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Welcome to the Northern Lights Web Site!

Click here for a map of all Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops and Venture Units in the district

Click here for Unit contact information

Upcoming Events

(Click Here for a Full Calendar)

Click Here for Upcoming Eagle Courts of Honor

 

Northern Lights Recognizes the most recent  Eagle Scouts.  Click here for a full list

Troop Name
534 Evan Cushen
124 Benjamin Uke
247 Jeffery Stoddard
289 David Hammelman
289 Josh Anderson
702 Charles Keepman
74 Jacob Hawes
368 Phillip Smith
368 Samuel Crockett
368 Mark Smith
368 Jacob Crockett
368 Clayton Watts
401 Ramzes Zavala
405 Philip Leiter

New Content!!  

05-08-2008 Cub Activity Day (Day Camp) Pack application 30kb PDF 31kb Word

05-08-2008 Cub Activity Day (Day Camp) Youth Application 65kb PDF 51kb Word

05-05-2008 OA Day of Service Photos

05-05-2008 Volunteer Steak Fry 310 kb

05-01-2008 Spring Camporee Packet 93 kb PDF 89kb Word

04-30-2008 Pack 334 and 751 in the spotlight

04-30-2008 Day Camp 2008 Leaders Guide 56kb PDF 48kb Word

04-25-2008 April Navigator

04-14-2008 Geo Cache Day at Rum River May 19th 82kb PDF 71kb Word

04-13-2008 Award of Merit Winner Jesse Gardner - Troop 268

04-13-2008 Online Forums

04-05-2008 Twin City Camping Locations By Distance 225kb PDF 55kb Excel

03-28-2008 OA Merchandise Order Form 156kb PDF

03-23-2008 Scout Days with the Minnesota Twins 724kb PDF

03-23-2008 Scout Overnight with the Twins July 18th  954kb PDF

03-21-2008 Dutch Oven Cookoff  (Brochure)

03-08-2008 District Pinewood Derby Pictures

03-08-2008 District Pinewood Derby Results

02-03-2008 Maple Grove Arbor Day Service Opportunity May 17th

12-23-2007 Three Rivers Parks Scout Programs 538kb PDF

12-13-2007 Complete Boy Scout  Requirement Changes for

                      2008 - Including Merit Badges

10-31-2007 Updated Merit Badge Counselor List Available

 

 

Congratulations to Jesse Gardner - Troop 268 - Award of Merit Winner!

It was a hot and humid July 4th weekend in 2006 and Jesse R. Gardner was camping with his family and Scout friends at their trailer in Cambridge, MN.  Kids and adults had been swimming in the pool all weekend to stay cool. 

Monday, July 4th the last swim before we headed back to the Twin Cities; Jesse and other kids were swimming and playing in the pool, the adults were sitting at tables watching the kids swim.  A 5 year old boy was having fun hanging around Jesse swimming and playing around in the water.  The boy couldn’t swim on his own so he had on a life jacket.  The young boys’ parents called for him as it was time to come out of the pool.  Jesse lifted the boy out and placed him at the edge of the pool.  The father took off his life jacket and turned around as the boy continued to play with Jesse, who was still in the pool. 

The boy lost his footing and went head first into the water towards the bottom of the pool.  Jesse immediately dove down in the water and grabbed the boy before he hit the bottom of the pool and brought him up to the surface and placed him on the edge of the pool.  The young boy was so confused as to what happened for it happened so fast.  There were many adults around and witnessed what happened but did not have time to react.

When asked how he knew what to do, Jesse indicated that he had learned it in swimming merit badge but mostly it was just the natural thing to do, I didn’t think much about it just dove under the water for the boy.

For his outstanding service in implementing scouting skills and ideals, BSA’s National Court of Honor recognized Jesse R. Gardner with the Medal of Merit.


Looking for something to do with your scouts? Click here for non District or Council Activity Ideas

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Check out the on line "Hang Files" - Click here for handouts and flyers

Got a flyer you want distributed - Send it to the Web master - NorthernLightsBSA@comcast.net

 

Don't forget to check out the Council Hang File Area

.  Lots of good information about events not put on by our district.  Click here for the site.


Training, Training, Training

Trained leaders produce a quality youth program.  Click here for upcoming training events Some events are Boy Scout Leader Training, Cub Scout Leader Training, Cub Scout Pow Wow, University of Scouting.  Take advantage of the Free or low cost training sessions.

New for this year, New Leader Essentials is held three times at the Monthly Roundtables Click here for a flyer.

Cub Scout Leader Training is offered 3 times this year.  The next training session begins April 17th 2008.  Click here for a flyer 50kb PDF 116kb Word

Does your pack have a pack trainer? Click here for more information or click here for a Pack Trainer Flyer 248KB PDF

Now available for the first time, on line sign up for Cub Leader Training.  Click here to signup for Cub Leader Training

Can't make one of our training events?  Click here for information on all training throughout the council.

Youth Protection Training

This 30 minute course will help you know and understand the Boy Scouts of America policies on youth protection. This does not cover the protection of the youth, but you as an adult in a youth organization. This course is offered at no charge and can be taken online or in person.  Click here for information about the course.

Roundtables

Roundtables are for all adult leaders in Cub Scout Packs and Boy Scout Troops. They are held the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 7217 West Broadway.  Roundtables are a training session for leaders to help them each month in working with the boys.  Every pack and troop should have at least one representative come to these meetings to get ideas and share ideas with other leaders, as well as get information on events that are happening on a district level.

Useful Links!

Map of all Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops and Venture Units in the district

Unit contact information

Northern Star Council Web Site - Contact Information, Office Locations, Scout Shop Information


2008-2009 Cub Scout Fast Tracks Program

The Cub Scout Den Advancement pilot program (now called Fast Tracks) will be extended for the 2008/2009 program year.  This pilot program, available only to Den Leaders for the 2007/2008 program year, will now be available to entire packs.  You must hurry!   Cubmasters must complete the Consent Forms by April 30.  All current and future Den Leaders within these packs will be eligible to participate in the program.  

Available for all levels of Cub Scouting and any size pack, this program provides Den Leaders with easy step-by-step instructions, as well as, an inclusive listing of materials in an effort to take the guess work out of meeting planning. 

Click here for an information brochure

Click here for a consent form.

Any questions, please contact Elaine Sinn at esinn@northernstarbsa.org

Thanks for all you do for Scouting
Elaine


Dutch Oven Cookoff

Allow me to introduce you to the 4th annual Wild West Roundup and the 2nd annual City of Dundas Celebration. This year we will combine our efforts to celebrate our great American Heritage during this year of the 150 years of Minnesota's Statehood. The "Roundup" will be held at the Rice County Steam and Gas Engine Grounds, just 2 miles south of Northfield on Highway 3.

Living history activities, exciting action packed old west re-enactments, a ranch rodeo, Indian War Cannon demonstrations, fast draw contest, fiddle contest, country & bluegrass musicians, DUTCH OVEN COOK-OFF, and demonstrations of everyday life on the frontier are only a few of the activities we have lined up at the "Roundup". The City of Dundas will have an old-fashioned baseball game, an artisan's fair, games and crafts for the kids, and live music Saturday evening.

I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to announce the Dutch Oven Cook-off that will be held on Saturday June 7th during the Wild West Roundup festival to all your rendezvous friends. Our festival has been drawing scores of old west and western entertainers from the area, as well as hundreds of spectators that are steeped in the American tradition and outdoor life. As you give consideration to this request, please know that by attending the Wild West Roundup Dutch Oven Cook-off, you are helping to keep our great American heritage alive, as well as providing an educational and entertaining event enjoyed by young and old! I am including a copy of our poster and registration information.

Please visit the Wild West Roundup website for more information about the big Minnesota 150th Birthday get-together and feel free to call me if you have questions. I look forward to hear from you. Thank you for your interest.

Sincerely,

Jody Greenslade, Director

Wild West Roundup

PO Box 4

Northfield, MN 55057

www.wildwestroundup.com

or call: (507) 210-6523


Troop 405 Launches a Puppet Team

Boy Scout Troop 3405 has started a Puppet Team.  Their mission is to use puppetry as venue for community service.  The Boys use Muppet like Monster Puppets to work with, and educate younger Children.  The topics can be Crime and Fire Safety,  The Environment, Family Values, Religion and General Entertainment.  Diversity as well as other Social issues can also be explored.  They can put on Shows in Hospitals, Libraries, Nature centers, shelters, Crisis Nurseries, and Churches, etc.  This is a good opportunity to show the public Scouting in a positive way.

                                              Wanted Puppeteers

 Troop 3405 is looking for other Scouts who would be interested in joining our team.  We are looking for Boy Scouts, and Ventures who would like to work with children.  The team could really use Female Ventures to operate Female Puppets.

 Contact: Francis Schmitt  (763) 533-7724  (leave a message if not answered)


Maple Grove Arbor Day - Units Needed

The City of Maple Grove is hosting an Arbor Day Event.  In the past, members of 1 or more local scout troops attended our annual Arbor Day event. Maple Grove would like to put out an invitation to once again have the Scouts be a part of our event, which this year will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at the Maple Grove Community Center, to display anything of their choosing somewhat related to the environment. The Arbor Committee is a group of 11 resident volunteers that primarily get involved in City tree related issues but anything environmentally related would be appropriate for the Arbor Day event.

For more information, please contact: 

 Frank Kampel

City of Maple Grove

12800 Arbor Lakes Parkway

P.O. Box 1180

Maple Grove, Mn 55311-6180

Phone: 763-494-6365  Fax: 763-494-6418

fkampel@ci.maple-grove.mn.us


New Resource for Volunteers

Online Discussion Forums with your fellow scouters.

Click here to be taken to the Northern Star Council Forums Site

Do you have questions on scouting? Can you help another volunteer out with your vast knowledge of scouts and the scouting program?

Join our new online community for scouting volunteers.

Point your browser to forums.nsbsa.org.  You can start being a mentor for those new to the scouting program, or become a better scout leader by taking advantage of the knowledge of other members of the forum.

You will need to register before becoming a participant, but that is rather painless!

Online forums work best when there is a lot of participation, both in the form of questions and answers. Both types of volunteers are needed to make this successful. There are over 14,000 adult volunteers in the Northern Star Council. Our district is the first district to try this out. If successful, others will follow until we have a sizable group of volunteers sharing all that valuable knowledge they have about scouting.

This is just starting out, so you will not see a lot of activity, but don't let that stop you. Someone has to be first! Forums work best when there are lots of people signed up to help others.

Please check it out, sign up and post a question or two. Let me know what you think.
 


District Website/Pictures/Articles

If you have any pictures of District activities or great articles that you would like to share with other Scouters, please e-mail them with a description to our Webmaster, Doug Farmer at NorthernLightsBSA@comcast.net

New Leaders - Northern Lights extends a warm welcome to all new adults and existing adults that have changed positions. Training is available through the council office, call Andrea Pengra  763-231-7226 District Director or Johnny Allen Jr  763-231-7227 for any questions that you may have. We also encourage you to take advantage of your monthly Roundtables at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 7217 West Broadway. These are held on the first Thursday of the month. Click here for Directions to Roundtable location.

From the Web Master: This site is always being worked on.  Any items in the menu at the left that are prefixed with an "*" are complete.   Please E mail me if there are any changes in those items, if you have any content you would like to see on any of the pages listed, or any new pages you would like to see added. I hope this site becomes a resource for all scouts and scouters.  To accomplish that, I need help from everyone in the district.  District leaders, Unit leaders and scouts themselves. Any item you wish to see on this site, please forward to me.  Also, send me Unit information, leader information, Unit web sites to link to, any photos, with events, captions etc.  Send the information to NorthernLightsBSA@comcast.net.

Thanks

Doug