The Blackhawk COURIERA Publication of Blackhawk Area Council September 2018 Boy Scouts of America Page 1 Serving Chartered Organizations in Northern Illinois and Southwest Wisconsin Program Planning Begins Program Planning Conference Planning your next year’s program is one of the most important Program planning helps to ensure that there is a program that steps a pack, troop, or crew must do. The annual unit program planning will attract and retain youth. Planning provides direction for the conference should take place during the summer. During this conference, program, a sense of satisfaction for those participating, and a feeling unit leaders and parents will outline a program plan for the coming year. of accomplishment in seeing youth grow in knowledge, skills, and The finalized plan is shared with all Scouts and parents by lateAugust. expanded interests. Planning also helps make the best use of time and Leaders should remember that their prime objective is to deliver a the resources available. Feature Articles high-quality program to each youth member. A well-rounded year-long If your unit needs assistance or has questions concerning the program should contain activities that meet the needs and desires of program planning process, contact your unit commissioner, district Courier Schedule . 2 each youth member, and allows all leaders to use those methods which commissioner, or district executive. EAA AirCamp Flight Sign-Up . 2 will help achieve the aims and purposes of the Scouting program. JOTA– JOTI . 3 Silver Beaver Nominations Due . 3 Diehl Scholarship Applications Due . 3 Eagle Scouts . 4 During the summer every pack, troop, and crew should hold a b. Boy Scouts – Monthly roundtables, basic leader training, Youth Religious Emblems . 4-5 Program Planning Conference where the entire year is planned. Here are Protection training, Wood Badge, Den Chief Training, IOLS, Service Recognitions . 5 some steps to help with this planning conference: National Youth Leadership Training. National Scout Shop Ads . 5-6 1. Set specific goals such as Journey to Excellence Award, increasing c Venturing – Basic leader training, Youth Protection training, Boone County Badge Workshops . 17 membership, increasing adult participation, and training. Wood Badge, Powder Horn, crew officer training. CubCast and ScoutCast . 6 2. Schedule the dates and times of all unit meetings and record them on 5. Be sure to include important council and district dates on your wall Burpee Museum Merit Badge Workshop the wall chart – pack meetings, troop meetings, crew meetings. chart. These would include your district dinner, Friends of Scouting . 7 3. Determine any special events the unit wishes to participate in or presentation date, popcorn orientation date, Scouting for Food, Scouting Our Future . .8 conduct such as popcorn sale, U.S. Grant Pilgrimage, Scouting for council annual recognition dinner, etc. Scoutreach Program . 8 Food, Scouting Anniversary Week, parades, etc. Record them on the 6. Determine what your unit’s financial needs are, based on the Adult Leader Training . .9 wall chart. activities you have decided to do and the awards you think your Hazardous Weather Training a. Cub Scouts – blue and gold banquet, pinewood derby, day members will earn. Schedule your money-earning project(s) based Requirement . 9 camp, Cub Scout summer camp, district Cub Scout events, on your unit’s needs. The popcorn sale is an excellent fund-raiser. Okpik . 10 pack campouts, etc. 7. Review your monthly program themes. Religious Retreat . 11 b. Boy Scouts – Summer camp, troop campouts, high adventure 8. Once you have all of the above information on the wall chart, review IceHogs Scout Night . 11 treks, junior leader training, district, or council Boy Scout it carefully and determine what your unit wants to do. Once you Papa Johns Pizza Fundraiser . 11 events, courts of honor, etc. have your calendar finalized, be sure that someone in the unit takes Canyon Camp Spirit Scholarships . 13 c. Venturing – Venturing summer camp, crew campouts, high the information and creates a unit calendar that will be distributed to adventure treks, officer training, etc. all members and parents of the unit. 4. Record on wall chart all training dates for your adult and youth 9. Packs will need to determine what leadership the pack will need leaders. Training for almost every position is available online at so that you can start recruiting that leadership now and at the fall my.scouting.org. recruiting night. a. Cub Scouts – Monthly roundtables, basic leader training, council-wide training events, BALOO, Youth Protection Rockford Scout Training, Wood Badge. Shop More Information on Program Planning 815-637-6180 Boy Scout Troop Program Planning 2820 McFarland Road, There is a new PowerPoint presentation on Boy Scout troop program planning available at “Troop Annual Program Planning Conference Guide.” Rockford IL 61107 Cub Scout Pack Program Planning Monday through Friday Go to “Pack Annual Program Planning Conference Guide” for help in you through the annual planning process. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday – 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Venturing Crew Annual Program Planning Go to http://www.venturing.org/annual-program-planning.html for information on planning your annual calendar. Crystal Lake These presentations list many resources to help guide your unit through this annual process. Scout Shop 815-479-0615 600 N. Rt. 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60012 Monday - Friday – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contents Program Opportunities................7, 11, 17 Training ........................................... 9-10 Camp and OA News .................... 12-13 Sycamore ............................................14 Wanchanagi ....................................16-17 White Eagle .........................................15 Wetassa ................................................19 Arowhead ............................................18 Scoutreach ...........................................19 Page 2 Council News September2018 Blackhawk Area Council Advancement Reporting Policy Schedule for Printed and Internet Couriers In conjunction with the BSA’s The schedule of the Blackhawk Courier will have four printed editions each year. The Policy on advancement reporting*, deadline will be the first Tuesday of each month. The revised schedule is shown below. The an Internet Advancement Report printed editions will continue to be available at www.BlackhawkScouting.org/courier. Note that Correct Cub Scouting must be submitted to the Scout Shop recipients of the Eagle Scout Award and religious emblems will only be carried in printed editions for all purchases of Scouting badges -- and will not show up on the Internet versions of the printed edition. Terminology of rank, and merit badges. The following “proper terms” were While not preferred, a paper Clip and Save received from the National Member Care Advancement Report form (#34403) Deadline + Type Months Covered Mail Date or Contact Center. may be submitted in lieu of an Internet Web Target Date Advancement Report. September 4 – Internet October through December September 11 The proper terms are If your unit uses Packmaster, Lion – Lions Troopmaster, or other 3rd party October 2 – Printed November through January October 16 Tiger – Tigers advancement tracking software, November 6 – Internet December through February November 13 Wolf – Wolves you may upload the advancement December 4 – Printed January through March December 18 Bear – Bears information via the Internet Webelos (singular and plural) Advancement portal to create and print January 8 – Internet February through April Jamuary 15 an Internet Advancement Report. February 5 – Internet March through May February 12 Adding the term “Scout” after each is also Any questions on Scout March 5 – Printed April through June March 19 acceptable but may be repetitive based on the advancement, advancement reporting, context. or the Internet Advancement System April 2 – Internet May through July April 9 A new edition of the terms and style guide can be directed to your district is currently being worked on and should be executive, or district advancement published online when updated. [[Language of vice-chairman. Scouting]] * Guide to Advancement 4.0.0.2 Moved? Changed Your Phone Number? Changed Your Home or Email Address? Have you moved recently? Have you changed your phone number or email address? If you have made these or any other updates to your registration, please let the council service center, registration department, know. Call Lori at 815-397-0210 to let her know of these changes. Each month we have several Couriers returned because of incorrect addresses. These returned copies cost the council more than $1.60 each. Thank You Unit leaders -- please check with your leaders to verify that their address is correct on your charter. The Blackhawk Area Council wishes to thank Ed Rounds, Larry Swanson, Don Burrow, Eric Schmidt, Carol Benoy, Ron Benoy, MaryAnn Bushaw, Terry Nichols, and Bill Peterson for labeling and preparing the mailing of the April 2018 issue of The Blackhawk Courier. If you would like to help label the next EAA Young Eagles printed issue of the Courier (about 3,000 copies!), we will begin about 8:45 a.m. on Flight Sign-Up Tuesday morning, October 16, 2018, at the council service center, 2820 McFarland Road, Details Rockford. Come and enjoy refreshments and AirCamp2018 fellowship. A popular and “sold out” event at previous AirCamp extravaganzas has been the opportunity to fly in