The Twin Lakes District represents 12 towns in the near Northwest suburbs of Chicago. They include Broadview, Bellwood, Maywood, Forest Park, Oak Park, Elmwood Park, River Grove, River Forest, Melrose Park, Northlake, Franklin Park, and Stone Park. Our units have
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Tuesday, April 9 (7:30-9pm)
Twin Lakes Roundtable
Where: St. Vincent Ferrer Parish
1530 Jackson Ave, River Forest, IL
TWIN LAKES ROUNDTABLES should be attended by at least one representative from EVERY Pack and Troop for the latest training, program ideas, news, information, and fellowship with other leaders. Members of the District Committee and Commissioner Staff should attend to participate and meet with the leaders of the units they serve.
Saturday, April 13
Twin Lakes District Pinewood Derby
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If your Unit has an event or activity to publicize, please email Jason Clary and we will update our page with your news.
Des Plaines River Trail
Tom Nelson is promoting the use of our Forest Preserve District trails by earning this patch for a 5 mile hike. The trail runs through the northern part of the Twin Lakes District, starting (or ending) at North Avenue with the opposite end near Lawrence Avenue. This is not an official PTAC or Twin Lakes District trail. It is strictly a trail through the Forest Preserve. But, if your Scouts complete the trail, you may award them the patch shown here. The patches are available from Tom for the whopping cost of 75¢ each, payable to Tom in coin of the realm. Contact Tom at 708-456-0730, Tom particularly likes to receive calls at dinner time (just kidding).
Click here for a map of the trail.
How to Update Your Scouting ID and Profile
Sometimes your training record is not accurate because you have not updated your personal profile in My.Scouting.org with your ID number. Follow the instructions below to fix this common problem.
You have the ability to update your own profile on the MyScouting website. This is important to make sure your training records are successfully recorded under your name as well as to keep current contact information for receiving important district and council information. Please Click here to download and instruction sheet to successfully update your profile.
Merit Badge Counselor List
Council has just updated the Merit Badge Counselor list from all the legacy councils. This has been a long process because the records were not well kept in some of the other councils. Besides, it was a monumental undertaking to create a list that is 169 pages long! A list has been made and it has been emailed to the Key 3 of each troop in our district as well as your Unit Commissioners. The new list will be updated and sorted by district, shortly, which will make it easier to use. If you have any problems or suggestions regarding the new list or its format, please contact Mike Stewart our District Advancement Chair.
By the way, PTAC policy prohibits "posting" this list. So please respect this policy and use this list "privately" within your troop.
To sign up for the PTAC or Des Plaines Valley Community e-newsletters, go the the home page. The lower right area of the homepage has the sign-up form. Click here to return to home page.
Click here to find archived council and district newsletters.
Shin-Go-Beek Song Book
“High above the Twin Lakes waters…" Thomas Wiese converted the old mimeographed Camp Shin-Go-Beek songbook into a PDF format as part of his Wood Badge ticket. Plans are to identify the tunes and add links to the music for us musically challenged folks. Click below if would like a copy of the words to these 79 songs!
Camp Shin-Go-Beek Song Book
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TWIN LAKES ROUNDTABLES should be attended by at least one representative from EVERY Pack and Troop for the latest training, program ideas, news, information, and fellowship with other leaders. Members of the District Committee and Commissioner Staff should attend to participate and meet with the leaders of the units they serve.
Our goal is to have 100% of the units represented at Roundtable each month.
ATTENTION ALL TWIN LAKES VOLUNTEERS: In an effort to try and get more units to attend, we are changing the location and the day of the week. We are now going to be having the monthly committee meetings and Roundtables on the 2nd TUESDAY of the month. The committee meetings will start at 6:30 PM, and the Roundtables will start at 7:30 PM.
Roundtable Location: St. Vincent Ferrer Parish:1530 Jackson Ave, River Forest, IL 60305, River Forest
2018-2019 Roundtable Schedule
| SEPTEMBER |
• Hands-on assistance updated your BeAScout Pin
• Catch the Adventure and Adventure Day Questions
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OCTOBER |
Alternate location: Hamburger University * No Committee Meeting • Rechartering |
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| NOVEMBER |
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| DECEMBER |
• Religious Emblems Program • Come meet Scout Executive Jeff Isaac, Council President Stephen Schwab, and Council Commissioner Sue Simmons! |
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| JANUARY |
Scoutbook | |
| FEBRUARY |
TBD | |
| MARCH |
TBD | |
| APRIL |
TBD | |
| MAY |
TBD |
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Twin Lakes 2019 Training Update
Current Jan. 5, 2019
Wood Badge is the premier leadership training offered by the BSA. Pathway to Adventure Council. Wood Badge is staffed by experienced fellow Scouters who want to share the Greatest Leadership Secret with you!
Wood Badge is not about how to do Scouting, it is about how to be a better leader. It has been shown that units with Wood Badge trained leaders offer a better program for their youth. Why don't you plan on attending Wood Badge this year and see how you can improve what your unit can offer the Scouts you serve.
You must attend both weekends of Wood Badge. Two courses are shown, you may not mix weekends from the 2 courses.
Information and registration at: http://ptacwoodbadge.org/ and http://www.pathwaytoadventure.org/training/schedule/woodbadge
YOUTH
Den Chief Training
Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops
Meant to be delivered by the Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader.
Syllabus available at: https://www.scouting.org/training/youth/
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
National Youth Leadership Training is an action-packed program designed to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home troops and crews, and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others.
The course centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE, what he must KNOW, and what he must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the patrol goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership.
NYLT is a six-day course. Content is delivered in a troop and patrol outdoor setting with an emphasis on immediate application of learning in a fun environment.
Click here to go to the NYLT page for more information.
ADULT
Scoutmaster/Asst. Scoutmaster Position Specific Training
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS)
Troop Committee Challenge
Merit Badge Counselor Training
CUB SCOUT LEADER TRAINING
Den Leader & Assistant
March 16, 2019 – River Forest, IL
Sign-up: https://scoutingevent.com/456-20179
Flyer: Download
November 2, 2019 – La Grange Area TBA
Sign-up: https://scoutingevent.com/456-20180
Cubmaster & Assistant
March 16, 2019 – River Forest, IL
Sign-up: https://scoutingevent.com/456-20152
Flyer: Download
No`019 – La Grange Area TBA
Sign-up: https://scoutingevent.com/456-20153
Pack Committee Challange
March 16, 2019 – River Forest, IL
Sign-up: https://scoutingevent.com/456-20165
Flyer: Download
November 2, 2019 – La Grange Area TBA
Sign-up: https://scoutingevent.com/456-20166
Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation- BALOO
Online orientation course required beforehand for completion
CHARTER ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVE
Training the Chartered Organization Representative
None currently scheduled
VENTURING TRAINING
Venturing Advisor Position-Specific Training
Available online
Crew Committee Challenge
Available online
Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews
Meant to be delivered by the Crew Officers. Syllabus available at: https://www.scouting.org/training/youth/
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
See listings under Scouts BSA Training - Youth
Youth Protection Training (YPT)
All registered leaders are required to take Youth Protection Training (YPT) before registration as a leader and then every two years afterwards. Non-registered adults who are in contact with youth for more than 72 (non-contiguous) hours (ie, campouts) are also required to take YPT. New leaders need to submit a copy of the completion certificate with their registration form. YPT is required to be considered “Trained”.
Leaders who are not current with YPT training will be dropped from the charter.
It is also recommended that YPT generally be taken by any interested adult so that everyone in the unit knows and understands the BSA policies for youth protection.
Direct contact leaders (Den Leaders, Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Crew Advisors - and assistants) are required to complete Hazardous Weather Training to be considered “Trained”. This training is part of any online position specific training course or available as a stand alone online course. Online courses are available at My.Scouting.org.
My.Scouting.org has numerous required and supplemental training courses. YPT may be taken online before registering as a leader. Please make sure you don’t create multiple accounts by signing on differently each session because your training
records become difficult to verify which can affect your unit’s charter. Once you are issued a BSA ID number, enter it in your My.Scouting.org profile so all your personal information and training are linked together.
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It is important to update unit pins ASAP! As we move into "Back to School" mindsets, parents will be making plans for fall activities. You will want to have the most accurate information updated for those families searching Be A Scout to join your units!
Also, on page 9 are directions on how to update your Pin for Family Scouting.
Directions can be found by selecting the link below:-1.jpg)
BeAScout Unit Pin Management v1
Are all pack leaders aware that there are some big membership changes going on for Cub Scouts?
LION
This fun, simple, kindergarten program is transitioning from a Pilot to an official Cub Scout rank for all packs, taking effect for the 2018-2019 program year.
The Lions in Cub Scouting Statement (download here) outlines the major "FAQ's" about the program.
This link https://www.scouting.org/lion/ contains info - mostly about the pilot program, with more updates to come soon.
We have also included an outline of ideas for getting the word out to potential Lions this spring so that they will be ready to join in the fall - Lion Recruitment Spring 2018 (download here).
Each Chartering Organization should be deciding whether girls will be a part of their pack for 2018-19. The addition of girls is optional. Perhaps your Chartering Organization has a very strong Girl Scout Troop - so you don't want to mess that up. But perhaps many of your families have siblings who are very interested in being Cub Scouts. Please see the attached "Family Scouting" flier for a simple explanation of how it will work. All dens will be single gendered; packs can be all boys, all girls, or girls and boys.
More details can be found at: https://www.scouting.org/
The Lions-Family Scouting Flier (download here), is a 2-sided flier that contains information for Lion Cubs and Family Scouting. On the Family Scouting side, your Pack can add a label with your pack contact information if you use it as a handout.
