MacBrave

Yes, the air show is one of the yearly "free special events" that this adventure fee is supposed to provide to units. For this event units will camp at Camp Belzer then bussed to the Air Show site, about 8 miles away. Meals are provided. Units are also expected to volunteer for some kind of service at the air show, although I yet to see exactly what this service entails.

The Crossroads of America Council in central Indiana appears to have finalized on a new fee structure. From a PDF council volunteers received last week: A couple of things to note. When this plan was first introduced back in February the yearly amount was not $160 but $240, with the preferred payment mechanism being $20 a month automatically charged to a families credit or debit card. There was such an outroar over this the council leadership retreated for several months and have returned with this. Yay. I still hold to my personal opinion that this will decimate membershi

A link to the PDF that was used to present this new "Adventure Fee" to CAC volunteers at last week's district roundtables is here:https://crossroadsbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/PP.pdf?vgo_ee=PEyTUlc0mr504drzrLyWRWVLY1pGRWb2%2B0FTX4hhTec%3D And as a long time volunteer in the Crossroads of America Council at both the Pack and Troop level I do not approve of this fee.

Noticed that requirements #6 and #8 require a parent or guardians approval/help. What if a scout can't get that approval or help to complete these requirements?

Recently received this email from our Scout Executive, Crossroads of America Council: This email is being sent to the Charter Organization Representative, Unit Committee Chair, and Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, and Crew Advisor in units chartered by Methodist churches. Dear Key-3: As you may know, the Resident Bishop of the Indiana Conference of Methodist Churches recommended local churches no longer serve as chartering organizations for Scouting Units after December 31, 2021. We received information this week that has changed that situation. The Church and the BSA issued to the

Wow, I know of several long running packs in our area that would have folded if this bylaw was in effect.

I reuse smartwater bottles when I go on backpacking trips where weight is a concern. Never have had an issue with them breaking. For just general troop 'plop' camping and day hikes I usually take my 5+ year old camelback chute bottle.

Ransburg Scout Reservation, owned by the Crossroads of America Council and located south of Bloomington, IN recently published a series of Covid guidelines for the 2021 summer camp season, covering items from a pre-camp Covid screening to the dining hall.: http://www.ransburgbsa.org/covid19 Most if not all of them have this regarding mask wearing: Masks: ⚜ If the participant is unvaccinated, a mask must be worn at all times while indoors except while engaging in certain activities like eating, drinking, sleeping, or showering. Masks must be worn outdoors when unable to socia

https://troopleader.scouting.org/patrol-leaders-council/#:~:text=In addition to making sure,run by its youth members. At our monthly PLC meeting I usually just inform/remind the SPL of any upcoming events on the troop calendar then get out of the way and let him do his thing. I'm at a nearby table listening to the meeting while doing other things, and am of course available should the PLC have any questions or want my input.

Not exactly a typical internet forum but there is this: http://scouts-l.net/

They don't really have one now, unless you call a large open field area with a couple shelters and archery/bb ranges a wilderness area. The trouble with Camp Belzer is that the city of Indianapolis grew up around it and it is now more of a "urban camp" than anything else. Our troop has camped there a couple times, once for a district camporee and the other for a troop campout. We really didn't really enjoy the experience. Raccoons were rampant and you had the constant drone from nearby interstate 465 to keep you awake all night. The camp is home to a pretty good Voyaguer Canoe Train

Here is a link to a recent Indianapolis Star article stating over 300 Hoosiers have filed abuse claims: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2020/11/16/boy-scouts-assault-claims-indiana/6220598002/

We held our own summer camp in mid-June, right after our state's covid restrictions moved to the appropriate level. Been meeting in person since then, although outside at an open-air shelter behind our CO. They haven't given us a date yet on when we can start meeting indoors, hopefully not long after Labor Day. Had an outing the first weekend of August to a state recreation area. September outing will be at a state park, and hopefully canoeing if we can find a livery that can accommodate us. The livery we have used in the past has drastically reduced the number of trips they a

Ransburg Scout Reservation in Indiana is allowing units who had reservations for the cancelled 2020 summer camp season to register for the same week, same campsite for 2021 beginning 7/1/2020 and running through 7/22/2020. After that any open weeks and site are fair game for other units.

Before the pandemic started our unit had a reservation at Camp Daniel Boone in North Carolina. It was for early August to camp for two nights as part of a whitewater rafting trip. Three weeks ago they confirmed to us that our stay was still a go, they just needed a firm head count to know how many of their standing wall tents to reserve for our stay. Then two days ago we get an email from the camp stating that they have changed their mind, no out-of-council troops units will be allowed to stay to ensure they have the space for their in-council units. *sigh*

We are currently discussing running our own sort of mini-camp the same week we were going to attend summer camp. Depends on a number things, one of course parent buy-in as to the safety of such an activity. Will also depends if our state (Indiana) is in the appropriate "stage" as laid out by our Governor and his team.

Crossroads of America Council has just cancelled all their summer camps for 2020, although they are offering an "Adventure Box" option for Cub Scouts and a virtual "Summer Experience" for Scouts BSA units: https://www.crossroadsbsa.org/resources/camp-2020/

Crossroads of America Council released this Summer Camp update yesterday: So it looks like May 4th is now the "decision date".

I don't know how they can start it later in June without either a) cancelling those troops who had early to mid-June reservations or b) move the end of the camp season back to mid-August. Both have their issues with a) will most likely cause a lot of ill-will for those canceled troops and b) being you will lose the majority of your camp staff if the camp season runs much past August 1st. Most public schools here in Indiana start up in early August, not to mention the college aged kids.

This is part of the email that was sent out on 4/3 to unit leaders in Crossroads Of America Council, regarding summer camp at Ransburg Scout Reservation which is located south of Bloomington, IN. After 4/15 the fee goes up by $20, and $20 more after 5/15. This year the summer camp season is scheduled for 5/31/20 to 8/1/20. Since our troop is also not meeting in person, I've told our families to contact me and we can work out a time when they can either drop the payment off at my home or I will come to them if need be. We'll see how it goes.....

Crossroads of America Council's current policies: https://www.crossroadsbsa.org/announcements/

I have a scout who turns 18 in mid May. He only has once merit badge left, and is on target to complete that with no issues. The problem may be his Eagle project. It was supposed to be improvements to a structure at a city park but a recent change in the city park director along with the coronavirus may throw a wrench in his getting it completed.

Our troop has cancelled meetings until at least April 6th, the date our county schools are tentatively scheduled to be back in session. Council says no face-to-face unit meetings until at least April 13th. Our feeder pack B&G/Crossover was supposed to be tonight, now rescheduled for April 28th. We had to cancel this weekend's planned outing to the Louisville MegaCave because the nearby scout camp where we were going to stay has closed until at least the end of March.

I hope this isn't the case. I don't believe a council, say in Indiana, should be forced to sell some of it's assets to pay the victim of an abuse case that occurred in California.

Interesting. I may have a reason to use that 20-30% REI members coupon they always seem to send me around March, about the same time as they release the dividend info. 😃