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PTAC NEWS
As you know, the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America recently made a unanimous decision to welcome girls to our iconic programs.

Although our programs will officially launch to welcome both boys and girls into Cub Scouting during the program year, we are offering a soft launch that will allow packs that meet strict criteria to officially register girls (K-4) into Cub Scouts as early as January 15, 2018.

A letter announcing this opportunity was emailed to each pack’s chartered organization representative on December 26 th. Chartered organization representatives of eligible units must respond to that email by January 5 th in order to be considered for the soft launch.


We're on Pinterest! Check out ideas for camping meals, Scout crafts, and Pinewood Derby inspiration at www.pinterest.com/ptacboyscouts.
NESA-PTAC is currently taking applications for the Adams Service Project of the Year. This award was created to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, school, community, or other entity. The award recognizes the Scout for his Eagle Scout service project, which is part of the requirements for earning the Eagle Scout Award.

Requirements:
The Scout must have passed his Eagle board of review in 2017 (January 1–December 31). The nomination shall be submitted to the NESA committee of the council in which the service project was completed. The submission must include the application, the name of the project, and the Eagle Scout’s contact information. A complete duplicate copy of his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (previously submitted by the Scout to his Eagle board of review committee) must be attached to the application.

Please return your application and supporting materials by Friday, January 19, 2018. Applications can be emailed to Dwayne Hunter at Dwayne.Hunter@scouting.org, or mailed to his attention at 1218 W. Adams Chicago, IL 60607.
All offices will be closed January 12th for PTAC’s Annual Planning Conference.
Scout shops will remain open except for the Calumet location.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
The Cub Scout Camping Guide is here!
Don't miss these awesome summer camping opportunities for your Cub Scouts!

Applications are still open for the 2019 World Scout Jamboree, which will be held at the Summit Scout Reserve in West Virginia. We expect 50,000 Scouts from more than 160 National Scout Organizations to join us for an experience of a lifetime. Participants will be 14-17 years old and staff (IST) can participate if you are older than 18. Please consider joining our PTAC Contingent!  

We are looking for qualified applicants for our 2018 summer camp staffs — especially key camp leadership positions such as camp directors, program directors, and program area directors. This is the perfect summer job for Scouters who are teachers!
TRAINING
These classes are intended for Scouts and Scouters attending high adventure camps in 2018 or any Scout or Scouter who’d like to complete a WFA certification course.

These classes meet the requirements for Wilderness First Aid established by the Boy Scouts of America. The course fee is $135 (the renewal course is $90). The fee is due the morning of the first session. The certification card is emailed after successful completion of the class.

A series of two-day sessions will be available in 2018. Session will be held at Bridgeview Community Center from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on January 6 & 13, March 10 & 17, April 7 & 14, June 2 & 9. A one day RENEWAL session is scheduled for May 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The maximum class size is 10 participants. The minimum age to attend these sessions is 14.

To register, contact Tom Bosworth at 224-888-1243 or e-mail BSA13@aol.com.
The Wood Badge 1919-2019 Centennial Update Pilot Courses are being conducted to test new curriculum and content before introducing it nationwide. Content for these pilots has been developed by the Wood Badge Update Task Force which has been meeting for the last two years to consider possible enhancements to the current syllabus.
 
Locations/Dates:
Florida Sea Base - Brinton Environmental Center
Participants should plan to arrive at the SeaBase on Sunday, January 28th. 
The course will start Monday, January 29th promptly at 8:00 a.m. and conclude on Friday, February 3rd at about 4:30 p.m.
 
Philmont Scout Ranch
Participants should plan to arrive at Philmont on Sunday, March 25th. 
The course will start Monday, March 26th promptly at 8:00 a.m. and conclude on Friday, March 30th at about 4:30 p.m. 
 
These courses are designed for participants who have never previously attended a Wood Badge course. 
SCOUTS IN THE NEWS
by Rachel K. Hindery

Antigone Sharris, the coordinator for Triton College's Engineering Technology Department, said that the program, which grew out of Triton's activities with offering a robotics badge, was a joint effort with the  Boy Scouts of America 's Pathway to Adventure Council.
The council serves approximately 23,000 Scouts in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, according to marketing and communications director Kate Jacobs.

"We're thrilled to be partnering with local community colleges, including Triton, to help equip Scouts with the tools they need to succeed in life and in future careers," Jacobs said. >>Read More
by Kimberly Fornek

A Hinsdale Boy Scout from Troop 10 organized a collection of goods to send to Haiti for his Eagle project.
John "Jack" Moran, a senior at Hinsdale Central High School, has been a Scout since he was 6 or 7.
"My goal always was the next rank up and learning the skills to advance," Moran said.
"I really started working on my Eagle Scout project about a year ago, when I became a Life Scout," the rank below Eagle.
Moran had volunteered with his grandfather, Robert Lannert, at a soup kitchen in Chicago, run by Sisters from the Missionaries of Charity, an organization started by Mother Theresa to bring aid and salvation to the poor and sick. >>Read More
by Jennifer Johnson

The 17-year-old Maine South High School senior was lauded by  Park Ridge 's chief of police and city officials recently for helping treat — before paramedics arrived on the scene — two young women injured in a serious car crash near his home.
"This was the biggest thing I've ever had to deal with," said Wyshel, a Boy Scout who always keeps a first aid kit nearby, even when at school. "I was trying to keep myself calm the best I could, but it was a harrowing situation for me, too."
Wyshel was presented with a certificate of meritorious action, and credited by Police Chief Frank Kaminski for "displaying empathy toward others and having the courage and willingness to step up and make a difference." >>Read More
by Petty Wetli

Liam Donnelly founded WasteNot Compost at the age of 15. Now he balances his course load with nights spent biking around and picking up compost containers.
Even for a college student, Liam Donnelly pulls a lot of all-nighters.
The 20-year-old junior at Loyola University Chicago is carrying a course load that has him on pace to graduate early, but he isn’t burning the midnight oil cramming for exams. And he’s definitely not partying.
Troop 209 was featured on an episode of FOX's "Xploration Outer Space" last month, which highlighted the troop's International Space Station experiment.

Relive the excitement by watching the full episode on Amazon Video .
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