Welcome
The Tall Grass District serves the Southwestern Illinois communities of Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Willowbrook, Westmont, Darien, Burr Ridge, and Lemont. From
The Tall Grass District serves the Southwestern Illinois communities of Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Willowbrook, Westmont, Darien, Burr Ridge, and Lemont. From
District Impact Chair |
Council Training Committee Bob Johnson bobjohnson7807@gmail.com |
District Commissioner |
District Training Chair |
District Co-Chairs -Membership |
Advancement Chair |
District Vice-Chair -Program |
Communications Chair |
District Vice-Chair /Nominating Chair |
Activities Co-Chair |
District Vice-Chair |
Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner |
District Vice-Chair -Special Projects |
Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner |
District Popcorn Guru |
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Friends of Scouting Family Campaign Chair |
District Ability Awareness Action Team |
Friends of Scouting - Community Chair |
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District Associate |
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https://scoutingevent.com/456-VirtualMBA2021
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XmkwCzoYIYHH2v2Hut9JZLIQZRFvx_hD/view?usp=sharing
Check out the Tall Grass Newsletter:
February 2021
https://mailchi.mp/2a13c00841a8/february2021
January 2021
https://mailchi.mp/2d1d93d807de/january2021
December 2020
https://mailchi.mp/cc275ff97f62/tall-grass-district-newsletter-december2020
October 2020
https://mailchi.mp/63f44a3f54c2/tall-grass-district-newsletter-october2020
Pack 3006 in Westmont is hard at work selling Pecatonica River popcorn while observing recommended Covid 19 guidelines. Share your unit's photos at tallgrasscommunication@gmail.com
Check out the Tall Grass District Newsletter:
May 2020:
https://mailchi.mp/ee091f958dcb/tall-grass-district-newsletter-march-6426360
The 2020 Silver Beaver Nomination Packet is now available!
2020 Silver Beaver Instructions and Fillable Form 92-103
Please see attached for both this document and the PTAC statement on using teleconferencing services for Eagle Board of Reviews and merit badge work:
18MAR2020_QA Regarding COVID-19 Related Advancement Difficulties_FINAL
Eagle Scout Board of Reviews by Teleconference
From the PTAC Advancement Committee:
PTAC IS allowing Eagle Board of Reviews via videoconference during this time affected by Coronavirus/COVID-19. Virtual merit badge sessions are allowed as well. For either of these options, all guidelines for YPT that are mentioned in the attached Bryan on Scouting article must be followed.
https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/…/how-to-conduct-a-board…/
View photos of Klondike by clicking on the link below:
Tall Grass Klondike 2020
Check out the Tall Grass District Newsletter:
March 2020:
https://mailchi.mp/ce704affca90/tall-grass-district-newsletter-february-2020
January 2020:
https://mailchi.mp/75a2009d1266/tall-grass-district-newsletter-january-2020
Council Newsletter Coming Directly to You Now!
Keep informed of what is going on, please sign up for the 2 newsletters that are available!
Newsletter Signup
In the space below, you will find stories and photos of events that have occured around the Tall Grass Distict. It's an opportunity to read and see what Scouts and Scouters are doing. If you have a story or an event that you would like to see, on this page, please submit your request to Ray Delcourt. raymond.delcourt@scouting.org
Scouts in the News:
(June 2016)
Boy Scout, Zachary Fortuna, from Troop 56 - Burr Ridge organizes a toy drive to help children with cancer. He was featured on the WGN News. Follow the link to the story.
Zachary's Story
(March 2016)
Eagle Scout Zachary Busch, Life Scout John Cagney and their friends were featured recently on WGN news with Tom Skilling! They, in association with the Downers Grove North High School Science and Engineering Club, lauched a weather balloon to the edge of space. The follow videos are from an on-board camera showing a unique perspective. Video #1 shows the preparation and launch. Video #2 shows Earth form Stratosphere. Video #3 shows the landing.
Video #1: Weather Balloon Preparation and Launch
Video #2: Earth form the Stratosphere
Video #3: Landing
STEM and Scouting in Action!
Scouting Around the Council 2017
Klondike - 2017
Scouting Around the Council - Archive
5th Annual Troop 101 Pinewood Derby Cut Out Event: St. John Lutheran Church in Darien - January 24, 2016
by Mark Greg
The room is noisy.
The air is filled with saw dust.
Parents are feverishly moving from station to station with determination.
Is it a woodworking event at a big box home improvement store?
No, it's the 5th Annual Pinewood Derby Cut Out event that took place in the basement St. John Lutheran Church in Darien on Sunday, January 24 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
This year, over 75 people form over a dozen Cub Scout Packs. Twenty Cub Scouts and parents arrived by 11:00 am.
We [had] the following stations:
Our Goals
Why does the Annual Pinewood Derby Cut Out event take place? One tenet of the Scout Oath is "to help other people at all times."
As a one-time Cub Scout parent and former Cubmaster, I recall the stress of building a Pinewood Derby car for the first time. I found that I was one of the few individuals in my Pack that had access to hand tools and bench top power tools. As a result, I began hosting annual cut out events in my basement to support the Cub Scouts in my Pack. Similarly, my wife wanted our sons to continue on in Scouting until they earned Eagle Scout rank. I used the annual Pack Pinewood Derby Cut Out Event as an excuse to buy a bench top power tool each year until I accumulated what I wanted.
Fulfilling Societal Needs
Moving on to Boy Scouts, I encountered many of our Webelos II's bridging into Boy Scouts were coming from single parent homes where Mom (or Dad) did not have access to hand tools, power tools, or the skills required to build a car.
Similarly as the makeup of the community changes, many foreign-born parents do not have previous experience with Cub Scouts in the country they grew up in. They wish their sons (and daughters) to assimilate into American culture, in part through Scouting. In many cases, they do not have prior experience building a Pinewood car, using hand tools, or operating bench top power tools.
To help take the pressure off, we strive to have each car leave the event weighing between 4.90 and 4.95 ounces. That leaves enough weight for glue and paint and not be over the limit of 5.0 ounces. Their car or cars are completed for the most part - only painting, decorating, and installing the wheels remains.
Many of our parents are return customers - I usually start receiving emails in September asking if Troop 101 will be holding the event again.
Mentoring
The Cub Scout fathers are the future Boy Scout fathers who will hopefully be running Pinewood Derby Cut Out events themselves one day. Troop 101 Scouts work with Cub Scouts and their parents at one of three design tables to assist with moving from idea to marking the block of wood for cutout. The more senior Boy Scout leaders are there to mentor the up and coming Cub Scout and newer Boy Scout Assistant Scoutmasters.
We also want to have the fathers and mothers learn how to use hand tools and power tools properly and safely. Each participant must wear eye and ear protection. With instruction and supervision, those parents will learn how to properly use hand and power tools. They will develop the skills and self-confidence to say, Wow, I did it!"
Our event also serves as a recruiting technique to encourage Cub Scouts (and their parents) to continue on into Boy Scouts and possibly recruit Cub Scouts into joining Troop 101.
Finally, as a member and church leader, I want the Darien and surrounding suburbs to know that St. John Lutheran Church is actively engaged in our community.
Lastly, it fun! There is a certain camaraderie among Scout leaders and parents. Many of these individuals I've known for over 15 years. The event was a great success thanks to many Boy Scout and St. John church member volunteers.
Troop 101’s Scoutmaster is Mr. Mike Spicuzza. He may be reached at mjspicuzza@gmail.com or (630) 849-8241.
Please join us in our next major event, our 43rd Annual Pancake Breakfast at Eisenhower Junior High School (1410 West 75th Street Darien, IL) on Sunday March 8, 2016 from 8am to 1pm.
Tickets will be available at the door for 6$. All cub scouts wearing their uniform are free.
KLONDIKE - 2016
This year's Klondike was held at Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta, January 29th and 30th.
"We had a Fantastic Klondike! The weather was JUST cold enough and the boys and parents where AWESOME!" - Ray Delcourt
Resources shared in recent Roundtable discussions. Click on the links below:
November Roundtable: Den Leader Tips and Tricks (Virtual Program resources)
December Roundtable: Pinewood Derby (Virtual vs. Hybrid and technology)
Pinewood Derby Planning and "Extras"
Resources shared by everyone in the chat:
Tall Grass Roundtable:
Our Roundtable Commissioners welcome your input on possible sessions and topics to be covered.
All Scouting Adults are welcome to attend--parents and registered leaders alike.
Come find out more about our district, it's happenings, and meet other Scouters!
You never know what you might learn--or help someone else with.
Contact:
Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner
Karen Schneider
bluethread@yahoo.com
Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner
Brian Chiko
russkie_rider@sbcglobal.net
Training Awards for Adults Leaders
National Youth Leadership 2019
Proceedure for Online Training
If you are a new registered adult, be sure to take your YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING NOW!!
For more infomation go to: Youth Protection Training
Do you have questions about Rechartering, Journey to Excellence, Membership applications or Crisis Documents
Answers can be found at Unit Resources
Online Registration How-To PDF:
Unit-Guidebook-for-Online-Registration-November-2018
Link to Online Registration Information:
https://www.scouting.org/resources/online-registration/