Great Trail Council

09/01/2026

Help Families Find Scouting This Fall — Refresh Every Unit’s BeAScout Pin Today!

Before fall Scouting activities take over the calendar, now is a great time to refresh a unit’s BeAScout pin. Here are four things to check:

• Contact info — current phone and email for key contacts

• Meeting location and details — when and where the unit meets

• Website and/or socials — showcase the unit and upcoming events

• Online applications turned “On” — make it easy for youth to join and parents to volunteer

It takes just a few minutes, and instructions are at scouting.org/pin.

With the vast majority of unit BeAScout pins not having been updated over the last two years, it is worth spending just a few minutes now to ensure accurate, updated information. Check now before heading out on fall Scouting adventures!

Encourage every unit to update their BeAScout pin today! One small update, one big impact! Instructions at www.scouting.org/pin .

08/31/2026

🍿🔥 WHO’S POPPING TO THE TOP?! 🔥🍿

The Great Trail Council Annual Popcorn Sale is all about FUN, FRIENDLY COMPETITION & BIG GOALS! 🎯

Each week, we’ll spotlight the TOP TEN! 🏆

⭐ Top 10 Units with the highest popcorn sales
⭐ Top 10 Individual Scouts leading the way

Will your Unit make the list? Will YOU be one of our Top Ten Scouts? 👀🍿

Check back each week to see who’s climbing the leaderboard and popping to the top! Check-out the Top Ten from the first week of the popcorn sale.

Sell Big. Dream Big. POPCORN BIG! 🍿💥

08/30/2026

💙 Values in Action: Friendly & Kind 💛

What if your child learned that being kind wasn't just something they're told to do—but something they get to practice every week?

In Cub Scouts, children discover that a Scout is Friendly and Kind through real-life adventures. They make new friends, help others, work as a team, and learn that showing kindness is one of the greatest strengths a person can have.

From hiking trails and camping under the stars to building Pinewood Derby cars, creating crafts, and serving their community, every Cub Scout adventure helps build confidence, character, and lifelong friendships.

If you're looking for an activity where your child can have fun, make friends, and grow into a caring, confident leader, Cub Scouts is the perfect place to start!

🏕️ Find a Cub Scout Pack near you and see why thousands of families choose Scouting every year. Your next adventure—and your child's newest friends—are waiting!

Visit beascout.scouting.org to learn more about becoming a Cub Scout.

08/30/2026

🏰 KNIGHTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

On June 30, Liam Walters, Zach Fuhrer, Alex Aguilar and Thomas McClendon embarked on an unforgettable 12-day backcountry adventure at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

Carrying packs weighing at least 50 pounds, the Scouts traveled through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains while hiking at elevations ranging from 6,500 feet to 12,441 feet.

Liam and Zach, part of Crew 630I-02, hiked 130 miles and completed a trail maintenance service project. Alex and Thomas, with Crew 630I-01, covered an incredible 170 miles and completed a forest restoration service project.

Both crews also summited Baldy Mountain at 12,441 feet, taking on the challenges of the rugged terrain in what is affectionately known as “God’s Country.”

What an incredible accomplishment, Knights!

08/29/2026

🎃🍂 THE BOO IS BACK AT CAMP BUTLER! 🍂🎃
Get ready for some fall fun, family memories, and just a little bit of “BOO!” at the Great Trail Council Fall Festival & Haunted Hayride! 👻🚜

📍 Camp Butler
📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026

Bring the whole family and enjoy a fun-filled night featuring a Haunted Hayride that’s spooky enough to be fun—but NOT scary! 🎃
🍁 Fall Festival Fun
🚜 Haunted Hayride
👻 Carnival Games & silly surprises
🎃 Autumn adventures
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly fun for all ages!

Whether you’re looking for a fun fall tradition, a night out with the family, or just an excuse to get outside and enjoy the season, Camp Butler is the place to be!

👻 No nightmares. No terrifying scares. Just LOTS of laughs, fun, and fall memories!

🎃 The Boo is Back at Camp Butler!
Join us October 17 or October 24 and make this fall one to remember!

Register today by scanning the QR Code or using the link below.
https://scoutingevent.com/433-Hayride

08/28/2026

Introducing the New America’s Trail Patch Set & Top 20 Rings!

This season, Scouts have exciting new ways to be recognized for outstanding sales, storefront productivity, Heroes and Helpers participation, and credit-card usage. These new awards give Scouts even more reasons to set ambitious goals, serve their communities, work smarter (not harder) at storefronts, and celebrate what they accomplish along the way.

🏅 AMERICA’S TRAIL PATCH SET
$10,000+ Sales Patch
• Minimum of $10,000 sales (All + Online)
• 100% credit card (8/29/2026 – 11/30/2026)
• All sales recorded in Trail’s End App, including all Heroes and Helpers

$400+/Hour Patch
• Minimum of $400/hour for minimum of 10 hours (Storefront sales only)
• 100% credit card (8/29/2026 – 11/30/2026)
• All sales recorded in Trail’s End App, including all Heroes and Helpers

100% Credit Patch
• 100% credit card (8/29/2026 – 11/30/2029)
• Minimum of 10 hours worked
• All sales recorded in Trail’s End App, including all Heroes and Helpers

20%+ Heroes and Helpers Patch
• Minimum of 20% of App sales is Heroes and Helpers
• Minimum of 10 hours worked
• 100% credit card (8/29/2026 – 11/20/2026)

💍 TOP 20 RINGS

Top 20 Total Sales Ring
• Minimum of $20,000 sales (App + Online)
• 100% credit card (8/29/2026 – 11/30/2026)
• All sales recorded in Trail’s End App, including all Heroes and Helpers

Top 20 Sales/Hour Ring
• Minimum of $400/hour for minimum of 10 hours (Storefront sales only)
• 100% credit card (8/29/2026 – 11/30/2026)
• All sales recorded in Trail’s End App + Online, including all Heroes and Helpers

Patches and rings are at no cost to the unit or council. A Scout can earn all of the patches and rings.

When the promotion period ends, Trail’s End will notify all eligible recipients via email. The email will include a link to a secure form to provide your shipping address. Recipients will not incur shipping charges. To ensure you are able to receive the emails, please check that your email address is correct in the Trail’s End app, and add [email protected] to your safe senders list.

08/27/2026

Visit https://college.GTCscouting.org to find information about College of Commissioner Science and the registration links.

08/25/2026

Recognize a Leader. Celebrate a Difference.

Every great Scout has a story—and behind so many of those stories is an Adult Leader who showed up, stepped up, and made a difference. ❤️⚜️

Now is your opportunity to make sure those incredible leaders get the recognition they deserve!

🌟 Nominate an outstanding Adult Leader for a Great Trail Council Adult Leader Recognition Award!

Whether they are a Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, Den Leader, Committee Member, Assistant Leader, or the person who quietly makes everything happen behind the scenes, their dedication, encouragement, and leadership help create the experiences that shape the lives of our Scouts.

Who made a difference for you or your Scout?
Who deserves to hear, “Thank you for everything you do”?

👉 Take a moment to nominate them and help us celebrate the people who make Scouting extraordinary.

🏆 Adult Leader Recognition Awards
📅 Sunday, March 7, 2027
📍 Great Trail Council Award Banquet

Don't let an outstanding leader go unrecognized. Nominate someone today and help us celebrate their commitment to Discovering Potential. . . Developing Character!

Visit https://scoutingevent.com/433-banquet to download nomination forms and a document with descriptions for each award.

08/24/2026

Join Stephen and Nate for their monthly update across the Great Trail Council. See below for the timestamp for each specific topic:
Segment Open (0:25), Scout Join Nights (1:55), Cub Scout Range Days (3:20) Scouts BSA Range Days (3:52), Scouts BSA Summer Camp (4:06), Second Chance Saturday (4:43), Hound Hike (5:18), Popcorn (7:03), Order of the Arrow (7:53), Scouts BSA Merit Badge Days (8:34), University of Scouting (9:19), Scout Shop Sale (11:18), Council Patch Contest (12:44), Outro (14:08)
Listen in where you get your favorite podcast or at:

Join Stephen and Nate for their monthly update across the Great Trail Council. See below for the timestamp for each specific topic: Segment Open (0:25), Scout Join Nights (1:55), Cub Scout Range D...