Annual Council Recognition Dinner scheduled for May 10
Northwest Suburban Council is inviting Scouters to attend its annual Recognition Dinner at the Sheraton Suites and Banquets on Friday, May 10, in Elk Grove Village to honor 2012 achievements by volunteers, districts and the council.
Highlighting the event will be the bestowing of the Silver Beaver to five volunteer scouters for their outstanding efforts last year.
Receiving the highest National Council award will be Jerry Brand, Janet Cowell, Chris Geraghty, Steve Ignots and Scott Ratter.
All have extensive Scouting backgrounds,
ranging from unit service as Commissioners,
to district and council positions in finance,
training and program.
NWSC Past President Marie Diffley is emceeing
the dinner and will introduce this year's guest
speaker, Honorable Robert Dold, former Congressman
who represented the Illinois 10th District.
In addition to the Silver Beaver recognitions, other awards will include:
. James E. West
. 2nd Century Leadership
. District and Council Journey To Excellence
. Veterans Awards
. National BSA Life Saving Recognition
. National Eagle Scout Service Project Award
. International Scouter Award
. NWSC Council Program Recognitions
Reservations may be made either through the council's website, www.nwsc.org (Register Online) or at the Service Center.
NWSC STEM Activities are Heating Up!
NWSC STEM is proud to announce a series of workshops for Boy Scouts and Venturers which will allow them to modify flashlights for use as cell phone chargers. We think this will be especially useful for Scouts attending the National Jamboree in July, where cell phone charger access may be quite limited. The first workshop will be held Saturday, May 4th, at the Signal Hill merit badge clinic. Additional workshops will be offered in the near future, including a session dedicated to Jambo attendees. Watch the NWSC Facebook page, the NWSC website and your inbox for additional workshop dates.
In addition to workshops, we are currently accepting registration for Cub Scout and Boy Scout Nova camps at Lakota. Cub Scout Nova camp will be held June 27-June 30. Boy Scout Nova camp will be held August 8 - August 10. Scouts who attend camp and participate in all the offered activities will earn the Nova award as well as multiple belt loops and pins (Cub Scouts) and merit badges (Boy Scouts). For more event information and to register, visit the NWSC calendar https://www.doubleknot.com/openrosters/Calendar.asp?OrgKey=936 and click on the event you would like to attend. Boy Scouts will have a choice of merit badges, so be sure to register early to get your preferred selection.
We are still seeking Supernova mentors. If you have expertise in any STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) field and would like to share your knowledge and skills with young people, please contact our STEM committee chair, Don Harris, or our Council STEM Specialist, Lisa Earley. You may be a STEM professional, hobbyist, or have a STEM educational background. We would like to get a broad cross section of mentors from across Council's geographic area as well as a wide range of fields (accountants, physicians, technicians and teachers are needed in addition to engineers and scientists). If you prefer, you may work with a particular age range and/or in a specific geographical area. The basic requirements are similar to those of a merit badge counselor: BSA registration, mentor application and current Youth Protection Training. More information is available by contacting or visiting:
Lisa Earley, NWSC STEM Program Specialist, 847-824-6861, lisa.earley@scouting.org
Don Harris, NWSC STEM Committee Chairman, 847-736-4320, dpharris@acninc.net
http://www.scouting.org/stem
Blackhawk District Cub Scout Day Camp
Registration for the Blackhawk District Cub Scout Day Camp on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 18, 19, & 20, 2013 is currently open, but will close when 100 Cub Scouts have fully registered. The Cub Day Camp is also open to other NWSC Districts, so don't wait. Registration is filling up fast!
This year's theme is CSI: Cub Scout Investigation, and offers a fine program of archery, BB gun, crafts, wood working, games, fishing, Scout skills, and a number of other surprises, all to be held at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, Il, at Central and River Rd. Adding to our program this year is the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related learning initiative.
Full information and registration materials are available at flyers.nwsc.org/BHdaycamp0618.pdf
Register quickly online at http://www.doubleknot.com/event/1321956
Anyone thinking of working on their tan this summer can email your availability for a Staff position to BlackhawkDayCamp@gmail.com. We need Adults, and Scouts who might be looking for service hours. Adult open Staff positions include Archery and BB gun, with prior range certification, crafts, games, fishing, and wood carving. We are also looking for a Staff Health Officer, holding a current certification or valid license for a physician, nurse practitioner, RN, LPN, LVN, paramedic, or EMT. Boy Scout, Venturer, and Girl Scout open Staff positions include crafts, fishing, games, and wood carving. Staff can volunteer just one day, two, or even all three days. To make this the best Day Camp ever, means we need you to step up and support Scouting!
Cub Scouts: Always investigating and "Prepared For Life!"
Farewell
Frank Chlebek. Senior District Executive for the Blackhawk District retired completing a long and successful career as a professional Scouter. Frank had been with the Northwest Suburban Council for the last five years first as the Signal Hill District Executive.
Frank has served the youth in numerous councils during his distinguished career including the Calumet, Sinnissippi, and Chicago Area Councils. While his retirement plans were not fully finalized, Frank expressed his continuing interest in the Scouting Program.
We wish him well in his retirement.
Sittin' On a Fence Post?
Still thinking about NYLT and whether or not it is right for you? Don't wait too long; the spots are going fast. The parent information meeting is May 29 and the course begins June 16. You are running out of time. You will be trained by a youth staff led by experienced adult leaders. Let's meet those leaders:
Course Director, Paul Breider: He has been in Scouting for 50 years and is an Eagle Scout. He is Wood Badge trained, holds the Silver Beaver and the District Award of Merit. As both a youth and adult he has worked on numerous camp staffs. Paul currently serves as the Chair of the NWSC Outdoor Adventures Committee and the NYLT Course Director. In support of NYLT he has attended the Area Course Director's conference multiple times. This is his 8th year as Course Director for NYLT, since its beginning in NWSC, and he served for many years as Director of Troop Leader Development, the predecessor course to NYLT. Paul is a Vigil member of Lakota Lodge.
Assistant Course Director, Kevin Cutts: He is the Lodge Adviser for Lakota Lodge, Order of the Arrow (scouting's honor society), and is a Vigil member of the Lodge. He is Wood Badge trained and has staffed that course multiple times. He has been in scouting for 38 years and this is his fifth year on NYLT staff. Kevin holds the OA Founders Award and the District Award of Merit. In addition to all that, he notes, "more importantly, I have been awarded the Golden Plunger award at NYLT giving me the skills the scouts need to be successful".
Assistant Course Director, Mary Sabol: Currently registered as a Unit Commissioner, Committee Chair for a Venturing Crew and a District Member at Large, she has been in Scouting for over 27 years. This will be her 7th year on NYLT staff. She earned the Girl Scout First Class award (it predates the Gold Award but we don't mention her age). She is a District Award of Merit recipient, Distinguished Commissioner, and received the Adviser Award of Merit, bestowed on her after nomination by the youth in the crew. She is also Wood Badge trained and has served on Wood Badge staff.
Assistant Course Director, Diane Neumann: Diane is the Adviser for a Venturing Crew and new to the NYLT staff. Born into a Scouting family, you could say she has been a scout her whole life! She has been registered with NWSC for 6 years and served as a Committee Member, Committee Chair, and Assistant Scoutmaster prior to her role in the Crew. She is a Brotherhood member of Lakota Lodge, is Wood Badge and Leave No Trace Trained. When you see a purple fleur-de-lis flying at Lakota, you know she is in residence as the Campmaster.
Assistant Course Director, Mike Tangen: "Mr. T.", as he is affectionately called, is the Council Vice President of Program. He had a taste of staffing NYLT last year and is back for more. He has 28 years of Scouting under his belt and has extensive experience as an Executive Committee Member, Troop Committee Member, Assistant Scoutmaster and OA Lodge Adviser. Not only is he Wood Badge Trained but he has served as a Course Director. He is a Leave No Trace Trainer. His honors include the District Award of Merit, the Silver Beaver, Scoutmaster Award of Merit and he is a Vigil member of Lakota Lodge.
These are the adults who develop the youth staff of trainers for National Youth Leadership Training. The youth staff is responsible for delivering the course content. And why do the youth come to staff, many for several years? Past participants who are invited back to staff will tell you they made the right call when they chose to come to Camp Lakota, fight the mosquitoes, make new friends and fill their leadership toolbox with skills. This is what they have to say: "It was really fun to attempt to make the food and to do it as a patrol." "The best part was the lashing project and the fun we had with the staff when it was done." "I enjoyed having an opportunity to put the skills I learned into practice." "The activities emphasized what we learned in each skill. They gave us a chance to apply our new knowledge." "I like meeting new people and making new friends." "My favorite part was cooking our own food. I had never done that over a fire before." "My favorite part was learning all the skills to become a great leader and getting to know my team members better, and all the activities the staff prepared us for." "As a staff member, the best part was participating in the activities that reinforce the skill presentations."
E-mail nylt@nwsc.org with any questions. As you ponder the decision, we'll close by sharing the three hardest things about being a participant, as shared by past course members. One, cooking over a wood fire - and every team got better at it as the week went along. Two, having to start in a team of people you don't know - you will make new friends and you learn more about leadership this way. Three, one activity in particular is tough - and really helps you build your new team, just as it is designed to do. Talk to anyone who has taken the course - they learned a lot AND they had fun. What more could you ask for? Get down off that fence and join us!
Campmasters
Do you like being at camp? Would you like to help out a few times a year at Camp Lakota? Well then you can be a Campmaster! A Campmaster is the person people turn to at Camp Lakota when there is an event or reservation. Campmasters are the ambassadors of the camp assisting units with checking in, checking out and making sure their visit to Lakota is enjoyable.
If you are interested please email Emily Rinaldi at Emily.Rinaldi@scouting.org
There will be a Campmaster training at Camp Lakota on Sunday June 2nd 9 am. All campmasters new and experienced are encouraged to attend.
