The Northeast Iowa Council, Boy Scouts of America, is made up of six divisions, each targeting a distinct population group and having its own methods of reaching our goals. The divisions are:
- Cub Scouts
- Boy Scouts
- Venturing
- Exploring
- Learning for Life
- Juvenile Diversion
Cub Scouts
Cub Scouting began in 1930 when the Boy Scouts of America created an opportunity for younger boys to experience an age appropriate activity. Cub Scouting stresses activities between the boys and their parents, as well as developing positive friendships with other boys.
Boys in the first through fifth grades are asked to do their best to live up to the Cub Scout Promise and the Law of the Pack. In these two codes, they promise to do their duty to God and their country, to help other people, to respect adults and to help their fellow Cubs.
Each boy becomes a part of a small group of 6-8 boys of the same age. They meet weekly with a Den Leader, usually one of the boy’s parents. Every den has an Assistant Den Leader and many have older Boy Scouts who serve as helpers known as Den Chiefs. Most dens meet in the home of the Den Leader.
Throughout a Cub Scout’s involvement, he is continually judged against himself. Has he put forth his best effort? Has he learned good citizenship? Does he take the easy way or does he do it the right way? Cub Scouting encourages parents to take time out of their schedules to listen and be involved with their sons.
Cub Scouts are introduced to outdoor adventure programs. Day Camps are conducted by the Council for boys, as well as weekend overnights for the boys and a parent. Family camping, pack picnics, day hikes and field trips are encouraged.
Most Cub Scouts participate in a unique program which encourages and recognizes involvement with athletics and academic topics outside of Scouting (i.e., community bowling league, little league, art and science). There are currently 20 sport areas and 7 academic subjects that boys may be recognized. Each topic has three levels - personal knowledge, team or competitive involvement, and working together with a parent.
Boy Scouts
The Boy Scout division welcomes boys who are at least 10 and one-half years old and have completed the fifth grade or those who are ages 11 through 17 years. In this division, they step up their commitment to a personal code of ethics as described in the Scout Oath and Law. The challenges, and activities are more complex. The outdoor program is more vigorous and rugged. Instead of camping for a night or two, boys are out for a week or more. The options of camps range from the local facilities to three different national high adventure opportunities.
The Northeast Iowa Council serves Dubuque, Delaware, Allamakee and Clayton counties. We have 36 troops with over 725 boys. The Council sponsors a weekend camp-out every eighteen months and each of our two districts sponsors a camp-out twice a year. Our Council has 84 boys planning to attend the three National High Adventure bases during 2006.
Boy Scouts are encouraged to earn their own way for the cost of activities and camping experiences. Troops generate additional income through approved fund raising projects to pay for troop equipment and supplies.
A Boy Scout works at his own pace in the advancement system. He must show Scout Spirit, complete the skill development at each rank, practice leadership, and perform a community service project. Each step of the way he has a personal counseling session with his Scoutmaster and a review by other adults in his troop. As he learns and progresses, a boy’s self-esteem and confidence continues to grow.
The highest rank in Boy Scouting is the Eagle Award. In addition to the knowledge gained, the ultimate test of an Eagle is his Eagle Service project. The Eagle Scout candidate must plan and implement a significant project for his community or church, not for the Boy Scouts.
Boy Scouts operate in patrols, which are small groups of five to eight boys. The patrol method allows the boys to experience group living and citizenship. One Boy Scout is elected to be the leader of his patrol, but everyone shares in the responsibility of making the patrol successful. Four to six patrols make up a troop, which is led by a Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters and a group of other adults.
We believe that if a boy attends his weekly patrol and troop meeting, participates in a monthly weekend troop outing, and attends long-term summer camp with his troop, that he will have spent about as much time with Scouting in a year as he spends in a school classroom.
Venturing
Venturing is for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age.
Venturing is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth, adult leaders, and organizations in their communities. The result is a program of exciting and meaningful activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow in character, develop leadership skills, and become good citizens.
Venturing crews can specialize in a variety of vocations or hobby interests. Venturing programs are developed around six experience areas of emphasis. They are: Citizenship, Leadership, Fitness, Social, Outdoor, and Service.
The methods of Venturing have been carefully chosen to meet the needs of young adults.
These methods include:
- Voluntary association between youth and adults
- Ethical decision-making
- Group activities
- Recognition of achievement
- Democratic process
- Curiosity, exploration, and adventure
An important goal of Venturing is to help young adults be responsible and caring people, both now and in the future. Venturing uses “ethical dilemmas” to help young adults develop the ability to make responsible choices. Because an ethical dilemma is a problem-solving situation, leaders expect young adults to employ empathy, invention, and selection when they think through their position and work toward a solution.
Exploring
Young adults (boys and girls) from ages 14 through 20 may be Explorers, if they agree to live up to the Explorer Code. Among other things, the Explorer Code challenges the high school student to be faithful to themselves and to maintain a personal sense of honor. It asks them to use fair play and goodwill daily and to seek the truth.
Explorer posts are organized by businesses and civic groups to allow adults to share their knowledge and expertise with young people. Some examples include:
Aviation: This specialty comprises a wide range of programs, including maintenance, operations, construction, airport management and aerospace. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and other aviation organizations have supported this popular program.
Law and Government: Supported by members of the Bar Association, this specialty provides Explorers with first-hand experience in America’s legal and court system through Law Day activities, mock trials and other law-related activities.
Medical and Health Careers: Endorsed by the American Medical Association and other national groups, this specialty helps prepare Explorers for the rigors of preparing to enter the health professions. School subjects like biology and chemistry can take on a whole new meaning to the Health Careers Explorer.
Learning for Life
The Boy Scout Learning for Life Program is a regional development and coordination organization for the elementary, junior high, and high school career education programs. Learning for Life utilizes the unique knowledge and representation of other organizations, civic and professional, to produce career programs of the highest quality for the lowest cost and supplement existing school programs. The program provides elementary, junior, and high school students with the skills necessary to make decisions, the development of positive character and values, and a thorough sequential visibility of career choices that will provide guidance to their school courses and preparation for meaningful lives.
This curriculum-based, in-classroom, education outreach program is supplemental in nature. That is it enhances, not replaces, the core curriculum already being taught. It offers a unique approach for serving large numbers of boys and girls, and especially those who are not likely to be reached by any other youth organization. The result is increased confidence in ones’ self and motivation for success and achievement through experiential
learning. This partnership in education with school and community, instills values of good character, good citizenship, personal fitness, helping others, problem solving and decision making.
Career education is considered a process consisting of three components:
• Learning about ones’ self,
• Learning about a career and the job market, and
• Learning to combine the first two components to make informed decisions
An important aspect of the Learning for Life program is the connection between career education and the school course content. Emphasis is placed on how school work leads to success.
Juvenile Diversion Program
The Juvenile Diversion program works with the Juvenile Court Services of Iowa and the Dubuque County Attorney in providing youthful offenders with a positive alternative to the court system. Young offenders participate in structured activities and group interactions which are intended to improve their understanding and perception of the legal and law enforcement systems; increase their self esteem; teach them better methods of communication; and improve their decision making skills.
Based on the seriousness of the offense, the young person is invited to participate in a twelve-week program or a six-week program. The twelve-week program meets every week over a six-month period; the six-week program meets every other week for a threemonth period. During this time the youth attends the meetings; completes 40 or 20 hours of community service work; and participates in the Challenging Outdoor Personal Encounter Course or tours the Men’s Reformatory. Members of the community are invited to the meetings to address the issues of the legal system, the probation/parole systems, law enforcement, and the correctional system. Other meetings typically include alcohol and drug education, volunteerism, careers, personal awareness and growth, and current community issues.
The goal of the program is to divert youth away from the court system and to reduce the recidivism among these participants. Since the program began in October 1995, 98% of the graduates have not returned to the Juvenile Court System with a subsequent offense.
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