Please make sure that all of your Explorers have completed a youth application and the application has been turned in to the Exploring office. We are happy to give you more applications if you need them. Youth (and parents) that complete an application need to be confident that their application has been processed. Once the application is received by the Exploring office, the Explorer is then covered by insurance and receives other benefits of being registered.

You can also print applications from the following link, and selecting “youth application”. http://ohexploring.com/resources 

Applications can be faxed to the office at (614) 436-7917, scanned and emailed to ken.ruppel@lflmail.org.

Just as the school year runs from September through June, the Exploring year runs from January to December. With the exception of Explorer posts that started this fall, each Explorer post will need to complete the renewal process, which is accessible beginning November 1 online at https://lfl.myparticipation.org.  To assist you with the renewal process, we have reserved the computer room at the Columbus Metropolitan Library from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, November 3. During this time we can walk you through the renewal process. 

1. All you need to do is bring a current roster of your adult leaders and youth members.
2. At the end of the online renewal process, we’ll print off the papers that will need to be signed by the post advisor and organization CEO.
3. Use funds in your UDA (unit deposit account) or write a check (cash accepted also) to pay for the post renewal.
4. You’re all set!

If you cannot attend on November 3, please make an appointment with Ashley or Ken for Wednesday, November 2 or another day in November that works for you. If you plan to complete the renewal process at home, feel free to contact Ashley or Ken for your member ID, or answers to other questions. We just heard word that everyone has to log in as a New User; even if you had a passcode last year, you still have to log in as a new user and create a new password for this year.

It is our goal to have all Explorer posts complete the renewal process before Friday, November 18. ( We don’t like paperwork any more than you do, so we would like to start and comple it as quickly and efficiently as possible!)

7 Ways to Higher Explorer Participation

All of the Explorer posts are now meeting on a regular basis. Here are some best practices to encourage Explorer participation:

• Some of the larger Explorer posts have each of the Explorers wear name tags with their school name. This helps them to interact and get to know one another. It also helps you and other presenters when speaking to or working with the group. If your post is smaller, consider starting your meeting with an ice breaker, so your Explorers will start to get to know one another.

• Have a sign-in sheet at each meeting. This is important so you’ll know who isn’t attending. Take the time to contact each Explorer that didn’t RSVP and didn’t show to your post meeting. Let them know about the next meeting and that they are an important part of the post and you’d like them to attend.

• Send an email at least one week before the meeting (this works well for posts meeting once or twice a month) to all the Explorers (or their parents). This serves as a great way to remind Explorers and parents that you have an upcoming meeting or event. If you ask for an RSVP, you will have an idea on how many Explorers plan on attending. If your email comes back undeliverable, please take the time to check for a current email address or call the Explorer/parent.

• Set up a Facebook group (or have a few of the Explorers do this) for the Explorer post. If you want, this can be kept private, for members only. Since students usually come from a variety of schools across central Ohio, this is a great way for them to get to learn more about one another. Have them take pictures at your activities and post them to the group page, which serves as a “living scrapbook” of your post events.  Many Explorer Advisors have utilized the Facebook group to send reminder messages about upcoming activities. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/groups/or call Ken or Ashley for assistance.

• Have a written schedule complete with contact information for the advisors and meeting location addresses.

• Encourage youth leadership in your post. Explorers are looking for ways to get more involved with the post, such as: taking attendance, leading Exploring activites, introducing guest speakers, and sending out meeting & event reminders. Have your Explorers follow up with those that have missed a couple meetings. Hearing from another Explorer is one of the best motivating factors for encouraging attendance!

• Let your Explorers know about the Career Achievement Awards. This program recognized the Explorers for attending meetings and learning about a career field. >>Learn more

We want your post to have a successful program. If you have ideas that work well for your post, we’d like to share them with other advisors.