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CHICAGO SCOUT SHOP UPDATE |
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After careful consideration and evaluation, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has made the difficult decision to close the Chicago Scout Shop. The Chicago Scout Shop’s last day of sales will be Friday, May 28. The Chicago Service Center will continue general operations, including accepting Eagle Scout packets, registering new Scouts, and event registration.
Please know that the BSA did not make this decision lightly, as we know it significantly impacts our Scouts and Scouters who rely on this store. However, the decision was necessitated by decreased foot traffic to the store over the past several years, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The La Grange, Arlington Heights, and newly renovated Munster Scout Shops will remain open for business, and there are easy ways to shop at these stores:
- Effective immediately, Arlington Heights and La Grange will return to 6 days a week operational hours. These Scout Shops are now open Monday-Saturday and are closed on Sundays.
- Visit the Scout Shops in person. Addresses and business hours for these Scout Shops are listed below.
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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS AND LA GRANGE ONLY: Use this Advancement & Uniform Ordering link and choose the La Grange or Arlington Heights location for pick-up or to have your order delivered. At this time, the Pathway to Adventure Council will cover up to $10 in shipping fees to anyone utilizing this form and shipping to any address within our council boundaries.
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MUNSTER ONLY: Send your order via email to PTAC.ScoutShopMunster@scouting.org. Orders can then be picked up in Munster or Chicago. Orders picked up in Chicago will not incur an additional fee. We will call you when your order is ready.
Thank you for your understanding and flexibility.
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SCOUTING FOR FOOD - THANK YOU! |
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Over the course of two weekends in April, Scouts and Scouters from across the Pathway to Adventure Council went out into their communities with the goal of helping to end hunger, by participating in Scouting For Food. Everyone completed their "good turn" for the day and made a significant impact by collecting over 75,000 pounds of food! We are thankful for the work of our Scouting community and proud of what it accomplished. While Scouts and Scouters were out in their neighborhoods, there were several partners and donors behind the scenes who helped make this service project possible. Thank you to Butera Market, Palmer Packaging, R. Busch Drum Inc., River Park Moose Lodge, Strack & Van Til Food Market, Wheeling Auto, Greater Chicago Food Depository, and The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. We are deeply appreciative of the support and donations you provided and know that Scouting for Food would not have been possible without you.
Thank you again for your dedication. We look forward to sharing more information with you soon.
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Virtual Merit Badge Academy
The Pathway to Adventure Council is pleased to announce its spring virtual merit badge academy! Through May 22, PTAC Scouts* can sign up for classes led by expert merit badge counselors! To see what classes are available and to register, click here.
*Please note classes are open to PTAC Scouts only.
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UPDATE: Council Recognition Dinner Goes Fully Virtual
The Council Recognition Dinner for Youth and Adult Awards on May 8 is now a fully virtual event. The event will be hosted on May 8th from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm via Zoom. Registrants will receive an email with a link to join.
We will be recognizing the 2020 Class of Eagle Scouts, Venturing Summit Awards, and Sea Scout Quartermasters; along with the Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year, Silver Beavers, Outstanding Eagle Scouts, Council Alumnus of the Year, and several other awards. All 2020 Eagle Scouts, Summit Awardees, and Quartermasters that register will receive the Council Dinner Shoulder Patch and printed program booklet in the mail immediately after the event.
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Call for Pictures
We are looking for pictures of Scouts with their mom or mother figures to feature during our Council Recognition Dinner and on our social media accounts. If you have a photo you're willing to share, please send it to Allison.Dietz@Scouting.org. Thank you!
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Calling All Artists!
Are you a painter, sculptor, photographer, or graphic designer? We have an opportunity for you!
We want you to show off your artwork at PTAC’s largest development events this Fall. Your artwork will be seen by THOUSANDS of people at our Construction and Metals Industry Dinners and included in the Silent Auction at both events. Not an artist yourself but know someone who is? Let them know about this opportunity! We are looking to show off authentic artwork from the youth in our community.
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Cub Scout Fun Day Success!
Thank you, Stephanie Brockway, Nick Crnokrak, and all volunteers/staff that helped make the Cub Scout Fun Day an AMAZING event! On April 17, Cubs Scouts from across the council came together for a day of excitement that included STEM experiments, craft activities, and the popular inflatable ranges! To keep everyone COVID-safe, we had families register for a specific timeslot and all slots were filled! We were glad to see everyone and can't wait for our next activity! -Cub Scout Fun Day Team
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Cub Scout Weird Science
New this year, Weird Science is a hands-on program that will be delivered by the Pack, Den, or individual Scout. Plan for a day, or space the activities out over a couple of meetings – the choice is yours! Scouts will enjoy making a fossil, building a robot hand, discovering raisins dance, launching pop bottle rockets, and more! Most materials will be provided in the STEM Science Kit, but some will need to be provided by the Pack or individual at home. For all six STEM-based activities, step-by-step written and video instructions will be provided. Additional games, skits, songs, etc. are also included. Scouts who register for CUB SCOUT SUMMER FUN to participate in Weird Science are invited to a Shooting Sports Day at the location of their choice. Scouts will have the opportunity at BB guns, archery, sling shots, and catapults. Each day will have 3 sessions, with each session being limited to 64 Scouts. Parents must be present at the Shooting Sports Day. To keep everyone safe, these activities are replacing our traditional Day Camp this year.
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Join 2021 Camp Staff
Camp Napowan and Owasippe Scout Reservation are now accepting applications for summer camp staff 2021! If you're looking for an amazing way to spend your summer, consider applying for camp staff. Scouts and Scouters age 14 and up are eligible for volunteer and/or paid positions. For more information or to apply, please visit our camp staff webpage.
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2021 Family Camp at Camp Betz
A weekend camping experience for the whole family in Berrien Springs, Michigan! Camp Frank S. Betz is a 57-acre preserve that has been in continuous service since 1922. Camp Betz offers beautiful wooded campsites for tent camping. Flush toilets and showers are available. The program includes archery, BBs, crafts, swimming, boating, campfires, and more! While at camp, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the property and enjoy the beauty it offers. All meals will be provided on Saturday, along with a Sunday breakfast.
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2021 Webelos Camp at Napowan or Owasippe
A three-night Webelos camping experience and preview to Scouts BSA camping! This program is tailored for next school year’s 4th and 5th grade Webelos Scouts and includes opportunities to earn several Webelos Adventures pins (both required and elective). Webelos will also be able to fish, swim, shoot archery and BBs, hike, explore, and have a fantastic adventure at summer camp! Attend as a den or as a Webelos Scout and parent.
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Merit Badge Counselor Training
Are you a Merit Badge Counselor that needs training? This virtual course is for you!
A well-qualified Merit Badge Counselor can enhance a youth’s attention span through effective communication, which leads to a better understanding of the subject, productive discussions, and true interest. A bond of mutual respect often develops when a Scout feels confident to offer thoughts and opinions through meaningful conversations with a merit badge counselor. Thus, a Scout grows in social skills and self-reliance as a result of interacting with an adult who is a qualified counselor.
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Cub Scout Leader Position-Specific Training
Join us on Sunday, May 23 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm for our virtual Cub Scout Leader Position-Specific Training. This training is designated for Den Leaders, Cubmasters, and Pack Committee Members, as well as any interested parents. Additionally, we will be offering training for STEM Nova Counselors and STEM Supernova Mentors.
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Hazardous Weather Training
Direct contact leaders must complete Hazardous Weather Training to be considered position trained. This is a very important training and must be taken every two years to stay current, just like Youth Protection Training! Hazardous Weather Training is available around-the-clock in the BSA Learn Center by logging in to your account on https://my.scouting.org/.
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Special Needs Committee Call to Action!
The Pathway to Adventure Council Special Needs Scouting Committee is seeking representatives from each district.
Our committee is dedicated to helping all Scouts be successful within the Scouting program. We provide support to units, parents, and Scouts. We need your help! Contact us at ptac.sns@gmail.com.
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Do you hold a special certification and are willing to share your skill?
Pathway to Adventure Council is collecting information to better serve our unit, district, and council activities and trainings. If you hold certifications in First Aid/CPR for Professional Rescuer, ServSafe Manager, COPE and Climbing, BSA Shooting sports, or Aquatics, and are willing to lend a hand, please complete this form.
Additionally, we are looking for volunteers who hold a current certification as a ServSafe Instructor, Wilderness First Aid Instructor, and Trainer for First Aid/CPR for Professional Rescuer. Please email Amy.Hutcherson@Scouting.org if you meet these qualifications and are interested in joining the PTAC training team. |
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Take your Scouting Training to the Next Level, join us at Wood Badge
Wood Badge is the premier adult leader training of the Boy Scouts of America. This is an intense and fun-filled, five-day course, which focuses on developing your leadership skills. This course is open to all leaders from Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturing. The course will be held over two weekends, Friday, Sept. 10 through Sunday, Sept 12, and Saturday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 3, at Camp Frank S. Betz in Berrien Springs, MI. Registration is limited so you are encouraged to register as soon as possible!
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Batter up! 2021 Popcorn Sale
Ready to swing for the fences? Ready to hit a home run? How about having that perfect game (sale) with Pecatonica. The popcorn team has begun meeting to work on creating that championship-clinching sale. Start talking with your team (unit) to secure that manager (kernel) for the season. Start planning those away games (site sales), as well as the home games (door-to-door). Prepare that lineup (selling plan) that will drive in the most runs!
More information will be available from the popcorn team and your district kernels!
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Camp Lakota Pack-Up Days
Your help is needed! With Camp Lakota's closing, we want to be sure that all useable equipment and supplies, as well as memorabilia, is safely packed and transported to our other council camps.
Please join us at Camp Lakota (2050 Deep Cut Rd, Woodstock, IL) May 1 and/or May 8 to help pack up the camp! Use this link to register.
Youth and adults are welcome to participate in these work days. Please dress for the weather and bring work gloves and a water bottle. Work will include removal of items from buildings and campsites, inventory, and loading storage containers to be shipped to other camps.
Lunch will be provided. Please plan to arrive between 7:30-8:30am and work as long as you are able! We anticipate each work day being 8:30am-5:30pm.
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Work Weekends at Camp
Join Takhone Lodge this spring and help prepare our camps for the summer. There will be Ordeal and brotherhood opportunities at all three. All unit leaders are invited to our Camp Open houses which we are holding at our Napowan and Owasippe weekends!
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EAGLE SCOUT SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY |
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Construction Industry Eagle Scout Scholarship
All graduating Eagle Scouts are eligible to participate. The recipient is awarded $1,000 for all four years of undergraduate studies.
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In this section of our newsletter, we will hear from our Council President, Marc Passiment. |
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Many months have a special commemorative designation by Congress. February is African American History Month. March is Women’s History Month while celebrating Irish American Heritage at the same time. May is Asian Pacific Heritage and Jewish American Month. June commemorates Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month. National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October. American Indian Heritage Month in November. These months and the many special days bring awareness to our greater community. It is a time to learn, reflect, and connect with others in our communities. In the month of April, the Pathway to Adventure Council Scouts and Scouters reconnected with those in need by participating in Scouting for Food.
Scouting for Food is a food drive that aims to fill local pantries and aid those who lack access to nutrition and other resources. After starting in St. Louis, Missouri, Scouts across the nation started annual food drives in the mid-80s to bring attention to this problem. Scouts learned about the plight of those less fortunate by helping to stock the food pantries. They learned about the community’s generosity as they collected food. By raising awareness, Scouts are helping strengthen our nation and becoming the leaders of tomorrow.
It was with great pride that I visited with different groups participating. Thank you to all who came out and contributed. I witnessed new connections being made with our neighbors. I got an opportunity to see the excitement of Scouts coming back with donated food. It was incredible to see how many people wanted to help. From the
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woman who went into the store filled her cart full of food, and came out to donate it all, to the restaurant owner that donated pizza for lunch and to all those that donated time and material so we could collect. A special thank you to our council-wide partners, Butera Market, for allowing us to collect in-store donations and use their parking lots as drop sites; Palmer Packaging for donating pallets and Gaylord boxes; R. Busch Drum Inc. for providing trucking and transportation; River Park Moose Lodge for allowing us to use their parking lot as the council rally location; Strack & Van Til Food Market, for donating advertising space and grocery bags to collect donations; Wheeling Auto for providing transportation; and Greater Chicago Food Depository and Food Bank of Northwest Indiana which were our council donation partners.
I enjoyed meeting so many across the council face-to-face. Yes, we were all safely able to get out and spend some time with each other. I learned from the Scouts and Scouters what they had been doing for these last few months to stay safe while still having fun. Many had small outdoor meetings and events. Several got creative over the internet. Many took the time to gear up for summer camp. Cubs Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturers, Sea Scouts, and Explorers alike took advantage of the time to contact someone new, to earn requirements, merit badges, and learn new skills towards advancement.
Each time I have an opportunity to get out in the community, I am awed and inspired by Scouts and Scouters in all they are doing. Thank you again for being a part of Scouting. See you soon on the trail.
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