Blackhawk Area Council
The Blackhawk Area Council is chartered by the national council of the Boy Scouts of America. Blackhawk Area Council is headquartered in Rockford, IL and serves southwestern WI and northwestern IL. It runs Canyon Camp, located between Stockton and Apple River, IL, and Camp Lowden near Oregon, IL, and is served by Wulapeju Lodge #140. The Council was formed by the merging of the U.S. Grant Council in the west and Blackhawk Council in the east portion of what is now the Blackhawk Area Council. Formerly, the two councils each had one camp. The council also owns a cabin in Mount Carroll, IL. The word Wulapeju (one spirit) refers to the merger of the Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak (Chief Blackhawk’s name) Lodge and Wetassa Lodge #227 as part of the council merger.
Our Mission
To prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Youth training includes values, leadership, citizenship and service.
Membership
There are more than 4,000 youth registered in our program. These youth have recorded over 60,000 service hours as well as countless hours of service to the community that go unrecorded.
Location
Blackhawk Area Council is comprised of four districts which cover a twelve-county area throughout northern Illinois and part of southwestern Wisconsin.
Illinois Counties:
- Boone
- Carroll
- Jo Daviess
- Lee
- McHenry
- Ogle
- Stephenson
- Whiteside
- Winnebago
Wisconsin Counties:
- Grant
- Green
- Lafayette
Leadership
Each year more than 2,000 registered adult volunteers give their time and talents to bring Scouting to the 10,000+ youth shown above. These Scouters give over 1.5 million hours of volunteer service to our youth. They are supported by career Scouters, office staff and a camp caretaker.
Strategic Plan
Blackhawk Area Council (BAC) strives to “Be Prepared” and provide an outstanding Scouting experience. Our three-year strategic plan will focus on the three pillars that are most important to the overall and long-term success of Scouting in the Blackhawk Area Council: Membership, Program, and Finance. Through the goals and measurements in each pillar we aim to grow our membership, enhance our programing, and become more financially stable.
To review Strategic Plan, CLICK HERE
Funding
Blackhawk Area Council receives its funding from the following sources:
- Friends of Scouting+
- Popcorn Fundraiser
- Special Events
- United Way
- Camping and Activity Fees*
- Trust Income
- Other Sources
(+ Direct donations from individuals, companies and Scout families. * Fees are primarily used to cover camping and activity expenses.)
Governance
The council is governed by an outstanding volunteer executive board comprised of business and community leaders representing the twelve-county territory. The United Way provides additional review and accountability in the use of funds for delivering our program to youth.
Scouting Needs You
“No one stands as tall as when they stoop down…to help a child.”
Whether you have time to give, talents to share, resources to lend, or funds to contribute, we can put them to good use for the delivery of Scouting to more youth.