GP Great Plains District - Northern Lights Council

Old Great Plains camp logo

Great Plains District

Serving the Northwest North Dakota counties of Burke, Mountrail, McKenzie, Williams and Divide. Also serving the Northeast Montana counties of Sheridan, Daniels and a portion of Roosevelt.

Great Plains Scout Office

310 Airport Road, Suite 1050

PO Box 4011

Williston, ND 58802-4011

District 14 Leadership

District Chairman	Tim Horab	(701) 774-3156
District Commissioner	Kevin Hammer	(701) 572-6416
District Executive	Carleton Borden	(701) 566-0231
Asst. Director of Field Service	Rob Gilk erson	(701) 223-7204

News and Current Events

Upcoming Roundtable Themes:

February 11: To be held at the Bakken Center, 310 Airport Rd, Williston, ND 58801 (next to old Airport)

Summer Camp Cub Resident Camps
Klondike Results
Spring Camporee
Cub Day Camp
BALOO Training Sign up

March 10: Bakken Center, 310 Airport Rd, Suite 800, Williston, ND 58801

Scouting For Food / Fill-A-Canoe
Spring Recruitment Scouts BSA & Cubs & Explorers
New Unit Development
IOLS (Scouts BSA Leaders Outdoor Skills)Training Sign up

April 14: Bakken Center, 310 Airport Rd, Suite 800, Williston, ND 58801

Advancement Help
Spring Camporee
Breakfast for Scouting

Great Plains Water Carnival

Was a great Success, over 60 Scouts and Siblings had a great day at the Williston ARC. Your advancement loops and pins have been sent to your Cubmasters to distribute at your next Pack meeting.

Klondike Derby

February 1-2, 2020

The Great Plains Premier Outdoor Winter Scout Skill Event. To be held in Plentywood, Montana on Saturday, February 1 to Sunday, February 2, 2020.

Hosted by Troop 283 Plentywood and Troop 298 Scobey at Wildwood Park, Plentywood, MT

Troops, Crews, Ships and Posts are invited for the entire weekend.

Cub Scout Webelos/Arrow of Light Dens may come for the day on Saturday, February 1.
Per The Guide to Safe Scouting Cub Scouts/Webelos are not allowed to stay/camp overnight at the Klondike.

Troops that wish to come to Plentywood the night before must let Troop 283 know in advanced. Your meals Friday Night and Saturday Morning are on you and not provided by the Klondike.

Meals during Klondike will be provided by the host troops. If there are scouts who wish to cook for themselves (for a merit badge for instance) please bring what you need.
Warm up drinks and snacks will be provided.

The location has a heated building with rest rooms, but scouts will be expected to set up weather appropriate camp sites. Heaters will not be allowed in tents as per BSA guidelines.

Each patrol will need to bring a derby sled loaded with the required items (appendix A). Plans for sleds are available online, or through the district.

Event schedule (all times Mountain time):

Saturday, February 1

0900 – 1000 Check In
1000 – 1100 Camp Set Up
1100 – 1115 Flag
1115 – 1200 Lunch
1200 – 1600 Events
- Fire Building - Scouts will be challenged to build a fire with wood and paper. The fire must get hot enough to burn through a twine suspended above the fire. Fastest time wins.
- Knot Tying - Scouts will be individually tested on the following knots/hitches: Square Knot, Sheet Bend, Taught Line Hitch, Bowline, & Clove Hitch. Each youth member of the patrol must know all the knots - individuals will be called forward and asked to tie one knot. When he or she is successful, the next scout will come forward until all knots have been tied. Speed and accuracy are judged.
- Ice Rescue - Scouts will use the rope from their sled and any other materials found at the site to rescue a victim who has fallen through the ice (simulated). Scouts must not cross a predetermined line and once the rescue is completed, they must demonstrate knowledge of first aid for a cold casualty. Judging is based on skill, speed, and knowledge.
- First Aid - Scouts will be asked to provide first aid to a casualty who is suffering a broken leg, puncture wound, frost bite, and hypothermia. They will be tested on their ability to assess and treat the casualty, and to provide transport.
1600 – 1730 Equipment Check & Sled Race
- Sled Race/Equipment Check - Patrols will race by pulling/pushing their sleds over a course to be determined. One member must be in the sled for the duration of the race, with one scheduled rider change during the race. All equipment must remain in the sled for the entire duration of the race.
1730 – 1830 Supper
1900 – 2000 Camp Fire
2000 – 2200 Games / Cocoa
2200 Lights Out

Sunday, February 2

0800 – 0930 Breakfast
0930 – 1000 Closing Ceremony / Awards
1030 Chapel Service (Troop Chaplain Aides will be asked to help)
1030 Break Camp / Site Cleanup / Travel

BALOO - Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation for Cub Scout Leaders

February 29, 2020 - 8:00 AM (Mountain) to 4:00 PM

Wildwood Hall, Harry DaSilva Park 547 Box Elder Street, Plentywood MT

Youth $10 and Adults $30 ($5 off if register by Feb 15)

BALOO is the introductory training Cub Scout leaders should complete before taking Cub Scouts on an overnight camping trip. Recent updates to this two-part course make the content more impactful, useful and convenient. The new BALOO combines the previous BALOO and a course called Outdoor leader skills for Webelos Leaders, or OWL. As of Feb. 28, 2018, OWL is no more. The training code for the new, hybrid BALOO is C32.

Who should take BALOO?

The BSA requires that you have at least one BALOO - trained adult on every Cub Scout den or pack overnight outdoor event. That include pack camping and Webelos den overnighters. The Great Plains recommends that there are at least 2 currently trained leaders in each pack. A BALOO - trained leader should be at any overnighter regardless of whether it is a pack, district or council event. Having at least one BALOO - trained adult will make your Cub Scouts’ camping experience as awesome as it can be.

Why should I take BALOO?

Leaders who complete BALOO training are better prepared to plan pack den or pack overnight events. You’ll learn how to make camping activities and outings fun. You’ll discover how to keep your Cub Scouts safe and entertained. And you’ll learn how to plan an event that’s rooted firmly in Cub Scouting’s principles. Successful experiences in the outdoors make Cub Scouts, and their parents, more likely to keep coming back.

How do I take BALOO?

BALOO consists of two components: online and hands-on. You’ll need to complete both — in order — to qualify as a “Trained” Cub Scout outdoor leader and receive the BALOO recognition patch.

Online component: The online portion of BALOO is available 24/7 on the BSA Learn Center. Just log in to My.Scouting.org to begin. The goal of the online portion is to make the best use of time to allow leaders to experience as much as possible during the practical hands-on training.
Practical, hands-on component: This 1-day course is designed as an introduction to the Cub Scout outdoor program for leaders interested in adding a camping component to their Pack activities.

Update your BeAScout pin today, so families can find you

BeAScout.Org is a powerful tool to help parents find your unit. But, it only works if they are able to get the right information about your Unit. First impressions are everything, so it is important to keep your BeAScout pin up-to date. Find out how to update your BeAScout pin here

Scoutee Doo & the Mystery at Heart Butte

Patch Design Contest ends March 1, 2020 (Please submit so that your design arrives before March 1 2020)

You can email carleton.borden@scouting.org or snail mail it to:

Great Plains District NLC-BSA

PO Box 4011

Williston, ND 58802-4011

Western Spring Camporee

May 29 to May 31, 2020

Cost $35.00 (save $5 by registering early) for Scouts BSA, Venturers & Explorers

Cost $30 (save $5 by registering early) for Webelos/Arrow of Light - Saturday Only

Wilderness First Aid Training (separate event registration)

Schedule for May 29

All meals (except Cracker-barrel & Saturday Lunch) provided by units

4:00 pm – 8:30 pm Check In: Medical Forms (A&B) submitted

9:00 pm Open Campfire: Opening of Mystery

10:00 pm Cracker-barrel with Scoutmasters & Senior Patrol Leaders

11:00 pm Lights Out

Schedule for May 30

6:00 am – 8:00 am Wake Up and Units make their own breakfast

8:00 am Flag & Mystery Event

8:30 am – 11:30 am Events & Mystery

11:30 am – 1:00 pm Lunch (Only meal provided by the camporee)

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Events

4:00 pm – 7:30 pm Free time & Units make their own supper

7:30 pm Evening Show and Awards

Schedule for May 31

7:00 am – 9:00 am Wake Up and Units make their own breakfast

9:00 am Chapel

10:00 am Camp Clean Up & Check Out. You will receive your patches and your medical forms after your campsite is inspected.

Camporee Details

All vehicles must be parked in the designated parking area with 1 and ½ hour of arriving to camp. Troop Trailers may stay in campsite

Garbage will be placed in the container at the Main Lodge.

Fires are subject to fire conditions at the time of event. If there is a ban, above ground cooking on gas stoves or BBQ grills. Charcoal may be used in charcoal tables if there is a fire ban.

All Emergencies must be reported to camp staff immediately. In case of inclement weather, camp staff will notify all scouts to come to the Main Lodge immediately.

Events are based on a 7 person patrol including Patrol Leader

7 Knot Relay: Each scout will go one at a time to a judge and tie a knot, go back and tag the next scout until all 7 knots are tied correctly. This is a timed event.

Log Disassembly: Only 1 person may cut at a time. Record the time of the group. 5 seconds added by judge for every unsafe action the patrol does during disassembly.

First Aide – Rapid Transit: A scout has an injury. The judge will tell the patrol leader to select the injured scout. The judge informs them the injury and then the patrol must treat the injury and transport injured scout 50 feet to safety.

Pioneering: The patrol will lash three small projects together, the judge will give the patrol the projects. This is a timed event. Five seconds will be added for every incorrect knot and incorrect lashing used.

String Burn/Fire Starting: Objective: to as quickly as possible light a fire and burn a string suspended 18 inches above said fire. The Group will be issued 3 matches. Fires may not be raised of the ground. Scoring: Time from signal to begin, subtract 30 seconds for each match returned unlit/unburned.

Big Clove Hitch: Tie a Clove Hitch around the tree. The challenge: A 10 ft wide circle around said tree. No scouts may enter the circle. This is a timed event.

Orienteering Coarse: Patrol divides into 2 teams. Patrol leader to lead smaller half. Ask one team to start course without assistance from their other team. When completed a leg of course switch teams, keep switching until completed course. Only 1 team may use electronic technology. The other team must use compass.

Blind Tent Setup: All Scouts are given one minute to study tent materials. Then every member of the patrol except patrol leader is blindfolded. The blindfolded scouts are the only ones allowed to actually set up tent quietly. The Patrol leader may be the only one to speak. Timed event on how long it takes for them to set up said tent. Bonus points for fewer words spoken by the patrol leader

Kinister Canister: One Scout may speak and tell other scouts what to do. You have to move ‘radioactive’ water from barrel to bucket twice. This is a timed event.

Rifle Shooting: Scored on combined scoring of all patrol members

Archery: Scored on combined scoring of all patrol members

Questions? Contact Tim Bishop, Camporee Chair at (701) 570-2490

Cub Scout Summer Field Camp 2020

Cub Scouts at D 14 Cub Day Camp 2019

We will be offering as series of 1 day Cub Field Days throughout the Great Plains District.

As of right now we are tentatively offering a Field Day in Epping and a Field Day in Plentywood

June 6th 2020 Epping ND

9-3 Central Time

Price (TBD)

June 13th 2020 Plentywood MT

9-3 Montana Time

Price (TBD)

Do you want to be in the Know?

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https://www.facebook.com/nlcbsagreatplains/