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      <title>Pinewood Derby: Reserve Your Unit’s Race Time at the Council</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Pinewood Derby is a highlight of Cub Scouting, and the Northeast Illinois Council offers multiple ways to help your pack host a fun and successful race.

 

Build-a-Car Workshop on Jan. 31, 2026


At our Build-a-Car Workshop, experienced... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/-pinewood-derby-reserve-your-unit’s-race-time-at-the-council'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/-pinewood-derby-reserve-your-unit’s-race-time-at-the-council</link>
      <author>allisonwaggoner@aol.com (AllisonWaggoner)</author>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:43:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>A New Kind of First Aid: Scouting Works with Josselyn to Support Teen Mental Health</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The following article has been written by Maggie Nash, LCSW, M.Ed., Director of Mental Health Education at Josselyn, a Community Mental Health Center serving Cook and Lake Counties. The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity &amp; Accessibility (IDEA)... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/a-new-kind-of-first-aid-scouting-works-with-josselyn-to-support-teen-mental-health'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/a-new-kind-of-first-aid-scouting-works-with-josselyn-to-support-teen-mental-health</link>
      <author>allisonwaggoner@aol.com (AllisonWaggoner)</author>
      <comments>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/a-new-kind-of-first-aid-scouting-works-with-josselyn-to-support-teen-mental-health</comments>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:22:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Why Tony and Patrice Steenkolk Believe in Scouting — and Keep Giving Back</title>
      <description><![CDATA[A Scouting Journey that Lasts a Lifetime: Tony &amp; Patrice Steenkolk

For Tony and Patrice Steenkolk, Scouting has never been just an activity for their children — it has become a lifelong commitment, a source of cherished memories, and a... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/why-tony-and-patrice-steenkolk-believe-in-scouting-—-and-keep-giving-back'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/why-tony-and-patrice-steenkolk-believe-in-scouting-—-and-keep-giving-back</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:04:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>What is Discrimination - and What Can We Do About It?</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Have you done any of the following?

You hear people speaking with an accent – and think to yourself they don’t belong. You meet someone of a different faith – and criticize them for their beliefs. You see a person from a different race at camp –... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/what-is-discrimination-and-what-can-we-do-about-it'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/what-is-discrimination-and-what-can-we-do-about-it</link>
      <author>fkwcy@fkwcy.com (KsfhcKP6q2FT)</author>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 23:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Meet John: Why He Gives Back, a Lifelong Commitment to Scouting</title>
      <description><![CDATA[For John, supporting Scouting isn’t just a hobby—it’s a calling. From his earliest days as a Cub Scout in Flossmoor, Illinois, to his decades of adult service, Scouting has shaped his life and given him purpose. Today, he gives back to the movement... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/meet-john-why-he-gives-back-a-lifelong-commitment-to-scouting'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/meet-john-why-he-gives-back-a-lifelong-commitment-to-scouting</link>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2025 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Be an Upstander, not a bystander</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Being an Upstander means to stand up – especially for others and for our values. It implies that there is a need for an opposing force – perhaps to bullying behavior or to a practice or communication that is keeping or pushing someone down. Acting... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/be-an-upstander-not-a-bystander'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/be-an-upstander-not-a-bystander</link>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2025 18:13:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Inclusivity is our IDEA!</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Northeast Illinois Council of Scouting America (NEIC) strives to be an inclusive organization. In recent years, Scouting has made tremendous strides nationally, eliminating many exclusionary policies. We are proud of that progress and committed... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/inclusivity-is-our-idea'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/inclusivity-is-our-idea</link>
      <author>fkwcy@fkwcy.com (KsfhcKP6q2FT)</author>
      <comments>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/inclusivity-is-our-idea</comments>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2025 01:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Meet Chuck and Pat Pint</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Have you ever seen someone running the Climbing Wall, leading the Cubmobile, or conjuring up mind-bending challenges at the Klondike Derby? Chances are, you've met Chuck and Pat Pint. For years, they've been the driving force behind countless NEIC... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/meet-chuck-and-pat-pint'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/meet-chuck-and-pat-pint</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Apr 2025 23:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Meet Reed Snyder, Outgoing Council Commissioner</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Like many Scouters, I began my Scouting career in Cub Scouts, in a very small unit in Wisconsin. My first Pinewood Derby car won second place!

I reengaged in Scouting at the troop level a few years later. I participated in summer camp and... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/meet-reed-snyder-outgoing-council-commissioner'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/meet-reed-snyder-outgoing-council-commissioner</link>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Meet Beth Micksch, Outgoing Council President</title>
      <description><![CDATA[My passion in Scouting is giving leadership opportunities to our youths and watching them grow. I love seeing Scouts get more comfortable talking to adults or organizing and leading other Scouts in activities.

I support Scouting by serving and... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/meet-beth-micksch-outgoing-council-president'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/meet-beth-micksch-outgoing-council-president</link>
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      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jan 2025 15:10:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>What town and unit number was the first Scouting unit in the Northeast Illinois Council?</title>
      <description><![CDATA[We asked this question of our unit leaders recently, and it turns out it was harder to answer than we anticipated. So, we turned to council historian John Ropiequet for some background.

Evanston

Peter C. Wercks first appeared in the paper on... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/what-town-and-unit-number-was-the-first-scouting-unit-in-the-northeast-illinois-council'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/what-town-and-unit-number-was-the-first-scouting-unit-in-the-northeast-illinois-council</link>
      <comments>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/what-town-and-unit-number-was-the-first-scouting-unit-in-the-northeast-illinois-council</comments>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 01:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>Meet Peter Chatain: Eagle Scout Headed to the Olympics</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I am an Eagle Scout from Troop 20 in Winnetka. I just graduated with my master’s in computer science, and I am living in Alameda, California, where I work at Ello as a machine learning engineer. As a rower, I qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/meet-peter-chatain-eagle-scout-headed-to-the-olympics'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/meet-peter-chatain-eagle-scout-headed-to-the-olympics</link>
      <comments>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/meet-peter-chatain-eagle-scout-headed-to-the-olympics</comments>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 27 Jun 2024 02:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Cub Scout Program Changes: What You Need to Know for June 1</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Cub Scout program is undergoing significant changes that take effect June 1. The Northeast Illinois Council hosted a town hall recently, where a BSA representative previewed the changes and answered questions. Here are some of the... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/cub-scout-program-changes-what-you-need-to-know-for-june-1'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/cub-scout-program-changes-what-you-need-to-know-for-june-1</link>
      <comments>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/cub-scout-program-changes-what-you-need-to-know-for-june-1</comments>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:50:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Feature Scout: Leith</title>
      <description><![CDATA[I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to experience so many new things since joining scouts. One of the best parts about scouting is getting to meet new people from all over the country. I have made some of my best friends in scouting.

A few of my... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/feature-scout-leith'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/feature-scout-leith</link>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 07 Feb 2024 19:10:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>New Rules for Adult Applications Beginning Jan. 16, 2024</title>
      <description><![CDATA[To ensure the safety and well-being of our Scouts and volunteers, BSA is implementing changes in the way it processes adult applications beginning Jan. 16.

The biggest change is that adult leaders will not be allowed to participate in unit... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/new-rules-for-adult-applications-beginning-jan-16-2024'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/new-rules-for-adult-applications-beginning-jan-16-2024</link>
      <comments>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/new-rules-for-adult-applications-beginning-jan-16-2024</comments>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 29 Jan 2024 01:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Why I Support Scouting: Mark Dunn</title>
      <description><![CDATA[My years at Camp Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan convinced me that the camp program was the key to the success of Scouting, and I support the camp to ensure that it is available to all future Scouts.

I attended Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan as a camper from 1968 to 1974 and served... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/why-i-support-scouting-mark-dunn'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/why-i-support-scouting-mark-dunn</link>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:50:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>5 Questions to Ask Yourself About Accessibility in Scouting</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Accessibility is the concept of whether a product, service or activity can be used by everyone. I think of accessibility as inclusion with its sleeves rolled up. How do we ensure that Scouting is accessible to all?

We often think of accessibility ... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/5-questions-to-ask-yourself-about-accessibility-in-scouting'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/5-questions-to-ask-yourself-about-accessibility-in-scouting</link>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 20 Jan 2024 14:05:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Feature Scout: Zachary</title>
      <description><![CDATA[In November, I earned my 139th merit badge, which is all the merit badges a Scout can possibly get. It is something that only 1 in 26,000 Scouts accomplish.

I decided to make this my goal while I was still in Cub Scouts. I loved to wear my brag... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/feature-scout-zachary'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/feature-scout-zachary</link>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 20 Jan 2024 05:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Outdoor Committee Needs Volunteers to Maintain a Successful Program</title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Northeast Illinois Council thrives with more than 15 dynamic committees to deliver a standout Scouting program for youths in our communities. From Local Adventure Days to fishing, nature trails, and archery and rifle programs, NEIC’s Outdoor... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/outdoor-committee-needs-volunteers-to-maintain-a-successful-program'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/outdoor-committee-needs-volunteers-to-maintain-a-successful-program</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Strive for Equity So Everyone Can Be Successful in Scouting</title>
      <description><![CDATA[Many people hear the words equality and equity and assume they are the same. At their core, these two words are related, but their meaning is nuanced. Equality is giving people the same things and assuming that they benefit from the same supports,... <a href='https://neictrain.i7demo.com/strive-for-equity-so-everyone-can-be-successful-in-scouting'>read more</a><div class='excerptspacer'>&nbsp;</div>]]></description>
      <link>https://neictrain.i7demo.com/strive-for-equity-so-everyone-can-be-successful-in-scouting</link>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jan 2024 23:09:00 GMT</pubDate>
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