Frequently Asked Questions
The Northeast Illinois Council is your local office of the Boy Scouts of America. The NEIC is responsible for delivering the Scouting program in Lake and Northern Cook Counties. We serve about 9,000 youth and 3,000 adult volunteers across three districts: North Star (Northern Lake County), Aptakisic (Southern Lake County), and Potawatomi (Cook County - North Shore communities). North Star and Aptakisic are split by Rte 137/Buckley Road. Click here for a full list of the communities we serve.
The NEIC is staffed by around 20 professional Scouters and support staff who are responsible for unit service, fundraising, camp and activity operations, and administrative services. Our staff work directly with volunteers to provide the best Scouting programs possible. Each district has 1-2 professional staff members responsible for helping your unit be successful. Click here to find your district staff.
Each district also has a staff of experienced Scouting volunteers called commissioners to help guide units to be the best they can be. Your unit commissioner is your first resource for answers to your Scouting questions. If you are not sure who your unit's commissioner is, contact us here or call us at 847-433-1813.
A unit is a generic term used to describe any of these groups of Scouts.
Cub Scouts – open to youth in grades K-5. A group of Cub Scouts and their adult leaders are known as a pack and they are split up into dens by grade level. Cub Scouts go outdoors, serve the community, have fun, and are constantly learning new and useful skills.
Scouts BSA – open to youth in grades 5-12. A group of Scouts BSA members and their adult leaders are known as a troop and they are split up into youth-led patrols. Scouts BSA units camp, perform community service, participate in high adventure activities, and earn merit badges for learning and demonstrating advanced skill sets, all along their path to becoming Eagle Scouts.
Venturing – open to youth ages 14-20. A group of Venture Scouts and their adult leaders are known as a crew. Venture Crews are youth-led and youth-designed programs where a specific, often high-adventure based focus is chosen as the group’s main interest. From horseback riding to mountaineering, Venturing means adventure.
Exploring – open to youth ages 10-20. A group of Explorer Scouts and their adult leaders are known as a club (ages 10-13) or a post (ages 14-20). The Exploring program partners with local agencies, businesses, and organizations to provide a platform for career mentoring and hands-on exploration in a variety of employment fields.
Sea Scouts – open to youth ages 14-20. A group of Sea Scouts and their adult leaders are known as a ship. Sea Scouting teaches the skills and values of seamanship, water safety, and navigation, along with leadership and service to others.