ND Cale Zeien Troop 1089 Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Bismarck Bismarck, ND Tyler Norwood Troop 276 Atonement Lutheran Church Fargo, ND Cody Rudnick Troop 1123 Faith Lutheran Church of Bismarck Bismarck, ND Sean Nesemeier Troop 637 Trinity Lutheran Church/Am Legion Post 21 Argusville, MN Tyler Nesemeier Troop 637 Trinity Lutheran Church/Am Legion Post 21 Argusville, MN District 14 Connor Filipi Troop 637 Trinity Lutheran Church/Am Legion Post 21 Moorhead, MN Wyatt Howard Troop 1283 American Legion Post #58 Plentywood, MT Anthony Korstad Troop 644 Christ The King Lutheran Church Moorhead, MN NORTHERN HILITES - 4 December 2017 - February 2018 TRAINING/JOURNEY TO EXCELLENCE The Green Dot Express • Winter 2017-2018 Training Talk – The Green Dot express, periodically here in the Northern HiLites, information on variety of training topics: upcoming training events, online training, resources for continuing education and tidbits! I hope a warm blanket and a roaring fire place is keeping the chill of winter at bay as your thoughts turn to winter scouting activities. Updating or renewing your training is a must to keep your training current and informing the incoming adults (parents and leaders) of training. Setting up a “Training Session(s)” scheduled over a month of meetings, example: starting with the committee (parent) meeting and discussing district/council training events, online and updates for the unit members at each unit meeting. First and foremost is Youth Protection training for all adults (registered and non-registered, note the non-registered adults, after they are registered can then put their membership ID number in their training profile to activate credit for the unit). This training is a major security blanket for all! Youth Protection Training – A must for all adults! The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members. To maintain such an environment, the BSA developed numerous procedural and leadership selection policies and provides parents and leaders with resources for the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing programs. Then the Direct contact leaders trained for their current position, I would only want my child to be led by a trained leader! Direct contact leaders for Cub Scout Packs include: Tiger Cub Den Leaders, Cub Scout Den Leaders, Webelos Leaders, and Assistant Cubmasters. Boy Scout Troops include: Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters. Venture Crews include: Venture Crew Advisors and Associate Crew Advisors. 2018 Training Focus for your scouts, adults, leaders, Unit, District, Council: • Moving into the winter of 2018 Are you trained? Are your fellow adults and leaders trained? Working with your district training chairs, this focus “TRAINING FOR YOU, TRAINING FOR ALL” is implemented to help you and your leaders obtain the training that is needed to deliver the Scouting program to the scouts. The focus is to bring more Face to Face training to our leaders through district and council training. Face to Face training is still the best learning environment and the soft skills, fellowship and interacting with other participants, a participant learns and retentions more. • Online training at My.Scouting.org is a great place to start your introduction and/or review a variety of training opportunities. (see Online training tidbits below for hints to help with the peculiarities of the new system) • As a trained leader, you will know how to deliver the Scouting program, know the resources that are available and increase your confidence. The time you spend on training is returned back to you many times, each time you use the knowledge and the resources that you have learned, not only in your scouting activities but all of your activities. • You can’t put a value on your scouts safety or fun. Every scout deserves and expects a leader that is trained to keep them safe and engaged in the scouting program. Every scout deserves a trained leader! • As a parent, you want to insure that your child is in a safe environment and is receiving the full scouting program. This can only be accomplished if you and your fellow parents, adult and leaders are trained. Have you asked your leaders – are they trained? New Leader Training - Learn the basics for your position as Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Advisor, or Troop Committee member. As a leader insure you invite the adults to join you at the training to help make all of the leadership work better. Check with your local districts to see scheduled training dates. See WHAT MAKES A TRAINED LEADER? at http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/Trained_Leader_Positions.pdf National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), is scheduled for June 10-16, 2018 at Heart Butte Scout Camp, Elgin ND. NYLT is a weeklong training course that provides youth leaders with an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills while living by the Scout Oath and Law in an exciting outdoor environment. Scouts who earn the NYLT shield are prepared to meet the challenges ahead and are better prepared to work with adult leaders. Registration is online at http://www.nlcbsa.org/Training/Youth/NYLT College of Commissioner Science (CCS) is in the beginning stage of development for 2018 CCS, currently planned for April 21, 2018 in Minot, look for future details soon. Wood Badge 2017 C1-429-17-1 was a great success, with 38 participants completing the practical training portions, thanks to the Course director Chuck Erling and Assistant Course director Mark Gaydos and the entire course staff. The Wood Badge program gives participants a greater understanding of Scouting aims and methods, while developing true Scout Spirit. It is anticipated that all people who complete Wood Badge training will continue to work actively in the Scouting program to further the aims and methods of Scouting. Participating in Wood Badge has rekindled my enthusiasm for the Scouting program. I will be working with the council on establishing the next course over the next few months. National, Regional, Area news: As the Area 1 training chair I have been communicating with the area, regional and national leaders and have been forwarding many article and resource material to the district training chairs, see your district website for your training chair. These include national training at Philmont and Sea Base, training periodicals (e.g. Training Times Fall 2017 which can be found at http://www.scouting.org/Training/TrainingUpdates.aspx) and information on the Training Manager at My.Scouting Tools. Online training tidbits I’m hoping all are getting acclimated to the online scouting website My. Scouting.org which uses the same username and password that you had previously used at on the legacy site. As I have heard from others, Google Chrome seams to still be the best internet browser to use. Note the system is not designed for lengthy training sessions, but for short ~20 minute sessions. It is not advised to go through many sessions (hours plus of training) without saving or taking a break, you may find that some or all of the training may not been saved/recorded. My suggestion is to schedule short sessions, so if your session is not saved, your loss is minimal. REPORTING UNIT SERVICE YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING PROJECT HOURS The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members. To maintain such an environment, the BSA has developed numerous It is easy to report your unit's service hours. Simply: Click on this procedural and leadership selection policies and provides parents and Report Service Hours link at www.nlcbsa.org and provide: leaders with resources for the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing 1. your unit number programs. Visit the National BSA website at ww.scouting.org/Training/ 2. your unit ID number YouthProtection.aspx for more information. • Youth Protection training is required for all BSA registered volunteers. 3. the number of Scouts and volunteers who participated and a brief description of the service project. • Youth Protection training must be taken every Remember, if you are a new user you need to register and follow the two years. If a volunteer’s Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of prompts to report your unit’s service hours. Contact your District recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered. Executive if you have questions or need more information. You do not have to be a registered volunteer member or have a member ID to take Youth Protection Training. Around the Council December 2017 - February 2018 NORTHERN HILITES - 5 MEMBERSHIP BSA MEMBERSHIP FEE TO CHANGE CHARTER RENEWAL BEGINNING DECEMBER 1, 2017 Annually, every unit must renew the memberships of their youth and Effective Dec. 1, 2017, the Boy Scouts of America adults. Most of these memberships expire on December 31, 2017 (in membership fee will be $33 a year for all registered some districts, the expiration date is at the end of January or February). youth and adult members. Instead of having everyone complete a new membership application, the Scouting remains an incredible value. Where else but in Scouting can young people acquire hands-on BSA has an online charter renewal system that is used to renew active leadership skills, become more comfortable in nature, members and drop inactive members. This online system becomes and learn to make ethical and moral decisions throughout their lives? Not bad for just $2.75 a month. available on October 1, 2017 and November 1 and December 1 for some As with every major decision affecting the BSA, this decision was made in concert districts. with the volunteer-led national executive board of the BSA. At roundtables a packet of instructions and other forms that are useful to This change will affect Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, Venturing crews and Sea Scout ships. However, it will not apply to LDS-sponsored units, nor to those units complete charter renewal will be distributed. Each district will have help with council-paid memberships. sessions for those unit leaders that are new to the charter renewal All November and December 2017 charters will renew at this new rate. November is process. included because November charter renewal actually spans from Dec. 1, 2017, to Nov. 30, 2018. The completed paperwork will be due at least 30 days prior to the What your BSA membership fee covers expiration date for the unit. This allows time for fixing defects and So, what are you getting for that $33 a year? In short, your membership fee pays for processing the paperwork prior to expiration. the operation of the BSA National Service Center, which supports approximately 270 local councils that administer the Scouting program. The National Service Center develops program enhancements, covers liability insurance costs and much more. For adult leaders, the fee also pays for the communications resources that keep Scouters informed. That includes online resources, like Bryan’s blog, and printed publications, like Scouting magazine. Additionally, the National Service Center: • Provides training to local council volunteers and staff • Maintains a national training center at • Develops and maintains four year-round national high-adventure bases and executes national events (jamborees, National Eagle Scout Association and conferences, and National Council meetings) • Continues our leadership role in protecting our youth by providing Youth Protection resources, training, and criminal background checks for all registered volunteers and staff • Provides local councils with program as well as tools for camp and office planning and evaluation, extensive financial counseling, planned giving and fundraising information, and professional personnel support • Coordinates a communications network through printed literature (handbooks, merit badge pamphlets, brochures, training materials, and professional development training) ADVANCEMENT REPORTING • Makes available uniforms, equipment and program supplies In an effort to improve advancement reporting for all of our Scouts, and to • Maintains and develops new relationships with chartered organizations that use ensure that their hard work is being accurately reflected in our records (and the Scouting program (religious institutions, civic organizations, labor unions, your unit JTE), the Northern Lights Council Advancement Committee changed professional organizations, business and industry) the process for obtaining awards to be in line with the Guide to Advancement. • Serves in a leadership role with Scouting associations in other countries as a member of the World Scout Conference A printed Advancement Report (one generated from the BSA Internet • Sets and maintains program standards (e.g., advancement, health and safety, etc.) Advancement system, ScoutBook, Packmaster/Troopmaster or form No. to ensure consistency of the brand throughout councils across the country 34403) will be required to be submitted when purchasing advancement items. How BSA’s fee compares to other youth-serving organizations The report must contain the name of the Scout, the award he has earned and the date earned. Without the advancement report, those items that are listed Scouters know that the $33 fee doesn’t cover it all. There are also costs related to uniforms, personal equipment, and the activities of individual members like outings below will not be able to be purchased until the advancement report is and field trips, camporees or summer camp. Even when you add all that up, submitted. membership in the BSA costs less than other youth-serving organizations. • Cub Scout ranks (Bobcat, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, Arrow of Light). We did some research online to find just how good of a value Scouting really is. Instant recognition items such as adventure pins for all levels do not need Each of the activities below offers a great experience for young people. In fact, research has shown that youth who participate in both Scouting and sports do really an advancement report. well in life. • Boy Scout ranks (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, This list is simply meant to put into perspective the BSA’s membership fee: Eagle) or merit badges. • Youth Football, $220 - $295 per year: Fargo-Moorhead Athletics is for **Note that this list is not all inclusive and may change in the future** th th participants in 4 through 8 Grade. On top of that, each player must either Your Unit is highly encouraged to utilize the Internet Advancement system that fully participate in the fundraising option by selling a minimum of 10 units of our fundraiser (at $10 per unit), or choose the fundraiser BUYOUT OPTION by is available at https://scoutnet.scouting.org/iadv/UI/home/default.aspx. Another adding $120 to their registration fee. option is the new ScoutBook app (https://www.scoutbook.com/), which has a • Hockey, $250 – 600 per year: The West Fargo Hockey Association. Registration nominal fee to use it. If you have any problems, you can always print the paper fee is dependent on level of experience. There is also a building/ice fee. Advancement Report (No. 34403) which may be downloaded from http://www. • Northern Valley Youth Orchestra, Grand Forks, ND, $220 - $250 per year: scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34403.pdf. These vary greatly, but here’s one example. This does not include instruments; a good violin, for example, can easily cost $650 to $850. In addition, due to the level of playing expected, NVYO students are strongly encouraged to be actively taking private lessons. • Competitive swimming, $340-$360 per year: The Minot Swim Club’s fees are based on level of competition. Plus, you pay an additional $20/$25 for each swim meet you register to compete in. NORTHERN HILITES - 6 December 2017 - February 2018 SCOUTING TODAY FOR TOMORROW'S YOUTH Development Director: Connie J. Koehmstedt (701) 293-5011 or Toll Free 1-877-293-5011 E-mail [email protected] Ways You Can Help the Endowment Grow 1. Become a James E. West Fellow! 2. Add to your James E. West Fellow (cumulative) from Bronze to Silver, or Silver to Gold! 3. Leave Scouting in your will, then notify the Northern Lights Council, B.S.A! 4. Set up a Charitable Remainder Unitrust! 5. Endow a summer camp staff position, (like Camp Director or Ranger) at Camp Wilderness! 6. Endow a building or campsite at Camp Wilderness 7. Set up a restricted fund for Camperships or Scholarships! 8. Donate stocks or bonds to fund the endowment and provide tax benefits for you! 9. Contribute a Life Estate Gift of a home, vacation home or farm, use the property and save the tax! 10.Make the NLCBSA Council a beneficiary on a life insurance policy you no longer need!

James E. West Fellowship is in Reach Did you know that you can make a pledge to become a James E. West Fellow and NORTH DAKOTA TAX CREDIT make installment payments with a check or by using your MasterCard or Visa? FOR CHARITABLE GIVING Now the James E. West Fellowship Award is within every Scouter’s reach. Just complete the form below and return it to the Jon L. Wanzek Center for Scouting, TAX CREDITS BRING GREAT TAX INCENTIVE FOR INDIVIDUAL AND 4200 19th Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58103. Questions may be directed to Connie BUSINESS GIFTS TO THE QUALIFIED NORTHERN LIGHTS COUNCIL, Koehmstedt toll free at 1-877-293-5011. BSA ND TAX CREDIT ENDOWMENT FUND James E. West Fellowship Application [] $1000 paid by cash or securities. Are you a North Dakota individual taxpayer or an owner of a North Make payable to the Northern Lights Council. Dakota business? A beneficiary of a trust or estate which derives income taxable in North Dakota? If so, you have been presented with [] PLEDGE. Please bill me $ ______per []month [] quarter an unprecedented tax credit if you make gifts that help secure the Until pledge is paid in full. Total Pledge Amount______. future of a qualified North Dakota nonprofit organization(s) through a gift to its qualified endowment fund(s). [] Credit Card Authorization: I authorize the Council to charge my credit card Below is information concerning a law passed by the North Dakota [] $1000 full payment [] $83.34 per month for 12 months Legislature. This law is quite advantageous for donors who give to the Northern Lights Council, BSA ND Tax Credit Endowment Fund, ______[] $42.67 per month for 24 months Print name as it appears on credit card [] Other______as it allows for generous tax credits. Please feel free to contact [] Visa []Master Card Connie Koehmstedt at 701-293-5011 for additional information. ______Credit Card Number ______HOW THE TAX CREDIT WORKS FOR INDIVIDUAL DONORS : A 40% tax credit for gifts by individuals to a qualified endowment fund ______Expiration Date held by a qualifying North Dakota nonprofit organization. If an Signature individual makes a gift(s) to an endowment fund, the aggregate of the ______year’s gifts to a particular fund must be $5,000 or more. The tax Date credit is 40% of the charitable deduction allowed by the IRS up to a All contributions and bequests, which are made to the Northern maximum credit of $10,000 per year per taxpayer or $20,000 (50,000 Lights Council Endowment Fund, along with gains from their investment in gifts) per year per couple filing jointly. Unused credits may be transactions, will be permanently restricted and invested in perpetuity. carried forward for up to three additional tax years.

HOW THE TAX CREDIT WORKS FOR BUSINESS GIFTS: An income tax credit is far more valuable than a deduction since a credit MEMORIAL/TRIBUTE FUND offsets the computed income tax. This particular tax credit is claimed Recent Gifts to the Northern Lights Council on the North Dakota income tax return. The amount of the credit is Memorial/Tribute Fund to Benefit Scouting 40% of the value of a gift made to a qualified (permanent, In memory of SSG Andrew Paul Nelson �� Erin Nelson irrevocable) endowment fund of a ND nonprofit organization provided that the gift is deductible for Federal tax purposes. The tax In memory of Jack Hoeven ������������������������ Lisa Gibbens credit allowed in any one year may not exceed the current year tax liability; unused credits may be carried forward for up to three In memory of Gerald (Gerry) Stange �������� Tom Hall, Steve Shark, additional tax years. The annual limitation on this tax credit is Darlene Toczek, $10,000, determined at the entity level. Therefore, eligible gifts Ron & Kathy Schneider totaling up to $25,000 per year will bring about the maximum annual credit. In memory of Phil Schorn ��������������������������� Ron & Kathy Schneider AN INVITATION TO GIVE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING! In memory of Nancy Clark ������������������������� Steve Shark Gifts to the Northern Lights Council, BSA ND Tax Credit Endowment Fund will enable us to look to the future with In memory of Neil Cofell ����������������������������� Mark Erickstad confidence as we continue to fulfill our vital mission. Please contact Connie Koehmstedt at 701-293-5011 or email at In memory of Samuel Noeske ������������������� Travis & Mary Bakker [email protected] for additional information.

In memory of Gloria Wadeson ������������������� Janis Haugen Nothing in this article is intended to provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your professional tax advisor for specific information. In HONOR of Sen. Carolyn Nelson ���������� Paulette & Bruce Bowersox December 2017 - February 2018 NORTHERN HILITES - 7 FINANCE NORTHERN LIGHTS COUNCIL… FUNDING THE FUTURE OF SCOUTING 2018 Family Friends of Scouting Campaign Kicks Off! The goal of Northern Lights Council has always been to reach more youth with fun, quality programs that develop citizenship, character and physical fitness. Because of your financial support and the 3,114 registered adult volunteers, more than 10,100 registered youth are THANKS TO YOUR INVESTMENT WE participating in a quality Scouting program. CAN PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT Each year, we ask families of Scouts to participate in our Friends of • Resources and tools that are used to plan and coordinate local unit Scouting (FOS) campaign by making a financial contribution. programs. Delivering quality Scouting programs and resources across the Council • Leader training courses for youth and adult leaders. comes at a cost. In fact, it costs $250 per scout per year to deliver, maintain, and improve our programs and resources. • Purchase audio-visual equipment and supplies to support training and programs. Becoming a Friend of Scouting is easy. Follow these six steps: • Underwrite the cost of the council newsletter, mailed regularly to 1. Appoint your Unit Friends of Scouting (FOS) Representative each registered leader, providing communication and information to Your unit FOS representative ensures each family in the pack, troop or local leaders as well as our E-news communication. crew has been asked to participate in the annual FOS campaign. This • Help to underwrite the cost of our council website, the district person will work with the unit committee to schedule an FOS websites and websites for every Pack, Troop, Team and Crew in presentation and coordinate with your District’s Family Friends of Northern Lights Council. Scouting Chair or District Executive. • Support the Council Service Center, including telephone, postage, 2. Schedule a Unit FOS Presentation office supplies and staff. Units agree to plan and conduct an FOS presentation. The unit • Professional staff to guide and support District Operations and presentation will last no more than 7 to 10 minutes and should be Volunteer Unit Leaders. scheduled for a meeting you expect to have most parents and families at • Assistance to individuals for camperships, membership scholarships, (for Packs it may be the Blue & Gold Banquet or , for a uniforms and books to assist families who do not have the financial Troop a Court of Honor is best). January and February are the best ability to pay the full cost of the Scouting program. months for a Unit Friends of Scouting presentation. • Liability and Accident insurance for registered adult leaders, 3. Set a Goal chartering partners, youth members and the Boy Scout Council. Each unit has an FOS Goal. Units that achieve their FOS Goal will • Community based Cub Scout Day Camp programs and activities receive the Gold FOS recognition ribbon in addition to recognition in throughout the council. our Council newsletter and recognition onthe website. Ask your District’s Family Friends of Scouting Chair or District Executive for your • Support year-around camping programs across the Council. unit’s FOS Goal. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit • Support the maintenance and upkeep of camping facilities including, with them prior to your unit’s presentation. Camp Wilderness, Heart Butte Scout Reservation, Big-4 camp and the Tom Branter Memorial camp. 4. Send a Letter—Inform the Parents One to two weeks prior to the unit FOS presentation the unit FOS representative or another unit leader should send a letter, email or both, to all the families. The letter should explain what FOS is and let families know at the upcoming meeting you will be having a presentation. A sample letter is available on our council website. 5. The Presentation A volunteer representing the District will be happy to come and conduct your scheduled presentation. Your unit FOS representative should be there to assist. 6. Follow-up Some families will miss your presentation. After the presentation the unit FOS representative should call each family that was unable to attend and give them the opportunity to support FOS. All cards, even for those that do not give a gift, need to be turned in to your district’s Family Friends of Scouting Chair or District Executive. NORTHERN HILITES - 8 December 2017 - February 2018 CAMP WILDERNESS TIMBER HARVEST PLAN By Andy Kietzman, Camp Wilderness Ranger Bachelor of Science, Forestry

Well, I just beat the brutal cold this year for marking our next timber sale. As I write this article, there is snow on the ground outside my office, and the overnight low temps last week were below zero. I think I was able to flag and map the timber sale on the last day where the temps hit 50, probably until next spring! I am hopeful that this indicates great winter camp weather this year!! As usual, I wanted to give everybody a ‘heads-up’ as to where we will be harvesting timber this winter, and why. I have 2 parcels of timber flagged for work, and each is in that 16-19 acre range. That sounds significant, but one is a salvage harvest of some blown-down pine and a thinning of some standing pine, so we will be leaving a sizable portion intact in that area. The other is a standard harvest to remove overmature aspen and birch. The salvage harvest and pine thinning will be taking place on the western edge of Camp Wilderness, approximately due west of Buck Lake. A small portion of this project will be visible from Buck Lake, but most will be back away from the lake edge and won’t really be noticeable. We will remove any marketable blown-down timber in this area first, and then any overmature aspen, birch, and jack pine. The aspen and birch here is minimal, but the jack pine is mixed in with a red pine plantation, which is where we had the losses during the summer 2016 storm. This harvest will remove some of those downed trees, and that will improve access to this area and also reduce fire danger by removing large fuel loads from this part of camp. Once these things are taken care of, since we are there anyway, we will reduce the stand density on the plantation to allow those remaining trees to have more room to grow. This will encourage a healthier and stronger pine stand in this area in the future. To do this, in areas where trees are growing into each other and fighting for light, water, and nutrients, we will remove the trees that are smaller, stunted, or deformed so that the healthy trees can thrive. The second block is more typical of a standard harvest on the camp, and will take place on the recently donated Clark property, which is also on the west side of Camp. This harvest will be on the far SW corner of the camp, almost due west of Isle O Dreams Lodge. It will be triangle shaped, approximately, and a small portion of the harvest will be visible from Bad Axe, as one point of the triangle does come near the lake edge. This acreage is loaded with overmature aspen and birch in very rough shape, and is in dire need of attention. We will go in and target the aspen and birch first, and then remove any unhealthy jack pine, red pine, or white pine if necessary. Pine removal at this site should be very minimal based on what I have seen when marking timber. Most of this harvest -- I would guess 95% or more-- will focus on aspen and birch. We’ll be working our forest management plan on about half of the timber on our newly donated acreage. Even though the entire parcel is in need of attention, our goal here is to balance good management while also being sensitive to the fact that this harvest will impact views from Isle O Dreams, and also will be near the cabin of the donor family who gave us this parcel. Our intention is to harvest half of this site now and allow healthy regeneration to get underway, and then come back in several years and harvest the other half of these acres once this year’s site has had a chance to fill in with young healthy timber. It should lessen the visual impact for our friends and neighbors on the lake this way. In the long run, the aspen on the remaining acres may fall and rot, and when we do harvest, we won’t get as good of regeneration of the forest there, but we can come in and plant the site with pines at that time if needed. I still believe this is the right approach to take at this location. Good resource management is something all Scouts should be mindful of, but we also need to remember that a Scout is Friendly, Courteous, and Kind, and this area impacts more than just good timber management. So, bottom line, there won’t be any timber management taking place in the main part of camp this winter. Getting to a spot to watch the equipment and see the activity could be challenging for those of you who love to do so during winter camp, but we can still get you to these spots if you want. Just ask me how when you are here. As always, please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions about our forest management. You can always look me up when you are here, or call the camp phone, or email me at [email protected]. I look forward to seeing you soon! BUTLER WILDERNESS OUTPOST: VOLUNTEER PACK CAMP COORDINATOR

At the Northern Lights Council Center for Scouting, we understand how confusing registration for events can be. To help make registration easier, we will be setting up “Contingent Registration” for the summer camp program at Butler Wilderness Outpost. This means that participants will be registering as a Pack instead of each family registering on their own. This is also how we register for our Boy Scout Camps. Appointing a Volunteer Pack Camp Coordinator will be a great resource for this change, as they will serve as the main Point of Contact between parents, Pack leaders, and staff at Butler Wilderness Outpost. We will help train the Volunteer Pack Camp Coordinators, and we will supply them with information, updates, and resources to help make sure everyone has a fun time at summer camp!

Benefits of a Volunteer Pack Camp Coordinator to the Unit: • All parents receive consistent and timely updates via their Pack Camp Coordinator • Parents will be familiar with their Pack Camp Coordinator, and feel more confident in asking questions • Questions from multiple families can be answered by the Pack Camp Coordinator, saving multiple phone calls and unnecessary waiting time • Having a Pack Camp Coordinator ensures families, Packs, and staff are all on the same page

What does a Volunteer Pack Camp Coordinator Do? • Help coordinate the dates that the pack will be attending camp • Provide information to the families, as well as field questions from parents • Communicate all questions or concerns with Kasey at the Center for Scouting • Gather information on each participant, and register for summer camp as a Pack • Work in conjunction with your Pack Treasurer to gather participant payments, and make one payment to the Northern Lights Council • Register as a Pack in a timely fashion. Remind families to make early bird deadlines and to turn in scholarship requests in order to save participants both time and money After a Volunteer Pack Camp Coordinator has been selected, we ask that his/her contact information be forwarded to Kasey Carter, Program Assistant, at the Center for Scouting at 701-499-0650 or [email protected] to maintain accurate records regarding your Point of Contact. Please submit the following: (1) Unit type & number (e.g., Pack 1234), (2) Name, (3)Phone number, and (4) Email. December 2017 - February 2018 NORTHERN HILITES - 9 WILDERNESS ROMP CUB SCOUT WINTER WONDERLAND February 10th, 2018 CAMP WILDERNESS The 2018 Camp Wilderness ROMP Program is December 9, 2017 on Saturday, February 10th and is $20 per Cub Scout Winter Wonderland is a fun family day packed person. Program runs from 10-6 and lunch and with program, including “sleigh” hay rides, holiday light dinner is provided in the Dining Hall. competition and display, Cardboard Box Races, Ice Golf, Curling, Cross- sledding hill races, and much Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, and ice fishing more. Event runs 10:00 am are just some of the program activities planned to 6:00 pm and the fee is $20 for a fun winter day! per person (includes Cabins and food are also available for the weekend and run for the same program, lunch, dinner and event patch). Registration rates as winter camp. for this day event is online Sign-up for this event online: from our winter camp page http://www.nlcbsa.org/ http://www.nlcbsa.org/ wintercamphttp://www.nlcbsa.org/ WinterCamp. Cabins and food service are also available for wintercamp the weekend and run for the normal charge of winter camp.

CAMPMASTERS WANTED POLAR CUB DAY AT CAMP WILDERNESS We are currently looking for Adult volunteers to be SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2018 Campmasters during winter camp weekends at Camp Wilderness. You would be in charge of checking in the groups Polar Cub Program is on Saturday, March 4 and is $20 per as they arrive on Friday, checking in and out winter equipment person. This program runs from 10-6 and includes lunch and such as skis, snow shoes, etc. and then checking out the dinner in the Dining Hall. Cabins and food are available for groups on Sunday morning. the weekend and run for the same rates as winter camp. If you decided that the Boy Scout camp is where you would Download the flyer and register for this event online at www. like to help out, you will stay in Silver Beaver Lodge for the nlcbsa.org. weekend. The cabin has 4 bunks, a full kitchen, and 3/4 bathroom. There is also a T.V. and DVD player for your use. Dress for the weather, in layers, and If you decided that the Cub Scout camp is where you would bring a spare… like to help out, you will stay in the Health Lodge in the Jones Bring along small daypack with extra Tower. The Jones Tower has 6 bunks, a full bathroom, a water, some snacks, extra mittens/ microwave, fridge, T.V. and DVD player for your use. gloves, extra socks, and warm boots. If you are interested in any weekend this winter, please contact Bring along your own winter fishing Kasey Carter, Program Assistant, at the Center for Scouting at equipment, sleds, tubes, skis, and 877-293-5011 or email [email protected]. snowshoes.

2017 BOY SCOUT WEEK-LONG WINTER CAMP Camp Wilderness is the place for Boy Scout Troops to be for a week-long winter camp experience! Check-in the evening of December 26th and check-out the morning of December 31st. This Boy Scout camping opportunity will prove to be a winter blast for your Scouts. Snow sports, snow shelter building and winter survival skills, just to name a few of the activities to keep Scouts moving and most importantly having fun!

2017/2018 WINTER CAMP SEASON AT CAMP WILDERNESS Come spend the weekend and have some outdoor winter fun! We have heated cabins available for the winter season. Make your winter camp weekend cabin reservations online at http://www.nlcbsa.org/wintercamp. www.nlbsca.org/wintercamp NORTHERN HILITES - 10 December 2017 - February 2018 2018 Camp Wilderness-Northern 2018 BOY SCOUT Tier Boundary Waters Canoe Trip SUMMER CAMP We have once again partnered with Norther Tier to offer a 5-day Boundary Waters trip! This will allow older Scouts in your troop RESERVATIONS to go on a high adventure trip while your younger Scouts attend Camp Wilderness 2018 Boy Camp Wilderness. Registration will be online directly through Scout Summer Camp registration Northern Tier. Registration is per individual, if we do not have is open. Summer camp weeks the minimum number of participants registered by April 1st, your run June 17-July 22. Make your $100 deposit will be refunded. A minimum of 1 adult and 4 reservation online at: youth is needed and can combine Scouts from multiple troops to reach this number http://www.nlcbsa.org/Camping/ BoyScoutPrograms/ The 2018 fee per person is $450: $100 due at registration $150 due April 1, 2018 BSSummerCamp/ $200 due May 1, 2018 Register today to ensure you get Fee includes transportation from Camp Wilderness to Northern the week your want! Tier on Sunday, a 5-day trip in the Boundary Waters, and transportation back to Camp Wilderness. ARE YOU ELIGIBLE? LOOKING AHEAD TO To participate in the Camp Wilderness-Northern Tier canoe trip, you (Scout) must be: THE 2018 CAMP SEASON... 1) a registered Boy Scout, Varsity Scout or Venturer 2) must be 14 years old OR completed 8th Grade and Camp Wilderness is starting the staffing process for anyone be 13 years old by the time of arrival interested in a position for the 2018 summer camping season. 3) be classified as a “swimmer” prior to arrival You can fill out an application at http://www.nlcbsa.org/Camping/ CampStaff/. Interviews will be will be conducted at the Jon L. ADULT LEADERSHIP Wanzek Center for Scouting or via conference call. Please A minimum of one registered adult leader (21+) or parent of a contact Tom Barry, Council Program Director, to schedule an youth participant (21+). There are no gender restrictions for interview at 701-293-5011 or email [email protected]. leadership except that a co-ed Venturing crew must have both male and female leadership (21+). Each crew must have at least one adult currently trained in CPR, Wilderness First Aid, Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, Weather Hazards and Youth Protection. All adults need not be trained and the training may be SCUBA Merit Badge And shared among the adults. PADI Certification GET A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND PARENTAL PERMISSION Camp Wilderness has partnered with All participants, youth and adult, MUST bring a completed Mick’s SCUBA to offer the SCUBA Annual BSA Health and Medical Record form. Be sure to Merit Badge and PADI Certification to provide the doctor Parts A, B, C and the High Adventure Advisory Scouts attending Camp Wilderness statement when you go for your physical exam. during Week 4 (July 8-14), Week 5 (July 15-21) and Week 6 (July 22-28). Scouts who participate in this program will be transported to Clear Lake, located near the north entrance of Requirements for Adults Attending Itasca State Park each day for this program. Cost includes on-line training from PADI, use of Boy Scout Summer Camps diving equipment, oxygen tanks, diving The Boy Scouts of America now requires all adults instructor, and your week of attending accompanying a Boy Scout troop to a summer resident camp, Camp Wilderness. The on-line training High Adventure Camp, or any event lasting 72 hours or more must be completed before arriving at must be registered as a leader in a local unit, district, or Camp Wilderness. council. This includes the completion of a background check Who: Scouts must be 14 years of age by the start of class. and having current Youth Protection training. This new Scouts will be given preference and interested adults will be policy goes into effect June 1, 2018, at the start of the put on a waiting list until the sign-up deadline. summer camping season. When: Weeks 4 (July 8-14), 5 (July 15-21), and 6 (July Here are a few key things to remember: 22-28) • This only applies to the Boy Scout program Cost: $575. Cost includes PADI • This applies to all adults accompanying a Boy Scout troop certification, dive expenses, and to summer camp who is staying the night in camp. camp fees for attending Camp • The adults must have completed the entire registration Wilderness for the week. process, including the background check. Please note that a background check takes at least 3 days to process. Please submit any adult registration forms to the council office at least 2 weeks before your arrival at camp. NORTHERN HILITES - 11 December 2017-February 2018 FLICKERTAIL DISTRICT #1 FRIENDS OF SCOUTING Serving Eddy, Foster, Griggs, Steele, Barnes, Stutsman, Lamoure, Ransom, Dickey and Our goal is to serve more youth with stronger Scouting programs and activities. The Sargent Counties. focus of our fundraising effort is service to our youth, their families, and our volunteers. District Commissioner... Andrew Banks...... [email protected] More than 11,000 youth, their parents & families, and more than 3,500 registered adult District Executive...... Michael Schatz...... [email protected] volunteers will directly and indirectly benefit from the dollars raised for Scouting in the (507) 254-7301, PO Box 242, Jamestown 58402 Northern Lights Council DECEMBER If you do not have a Friends of Scouting presentation sent up for the unit please contact 8-9- Cub Winter Camp @CW Michael Schatz at (507)-254-7301 or [email protected] 14 – District Committee Meeting @ 6:30pm /Roundtable @ 7:00pm 15- Popcorn Payments due to Council 25-26- Council Office Closed CHARTER RENEWAL 26-31- Boy Scout Winter Week @ CW Each year, scouting units (Packs, Troops, and Crews) are required to renew their charters JANUARY with the Northern Lights Council. The charter is the official agreement between the 1 – Council Office Closed council and your local chartered organization to provide a program under the auspices of 11 – District Committee Meeting @ 6:30pm /Roundtable @ 7:00pm the BSA. The process of renewing a unit's charter reinforces this agreement year-to-year 17- FOS Kickoff and provides an opportunity to update registration records and qualify for Journey to 19- Fargo Force Scout night Excellence recognition. The deadline for charter renewal for the district is January 31. 31- Charters need to be into the Council Office

FEBRUARY WINTER CAMPS 8- District Committee Meeting @ 6:30pm /Roundtable @ 7:00pm Winter Camp begins December 8th, 2017, with the Cub Scout Winter Wonderland ROUNDTABLES (MONTHLY LEADER MEETING) weekend, and runs every weekend January 5th through March 4th, 2018. Groups are The Roundtable meetings are held the 2nd Thursday of most months (see the district encouraged to spend the night at camp, but day trips are always welcome! Camp is also calendar) at Atonement Lutheran Church, 1009 12th Ave. NE, Jamestown, ND beginning open for a week-long Boy Scout winter camp experience December 26-31. A separate at 7:00 pm. leader’s guide for this week-long camp is available online. The Cub Scout Winter These meetings are designed to be help sessions for pack and troop leaders – a time to Wonderland is December 9th. Every Pack that signs up for this weekend must pay the get information and ask questions. If your pack or troop can’t arrange to have someone Winter Wonderland fees as well. The Wilderness ROMP is on February 10th. Every unit attend in person, please make sure that someone can participate online via the Go to signed up for the weekend of the ROMP must pay the ROMP fees as well. The Polar Meeting web conference. Cub Camp is March 3rd and is open to Cub Scout families only. Every Pack that signs up for the weekend must pay the Polar Cub fees as well.

OXCART TRAILS DISTRICT #3 SUMMER Serving Grant, Otter Tail, Richland, and Wilkin counties in and North Dakota. Summer is a quiet time in the district, but it is a wild time at Camp Wilderness! I am sure there are many amazing stories that our Scouts and leaders could tell, but I’m going District Chair...... Vacant to let the pictures tell the stories! District Executive…...... Lindsay Aune...... 701.799.6753...... [email protected] Check out and LIKE or District on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OxcartTrailsDistrict

DECEMBER 1 5:45 PM District Committee Meeting, Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN 1 7:00 PM Round Table/Charter Renewal, Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN

JANUARY 4 5:45 PM District Committee Meeting, Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN 4 7:00 PM Round Table, Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN 20 9 AM – 3:00 PM, (Boy Scout), Moccasin Valley, MN

FEBRUARY 1 6:30 PM District Awards Banquet, Grace United Methodist Church, Fergus Falls, MN

RECAP OF 2017 This year has been an amazing year for Oxcart Trails! We have had remarkable stories FALL come from all over the district, and I want to share some of the great memories we had We had an AMAZING fall! After all of our Cub Scout fall recruitments, we have had from this year. over 150 brand new Cub Scouts Join our Packs! Our District Executive, Lindsay Aune, was at a few of these School Night for Scouting events, one of which was in Perham, WINTER MN. Gordon Przybylski went into all three elementary schools to perform Scouting Earlier this year, at our first Boy Scout Event of the year, Troop 307, a group of younger Magic tricks to all the 1st through 5th graders and we had a great turn out! There were scouts took home the First Prize at the Klondike Derby! Our District Recognition over 50 scouts that showed up that night, with their parents to learn what scouting was Banquet was one of the best attended in recent memory. We had over 90 people who all about. It was an amazing night! That pack doubled in size over night because of the attended, with great food prepared by Dave Iverson! Mark DeMartelaere put together the dedication and endeavors of the leadership in the community. program. Mike Guck was awarded the District Award of Merit, and we had many leaders throughout the district recognized for all their efforts for their efforts over the past year POPCORN SALE IDEAS in leadership positions in their packs and troops. The Eagle Rank is the Highest rank is the greatest achievement a Scout can earn as a youth. You can recognize an Eagle Scout by their hard work, dedication, and their ability SPRING to recite the Scout Oath and Scout Law at your request. This year, we have had 14 In March, we had our Annual Scout for Food Event, where we had Scouts from all over Scouts receive the rank of Eagle. It is a great accomplishment, one that they will the district go around the communities and collect food to donate to food pantries to remember for the rest of their lives. These are the men who received their Eagle Rank. support those in need. We collected 6,364 pounds and $1660 to support those in need! This is an amazing effort put forth by the Scouts, as well as our communities to help Taylor Armstrong Justin Mark those in need. We thank all of those who could help on that day, and look forward to our Cameron Bratz Tucker Nundahl Scouting for Food day on March 17, 2018! In April, our very own Doug Hansen was awarded with the Silver Beaver for his impact on youth throughout the council. It was a Adam Cooper Justin Sagerhorn great day to see so many great Scouters from the Council awarded for their continued Connor Hexum Isaac Samuels service to the youth in the program. Chase Hibl Ryan Tollefson Ethan Jeffries David Wallington Harrison Maas Daniel Zitzow

LAKES DISTRICT #4 16 Commissioners Meeting, 8:00pm Web/phone conference based Serving the Minnesota counties of Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stevens, Swift, and Traverse. 20 Klondike Derby (Boy Scout Troops invited to Oxcart Trails Event), Glendalough State Park District Chairman...... Adrian Panther...... 720-308-4567 ...... [email protected] 23 OA Ceremony/Regalia meeting (Calvary Lutheran, 6:30 pm) District Commissioner...... Mike Denke…..320-491-8381……[email protected] District Director...... Darin Steindl…….701-499-0646……[email protected] FEBRUARY 3 Cub Scout Winter Adventure Day, Runestone Park See our events and news updates on our District Website: www.nlcbsa.org/lakes 4 Scout Sunday Check out and LIKE or District on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lakesbsa 6 6:30 PM District Annual meeting & Committee Meeting, Calvary Lutheran church Alexandria 6 6:30 PM Order of the Arrow Chapter Meeting Calvary Lutheran church Alexandria DECEMBER 6 7:30 PM District Round Table Calvary Lutheran church Alexandria. 5 7:30 PM Recharter Turn-in & Help session at Round Table 13 FOAM - Fun OA meeting (Location TBA, 6:30 pm) 5 6:30 PM District committee meeting Calvary Lutheran church Alexandria 4-10 Scouting Anniversary Week 5 6:30 PM Order of the Arrow Chapter Meeting Calvary Lutheran church Alexandria 20 Commissioners Meeting, 8:00pm Web/phone conference based 5 7:30 PM District Round Table Calvary Lutheran church Alexandria 27 OA Ceremony/Regalia meeting (Calvary Lutheran, 6:30 pm) 12 FOAM - Fun OA meeting (Location TBA, 6:30 pm) 18 Commissioners Meeting, 8:00pm Web/phone conference based Boy Scout Klondike Derby, January 20, 2018 19 ALL Recharters are Due to Your District Executive On Saturday January 20th we are invited to participate in the Oxcart Trails Klondike 19 Recharter Turn in Night-Alexandria South Dairy Queen 4:00-7:00pm Derby. Cost will be approximately $10.00 and will cover admission, insurance, food, and 26 OA Ceremony/Regalia meeting (Calvary Lutheran, 6:30 pm) a patch. Event details will be online by the time you read this. Registration will begin at 8:00am and the event will start at 9am and run until about 3pm. Your unit will need to JANUARY register scouts online at http://www.nlcbsa.org/OxcartTrails/Calendar/ 2 6:30 PM District committee meeting Calvary Lutheran church Alexandria 2 6:30 PM Order of the Arrow Chapter Meeting Calvary Lutheran church Alexandria 2 7:30 PM District Round Table Calvary Lutheran church Alexandria. 9 FOAM - Fun OA meeting (Location TBA, 6:30 pm) December 2017-February 2018 NORTHERN HILITES - 12 CUB SCOUT WINTER ADVENTURE DAY Crews can focus on 8th graders. The spring is a great time to do this as we can get new On Saturday, February 3rd all Cub Scouts (including Lions) and any boys in grades 1-5 Scouts involved before the end of the School year and into our great summer adventures! are invited out to Cub Scout Winter Adventure Day at Kensington Runestone Park. This Please let Your District Executive know about your Spring Recruitment plans! event is put on by Order of the Arrow members in our District and promises to be a lot DISTRICT RECOGNITION DINNER-Nominations Wanted of fun. Please bring a sled and helmet for the awesome sledding hill, as well as plenty of The Lakes District will be holding its annual recognition dinner on Thursday, March 8th warm clothes and dress in layers! Fun games will be played along with other activities with location TBD. Cost will be around $20. The awards that we will be giving out are and a cool craft. Registration starts at 8:30am and the event runs from 9:00AM-3:00PM. based on everyone nominating someone for an award. The nomination form is on our Early bird cost is only $12 and includes lunch and a patch. Adults will cost $5 and Website at: http://www.nlcbsa.org/lakes. Nominations are due to your DE by February includes the lunch. Registration will take place in the Barn. Please register online by 6th, 2018. Find the form Online at: www.nlcbsa.org/lakes. All 2017 Eagle Scouts are January 26th to take advantage of the reduced $12 fee. After the 28th and at the door, invited to join us with their parents. They will be awarded a special certificate from the the price for scouts is $15 and $7 for Adults. Early Registration is appreciated! District, only if they attend and RSVP they are attending with their parents. Look for Questions contact Brenda Thomson at 320-760-5605. Register online at http://www. registration online soon! nlcbsa.org/Lakes WEBELOS TO SCOUT TRANSITION-New Idea to Try! LAKES DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE We learned of a great idea that has worked for many Troops to have a significant amount This will be held on Tuesday, February 6th at 6:30pm at the Calvary Lutheran Church in of Webelos Cross-over into their Troops. Work with your Cub Scout Packs to have the Alexandria. The district slate of officers and members-at-large will be voted on. Voting Webelos Den Meetings at your Troop meetings. This is for 4th and 5th graders. You can members are the registered District Members-at-large and any registered Chartered incorporate them into the opening and then they start their meeting. This will show them Organization Representatives. that they have some much to look forward to as Boy Scouts after Cub Scouts. The FAMILY FRIENDS OF SCOUTING 2018 Webelos would still do Cub Scout Pack meetings and events, but this would be another It is that time of year again: time for your Pack or Troop or Crew to set your Family way to keep more boys from dropping out. Give it a try and let me know if you are going Friends of Scouting date. We would like to do this at a Pack’s Blue and Gold banquet or to be trying it to see if it ends up working. 98% of all Boy Scouts were Cub Scouts so a Pinewood Derby or a Troop Court of Honor. The presentation will take no longer than work with your Cub Scout Pack in your area! Have Den Chiefs help out and earn 10 minutes. Friends of Scouting gives each family the opportunity to make a tax leadership for rank advancement. More boys will cross-over the more involved the Troop deductible donation to the Northern Lights Council to help support all the great programs is with the Pack. we provide to your units. These include Camp Wilderness (winter and summer camp), RECHARTERING—YES ITS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR! fall round up support materials, training for adult leaders, scholarships for families that cannot afford scouting, insurance for all members and chartered organizations and keeps We start Rechartering a Month Early this year. November 1st is the first day you can go costs of all activities and events low so all can afford our great programs. Please e-mail on and start rechartering online. Here is the Timeline for Rechartering: Darin or Cory Dierks your Date, Time and Location of your Blue and Gold (or Pinewood • Now: start asking everyone that is currently on your charter, for those that aren’t Derby) or Court of Honor so we can get your presentation scheduled. Also, you can sign currently attending meetings, if they plan to still be in Scouts. up here: http://www.nlcbsa.org/Lakes/News/2017D4FOSPresentationSignup • Nov. Come to Roundtable at 7:30pm at Calvary Lutheran in Alex to pick up your We want these to occur in the months of January or February or March this year and we Recharter. Bring a laptop and we can actually start your recharter online as we will can do them in December if your Troop has a Court of Honor set. Our Family FOS Chair do a recharter as an example for everyone. Also, bring your list of youth and adults is Cory Dierks and he can be reached at 320-808-4730, [email protected]. that should be currently registered in your unit. SPRING RECRUITMENTS FOR ALL SCOUTING UNITS • Dec. 5th: Recharter turn-in #1, 7:30pm at Roundtable. You can also bring in what We do most of our recruiting in the Fall for our Programs, but starting now we need to you have so far and get help in finishing your recharter. start working on our plans for Spring Recruiting! For Cub Scouts we will focus on current Kindergarten Boys and any grades that you are short on members. I want your • December 19th: Reacharter Turn-in #2, 4-7pm at the South Dairy Queen in Alex. Pack, if you have an active summer program being planned (at least one activity per This is the final Due date in order to receive free rank patches in 2018. All month), to participate in this in the month of April! May is getting really late to do spring Recharters must be error-free to be considered on-time also. recruitment. For Boy Scouts, we can focus on 5th and 6th graders in your community. Questions feel free to ask District Commissioner Mike Denke. NORTHERN SKY DISTRICT #5 DISTRICT TRAINING INFORMATION --All Scouters, Scoutmasters, Assistant Successfully serving youth through community organizations in Cass, Trail, Scoutmasters, and Webelos Leaders and Parents are invited to attend. Clay, Becker, Mahnomen and Norman counties in North Dakota and Minnesota. District Chairman...... Trent Gerads Training dates are listed via flyers at roundtable as well as the district calendar on the District Commissioner...... Jefri Jones council website. The council will be offering online trainings as well as several options District Director...... Kevin Mehrer...... [email protected]...... 701-499-0645 the second full week of December. Contact the scout office for more information Senior District Executive...... Brett Drevlow...... [email protected]...... 701-499-0659 KLONDIKE DECEMBER 2017 Put your scout skills to the test in one of the most exciting Boy Scout events taking 7 Roundtable @ Center for Scouting, Fargo place on January 20th at the MSUM Science Center at Buffalo River State Park; our 11 Den Leader Training @ Center for Scouting, Fargo annual Klondike Derby! Catch the early registration before January 8th at 12 Den Leader Training @ Center for Scouting, Fargo http://www.nlcbsa.org/Event.aspx?id=7307! 13 Cub Master, Den Leader, Committee Member Training @ Center for Scouting, Fargo 14 Eagle Board of Reviews 15 Cub Master, Den Leader, Committee Member Training @ Center for Scouting, Fargo FARGO FORCE 21 OA Chapter Meeting Join us for our annual scout night with the Fargo Force! View our different options for 21 Commissioner Meeting how to enjoy the night! Reserve your ticket before January 11th to watch the game, stay the night, and skate with the players on Friday, January 19th at JANUARY 2018 4 Roundtable @ Center for Scouting, Fargo http://www.nlcbsa.org/Event.aspx?id=7118! 11 Eagle Board of Reviews 18 OA Chapter Meeting WEBELOS TO SCOUT TRANSITION 18 Commissioner Meeting Does your pack have scouts that are moving on up to 5th or 6th grade? Talk with your 19 Fargo Force leaders about different troops in the area and set up a time to visit a meeting or two! 20 Klondike Derby This is a great time to hop in on an outing with a troop to get acquainted with how a troop runs versus a pack. If you have questions on how the transition works, contact FEBRUARY 2018 your pack leader or the scout office. 1 Roundtable @ Center for Scouting, Fargo 8 Eagle Board of Review 15 OA Chapter Meeting BOY SCOUT OPEN HOUSE Boy Scout recruiting events are seldom considered as they can be challenging with 15 Commissioner Meeting minimal preparation. Consider hosting an open house this fall or spring and ponder the different types of activities that would draw in transitioning cub scouts as well as new ROUNDTABLE INFORMATION scouts. Contact Brett Drevlow (701-499-0659) if you are interested in setting up a Boy The District Roundtable meeting is held on the first Thursday of every month at the Jon Scout Join Night! L. Wanzek Center for Scouting. The meeting starts at 7:00 PM and is usually over by 8:30 PM. This is a great time to come and hear about notable scouting news and DISTRICT RECOGNITION DINNER upcoming programs/ events. It is also a great opportunity to meet and mingle with other Are you wanting to nominate a scout leader for an award? The time of year for our unit leaders and parents. annual district recognition dinner is approaching rapidly! Submit your nominations to We invite everyone to attend the monthly roundtables. the scout office no later than Friday, January 5th, 2018.

LAKE AGASSIZ DISTRICT #8 Serving youth in Towner, Cavalier, Pembina, Ramsey, Walsh, Nelson, Grand Forks, and JANUARY Traill Counties in Northeast North Dakota. 4 District Committee Meeting --, Holy Family 6:00 pm District Chairman – Mark Nelson 11 Cubmaster Leader Specific—Holy Family, 6:00 pm 11 Roundtable – Holy Family Catholic, 7:00 pm District Commissioner – Tom Henderson 12-14 OA Winter Fellowship, Grand Forks District Director – Thomas D. Huether, (406)780-0690, [email protected] 15 Offices Closed DECEMBER 19 Scout Night with the Fargo Force 1-3 Merit Badge Weekend – Camp Wilderness 20 District Retreat 1 2018 OA Dues 25 Commissioner Meeting—Grand Forks Field Offices, 7:00 pm 7 District Meeting – Holy Family Catholic, 6:00 pm 8-10 Winter Camp – Camp Wilderness FEBRUARY 9 Cub Winter Wonderland – Camp Wilderness 1 District Annual Meeting—Holy Family, 6:00 pm 14 Webelo’s Leader Specific – Holy Family Catholic, 6:00 pm 7 Report to the Governor 14 Roundtable – Holy Family Catholic, 7:00 pm 8 Den Leader Specific Training—Holy Family, 6:00 pm 15 Popcorn Payment Due 8 Roundtable—Holy Family, 7:00 pm 19 OA Meeting 16 Council Annual Meeting 25 Office Closed 19 Offices Closed 26 Office Closed 22 Commissioner Meeting—Grand Forks Field Offices, 7:00 pm 26-31 Boy Scout Winter Week Camp – Camp Wilderness NORTHERN HILITES - 13 December 2017-February 2018

MARCH 1 Spring Product Sale Begins FRIENDS OF SCOUTING 1 District Committee Meeting – Holy Family, 6:00 pm What does Friends of Scouting Support? 3 Polar Cub Fun Day @ CW • Provide program helps and resources used to plan and coordinate local unit 8 Webelo’s Leader Specific Training – Holy Family, 6:00 pm programs. 8 Roundtable – Holy Family, 7:00 pm 17 Scouting for Food Begins • Provide basic leader training courses for adult leaders. 20 District Recognition Banquet • Purchase audio-visual equipment and supplies to support training and pro- 24 Scouting for Food pickup gram in local communities. 29 Commissioner Meeting – Grand Forks Field Office, 7:00 pm • Underwrite the cost of the council newsletter, mailed regularly to each regis- 30 Offices Closed (Good Friday) tered leader, providing communication and information to local leaders. • Underwrite the cost of the council website, district websites and websites for every pack, troop, team and crew in the Northern Lights Council. TRAINING • Support the Council Service Center, including telephone, postage, office sup- A Scout deserves a well-trained leader. This is very true. Scouting is the oppor- plies and staff. tunity to have fun, adventures, make lifelong friends and more, but for leaders • Pay liability insurance for registered adult leaders, chartering partners, youth who may be new to their position they may be asking the question, “What do I do members and the Boy Scout Council. now?” Well the answer for that is to get trained! The Lake Agassiz District will • Pay for the cost of a District Executive, who works with local leaders and be conducting monthly trainings starting in October the Hour before Roundtable communities to support and grow the Scouting program. This District Execu- starts. Here is the Training Calendar: tive recruits, trains and supports local volunteers who in turn, work directly with youth to provide the Scouting program. November 29-Cub Scout Basic Training via Go to Webinar @ 6:30 – 8:30 pm • Provide community based Cub Scout Day Camp programs throughout the December14-Webelo’s Leader Specific Training @ 6:00 pm council. January 11-Cubmaster Specific Training @ 6:00 pm • Support local weekend programs, activities and the overall camping programs January 13-District Retreat & District Committee Workshop Training of the council. February 8-Den Leader Specific Training @ 6:00 pm • Support summer and winter camping programs and subsidize camp staff in March 8-Webelo’s Leader Specific Training @ 6:00 pm providing camping programs. Once a quarter we will offer a Cub Scout Basic Training via Go To Webinar • Support the maintenance and upkeep of council camping facilities including, Camp Wilderness, Heart Butte Scout Reservation, Big-4 camp and the Tom ROUNDTABLE Branter Memorial camp. What is Roundtable you ask? Well roundtable is a once a month training provided • And much more! by the district for Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leaders. It is a great place to come learn about upcoming activities, meet and interact with other Cub Leaders and WEBELOS TRANSITION more. Come on out each month on the 2nd Thursday to roundtable! Boy Scout leaders if you haven’t already made contact with the Webelos Dens in the communities nearby, you are running out of time. The District will be mail- SPRING PRODUCT SALE ing out at Troop information brochure to all registered 5th grade Webelos Scouts. The 2018 Spring Jerky Sales are coming up! What is the Spring Product Sale? This sheet will have included all the information a new scout needs to make con- The Spring Product sale is set up to help scouts earn money to pay for Day Camp, tact with all the Troops in our district. Troop leaders if you have not sent in your Cub Resident Camp, Boy Scout Summer Camp, and High Adventure trips. We are unit’s information sheet, please do so; otherwise the mailer will go out without excited to work with Jack links to bring you the sale this spring. Scouts will be your Troop’s information in it. Troop leaders also do not forget we are asking able to earn 33% commission on all sales! Your unit will need to order the spring every troop to put a welcome packet together that you will pass out to all visiting product by January 15! Webelos Scouts. Please remember to make a copy for your District Director; he would like to have one from each Troop. FAMILY FRIENDS OF SCOUTING It is that time of year again, Family Friends of Scouting. Many of you have already scheduled your unit presentation, but if you haven’t yet please do so. Friends of Scouting is important part of the year for the Northern Lights Coun- cil. With the money that is raised during the campaign we are able to continue to improve many of our camping opportunities and other programs that we as a Council offer. The funds also go to support our efforts to improve the health of all the units in our council. Please consider supporting Friends of Scouting this year.

ROUGHRIDER DISTRICT #10 District Commissioner...... Christi Chernich WINTER FUN DAY District Chair...... Jeremy Berger All District Cub Scouts are invited to attend the Annual Winter Fun Day on District Executive...... Beth Ann Pulley ������������������������������������� [email protected] Sunday January 14th, 2018 from 4 to 6 PM at West River Ice Center. The Scouts and their families will have the ice rink to themselves. This event DECEMBER costs $5 entry for ALL kids and $2 skate rental for anyone who needs 7 District Committee Christmas them. ANYONE GETTING ON THE ICE MUST WEAR A HELMET! 12 Roundtable BIKE OR HOCKEY HELMET, according to BSA rules and regs. 25-26 Christmas Offices Closed DISTRICT ADVANCEMENT All Scout units need to complete the BSA Advancement Form to order JANUARY Advancements from the Fargo Center for Scouting. This insures a record of 2 District Committee Meeting youth Advancements can be maintained. Advancement forms are avail- 9 Roundtable able at www.nlcbsa.org Brian Shock is the District Advancement Chair. 14 Winter Fun Day Advancement includes the “Life to Eagle Scout” Process, Troop, Pack and Venture Advancement, Requirements, and Recognition. FEBRUARY DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETING & ELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT 6 District Committee Meeting The annual Business Meeting and Election of members for the Roughrider 13 Roundtable District is set for: Tuesday, February 6th, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at the Dickin- TBD District Banquet son Chamber of Commerce, 314 3rd Ave W. Dickinson, ND. All District Members, District Committee Members, Executive Board Members and Charter Partner Representatives are eligible to vote and welcome to attend. WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW CUB SCOUTS This has been an exciting few months for Cub Scouts as we added hun- WHERE DO YOU GET HELP, SUPPORT & CONTACT INFORMATION? dreds of new Scouts to the program in the Roughrider District. A special The District Web Page of course! Go to www.nlcbsa.org, then click on welcome to all the new families who have joined Scouts over the last few districts, then Roughrider and you will have the information you need. To months. We hope that your experience with your son is enjoyable and you post news items, accomplishments, activities, or any other information you get to see the benefits that Scouting has to offer to your son. A Big Thank would like to share with the District, send them to Beth Ann Pulley at You for all the Packs and their hard work in making this year’s recruitment [email protected] a huge success in the Roughrider District. IMPORTANT LINKS Northern Lights Council Website: http://www.nlcbsa.org/ ANNUAL FRIENDS OF SCOUTING CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY Scouting doesn’t just happen by chance it takes a lot of volunteers who are Roughrider District Website: http://www.nlcbsa.org/roughrider recruited trained, and supported. Friends of Scouting pays for services to Roughrider District Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nlcbsaroughrider volunteers, units and youth. It also provides scholarships and maintenance Fargo Scout Shop: http://www.nlcbsa.org/fargoscoutshop of four Council camps, supplies and materials to units, and much more. Boys Life (Great Site): http://www.boyslife.org/ Each unit should set a date, typically in conjunction with a Cub Pack Blue and Gold Banquet or a Boy Scout Court of Honor for a Friends of Scouting DISTRICT EXECUTIVE INFORMATION presentation at your unit. Your unit Friends of Scouting presentation should Beth Ann Pulley take place prior to March 1, 2018 Units should also recruit a unit Friends Northern Lights Council, BSA of Scouting Chair. Please provide the date of your Friends of Scouting pre- P.O. Box 1061 sentation to Amelia Dustin 701-260-6769 or by email at ameliascoutelia@ Dickinson, ND 58602 gmail.com [email protected] December 2017-February 2018 NORTHERN HILITES - 14 TOMAHAWK DISTRICT #11 District Chairman...... Jared Lundeen Commissioner...... Mike Kelly Field Director...... Cory Wrolstad �������������������������������������������������� 701-223-7204 District Executive...... P J Jenkins KEEPING NEW FAMILIES INVOLVED IN YOUR CUB SCOUT PACK DECEMBER There is a key approach to keep new families engaged to your Cub Scout Pack. 7 Commissioner’s Meeting @Bethany Lutheran Church- 6pm Here are some tips for a smooth transition and helping those new families stay in 7 Roundtables @Bethany Lutheran Church- 7pm Scouting. • When is your next Meeting? Details are critical for new families. JANUARY • Contact information is important – Ensure that each new Cub Scout family 4 Commissioner’s Meeting @Bethany Lutheran Church-6pm has both a contact number and email for the pack. 4 Roundtables @Bethany Lutheran Church-7pm • Involvement – Getting each parent involved in some way is important for the 25 District Committee Meeting @Town and Country Credit Union- 4:30pm future of the pack. It does not have to be a huge task. A small ask can go a long way. FEBRUARY 1 Commissioner’s Meeting @Bethany Lutheran Church-6pm THE KLONDIKE DERBY!!!! 1 Roundtables @Bethany Lutheran Church- 7pm It is that time of the year. This is a great opportunity for Boy Scouts to learn new 3 The Klondike Derby @Big 4 skills and have fun out in the frigid cold. There will be a myriad of different 17 Winter Fun Day @ Minot State University stations such as building a fire, saving a life, and so much more. It will be at the 22 District Committee Meeting @Town and Country Credit Union@4:30pm Big 4 Scout Camp this year. FRIENDS OF SCOUTING CAMPAIGN 2018 The Friends of Scouting Campaign is well under way. This is a great way to give WINTER FUN DAY back to the Scouting program. There are two ways of signing up for an FOS There will also be a fun and rewarding opportunity for the Cub Scouts this presentation. One is via online on NLC.org under Invest in Scouting or calling winter. This year it will be in the confines of Minot State University. The event your local representative to schedule a presentation at 701-839-2260. will include playing with technological devices and stem materials.

VOYAGEUR TRAILS DISTRICT #12 FAMILY FRIENDS OF SCOUTING Serving youth through community organizations in Kittson, Roseau, Marshall, Pennington, It is that time of year again, Family Friends of Scouting. Many of you Red Lake and Polk counties in northwest Minnesota have already scheduled your unit presentation, but if you haven’t yet District Chairman...... Cameron Carlson please do so. Friends of Scouting is important part of the year for the District Commissioner...... Vacant District Executive...... Vacant Northern Lights Council. With the money that is raised during the District Director...... Thomas D. Huether...... (406)780-0690 campaign we are able to continue to improve many of our camping opportunities and other programs that we as a Council offer. The funds DECEMBER 1-3 Merit Badge Weekend – Camp Wilderness also go to support our efforts to improve the health of all the units in our 1 2018 OA Dues council. Please consider supporting Friends of Scouting this year. 8-10 Winter Camp – Camp Wilderness 9 Cub Winter Wonderland – Camp Wilderness 12 Roundtable – via Got To Meeting, 7:00 pm FRIENDS OF SCOUTING 15 Popcorn Payment Due What does Friends of Scouting Support? 25 Office Closed • Provide program helps and resources used to plan and coordinate 26 Office Closed local unit programs. 26-31 Boy Scout Winter Week Camp – Camp Wilderness • Provide basic leader training courses for adult leaders. JANUARY • Purchase audio-visual equipment and supplies to support training and 9 Roundtable – via Got To Meeting, 7:00 pm program in local communities. 12-14 OA Winter Fellowship, Grand Forks • Underwrite the cost of the council newsletter, mailed regularly to 15 Offices Closed each registered leader, providing communication and information to 19 Scout Night with the Fargo Force local leaders. 20 District Retreat 25 Commissioner Meeting—Grand Forks Field Offices, 7:00 pm • Underwrite the cost of the council website, district websites and websites for every pack, troop, team and crew in the Northern Lights Council. FEBRUARY 7 Report to the Governor • Support the Council Service Center, including telephone, postage, 13 Roundtable – via Got To Meeting, 7:00 pm office supplies and staff. 16 Council Annual Meeting • Pay liability insurance for registered adult leaders, chartering 19 Offices Closed partners, youth members and the Boy Scout Council. 22 Commissioner Meeting—Grand Forks Field Offices, 7:00 pm • Pay for the cost of a District Executive, who works with local leaders and communities to support and grow the Scouting program. This MARCH 1 Spring Product Sale Begins District Executive recruits, trains and supports local volunteers who 3 Polar Cub Fun Day @ CW in turn, work directly with youth to provide the Scouting program. 13 Roundtable – via Got To Meeting, 7:00 pm • Provide community based Cub Scout Day Camp programs throughout 17 Scouting for Food Begins the council. 20 District Recognition Banquet • Support local weekend programs, activities and the overall camping 24 Scouting for Food pickup programs of the council. 29 Commissioner Meeting – Grand Forks Field Office, 7:00 pm 30 Offices Closed (Good Friday) • Support summer and winter camping programs and subsidize camp staff in providing camping programs. • Support the maintenance and upkeep of council camping facilities TRAINING including, Camp Wilderness, Heart Butte Scout Reservation, Big-4 A Scout deserves a well-trained leader. This is very true. Scouting is the camp and the Tom Branter Memorial camp. opportunity to have fun, adventures, make lifelong friends and more, but for leaders who may be new to their position they may be asking the • And much more! question, “What do I do now?” Well the answer for that is to get trained! The Lake Agassiz District will be conducting monthly trainings starting in October the Hour before Roundtable starts. Here is the Training Calendar: WEBELOS TRANSITION December 11-Cub Scout Leader Specific Training via Go To Meeting @ Boy Scout leaders if you haven’t already made contact with the Webelos 6:30 pm Dens in the communities nearby, you are running out of time. The District will be mailing out at Troop information brochure to all registered What is Roundtable you ask? Well roundtable is a once a month training 5th grade Webelos Scouts. This sheet will included all the information a provided by the district for Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leaders. It is a great new scout needs to make contact with all the Troops in our district. Troop place to come learn about upcoming activities, meet and interact with leaders if you have not sent in your unit’s information sheet, please do so; other Cub Leaders and more. Come on out each month on the 2nd Tuesday otherwise the mailer will go out without your Troop’s information in it. to roundtable! Troop leaders also do not forget we are asking every troop to put a welcome packet together that you will pass out to all visiting Webelos Scouts. Please remember to make a copy for your District Director; he SPRING PRODUCT SALE The 2018 Spring Jerky Sales are coming up! What is the Spring Product would like to have one from each Troop. Sale? The Spring Product sale is set up to help scouts earn money to pay for Day Camp, Cub Resident Camp, Boy Scout Summer Camp, and High Adventure trips. We are excited to work with Jack links to bring you the sale this spring. Scouts will be able to earn 33% commission on all sales! Your unit will need to order the spring product by January 15! NORTHERN HILITES - 15 December 2017-February 2018

FRONTIER TRAILS DISTRICT #13 RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO MAKE SCOUTING POSSIBLE **Serving Bismarck-Mandan and 12 surrounding counties Scouting would not be possible without those who give up countless hours District Chairman...... Ryan Barth...... 391-4868...... [email protected] for the betterment of the movement. Those parents who constantly help out District Commissioner...... Stephen [email protected] District Executive...... Ric Jensen...... [email protected] at Pack meetings, the leaders that put together the Scouting program that your family enjoys, the school that allows us to come in and disrupt the DECEMBER school day in order to do Boy Talks. There are lots of folks within our 5 District Committee Meeting district that deserve some recognition!! If there is someone you know or an 7 Roundtable-Webelos Transition organization or business in the community that you feel needs to be 15 Popcorn Payments Due recognized for their contributions please fill out an award nomination form! 28 Commissioner Meeting You can find our nomination forms at http://www.nlcbsa.org/files/d/usr/7/ Awards%20Paperwork.pdf or by visiting the Bismarck Scout Office.

JANUARY WHAT A YEAR… WHAT A YEAR!!! 2 District Committee Meeting ~ A few thoughts to end the year from the Desk of your District Executive 4 Roundtable Well 2017 has nearly come and gone. We have had one of the most 25 Commissioner Meeting successful years in scouting ever. We started the year off by completing our portion of the Council Friends of Scouting campaign ahead of schedule. That was not to be outdone by our membership committee in April when we FEBRUARY recruited nearly 70 new Scouts during Spring Recruitment. Once school had 1 Roundtable ended we went into our camping season and had 3 totally awesome day 6 District Committee Meeting camps led by our fearless day camp committee. On top of that we had hosted 15 District Recognition Banquet a great Boy Scout camporee at Heart Butte Scout Reservation as well as a 22 Commissioner Meeting killer family resident camp for Cub Scouts. Going into the fall we had a great effort by ALL of our unit’s leaders and volunteers and attained year end membership growth around the beginning of October. After all this we FRIENDS OF SCOUTING had one more big goal to knock down. POPCORN!!! This year the district Each person that reads this article has, no doubt, already given so much of sold the most popcorn we have EVER sold. The Scouts in Frontier Trails themselves to Scouting. Each year volunteers attend Blue and Gold Banquets sold just over $300,000 worth of popcorn. That equates to roughly $81,000 and Courts of Honor and ask each Scouting family to consider donating worth in commissions that will directly impact the program our Units are financially to the Council FOS fund. I get asked a lot why it is so important able to put on over the next year. Wow… That’s a lot of money going into to give to our annual Friends of Scouting campaign. Each time I am asked scouting locally. On top of all of these excellent achievements we have added this I compare the cost of Scouting to an iceberg. You can see that you have more district committee members and unit commissioners to see that our Council support offices and professionals working in them to keep scouting program runs strong and organized and stays bright and vibrant. a vibrant program in each of our communities. What you may not see or think about is that we have camps that operate nearly year-round, outreach programs to make Scouting possible where it could normally not thrive, and So… You may be asking yourself. What does all this mean for us? It means even scholarships for those families who want to participate but could that with a bigger District Committee and Commissioning staff we will be normally not afford the Scouting experience. These are merely a few of the able to better serve the Scouting Units. It means that we are heading into a many operating costs that make this program possible. In fact, Friends of very exciting year in Scouting with lots of momentum. In the coming year Scouting only generates about 20% of our annual budget while the rest of we will see the inclusion of girls into Cub Scouts as well as a new Bismarck the 80% is made possible elsewhere. Every dollar helps in our mission to Service Center to better serve our needs in the community. Needless to develop tomorrow’s leaders. For more information please contact the say…. The coming year looks very exciting. I am sure that we will have our Bismarck Scout Office at 223-7204 or to schedule your FOS program challenges but we will overcome and have an even bigger and better 2018. contact Tamie Schmidt at [email protected] FRONTIER TRAILS DISTRICT VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION A very special thank you to all those who have made a lasting impact BANQUET through the 2017 year. You have left a lasting legacy on Scouting in our area Join us on Thursday February 15th for our annual appreciation Banquet. We that will be felt for years to come. have had a very very exciting year in Scouting and we have a LOT to celebrate. We will have a dinner, a special guest speaker, and an awards program to recognize those that have drove the mission of Scouting in the year 2017. The cost will be $3 for children under 12 and $6 for adults. Award recipients will be able to attend at no cost. To register visit our site at http://www.nlcbsa.org/FrontierTrails/Calendar/

GREAT PLAINS DISTRICT #14 organizers put together. A special thanks goes out to Leland Tong & Kelly District Chairman………...... Pete Isom...... 701.580.9604...... [email protected] Keiser of Troop 316 in Williston for taking on this project again in 2018. There’s District Commissioner...... Rick Snyder ...... 701.570.6428 . . . . . [email protected] nothing better during the coldest time of the year than to go for a swim while Field Director ...... Ethan Crisp...... 208.965.1224 . . . . [email protected] there are snowflakes falling, so make plans now to attend this event in January! DECEMBER 5- District Committee Meeting, Faith United Methodist Church, Williston, 7:30PM 2018 KLONDIKE DERBY 12- District Roundtable Meeting (Faith United Methodist Church-Williston) Once again our Klondike Derby will be organized by our District Chair, Pete Isom. Pete did an excellent job last year putting on an amazing program for our JANUARY scouts, and is able to say that he hosted the largest Klondike Derby in the entire 2- District Committee Meeting, Faith United Methodist Church, Williston, 7:30PM Council! Like years past, this event will again take place at Spring Lake Park in 9- District Roundtable Meeting (Faith United Methodist Church-Williston) Williston, on the weekend of February 9-10. Scouts will have the opportunity to 20- Cub Scout Water Carnival (Williston ARC) camp overnight on Friday, with the possibility of earning the zero hero award! The registration for this event, along with a leaders guide is already on our FEBRUARY district website, so make sure to register your troop ASAP! 6- District Committee Meeting, Faith United Methodist Church, Williston, 7:30PM 9-10- Klondike Derby (Spring Lake Park, Williston) 13- District Roundtable Meeting, Faith United Methodist Church, Williston, 7:30PM FINAL THOUGHTS As we come into the holiday season, we all have much to be thankful for. In scouting, I am personally thankful & indebted to all the hardworking volunteers FALL SIGN-UP CAMPAIGN NETS AMAZING RESULTS! For the second year in a row, our annual fall recruiting campaign produced & unit leaders across the district that have made some amazing things happen record numbers across our district! With the help of a new Pack & Troop in this year. Not only did we have amazing events that were planned & executed by Culbertson, our District was the first in the council to attain year end growth, on our volunteers, we also saw once again a significant increase in the number of the last day of September. To this date we have already registered 30 more boys that signed up this fall during our annual recruitment campaign. As we go scouts than we had last year. As always, we are still excited to sign up boys at into 2018, the future of our district looks brighter than ever and I look forward any time of the year, so make sure you are spreading the scouting word around to making it our best year ever! your community! Yours in Scouting, Ethan Crisp 2018 CUB SCOUT WATER CARNIVAL Great Plains District Executive This year’s Cub Scout Water Carnival will again be at the Williston ARC, with a date set of January 20th, 2018. Last year we had nearly 100 Cub Scouts from across the District attend and take part in all the water activities that our NORTHERN HILITES - 16 December 2017-February 2018 PAID ORG . Fargo, ND Fargo, NON-PROFIT POSTAGE U . S 684 NO . PERMIT To a valued volunteer: a valued To

FARGO, ND 58103 FARGO, NORTHERN LIGHTS COUNCIL NORTHERN LIGHTS AMERICA SCOUTS OF BOY South Avenue 4200 19th