Liv Pilon currently serves in the role of Senior District Executive at the Great Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America. Before joining the BSA, Liv graduated from Kent State University with a degree in Sociology and will be returning to KSU in January to begin her master’s in public administration.

In her role at GTC, she is responsible for the recruitment of new families to the program, the management of volunteers, and the fundraising efforts in the greater Akron Community. In addition to these responsibilities, Liv leads GTC’s Adaptation, Inclusion, and Diversity Committee, the Council’s annual food drive, and their recruitment event for girls known as “Her Next Adventure.” She is very excited to share the ways the BSA is shaking things up in the community!

 
The Great Trail Council (GTC) is the local branch of the Boy Scouts of America, and it serves over 6,000 families in Mahoning, Trumbull, Portage, Summit, and Medina Counties. The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
At GTC, programs being offered to youth in the community include:
  • Cub Scouts (for girls & boys grades K-5) –  where youth develop the foundations for leadership, citizenship, & personal fitness through fun activities. 
  • Scouts BSA (formerly known as Boy Scouts – for boys & girls ages 11-17) – where youth develop outdoor survival skills, self-confidence, & ethics through youth planned activities with increased attention to service, community engagement, and leadership. 
  • Venturing (for girls & boys ages 14-20) – high adventure program where Scouts experience positive mentorship and develop leadership skills in a fun, supportive environment.
  • Sea Scouting (for girls and boys ages 14-20) -- maritime program that provides a fun, safe environment for Scouts to learn, build friendships, & develop character.
  • Exploring (for girls & boys ages 10-20) -- connects boys and girls with mentors, businesses, and agencies within their communities to help them discover future career paths. 
Ways the BSA is staying relevant in the Akron community even after 112 years:
  • EXPLORING: GTC partners with 8 of the 9 middle schools in Akron to provide an after school Exploring program to youth. Through this program, youth gain hands on experiences from professionals in an array of industries, ranging from engineering, police work, cosmetology, and performing arts.
  • HER NEXT ADVENTURE: In 2019, the national organization of the BSA welcomed girls into all five programs. In an effort to show women in Akron and surrounding communities that their doors were open, Great Trail hosted an event known as “Her Next Adventure” in 2021 and 2022. This event served as an introductory day for girls and their families to experience the Scouts BSA program. The event was led entirely by girls in the program to showcase the BSA’s emphasis on leadership development.
  • BUILD THE ADVENTURE: Through local partnerships with other community organizations, GTC and a team of dedicated volunteers will be piloting a program, known as Build the Adventure, in the Middlebury neighborhood to address one of their most under-served neighborhoods. This program will involve greater supports, both through financial and volunteer help, from the Council to families in Middlebury to ensure the program can succeed.
  • ADAPTATION, INCLUSION, & DIVERSITY COMMITTEE: At GTC, a team of volunteers lead the Adaptation, Inclusion, & Diversity (AID) Committee to take efforts to ensure every child can find a home in Scouting. The AID Committee partners with Summit DD to provide two Inclusion Specialists to assist with summer programs, to provide to job sites for students in the Summit DD program, and to teach staff and volunteers on ways to support youth with Autism.
To check out the programs available at GTC or to offer support, please visit their website at www.gtcbsa.org. For interests in collaboration with GTC, please contact Liv Pilon at Olivia.Pilon@Scouting.org or (234) 900-5894.
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