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Monon District
Crossroads of America Council
Monon District Newsletter - Issue 2

Monon District upcoming events, Unit in Focus, leadership training, and more!

Q&A With the Mayor of Fishers

https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSeFDv3duSY.../viewform...Just a reminder to fill out the google form if you wish to participate in the Zoom call with the Fishers Mayor on the 10th! All RSVPs and Questions must be received by the 8th so Mayor Fadness can prepare for the meeting. We are opening this up to scouts of all ages for both merit badges and adventures as we currently only have a few signed up. This will be the ONLY opportunity for at least 6 months to talk with the Fishers Mayor's office.

Camping Presentations Signup

Units should sign up for camping presentations (we are currently focused on PACK presentations through January). These can be done in person or virtually depending on how your unit is currently meeting. Please sign up for a camping presentation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewpsPxLNiCrB7P1KlUEeSP8Afa3dYj8P5L2s_ymVtYFLZWGg/viewform

Friends of Scouting


Friends of Scouting Season is upon us! With the change of Governor’s Luncheon for Scouting to a virtual program, we are inviting ALL scout families to attend the virtual 25th Annual Governor’s Luncheon for Scouting! This is a unique opportunity and we hope you will join us for the short program where we will get to talk about the BEST parts of scouting in 2020.

· Visit www.crossroadsbsa.org/govlunch to donate or for more information.

· Pledge at https://www.crossroadsbsa.org/support/pledge/

Winter Camporee


2021 VIRTUAL Central Section Scout Olympics Winter Camporee Saturday, January 23 at 9:00 am VIA Zoom

Registration will open on December 15. Each patrol/unit will be assessed a nominal fee to cover production costs and other expenses. We will have an online storefront to purchase Scout Olympics Winter Camporee bling. Awards will be provided including the new Monon District Camporee and Fall Creek District Awards.

Upcoming Events:

Governor’s Luncheon for Scouting: 25th Annual Celebration of Scouting! December 15th, 11:30-1 pm

This annual event kicks off the local Crossroads of America Council’s annual fundraising campaign for 2021. In December 2019, donors contributed more than $1,000,000 to support Scouting programs in 26 counties in central Indiana for 2020. Your support will allow the BSA to continue character development and teach life skills in person and remotely through dedicated parents, volunteers, and staff through innovative strategies.

If your unit is interested in hosting a table this year, please reach out to Eddie Stahl or Liv Fairchild.

If you have committed to being a table host, please consider joining us for a virtual orientation on November 11th from 9-9:45 am.


VIRTUAL Central Section Scout Olympics Winter Camporee

The Central Section Scout Olympics Winter Camporee with the new Monon and Fall Creek Districts will be virtual due to the increased intensity of the COVID-19 pandemic and requests from our medical community. The Virtual Scout Olympics Winter Camporee concept will have outdoor competitions in pods (e.g. Patrols or Troops at your home base) that minimize potential COVID spread and use digital means to bring everyone together in a live-streamed Camporee.

Your unit will join the Virtual Scout Olympics Winter Camporee from your home base on Saturday January 23 at 9:00am. There will be a variety of competitions that will then be joined/reported in a live stream throughout the day. We will have a base studio connecting with live reports from the field and updated leaderboards for the events throughout the day. The live events will finish by 5:00pm and then a Virtual Campfire will be streamed that evening from recorded skits and songs that were submitted to the base studio during the day.

An essential part of this virtual camporee will be creativity on the part of scouts in our units to help make it happen, especially for competitive events and how digital media are used to bring scout units together to see the fruits of their competitions. Each unit should designate one or two scouts to do the live reporting of events at their home base. We will also send a request for scout volunteers to host the studio live sessions (two hosts per 2 hour studio session; 4 studio sessions total).

Patrols, Troops, Crews, and Webelos Arrow of Light dens may compete in as many competition events as they choose. Some example events are:

  • Trebuchet, Catapult or Sling-Shot Launch: build your own machine to send the cargo as far as possible.
  • Klondike Race: post the fastest time over a set distance.
  • Tomahawk Throw: throw your ‘hawks to peg the bull’s eye target.
  • Firebuilding: get that fire built fast to keep warm.
  • Horse-Shoes (Soles for Souls) Competition: Compete in this variation and donate gently-used shoes for others this winter.
  • Gourmet S’mores Competition: build gourmet versions for your patrol
  • Bucket Brigade: put out the fire in record time by passing the bucket down the line with spars.
  • Gateway Pioneering Competition: build the largest, most elaborate gateway with pioneering skills to mark off your campsite area
  • Adult Cooking Competition – cook your Dutch oven or other camp creations for virtual tasting
  • Virtual Campfire: evening stream of curated skits and songs recorded and submitted by Patrols, Troops, and Crews

A complete list of events and rules will be published in time for Roundtables on Dec. 10 so that units may prepare, especially if they want to build something or gather “exotic” materials.

Registration will open December 15. Each patrol/unit will be assessed a nominal fee to cover production costs and other expenses. We will have an online storefront to purchase Scout Olympics Winter Camporee bling. Awards will be provided including new Monon District Camporee and Fall Creek District Awards.

Training Weekend November 14-15th

We are asking all leaders to set aside some time this weekend to catch up on their YPT and Position-Specific Training. Council will also be offering some select advanced training.

See offerings here: https://scoutingevent.com/160-TrainingAcademy2020

This includes IOLS, BALOO, Camp Admin, and Scoutbook Training for both packs and troops

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Unit in Focus

Running a Troop requires giving scouts opportunities to raise money for monthly events and, of course, summer camp, and sometimes that troop becomes known for that fundraiser.

Long before my son and I got involved with Scouting, I knew that there was a Scout troop that sold Christmas Trees. Troop 109 was and still is that Troop. 

Recently (the day after Thanksgiving actually) I went on my annual trip to their lot to purchase the family Christmas tree on opening day. They don't skimp. They had quite a variety of trees. 

I went home that day with a beautiful Douglas fir tree. It was a pretty tall tree and it was a lot lower price than I have seen at the box stores, which is why I ended up making a donation. 

The scouts were ready and willing to help. I had barely paid for the tree when they had a fresh cut applied and the tree tied to the top of a rather tall Chevy Traverse. Wow!!! They are quick.

As I said, sometimes a troop becomes known for their fundraiser. Troop 109 has a great program, but I must admit, they are known to me as the Christmas Tree Troop...not because they sell Christmas trees but because when they are selling trees, they do their best and it shows. 
Tree Prep Area

One of several Scouts who made sure customers were taken care of on the opening day of Troop 109 tree sales. 
Troop 109 Leader at the Payment Table

Cash or Credit was accepted and scouts and parents made sure that tree selection, prep, and checkout were done like clockwork

Calling All Merit Badge Counselors

All Merit Badge Counselors are asked to verify their registration status, approved badges, training, and inclusion in the council list by following the instructions in this “MBC in Scoutbook Primer” video.

This will be a council rather than a district position beginning in 2021, and only properly registered and trained counselors may function in the role.

If you are not currently registered and need to fill out an adult application, it can be found here: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/524-501.pdf

If you want to change which merit badges you are registered to council, use this form: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34405.pdf

Social Media

Join us on our Monon District Scouting Units Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/group...

Check out our new Monon District Page at https://www.facebook.com/Monon...

Reporting Service Hours

Please record your unit’s service hours through the Internet Advancement platform Scoutbook for all projects except Eagle Scout or Exploring. This site will use my.Scouting username and password for access. Information on the new site is available at http://help.scoutbook.com. Unit service hours history has already been moved to the new platform.

Recording your service projects is required to fulfill the Journey to Excellence criteria for service

For Eagle Scout or Exploring service project entry, units should still use the old website servicehours.Scouting.org and the same username and password previously used for the logon.

Future Events:

VIRTUAL Central Section Winter Camporee: January 23, 2021 via ZOOM

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Monon District Merit Badge University: March 12-13, 2021
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Monon District Pinewood Derby: March 20, 2021
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Central Section Spring Camporee: April 23-25, 2021

Unit Reopening Guide

Please see the attached Unit Reopening Guide from the Crossroads of America Council. Please follow and resort back to this guide for all Scouting planning.
For units who have not yet begun meeting in person, please use this guide to begin that process. Even if your school affiliation is e-learning/virtual learning, we encourage all Scouting units to begin meeting in-person where available under the guidelines set forth in this guide.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Merit Badge

Requirements for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion merit badge have been developed by a national committee of BSA volunteers and staff. The merit badge will be available to earn beginning January 1, 2021. It will become an Eagle-required merit badge as of May 1, 2021.
Adult Training

A trained leader is an effective leader! Check out the below highlighted training opportunities to learn more.
August and September 2021
Wood Badge

Wood Badge is advanced Scout leader training that began in 1919 by Lord Baden-Powell, founder of Scouting and Wood Badge’s first director. It came to America in 1948 and has been updated to reflect current BSA policies and programs. Incorporating the best techniques available, Wood Badge has become the most advanced leadership training course in Scouting!
Merit Badge Counselor Training Courses

This is a one hour training provided to adults that wish to teach scouts one of the over 100 merit badges offered. You will learn how to guide, and enable a scout how to complete a merit badge. Also, understand how Youth Protection Training connects to being a merit badge counselor. There is an web based training offered under the online training page or you can attend one of the monthly MBC trainings offered at the Golden Burke Scout Center, please check the council calendar.
View more

Ideas for The Newsletter?

If you have ideas for the newsletter, please reach out to Jeff White. He would be glad to hear from you. 
Monon District CAC

7125 Fall Creek Road North, Indianapolis
IN 46256 United States
contact@monondistrict.org

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