Boy Scouts of America Northeast Council

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Buying, Selling, & Leasing Can Support the Northeast Illinois Council of Boy Scouts

The Northeast Illinois Council of the Boy Scouts of America is dedicated to building a strong foundation of leadership, service and community in the Lake County and Northern Cook County area. As a member of Investing in Communities®, Northeast Illinois Council can receive funding from the real estate transactions of its supporters, at no cost to the supporter or to Northeast Illinois Council. The more supporters use this free platform before engaging a real estate agent, the more resources Northeast Illinois Council has to continue and expand its mission.

History of NEIC

The Northeast Illinois Council of the Boy Scouts of America has been going strong for over 90 years. The council was officially formed in 1929 and the roots go back even further when area scouting programs began in 1910,  with some of the first Boy Scout troops in the country. Despite a history that traces back over a century the NEIC is as vibrant as ever and looking forward to positively shaping lives and communities for many generations to come.

Throughout its storied history the NEIC has provided opportunities to countless members, surrounding communities, and the world abroad. When looking at recent impact we can be more precise. In 2016 the membership included 4,815 Cub Scouts and 2,942 Boy Scouts. With the Venturers, Sea Scouts, Explorers and Learning for Life members taken into account the total youth served for the year numbered 12,405. For more information on the accomplishments and future plans please view the 2016 annual report.

NEIC Programs

The NEIC is active throughout the year with programs and events to enrich the lives of the members. Service has become a pillar of the NEIC as it is across the Boy Scouts of America organization. In 2016 alone we logged 65,236 service hours

One of the most recent Eagle projects was completed by Chris VanOverberghe. His impressive undertaking was to “Build a Band & Orchestra Program for Most Blessed Trinity Academy (MBTA)” in Waukegan. Chris’s project successfully collected 100 instruments to provide for youth who did not have access to instruments in order to get the program off the ground. He also worked with school officials to create a part-time music teacher position. His volunteer team numbered over 100 and provided 325 service hours to accomplish this mission. Chris is a shining example of the positive impact that one scout’s hard work and dedication can have on the community.

Camp Makajwan

One of the most popular events is the series of Wilderness Engineering Society (WES) Worker Weekends at the beloved Camp Makajawan. Located in Pearson, Wisconsin, this idyllic location on a lake surrounded by lush woods is prime for outdoor activity and exploration. The Makajawan Scout Reservation has become a second home for many scouts over the years. NEIC is dedicated to maintaining Camp Makajawan’s beauty and functionality so that scouts for years to come can enjoy themselves. 

For these special weekends NEIC collaborates with The Wilderness Engineering Society, a group of volunteers that support Camp Makajawan. Together they strive to obtain donations and keep the reservation functioning by providing plumbing, carpentry and electrical skills. General maintenance also includes cleanup efforts that turn into ecological sustainability lessons where scouts can weigh questions such as “how long does it take paper to decompose?” vs “how long does it take plastic to decompose?” The WES has over 200 volunteers that assist in this mission at no charge to the NEIC. The work with The WES has proven to be a very fruitful relationship that allows the members to learn new skills while ensuring the future viability of a place they have grown to love.

Much has changed over the last 90 years since the NEIC’s formation, but the dedication to a mission of service and growth has not wavered. They are very proud of the membership numbers and look forward to expanding in years to come. The effect this has had on these individual’s lives and the community around them is hard to truly quantify. The values that have guided us since 1929 will hold true as they build the programs to prepare scouts to be leaders of the community for the next 90 years.

Help build a strong foundation of leadership, service, and community for America’s youth with your next Real Estate Transaction.

Anyone who cares about a strong foundation of values and leadership can turn virtually any brokered real estate transaction into funding for the Northeast Illinois Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Generate funding for the cause by using this free platform to choose among real estate agents that are appropriate for your residential or commercial real estate needs. Or use IIC to make arrangements with an agent you already have in mind. For example, the purchase or sale of $300,000 home can result in about $1,300 of free funding, which has a direct impact on youth served by the Northeast Illinois Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Ready to start?