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PTAC NEWS

Three of our outstanding Scouts presented Governor Bruce Rauner with the Pathway to Adventure Council's Report to the State last month, which outlined our accomplishments over the past year. Some of the highlights included welcoming 3,740 new Cub Scout families, sending an experiment to the International Space Station, and completing 126,998 service hours.
A MESSAGE FROM STEPHEN SCHWAB, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Growing Together, Open to All, Fully Sustainable – these are Pathway’s goals for 2018. 
 
At the suggestion of our Council Commissioner Sue Simmons; she, our Scout Executive Jeff Isaac, and I have traveled throughout the Council and met with the leadership of 14 of our 16 districts in roundtable sessions; we will see the last two soon. This has been part of our effort to achieve Growing Together . Each roundtable has yielded helpful comments that we will summarize after our last visit.
 
In each roundtable session, we have delivered the good news of our growing success as a Council; most recently, our BSA National Gold award for increasing the diversity of our Executive Board. Like welcoming girls into Cubs Scouts, it is just another sign of how we are Open to All . (If you need assistance welcoming girls into Cub Scouts, or just have questions about it, be sure to see the helpful information on our website and/or call your District Executive .)
 
Soon you will be hearing about the creation of our 155 mile Pathway to Adventure Trail. It will be a wonderful way to see just how rich and varied the geography and culture of our Council really are.
 
Most recently, GuideStar awarded us their Platinum designation for charitable giving, which will assist our efforts to be Fully Sustainable . Meanwhile, Camp Owasippe and Camp Napowan (the latter with a perfect score!) achieved BSA National Accreditation, and we are taking steps to further upgrade our camping facilities, as well as retire the last of our pre-merger debt.
 
If you are interested or know someone who may be, we are searching to fill our last two VP slots: Fund Development and Public Relations.
 
Growing Together, Open to All, Fully Sustainable – lofty goals, to be sure, and totally attainable in this Council!
 
Happy 4th!
A MESSAGE FROM RICK ROMANI,
COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Dear Unit Leadership,
Summertime is a fantastic time of the year to promote your unit's program. Every town and neighborhood in our Council will host a fair, festival, or parade. Please be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to promote the adventures of Scouting. As we prepare for our annual membership drive, we are counting on your preparedness for success. Please be sure to update your BeAScout pin with the most recent information as well as your New Member Coordinator name and contact information. We are facilitating a meeting with every Cub Scout Pack to discuss Family Scouting, if you haven't had this meeting please reach out to your District Executive . If you have had this meeting please update your pack type on BeAScout.
Finally, August kickoff is an important meeting for every unit to attend. Please bring two leaders to your District's August kickoff. Attached is the schedule of kickoffs across the Council.
Thanks for all you do for Scouting and for what you will do this fall to reach more families than ever before!
POPCORN
Save the date! Kernel/Leader Training for 2018 Popcorn Sale is coming up.

  • Monday, August 20 | 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Divine Infant School | Westchester, IL
  • For Voyageur Trace, Twin Lakes, Arrowhead, Tall Grass, Iroquois Trails

  • Tuesday, August 21 | 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Purdue University Northwest | Hammond, IN 
  • For Crossroads, Nishnabec, Prairie Dunes, Thunderbird, Greater South Side

  • Tuesday, August 21 | 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Location TBD
  • For Blackhawk, North Woods, Pathfinder, Signal Hill, Indian Trails, Founders
At the PTAC 500 Racing Parties, we're pulling out all the stops to make your ride as smooth as possible. Join us August 18 to:

  • Taste the best fuel for your engine
  • See what is waiting for you at the checkered flag
  • Learn about the driver’s rewards program
  • Learn about the patches for your racing gear
  • Learn how the internet can help you achieve maximum overdrive
  • Learn how to get the most out of the pit crew

This and more will be available to help prepare yourself for race day! There are even more surprises in store, but you need to come to the party to find out what they are. Every attendee will receive a specially designed patch for their racing gear. This is not to be confused with the patches for selling.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Thinking about bringing your unit to summer camp at Camp Napowan or Owasippe Scout Reservation but never had a chance to have your Scouts visit? Now's your chance! We're hosting free camping weekends at our resident camps September 21-23 at Napowan and September 28-30 at Owasippe. Shooting sports, boating, and climbing will be offered.
Calling all Explorers and Venturers! Join us for an exciting week at Owasippe Scout Reservation July 29 through August 4. Make new friends and camp with other Venturers and Explorers from around the Council while experiencing the amazing programs Owasippe has to offer.
TRAINING
The BSA  has announced  bold, wide-ranging updates to its Youth Protection program. Even those Scout leaders who took the previous version of Youth Protection training must log into  My.Scouting.org  and complete the updated Youth Protection by October 1, 2018.

Beginning June 1, 2018, all adults who will be present at a Scouting activity for 72 hours or more must register as volunteers and complete a background check and Youth Protection training. This includes parents, merit badge counselors, and any other adult who will be there for an extended time.
Wood Badge is the ultimate leadership training program for adult leaders of the Boy Scouts of America. Established in 1919 by Robert Baden-Powell, Scouting’s founder, Wood Badge has been the training ground for hundreds of thousands of Scouters around the world. Building on the past, understanding the present, and looking to the future, Wood Badge stands ready to help you provide leadership for Scouting and America.

The course is held over two weekends: September 14-16 and October 12-14. To complete the course, participants must attend both weekends.
To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the first Wood Badge courses in the United States, the American Wood Badge Alumni has created a special service recognition that can only be earned during the Anniversary year. A commemorative certificate and special anniversary service patch will be available.

Wood Badgers will agree to and work a new ticket, if they can. To qualify for the award, individuals must complete five of the nine requirements listed on the application page during the Anniversary Year between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018.
SCOUTS IN THE NEWS
Beverly Review

Michael E. Rudd and John Crispo, of Boy Scout Troop 607, were named Eagle Scouts during a Court of Honor at Bethany Union Church, 1750 W. 103rd St., in Beverly.

Crispo said earning his Eagle Scout award was a “nice cap,” but he has more planned to help the Scouts.

“It feels really, really nice to be able to stand up and have it pinned to your chest,” Crispo said. “But also, it feels like it’s just a step. Because throughout this year, I’ve been also helping out the troop, trying to get other new boys kickstarted along the way. I’ve been active trying to help people. It feels like a really nice milestone.”
ABC 7

Pathway Adventure Council Boy Scouts of America welcomed girls aged 5-10 to join its Cub Scouts program on Monday, according to council marketing and communications director Kate Jacobs.

This comes after a small-scale launch in Chicagoland during which a few girls had already joined the program. Now, the 296 Cub Scout packs in Chicagoland and northwest Indiana can welcome girls to join, though Jacobs said the packs can choose to stay boy-only. Jacobs added that the "vast majority" of the council's packs are open to this co-ed involvement and that girl-only packs are allowed in addition to the co-ed ones. Dens, which are grade-specific groups within a Cub Scout pack, will be single-gender.
Daily Herald

The Palatine village council this week recognized 21 local young men with certificates of achievement for their hard work to attain the rank of Eagle Scout.
Mayor Jim Schwantz stepped off the village council dais to hand the certificates to the new Eagle Scouts, who were accompanied by parents and others. Most of the 21 Scouts attended the meeting and gave a brief description of the community service project they performed to receive the highest rank in the Boy Scouts.
SUPPORT SCOUTING
The Pathway to Adventure Council is thrilled to announce, in partnership with Raise, that we now accept gift cards as donations! Raise is an online gift card marketplace that connects consumers to sell their unwanted gift cards with others who will buy gift cards at a discount. If you have unused gifts cards that are $5.00 or more, please consider donating them in support of PTAC programs.
 
To donate, please mail your gift cards to:
 
Gift Card Donations
Pathway to Adventure Council, BSA
1218 West Adams Street
Chicago, IL 60607
 
Or drop them off at the collection boxes at our Service Centers or camp trading posts. For more information, please contact Cedric Bodley at (224) 310-5497 or at cedric.bodley@scouting.org.
ACTIVITIES
SCOUT SHOPS
New Cub Scout handbooks are available! Stop by any of our Scout Shops to check them out.
*Calumet Scout Shop promotions may vary.
STAY CONNECTED!