1/15/25
Today, our guest speaker was Dan Wentzell, Scout Executive/CEO of the Three Fires Council of Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America). 
 
Scouting offers six programs:
  • Cub Scouts: boys and girls K-5th grade - Cub Scouting activities are designed for Scouting families to get in on the fun, and include exploring the outdoors, building projects, making friends, and developing a lifelong love of learning as Cub Scouts earn patches related to their grades.
  • Scouts BSA: boys and girls ages 11-17 - Scouts BSA is where youth explore their interests and develop skills by participating in outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and canoeing. Scouts earn merit badges along the journey and work towards achieving Scouting’s highest rank—Eagle Scout.
  • Venturing: coed  ages 14-20 - Venturers develop leadership skills like decision making, communication, and organization by choosing activities they are most interested in performing. Some of these activities include kayaking, volunteering at animal shelters, or designing robots.
  • Sea Scouts: coed ages 14-20 - Sea Scouts—organized into units called ships—recognizes Scouts for activities they learn and do, including paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and even SCUBA. Scouts earn certifications in SCUBA, boating safety, lifesaving, CPR
  • Exploring: coed ages 10-20 - Explorers step out of the classroom and into real-world work environments to gain hands-on experience and learn more about potential career paths.
  • STEM Nova Award Program for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturing - working with an adult counselor or mentor, participants use various modules to explore the basic principles of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
The Three Council serves DuPage, Kane, DeKalb, Kendal and portions of Cook and Will County. The Council operates Camp Big Timber, a 70 acre year-round camp located in Elgin. 
 
Resources to learn more about Scouting America:
  • https://threefirescouncil.org/
  • https://www.scouting.org/