Northern Trail News: March 1, 2026
March 1, 2026
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:
📌 Action Items
- 📝 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. ➡ Need arrows for your crossover? Contact Arapaho chapter advisor Kristine Schowope Kschwope@hotmail.com or 214-734-2281.
- 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 Commissioner Meeting March 5 at 6:00pm(new date and time), FUMC Richardson, Room 226B.
Northern Trail District Committee Meeting Come join us March 5 at 7:00pm, FUMC Richardson, Room 230.
- 2026 Texas Fin-Fur-Con (TFFC)-March 7, 2026 at Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Camp. TFFC is a one-day Wildlife and Conservation Merit Badge University.
Northern Trail Roundtable - March 12 at FUMC, room 230 7:00 pm.
2026 TRJ Camporee #1- Hosted by Northern Trail March 27-29, 2026 at Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Camp. - Join East Trinity Trails, Elm Fork, Northern Trail, Post Oak, and Rising Sun Districts for a weekend of Scouting fun! This year’s theme is Texas Frontier Days. This event is open to all districts! Registration open until March 21 at 11pm Leader's guide can be found here.
Anyone (adult /or youth who would like to staff, please contact Guy Bradley(gbradleybsa@gmail.com). There's opportunities for both adult and youth, along with staffing Shooting Sports.
- This training is an overnight training event that introduces parents and leaders to the skills needed to plan and conduct Pack outdoor activities, particularly Pack camping. The training includes campsite selection, outdoor event planning, parent involvement, health & safety, equipment, cooking, and an introduction to camping skills.
- The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Training is a 16-hour, hands-on course to give adult leaders the experience needed to handle illness and injury when medical care is more than an hour away.Most of the BSA high-adventure bases (HAB) require at least one person per trek to be current in WFA.
- Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) provides adult leaders the practical outdoor skills they need to lead Scouts in the outdoors. All Troops are required to have IOLS trained leaders and all SM/ASMs are required to have it to be fully trained.
Wood 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, March 5 at 7:00 PM in room 230 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. |
| Local News and Notes |
| 🏕️ Why Attend Camporee? |
Camporee is where skills move from the handbook to the field. It’s a weekend built for patrol teamwork, leadership growth, and a little healthy competition. Scouts put their training to the test, learn from other troops, and experience the energy that comes from seeing Scouting at full strength across the district. It builds confidence, strengthens patrol bonds, and reminds youth why the outdoor program is at the heart of Scouts BSA. For newer Scouts, it’s an opportunity to practice real-world skills in a supportive environment. For experienced Scouts, it’s a chance to lead, mentor, and sharpen their edge. For troops, it’s a shared memory that carries momentum back home. Make plans now to attend — your Scouts will come home with stories, stronger skills, and a deeper connection to the movement they’re part of. |
| 🎯 Shooting Sports Achievement & 2027 Scholarship Pathway |
If your teen has an interest in shooting sports, Venturing offers a structured and achievement-based opportunity through the Range and Target Activities (RATA) Outstanding Achievement Award. This program recognizes demonstrated proficiency in Air Rifle, Small Bore Rifle, Shotgun, Muzzle-loading Rifle, and Archery. The award expands on the Venturing Ranger shooting requirements by incorporating all five platforms into a comprehensive development track. Youth who complete the requirements earn a distinctive medal and certificate recognizing their achievement. Looking ahead to 2027: Crew 728 is actively preparing eligible youth for the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Scholarship. Participation in RATA and structured marksmanship training can support scholarship applications for students graduating in 2027. Youth must be registered as a Venturer to earn the award, and participation is not mutually exclusive with Scouts BSA. Both currently registered Scouts and youth(ages 14-20) not presently in Scouting are welcome to join Crew 728 to participate. Crew 728 is a co-ed crew. No prior shooting experience or personal equipment is required. Youth will need to provide their own eye and ear protection and cover applicable range fees. The cost to become a multiple in the Crew is $0 (new members pay the national joining fee). Crew 728 meets twice monthly near Spring Valley and Central Expressway. Instruction & Leadership: For more information: |
📚 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
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
| 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 Workshop – April 11 |
The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation is offering Scouts the opportunity to earn merit badges this spring at a special workshop held at the Interurban Museum. Featured Merit Badges:
Event Details:
Space is limited and classes will fill quickly. Early registration is encouraged. 👉 Register here: |
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