Northern Trail News: February 1, 2026
February 1, 2026
📌 Action Items
- 2026 Northern Trail District Dinner: February 11th at 6:00 p.m at the FUMC, Richardson
- 📝 Cub Scout Crossover Reminder: Please ensure all Cub Scout advancement is recorded before a youth is registered with a troop. Many Scouts crossing over have already paid their national dues at the end of 2025; those dues should not be collected again by the troop.
- Northern Trail District Committee meetings - Have a Voice in Your District!
- Northern Trail Roundtable - Are you making it to your district roundtable meetings?
- Post photos on the District and Council Facebook pages.
- Share this newsletter – Make sure new members are in the know - Forward to others in your unit. Sign up here.
📣 Recruitment & Promotion
🎓 Training & Leadership
- Health and Safety – Safety is a value that must be taught and reinforced at every opportunity.
- Check out all the new training classes added to On the Calendar!
- Share Your Skills – Mentor new leaders; contact bramfranklin@gmail.com.
🍿 Fundraising & Volunteering
- TBD
📰 Newsletter & Content
- Have Content? – Send items for the newsletter to news@ntrail.org.
📅On the Calendar 
- 📆District Calendar
Northern Trail District Committee Meeting Come join us February 5 at 7:00pm, FUMC Richardson.
WoodBadge 148 at Camp Wisdom: February 6-8, 2026 and February 21-22, 2026Scout Sunday February 8.
Dallas Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)3 DaysSat., 2/7, 2/21, 8-5 pm, 2/28, 8-12 pm at the Dallas Fire-Rescue Training Academy. See Other Important Information secton for more details and sign up.
2026 Spring Backcountry Advanced Training(BAT) - Hosted by Northern Trail-Classroom Sessions: February 11 & February 25 at FUMC. Practical: February 27 - March 1 at Camp Meisenbach. Must all sessions.
Northern Trail Roundtable - February 12 at FUMC, room 230 7:00 pm.Scout Shabbat February 14.
2026 NRA Pistol Instructor Classes February 21 & March 21 at Camp WisdomNorthern Trail District Commissioner Meeting February 26 at 7:00pm, FUMC Richardson.
2026 Den Chief Training - February 28, 2026 in Carrollton
2026 TRJ Camporee #1- Hosted by Northern Trail March 27-29, 2026 at Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Camp. Registeration open until March 21 at 11pm, Leader's guide can be found here
2026 BALOO Training #3- Hosted by Northern Trail - April 18 - 19, 2026 at Camp Wisdom
2026 Wilderness First Aid Course - April 17-19, 2026 at Camp James Ray
2026 IOLS Training #3- Hosted by Northern Trail <- April 18 - 19, 2026 at Camp WisdomWood Badge 149 - Philmont Scout Ranch: August 2-8, 2026
Wood Badge 150 - Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Camp: October 23-25, 2026 and November 7-8, 2026
| 🏕️ Have a Voice in Your District |
Northern Trail Scouters, are you satisfied with the district activities? Do you want a voice in deciding future events? If so, you are encouraged to attend our next District Committee Meeting on Thursday, February 5 at 7:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church of Richardson. All Scouters are welcome, and your unit’s Charter Organization Representative is especially encouraged to attend as a full member of the district committee. |
 |
Northern Trail 2025 Y.E.S. Award Recipients |
 |
Northern Trail Roundtable Meeting
Come meet other Unit leaders, ask questions, network and learn from the topic of the month. We welcome all Adult volunteers. How do you know if you do not ask? Whether a new volunteer or lots of years in the saddle, it will be of value to you, to your unit and to our youth – it’s fun to network.
📍 Roundtable is the 2nd Thursday of every month.
First United Methodist Church Richardson, Rm. 230 @ 7:00 pm
Upcoming Roundtable Topics:
📚 Upcoming Training
Online Training
A huge amount of training is available online, including position training. Access your account at my.scouting.org. If you don’t have an account, it’s easy to set one up. You can view your training records and complete a full training program.
Questions? Contact: NT.Training@att.net
S.A.F.E. guarding Youth
The course reinforces a culture of active supervision, situational awareness, and safety. S.A.F.E. guarding Youth is 90 minutes the first time you take it, then only 15-minute annual refreshers.
| Upcoming District and Council Events |
Arapaho Chapter News
🔥Join us on February 6-8 for OA Spring Fellowship – the Arapaho Chapter hopes odds are always in your favor at this Hunger Games themed fun weekend at Camp Trevor Rees-Jones - registration ends Feb 2!
Come to our Arapaho Chapter February meeting 2/ 10 from 7:30-8:30 pm at FUMCR in Room 230.
➡ Need arrows for your crossover? Contact Arapaho chapter advisor Kristine Schowope Kschwope@hotmail.comor 214-734-2281.
The Order of the Arrow is an honor camper service organization. Each district has a chapter and members are chosen by their peers.
Contact arapaho@miki.org with questions.
It's not too late to renew your OA membership go to: miki.org/event-registration/ and pay your dues.
Other Important Information
🏘️ Dallas Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Preparedness • Accountability • Community Resilience
Dallas CERT training emphasizes accountability for yourself, your family, and your community by focusing on the importance of personal preparedness and situational awareness. CERT volunteer members are encouraged to stay informed about their neighborhoods and to pre-determine evacuation sites that support safe, effective, and rapid responses during emergencies.
The CERT program prepares volunteers for hazards that may impact our area by teaching essential disaster response skills, including:
- Fire safety and hazard reduction
- Light search and rescue techniques
- Team organization and coordination
- Basic disaster medical operations
Through training and teamwork, Dallas CERT volunteers play a vital role in strengthening community readiness and supporting emergency responders when it matters most.
More information and Basic Training Course schedule.| Scouting Public Safety Day – March 7, 2026 |
 Join Scouts from across Richardson for a FREE full-day event focused on safety, service, and skill-building! The City of Richardson will host Scouting Public Safety Dayon Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM at the Fire Training Center, 1621 E. Lookout Dr.Use QR code to the right to sign up. For more information, contact Ryan Steele at 972-744-0904 or ryan.steele@cor.gov. |
Merit Badge Counselor Positions
To apply for a MBC position, please send the merit badge form along with a multiple application and a copy of your ypt/sy to Josh.Ohmstede@scouting.org. MBC is a council position and the applications are handled by the council.
Cub Scout Camping
Cub Scout Camping is fun and only allowed at approved camps. Make your reservations in advance for your whole pack to enjoy the outdoors. Click on Circle Ten Camps for information on the 4 Circle 10 camps and all the other approved Cub Scout Camping locations at the bottom of the page for your Cub Scout Pack to have an adventure.
Northern Trail has an active commissioner staff with deep scouting knowledge. Get to know your commissioner. Your commissioner can help you and your unit resolve problems and pass along some ideas to make your program even better. Our District Commissioner is Bram Franklin, who may be reached at: bramfranklin@gmail.com.
If you are having trouble reaching your commissioner, contact Bram and he will assist you.
Looking for a way to give back to scouting? New unit leaders need mentors who can help them navigate the trail. As you know it can be a little overwhelming. Training is available! Contact our district commissioner Bram Franklin bramfranklin@gmail.com for more information.
Help Shape Scouting — Become a Unit Commissioner
Many of us have Scouts who have aged out but still want to contribute to the values and ethics Scouting instills in our youth. We are looking for two new commissioners for Northern Trail. If you have Scouting experience and want to help beyond your Pack, Troop, Crew, Ship, or Post, please consider becoming a unit commissioner.
If you have questions or would like to suggest someone for this role, please contact:
Bram Franklin
214-609-9089
BramFranklin@gmail.com
Website and Newsletter
Our newsletter and website reach a very large audience in Northern Trail. If there is something scouting related which needs to be on the website or the newsletter, please do not keep it to yourself, let us know. news@ntrail.org
If we need to fix a broken link or have incorrect information, please take a moment, and let us know. news@ntrail.org
Do not keep the newsletter to yourself! Everyone in your unit should be receiving the newsletter and be aware of the website. sign up is easy, just send them to: Newsletter sign up . Do not forget to sign up on Circle Ten to receive updates from the council.
Looking for something in a recent newsletter? Several years of past newsletters may be found here.
Yours in Scouting,
Tammy Pitt
Northern Trail Communications Committee
