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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
| "Fun, Simple, Easy": Cub Scout Program Update | |
Exciting changes are coming June 1 to the Cub Scout program. The updates to the program have been in development over the past five years, based on feedback from over 23,000 parents and Cub Scout leaders. Words being used to describe the revised program include “Fun,” “Simple,” and “Easy!”
Have questions? Get them answered during this live Zoom Q&A with two of our council's most knowledgeable leaders: Mike Heger and Barb Murphy from the Crossroads District.
If you can, please submit questions ahead of time using the link below. Give Mike and Barb time to give you the BEST answer to help you run the BEST Cub Scout program you can!
Even if you don't have questions now, we hope you listen in. We'd love to see at least ONE leader from EVERY Pack on the call, to help Cub Scouts grow in your community!
Register and ask your questions here:
https://247scouting.com/forms/138-2024CubScoutProgram
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Summer’s Meant to be Great. For Scouts, That Means Camp!
(It’s Not Too Late)
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One of the best parts of Scouts BSA is the chance to go to summer camp. A full week outdoors, spent climbing, swimming, engaging in target and field sports, earning merit badges and just plain being a kid are the stuff of awesome memories – and experiences that will last a lifetime.
Ingersoll Scout Reservation (ISR) is the primary resident camp of our council. Located just west of London Mills, ISR is situated on acres of woodland and prairie between Fulton and Knox Counties. There’s nothing else quite like it!
The 2024 ISR Scouts BSA summer camp season consists of four one-week sessions, beginning June 9, 16, 23 and 30.
If there’s a Scout without camp on their summer calendar, now’s the time to sign up! Is their troop not attending? No problem – we can match them up with another troop. Just contact Collin Martis (Collin.Martis@scouting.org) for more details. Need-based financial aid is also available.
Check out the 2024 Leader’s Guide for more details about summer camp at Ingersoll!
| Cub Summer Camp Adventures: Life Changing! | |
We get it: With so many activities and opportunities competing for parents’ time, attention and funds, it’s easy for some parents to view camp as one more thing that doesn’t need to take up space in the family calendar. And it can be hard to overcome that misconception if they’ve never had that experience.
Here’s a great article you can share on your Facebook page, in a newsletter or just one-to-one via email. Because you know what we know: Camp can be life-changing!
“The camp experience enriches lives and changes the world.”
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⏰ There's Still Time: Register here for Cub Scout summer fun ⏰
Cub Scout Day Camp and Resident Camp
Yep - A Cub Scout may attend BOTH Day Camp and Resident Camp!
| 🍍 🌴 Aloha, W. D. Boyce Council!! 😎 🌸 | |
After a few rare sightings in the wild, we’ve heard the island call from those wanting to share in the aloha spirit!
Our “Uniquely Boyce” Hawaiian shirts can now be proudly worn by one and all. Available in men’s and ladies’ sizes, XS-3X. Each shirt costs $25, plus shipping and handling. Shirts can also be picked up at either the Peoria or Bloomington Scout Service Center.
Order now via our online trading post:
https://councilstuff.com/138
Note: Want yours in time for the first week of summer camp at ISR? Order by May 20!
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As a result of the 2023 Council Popcorn Fundraiser, Packs and Troops in our council earned over $300,000 to help make Scouting AWESOME for the kids and families in their units. Plus, over 160 Cub Scouts qualified for free Cub Resident Camp and over 30 Scouts earned their way to free Scouts BSA Summer Camp. That was amazing!!
In addition to funding unit programs, popcorn also provides the necessary financial support for council operations like Ingersoll Scout Reservation, two Scout Service Centers, training programs and more!
2024 promises to be even better! We’re looking forward to once again providing your unit with a great fundraising program that will let you spend less time fundraising throughout the year and more time SCOUTING!
Unit leaders: Please take just a few seconds right now to indicate your unit’s commitment to participate in the sale:
https://bit.ly/2024-popcorn-commit
Also, plan NOW to join us for one of four Popcorn Kickoff Training Sessions:
Monday, June 3, 6:30 pm – East Peoria Civic Complex
Tuesday, June 4, 6:30 pm – Peru Police Department
Monday, June 10, 6:00 pm – Peoria Public Library, North Branch
Wednesday, June 5, 6:30 pm – St. Luke Union Church, Bloomington
RSVP here: https://form.jotform.com/231435643661152
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Sup?
How's it going?
What's new with you?
Comment allez-vous?
Has anyone asked you how we're doing these days? No matter how they phrase it - even if it's in French - it's a great time to tell people about Scouting in Central Illinois. We’re “on the grow” and exciting things are happening, but it helps to have some numbers handy when we’re sharing that news with friends, colleagues and parents of prospective Scouts.
Click below for a handy at-a-glance summary!
https://wdboyce.org/annual-report/
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The Scouting Clays Classic is a premier corporate sporting clays tournament for experienced and novice shooters, and a great opportunity to support Scouting while building relationships and testing your skills. This shooting and Scouting skills competition includes: 11-station sporting clays course, flurry shoot, white bird competition, tomahawk throw, .22 rifles, black powder rifles, paintball, and Scout archery.
Join us Wednesday, June 5, 8 am to 1 pm, at Oak Ridge Sportsman’s Club in Mackinaw!
More details and registration can be found at:
https://donations.scouting.org/#/council/138/event/525
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This summer, why not gather three friends and join us for either the Peoria Golf Classic or Bloomington Golf Classic? These popular annual events include golf, cart, lunch, hole-in-one opportunities, prizes, and an after-play party. Both courses offer top-flight golf experiences, and a good day of golf with friends is always preferable… to just about anything!
You’ll be supporting Scouting, enjoying great company and having a great time outdoors. Click on either of the links below for more details and registration:
Peoria Golf Classic – July 15, Country Club of Peoria
https://donations.scouting.org/#/council/138/event/544
Bloomington Golf Classic – August 12, Bloomington Country Club
https://donations.scouting.org/#/council/138/event/546
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Did you recently receive a Friends of Scouting (FOS) brochure in the mail? If so, it's your opportunity to help support all that the Council does in Scouting for our community! Your gift is an investment in over 3,500 youth that W. D. Boyce Council serves in 14 counties throughout Central Illinois.
Gifts of any amount provide programming support, and donations of $370 underwrite the Council's cost of one Scout annually—helping to keep services and camps affordable for all.
Make your investment in Scouting today by returning a tax-deductible donation with your 2024 FOS mailer or giving online at:
https://donations.scouting.org/li/138FOS2024
| 🗓️ Planning Ahead for Ingersoll Awesomeness... | |
ISR is about more than great summer camp! Now’s the time of year when units are planning for the coming year, and a great year of Scouting can include an awesome Ingersoll experience at ANY TIME!
Learn about all that Ingersoll Scout Reservation has to offer – and how to make a reservation so that you can lock in the fun for 2024-25. Visit https://wdboyce.org/isr/ for more details.
| Are You Ready for Some Outdoor Adventure? |  | |
Whether it’s for an adventure at ISR or any other camping adventure, adult leaders need to get the training required to ensure both safe and fun times for their units. Here’s your chance to get two great training programs in one, this month 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. 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.
- When:May 18-19, 2024
- Where: Humiston Woods Nature Preserve, near Pontiac
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Register now!
| Hey Cub Scouts - Let’s Go Camping! (But where… ?) | |
Our council NCAP committee is looking to identify, pre-approve and publicize camping spots around our council so that packs can have a great selection of possible camping locations.
Please share any past, current or desired camping locations you'd like to see included. If needed, we'll contact you for more details.
https://form.jotform.com/241234780817054
| We’re Looking for “Counselors in Training” (CITs)... NOW! | |
Do you know a Scout who’s 14 or 15 years old and looking for something fun and rewarding to do this summer? Point their gaze towards being a CIT at Ingersoll Scout Reservation! They can come out to volunteer, help teach Scout skills, and learn the ropes of being a Summer Camp Counselor. Onsite housing is provided, and they can earn community service hours!
Details and the CIT application can be found at. https://ingersollbsa.org/staff/
Note: Must be available for Staff Training Week (June 2nd-8th)
& at least 1 week of camp (June 9th-July 6th)
| 🎵 “Take Me Out to the Balllll..game!” ⚾ | |
For it’s one, two, three SCOUT NIGHTS this year.. at the old ball game!
That’s right, all three area baseball teams will be hosting Scout Night events in June with opportunities to camp out on their fields! Check out the following links for details on tickets and how to RSVP:
| District Associate Needed in Lowaneu |  | |
Are you or someone you know in the Lowaneu area available for part-time work? We are still looking for an energetic, professional and dedicated individual to serve as the District Associate in Lowaneu (Bureau, Putnam and La Salle Counties.) This is the perfect role for someone who is a part-time student, a stay-at-home parent or an active retiree.
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.
If you or someone you know would be interested, please check out the complete job description here, including directions to apply!
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Thanks for reading and for your support of Scouting!
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