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, Schiller Park, and Stone Park. Our units have
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On Thursdays (starting May 14th), Pathway to Adventure Council will be posting FUN, new video adventures for you and your Scout to do at home! Cub Scouts is for girls and boys (grades K-5). Adventures will contain fun activities including: Art Projects, Science Experiments, Obstacle Courses, and More! All you have to do is register, get your materials together, and hit play! Links to the videos will be emailed out on Thursdays. Feel free to tell your friends so they can register too! They don’t have to be official Cub Scouts to participate.
To have you and your child register, please go to: https://scoutingevent.com/456-VirtualCubScouts
May 2020 Events
Friday, May 15 - Saturday, May 16
Twin Lakes Camporee - CANCELED
Monday, May 25
Memorial Day Flag Placement - CANCELED
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 Petek Dimertas, 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.
Monthly "Twin Lakes Times" are sent out every month. The Chief Editor, Bill Howard (fandb90@att.net)
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 for November - April: St. Cyprian - 2601 Clinton St, River Grove
2019-2020 Roundtable Schedule
Topic: Twin Lakes May Roundtable
Time: May 12, 2020 07:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://ptacbsa.zoom.us/j/97204232038?pwd=ZjE5UVh2ckJ4NlRhVzJZeFQxWllTQT09
Password: 002226
Or iPhone one-tap: 13126266799,97204232038# or 13017158592,97204232038#
Or Telephone:
Dial: +1 312 626 6799 (US Toll) or +1 301 715 8592 (US Toll)
Meeting ID: 972 0423 2038
International numbers available: https://ptacbsa.zoom.us/u/au16uRJme
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Twin Lakes 2019-20 Training Update
Current May 24, 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.
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
Scoutmaster & Assistant Specific Training provides Scoutmasters and Assistants with the basic information and tools they need to lead a successful troop. This course along with Introduction to Outdoor Leaders Skills is required training for all Scoutmasters and Asst Scoutmasters to be considered trained for their position.
Troop Committee Challenge
Merit Badge Counselor Training
Wilderness First Aid
Monthly through June
CUB SCOUT LEADER TRAINING
Den Leader & Assistant
This course provides Tiger, Wolf, Bear & Webelos Den Leaders & Assistants with the information & tools they need to
run a successful den meeting.
Cubmaster & Assistant
Pack Committee Challange
Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation- BALOO
Online orientation course required beforehand for completion
CHARTER ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVE
Training the Chartered Organization Representative
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 available at My.Scouting.org.
Hazardous Weather training must be retaken every two years.
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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Membership in the Time of Covid-19
We were so excited to get started planning for 2020 recruiting with our March Membership Madness and then this pandemic comes along and throws all plans into uncertainty.
How are you dealing with the situation as it relates to Scouting?
Are you looking for activities for the youth/families in your unit and hoping to get some advancement happening while we stay home?
Or are you overwhelmed and unable to think about your pack, troop, or crew??
We want to support you in any case.
Here are a couple of links that can help:
“Right now, life has us keeping our distance but, there's never been a more important time to come together. We've got this. We are Scouts!”
(Quoting the Scouting Wire YouTubeChannel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chnOUp2QzLY )
Here are two areas worth looking at!
This is the time of year when 5th graders would be joining troops.
Remember the purpose behind the requirements is “Do Your Best,” so given the circumstances, do just that. More information on above links. If you need help, let us know.
Has your troop figured out a way to accept your new Scouts and get them started?
Online registration on your BeAScout page will help with that. See below.
Have you been able to meet virtually or keep Scouts engaged in activities at home?
Let us know if you need help finding resources.
If you activate online registration, your new Scouts can join easily, without face-to-face contact.
Be sure to clarify additional unit fees, as online will only cover national registration costs.
Additionally, any family searching online to join Scouting will find you.
See instructions at: http://pathwaytoadventure.org/media/upload/Setting%20up%20BeAScout%20pin.pdf
Please contact me with any membership questions or concerns.
Helen Gilmore
Twin Lakes District Membership Chair
Helen.gilmore617@gmail.com
