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Welcome to The Lamplighter, the official newsletter of Scouting America in the W. D. Boyce Council!

This edition of The Lamplighter is being sent to EVERY leader and family in the W. D. Boyce Council

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Have a question, idea or something you want to see in a future issue? Please email Ian Lamb, Council Field Director, at ian.lamb@scouting.org

Are You Due to Renew? Online Membership Renewal Available

As a reminder, Scouting membership is now a fixed 12-month term from the anniversary of an individual registering, regardless of when their unit renews. And Scouting families and volunteers can directly renew their memberships online. This is a great change that will simplify the membership process for families and units alike!

To check your renewal status or that of your child, login to My.Scouting.org and click on the “My Application” icon, then select “My Renewals” near the top of the page. If a membership is due to expire within the next 60 days, a “Start Renewal” button will be displayed. Click the button to begin the process.

Units still have the option to renew members as well, and more information about this process is available here: https://www.scouting.org/renewals. Check with your unit leadership if you have any questions. Unit leaders with questions about the process can contact the Scout Service Center as well.

Scout Office & Shop Holiday Hours

Scout Service Center - Closed from December 24, 2025 to January 5, 2026. Reopening on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

Scout Shop - Closed from December 24, 2025 to January 1, 2026. Reopening on Friday, January 2, 2026.

Upcoming Events

Scouting America Night @ Bloomington Bison

📅Saturday, January 10

🕛Puck Drops @ 7:15 PM

📍Grossinger Motors Arena

💲$18 Tickets

❗Custom Bison Patch, Scout Night Sleepover, & MORE!



Plumbing Merit Badge Day

📅 Saturday, January 17

🕛8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

📍UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 99

💲$25 per Scout / $30 after January 5 (paid in full)

❗Maximum number of Scouts: 25 (23 remaining)

Wotamalo/Heartland Klondike Derby

📅January 23 - 25, 2026

📍Camp Wokanda

💲20 (paid in full by Jan 12)

❗Leader's Guide

Crossroads/Lowaneu Klondike Derby

📅January 23 - 24, 2026

📍Logan County Fairgrounds

💲$15 (paid in full by Jan 12)

❗Leader's Guide

Who’s Ready for Some Outdoor Adventure?

BALOO (Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation) is open to all Cub Scout leaders interested in adding a camping component to their Pack activities. Scouting America's Cub Scout level camping policies will be taught along with the discovery of the necessary tools to help units carry our a successful camping experience. Completion of this course is mandatory for a MINIMUM OF ONE adult on a Pack overnighter.

IOLS (Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills) provides Scouts BSA leaders the practical outdoor skills they need to lead Scouts in the outdoors. 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.”

Next Training

📅January 10 -11, 2026

📍Ingersoll Scout Reservation

💵$50 per leader

❗Limited to 35 Attendees per course

Get Ready for Cub Scout Yukon!

Cub Scouts love winter time fun, too! And the Yukon is a great way for your pack to spend time outdoors and having Scouting fun together! Check out the link below for upcoming Yukon events in Crossroads and Lowaneu on January 31, 2026:

Scout Sunday Patches Now Available

Scouting America allows chartered organizations to celebrate Scout Sunday on any day in February that best serves the chartering partner. Some organizations choose the Sunday that falls before February 8 (Scouting Anniversary Day) as the date to recognize the contributions of young people and adults to Scouting. For others, Scout Sunday is celebrated on the second Sunday in February. It is permissible for a local church to celebrate on the day most acceptable to the pastor and congregation.

2026 Merit Badge University Registration is OPEN!

We are excited to partner with the Peoria Riverfront Museum, the Caterpillar Visitor Center & Museum, Distillery Labs, Peoria Police Department and the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria. In this afternoon-only event, Scouts can earn one of a wide range of merit badges, some not commonly offered, but made available here thanks to the resources and expertise of our hosts!

Scouts can register and attend individually, but units are encouraged to travel together. Field ("Class A") uniforms are preferred so we can show how our Scout spirit "Plays in Peoria!"

Event Details

📅 Saturday, February 21, 2026

🕛12:00 - 5:00 PM

📍Peoria Riverfront Museum / Downtown Peoria, IL

💲$15 per Scout / $20 after February 1 (paid in full)

❗Register early as this event will fill up quickly

Support Local Scouting!

Join W. D. Boyce Council in shaping the future! Your support powers Camperships, reaches at-risk youth, keeps programs affordable, and ensures trained leaders and thriving camps. Every dollar builds a stronger Scouting experience.

BECOME A SCOUTING HERO!

Your gift of $115 or more makes you a hero to Scouting! To celebrate, you will receive a limited-edition W. D. Boyce Council "I'm a Scouting Hero!" Council Shoulder Patch (CSP).

ONLY 30 LEFT!

Thanks for reading and for your support of Scouting!