Northern Trail News: July 5, 2026

July 5, 2026

📌 Action Items

📣 Recruitment & Promotion

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.
New Merit Badge Counselor Contact Jayde Hawkins. Send the merit badge form along with a multiple application and a copy of your ypt/sy. Training is available at Merit Badge Counselor Position Specific Training
🎓 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
- Tentative 2026 Popcorn Calendar Now Available. Time to start preparing for the Fall!.
📰 Newsletter & Content
- Have Content? – Send items for the newsletter to news@ntrail.org.
📅On the Calendar
- Northern Trail Roundtable - August TBD at FUMC, room 230 7:00 pm.

🏕️ 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 sometime in August 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.

🌲 Scoutmaster Minute 🌲
The Best Patch You'll Never Wear Summer camp is full of patches. Merit badge patches. Camp patches. OA flaps. Event patches. We proudly sew them on our uniforms because they represent something we've accomplished. But some of the most important accomplishments in Scouting never come with a patch. Helping a homesick Scout make it through the week. Cleaning the campsite before anyone asks. Staying behind to help load the trailer. Encouraging someone who thinks they can't finish the hike. Quietly doing the right thing when no one is watching. Those moments don't earn badges, but they build character. They become part of who you are long after the uniform is put away. This summer, work hard to earn your merit badges, but don't forget to earn something even more valuable: the respect of your fellow Scouts through your actions. Character is the best patch you'll ever earn.

🌲 Scoutmaster Minute 🌲

The Best Patch You'll Never Wear

Summer camp is full of patches. Merit badge patches. Camp patches. OA flaps. Event patches. We proudly sew them on our uniforms because they represent something we've accomplished.

But some of the most important accomplishments in Scouting never come with a patch.

Helping a homesick Scout make it through the week. Cleaning the campsite before anyone asks. Staying behind to help load the trailer. Encouraging someone who thinks they can't finish the hike. Quietly doing the right thing when no one is watching.

Those moments don't earn badges, but they build character. They become part of who you are long after the uniform is put away.

This summer, work hard to earn your merit badges, but don't forget to earn something even more valuable: the respect of your fellow Scouts through your actions.

Character is the best patch you'll ever earn.

☀️ Summer Safety Moment ☀️
Heat Doesn't Care Texas summers can be unforgiving. Heat doesn't care how experienced you are, how many camps you've attended, or how old you are. It affects Scouts and adults alike. Drink water before you feel thirsty. Refill your bottle often. Wear a hat, apply sunscreen throughout the day, and take advantage of shade whenever possible. Watch out for each other. If someone becomes unusually tired, dizzy, confused, or stops sweating, don't ignore it. Tell a leader immediately and begin cooling them down. One of the best parts of Scouting is that we never face challenges alone. Looking after your buddy isn't just part of camp; it's part of the Scout Law. A great week at camp starts with everyone returning home healthy.

☀️ Summer Safety Moment ☀️

Heat Doesn't Care

Texas summers can be unforgiving. Heat doesn't care how experienced you are, how many camps you've attended, or how old you are. It affects Scouts and adults alike.

Drink water before you feel thirsty. Refill your bottle often. Wear a hat, apply sunscreen throughout the day, and take advantage of shade whenever possible.

Watch out for each other. If someone becomes unusually tired, dizzy, confused, or stops sweating, don't ignore it. Tell a leader immediately and begin cooling them down.

One of the best parts of Scouting is that we never face challenges alone. Looking after your buddy isn't just part of camp; it's part of the Scout Law.

A great week at camp starts with everyone returning home healthy.

📚 Upcoming Training

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

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.

Commissioners

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.comfor 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.

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Yours in Scouting,

Tammy Pitt
Northern Trail Communications Committee