Three Fires Council

THIS IS SCOUTING - "This is Scouting" was added to the BSA's on-line Learning Center on March 15, 2009.  "This is Scouting" replaced New Leader Essentials as an course designed to give adults a good OVERVIEW of the Scouting program. Until 2012 it was a mandatory course for all volunteers. As of Jan 1, 2012, it is now highly suggested to take, but it is not required in order for an adult leader to be considered fully trained or to earn the "Trained" leader emblem/knot.  This course can be found in your MyScouting account.

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.

The date for MERIT BADGE UNIVERSITY is set for SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25th, 2012 at York High School in Elmhurst. In mid to late January you will be able to access the web site on  http://www.threefirescouncil.org/  or http://www.potawatomidistrict.com/ for information and registration. If you have questions or would like to help make MBU a success for the boys just let me know. Keith A. Miller, MBU President, 630-530-1944. MBU TRAINING ACADEMY will also be held on Saturday, Feb. 25th, 2012 at Elmhurst College. Registration will also open soon.

The Silver Beaver Award was established in 1931 and is presented for distinguished service to young people within a local council of the Boy Scouts of America. A recipient must be a registered Scouter to receive the highest award presented by a local council. Annually, volunteers nominate men and women for the Silver Beaver award who are doing an outstanding job as Scouters. These nominations are reviewed by the Silver Beaver Selection Committee and the most outstanding volunteers are selected to receive this special recognition. Three Fires Council salutes the commitment and hard work of these Scouters! The committee welcomes all nominations and encourages you to recommend those Scouters you believe worthy of this high honor.

Deadline for nominations: Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Download and submit the Nomination Form to the Silver Beaver Selection Committee c/o of Renee Cosme at the Three Fires Council Office, 415 N. Second Street, St. Charles, IL 60517 or email to Renee Cosme @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The Silver Beaver award is presented to recipients at the Council Recognition Dinner on June 21, 2012. 
- Silver Beaver Selection Committee Chairman, Wes Whipple at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

JOIN US FOR SAFARI 2012

ONLINE REGISTRATION is now live on the left sidebar of this website in the TFC Camp Store for all Three Fires Cub Scout Daycamps, overnight camps & 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!!! 

 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.  It is our hope that you will help make this a memorable event by sponsoring one or more Eagles from the Eagle Scout Class of 2011, as well as attend this gala event. 

• On-line Registration with pay option - 2011 Eagle Class Gathering of Eagles Dinner
• 2012 Eagle RSVP form - Paper Registration
• 2012 Sponsor Form RSVP - Paper Registration
• 2012 SM reply form - Paper Registration
• 2012 NESA Sponsor RSVP - Paper Registration
• 2012 NESA under25 RSVP - Paper Registration

2012 Scout-O-Rama "Daily Good Turn" (Saturday, May 19th from 9:00 to 4:00 pm at Cantigny Park) Vision: To personify this year's slogan of "Do a Good Turn Daily" into a premier event that will last with our youth, leaders, and the public long after the single day event. High Level Definition of Scout-O-Rama 2012: This year's event is designed to provide 5 Zones of activities that each participant can visit while learning and having fun! Several "old stand-bys" are included, and we can expect several new things also. Each Zone will have a Zone Coordinator who will be responsible for making sure each activity or display in their area is registered, prepared, and able to deliver a great experience. Below is a definition of each Zone and what it will include:

Outdoor Zone - This is the area that celebrates what we do outdoors in Scouting. It includes anything related to shooting, camping, and formally organized outdoor events.
- Rifle or BB's, Archery, Tomahawk Throwing, Wrist Rockets, Camping exhibits, Fishing Sponsored by Plano Molding
Military Zone - This area is primarily focused on Cantigny Park displays and anything featuring or honoring Armed Forces Day. 
- Existing displays at Cantigny, National Guard, Army, Whomever else is interested.
Health & Nature (Green) Zone - This is the area for anything related to improving our health or nature activities. There may be some overlap with outdoors, but it's more of an appreciation of nature. - Scout Strong or PALA, Recycling or Leave No Trace.
Fun Zone - This is the area for most unit displays or activities. Anything craft related or "fun" for the kids to do.
- Unit activities that are not in the above zones, Council opportunities such as Haunted Hike, Summer Camp, Jamboree, etc..., Model Railroading (this will be indoors)
Partners Zone - This is where our partners or vendors can setup or display what they have to offer. Many of these may be "midway" type opportunities.

Is your unit interested in having a display, exhibit, or activity then download the >>2012 Scout-O-Rama Unit Activity Registration Form or if you are interested in helping drive this event to never before seen heights, please contact the 2012 Scout-O-Rama Program Chair, Harry Stout at (630) 673-5785 or Staff Adviser, Buzz Wheeler at (630) 584-9250. Go to the Scout-O-Rama activity page to learn more...

What is the National Jamboree?

Every four years, the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America organizes the ultimate Boy Scout experience, the National Jamboree! Over 50,000 Scouts and Scouters attended the last Jamboree  and all the excitement of past Jamborees will be incorporated with new themes and shows. 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 (the new Scout base in West Virginia) It will be held July 15-24, 2013.

Registration is now open for the 2013 Jamboree -REGISTER FOR THE 2013 NATIONAL JAMBOREE  which will take place from 7/14/2013 to 7/24/2013. For more information click on the TFC Jamboree Page of our website.

Now is the time to enter your Journey to Excellence – Service Projects to help you earn your unit award. Post your unit’s service projects on the Journey to Excellence website. Call the Three Fires Council office if you need any assistance in logging your service projects on this website. To help you log in your hours, here is a Service Project JTE Report Form.

Congratulations to our Deicke Scout Shop for being chosen for a City of West Chicago Brilliance in Business Award in the category of Outstanding Not-for-Profit. Deicke Scout Shop will receive this award on December 5, 2011 at the West Chicago City Council meeting. Congratulations to the Deicke Scout Shop Team!

In order to establish the BSA plates a minimum of 850 people need to return the request form to the Secretary of State's office indicating their interest in the Boy Scout License Plate. It’s not an order; just an expression of interest. Please share this request form and encourage all Scouters to return the filled out form to the Secretary of State. The form is available to be faxed or e-mailed to the Secretary of State in order to continue the count toward the 850.

BSA Licence Plate Info   Please spread this information to your Scouting friends to help generate interest and get the word out.  This does not commit you to buying the plates. You can also call the Secretary of State office in Springfield at 217-558-6148 and speak to Karla to get on the list. We need 850 requests to get the Boy Scout plate started and right now the list is at 208 names and counting as of June 2011.

Background info: On August 22, 2007, the Governor of Illinois signed into law Public Act 95-0320 commonly known as the Boy Scout & Girl Scout License Plate bill. This Act creates four (4) passenger license plates: Boy Scout; Eagle Scout; Girl Scout; & Gold Award. For each plate purchased, $25.00 is deposited into a special fund with the Secretary of State. Upon yearly appropriation, the $25.00 is issued as grants to the Illinois Councils of the Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts on a pro rata basis, according to the number of each type of plate sold. Grants shall be made to the county division in which the plates are sold.