Scouting in Illinois

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Scouting in Illinois has a long and rich tradition, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live. Illinois is the homestate of the BSA founder, W.D. Boyce.

[edit] Early history (1910-1950)

In 1946, the National Order of the Arrow Lodge Meeting was held at Chanute Field.

[edit] Recent history (1950-1990)

The 1963 and 1971 National Order of the Arrow Conferences were held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

[edit] Scouting in Illinois today

There are twenty-two Boy Scouts of America local councils in Illinois. In addition, the headquarters for the Central Region of the BSA is in Naperville, Illinois.

[edit] Abraham Lincoln Council

Abraham Lincoln Council is served by Illinek Lodge #132.

Honest Abe District
Lincoln Home District
Log Cabin/Railsplitter District

[edit] Blackhawk Area Council

Blackhawk Area Council is headquartered in Rockford, Illinois and serves southwestern Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois. It runs Canyon Camp, located between Stockton and Apple River, Illinois, as well as Camp Lowden near Oregon, Illinois, and is served by Wulapeju Lodge #140. The Council was formed by the merging of the U.S. Grant Council in the west and Blackhawk Council in the east portion of what is now the Blackhawk Area Council. Formerly, the two councils each had one camp. The council also owns a cabin in Mount Carroll, Illinois. The word Wulapeju (one spirit) refers to the merger of the Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak (Chief Blackhawk's name) Lodge and Wetassa Lodge #227 as part of the council merger. Some older members of the former Wetassa Lodge still proudly wear their pre-1973 raccoon Wetassa Lodge flap on their uniforms.

Arrowhead District
Sycamore District
Wanchanagi District
Wetassa District
White Eagle District

[edit] Buffalo Trace Council

Main article: Scouting in Indiana

The Buffalo Trace Council is a Boy Scout council based in Evansville, Indiana that serves southwestern Indiana and southeastern Illinois. Its affiliated Order of the Arrow lodge is Kiondaga Lodge.

[edit] Calumet Council

Main article: Scouting in Indiana

Calumet Council serves Scouts in Indiana and Illinois.

[edit] Chicago Area Council

Chicago Area Council operates Owasippe Scout Reservation in Michigan. It is served by Owasippe Lodge #7.

Camp Bass Lake swim area - 1959 - Troop 664. Click to view full size image.

The Bass Lake lone troop Scout camp was part of the Owasippe Scout Reservation operated by the Chicago Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Bass Lake camp was a single camp on a small (approximately 600 feet wide) lake in the Owasippe reservation. A single troop would take over the entire camp, usually for a two week period, preparing all their own food and overseeing all aspects of the camp life. Active in the 1950s and 1960s, Bass Lake camp is no longer in use.

Arrowhead District
Fort Dearborn District
Greater Southside District
Indian Trails District
Iroquois District
River Trails District
Western Trails District

[edit] Des Plaines Valley Council

DPVC's council service center is in La Grange, Illinois. The council operates Camp Tomo-Chi-Chi-Knolls in Huntley, Illinois, Camp Shin-Go-Beek near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Camp Mach-Kin-O-Siew near Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Des Plaines Valley Council is served by Pachsegink Lodge #246.

Tall Grass District
Twin Lakes District
Voyageur Trace District

[edit] Glacier's Edge Council

Main article: Scouting in Wisconsin

Sinnissippi Council served Scouts in Wisconsin and Illinois, before it merged with Four Lakes Council. It is now called Glacier's Edge Council. ^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Greater Saint Louis Area Council

Main article: Scouting in Missouri

The Greater Saint Louis Area Council is based in Saint Louis, Missouri, and serves Scouts in the Saint Louis Metro area, southeast Missouri, and southern Illinois. The two southern Illinois districts, Egyptian and Kaskaskia, comprised the former Egyptian Council (1941-1994).

[edit] Illowa Council

Illowa Council serves Scouts in Illinois and Iowa.

Chief Blackhawk District
Hoover District
Kittan District
Medicine Lodge District
Mesquakie District
Saukenuk District
Sha-Bo-Na District

[edit] Lincoln Trails Council

Lincoln Trails Council has its headquarters in Decatur, Illinois, and is served by Woapink Lodge #167.

Railsplitter District
Two Rivers District
Redhawk District

[edit] Mississippi Valley Council

Mississippi Valley Council is headquartered in Quincy, Illinois, and is served by Black Hawk Lodge #67. This council serves Scouts in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa.

Cherokee District
Fox District
River Valley District
Shoquoquon District

[edit] Northeast Illinois Council

Northeast Illinois Council has its headquarters in Highland Park, Illinois. It runs Camp Sol R. Crown in Wilmot, Wisconsin, Camp Oakarro near Wadsworth, Illinois, and Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation near Antigo, Wisconsin. The council is served by Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Lodge #40.

Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation is a Boy Scouts of America property located in Northern Wisconsin and serves the Scouts of the Northeast Illinois Council based in Highland Park, Illinois. Originally a logging camp, the Scouts purchased the land and first had campers in 1929. The camp is 1560 acres in size.

Aptakisic District
North Star District
Potawatomi District

Current Camp Information [www.neic.org] Historical information on Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation [www.campmakajawan.org] Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Lodge 40's Website is [www.campmakajawan.org/lodge40]

[edit] Northwest Suburban Council

This council is headquartered in Mount Prospect, Illinois. It operates Camp Lakota outside Woodstock, Illinois and Camp Napowan near Wild Rose, Wisconsin. Northwest Suburban Council is served by Lakota Lodge #175. Council President for 2006 is Richard Politowicz along with Council Commissioner Ray Okigawa, and Scout Executive Stephen J. Taylor, CFRE.

The Northwest Suburban National Scout Shop is located within the NWSC Volunteer Service Center located at 600 N. Wheeling Road in Mount Prospect, IL. In 2006 the Northwest Suburban Council will serve as host to the National Endowment Art Tour, the Biennial Meeting of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, and the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.

The council's service area includes 34 communities in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with Skokie as the eastern border, Barrington on the west, Lake Zurich on the north, and O'Hare International Airport on the south with the council territory remaining unchanged since its founding in 1926. The population served by Northwest Suburban council is quite diverse, as it is composed of 15% Latino/Hispanic, 8% Asian, 3% Eastern European, 1% African-American, and 73% Caucasian.

Its local districts are:

Blackhawk District
North Woods District
Pathfinder District
Signal Hill District
Aguila/Scoutreach District
Learning for Life

[edit] Okaw Valley Council

This council is headquartered in Belleville, Illinois, and is served by Taleka Lodge 81.

Taleka Lodge 81 is one of many lodges in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) program known as the Order of the Arrow (OA). Taleka Lodge 81 is based in the Okaw Valley Council of south-western Illinois, with their council headquarters located in Belleville (approximately 13 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri). Ceremonies, service, and activities take place at both Camp Joy and Camp Vandeventer of the council.

[edit] History

Today's Taleka Lodge 81 is the result of the merger of two lodges in the late 1960's. Mannaseh Lodge 81 and Cascasquia Lodge 115 were joined together as one lodge in [1966].

The name Taleka comes from the Lenni Lenape language and means 'great white egret.' The totem or symbol of Taleka Lodge is the Egret.

Taleka Lodge 81 is one of six other lodges that make up Section C5C. A section is a grouping that is smaller than a Regional level, but larger than one single council/lodge.

[edit] Activities

Every year, Taleka Lodge hosts several events aimed at promoting brotherhood and service. Weekend camping events include the Fall Fellowship held in late August, and the Spring Fellowship held in mid-April. The second weekend in January is the annual Winter Banquet, a social dinner and silent auction.

At the council summer camp each summer, the lodge provides a Brotherhood class in which members fulfilling requirements can seal their membership within the lodge. Also at the camp, the lodge ceremonies team conducts the 'call out' to symbolicly recognize new candidates into the lodge.

[edit] Membership

Currently, Taleka Lodge holds an approximate 400 registered members. This number is an increase from many previous years of around 300 members.

As with the normal Council members of the BSA, the OA members are divided into small groups known as Chapters. There are 4 separate chapters corresponding to the districts within the council.

Chapters:
- Saint Clair Chapter
- Kaskaskia Chapter also spelled Cascasquia.
- Black Gold Chapter
- Crooked Creek Chapter

[edit] Leadership

Taleka Lodge's leadership comes in several forms. First, the general membership votes annually on certain matters as well as electing the lodge officers.

Lodge officers are the Lodge Chief, Lodge Vice-Chief of Program (VCP), Lodge Vice-Chief of Administration (VCA), Lodge Secretary, and Lodge Treasurer. Each of these positions is fulfilled by a Youth (under the age of 21) member of the lodge. Other positions of leadership include Chapter Chief and Committee Chairman. The lodge officers, chapter chiefs, and committee chairman all sit upon the Lodge Executive Committee (LEC). The LEC is the presiding body over the lodge and its operation.

In guidance of all the youth leadership, several adult members of the lodge are attached to the positions. These positions are known as Advisors. With the exception of the Lodge Chief each position has one advisor appointed to it. The Lodge Chief is guided by the Lodge Advisor and the Lodge Staff Advisor. The Lodge Staff Advisor is a professional scouter employed by the council. The Lodge Advisor, Staff Advisor, and Lodge Chief make up the 'Key 3' of the lodge. This is the topmost leadership of the lodge.

Black Gold District
Crooked Creek District
Kaskaskia District
Saint Clair District

[edit] Prairielands Council

Prairielands Council, previously the short-lived Illiana Council, has its headquarters in Champaign, Illinois, and also serves Scouts in Indiana. It operates Camp Drake near Oakwood, Illinois. The camp was founded in 1932 and named after a previous Scout Executive. The council is served by Illini Lodge #55.

Prairie Fire District
Indian Trails District
Many Streams District

[edit] Rainbow Council

This council is headquartered in Morris, Illinois, and the council's Rainbow Scout Reservation is located there. The other camp operated by the council is Camp Theakiki near Kankakee, Illinois. Rainbow Council is served by Waupecan Lodge #197.

Greater Five Rivers District
Kankakee District
Tomahawk District

[edit] Shawnee Trails Council

Main article: Scouting in Kentucky

Shawnee Trails Council serves Scouts in Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee.

[edit] Three Fires Council

Three Fires Council 127 formed from the merger of Two Rivers Council and DuPage Area Council (named for Dupage County); it was briefly called "Two Rivers-DuPage Area Council" in the interim. Its council service center is located in Saint Charles, Illinois. Three Fires operates Camp Big Timber near Elgin, Illinois, Three Fires Council Ranch near Rochelle, Illinois, and Camp Freeland Leslie near Oxford, Wisconsin. It is served by Lowaneu Allanque Lodge 41.

[edit] Trails West Council

This council has its headquarters in Wood River, Illinois, and is served by Kishkakon Lodge #32.

Cahokia Mound District
Piasa Bird District

[edit] W.D. Boyce Council

Formerly the Starved Rock Area Council, W.D. Boyce Council was renamed in 1972 in honor of the founder of the BSA, whose grave lies within the grounds of the Ottawa Scouting Museum in Ottawa, Illinois. Its headquarters is in Peoria, Illinois. The council runs Ingersoll Scout Reservation west of Peoria and Cache Lake Scout Camp in Ontario, Canada. W.D. Boyce Council is served by Wenasa Quenhotan Lodge #23.

Camp Wokanda is a former Boy Scout camp located just north of the city of Peoria, Illinois. The grounds are set on the edge of the Illinois River Valley and are bordered by Mossville Road, Mossville proper (and the natural gas pipeline) Colony Point and Deerbrook Subdivisions, and Cedar Hills Road.

The Boy Scouts sold the property to the Peoria Park District in the 1990s and built a new camp farther north of the city. The Park District rents out the main meeting house for parties and created a few new trails that cross from the Camp over to Robinson Park, which abuts the campgrounds.

Crossroads District
Heartland District
Lowenau District
Wotomalo District

[edit] Girl Scouting in Illinois

There are 18 Girl Scout council offices in Illinois.

Girl Scouts of Centrillio Council Bloomington, Illinois Web Site: http://www.centrillio.com

Girl Scouts of Chicago Chicago, Illinois Web Site: http://www.girlscouts-chicago.org

Girl Scouts - Fox Valley Council, Inc. Aurora, Illinois Web Site: http://www.fvgsc.org

Girl Scouts of Green Hills Council, Inc. Freeport, Illinois Web Site: http://www.gsgreenhills.org

Girl Scouts - Green Meadows Council Urbana, Illinois Web Site: http://www.gsgmc.org

Girl Scouts - Illinois Crossroads Council, Inc. Vernon Hills, Illinois Web Site: http://www.ilcrossroads.org

Girl Scouts-Kickapoo Council Peoria, Illinois Web Site: http://www.girlscouts-kickapoocouncil.org

Girl Scouts, Land of Lincoln Council, Inc. Springfield, Illinois Web Site: http://www.girlscoutsllc.org

Girl Scouts of The Mississippi Valley, Inc. Rock Island, Illinois Web Site: http://www.girlscouts-mvc.org

Girl Scouts - Prairie Winds, Inc. Lisle, Illinois Web Site: http://www.girlscoutspw.org

Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council Glen Carbon, Illinois Web Site: http://www.riverbluffs.org

Girl Scouts - Rock River Valley Council Rockford, Illinois Web Site: http://www.girlscoutsrrv.org

Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council Herrin, Illinois Web Site: http://www.shagbark.org

Shemamo Girl Scout Council of Illinois Decatur, Illinois Web Site: http://www.shemamo.org

Girl Scouts of South Cook County, Inc. Homewood, Illinois Web Site: http://www.girlscouts-scc.org

Girl Scouts - Sybaquay Council, Inc. Elgin, Illinois Web Site: http://www.gs-sybaquay.org

Girl Scouts of Trailways Council, Inc. Joliet, Illinois Web Site: http://www.girlscoutstrailways.org

Girl Scouts of Two Rivers Council, Inc. Quincy, Illinois Web Site: http://www.gstworivers.org

[edit] Scouting museums in Illinois

Ottawa Scouting Museum, Ottawa, Illinois

[edit] International Scouting units in Illinois

In addition, there were Belarusian Scouts in Exile in Chicago through the 1980s, and Lietuvos skautų sąjunga still exists there. Külföldi Magyar Cserkészszövetség Hungarian Scouting also maintains a troop in Chicago, and there are large contingents of active Plast Ukrainian Scouts in Chicago.

[edit] External links

[1] Northeast Illinois Council
[2] Camp Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan
Okaw Valley Council
National Order of the Arrow
Section C5C

Scouting in the United States of America

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