Committee Meeting - January 4

PARENTS WANTED!!!  PLEASE ATTEND MONDAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING TO HELP THE PACK MAKE PLANS AND DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR SON'S SCOUT ACTIVITIES.

The Pack Committee helps ensure that our Cub Scouts are offered fun-filled and meaningful events through the year. 

Parents please attend and help enrich and strengthen our Pack. Topics include upcoming pack meeting plans, assignments for the next month and upcoming large-scale activities.  

We have a few leadership roles we would love to have filled and just by coming to these meetings -- you could help the Pack tremendously!

The meeting is at 7pm at the Hallelujah Center on Monday, January 4.  Finalizing the Cubanopolis, planning February's Pack Meeting and finalizing the Blue & Gold and other Pack activities as well.  

100 Books Every Boy Should Read

Boy's Life Magazine prepared a list of 100 books every boy should read.  While there are a few notables that (in my opinion) are missing from this list (I love books), it's definitely a great place to start building an awesome library for your young reader.  Never stop reading to your kids!

You can download the full list here.

Cubanapolis 500

January's Pack meeting is one you won't want to miss -- our annual Cubanapolis!

Just what is an Cubanapolis?  I'm glad you asked!  A Cubanapolis is a fun family event where the boys, prior to race day (and with their parent’s assistance) make a cardboard race car that they can wear and run with. Boxes were passed out at the December Christmas party. If you weren't able to make it, please get with your den leader ASAP to get your box!

The emphasis on this event is family fun and participation!  

We will, however, have some type of recognition for various categories for the construction and design of the cars -- so be creative!

Please make arrangements to pick up your cardboard box from your den leader if you did not get it at the December Pack meeting. YOU NEED THIS in order to make your car!

Car Making Rules:

• Body of car must be constructed of cardboard. Tape, tinfoil, paint, construction paper, stickers and paper plates can also be used for decoration.
• Use the box provided by the Pack.  It should fit around your son without being either too snug or too loose.
• No metal or glass materials may be used.
• No items can be hanging or dragging behind a car
• For safety reasons, cars should not have a ‘windshield’

Race Procedures:

• Each race will consist of 4 laps
• Each racer will need an adult present to be their pit crew

Each racer should bring 4 things with them on race day

1. Goggles or glasses or a swimming mask
2. A small towel or washcloth
3. A helmet (bike or ski helmet)
4. Gym-appropriate LACE up tennis shoes WITH socks.

Reminders will be sent out closer to race day. A couple of extras will be available, but certainly not enough for everyone. We will cover more of what the race entails the night of the race.  

For our annual Cubanopolis to be a success, we want to remind our scouts that what is important is that they do their best, play by the rules, show good sportsmanship, and have fun.

Preparation

The Cub will decorate the box to look like a race car (or a space ship, garbage truck, or any vehicle he wants. Construction paper, paint, tape, aluminum foil and markers are all great things to have on hand to spur creativity. Colored paper plates make great wheels. Be sure no dangerous materials (such as glass or metal) are used.

And as always, remind the boys that what is important is that they do their best, play by the rules, show good sportsmanship, and have fun.

There are all KINDS of samples all over the internet, but I've included a couple I found as well just for inspiration.  I can't wait to see the creative minds at work in our Pack!

Did You Know?

Did you know that 89% of the original astronaut corps (11 of the 12 astronauts who have walked on the moon have been an Eagle Scout?)

Did you know that 89% of the Senior Class of Presidents are Scouting alumni?

Did you know that 85% of Student Class Presidents are too?

85% of FBI agents, 72% of Rhodes Scholars, 70% of Naval Academy Grads, 68% of US Military Academy Grads and 63% of USAFA Grads are all among your Scouting alumni!

You've got some big shoes to fill kiddo!  Dig in!

Introduction to Map and Compass prior to CUB-O

Teach children the basics of navigation, and they’ll be ready for a lifetime of exploration

First, make sure the kids know what a map is and how it works. Sure, they might have seen you scratching your head over a road map a dozen times, but perhaps they’ve never actually used one before.

Choose a map of a place with which they’re familiar, such as a favorite park or campground. Don’t start with a large state road map or similarly scaled map, all those lines and colors are confusing.

Point out how to turn, or orient, the map so north is at the top. Find a compass rose or direction pointer, and explain how that works: When north is up, east is always to the right and west is always to the left.

If you’re working with a topo map, point out just a few colors and shapes: green for forested areas, blue for water, small black squares and rectangles for buildings. Don’t go into too many details about topographic lines.

Explain the concept of a scale. Let the kids measure one inch on the map and calculate how far that would be on the ground.

Next, pull out a simple compass, such as a Silva Starter.  

Many kids love technical details, so explain how the arrow floats in a liquid, the red pointer always pointing north. Show how they have to keep the compass level or the arrow can’t float freely.

Let them hold the compass and turn a complete circle, watching the arrow stay tracked to the north. Now that they have the basic elements of a map and compass down pat, it’s time to put the two together.

Have the kids place the map on a flat surface, and make sure they can point to north on the map. Now have one child place the compass on top of the map and line the direction of travel arrow so it points north.

Have another kid turn the map, without disturbing the compass, until the red arrow and the direction of travel arrow are aligned. Boom. Now both map and compass are pointing north.

The final step in Navigation 101 is to use the map and compass to actually navigate confidently from point A to point B.

All they have to do is find where they are on the map, and where they want to be.

They should align the compass so the baseplate connects these two points, then turn the compass dial until the north designation on the dial lines up with north on the map. Then they simply hold the compass and spin around until the red arrow is pointing to north on the dial. Start walking

as printed by: http://www.cabelas.com/category/Camp-Cabelas-Introducing-Kids-to-a-Map-Compass/914121180.uts?WT.tsrc=EML&WT.mc_id=email-aop&cmp=EP20151204&seg=cc&cnt=23

Robot Roundup

The Longhorn Activity Center has developed some STEM classes which will be held in 2016 at the Activity Center.  The First Basic Robotics Class was a success and they're looking to add more fun!  Upcoming classes include:

Introduction to Robotics - Learn the basics about what a robot is and how it functions in this hands-on class.  Cost is $60 for 6 weeks.

Beginner Programming - Lean how to program using Scratch.  Cost is $100 for 6 weeks course.

Snap Circuits - Learn about electricity and circuits in this hands-on course.  Cost is $50 for six week course.

Intermediate Robotics - Using Lego Mindstorm, students will build and program robots to complete specific tasks.  Cost is $180 for six week course.

Class days and times will be posted on the Facebook page and the Longhorn Activity Center website. For more information, contact Charity Drabik at 817-231-8514.

CUB-O

Save the date and make plans to join us Saturday, January 2 from 9am to 4pm at Cub-O, the annual Cub Scout orienteering event held at Sid Richardson Scout Ranch.

Cub-O is the most poplar orienteering event in North America. A fun day of hiking and friendly competition for Cub Scouts, parents, and leaders. Orienteering, the use of map and compass, to find locations and plan a journey, has been a vital skill for humans for thousands of years. Thousands of people participate in the sport each year in local clubs and competitions. Longhorn Council has two events annually for orienteering. One is for Cub Scouts (Cub O), and one is held for Boy Scouts (SCORE-O).

Lunch is included. Each team of 3-6 Cubs gets a Cub-O map half an hour before the race starts. Your goal is to hike in the woods and find as many of the 40 orange and white orienteering flags as you can.  Plan your strategy to score the maximum point total possible in 2 hours! 

Map training sessions for Cub Scouts and parents are held all morning.

Lunch will be served in the dining hall. Meal times are assigned to minimize the length of serving lines. Units may choose to do Pack Family Camping on Friday and/or Saturday night. The Pack is not coordinating this campout, but any family desiring to camp either night, please see April as we hope to have an event coordinator who will facilitate this event.    Volunteers are a GREAT GIFT.... HINT HINT

Scores will be available by Saturday night. After the event, each team's competition race maps will be available to pick up at the District Roundtable meetings in January or February. 

This is a rain or shine event: extreme inclement weather (ice or snow) may cause a one week postponement. Weather announcements will be made on the Longhorn Council Website and on our blog as well.

Sound like something you want to do?  Well, print out this registration form and get it to April by Monday, December 28 with payment.  Two adults are required to register per team.  Teams will be assigned based upon the number of cubs registered in our Pack.  We will do our best to keep dens intact and to have our Webelos I & II combined.  

From the registration form:  

Cub-O is an orienteering event designed for everyone to enjoy: dens that compete hard, dens that want an easy hike in the woods, and dens that want to teach their boys more about problem solving and map reading. All Tigers, Cub Scouts, Webelos, leaders, and parents are invited. Separate awards for each age group. CUB-O is the most popular Orienteering event in the USA! Over 1000 Cub Scouts, leaders, and parents participated in CUB-O every year since 1999!

It’s fast, exciting, and FUN. And it’s all Cub Scouts. The locations of 40-50 orange and white orienteering flags are marked on the map and you and your team will go hiking in the woods to find them – or most of them! Each flag has a hole punch that you use to mark your scorecard. Flags are worth 5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 points, depending on how hard they are to find. Your Den team will get a Cub-O competition map 20 minutes before the race starts. Then you plan a hiking strategy to find the most flags and score the most points in just 2 hours! You’ll stay warm ‘cause you’ll stay moving!

Cub-O is a team event for teams (Dens) of 3-6 Cub Scouts and at least 2 adults. Each team must have at least two adults registered for Cub-O. Be sure to dress warmly in layers and bring lots of water! Bring a compass and a watch so you’ll finish on time. All registered participants will get a Cub-O patch, our latest 5-color competition map, lunch and a great day of orienteering.

Additional attendees (attending, assisting, or camping, but not competing) can pay $6 for lunch and liability insurance only but must register and be prepaid. 

We are strongly encouraging our Bears and Webelos of both years to camp out at this event.  B'sides -- it'll be fun! Besides, they only way you're going to learn, is to be exposed to as many opportunities as they possibly can.

Please be sure you RSVP on the Scoutbook invitation if you plan to go and in the comments section, you can include if you are going to camp out.  ALL parents do not need to go on the competition.  We only need two leader per group who have been YPT Trained.  Otherwise, you are welcome to run around with your family, relax, read, enjoy the outdoors and take advantage of some down time!

December - A Scout is Reverent

How Does “Winter Wonderland” Relate to This Point of the Scout Law?

As winter comes, it brings with it a wonderland of snow, peace, beauty, and holidays. All of us come from different backgrounds and celebrate many traditions; each of our traditions gives us an identity and a sense of belonging. When we share those traditions and accept others’ traditions, we expand our circle so everyone feels like they belong. 

Whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or none of these, sharing valued traditions and holding true to what they stand for will help us understand others.  But no matter who we are or how we celebrate, we are all part of a great organization that has taught us to show reverence for others and their beliefs.

Join us for our monthly pack meeting at United Methodist Church of Keller. Our Gathering Activity starts at 6:15 PM and the meeting will begin promptly at 6:30 PM. Make sure your scout looks his best and sports some seriously seasonal headgear!

Brag Vest

Wondering what to do with all of your activity and service Patches?  One way to display them is with a Youth Patch Vest also called a "brag vest."

The vest can be purchased at the Longhorn Council Scout Shop or online at scoutstuff.org.