welcome to scouting€¦ · location contact information & notes. crossroads of america...

WELCOME TO SCOUTING

NEW SCOUT FAMILY ORIENTATION GUIDE

Important InformatIon

Den LeaderNAME

PHONE NUMBER

EMAIL

Den MeetingDATE

TIME

LOCATION

CubmasterNAME

PHONE NUMBER

EMAIL

Pack Meeting

DATE

TIME

LOCATION

Contact Information & Notes

Crossroads of America Council, Boy Scouts of America serves 26 counties in central Indiana. Nearly 35,000 youth participate in the council’s Scouting programs through more than 900 Packs, troops, crews, groups and posts. Our mission is to provide character development, citizenship training, and growth in physical, mental and spiritual fitness and to help create the next generation of leaders. More than 8,000 adult volunteers dedicate their time and talents to make the Scouting program a success. The council is divided into 11 service areas, called districts, where the Scouting program is delivered to the local communities.

For more information about Scouting in central Indiana, visit www.crossroadsbsa.org or call (317) 813-7125.

Crossroads of amerICa CounCIl

Districts Bear Creek - Fayette, Franklin, Rush, Shelby, Union, Wayne and southern Randolph counties

Del-Mi - Hamilton and Tipton counties Golden Eagle - Blackford, Delaware, Randolph and eastern Henry counties

Hou Koda - southwestern Marion and Hendricks counties Northeast - northeast Marion and western Hancock counties

North Star - northwest Marion and southern Boone counties

Pathfinder - southern Marion and Johnson counties Pioneer - Hancock and southeast Marion counties Sakima - Madison and western Henry counties

Sugar Creek - Boone, Montgomery, and Clinton counties Wabash Valley - Vigo, Vermillion, Clay, Parke, Sullivan and Putnam counties

www.crossroadsbsa.org | 1

Indianapolis Golden-Burke Scout Center 7125 Fall Creek Road North

Indianapolis, IN 46256 (317) 813-7125

Muncie 3400 East Jackson Street

Muncie, IN 47303 (765) 288-0223

Terre Haute 501 South 25th Street Terre Haute, IN 47803

(812) 232-9496

Council Offices

2 | New Family Orientation Guide

sCoutIng’s programs

Why sCoutIng?Scouting is a well-rounded program positively affecting every area of a child’s life.

Scouting encourages children to achieve a deeper appreciation of others, including peers, parents and other adults. Early in their Scouting experience, children learn the value of helping others.

Scouting provides children with a sense that they are important individuals. They learn that their Scouting family cares about what happens to them.

Scouting activities and award programs teach personal responsibility and self-confidence. As a result, when hard decisions have to be made, a Scout can look at themselves in the mirror and be proud.

Scouting involves a safe environment with positive role models.

Parents, your Scout will learn confidence, belonging, leadership and social skills, how to make ethical choices, teamwork, citizenship and fun all during quality family time.

Cub Scouting™

A year-round, family-friendly program designed for children in kindergarten through fifth grade (ages 5-10). Activities are used to achieve the aims of Scouting—citizenship training, character development and personal fitness.

Boy Scouting™

Designed for ages 11-18, Boy Scouts learn responsible citizenship, character development and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities and educational programs. Scouts BSA for young men and women begins February 2019.

Venturing®

A high-adventure based program for young men and women between the ages of 14 and 20. Its purpose is to provide positive experiences to help youth mature and prepare them to become responsible adults.

STEM ScoutingA new program focused on fun ways for young men and women, grades 3-12, to learn more about STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) using hands-on activities led by STEM professionals.

ExploringA career development program for young men and women between the ages of 14 and 20. Exploring units have a focus on a single career field, such as police, fire/rescue, health, law, aviation and engineering.

Reaching for TomorrowReaching for Tomorrow character development program equips at-risk and special needs youth with life skills to overcome life’s challenges by providing grade-specific, character education and basic skills.


hoW does Cub sCoutIng Work?

Your Scout is a Member of a Den... • A Den is made up of no more than eight kids who are the same gender and age or grade.

• The Den meets two to three times a month. One of the Den meetings each month is a “Go See It” or field trip.

• The Den has a Den leader, but the Den leader shares the planning of the Den meetings with the parents.

Your Scout is a Member of a Pack... • A Pack consists of several Dens and meets once a month.

• The Cubmaster leads the monthly Pack meeting, but each Den will have a part in the Pack meeting.

• Some months, the Pack meeting will have special themes such as Pinewood Derby, Blue & Gold Banquet or guest speakers. Other months may be devoted to recognizing the Scouts for the projects they have completed by the presentation of beads, belt loops, activity pins or rank advancements.

Cub Scout Motto: Do Your BestDoing your best is one of the most important things Cub Scouts learn. When children compare themselves to other people, they can become complacent (if they are high achievers) or discouraged (if they have to work harder to accomplish the same goals). Focusing on doing their personal best helps them feel good about themselves and see their potential for doing even better. This helps children see that no one can find fault with them if they always do their best.

Cub Scout Advancement PlanIn Scouting, advancement is the process by which a member meets certain requirements and earns recognition. The Cub Scout advancement program is a blend of activities children do in their homes and activities they do in a Den meeting setting. As requirements are completed, Scouts are awarded recognition items to mark their progress.

Regardless of grade, all children who join Cub Scouts start by earning the Bobcat badge. After receiving the Bobcat badge, a Scout works on the requirements based on their grade level.

The Cub Scout program is designed to involve your child in a group their own age where they can earn recognition. Your child will also gain a sense of personal achievement from the new skills they learn.

Lion Cubs Kids in Kindergarten or 5 Years Old

Tiger Cubs Kids in First Grade or 6 Years Old

Wolf Kids in Second Grade or 7 Years Old

BearKids in Third Grade or 8 Years Old

WebelosKids in Fourth & Fifth Grade or 9-10 Years Old

CampIng for Cub sCoutsCub Scout Fun Day and Cub Family WeekendsJoin us at Cub Scout Fun Day for a day of adventure for the entire family! Archery, BB guns, STEM activties and ecology and conservation are just a glimpse of the activities that await. Families who are ready to explore camping are invited to stay overnight for Cub Family Weekend.

• September 22-23- Camp Kikthawenund (Frankton)

• September 29-30- Camp Belzer (Indianapolis) and Camp Krietenstein (Center Point)

• October 5-6- Camp Red Wing (Muncie)

• October 13-14- Camp Bear Creek (Connersville)

• October 20-21- Camp Belzer (Indianapolis) and Camp Krietenstein (Center Point)

Learn more and register at www.crossroadsbsa.org/cubscoutcamp

Cub Scout Summer Day CampCrossroads of America Council offers many exciting Cub Scout summer camping programs including Belzer Day Camp located at Camp Belzer in Indianapolis, and District Day Camps offered regionally throughout the council. At Cub Scout day camp, possibilities are endless! Whether taking aim at archery, exploring STEM activities, or making new friends, your Scout will have fun and make life-long memories!

Camp ScholarshipsFinances should never be a reason for a Scout not to attend camp.

Crossroads of America Council offers a camp scholarship program where recipients can be awarded up to 50% off the early summer camp fee in exchange for performing an age-appropriate service project.


aCtIvItIes & fun Your Den and Pack will have many activities to explore! Here are some council planned events:

Good Turn for Nature (Fall)The Children of Indiana Nature Park and its partners - The Nature Conservancy, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Cope Environmental Center, and Bicentennial Nature Center Network members -will provide opportunities to engage Scouts in hands-on conservation activities and raise awareness about caring for Nature with next generation.

Scout Night at the Indiana Pacers (Fall)Scouts and their families are invited to a night at the Indiana Pacers game! With purchase of a discounted ticket to the game, Scouts will have the opportunity to shoot a free throw on the Bankers Life Fieldhouse main court and hear a special post game talk by a player.

Scout Night at Monster Jam (Winter)Check out the action as these 10,000-pound monster trucks come to town! With purchase of a discounted ticket, Scouts and their families will be given a Friday night pit pass for an opportunity to meet drivers and see the Monster Jam trucks up close.

Scouting For Food (Spring)This annual food drive is held to benefit local food pantries. Scouting instills the value of service to others and this food drive provides a worthwhile opportunity for Scouts to participate in. As youth get older, their participation in service projects prepares them to plan and organize their own projects.

Pinewood Derby (Spring)Ready, set, GO! This parent/child project allows Scouts to build a race car made from a block of wood while developing motor skills and learning about working with teams and creativity.

Community Partner Activities (Year-Round)Exciting activities with special Scout pricing await with Scouting partners like the Indianapolis Indians, Indy Fuel, Indianapolis Colts, Indiana State Museum, Microsoft and more!

Learn more at:www.crossroadsbsa.org/activitieswww.crossroadsbsa.org/communityservice


JOIN TODAY ATwww.JoinScoutsIN.org

Climb aboard for adventure! When you become a Cub Scout, you join a group where going with the

flow has never been more fun

Required Optional ProvidedLion T-shirt 9.99$ 4 Toddler 5 Toddler X-Sml (4) Sml (6/8) Med (8/10)Lion Cap 12.99$ Toddler Youth SmallWorkbook 9.99$ Neckerchief 9.99$ Slide 5.99$

Required Optional ProvidedShirt 24.99$ X-Small(4/5) Small (6/8) Med (10/12)

Lrg (14/16) XL (18/20) 2X (22/24)Belt 9.99$ Small (25'') Med (36'') Lrg (58'')Pants 24.99$ Size 4 Size 6 Size 8 Size 10 Size 12

Size 14 Size 16 Size 18 Size 22Skorts 19.99$ Size 6 Size 7 Size 8 Size 10 Size 12Roll-up pant 24.99$ Size (5/6) Size (7/8) Size 10 Size 12Cap 14.99$ Tiger (1st) Wolf (2nd) Bear (3rd)Neckerchief 9.99$ Tiger (1st) Wolf (2nd) Bear (3rd)Slide 5.99$ Tiger (1st) Wolf (2nd) Bear (3rd)Handbook 16.99$ Tiger (1st) Wolf (2nd) Bear (3rd)

Required Optional ProvidedPoplin Shirt 29.99$ Small (6/8) Med (10/12) Lrg (14/16) XL (18/20)Micro Shirt 39.99$ Small (6/8) Med (10/12) Lrg (14/16) XL (18/20)Belt 12.99$ Small (25'') Med (36'') Lrg (58'')Cotton Pant 34.99$ Size 6 Size 8 Size 10 Size 12 Size 14

Size 16 Size 18 Size 22 Size 24Micro Pant 44.99$ Small (6/8) Med (10/12) Lrg (14/16) XL (18/20)Cap 17.99$ Sml/Med Med/LrgNeckerchief 9.99$ Slide 5.99$ Handbook 16.99$ * Pack Numerals, World Crest and Council patch are required insignias on uniform shirtsPricing shown is youth sizing. Adult sizing and long sleeve option pricing will vary.(Pricing subject to change. Current as of April 16th, 2018)

KINDERGARTEN - LION PROGRAM

GRADES 1-3 CUB SCOUT PROGRAM

GRADES 4-5 (WEBELOS PROGRAM)

PACK RECOMMENDATION

PACK #

READY FOR AN ADVENTURE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY?

WELCOME TO SCOUTING!COMPLETE THIS FORM WITH THE HELP OF YOUR PACK OR DEN LEADERSHIP AND BRING IT INTO TO

ANY CROSSROADS OF AMERICA COUNCIL SCOUT SHOP FOR HELP GETTING EVERYTHING YOUR SCOUT NEEDS FOR HIS OR HER NEW ADVENTURE!

Indianapolis Scout Shop7125 Fall Creek Road North

Indianapolis, IN 46256(317)-813-7070

[email protected]

HOURSM,W,F : 8:30 am - 7:00 pm

Tue & Thur : 8:30 am - 5:00 pmSat : 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

CLOSED Sundays & Holidays

Terre Haute Scout Shop501 S. 25th Street

Terre Haute, IN 47803(812) 232-9496

HOURSM-F : 12:15 pm - 5:30 pm

Muncie Scout Shop3400 E. Jackson Street

Muncie, IN 47303(765) 288-0223

HOURSM-F : 12:15 pm - 5:30 pm


paCk leadershIp

Volunteering: Getting Started1. Contact your Pack’s

Cubmaster and/or Committee Chair. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions!

2. Make sure to attend your Pack’s parent orientation meeting, typically held the meeting after the joining night.

3. Attend your area’s New Parent Mixer, typically held the second week of September.

Cub Scout Packs are typically led by parent volunteers who fill a variety of necessary roles. All leaders in the BSA are required to take Youth Protection Training and are encouraged to take position specific training for their position. Training is available at my.scouting.org or in person throughout the year.

CubmasterLeads the monthly Pack meetings (when all Dens are together) and Pack outings. Ensures Den leaders are running a good program. This role is great for a parent who is comfortable and engaging in front of people and isn’t afraid to have fun! Committee ChairLeads the monthly Pack leaders’ meeting to help plan program and ensure that enough support is given to the Cubmaster and Den Leaders by committee members. Oversees committee members and keeps them on task. This roles is ideal for parents who are well-organized and good at communicating.

Committee MembersAttend monthly Pack leaders’ meeting. Committee members can take charge of many different areas, such as finances, popcorn sales, advancement, membership and more. This is a great role for parents who can’t make it to every meeting, but still want to help.

Den LeadersLead the grade-specific Den meetings between monthly Pack meetings, making sure activities or outings are planned and prepared for. Provide advancement opportunities for boys in the Den and ensures the committee receives record of achievements. This role is perfect for parents who want to provide hands-on experiences for the boys.


youth proteCtIon traInIng Every adult registering with the Crossroads of America Council is required to complete a Youth Protection training course prior to registration, and every two years thereafter.

There are three modules and a certification test that must be completed in order to be Youth Protection trained:

1. Overview and Policies2. Sexual Abuse Prevention3. Bullying Prevention4. Certification test (must pass test)

To Take Youth Protection Training1. Go to My.Scouting.org and create an account. You’ll receive

an email notification with your account information, including a member ID/Reference number.

2. From the My.Scouting.org portal, click Home then My Dashboard from the menu list. The My Training page displays to take Youth Protection training.

3. Upon completion, you may print a training certificate to submit with a volunteer application. Your training will automatically be updated in our system and associated with the member ID/reference numbers issues when you created the account.

Contact Phone Email Fax

Indianapolis Sharon Cone

(317) 813-7125 [email protected]

(317) 813-7126

Muncie Stacy Poole


(765) 284-7534

Terre Haute Debbie Morgan


(812) 232-9497

If you have any questions regarding Youth Protection training, please email the Council at [email protected]

To find out more about the Youth Protection policies of the Boy Scouts of America and how to help Scouting keep your family safe, see the Parent’s Guide in any of the Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting handbooks, or go to http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx



volunteer & parent resourCesCouncil Website (www.crossroadsbsa.org)From the Council’s website you can take training, register for council and district events, and find summer camp information, program planning, recruitment materials, and a whole lot more!

• Activities - information about council activities and partnerships with Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Indians, etc• Camping - types of camps, camping forms and leaders’ guides, and online registration• Districts - District news and activities, Roundtable schedule, leader resources, popcorn sale information, contacts• Training - training information, course descriptions, and links to National’s online training center• Resources - Program Planning & Budgeting materials, insurance forms, rechartering, recruitment, popcorn, etc.• Calendar - can be filtered by district or by type of event

Social MediaFollow what’s happening in Scouting by adding the Council’s social media accounts to your newsfeed.

• Facebook – www.facebook.com/bsacrossroads• Twitter – www.twitter.com/bsacrossroads• Instagram – www.instagram.com/bsacrossroads• YouTube – www.youtube.com/crossroadscouncil

District RoundtablesDistrict Roundtables are monthly meetings for all Scout leaders in your area, usually held the same day every month (for example, 2nd Thursday; varies by district). At Roundtable you can find out the activities going on, take training, or even learn new skills. Every Pack, troop, team, or crew should have at least one leader attending Roundtable every month. Leaders in other units are often the greatest source of information and advice, so it makes sense to take advantage of their experience.

Council Offices and StaffYour local District Executive and the staff at the Council can help you navigate the administrative side of Scouting, Staff can advise you on those “who can I turn this paperwork into” or “how do I…” or “who can I talk to about…” -type questions that will come up. You can email or call your District Executive or staff members directly. Contact information for Council staff is on the Council ‘Contact Us’ page.

natIonal resourCesBSA National Website (www.scouting.org)There are a number of useful documents and helpful information on the BSA National website, including program-specific resources. From the home page, select the Menu option in the upper right. There you will find:

• Forms of every kind (Scouting Resources/Overview)• Guide to Safe Scouting• Training information, including Youth Protection training• Guide to Awards and Insignia (where to put all those patches)

My.Scouting (my.scouting.org)My.Scouting is National’s online system for unit leaders, district staff, and council staff to view unit information to help manage their units. Leaders who are in the Key 3 positions (unit leader, committee chair, and chartered organization representative) can check and update leader training and information, view rosters, and print membership cards,


non-bsa resourCesU.S. Scouting Service Project (www.usscouts.org) Clip art, skits, songs, recipes, ceremonies, activities, advice. A million and one resources to help you plan your program and do fun stuff, all in one place.

Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources (www.in.gov/dnr) Places to camp, fish, hike and enjoy nature. The Recreation Guide is the source for information on all the state parks, reservoirs, fish and wildlife areas, and state forests. Reservations can be made online, as well as purchasing fishing and hunting licenses. Some state parks have Scout-specific activities. For instance, Fort Harrison has a program twice a month called Merit Badge Sundays, where Boy Scouts can earn merit badges. Pre-registration for these events is usually required, as space is limited.

natIonal resourCes (ContInued)all through the My.Scouting toolbox. Leaders who are Key 3 must have their member ID numbers included in their My.Scouting profile and be properly registered in those positions in order to have access to the toolbox.

For technical issues, the Member Care Contact Center (Help Desk) number is (972) 580-2489, email [email protected]. The MCCC can help you retrieve lost or forgotten passwords and user names, plus assist with any issues you might have in running My.Scouting.

Scoutbook (www.scoutbook.com)Scoutbook is next-generation unit advancement software, accessible through mobile devices such as iPad and iPhone and Android devices. Unit leaders can easily record and track advancements and access training records, manage unit calendars and events, upload photos and videos, and access current Merit Badge counselor lists

Scoutbook has a messaging feature to enable you to send messages to leaders, parents and Scouts and can even give you weather forecasts for your events. Because it is a BSA app, you can ask Scoutbook to import your unit’s records from the council records. You can also download advancements to council records and print official BSA advancement reports and shopping lists (with current prices, even!) to take to the Scout Shop to buy awards.

Cub Scouts (www.cubscouts.org) This is the new home of all things Cub Scouting! To give you an idea of what is available here, the Hub recently had these articles posted:

• How to Encourage Boys Who Lose Interest in Scouting• 7 Cool Features in the New Den Leader Guides• 5 Things to Do to Get Excited for Day Camp• Dissecting the New Cub Scout Adventures• 5 Things to do with your Cub Scouts on Memorial Day• A Campfire Brownie in an Orange!• Developing Courage in Cub Scouts


addItIonal notes

For more information, visit www.crossroadsbsa.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube

Golden-Burke Scout Center7125 Fall Creek Road North

Indianapolis, IN 46256Phone: (317) 813-7125

Toll Free: (877) 925-1900Fax: (317) 813-7126

Muncie3400 East Jackson Street

Muncie, IN 47303Phone: (765) 288-0223

Fax: (765) 284-7534

Terre Haute501 South 25th StreetTerre Haute, IN 47803Phone: (812) 232-9496

Fax: (812) 232-9497

welcome to scouting€¦ · location contact information & notes. crossroads of america...

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