INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Sign up for 2017 Popcorn Sales today!
Are you signed up to sell popcorn this year? Please click the link below to sign your unit up. Even if you don't have someone in place to run your sale yet, get your unit signed up so we can start communications.
The 2017 sale has bigger prizes, simplified sales structure, and more products than the 2016 sale.
Sign up by clicking HERE today!
New Provisional Scout Troop
Do you know of a Scout who can not attend summer camp with their troop due to a scheduling conflict or not enough adult leadership?
For the first time we will have a “Provisional Scout Troop” at Camp Mitigwa during Week 5 of camp.
The provisional troop will be made up of
1) scouts who are unable to attend summer camp with their troop
2) troops who could not attend summer camp because they lacked two deep leadership.
We will provide a complete summer camp experience with a Scoutmaster and at least one assistant, tents and a full summer camp program rich with advancement, scouting experiences and FUN!
The only requirement for this is that the Scout is youth member in good standing with their troop.
To register a Scout select Week 5 and Chippewa Campsite.
https://www.midiowacouncilbsa.org/BoyScoutCamp
ATTENTION CUB SCOUT LEADERS SCHOOL NIGHT FOR SCOUTING IS COMING SOON!
Again this year during the months of August and September, the Mid-Iowa Council will conduct a “School Night for Scouting” Fall Round-Up program and we expect it to be even bigger and better.
Some of the benefits your Cub Scout pack should expect are:
• A well-planned and executed recruitment of new boys and parents
• Accessible, immediate, and relevant training for new leaders
• A top-notch Family event for Scouts and their families in October
Specifically, here are some components of this year’s School Night:
• A visit to every school superintendent and elementary school principal by your BSA staff to review the plan and cultivate relationships during April, May and June.
• A “Boy Talk” in every possible elementary school classroom where we are allowed to conduct them.
These classroom visits to potential Cub Scouts are:
o Scheduled and implemented by your local BSA staff
o Conducted the day before the actual School Night
o Opportunities to send a School Night flyer home with each boy
“School Nights” organized and run by district-wide volunteer teams at every elementary school, including:
o A district volunteer Coordinator to run that night’s program
o A uniformed volunteer Organizer who works with the participating pack(s) and assigns the boy to the packs and dens
o Adult leader recruitment. Before we even accept the youth applications, we’ll ensure every den has the necessary leadership
o Youth and adult leader application forms and registration fees collected that night and officially registered right away with the BSA
While the district leadership teams organize the School Nights, the Cub Scout Pack leadership naturally plays a vital role!
Cub Scout Pack’s Role in School Night:
o Assign a pack School Night Representative to communicate with the district School Night team (April/May).
o Coordinate with the district leadership which elementary school the pack will participate in at School Night (April/May).
o Conduct a “Back to the Pack” summer meeting prior to School Night for all returning Cub Scouts (late July/early August).
o Communicate with the School Night leadership any unique needs/interests of the pack that School Night might help meet (Prior to School Night).
o Participate in your district-wide School Night Kickoff (August).
o Ensure pack leadership attends School Night to receive applications and greet new leaders and new Cub Scouts!
More information will be provided by your district School Night teams, and be sure to read about School Night in upcoming issues of the online Scout Shorts newsletter as well as at your district’s Round Tables.
Links to Online Advancement Information
Use these links to find and download what’s waiting for you online:
General Advancement Information
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/cubscouts/pdf/Tiger_Addendum.pdf
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/cubscouts/pdf/Wolf_Addendum.pdf
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/cubscouts/pdf/Bear_Addendum.pdf
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/cubscouts/pdf/WEBELOS_AOL_Addendum.pdf
The updated Boy Scout rank requirements (plus updated merit badge requirements) appear in the new 2017 Boy Scout Requirements Book, available at Scout Shops. If you don’t yet have that book, a full listing of all the changes in rank requirements and merit badges is available online on the Bryan on Scouting website, Click here.
It’s a very handy listing, and it’s an official BSA site.
Internet Advancement
It’s easy to get to the Internet Advancement login page from the Mid-Iowa Council home page. Just click on ADVANCEMENT on the top menu, then on Internet Advancement on
the submenu that appears. Then one more click takes you there.
Or just follow this link: https://www.midiowacouncilbsa.org/InternetAdvancement
Questions? Contact Nancy Helland at 515-266-2135 or nancy.helland@scouting.org.
Scoutbook
Scoutbook is the best way for units to provide information on advancement, unit events, messages, photos and much more to Scouts, parents and unit leaders by means of their mobile devices. Soon it will able to link immediately and automatically to the BSA Internet Advancement system to ensure that unit records match national records. It is owned by the BSA, and is becoming the best way to keep everyone in the unit up to date. Learn more by watching the videos at https://www.scoutbook.com/
Merit Badge Counselors – is your registration current?
All current Merit Badge Counselors must re-register every year – it’s not optional. Remember that your counselor registration is separate from your unit registration. There are two different ways you can re-register as a counselor – choose the one that’s right for you:
1. Re-register online – go to this page on the council website, scroll down to the bottom and enter your information in the blanks – this information should be re-entered annually.
https://www.midiowacouncilbsa.org/MeritBadgeCounselors
2. Download the Merit Badge Counselor Information form (a keyboard entry PDF file) from
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34405.pdf and complete it, then email it or print and mail it to the council service center. Then in successive years, just copy it, update the informationand the date and send it again. It’s really easy.
Check your Youth Protection certification card and be certain you’re current. If it’s getting short, just recertify online using your MyScouting account. It’s quick and easy.
http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx
BSA Safety Moment
ANNUAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL RECORD (AHMR)
The Scouting adventure - camping trips, high-adventure excursions, and having fun are important to everyone in Scouting—and so is your safety and well-being. Completing the Annual Health and Medical Record is the first step in making sure you have a great Scout experience.
• The BSA Annual Health and Medical Record (often known as the “medical form” or “annual physical”) is designed to help ensure that all participants in the Scouting program are healthy enough for the adventure of Scouting. It is not intended to limit participation but to inform and protect.
• To keep up with possible changes in health status, the form needs to be updated annually or when a participant’s health information changes. The record expires in one year.
• The four-part form serves as a single place to document a participant’s medical history and recent medical examination. It also provides consent for treatment in the event a participant needs emergency care while traveling away from a parent or guardian.
• Parts A and B should be completed for all participants and Scouting leaders. Part C should be completed by a licensed health care provider (M.D., D.O., N.P., or P.A.) before the participant attends any Scouting event that is longer than 72 hours, such as a summer camp, trek, or multiday excursion.
• The optional “High Adventure Risk Advisory” needs to be shared with the examining medical provider during the pre-participation examination to explain known health risks for each of the BSA’s four high adventure bases. Mitigwa Scout Reservation also has a risk advisory.
• The forms should be maintained by a designated leader. To assure privacy, the forms should be carefully stored and used only as needed to provide for planning and rendering care. The AHMR should not be scanned, stored, or sent electronically except as specifically directed for a BSA national event such as the national jamboree or NOAC. A Scout is Trustworthy: Records and sensitive information should be maintained in a private manner.
Council Philmont Expeditions 2017 & 2018
The Mid-Iowa Council Philmont Contingent has several opportunities available for the 2017 season, as well as the summer of 2018.
Recent contact with our chartered bus company revealed that we have the option to add additional scouts to our 2017 roster due to a larger than expected bus size. If you have Scouts who love the outdoors and would enjoy the adventure of a ten day backpacking trip in the mountains of New Mexico, please share this opportunity with them. We will get them all the information they need. Our 2018 Expedition to Philmont is also filling quickly.
Philmont has often been described by Scouts and adult advisors as “one of the highlights of my life”. Do not let your Scout(s) miss out on a chance to put their hard earned Scouting Skills into practice. All it will take is an e-mail or phone call. We will take it from there! We can arrange local promotions if you wish.
Contact:
Chuck Jordal 515-279-8746
cjordal@raccoon.com
Dale Herzberg 515-681-1180 herzbergd.paddlemaker@gmail.com
2017 Wood Badge Course
If you have been looking for a way to take your adult leadership skills to the next level, this is it! This is not outdoor skills training, this is developing your personal skills of group leadership. The Wood Badge course is only offered every two years and the training team is dedicated to providing you with the highest quality BSA training and personal growth experiences, using Mitigwa Scout Reservation as our base. Click here for more information.
Scout Shop
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DISTRICT NEWS
Prairie Winds District
Twin Rivers District
Woodland Trails District
Order of the Arrow News
We will be having our annual Fall Fellowship event on August 18-20. We will have more information coming out in the next few months.
We hope to see everyone out at summer camp!
David Konfrst Davidk1719@gmail.com
www.mitigwa-lodge.org
Summer Camp Leader Guides
Camp Mitigwa, Boy Scouts
Camp Akela, Cub Scouts
Annual Health & Medical Record
The Scouting adventure, camping trips, high-adventure excursions, and having fun are important to everyone in
Scouting—and so is your safety and well-being. Completing the Annual Health and Medical Record is the first
step in making sure you have a great Scouting experience.
CLICK HERE
Tour & Activity Plan Terminated
Effective April 1, 2017 Tour and Activity Plans will no longer be required.
National Summertime Pack Award
Your pack can earn the National Summertime Pack Award by doing three pack activities when school is out for the summer – one activity each in June, July, and August. Packs that qualify get a colorful streamer for their pack flag. Dens that have at least half of their members who take part in all three events are eligible for the National Summertime Pack Award pin, to wear on the right pocket flap of their uniform. It’s fun, easy and will help the Pack get a great start to the new School year!
Here is the application. www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33748.pdf
Your investment in Scouting provides valuable programs that benefit each and every Scout
DONATE TODAY CLICK HERE
The Mid-Iowa Council Volunteer Corp group is looking for a few people that could help out doing small office tasks for 2-3 hours at a time. These individuals get on a schedule once or twice a month and work with our office staff on special projects. Most of this work is sitting down at a desk, no heavy lifting. If you are retired or know someone that has time during the day to help, we could use the help. Thanks.
Contact Jennifer Kramka
Jennifer.kramka@scouting.org
The Certified Angling Instructor Conference
This conference is facilitated by the BSA National Fishing Task Force, with a focus on providing enhancements to your BSA Fishing Programs. The course will cover Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing Fishing Programs held at the Unit, District, and Council Level.
The course delivers an understanding of the Mission and Vision of Outdoor Programs-Fishing, assisting in the council’s goal to offer many OUTINGS in the Scouting program. You will learn age based and skill appropriate fishing tools and techniques for your Scouts, ranging from the Cane Pole to Fly Fishing. The course highlights best practices on content delivery, in both the classroom and the field.
This is the same 20 hour course that is taught at the Philmont Scout Ranch.
THOSE COMPLETING THE COURSE will be qualified for national fishing staff positions at jamborees, Order of the Arrow conferences, and help train fishing staffs at all four BSA high-adventure bases Upon completing the course participants will receive the official BSA certification for fishing and fly fishing programs and merit badge instructor, will be able to hold a train the trainer position, will be one who leads and executes fishing programs at the district and council level, will be qualified to assist in developing and supporting council fishing programs, and will receive the Certified Angling Instructor designation, certificate and patch.
There will be a maximum of 20 people accepted for this course that will run Friday evening August 25, all day Saturday August 26 and a portion of the day Sunday August 27, 2017. All equipment will be furnished. Those participating in this course must 1) agree to attend the entire course, 2) agree to be a fishing instructor for the appropriate level units with which you are connected 3) agree to work with Districts and your Council to instruct and facilitate fishing programs and 4) work as need with the Council to develop high adventure fishing experiences for the appropriate age level scouts.
For more information contact Alan Strohmaier at alan.strohmaier@gmail.com
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