Northern Lights Council, Scouting America

08/03/2026

The Northern Lights Council recently sent 30 Scouts and 4 adult leaders to the 2026 National Scout Jamboree! After spending 3 days touring Washington, D.C., these Scouts and Scouters traveled to Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia for 10 days alongside more than 12,000 Scouts from across the country.

The Jamboree offered incredible opportunities to experience whitewater rafting, climbing and aerial adventures, scuba diving, BMX and skateboarding, shooting sports, patch trading, and amazing shows. Along the way, Scouts also put the patrol method into practice by camping, cooking, and working together as a troop. It's an experience they'll remember for the rest of their lives!

A huge thank you goes to the four adult leaders who made this adventure possible. Countless hours of planning, preparation, and personal sacrifice went into ensuring these Scouts had an incredible experience. Thank you to Scoutmaster Perry Vogel and Assistant Scoutmasters Jon Ryan, Dan Nelson, and Colleen Inkel for your outstanding leadership and commitment to Scouting.

Think this looks like fun? Start preparing now for the next National Scout Jamboree in 2030. You won't want to miss it!

2026 National Jamboree - Northern Lights Council

07/30/2026

07/19/2026

Looks like a great camp out at Heart Butte Scout Reservation! Thanks to those who helped put on the event and to the families for participating!

07/17/2026

WE HAVE A WINNER! Congratulations to Troop 4062 from Baudette, MN for winning last year's Wicked Camper Award.

With 10 camping outings that had more than 50% of the troop participating, they earned the top prize, a $400 gift card to either Cabela's or Scheels. Coming in second is Troop 279 from West Fargo. They completed 5 camping outings with more than 50% of the troop participating and earned a $100 gift card to either Cabela's or Scheels.

We also had four additional troops report four qualifying outings, and four more troops reported fewer than four outings. Thank you to every unit that participated.

Remember, the new award year began on July 1. Be sure to submit your camping reports along with your troop roster to be included in next year's awards. We are still verifying the individual Scout and leader awards. Those who earned the inaugural Wicked Camper Award will be notified as soon as the patches are available. So far, more than 25 Scouts and leaders have qualified.

Take a look at the award rules, start submitting your reports, and get your unit involved. It is easy, it is fun, and it encourages more time outdoors. Let's put the outing back in Scouting.

https://scoutingnlc.org/wickedcamper/

West Fargo Troop 279

07/14/2026

Many of you have probably seen the news that Scouting America's Northern Tier High Adventure Base in Ely has been evacuated because of the wildfires in northeastern Minnesota. Thankfully, everyone is safe, and crews are being brought out of the Boundary Waters as a precaution.

The Northern Lights Council has opened Camp Wilderness to nearly 400 displaced Scouts and Scouters through at least the end of this week. We'll be providing meals and lodging, in addition to facilitating a canoe outing on the Mississippi River while they wait for what's next. Northern Tier is already dealing with the challenges and unexpected costs that come with an evacuation. We wanted to help by providing a place for everyone to stay without adding to that burden.

Of course, feeding, housing, and supporting nearly 400 people for several days comes with a significant cost for Camp Wilderness. We expect those expenses to be between $10,000 and $15,000 each day. If you'd like to help offset those costs, you can donate here: https://donations.scouting.org/council/429/appeal/9259

This is our regular giving page, but gifts made at this time will help offset the costs of hosting these Scouts and Scouters during this unexpected situation. If you'd like your donation to support this effort specifically, please enter "Camp Wilderness" in the notes section. Thank you for your generosity, your support of Scouting, and for keeping everyone affected by the wildfires in your thoughts.

07/11/2026

Reminder! Please join us in person, on-line or review the event later! Maybe you have some ideas to share?
https://scoutingevent.com/?OrgKey=BSA429&calendarID=693195

07/09/2026

Awesome Scouting news!

The Prairie Woods Chapter of the Izaak Walton League hosted a July 6 event honoring Eagle Scouts and Sue Sonnenberg, whose leadership helped bring the pollinator garden to life a year later.

07/07/2026

Last week, nearly 50 Scouts and Scouters from the Northern Lights Council traveled to Medora to support the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and America 250 celebrations in partnership with the Medora, ND Foundation.

Over six days, these dedicated volunteers helped manage parking and shuttle operations in Fryburg, staffed festival booths throughout town, and enjoyed plenty of food, fun, and fellowship along the way.

The week was filled with memorable experiences, including welcoming multiple dignitaries, assisting with traffic management during the Presidential visit on July 1, and raising flags throughout Medora and during the Library's Grand Opening Ceremony. Two of our Scouts were even invited to participate in the official ceremony!

The group also had the opportunity to tour the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library before it opened to the public. Most agreed that even two hours wasn't enough time to fully experience everything the library has to offer. The Scouts and Scouters also enjoyed the visit from Teddy Roosevelt in camp, the Pitchfork Fondue, the Medora Musical, and the spectacular Fourth of July drone show.

Throughout the week, local and national news outlets covered many of the events, and our Scouts could often be spotted serving behind the scenes and taking part in these historic moments. It was an unforgettable week of service, leadership, fellowship, and fun. Thank you to everyone who represented the Northern Lights Council so well and helped make this historic event a success.

Check out some of the great photos from the week! A huge thank you goes out to both the TRPL and TRMF for their support and for the invitation to serve.