Greetings Trailblazer District and welcome to March! Below you will find this month’s edition of the Trailblazer News Flash and it is chalked full of goodies for the coming months. Key reminders include the District Annual Awards Dinner on March 26^th and the deadline for the Eagle Scout Association scholarship is fast approaching. As always, don’t forget to LIKE US on the Trailblazer District Facebook page, as it is one of the key ways to send and receive district communications and share best practices.Stay mission-minded and let’s impact the lives of kids this month! Please enjoy!

Information included in this Scouting News Flash:

ü  District Vision

ü  Key District Leadership

ü  Roundtable Reminder (There is one in March!)

ü  Upcoming District & Council Events

ü  Spring Recruitment

ü  Scouting with Special Needs

ü  District Annual Awards Dinner

ü  District Pinewood Derby

ü  Boy Scout Spring Camporee

ü  Dan Beard Council Eagle Scout Scholarship

ü  Webelos Outdoor Weekend

ü  Day/Twilight Camp 2013

ü   “Are you tougher than a Boy Scout?”

ü  HeartChase 2013

District Vision

To Blaze the Trail for all Dan Beard Council districts, achieving at the highest level in its effort to create real impact for all eligible youth and families throughout Northern Kentucky.   

Key District Volunteer Leadership

District Chair: Steve Harper

District Commissioner: Jim Clinkenbeard

District Vice Chair-Program: Jeff Hoppe

District Friends of Scouting Chair: David Shuley

District Communications: April Cremeans  

Roundtable Reminder

The next regular monthly Scout Leader Roundtable will be held Thursday, March 14^th, beginning at 7:00 pm. This Roundtable is for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing Leaders. Please send at least one representative to gather and share information.

Why should you come to Roundtable this month? Because we’re trying to get a new push going to make sure you’re getting what you need.  We need to know, for example, what your training needs are – Scout-specific and general knowledge/leadership/PC/other skills.  Brandy O’Banion, our District Training Chair, is working with her team of trainers and other leaders to make sure you’ll have an opportunity to get what you need, but we need your input at March’s Roundtable.  Her goal is to make sure we’re 100% trained for the required training, but to also get you the additional training you need to be the awesome leader you want to be for your units.

Packs, do you have a Troop your Webelos feed into?  Troops, do you have feeder Packs?  Crews, what can we do to help you with your recruiting goals?  Have you visited www.BeAScout.org to look for units with whom your unit can/should form that relationship?  Have you got contact information on that site so that someone looking to contact your unit will be able to get directly in touch with someone in your unit?  Making it possible to contact your unit directly will increase the likelihood that they’ll show up for a meeting.  Need ideas for recruiting, come out and share!

Have ideas for sharing information?  Feel like you’re not connected enough with other leaders? April Cremeans, our District Communications Chair, is working on getting the District Facebook page updated.  She’s also working to get our District web page on the Council site up and running for those that don’t Facebook.  She’s also looking into other means of communicating and collaborating within the District so units can share ideas not just at Roundtable, but throughout the month.

Since this month’s meeting falls on 3.14, “World Pi Day” (you math nerds will get that), Lee thought we should celebrate and make sure everyone also has some food since some folks will miss dinner otherwise.  We’re working to get some Pizza Pies from Snappy.  We’ll also see about getting drinks, too, but obviously you know what you like, so bring your own bottle of pop or water if you like something specific.  What we’d like to ask you to do to contribute is to bring a dessert, or other, pie to share.  Cook one yourself and you can enter a contest to win a prize.  Don’t have time to cook it yourself? That’s okay, too.  Buy and bring one – we just won’t enter it in the contest – it’ll still get eaten.

So, to recap, Communication and Training will be the two main topics for the March Roundtable, with a slice or two of pi, umm, pie.

Hope to see you there!

Roundtables are held at Lakeside Christian Church (195 Buttermilk Pike, Lakeside Park, KY  41017)

Upcoming District & Council Events

March 14^th – Trailblazer Award Luncheon, honoring Brent Cooper

March 14^th – Trailblazer Monthly Leader Roundtable  

March 26^th – District Annual Awards Dinner (online registration now available!)

April 5^th-6^th – Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) Training (click here to register)

April 6^th – District Pinewood Derby @ Thomas More College

April 13^th – Dan Beard Hike (Click here for details!)

April 22^nd-27^th –2013 Spring Wood Badge (click here for details)

April 24^th – Save-the-Date  Dan Beard Council Annual Banquet (see attached)  

April 26-28 – Boy Scout Spring Camporee

May 17^th-19^th – Save-the-Date  Webelos Outdoor Weekend

Spring Recruitment

Because of the engagement of you and your units, over 1,000 new boys in Northern Kentucky joined the Scouting program this past Fall! As you all know, Scouting provides an avenue for the youth in our community to gain valuable leadership and character building experience, as well as participate in activities that are unique, educational, and especially, fun. 

The annual Spring Recruitment drive is coming up and it provides an opportunity for Cub Scout Packs to focus on providing the K-4^th grade boys the chance to join Cub Scouts before summer the starts. This time is essential for the youngsters, especially since it is the first opportunity that Kindergarten boys can join the Scouting program.

The best way to introduce Cub Scouting is through an in-school talk and a subsequent parent sign-up night at the school. The district membership team has been working diligently to collect the best dates for local elementary schools and confirm them with Pack leadership. Keep your eyes and ears open for a chance to collaborate and provide joining opportunities in the spring.

Troops and Crews are also encouraged to conduct Spring Open Houses for the older eligible youth. Be on the lookout for available resources to help make this a reality for your unit!  

Scouting with Special Needs

A round table discussion focusing on Autism Spectrum Disorders, Asperger’s, Sensory Integration: Incorporating Special Needs Scouts and promoting them through the Advancement Program.

When:   Saturday, March 16^th

Time:    9:30 AM – Noon

Where:  Scheben Branch of the Boone County Library

                        8899 U.S. 42, Union, KY 41091

                        Room A

Who:    All Scout Leaders, Parents

RSVP:  to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  by March 13^th

***Please submit any particular questions or concerns so that we can address at meeting.

Featuring: Andrea Wrenn

District Annual Awards Dinner

Please join us for a night of fun and fellowship! We will be recognizing our fellow Scouters for their service and dedication to the youth of our district! The following individuals will be recognized for their  commitment to Scouting in Northern Kentucky:

RECEPTIONS, Erlanger

6:30pm-8:30pm

$16.00 per guest

Please reserve your spot no later than Friday, March 15, 2013.

To make your reservations please CLICK HERE.

District Pinewood Derby

Start your engines! On April 6^th, mark your calendars to be at Thomas More College Gym for the 2013 Trailblazer District Pinewood Derby! Registration is from 9:00am-11:00am, with races running 11:00am-2:00pm. This year’s Race Entry Fee is only $7.00 per Racer! All Participants must be registered at the same time and each pack may enter: 2 Tigers, 2 Wolves, 2 Bears, 2 Webelos, and 1 entry for the Design Division. REGISTRATION IS ONLINE ONLY and all entries must be received NO LATER THAN MARCH 27, 2013. NO WALK-INS WILL BE PERMITTED. Please visit http://www.doubleknot.com/event/1314045for more details. For questions, please contact Andy Lester at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  

Boy Scout Spring Camporee

Ever wondered how a railroad REALLY operates? This is your chance to take a hands-on class, leading to actual excursion passenger train operation on a short line heritage railway! Mark your calendars now to join in at the Whitewater Valley R. R, for a full weekend of activities, including the opportunity to earn the Railroading Merit Badge! This Camporee is limited to Boy Scouts, Venture Scouts and Scout leaders, and only to the first 300 registered. Be sure to visit http://www.trailblazer-district.org/2013spring to reserve your Troop’s spot for this popular camporee!

Dan Beard Council Eagle Scout Scholarship (Due March 15^th)

The Eagle Scout applying for a scholarship must:

• Complete the application personally.

• Electronically submit the application as filled-in PDF and attachments to [1]

• Answer all questions on the application using only the space provided.

• Attach only the requested information (recommendation, high school transcript, and test scores)

• Be advised that only those applications submitted prior to March 15, 2013 will be considered.

• Be advised that the selection committee will, in writing, notify those selected of its decision. There is no appeal, and the decision of the selection committee is final. Those selected will be listed on the ESA website (eagles.danbeard.org), but no written notification will be sent to applicants except those selected.

• Understand that submitting this application is in no way a guarantee that a scholarship will be granted.

Please follow the link to complete the process. DBC ESA scholarship http://eagles.danbeard.org.

Webelos Outdoor Weekend

Webelos Outdoor Weekend (W.O.W.) is a camping weekend just for Webelos dens! Held May 17^th-19^th, the event will be full of fun and adventure for the novice and experienced camper alike. While the focus is on outdoor fun, the activities will allow Webelos Scouts to have a taste of Boy Scouting while competing in some classic outdoor challenges. Be sure to CLICK HERE or check out the attached promo for more details!

Day/Twilight Camp 2013

The highlight of the year for many Cub Scouts is Day Camps and Twilight Camps and they are just around the corner! Starting in June, Cubs will have 12 opportunities to join us for wild west fun and excitement with our "Wild West Cubs" themed camps. These camps take place all over our Council so there is at least one in your area. Day Camp is the perfect place for Cubs to earn belt loop and rank advancement while getting out of the house for a week with their friends.

This year, each of our 12 camps will offer the same great program over the course of 5-days with the same hours, all at the same price for Day Camps and Twilight Camps. Cub families can choose any camp that best fits their needs and attend any session they like! Check out our full schedule here to find a camp that's right for you!

Your Cubs will participate in daily activities that include BB guns, archery, fishing, crafts, STEM awards (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), water games, Scout skills, field games and sports, and more.

All Camps are run by trained volunteer staff and operated under National BSA Camping Standards to guarantee the safety of your son and the quality of his experience. For additional details, including a full schedule and contacts for each camp, or to register for camp, click "Read More" below. Registration is open now and early registration discounts are available if you register at least 30 days before camp starts.

Don't miss the adventure with your "wild west Cub" at Day Camp and Twilight Camp this summer! CLICK HERE for more details and to get signed up today!

“Are you tougher than a Boy Scout?”

Great news! More than 439,000 households tuned in for “Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?” on Monday, March 4. That’s 439,000 households in communities across the country seeing the fun and excitement of Scouting!

That’s a terrific start. Let’s keep up the momentum! Let your Scouting volunteers know that the best is yet to come, with five more episodes on the National Geographic Channel!

BSA has a full-court press on promoting “Tougher” to our internal and external audiences. We are pushing hard to drive even better ratings on Monday, March 11, and all episodes through April 8. 

Looking for trailers and more assets to promote Scouting and the show? 
Find them on the Marketing Toolbox at:

·         http://www.Scouting.org/marketing

·         www.ToughScout.com

·         http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/are-you-tougher-than-a-boy-scout/

HeartChase 2013

What is HeartChase?

Think Amazing Race meets Minute to Win It – a community-wide competition to solve clues and complete activities that engage friends and families of all ages in a race to the finish line. By partnering with The American Heart Association and other major companies, we are working toward making healthy living easy for friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and our community.

How Do I Join the Chase?

Visit http://honor.americanheart.org/NewportHC or see the attached PDF.

In Scouting,

Adam Blanchard, District Director, (513) 577-7724

Jessie Bowen, District Executive (513) 577-7734

Kara Hudepohl, District Executive (513) 577-7693

The Dan Beard Council prepares more than 35,000 young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Scouting is funded by Friends of Scouting, the Popcorn Sale and the United Way.

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