the chippyblog

Register at: https://scoutingevent.com/272-VOAWhirlyball

Come out to Whirlyball in Novi for two hours of fun from 1 to 3 PM on Saturday April 18. This event is open to all venturers and scouts aged 12 and older and adults . Limited to 30 participants and you must be a minimum height of 54″ to participate. Cost is $26 to participate and will include light refreshments.

PLEASE READ: CENTRAL REGISTRY CLEARANCE UPDATEPlease share this important information with your leaders and parents. The Child Care Background Check Unit within the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) has implemented a new process for obtaining a central registry clearance, which is required for staff members and unsupervised volunteers who are 21 years of age or older at camp. The new process is simple, free, and can be done completely online. PLEASE NOTE: Important Deadline: While they will continue to honor paper forms already received, new paper forms will no longer be accepted after June 2, 2025. To get started, go to www.michigan.gov/ccbc-camps, and create a new account.Once you log in, submit a new central registry clearance.Results will typically be received within 5 business days.The camp is required to have a record of your central registry clearance on file, and there is an option to download and print your results letter within the system when viewing your clearance letter. A hard copy is required at check-in when arriving at camp. NOTE: For attendees that are not Michigan Residents, you will continue to follow the Out of State instructions.If you have any questions throughout the process, you can reach the CCBC team by submitting an online support case at https://miltcpartnership.org/childcareportal/home/helpdesk or by calling 844-765-2247.CENTRAL R

Nearly 100 people attended our 2025 District Dinner at Crank’s Enchantment Banquet Facility on Tuesday April 29. Congratulations are in order to our two recipients of the Silver Beaver Award, Matt Majchrzak Sr. and Allan Medwick. We also want to congratulate our District Award of Merit recipient, Jay Carreon. In addition, 23 units selected someone special in their unit to recieve the Unit Award of Appreciation.

On Saturday December 6, Matthew R. of Chippewa Troop 209, along with fellow scouts and leaders installed new sections of boardwalk at the Michigan Nature Association Lakeville Swamp Nature Sanctuary. The 80 feet of boardwalk will enhance the experience of visitors to the sanctuary. The sanctuary is located on Rochester Road just south of Lakeville Rd.

Chippewa District held it’s first pinewood derby in almost 14 years on Saturday April 27 at the Romeo Methodist Church. Congratulations to all of the scouts that participated. Here is a photo of our 1st, 2nd and 3rd place overall winners.

Dave Putt gave a presentation about Scouts with Special Needs at the March Roundtable. Presentation after the break.

Scouting is for everyone no matter their ability. We have two new troops forming in our area for scouts with special needs. Troop 1197 B and 1197 G are chartered with the O.A.T.S. program in Ortonville, MI.

O.A.T.S. stands for Offering Alternative Therapy with Smiles. The program is built around riding and caring for horses as a means of overcoming physical, intellectual and learning disabilities as well as spectrum, behavioral and multiple co-existing disorders.

For more information about these new troops, please contact Doug Rohrabaugh at 586-209-7608 or drohrabaugh@gmail.com or Dave Putt at dputt5@yahoo.com.

Want to learn more about scouts with special needs and disabilities? There is a national roundtable taking place on March 6 via zoom. Here is the link to attend.

There have been some changes to earning the World Conservation Award. Please to the following link to review the requirements.

https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/512-03622-CS-World-Conservation-Award-App.pdf

• Are you going on a Activity that will span over 96 hours over a 14 day period of time (Including Travel Time)?
• Will you be camping (Staying) in Michigan?
• Is your Unit running the activity?
• Do you have youth under 18 years old participating?
• If Yes, then you may need a Camp Program License from the State of Michigan’s License and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) group …
• State of Michigan ”Camp Program” License required of Units for all activities that are 96 hours + in Duration
• Applicable to all Youth Organizations – BSA, GSA, Etc …)
• For any program ONLY IN MICHIGAN that is not run by BSA (or where the camp does not have a LARA License)
• Units doing long term campouts, Isle Royale, NCT, Individual Unit Summer Camps, etc.
• National High Adventure Bases, Camps in other States not applicable
• Required if any participant is under 18 years old – If all participants are over 18, no License required.
• Only Required if Activity is in the State of Michigan – Private Property, State Parks, National Parks, etc…

For his eagle scout project, James of Troop 472 chose to install two bat houses and boardwalk for the Michigan Nature Association Wilcox-Warnes Sanctuary in Shelby Township. Thank you James!

For his Eagle Scout project, Josh of Troop 209 presented the Loren Andrus Octagon House in Washington, MI with three “Aldo Leopold style” benches. The benches will be used for ceremonies in the gazebo at the historic landmark. Thanks Josh!

If you are scheduling an Eagle Scout ceremony and would like to borrow one of our Eagle Scout displays (see photo) please contact our District Commissioner, Dave Fowler, at davidfowler123@comcast.net or 586-533-9891.

Earning the Michigan Badge is a great Stay-At-Home Project.

Please click on the link below to see the requirements and how to order the Michigan Badge

The Michigan Badge Requirements

Questions? Send email to: info@chiefpontiacprograms.org

Become a fan of the Chippewa District Face Book Page.