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Scouts BSA Troop 188 is a BSA Quality Unit is located in Lake Villa, Illinois and serves Northern Lake Country. The Troop is a member of the North Star District within the Northeast Illinois Council. The Troop was founded in 1965 and is currently comprised of nearly 120 Scouts and 60 Leaders. Our Troop is chartered by Lake Villa United Methodist and meets at the Lake Villa Township Center located at 37850 N. IL Hwy 59; Lake Villa, IL. 60046.   The Troop firmly advocates being a "Scout Run" troop. Our scouts develop, plan, and execute the program - meetings and outings. They are responsible for choosing the meeting topics and delivering the content. They are also responsible for selecting outing types and locations and then working through their planning and execution. We follow this approach because we find it provides the best learning experience possible. Many troops advocate this approach, but we believe we take it further than most. Our goal is to build leaders utilizing the Scout Oath and Scout Law as guidelines. Each scout has an opportunity to develop character, citizenship, and physical and mental fitness. Focusing on an outdoors-oriented environment, the members of Troop 188 are provided with opportunities for leadership development and the learning of skills in a variety of areas. We provide many opportunities to advance through the Scout ranks - we are proud of our many scouts that have made it to the Eagle Rank. The over-riding principals are that the scouts are provided a safe environment to grow and develop and in the process, have fun. We meet most Thursday nights at 7 pm in the main meeting room at the Lake Villa Township Center, located in Lake Villa, IL. Interested youth (both male and female), and parents are always welcome and invited to visit. For more information, please email scoutmaster@lakevilla188.mytroop.us

SEARCH AND RESCUE - NIGHT ADVENTURE

Posted by jhertzke on Mar 13 2025 - 7:22pm

Need a group of 3-5 scouts and one adult leader to work as a team
as you navigate a series of skill stations in the dark.
All based on real life Search and Rescue. 
March 29th through March 30th, 5 pm to 2:30 am.

SIGNUP

BSA TEST LAB -- MARCH 15th

Posted by jhertzke on Mar 9 2025 - 11:28am
The Scouts BSA Test Lab is an exciting way to help in the development of fun and interesting new topics unique to the Scouts BSA program. The requirements for each badge have the look and feel of merit badges, but instead of a printed pamphlet, you will find links to digital resources to help you complete the requirements. The potential Badges being offered are Auctioneering, Wild Fire Management and Life Skills. 
 
Please join us as we get to be Beta Testers for these potential new badges. 
Location Lake Villa Township West ( Troop Meeting place) 
Date and Time: 03/15/2025 from 9am to 3pm.
There will be a lunch break from 12 noon to 12:30. 
Scouts will need to be in Class A uniform.
Bring a packed lunch and drink, Water Bottle and great PMA!
Be ready to discuss the requirements during class. 
 
More information will be forthcoming. 
 

Please reach out to Mr. Grant for any questions you have. 

SIGN UP

Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Payment Due

Posted by jhertzke on Feb 17 2025 - 9:43pm

Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Summer Camp!!!! It’s my favorite (ok, you know the rest )

Makajawan payments are due! If you want to secure the $400 rater for MSR, payment is due to Chris Plescia by THIS THURSDAY, February 20.  Please contact Chris if you have questions about your scout account balance, payment plans, and/or scholarships. Cost for camp after this date will be $500. 
 
Scouts CAN still register for camp. How?
Sign up on the website AND email Mrs. Cook at kcook78@sbcglobal.net 

847-848-0732 

RECHARTER RENEWAL for 2024

Posted by jhertzke on Feb 10 2025 - 10:19pm

((THIS IS A REPOST OF THE EMAIL THAT WENT OUT TO ALL THE TROOP))))

Hi everyone, 

Its that time of year again!

This year’s recharter process is a bit different than last year.

HIGH ADVENTURE SIGNUP--- July 12--18th, 2025

Posted by jhertzke on Feb 10 2025 - 10:18pm

Jul 12 2025 - Jul 18 2025 

Location:Lost Creek Adventures, 21740 Siskiwit Lake Road, Cornucopia, Wisconsin 54827

Links to Merit Badge Opportunities

Posted by jhertzke on Feb 10 2025 - 10:17pm

 GO TO YOUR SCOUTMASTER TO REQUEST A MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR

Or 

Find an in-person class at a local organization 
a virtual class online, or
a Merit badge college
--BELOW ARE SOME GREAT RESOURCES to find Merit Badge Opportunities