eNewsletter
THUNDERBIRD DISTRICT NEWSLETTER - February 2012
Three Fires Council - BSA
DISTRICT EMAIL LIST: This Scout eNewsletter is sent blind copy to the Troops, Packs, Teams and Crews of Thunderbird District, Three Fires Council, from the District & Commissioner Service Teams. Please share this time sensitive information with the other adults in your units. To change your email address, or sign up to receive the monthly newsletter, or to opt off this list, please send your request to the following link, or drop off changes at any Roundtable. Thunderbird Email List
DISTRICT CALENDAR: - Click here for a link to the Thunderbird district calendar page of our website. There is a printable 2 year calendar on this page which can help you with your planning.
DISTRICT PHOTO GALLERY:- Click here to view photos of our events.
THUNDERBIRD ROUNDTABLES: Roundtables meet the 2nd Thursday of the month from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Naperville LDS Stake Center, 1320 Ridgeland Ave., Naperville just south of Diehl off of Naper. Click here to get a map!
Cub & Boy Scout Roundtables & our OA Chapter Meeting will meet on Thursday, February 9, 2012 (the Second Thursday of the month) from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Naperville LDS Stake Center, 1320 Ridgeland Ave., Naperville just south of Diehl off of Naper. Click here to get a map!
CUB SCOUT ROUNDTABLE: DR. DOAGOODTURN This month's theme Compassion will cover how we can help our Cub Scouts Do a Good Turn and learn how to be prepared for an emergency!
Opening Ceremony & Flags - Pack 66/ Skit or Ceremony - Pack 513 / Game - Pack 565/ Song - Pack 108
BOY SCOUT ROUNDTABLE: Special Features: Better communication with Cub Scout Packs/B&G Dinner, Bridging - Theme/Program feature: Eagle project changes
ADVANCEMENT NEWS
2012 Merit Badge University
Saturday, February 25th, 2012 - 8:00AM until 4:30PM. at York Community High School, 355 W. St. Charles Rd., Elmhurst, IL - (two stop-lights east of IL RT 83 on St. Charles Rd.) A hot lunch will be provided.
Please address questions about MBU to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Registration - Feb 6th through Feb 17th - $30.00 per person - Registration must be done online (and paid for before MBU). - Onsite: Only for new Scouts registering for First Class Trail - $30.00 per Scout
Registration is open to all Boy Scouts on a first come first serve basis. Due to the complexity of scheduling Merit Badge University, we cannot honor requests to schedule groups, buddies, entire troops or entire patrols into classes. All scheduling is done on an individual Scout basis. Units are strongly encouraged to submit their registrations as a group when using online registration (see Scoutmaster's Batch Register).
For full details, please click the following link Merit Badge University.
ACTIVITIES NEWS
SCOUTING FOR FOOD 2012: In February of each of the last nine years, Thunderbird District Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, and Varsity Crews collected food and other non-perishable supplies to donate to local food pantries. In 2010, more than 1,100 scouts, siblings, and adults, from 29 units, collected more than eight tons of food! We invite all Thunderbird District Packs, Troops, and Crews to participate in Scouting for Food 2012. These are times of great need for the local food pantries. Can we count on your unit’s participation this coming year? More information will be coming over the next few months, so mark your calendars! Thanks! John Lansing
- Scouting For Food - Flier
- February - Flier Distribution
- Saturday, February 25, 2011 - Food Pickup & Delivery to the food pantries / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. has volunteered as the Scouting for Food coordinator for Thunderbird District (630) 416-1897.
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2011 Eagle Class Recognition Banquet - Friday, February 10, 2012
A Gathering of Eagles
Close to 300 young men in the Three Fires Council will received their Eagle Award in 2011. To honor their achievement, the Eagle Banquet Committee has scheduled the 2011 Gathering of Eagles Recognition Banquet for Friday, February 10, 2012 at the Wyndham Hotel, 3000 Warrenville Rd, Lisle, 60532. A general reception and fellowship will begin at 6:30 pm. Dinner will be served at 7:00 pm. followed by our program. This will be a very special evening for the 2010 class, Eagle Alumni, sponsors and guests.
Klondike Derby - Feb 4, 2012
Klondike 2012: February 3, 4, & 5 2012 at Camp Big Timber
Thanks again to everyone who helped make the Klondike event a success this past weekend. I would like you all to know that Loaves and Fishes was very grateful for our donation. They measure donations by weight, and we turned-in 104 pounds of canned soup! This is a fine way to top off the event. I hope there will be much more food to follow with the Scouting For Food campaign later this month!
Stan Hungness - Klondike Chair
2013 NATIONAL JAMBOREE: Boy Scouts through Venturing! There are over 7,500 registered eligible Scouts in TFC & only 200 limited spots remaining for Three Fires Council 2013 Jamboree Contingent troops. Hurry and register for a spot on one of the TFC contingent Troops or Venturing Crews. Spots for the TFC contingent are going fast, so register today. To register click on the National Registration Link and start your official registration, Register for 2013 National Jamboree! Three Fires Council will send 6 troops of 40 scouts (36 youth and 4 adults) and 2 venture crews (each crew containing 9 scouts [both boys and girls] plus 1 adult) to the 2013 National Jamboree at the Bechtel Summit Reserve (the new Scout base in West Virginia) It will be held July 15-24, 2013.
Cost are estimated at $1500 which include: Nine days of adventure & activities at the new Summit Bechtel Reserve Boy Scout adventure base, Jamboree Duffle Bag, TFC T-Shirt and day pack, & transportation with contingent. All tents, food and cooking equipment will be provided by the Summit Bechtel Reserve at the campsite. For more information go to our TFC 2013 Jamboree Webpage.
Three simple steps:
1. Sign up through the National Registration Link. Register for 2013 National Jamboree.
2. Print out the form and have your Scoutmaster or Venturing Crew Advisor sign.
3. Deliver to Three Fires Council office with $100 (nonrefundable deposit)
SCOUT-O-RAMA: Save the Date: Saturday, May 19, 2012 for the next Scout O Rama: Scout-O-Rama―Daily Good Turn will be held at Cantigny Park on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. We‘re inviting Scouts, family, friends, and the general public to join us in supporting and learning more about local community organizations and initiatives like Scouting for Food with the Northern Illinois Food Bank. You‘ll be able to have fun while participating in one of our "Program Zones" featuring over 100 different outdoor activities, and will also have the opportunity to honor the men and women serving in our armed forces.
ADVANCEMENT NEWS
Twelfth Annual Law Merit Badge Day -Saturday, March 10th 2012
9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Kane County Judicial Center
*lunch will be provided*
FLIER
There is an $8 non-refundable registration fee Please send check made out to “KCLL” along with registration form You MUST pre-register by March 2nd. Attending Boy Scouts must be a 1st class Scout or higher and have studied the Law Merit Badge Booklet. Attendees should be in BSA uniform and bring their ‘blue cards’. Registration is limited to 30 Scouts
NAPERVILLE POLICE DEPT PROGRAMS FOR SCOUTS: FLIER with Schedule
The Naperville Police Department is pleased to offer the following programs to area Scouts. These programs are being offered as a cooperative effort between the Naperville Jr. Women’s Club and the Naperville Police and Fire Departments. The programs fulfill many scouting requirements. For specific requirements per rank, please refer to the registration forms found on the following link: www.napervillejuniors.org/safety.htm
The Naperville Police Department offers Boy Scouts the opportunity to earn Merit Badges. The following Merit Badge Workshops are scheduled for the 2011-2012 school year:
Fingerprinting: Thursday, February 9, 2012
Contact Mary Browning, Community Education Specialist @ 630-420-6731 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
to register.
CAMPING
- JOIN US FOR SAFARI 2012
ONLINE REGISTRATION is now live in the TFC Camp Store for all Three Fires Cub Scout Daycamps, overnight camps & Boy Scout resident camps. This year ALL TFC Summer Camp reservations will be made online. Payments can be made online with a credit card, or at a TFC Scout Shop. If paying offline, please print a copy of your online receipt to attach to your payment. A $20 deposit / Scout will hold your reservation. Early Bird fees apply if paid in full by April 1st! Don't miss out on the FUN of summer camping! Register now!!!
Guidebook 2012 Camp Card Sale - A Scout is Thrifty...He helps pay his own way!
The Three Fires Council is pleased to announce a new Council-wide fundraiser...the 2012 Camp Card.
The intent of the Camp Card sale is to allow Units to raise funds to pay for their Summer Scouting Program. This includes purchasing camping equipment such as tents, backpacks, and sleeping bags, and to send Scouts to Cub Scout Day Camp, Webelos Camp, and Boy Scout Summer Camp. This program is completely RISK FREE, because any unsold Camp Cards may be returned. Camp Cards sell for $5 each. Units earn 50% commission, or $2.50 per card sold. The cards come in sets of 10 cards in an envelope. Camp Cards are ordered by the set, but individual Camp Cards can be returned. Your unit may reserve sets of Camp Cards online for your Scouts to sell. They will be available for pickup at roundtables in March. CAMP CARD FLIER & INFORMATION Register online to reserve your Camp Card Packets! They will be delivered in March for your Scouts to sell!
Join us as we officially open the Three Fires Council 2012 Camping Season! Two Dates and Two Locations — Pick the one most convenient! Find out about: Boy Scout and Webelos Resident Camp at Camp Freeland Leslie / All our Council Cub Scout Day Camps / Scout-O-Rama “Daily Good Turn” / The Camp Stewards Program / Our New Camp Card Fundraiser. INFORMATION FLIER
Wed, Feb 15, 2012 - Cabela's, 5225 Prairie Stone Pkwy, Hoffman Estates
6:15—7:00pm Cub Scout Day Camps / 7:00—7:45pm Camp Freeland Leslie
Tues, Feb 21, 2012 - Gander Mountain, 2100 S Randall Rd, Geneva
7:15—8:00pm Cub Scout Day Camps / 8:00—8:45pm Camp Freeland Leslie
Boy Scout and Webelos leaders will attend a CFL pre-camp leader’s meeting. Cub Scout and Webelos Leaders will find out all about the TFC Cub Scout and Webelos Day Camps! Learn about the Scout-O-Rama “Daily Good Turn,’ Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Cantigny Park. Find out more about how units can help all of their Scouts pay for Summer Camp with the new TFC Camp Card Fundraiser! Special Scout Discounts will be offered and Refreshments will be served! Leader Guides and Parents Guides and all Camping Forms will be available
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
Click on "Membership" for Tips that Boy Scout Troops and Webelos can use to help with the Webelos recruiting season!
MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES:
Just a reminder, there is a new Adult Application form and an updated Parent Orientation Guide. Please dispose of your old copies and order new ones.
YEAR ROUND RECRUITING - Although we concentrate on Fall and Spring Roundups, recruiting is a year round activity. To keep the Cub Scout program at the level we were last year we still need 200 more boys registered prior to the end of the year. To increase awareness of Scouting in your sponsoring organization (school or church), look for opportunities to participate in other events. One way would be to work with your school to set up a table with information on your pack, and scouting in general, at Parent Teacher Conferences, school fairs, concerts, etc.
TRAINING
NEED TRAINING? See the Council Training Calendar for your training needs. There should be a course to meet your busy schedule as well as everyone else in your unit! Courses are being added each month, so check out the Three Fires Council Training Page to find one that meets your needs, or click on the training page on our T-Bird site to download the local registration forms! BE TRAINED!
MBU Adult Academy
Adult Training Academy - Potawatomi Trails Merit Badge University - 2012
WHEN AND WHERE: Saturday, February 25th, 2012 - 8:00AM until 4:00PM.
Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Avenue., Elmhurst, IL
The fee includes a hot lunch and the official 2012 MBU patch.
MBU - Adult Academy LINK to register
Registration: Feb 6th through Feb 17th - $30.00 per person
There is no onsite registration. Registration is open to all Adults on a first come first serve basis. Due to the complexity of scheduling MBU Adult Training Academy, we cannot honor requests to schedule groups, buddies, entire troops or entire patrols into classes. All scheduling is done on an individual basis.
Three Fires Council is holding a Wood Badge Course in 2012
Wood Badge Course C7-127-12 Course Information FLIER
Sunday, Aug 5, 2012 (Sunday) 1-4 pm / Orientation Meeting
August 24-26, 2012 (Friday 7am - Sunday 5pm - 3 full days) Part 1 of the Course
September 21-23, 2012 (Friday 7am - Sunday 4pm - 3 full days) Part 2 of the Course
All 3 sessions will be held at Camp Big Timber in Elgin, IL.
Dan Zedan - 2012 Wood Badge Course Director
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS: Thunderbird District is part of a Three Fires Council training pilot program. By the end of each units charter term, it is required that Top Direct Contact Leaders, Cub Master, Scoutmaster, Venture Crew Adviser and Varsity Team Coach, be trained for their position. In addition to that, 50% of the remaining registered leaders; including, members of committee, den leaders, pack trainers, assistant cub masters, and assistant scoutmasters, need also be trained for their positions.
All Units should have one person as the designated Trainer. This person can keep track of training taken by all registered leaders within the unit. Council generated reports indicating Leaders that require training will be sent to unit management and Trainers each month.
Please look into training options on the Three Fires Council website. Courses are available online, in classroom settings in Thunderbird District and also out of District or Council. Research the options to find which class opportunities fit in your schedule. Do not wait to long, some courses are only offered a certain times a year.
Contact Jennifer Griffin, acting Thunderbird District Training Chairperson for additional information at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. email, or by telephone at (H) 630-848-0136 or (C)630-764-0989.
"A well planned program provided by a trained leader with a strong outdoor program supported by a good commissioner attracts and retains youth."
Al Lambert, Central Region director.
TRAINING FLIERS
- Trainers EDGE - Sat, Jan 21, 2012 - 8am -4pm - ONLINE REGISTRATION - Hope Presbyterian Church, Wheaton - Mike Koehne
- LBPU - Lord Baden Powell University of Scouting - March 16-18, 2012 - Website - Camp Wonderland - Camp Lake, WI - Jim Dunlap
OA CHAPTER NEWS
ORDER OF THE ARROW: Check with your Senior Patrol Leader and your OA representative to select a date (and a backup date) to hold OA elections in your unit. Thunderbird chapter representatives will be contacting you to find out the dates selected for your unit elections. OA representatives come to Chapter meetings at roundtable to get the information you need to fulfill your responsibilities as your troop's OA representative!
OA CHAPTER MEETING: The next Thunderbird District OA Chapter meeting will be held at 7:30 pm, Thursday, January 12th. OA representatives come to Chapter meetings at roundtable to get the information you need to fulfill your responsibilities as your troop's OA representative!
Online Interest Form - NOAC 2012 - July 30-Aug 4, 2012 - Michigan State University
2012 ONLINE Annual Dues or Membership Transfer Payments
DISTRICT CHAIR CORNER: Thunderbird District Chair - Gary Vician
DISTRICT COMMISSIONER CORNER
Jason Ball - Thunderbird District Commissioner
ROB'S DISTRICT EXECUTIVE CORNER
Boy Scout Troop 512 is having its annual Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 19 from 1:00pm to 6:00pm at St. Scholastica Activity Center, 7800 Janes Ave., Woodridge, IL. Tickets are $8 for singles and $25 for families and includes spaghetti, bread, salad and dessert. Tickets are available at the door. Questions? Contact Ruth Dunkman (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or 630-985-5628).
THE FLAME: is Three Fires Council's newsletter. If you are not receiving this wealth of information via email, please go to the TFC FLAME and sign up for the email list. You can also view it on line while you are there, or access it any time you want from at the Thunderbird District Website. Sign up! Keep informed & know what is going on in our Council! Don’t miss out on the fun stuff.