the chippyblog

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.

More than 80 Chippewa leaders, scouts and family members attended our 2024 District Dinner at Crank’s Enchantment Banquet Facility.

It was a grand event. Marlene Wicklund, Dave White and Kazar Terterian received the District Award of Merit. Phil Moore and Kevin Wicklund received the Silver Beaver Award. 20 unit leaders received the Unit Award of Appreciation.

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.

See below for the link to the request form for Central Registry Clearance. This form is required in Michigan in order for adults to visit Summer Camps. It is best if you fill it out now and email it in for review and approval. We will need a copy of your approval when it is returned. Thank you for your participation in this effort.

Camp Organizations and Children’s Campsites             

Camp organizations and children’s campsites requesting a Central Registry clearance on employees or volunteers who are 21 years of age or older must complete the BCHS-Camps 001, Request for Central Registry Clearance form and submit it to the Bureau of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

Mail, Fax, or Email all requests to:

LARA-BCHS
Adult Foster Care and Camps
P.O. Box 30664
Lansing, MI 48909

Fax: 517-284-9709
Email: LARA-BCHSAFCCampclearance@michigan.gov
Phone: 866-685-0006

P 517.940.4210 | C 517-945-2290 

don.shepard@scouting.org | www.michiganscouting.org 

There are changes coming in 2024 to the cub scout advancement program. This slide presentation was presented by Pat Zimmerman at the University of Scouting on January 27, 2024. Be prepared to implement these changes to your pack advancement program. Changes to the program begin with slide 17.

As of January 1, 2024, the following changes to Scouts BSA requirements become effective.

Rank Requirements:   

There were minor changes to Scout (req, 6), and Star (req. 6).  

 The Cyberchip has been phased out.  Scouts should use the Personal Safety Awareness training

at https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/scouts-bsa/  for both Scout and Star ranks.  

Eagle Palms:

Scouts BSA will no longer have to wait three months between Eagle Palms.  They will have to

earn five additional merit badges and live by the Scout Oath and Law.  

Merit badge with significant changes to content are:

•  Automotive Maintenance – updated to include electric/hybrid vehicles (1c,d,e,f,g,h)

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

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