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Welcome to The Lamplighter, the official newsletter of the W. D. Boyce Council!
This newsletter is distributed to all registered Scouters in the W. D. Boyce Council. It’s our goal to keep you up to date on the latest happenings, with information you can use whether you’re a parent, Scouter, charter organization representative, donor or any other friend of Scouting.
Know someone else who might appreciate receiving it? Forward this to them!
Did you receive this from a friend or colleague? Subscribe here!
New to Scouting? Click here!
Have a question, idea or something you want to see in a future issue? Please email Charlie Zimmerman, Council Field Director, at charlie.zimmerman@scouting.org
| Spring Recruiting: Now’s the Time! | |
Actively recruiting new members to your Cub Scout pack or Scouts BSA troop in the spring? What a great idea! Spring recruiting helps lay the groundwork for new dens and growing patrols, identify potential new adult leaders, and lets Scouts begin the summer with new friends!
Plus, our summer activities are some of the BEST recruiting tools prospective Scouts can imagine! Cub Day Camp, Cub Resident Camp, Scouts BSA Summer Camp – these highlight some of the best things Scouting has to offer. And chances are, you’re already planning your unit’s summer activities.
Our Spring Recruiting guides are available at https://wdboyce.org/recruiting-resources/. You’ll find new ideas, tips for making spring recruiting different than the “same-old-same-old,” webinars, social media tips and more.
| Helping Parents Understand the Benefits of Camp |  | |
Sure, camp is fun – kids get to play, hang out, explore and just plain be kids. But with so many activities and opportunities competing for parents’ time, attention and funds, it might be easy for them to write off camp as a “nice to have” or a luxury that just doesn’t fit into the family’s plans this summer. After all, can’t kids just play outdoors closer to home?
If you’re a Scout leader who’s been to camp – maybe as a Scout yourself – you probably have a good sense of what a camp experience can mean to a child. And what they can bring back from camp - in terms of life experiences and personal growth - that they’ll carry with them for a lifetime. But it might be hard to put it into so many words that we can easily share with other parents.
The American Camp Association has a great article on the benefits of camp. Take a look, and feel free to share with parents who may not yet be convinced:
Not only can a camp experience be worth it – it can be life-changing!
READ: The Benefits of Camp
| ... And Speaking of Camp!! | |
Cub Scout Summer Camps are sure to be the highlight of your Scout’s summer. Join us for unforgettable adventures including archery, BB guns, games, Scout skills, crafts, and more!
Find a day camp near you for Outdoor Adventure! 🧭 AND be sure to check out our overnight camping option: Cub Scout Resident Camp - aka Cosmic Camp 🚀 - at ISR! Click here for details!
🌲⛺Scouts BSA Summer Camp at Ingersoll Scout Reservation is also bound to be a hit! This summer will be an exciting time at ISR as we gear up to provide new and exciting opportunities for our Scouts.
Visit https://isrsummercamp.org/ for more details!
Financial Assistance is Available
| “Spring” Into Growing the Council Endowment! | |
Image by devmaryna on Freepik
Spring is a time for growing, and it is always the right time to continue growing the W. D. Boyce Council Endowment!
How does the Endowment work? Each year, only a portion of the income earned is spent while the remainder is added to the principal for growth. In this way, an endowment is a perpetual gift–providing planned stability, fiscal responsibility, and financial viability.
Tax-deductible donations to the endowment fund support the longevity and sustainability of the W. D. Boyce Council. Donors making gifts of $1,000 or more are eligible to be recognized with the James E. West Fellowship Award. Help the council support the Scouting program in Central Illinois for years to come.
Give to the Endowment Today!
Get More Information on the W. D. Boyce Council Endowment
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We know making Scouting accessible to all is a priority. That’s the primary reason we conduct our annual council popcorn fundraiser, and it’s why we’ve made our bonus incentive the opportunity for a Scout to earn an Ingersoll Scout Reservation camping experience, either at Cub Scout Resident Camp or Scouts BSA Summer Camp.
We’ve also heard from leaders who would like another opportunity to help Scouts earn their way to summer camp – including Cub Day Camp, Cub Resident Camp, Scouts BSA Summer Camp and NYLT.
With that in mind, we’re pleased to reintroduce “Camp Cards” – a short-term, easy way for Scouts to earn funds for camp – or any other Scouting purpose. There’s no upfront cost, and no risk, as unsold cards can be returned at the end of the sale.
Each card sells for $20, and entitles the bearer to a free medium single topping pizza from Casey’s with the purchase of any large specialty pizza. Each card can be used ten times, making it a great value. Units reimburse the council $10 (our cost) for every card sold, keeping the other $10 for the Scout to use for camp or other Scouting purposes.
Information on the camp cards was sent to all unit leaders and committee chairs last week. If you have questions or need more information, contact Charlie Zimmerman.
| Who’s Ready for Some Outdoor Adventure? |  | |
We’ve got some valuable (and fun!) training for adult leaders on tap to help you get up to speed, and both will be offered at the same time, in the same place – twice! You can either attend in Morton OR at the Humiston Woods Nature Preserve near Pontiac.
Basic Adult Leadership Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)
This one-and-a-half-day course is designed as an introduction to the Cub Scout outdoor program for leaders interested in adding a camping component to their Pack activities. BALOO training consists of an online pre-requisite component in addition to an overnight, hands-on practical experience. BSA’s Cub Scout camping policies will be taught, along with the discovery of the necessary tools to help units carry out a successful camping experience. Completion of this course is mandatory for a minimum of one adult on any pack overnighter.
Intro to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS)
Working as patrols, this hands-on course provides adult leaders the practical outdoor skills they need to lead Scouts in the out-of-doors. Upon completion, leaders should feel comfortable teaching Scouts the basic skills required to obtain the First Class rank. Along with Scoutmaster Specifics, this course is required of all direct contact leaders registered in Scouts BSA troops in order to be considered Trained.
Get both of these courses at both of the sessions listed below. The choice is yours – and you can’t go wrong either way!
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April 13-14, 2024, Morton Opportunity Club – Register
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May 18-19, 2024, Humiston Woods Nature Preserve (Pontiac) – Register
| Reaching Out... for Scoutreach Volunteers |  | |
Scoutreach is the BSA’s traditional Scouting program delivered in a non-traditional way to youth from hard-to-serve communities. Scoutreach is our commitment to making sure that every child has an opportunity to be a Scout, regardless of their circumstances, neighborhood, or ethnic background. The organized program provides a safe environment for youth with positive adult role models who teach kids about healthy living, introduce future career opportunities, and reinforce character development.
Currently, Scoutreach programs are delivered in Peoria by a paid council staff member as an after-school program, in partnership with District 150 Schools. Programs are based on a school calendar and run from September to June.
What we need is YOU! As our Scoutreach program grows, we need additional adults to serve as assistant leaders to join in the fun of sharing Scouting with kids who might otherwise never get the chance to experience what we have to offer.
Could you volunteer 3 hours once or twice a month? If so, contact Erin Smith (309-673-6136, Erin.Smith@scouting.org) and help extend the hand of Scouting!
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Just a reminder… and just in time for spring recruiting!
Effective April 1, 2024, the BSA eliminates the $25 one-time joining fee for new youth program participants.
With this change and some corresponding adjustments to other fees (including a small increase at the council level) the adjusted fee schedule for all Scouting programs in our council will be as follows:
| Development of New NESA Directory Underway | |
Beginning in mid-April, Eagle Scouts from across the nation will be receiving post cards relating to the 2025 Eagle Scout directory. The last one done of this nature was in 2020.
NESA and Publishing Concepts (PCI) have been working together in the past to create this directory as an opportunity for Eagle Scouts to share their life stories and photos with a much larger audience.
As we know you may have questions about any solicitation for information, there are a few things we’d like you to be aware of:
- There is no purchase obligation to participate.
- This is a legitimate request from a trusted NESA partner.
- There will be an opportunity to purchase the directory and other items offered by PCI, this is optional.
- Once the production of the year book is completed, purchased directories will be shipped directly to the purchasers.
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Questions can be directed to nesa@scouting.org.
| 🌊 Council Recognition Dinner Luau Makes Waves! 🌊 | |
🌴 On March 16, we celebrated outstanding volunteers - aloha-style - with a luau dinner at Five Points in Washington. There was fun, camaraderie, great roast pork and tasty pineapple cake. 🍍 The cake was SO tasty that three extra cakes were auctioned for $2,700 to help pay for much-needed repairs for pool accessibility at ISR.
There were also 🐬 Sea Animal Crackers baked fresh and flown in from Hawaii, plus the sweet sounds of music from the islands.
“Mahalo!!” to the volunteer committee who organized the dinner, and everyone who attended to make the night special.
If you missed it, check out our video moments below with the council’s newest Silver Beavers. And plan now to join us at the 2025 Council Recognition Dinner!
Videos: Class of 2023 Silver Beavers
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Program Specialist - Peoria
Make a difference in the lives of youth – become a Program Specialist with the W. D. Boyce Council! This fun and active position lets you make a positive impact with youth in the Peoria community by engaging with them every week after school.
- Lead programs as a mentor to youth in grades K-5, many from at-risk neighborhoods in Peoria, at local schools or community centers.
- Plan and conduct fun, weekly programs.
- Track attendance and achievements/advancements for each youth at weekly meetings and submit data weekly.
- Plan outdoor activities with an assigned supervisor.
- Build relationships with local organizations to further Scouting programs in the community.
Position requirements include the ability to interact enthusiastically and effectively with youth and adults, excellent punctuality and accountability, light lifting, physical activity (running and jumping) in youth activity settings, and personal transportation. A Scouting background is not necessary, although helpful.
Applicants must be at least 21 years old and pass a criminal background check.
Lowaneu District Associate
We need a new District Associate to serve in Bureau, Putnam and La Salle Counties.
Duties of this part-time position include:
- Work with a volunteer committee and other community leaders to identify, recruit, train, guide, and inspire them to become involved in youth programs.
- Achieve progress towards specific goals and objectives which include: program development through collaborative relationships, volunteer recruitment and training, fundraising, membership recruitment and retention.
- Assist leadership with campaign efforts to meet the financial needs of the organization.
- Ensure that all programs are served through volunteers, regular leader meetings, training and activities.
Ingersoll Scout Reservation
We are still looking for qualified applicants for the 2024 Summer Camp season at Ingersoll Scout Reservation!
“Enthusiastic, entertaining, hard-working, knowledgeable, and sincere” are just a few of the terms that troops have repeatedly used to describe the staff of Ingersoll Scout Reservation.
Each summer, a team of staff members is hired to create a fun summer camp experience for around 1,000 Scouts by teaching exciting new skills, providing adventure opportunities, and encouraging rank advancement.
Positions currently open for this summer include:
- Health Officer
- Food Service Director
- Camp Cook
- Climbing Director
- Shooting Sports Instructor
If you or someone you know would be interested, please check out the full job descriptions here, including directions to apply!
| Don’t Be Left in the Dark! 😎 | There’s still time to get solar eclipse gear, in the Scout Shop or online! Click here for details. | |
On Lord Baden-Powell’s tombstone, there is a simple circle with a dot in the middle. This image is a trail sign used in the early 1900s to show other hikers that you had reached the end of the trail. That they had made it home.
We now use this same symbol to show respect to our fellow Scouters who have passed away.
Robert "Bob" Binner Bunting - Obituary
November 4, 1942 - February 17, 2024
Norman C. Davis - Obituary
February 1, 1946 - February 3, 2024
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Thanks for reading and for your support of Scouting!
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