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November 2019
Introducing the PTAC Trail
Autumn is a great time to enjoy an outdoor urban hike, and celebrate the diversity that is the Pathway to Adventure Council? The newly crafted Pathway to Adventure Council Trail is your solution. Get to know and how your support for the Council by hiking or planning a service project for your community along the Trail now!  More information can be found on the PTAC website.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING SCOUTS WHO PASSED THEIR EAGLE BOARD OF REVIEW IN JULY:
Adam B. - Elmwood Park, IL
Ali S. - Glenview, IL
Andrew D. - La Grange, IL
Benjamin C. - Chicago, IL
Cameron C. - Chicago, IL
Cole H. - Hinsdale, IL
Daniel T. - Chicago, IL
Gerardo C. - Chicago, IL
Gino Antonio B. - South Barrington, IL
Henry V. - Barrington, IL
Hugh L. - Oak Park, IL
Jahsia L. - Chicago, IL
James R. - Chicago, IL
John F. - Indian Head Park, IL
John C. - Orland Park, IL
Kevin B. - Homewood , IL
Laurence P. - Oak Lawn, IL
Liam B. - Oak Park, IL
Lucas N. - Barrington, IL
Luke P. - Chicago, IL
Matthew J. - New Lexon, IL
Matthew H. - Barrington, IL
Maximilian P. - Munster, IN
Michael H. - Mount Prospect, IL
Nathan T. - Crown Point, IN
Nicholas B.L. - Chicago Ridge, IL
Nicholas C. - Chicago, IL
Nicolas F. - Schaumburg, IL
Owen T. - Orland Park, IL
Patrick D. - Barrington, IL
Peyton G. - Valparaiso, IN
Robert L. - Western Springs, IL
Samuel C. - Chicago, IL
Sean S. - Lansing, IL
Shaun W. - Schererville, IN
Thomas P. - Hinsdale, IL
Tomas W. - Oak Lawn, IL
Trevor S. - Mokena, IL
Tyler J. - Barrington, IL
Zachary S. - Chicago, IL
Zachary P. - Midlothian, IL

To see a list of Scouts who completed their Eagle, Summit, or Quartermaster Board of Review so far 2019, click here .
SPECIAL EVENTS
STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please Welcome Tim Bouchard, the New Deputy Scout Executive of the Pathway to Adventure Council!

Tim began his Scouting career as a District Executive at the Tall Pine Council in Flint, Michigan. While in Flint, he served both a rural and urban district, as well as Camp Director. He transferred to the Gulf Stream Council in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to serve as the Program Director. He was then promoted to Training Director and later Field Director of the Crossroads of America Council, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He then served as the Scout Executive of the Black Hills Area Council in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Tim most recently served as the Senior Corporate Development Specialist at the National Service Center in Irving, Texas, where he managed a $12 million dollar gift-in-kind and budget savings campaign.

Tim is an Eagle Scout who enjoys Michigan State football and basketball, as well as visiting National parks. Tim became the PTAC Deputy Scout Executive effective October 1.
SUMMER CAMP
Register Now for Summer Camp!
If you haven't signed your troop up for 2020 Summer Camp at Napowan or Owasippe, now's the time!
Campsites are filling fast, so reserve your spot today.

Click here for information:

Have a new girls' troop and looking for options for summer camp 2020? We're happy to help you! Contact us at ptac.camping@scouting.org and we'll make sure you're prepared for a great first summer at camp!

Check out all the Scouts BSA Summer Camp Flyer !
INTRODUCING OUR VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP
There are more than 7,500 PTAC volunteers who provide adult leadership to our units, districts, and council. Some council-level volunteers serve on four panels that provide specific support. Each month we will be highlighting people from each panel so that you can get to know them better. For more information on the different panels, you can click here.
Toni Preckwinkle - Executive Board
Cate Readling - Advisory Council
Micheal Reiss - Executive Committee
Rolando Herrera - Associate Board
RECOGNITION
Silver Beaver Nominations
Silver Beaver Nominations are now open!
Do you know a Scouter that has distinguished themselves in scouting and the community? If you do, we want you to nominate them for the Silver Beaver. Don’t wait for someone else to nominate that person.
 
The Silver Beaver Award is presented by the National Council, Boy Scouts of America, through the local Council to adult volunteer Scouters for their distinguished service to youth and their community. The Award is intended to acknowledge noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth by registered Scouters including but not limited to Cub Scouters, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts and Exploring leaders within the territory under the jurisdiction of Pathway to Adventure.
 
It is the highest award a Boy Scout Council can bestow upon a volunteer Scouter.
Nominations forms have been simplified and are easy to use. Nominations are due by December 2, 2019.
 
Save the date and join us at The Annual Council Recognition Dinner, scheduled for February 23, 2020.
If you have questions about how to nominate a person or fill out the form please contact Don Swibes, Silver Beaver Chairman at dswibes.bsa@gmail.com .
 
ACTIVITIES CONTINUED
The inaugural council-wide Camporee was hosted October 11-13 at Busse Woods in Elk Grove Village, IL. 5,189 Scouts and Scouters from across Pathway to Adventure Council came out to enjoy both traditional and non-traditional activities and programs. The inflatable area, climbing tower, and BB gun ranges were popular throughout the weekend for both Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA members alike! With a focus on STEM, Scouts were able to solder their own blinkie, experience virtual realty exhibits, and get their hands dirty by making their own slime.  

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our very first camporee!
Triton Merit Badge College
Announcing the third annual Triton Merit Badge College on Saturday, November 16 ! New classes just added include Chemistry, Citizenship in the World, Communications and Genealogy. Due to popular demand a second class of Citizenship in the Nation was also added. Already have those? Don't worry more classes are in the works (Fire Safety and Search & Rescue coming soon). With 250 Scouts registered already, Triton Merit Badge College promises to be an exciting day of fellowship and learning. Sorry, Architecture, Automotive Maintenance, Communications, and Robotics are at capacity, but there are still several others that will be conducted in cool labs. Introduce your Scout to a local quality college around the corner.
Registration is open! For more info, check out the flyer !
STEAM in Scouting!
Hosted one Saturday a month from 9:00am to 1pm, open to 6th-8th graders, this innovative program will be a the two locations below!
University of Chicago
Program will be led by graduate students and researchers from the Physics and Computer Science program at the University of Chicago.
We will be covering the following subjects:
  • November 16 - Communication, Coding, and Mini Sphero
  • January 18 - Drones
  • February 15 - Cyber Security
  • March 21 - Mobile Development

Location: Kersten Physics Teaching Center 5720 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

North Park University
Program will be led by staff and researchers from North Park University.

We will be covering the following subjects:
  • November 16 - Mobile Development
  • January 18 - Cyber Security
  • February 15 - Communication, Coding, and Mini Sphero
  • March 21 - Nature Drawing and Journaling

Location: 3225 West Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625-4895 .

The cost is $50 per student for the program.
Please contact Kristen Vogt, the Director of STEAM and Innovation, at kristen.vogt@scouting.org or at 312-421-8800 ex 232 for registration and questions.
Takhone Winter Banquet
Takhone Lodge will host their 1st Winter Banquet at 12:00pm on Saturday, December 28th at Chateau del Mar in Hickory Hills, IL. Come celebrate the lodge's accomplishments with all your OA friends. Register by November 11th for the best pricing; registration is open!
Order of the Arrow Election Prep
The OA would like to invite all unit leaders and OA unit reps to an area meeting to learn about the upcoming OA election season and thank you for your support of Takhone lodge! There will also be unit representative training for youth members.
North Area (11/21 - 7pm)
Park Ridge Community Church
100 Courtland Ave.
Park Ridge, IL 60068
South Area (11/20 -7pm)
St. John's Lutheran Church
18100 Wentworth Ave.
Lansing, IL 60438
ADVANCEMENT
Free Merit Badge Clinic with over 100 merit badges
Saturday, November 16 there will be a Merit Badge clinic featuring counselors for over one hundred merit badges. The merit badges include the three citizenship merit badges as well as Eagle required and the rarest merit badges. This is a free opportunity for Scouts to meet a counselor and achieve their merit badge.

The clinic will be at:
9 AM - 12 PM
Barrington United Methodist Church,
98 Algonquin Road, Barrington, Illinois.

There will also be a concession stand operating with breakfast items.

Online registration through the PTAC calendar event page is open until November 11 at 5 pm, but walk in registration will be welcome.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
2020 Camp Staff Applications
Pathway to Adventure Council is excited for summer camp 2020 to begin! We are now accepting applications for paid and volunteer camp staff positions at Napowan and Owasippe. Staffing summer camp is an amazing experience for Scouts and Scouters alike!

2020 Camp Counselors-In-Training Applications
Do you know a scout who has strong leadership potential, is high-energy and is ready to try out camp staff? We're looking for applicants for 2020 Camp Counselors-In-Training (CITs) at Camps Napowan and Owasippe. Counselors-In-Training must be 14 years old by the start of summer camp and must be willing to spend several weeks as a volunteer member of the camp staff.

If you know of a scout who fits the bill, encourage them to apply at www.pathwaytoadventure.org/camping/campstaff
Camp Rentals
Pathway to Adventure Council owns and operates four beautiful camps. Our camps are open year-round and are great locations for Scouts of all ages to experience and learn what the great outdoors offer!

For more information, click here!
TRAINING
Winter National Youth Leadership Training
Were you unable to attend NYLT in the Summer? Good news, we have a Winter 2020 session! This session is a two-weekend format offered at Camp Big Timber in Elgin on January 17-19 and February 14-16, 2020. Participants must attend both sessions. Register now for this youth leadership training - come out for "school in the snow!" Participants will be staying in heated cabins - this is not winter camping - it is training.
 
2019-2020 Wilderness First Aid Classes
These classes are intended for Scouts/Scouters attending high adventure camps in 2020 or any Scout/Scouter who’d like to complete a WFA certification course.
 
Contact Tom Bosworth at 224-888-1243 or BSA13@aol.com for more information.

VOLUNTEER, GIVING, & INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Whitney Young Dinner Recap
The Pathway to Adventure Council hosted its 11th annual Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award Dinner on October 29. At the dinner, the council recognized outstanding service by individuals and organizations from Chicago and Northwest Indiana for their contributions to inner-city youth. 

This year’s honorees were as follows: 
  • Reverend Wheeler Parker, Jr. - Relative of Emmett Till
  • Eric Johnson - General Manager, Ziegler Auto Group
  • James Cannon - Founder & CEO, Cannon & Associates
  • Linda W. Helm - Committee Chair & COR for Pack 4791 & Troop 1971
  • CIBC

On behalf of the Pathway to Adventure Council and the Whitney M. Young Jr. Dinner Executive Committee, we thank everyone for making the 2019 Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award Dinner remarkable. We look forward to seeing everyone at next year's event. All proceeds from the event will support our Restoring the Village program.
Attention Eagle Scouts, NESA Members, Scouting Alumni and Friends:
Your local NESA committee members are reaching out to see who would like to be included in upcoming social, networking, and service activities. Please take this short survey and share it with your friends and colleagues who loved Scouting when they were a youth. Thank you!
National Youth Leadership Training Volunteers
NYLT is looking for enthusiastic, registered adult scouters to support the program. There are big roles like being part of the adult staff and small parts like being a bus chaperone, helping get staff to camp, dropping by for a day or two to help set up, break down or be an extra pair of hands.
 
There are a limited number of opportunities, please e-mail NYLTPTAC@gmail.com if you are interested (or you know someone who should be considered) and think you have what it takes to be a part of this team encouraging youth to become the best leaders they can be. 
PTAC/OSR Hosts Wounded Warriors
This past summer, from August 5-12, the Pathway to Adventure Council and Owasippe Scout Reservation had the privilege of hosting and running a program for the Windward Wounded Warriors.

A group of 30 wounded and injured veterans exchanged stories and shared personal coping mechanisms while experiencing the great outdoors at Owasippe Scout Reservation in Twin Lake, MI.

The Warriors were formerly assigned to the Wounded Warrior Battalion West’s unit at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and now are living across the United States.

Owasippe and its staff provided a host of activities including, a high adventure course, ATV’s, motor and pontoon boats, a beach front, swimming pools, rifle and shotgun ranges, fishing on a private lake, fire bowls, and a dining and meeting facilities.

This reunion improves the quality of life for recovering service members and provides assistance and local resources to ease the transitions they face physically, mentally, spiritually and professionally.

We are excited that the Windward Wounded Warriors have chosen to return to Owasippe in 2020.
CAREER CORNER
Building Tech partner Local 130 is seeking apprentices! In an effort to prepare Scouts beyond their years in the Scouting program we partner with businesses and the skilled trades to help them sample a variety of career options.This month we are featuring the Plumbers' JAC Apprenticeship Local 130's upcoming info night. The labor shortage is real and talented plumbers are in high demand. If your Scout has always wondered if a career in the trades is for him or her see this flyer or go to: www.jac130.org/apprenticeship for more information.

SALES AND PROMOTIONS
Scout Shop
Help the Scout Shop's spread the news! Share us on Facebook. We are your one stop shop for all your Scouting needs from uniforms to camping equipment and so much more.

Visit your local Scout Shop to take advantage of the wide selection of new products and sales!
PARTNER ACTIVITIES
Forest Preserves of Cook County Events
Looking for opportunities to get your unit outside? Look no further than the Forest Preserves of Cook County! The Forest Preserves of Cook County offers a variety of recreational and educational programs appropriate for all ages. Programs are offered year round and throughout Cook County. For more information check out their website: fpdcc.com/events.
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