ScoutFEST 100 is a festival to celebrate the centennial year of the Boy Scouts of America for the Scouts of Chicagoland.  Northerly Island is the perfect place to gather for this event, as it provides a location that is convenient for all to come, is in the heart of the city so that everyone will see that Scouting is still strong, and most importantly is an easily controlled, safe environment.  Scouts from everywhere are welcome to attend this once in a lifetime event.

During the day, ScoutFEST will include a midway of activities and exhibits for all to enjoy.  Exhibitors from organizations and companies that work with Scouts will be there showcasing the opportunities they have for Scouts.  Scouts can take part in activities such as rock climbing, fishing, obstacle courses, exploring Sea Scout ships and more.

In the evening everyone will file into the Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island for a spectacular stage show featuring the hit recording artist Smash Mouth.  Smash Mouth is known for their hits “All Star” and “Walkin’ on the Sun” as well as famous covers of popular songs such as “I’m a Believer.”  The stage show will be capped off with a spectacular fireworks show over Lake Michigan.

If that all isn't enough, after the show Scouts wishing to stay the night will camp under the stars and the Chicago skyline.  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
 

http://www.scoutfest100.org/

Who's handling the money for your pack, troop, or crew?  Can you trust them to handle the money properly and not get sticky fingers?  Are you sure?  Over the years I have heard of several cases where a unit's treasurer had stolen money from the unit that their son was involved with.  A quick Google search brought up these cases along with many more...

• July 8, 2010 - Woburn, Massachussettes ($20,000)
• Feb 2, 2010 - Stockerton, Pennsylvania ($10,000)
• Nov 10, 2009 - Delphi, Indiana ($3,000)
• Sept 15, 2009 - Epping, New Hampshire ($2,500)
• Mar 31, 2009) - Summerville, South Carolina ($14,000)
• Mar 18, 2009 - Morrisville, Missouri ($5,000)
• Feb 26, 2008 - Bellwood, Pennsylvania ($17,000)
• Feb 19, 2008 - Loveland, Colorado ($7,000)
  

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Thanks to Google Alerts, I was able to read this great blog post about a young man with disabilities who was able to become a Boy Scout after many years of dreaming about it.  I thought I'd share it all with you both as an "Aww..." moment and a reminder that the Boy Scouts of America has some very inclusive policies when it comes to people with (dis)abilities joining as well as certain accomodations that can be made for helping the boys to earn their rank.

Our family's oldest young man is now a man in uniform. Stross, at 19 years of age, was inducted into the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) tonight. His life, the BSA's vision, our mission as Stross' parents - it all basically came together tonight when our oldest son ceremoniously claimed a status he's sought more than half his life. He is a Boy Scout. He is a man in uniform.

Amazingly, these two seemingly polar existences merge to reflect Stross' life circumstances. Due to the circumstances of his birth, our man of 19 lives with an intellectual outlook of one entering the scouting system in his boyhood years, yet his dream - since his actual boyhood - has been to serve his country as a man in uniform. That dream became possible tonight thanks to the Boy Scouts of America, and Stross' inherent persistence.

Stross - despite our assertions that he was too old to join the scouting program - independently searched the Internet to learn this: A Scout or Venturer with a disability may work toward rank advancement after he is 18 years of age. See also: Boy Scout Policy on Advancement for Members with Special Needs

 

FULL ARTICLE

If you missed out on taking Wood Badge last fall and really want to take the training, there's another opportunity coming soon. The Great Lakes Council (Detroit area) has openings in its Wood Badge course coming up in May and June. 

If the $235 cost is a problem, don't worry.  I have it on good authority that they may still be able to help you with that.  Just contact the Course Director and see what they can do.

See attached registration form for details.

Reminder about important new information from the Camp Leader's Handbook...

"Camp" also includes Cub Scout Day Camp.

New and Important Information

Here are a few items that leaders and participants should be aware of. Please plan for these changes!

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It happens again and again.  The location is differrent and the troop involved is different but the headlines declare in bold letters, "Boy Scout Trailer Stolen".  The stories give few details about the theft other than one key piece of information... the scouts camping gear was inside the trailer.  Frequently the article also explains that the troop has had to cancel outings because of the theft.

March 2010 - Mesquite, Texas

February 2010 - Pawley's Island, South Carolina

February 2010 - Rochester, Minnesota

July 2009 - Centerline, Michigan

January 2009 - Atascocita, Texas

November 2008 - Independence, Missouri

July 2008 - Independence, Missouri

April 2008 - Miami, Florida

February 2008 - Houston, Texas

  Read more »

From http://blog.ScoutingMagazine.org...

 

UPDATE (3:15 p.m. Jan. 13): Bill Evans, Youth Development team leader with the BSA, tells Cracker Barrel that these merit badges will count as electives for rank advancement. As if you needed another reason to get your guys to earn these.

A merit badge called Computers would sound just a crazy to a 1910 Boy Scout as a merit badge called Tracking sounds to Scouts today. That’s because the BSA’s list of available merit badges has evolved through the years as the interests of boys have changed.

In honor of the BSA’s 100th Anniversary, though, today’s generation of Scouts will get the unique opportunity to experience some of the activities their predecessors enjoyed. That’s possible thanks to the BSA’s new Historical Merit Badge Program, a set of four discontinued merit badges that today’s Scouts can earn.

Boys can earn any or all of these merit badges:

Signaling

• First offered in 1910 and discontinued in 1992.
• Sample requirements: build a simple buzzer or blinker capable of sending Morse code messages, and send a message of at least 35 words; send and receive messages using semaphore flags at a rate of at least 30 letters per minute.

Tracking

The following Board Resolution was passed during the recent National Executive Board and Committee Meetings in Washington DC:

WHEREAS, the current age and grade eligibility requirements for participation in the Venturing program is 14 years of age and completion of the eighth grade, and
 
WHEREAS, the Program Content Committee has recommended that, effective May 1, 2010, the age requirement be changed to 13 years of age and completion of the eighth grade;
 
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Article VII, Section 2, Clause 2 (a) of the BSA Rules and Regulations be, and hereby is, amended to read as follows:
  Venturer- Be 13 years of age and have completed the eighth grade, or be 14 years of age or older, and not yet 21 years of age.

IRVING, Texas (January 11, 2010) – The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and Dale Coyne Racing (DCR) today announced that the two legendary organizations are teaming up to promote family fun and education through a new BSA IndyCar. Scouts can experience the BSA’s No. 19 IndyCar throughout the 17 race IndyCar® Series 2010 schedule of events including the greatest spectacle in racing, the Indianapolis 500.

The No. 19 car will help commemorate the 100th anniversary of the BSA – the nation’s largest youth service organization. The BSA and DCR plan to utilize the high-tech nature of Indy cars as a platform to promote science, technology and math to those involved in Scouting.

 

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Interview with Bob Mazzuca