North Star Merit Badge Academy

06/02/2024

Wow! Thank you to everyone who attended the Camporee this weekend! We had beautiful weather, even if we did battle with the army worms/caterpillars. They were annoying but the cold and rainy weather last year was much worse. I guess it's one way to get over a fear of army worms, surround yourself with them! 🐛

We kept the scouts super busy with fun and learning. Here are just a few photos of all the activities. There were about 65 scouts from 7 Troops (Limestone, Madawaska, Fort Fairfield, Woodland, Washburn, Presque Isle and Caribou), some Cub families joined their troops, plus all the leaders - approximately 100 people enjoyed an awesome camping adventure this weekend! Now I'm going to take a nap. 😉

05/29/2024

TROOPS: We have a fun weekend planned for you! Check-in is Friday evening and you'll have time to set up camp. Saturday morning, the Troops will be doing Merit Badge Classes. After lunch, we have lots of exciting activities planned, as shown attached! Campfire is Saturday night where scouts will have a chance to show their talents with a skit, song or cheer!

CUB SCOUTS: Cubs will join Saturday morning for Shooting Sports, derby car racing and more at Father Cote's yard, BEFORE the pond. We'll have signs posted to point you in the right direction so please look for those.

DIRECTIONS: You might be wondering how to get there? Here's a map with the recommended directions.

We can't wait to see everyone this weekend! ⚜️🎯🌳🏹🔥🎣🌞🌲

05/28/2024

Just a few days until Camporee!!! We have IMPORTANT REQUESTS for Scouts. If you are taking the Fishing Merit Badge, please bring a *FISHING POLE* if you can, to make sure there are enough to go around. Also, each Troop will be doing a service project to help the property owners clear the trails. Please bring BRUSH CUTTING AND TRIMMING tools. The weather is looking perfect for this weekend! Thank you for all the prayers (and let's keep praying that it stays this way)! 😊⚜️

05/24/2024

ATTENTION TROOPS! In just 1 week we will kick off our camping season at Spring Camporee! Don't miss the merit badges offered Saturday morning. Then fun activities like fire building, iron chef competition, tomahawk throw and tug-o-war will be offered Saturday afternoon.

Scouts should also plan to bring their brush cutting tools and hatchets to clear trails to help Father Cote and thank him for the generous use of his property.

After all that, we know you'll work up an appetite so don't miss the POTLUCK for supper! Bring your best dish and enjoy fellowship with other troops.

05/24/2024

*IMPORTANT NOTE TO CUB PACKS*
Hi Cub Families, an IMPORTANT note about the Cub Camp next weekend, June 1st - Cub activities will be held at Father Cote's Home at 138 Franck Rd - BEFORE THE POND. In order to have a grassy area for shooting sports, we are now planning to have the Cubs do their activities at this location. After your activities, in the afternoon, you are welcome to continue down past the pond and into the field where the Troop activities and camping will be held. You may visit to see what that's all about and where cub camping will be in your troop campsite. I hope you all have an awesome time at Cub Camp!!! 🏹🔫🌲⛺

05/23/2024

Don't forget to have your patrol/troop plan a skit for Spring Camporee Campfire event. It's such a fun activity for the scouts and it earns some points for the camp award too! 😊⚜️🔥

05/20/2024

UPDATE: The Fishing Merit Badge Class is now full! We have a lot of eager fisherman out there. 😊

05/15/2024

This nice weather is really getting us in the camping mood! We can't wait for the Spring Camporee and Merit Badge College. It will be a weekend packed with camping, merit badges and competitions like Iron Chef, Tomahawk Throw, and Tug-o-War. For all the details, visit https://www.nsmerit.org to download the Leader Guide and register your scouts for merit badges. Don't delay, we only have 16 days left before the event! ⚜️⛺️🔥🎣🌞

05/15/2024

Yes, it's happening! Cub Scouts are invited to the Spring Camporee on Saturday, June 1st for a fun day of activities! They do need a parent or den leader with them, they cannot be dropped off because they will need help getting from one activity to the next and lunch on their own.

Cubs and their parent(s) are also invited to stay overnight with their Troop. Please coordinate this with your troop. All adults staying overnight must have completed YPT training at my.scouting.org and bring your certificate with you. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

05/02/2024

*REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!*

This year, we're only offering merit badge classes on Saturday morning so we can offer camporee activities on Saturday afternoon. We have fun activities planned like Iron Chef, Tomahawk Throw, Tug-o-War and a Service Project for the property owner, Father Cote.

Visit https://www.nsmerit.org to download the Leader Guide with all the details.

The Leader Guide also includes a couple pages for the Cub Camp that will be on Saturday, June 1st. It will be the same day but running separately from the Troop activities. There will be an opportunity at lunch for the Cubs to visit the Troop campsites but they will be bringing their own lunches. Also, Troops are free to invite Cub Families to camp with them on Saturday night. Cubs should follow the family camping format that they do now though.

One more thing to mention is that I've modified the registration form this year so the same form is used for up to 20 scouts. No need to submit a separate registration form for each scout. The only glitch is that if you don't have 20 scouts, you'll need to click through a few blank pages before you can submit your registration. Google Forms doesn't provide a lot of features but I thought this would be easier for the person submitting class choices for the scouts. Visit our website for the link to register.

Merit Badge Academy for Scouts BSA in the North Star District of the Katahdin Area Council. Hosted by Troop 193 in Limestone, Maine.

05/01/2024

We're getting closer! Here is the final list of Merit Badge Classes and the Prerequisites for the May 31-June 2 event. Stay tuned for the printable Leader Guide with more details - it will be published tomorrow! Registration will also open tomorrow. 😊⚜️

04/27/2024

North Star Spring Camporee & Merit Badge College
May 31 - June 2, 2024​
Franck Road Campsite, Caswell, Maine

WE HAVE AN UPDATE! We're changing things up this year and after a morning of merit badge classes, we're offering an afternoon of fun activities! We also heard that troops would like to head home on Sunday morning so we don't have any classes planned then.

Also, Cub Scouts in the District are invited to visit on Saturday from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. Shooting Sports with BB Gun and Archery Ranges, Outlaw Race with the Pinewood Derby Track (including the loop) and other fun is being planned! Cub families may also arrange an overnight stay with their troops, please discuss with your troop ahead of time so arrangements can be made though. More info to come soon!!!

More information will be coming soon, including a Leader's Guide. STAY TUNED FOR REGISTRATION TO OPEN IN A FEW DAYS! Check out our website for more details and registration when it opens:
https://www.nsmerit.org/