Engineering Family Fun Day

We tried an event yesterday that was new to our pack, the Engineering Family Fun Day hosted by the Society of Women Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers at Dreher Park in West Palm Beach. We send out another big thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors; everyone who went had a great time!

The boys got to make a “robo-hand”, which was a fully articulated hand with cardboard bones, rubber band tendons, and string muscles that could be made to grip by pulling the strings. They also made a geodesic dome of toothpicks and gumdrops and learned why this is stronger than a structure with square walls.  Other projects included paper helicopters, lemon clocks, water filters, and “oobleck” (try it).  The event culminated in shooting off rockets made from 2-liter bottles and powered by soda and compressed air.  Who doesn’t love shooting off rockets?

The boys are already looking forward to attending again next year and we will help to share this with other area units.  Although it conflicted with SAW, it was a great option for the younger Cubs.  This was a great example of the fun that kids can have with science and engineering and I hope events such as this will encourage more youth to pursue these fields.

A Scout is Reverent

One of the special awards a Cub Scout can earn is his religious emblem.  Most major religious groups have developed programs enabling youth to explore their respective faiths.  The subsequent awards are not granted by the BSA but are presented by the religious instituted and recognized by BSA.  Scouts who earn these awards receive medals that can be worn on special occasions and may also wear knots, even once they become Boy Scouts or adult leaders.

In many cases, a religion will sponsor a series of awards to be earned by youth of specific ages.  If you are interested in this program, check out this website to learn more about the available awards.  Please see Dave, Clint, Trish, or your religious institution if you have questions.

The last point in the Scout Law is “A Scout is Reverent.  A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.”  It is important that a Scout explores his beliefs as he matures, and the religious emblem is a good means for him to do so.

Academics and Sports Program

In addition to earning their ranks and electives, Cub Scouts of all ranks can earn belt loops and pins in 53 academics and sports fields for subjects as diverse as kickball, astronomy, bowling, football, art, science, ice skating, wildlife conservation, skateboarding, and video games.

The full list and requirements for these are available online at http://bit.ly/bepnTo.  You may also find the list in your handbook, although the requirements are not printed there and must be found online or in a separate publication.

Each belt loop is meant as an introduction to the subject in order to expose the Scout to something he may or may not be familiar with.  By completing three basic requirements with the pack, in his den, or with his family he can earn the loop.

The pin requirements allow the Scout to go more in depth to learn more about a subject that may interest him.  Generally five more items must be completed in addition to the belt loop, usually selected out of a list of 8-12.

Please take a look at the list and encourage your Scout to work on one that may be in an area that interests him or that may coincide with something you are doing as a family.  For instance, if he goes to a bowling party, that may provide an opportunity to complete his bowling loop.  Or, if he plays on a soccer team, he could easily complete the corresponding pin.  He may enjoy photography, or that may be a hobby of yours that you want to share with him.  You will find that these make good ideas for family outings – take a Saturday afternoon and go ice skating or play tennis together, and work on the requirements while you are there.

You, as a parent, are “Akela”, which means you may sign off on these awards, but remember, requirements must be fulfilled after becoming a Scout.  Do not check off items because he did them over the summer or two years ago.  Make sure he knows he is working on the award and completing the requirements, otherwise there is no sense of accomplishment and the purpose is defeated.  Remember the Cub Scout motto, “Do Your Best!”  No more and no less is expected.

With the Academics and Sports program, the Scout learns, the Scout earns, and the whole family can have a lot of fun in the process!

#1 Overall Pack – Big Event

We had an awesome time at the Big Event at Tanah Keeta this weekend, “Scouting for Monsters”.  We took 14 boys and their families – 1 Webelos, 6 Bears, 2 Wolves, and 5 Tigers.  Eight of the boys were brand new Scouts.  Although we were short on Webelos, the experienced Scouts we had stepped up and served as great examples to all of our new joiners, who all had great Scout spirit and proved they have a lot to contribute.  This is going to be a terrific year and I couldn’t be prouder!

Not only were our boys a model pack, but they came away with first prize as the #1 overall pack in Tradewinds District – very impressive!  In keeping with the theme, we brought home a five-foot inflatable Frankenstein for our efforts.  The Loxahatchee Boys lived up to their reputations on the ranges by blowing everyone else away, especially at BB shooting where one den alone put up four of the top individual performances out of hundreds of boys.  They also enjoyed a Monster Quest scavenger hunt, the Monster Lab, a monster trivia challenge, and more. 

The hallmark event of the weekend was the Doom Buggy race.  Thanks to Mr. Clint for constructing our vehicle that the boys carried through an obstacle course, stopping to complete challenges along the way.  Our participants did their best while the rest of the pack cheered them on to a strong finish.

We closed the weekend with a fun campfire at Fort Blanchard Saturday night and a Scout’s Own service on Sunday morning.

For those of you who participated, thanks for coming.  I know you all had a good time and we enjoyed getting to know those of you who were there with us for the first time.  If you weren’t able to make it, we look forward to seeing you out at Corbett in November.

Year of Celebration Centennial Award

Don’t forget that your Scout has until the end of 2010 to earn the “Year of Celebration” centennial ribbons.  You can find the requirements here:

http://ww2.scouting.org/100years/100years/sitefiles/1000/YourSource/PlanningTools/A_Year_of_Celebration/BSA_Year_Patch_Earning.pdf

By completing three Cub Scout requirements for any one ribbon, he is eligible to receive that award.  There are a total of five awards available in all: Leadership, Achievement, Community Service, Character, and Outdoors.  When your Scout has completed the requirements for any one, let your Den Leader know the details and we can fill out an application for the award.

Leaders can also earn the awards using a different set of requirements, so please check them out for yourselves!

Bobcat award

New parents, I hope you are all working with your boys on their Bobcat awards. The Bobcat is the first award each new Scout earns, regardless of his rank.  The objective is for the boys to learn the basic elements of Cub Scouts. You can find the requirements in your handbook or at http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Bobcat.  Also, Tigers can earn a progress award when they have completed part of these requrements – the Cub Scout Promise, the Cub Scout Sign, and the Cub Scout Salute.

Find time to work on these before school, in the car, or before bed and before long your son will have them all down. At your den meetings, demonstrate to your Den Leader the requirements you have completed and he or she will record this.  Boys who have completed requirements by October 15 will be able to receive their awards at the October pack meeting.

Let’s encourage the boys to earn their Bobcats!  I’m sure they will be excited to be recognized for their efforts and to get their Cub Scout advancement journeys underway.

Leader Training

The Cub Scouts are serious about training for leaders. With training, we understand our common objectives and how to deliver the program in a consistent manner. We get the information we need and where to get additional tools and resources.

Youth Protection – New leaders must first take Youth Protection to learn BSA policies and procedures for how to keep our children safe from any opportunity for abuse. Parents are also encouraged to take this course so that they are just as familiar with this material. Leaders need to renew this every two years.

Leader Specific Training – Leaders also must have training on how to execute their positions, such as Den Leader, Cubmaster, Committee Chair, etc.

Roundtable – Once a month, leaders from around the district get together to learn about upcoming events and to share ideas with their peers from other units.

BALOO – Baloo is basic training on camping and outdoor policies and procedures for Cub Scout camping, both administrative and practical. Two leaders with BALOO are required at any campout.

OLS – Outdoor Leadership Skills is more advanced camping training, primarily for the Webelos and Boy Scout environment, with a focus on teaching outdoor skills to youth.

Pow Wow – Held once a year, this is a day during which many courses are offered on all sorts of topics, from how to organize a pack meeting, to outdoor cooking, to administrative topics, and more.

Wood Badge – The ultimate BSA training course, often referred to as the PhD or MBA of Scouting. This course teaches leadership and how to teach leadership in the Scouting context. Most Wood Badgers would testify that the experience is the highlight of their Scouting careers and is a life-changing experience.

Many other specific courses are offered, such as Range Officer training, Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, etc. for particular certifications.

Learn more about online training at http://www.myscouting.org and about other courses at http://scouting.org/training/adult.aspx.

Pack 147 has an active Pack Trainer to help ensure that we are fully trained and we make sure that our leaders meet all our requirements. This is just one more way we work to make sure that we deliver our boys a fun and quality program!

Kicking off 2010-11

Welcome to the new blog for Pack 147 in Loxahatchee, FL.  We meet at Frontier Elementary School.

We are all very excited about all the new Scouts we have had turn out!  Your boys have so much fun to look forward to!  Our returning boys will also be up for new adventures.

Please visit our website at www.pack147.com for the latest calendar and information.  We are kicking off den meetings this week at Frontier.  On Saturday, September 19 at 9am the pack is meeting at the Nature Center at Okeeheelee Park.  If you haven’t already, please RSVP to Lori Flynn if you plan to attend.  Anyone who wants to sign up who has not already done so can register at these events.

If you are not yet on our email list please contact me at cubmaster147@gmail.com or Lori at pack147@comcast.net. 

We are looking forward to a great year!