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Lakota Cabin & Pool Pictures
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Welcome to your new electronic newsletter for the Northwest Suburban Council, which comes with a renewed commitment to keeping you informed as well as a new format and new name, The DrumBeat.
Why all the changes, and why all at once?
Well, Scouting may be steeped in traditions but it can't afford to sit still. If it did, we wouldn't have all the new programs and new opportunities available today. We have to change with the times and take advantage of the new ways to reach our members in the Northwest Suburban Council.
The print version served us well but proved to be too costly, too inflexible and had too many limitations to be produced in a timely manner. This electronic version promises to be more colorful, more timely, easier to distribute and, hopefully, more informative.
To be honest, however, this change has been years in the making. The process finally is coming to fruition thanks to everyone's contributions to the recent NWSC survey in which you shared what you liked and didn't like about the old Northwest News. We put many of those suggestions to the test in this edition, and more are coming.
And speaking of our former publication, it was once the new kid on the block, taking over from a publication called Leaders Digest, according to our resident historian, Betty Wurster. That newsletter began in the last 1950s. By 1968, it was offering separate editions for six districts and it was printed with a mimeograph machine. By 1981, Leaders Digest moved to one edition that included all six districts. In late 1993, the Northwest News replaced it and was published six times a year as a small glossy publication. When printing and mailing costs soared, it moved to a Web-only edition in 2002 before switching back to a smaller printed edition in recent years. With more families having access to computers and e-mail, our latest survey showed that only five individuals preferred the printed version over the cost-savings of electronic edition.
So this isn't a precedent-setting move, but actually following a Scouting tradition in the NWSC of changing the monthly newsletter to improve on its good points and serve its readers even better than before.
Take a closer look, and you'll find many familiar checkpoints (training and camping articles, council calendar, etc.) as well as some new ones (Burnt Offerings for campfire cooks). And remember, this is just a start. We will be adding more articles and different features in the months ahead. Just like the youth in your units, it's still growing and developing.
We would love to see anyone in your units contribute stories for our "camping" news, anything from cool outings to camping advise, outdoor activities or High Adventure experiences. If you have suggestions for more improvements, or if you want to show your positive side and encourage more articles like the ones you see today, drop us a line at celiac2@comcast.net and address it Attn: DrumBeat Editor.
Think about what news would be helpful to you today, and provide us with more direction.
The DrumBeat has sounded. Will you answer the call?
Click here to view a pdf version of this Drumbeat or right click to "save as" on your computer
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Council News...
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It's a Win - Win - Win Situation.
NWSC's new popcorn partnership with Trail's End bring us all a unique opportunity. The sale of popcorn is a major source of income for both our participating units (Win #1) and for the council (Win #2). Trail's End is (more...)
Gone Fishin'
On Saturday, June 7, St. Mary's of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary, and the Catholic Committee on Scouting is hosting the 5th annual Fisherman's Day. Registration begins at 9:00 AM followed by a Welcome and Fishers of Men presentation at 10:00 AM. Fishing begins at 11:00 AM (more...)
Hello all of our Fellow Scouters !!!
Thank you, thank you and thank you again for your generous contributions to our Friends of Scouting 2008 Campaign. As you well know, your contributions all go to (more...)
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NWSC Celebrates Scouting Year at Annual Dinner
Before a sell-out crowd, Northwest Suburban Council honored eleven of its volunteer Scouters with the Silver Beaver Award at the Council Annual Dinner held on Friday, May 2, at the (more...)
BSA Golf Classic June 16th at Kemper Lakes
On behalf of the Northwest Suburban Council Golf Classic Committee, you are cordially invited to participate in our 2008 BSA Golf Classic. Our event is held Monday, June 16, at the private (more...)
N.E.S.A Eagle Scout Search!
The National Eagle Scout Association is searching the country looking for every Eagle Scout. As stated by NESA Director Bill Stiehl, (more...)
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The Northwest Suburban Council is pleased to recognize our two newest James E. West Fellows: Carl Laub and Peggy Thompson. The James E. West Fellowship Award is a national recognition for individuals who contribute (more...)
Unauthorized and Restricted Activities
Risk Management and Health and Safety have received several inquiries as to whether paintball and laser tag are authorized Scouting activities. Per the Guide to Safe Scouting, (more...)
Smoke Signals
3 Month Memo for Council-Related Events (more...)
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Camping...
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Northwest Suburban Council Camping
Camp Napowan is in Wild Rose, Wisconsin
Camp Lakota is in Woodstock, Illinois
There are many, many camping opportunities this year. For a comprehensive guide (more...)
Cub Scout Resident Camp - Traveling Through Time
Thursday Sunday, July 10 13, 17 20, and 24 27 at Camp Lakota
Resident Camp is another fabulous (more...)
Napowan Summer Camp
For Boy Scouts
June 15 August 2 at Camp Napowan
Each summer, Camp Napowan offers a multitude of opportunities to meet your summer needs, whether its going for a plunge in Hill's Lake, (more...)
BOUNDARY WATERS, NORTHER TIER
NWSC is sponsoring the second annual trip to the Boundary Waters of Northern Tier's High Adventure Base. Northern Tier offers more wilderness camping (more...)
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Webelos Weekends (Yes!! There are two of them)
Webelos I & Webelos II Scouts
June 13 15 at Camp Napowan and
August 8 10 at Camp Lakota
These are two night, (more...)
Resident Camp For Beginners - Camping for the Rest of Us
Friday Sunday, June 27 29 at Camp Lakota
This special Resident Camp session is geared towards first time and reluctant campers. It is a Friday to Sunday (more...)
Summer Camp Contingent Troop
For Boy Scouts June 29 July 5 at Camp Napowan
While we encourage Scouts to experience summer camp with their own Troop, we realize that's not always possible. (more...)
PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH
NWSC has been sending contingents to Philmont for about 15 years. Now is your time to be part of this great tradition; the grandeur of the rugged (more...)
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One Day Out West - Choose Your Own Adventure!
July 1, 2, or 3 at Camp Lakota
One Day Out West is a one-day event showcasing all that is great about Camp Lakota. Each day will have a different theme - Pioneers, Gold Miners (more...)
Cub Scout Day Camp - Adventures in the Wild West
Monday Thursday, June 23 June 26 at Camp Lakota
Day Camp is a great opportunity to be outdoors, learning, and most importantly, having fun. (more...)
2009 High Adventure Contingents Now Forming
Boy Scouts of America describes High Adventure as:
An activity requiring special preparation and/or training Something that's beyond routine (more...)
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Features...
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"Blow, blow your boats...", a recruiting idea
Well, they're not exactly the right words of the old song, but that didn't make any difference (more...)
Burnt Offerings
This is the first of a series of recipes for campout meals that DrumBeat hopes you find feasible, economic, tasty and FUN. (more...)
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Leaders! Be Prepared for Summer Camp
Boy Scouts of America policy requires at least two adult leaders on all camping trips and tours be currently trained in Youth Protection, (more...)
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March of Dimes
April 27, 2008 Busse Woods, Schaumburg, IL Getting out of bed at 6:00am is hard enough on weekdays, but to do it Sunday morning, (more...)
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Upcoming events...
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New Catholic Scout events for this year
Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 8, 2008 A One Day Boy Scout Retreat for Boy Scouts working on (more...)
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NWSC 2010 National Scout Jamboree
As reported last month, the NWSC 2010 National Scout Jamboree Committee is forming and the (more...)
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Scouts in the Outfield
Do you want to try something new and unusual with your Pack? Is your Troop or Crew tired of the same (more...)
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