What is the Discover Scouts Program?
Discover Scouts is the dedicated outreach initiative of the Northeast Illinois Council, committed to uplifting underserved communities through Scouting. Our innovative approach involves:
- Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with youth-centric organizations to expand our reach.
- Supportive Funding: Subsidizing Scouting units to make the experience accessible to all.
- Professional Leadership: Ensuring quality guidance for every Scout.
Our Goal: To offer a complete Scouting experience, enriched with life-long benefits, to underprivileged youth in our council footprint.
Betsy Pondelik runs a Discover Scouts program at West Elementary in Zion as an after-school activity. They just recently held their Pinewood Derby. Hear directly from Betsy on how Discover Scouts is making a difference.
When we think about what children need to succeed, we often focus on academics—reading levels, math scores, test results. But for many of my students, especially those considered at risk, the most important lessons aren’t found in a textbook. They’re found in connection, in confidence, and in belonging.
That’s where Discover Scouts has made an incredible difference.
I am a special education resource teacher in Zion and I work with 3rd through 5th grade students—kids for whom many parts of school do not come naturally. Some of them struggle socially. The baggage that many of our students carry with them can make it hard to trust others or to feel like they belong anywhere at all. And for those students, school can feel like a place where they are constantly being measured… and sometimes falling short.
But Discover Scouts offers them something different.
In Discover Scouts, every child has a place. There’s a structure, yes—but there’s also acceptance. There are expectations—but also encouragement. These students, who may hesitate to raise their hand in class, suddenly find themselves working as part of a team, solving problems together, and celebrating each other’s successes.
And you can see the impact in the smallest, most human moments.
Every Monday, something special happens in our school hallways. As Ms. Jukovich and I walk through the building, we’re greeted with huge smiles, waves, and excited voices calling out, “Is it today? Do we have Scouts after school?” These are students who, on other days, might keep their heads down or move quietly from class to class. But on Mondays, they light up. They’re not just coming to school—they’re coming to something they belong to. That excitement, that sense of anticipation, tells me everything I need to know about what this program means to them.
They learn how to introduce themselves. How to listen. How to lead—and how to follow. They learn that their voice matters.
And maybe most importantly, they learn that they matter.
I’ve seen students who once stood on the sidelines begin to step forward with confidence. I’ve watched friendships form between kids who might never have spoken to each other otherwise. I’ve seen moments where a child realizes, “I’m good at something. I can do this.”
And nowhere is that pride more visible than during our Pinewood Derby.
On race day, the energy in the room is electric. Students gather around the track, eyes wide, cheering for their cars—and for each other. Cars they designed, built, and painted themselves race down the track, and for those few seconds, nothing else matters. I’ve seen students jump up and down with pure joy as their car crosses the finish line. I’ve seen high-fives, laughter, and even gracious smiles after a loss. In those moments, they aren’t defined by their struggles—they’re defined by their effort, their creativity, and their courage to participate.
That kind of transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It happens through small, consistent experiences—earning a badge, completing a project, helping a teammate, being recognized for effort. Each moment builds not just skills, but identity.
Discover Scouts creates a space where it’s safe to try, safe to fail, and safe to grow.
For at-risk students, that sense of safety and belonging is everything. Because when a child feels like they belong, they begin to engage. When they engage, they begin to grow. And when they grow, they begin to see a future for themselves that is bigger than their current circumstances.
Programs like Discover Scouts don’t just fill time after school. They shape lives.
They teach resilience. They build character. They create community.
And for my students, they have opened doors—to friendships, to confidence, and to a belief in themselves that will carry far beyond elementary school.
So when we talk about supporting at-risk youth, we have to look beyond academics alone. We have to invest in the whole child.
Because every child deserves to feel seen. Every child deserves to feel capable. And every child deserves a place where they truly belong.
For many of my students, Discover Scouts has become that place.
And that has made all the difference.