Thursday, March 30, 2017

Severe Weather Protocol and Camping

Welcome to springtime in Texas! In light of the recent weather, we thought it would be wise to reiterate our severe weather protocol for Pack 1910.

The safety of our Scouts and their families is paramount to any Scouting function be it a den meeting, a Pack meeting or even a campout. We have adults who have taken Hazardous Weather training and are prepared - at a moment's notice - to do what is necessary to keep everyone safe. That being said, we wanted to remind our families of the following:

  • If KISD schools are canceled due to weather, Pack and Den functions are postponed until later notice.
  • In the event of an evening or special event (Pack meeting, field trip, etc.) and there is an active severe weather WARNING, those items will be postponed until later notice.

To note -- there is a difference between a WATCH and a WARNING.  We are talking about WARNINGS only.  In the event anyone else is a weather nerd, see the National Weather Service's explanation here.



TORNADO WARNINGS means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If in a mobile home, vehicle, or outdoors, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Warnings are issued by your local forecast office. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a tornado identified by a forecaster on Radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS mean that severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Take shelter in a substantial building. Get out of mobile homes that can blow over in high winds. Warnings are issued by your local forecast office. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or county) that may be impacted by an on-going severe thunderstorm.  

This... this is the prediction for this weekend.  This... will be no fun to camp in.  



Anyone familiar with the weather in North Texas knows that severe weather in Texas can take an immediate turn for the worse. During these times, we feel the safest place for our Pack families to be is together at home in your shelter. 

Please understand that we *never* want to cancel or postpone an event and will watch all weather reports to make the call at a time that is convenient for everyone to plan accordingly. We would rather make the right call late than the wrong call early. Canceling any plans is never something we will take lightly. However, we follow the idea of "safety first." Therefore, in the event of severe weather, please be checking your e-mail, the blog and with your den leader if you have any doubts as to the status of any event. 

We want to be sure everyone is on the same page. Thank you all for your understanding.


And yet, even though we would like to wait until the last minute to make the call, since there is a great deal of planning and preparation that goes into our weekend campouts, canceling them last minute can turn into a costly affair with food and such so we are rescheduling this weekend's campout to MAY 5.  We hope that everyone that was planning to can join us then and we hope that many more can make it!


Again, thank you for your understanding. We never want to miss an opportunity to get outside but we certainly don't want to risk the safety and livelihood of our Pack members and their families.  Please contact Chris Mahanna or April Driggers with any questions and be watching ScoutBook for updated information on the campout in May!

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

April's Parent / Committee Meeting

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!  You can RSVP on Scoutbook or just show up!  The meeting agenda link will be posted in the Comments field below the event on the ScoutBook calendar.  We ask that you please print your own (no wasted paper).

The meeting is at 7pm at the Scout House on Monday, April 3.  We will be finalizing the Pack Meeting, discussing Pine Wood Derby, the Spring Campout and more.  Come join us!

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Spring Community Service


We are doing something extra special for our May Pack meeting so to make it even better, we are going to do a community service project in April.

Be sure to check your e-mail for a very special opportunity to give back to the men and women in blue who serve our community.

E-mails from Sign Up Genius were sent out Friday. If you didn't receive yours, please contact April.


Thursday, March 23, 2017

BSA Weekend with the Rangers



Scouts, Family, and Friends are encouraged to attend the annual Scout Weekend at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Choose from three great games and watch your Texas Rangers take on the Los Angeles Angels. All tickets purchased through this offer will receive a commemorative Scout patch.

Attend the game on Sunday, April 30th, and take part in the pre-game parade around Globe Life Park. To take part in the parade, Scouts are encouraged to wear their uniforms and must report to the third base ramp just inside the southwest airlines third base gate at least one hour prior to the start of the game. Parents/guardians will be asked to wait for their children by the ramp outside of section 9. Scout leaders in uniform are allowed to participate in the parade.

Click the image below to be taken to the order form or click HERE.


Wednesday, March 22, 2017

The Maker Spot



We had a great time at the North Richland Hills Public Library last night for Pack 1910's March Pack Meeting. Thank you to those who made it out!  

It's not even a remote understatement to say that the staff there is absolutely passionate in what they do, they are so excited to help the visitors learn and experience all there is. Plus, they are ALL ABOUT THE KIDS!!  It was awesome to see their little brains just clicking away inside as they explored each station.

We had an awesome hostess explain the process of 3D printing and they got to watch a demonstration of it printing a sleeping dog.



If you wish to share the photos you took with the Pack, please let April know and she will add you to the Pack's link to upload directly to our Google Photos.  Until then, check out the few we have here.

We had several families get a new library card so they could explore more and visit The Maker Spot in the future with their Scout.  I think that qualifies as a win!  If you're interested in more information or their event calendar (we had several asking about their classes), please see their website HERE. As she explained they release their calendar of events for the upcoming month a week in advance so you can check your schedule but the registration doesn't go live until the first business day of the month and remember classes fill up quickly!  The event calendar is HERE.

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Pinewood Derby Rules are Out!



The official rules for the Pinewood Derby have been approved and are posted on the Google Drive. You can access those HERE.

Be sure to RSVP on Scoutbook!

All new this year will be a LEGO derby car race for our Lions!



See THIS POST for all of the Derby information or make your way over to our Pinewood Derby Page on the blog.

Race Day is April 29!

Friday, March 17, 2017

Camping!

One of the things boys all look forward to in Cub Scouts is CAMPING and it's almost time! Save the date for March 31-April 2 for our Spring Family camp out!



Unless you have an open-ended bank account, don't run out and buy every piece of gear you think you need at REI (but if you want to, please let me know and I'll give you my list, too!) The best thing to do when starting to acquire gear is to start small and simple so that you can discover what your family needs... grow from there. There are plenty of seasoned camping veterans in our pack that have gear to spare so don't hesitate to put the word out if you need to borrow something.

Cub Scout family camping is also referred to as "car camping." With a large enough vehicle, you're fortunate enough to be able to take just about everything AND the kitchen sink with you. But for the amount of time you'll be there, it's really not necessary. Though, a few creature comforts are definitely worth it!

For our campout at Hills and Hollows, however, you won't necessarily need a ton of supplies. 

To begin, you need something to sleep IN, something to sleep ON, something to wear, personal toiletries and light. (Oh... and toilet paper! Don't forget the toilet paper!)


Below is a somewhat detailed packing list with a few notes to give anyone who needs that itemized list a few extra ideas.


Are you a little “camping-shy”? Don’t let it hold you back!! Do it for your son – he’ll love you for it!!

Camping is the highlight of a Cub Scout year!! Campouts are always fun occasions and the kids and adults have a blast. We do camping with cars not far from the tents. We have great camp food, and a fun experience for the whole family!! 


Sign up HERE for the camp-out. MARCH 26 is the DEADLINE TO RSVP AND PAY



Need gear? Don’t worry. We have you covered. 
Just send us a message and she’ll help you out!

Camping Do's:


  • Practice setting up your tent before you get on the camping trip. Make sure it is complete and you know how to put it up. Of course we will help you but you don’t want to get out there to realize you don’t have stakes or poles!
  • Plan on it getting colder than you think – you can always take off a layer or remove a blanket. Put a sheet inside your sleeping bag it keeps it clean inside and will give you a layer of warmth or a layer of cool.
  • Bring rain gear – you never know what the weather will be
  • Change clothes to sleep in. (will keep you from getting cold due to moisture in the fabric from the day and you never know what you have on your clothes that you are bringing into your tent…poison ivy)
  • Always have a tarp under your tent. Make sure none of it sticks-out from the bottom of the tent or it will collect rain and make the inside of your tent wet.
  • Allow your son to do as much of the work while camping as possible (help putting up the tent, carrying stuff, etc). HE CAN DO IT!! And will be proud that he did it.
  • Store food, candy, toothpaste in your car or animal proof container but NOT your tent. They can smell it!
  • Maintain the buddy system & Youth Protection Training (YPT) at all times


Camping Don’ts:


  • Never sleep in a tent with a child who is not your own. – BSA rule
  • No alcohol anywhere, anyhow, anytime. – BSA rule
  • No smoking in sight of Cub Scouts. – BSA rule
  • Never leave candy/chips or candy/chip wrappers or food of any kind in your tent or in your clothes in your tent. Animals can smell it. This includes toothpaste, open Gatorade and other soda cans, etc. If in doubt leave it in your car.
  • Cub Scouts should not have/use knives in Tiger & Wolf ranks. Bears and higher ranks may bring pocket knives if they have completed the “Whittling Chip” pocket knife achievement and have their Whittlin’ Chip card or badge. No knives with a blade longer than the width of a child’s palm. – BSA rule.
  • Avoid 100% cotton clothing…think wool or synthetics. Cotton stays damp and makes you feel cold.
  • Leave behind Nintendo DSs, iPods, or other electronics/game systems. This is the boys’ opportunity to get away from all that. Besides, they could get damaged or lost.
  • No precious toys/ jewelry – could get damaged or lost.


After camping:


  • Air-out your tent, tarp, and sleeping bags as soon as you return home to allow condensation to dry-out (otherwise you get a musty smell that is hard to get rid of).
  • Store your sleeping bag loose when you get home, not in its stuff-sack, or it will lose loft (loft gives it warmth).


Are you ready for some….FUN?!?!?! We will deliver. Our focus is on age-appropriate Cub Scout activities for the scouts and their siblings. We’ll picnic, camp, hike and more! 

INDIVIDUAL CAMPOUT CHECKLIST FOR PACK OVERNIGHTER

Your Cub Scout uniform is required for the overnighter. Sturdy shoes, suitable for hiking will be useful. If your Scout has earned his Whittling Chip, he may bring his pocket knife. The following is a list of suggested equipment that may be useful on the campout.

BE SURE EACH CAMPER HAS A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE AND A MESS KIT OR SOMETHING TO EAT ON AND WITH (no paper plates, disposable cups, etc.)


CAMP
  • Tent (should come with stakes and guylines)
  • Plastic mallet (I keep this in my tent bag)
  • Tent footprint (this is a tarp to place beneath your tent to protect it from rocks, cactus, etc.)
  • Sleeping pad (unless you're okay with the ground) or air mattress (check the batteries on your pump -- we usually do not have electricity at camps. I've seen people use those cheap blow-up pool floats for their kids... they're quick, easy and if you pop a hole in them, no love lost as they're easily replaceable)
  • Cot (you won't want to use this in cold weather as the air circulating beneath you will make you colder)
  • Sleeping bags (with liners if it's chilly)
  • Extra blankets to keep in the car (just in case)
  • Pillow (though you can use your sweatshirt as a pillow as well to minimize your packing list)
  • One folding chair per person
  • Pop up shade
  • Folding table (though your cooler may work in a pinch)
  • Lantern / fuel
  • small dustpan and brush (I love having this in my tote to help clean up all the leaves, dirt and debris tracked into the tent)

CAMPING KIT
I like to keep a small tackle box prepped with various items that someone always seems to need including:

  • Multi-tool or knife
  • Glow sticks
  • Batteries (for flashlight or headlamp)
  • Bandana
  • Duct tape (it fixes everything)
  • safety pins
  • Caribeeners
  • scissors
  • q-tips

GEAR

  • Daypacks (to carry your gear for the day -- lightweight backpacks)
  • Headlamp (I find these are much better to use than flashlights because they keep your hands free)
  • canteen
  • Matches/lighter
  • Compass
  • Whistle
  • Sunglasses
  • Hammock
  • Rope

CLOTHING
The best motto here is BE PREPARED. I always keep an extra change of clothing in a bag in the car WITH socks and shoes that we hope to just put away at home when we return. However, if there is a surprise downpour, a slip and fall in the mud or a spill, we are prepared. Happy kids = happy parents = great campout! Your weather forecast IS YOUR FRIEND. Be sure to check it the day before you pack and then check the morning before you leave.

  • long sleeved shirts (moisture wicking is great, flannel is great - these are great to protect from the sun, bugs and to take the morning chill off)
  • sun-shielding hat
  • Bandana (these are handy for just about everything including makeshift first-aid)
  • Close-toed shoes suited for the terrain (NO open toed shoes, flip flops or sandals)
  • Socks
  • Sleepwear
  • Rainwear (a poncho in the daypack can be a lifesaver!)
  • Weather appropriate change of clothes (could be cold weather / could be shorts)

TOILETRIES

  • toilet paper
  • sunscreen
  • chapstick
  • insect repellent
  • hand sanitizer 
  • First aid kit
  • Toothbrush/toiletry kit
  • Brush/comb
  • Soap/washcloth (I like to take a small bar of soap OR cut up a large bar of soap into quarters and put it in a zip loc bag with the soap. Use that to wash your face, wring it out and put it back in the ziploc.
  • Deodorant (please! ha!)


OPTIONAL CAMPING SUPPLIES

  • Fishing gear (and license if over age of 17)
  • solar phone charger
  • binoculars
  • maps/guidebooks/local bird or wildlife field guide
  • books
  • decks of cards
  • frisbee
  • walkie talkies
  • umbrella
  • balls (soccer, football -- nerf is best, baseball/glove)
  • Hacky sack
  • Kite
  • geocaching kit with receiver
  • portable fan with batteries (yes, yes I have used this and NO, I'm not ashamed)

There are some fun websites out there with camping hacks that are super cool. Check those out HEREHERE and HERE

Again, the Spring Registration Form can be found HERE.  This is required for anyone attending. 

Registration fees are $10 per youth, $15 per adult. Payments can be made via cash, check payable to Pack 1910 or PayPal. Deadline for registering and payment is SUNDAY, MARCH 26.


There is a place on the form where you indicate if you are camping Friday night, Saturday night or if you're just attending for the Pack activities on Saturday. Please mark this. Once we have an idea of attendees, we will make and publish the menu.  Friday night dinner will be on your own. 

Camping for Cubs-page-001Again, please note that camping out Friday night is completely optional but many families enjoy the extra night in the spring air. Many, however, do come in Saturday morning after breakfast. Whatever works for your family is great -- JUST LET US KNOW so that we can adjust for the food! Just get them there!! Because, let's face it -- camping is a HUGE reason why boys WANT to be in Scouts!

When the BSA realigned the program for Cub Scouts, they made being outdoors an integral part of advancement.  Thus, camping is a required component for earning your Wolf, Bear and Arrow of Light.  Want to know what is required for those ranks?  Click the Camping for Cub Scouts image to see.  

All Pack 1910 camp outs are family friendly events so the whole family is welcome! Mark your calendars NOW to attend! 

Completed BSA Health Forms Part A & B are required for all parties attending. If you haven't turned yours in yet, please turn those in with your registration.


Thursday, March 16, 2017

Spring has sprung!



One of the best things about Texas is all the springtime flowers. We are known for our bluebonnets, aren't we? 

Do your Scouts know how to identify some of the most common Texas wildflowers? 

Here's a great site where you can have them click on the flowers to see if they know what they are! Maybe you'll spy one or two on your next hike!

Here's is a link to where the wildflowers have been spotted in case you're out and about.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Classes at REI

We are so blessed to be around not one but THREE of the best outdoor outfitters around. This entry, however, is specifically talking about REI.  Not sure you are aware, but our local REI offers classes at both their Fort Worth and Southlake locations that can help everyone feel a little more prepared for their outdoor adventures.


From classes on camp cooking to bike maintenance to backpacking to hiking... you can find something for everyone!  You do need to register online. Most are actually FREE so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Some (definitely not all) of the upcoming classes you might be interested are:

3/14 at 6:30 pm Camp Cooking Basics, Fort Worth
3/15 at 6:30 pm Paddling Basics, Southlake
3/21 at 6:30 pm Women's Backpacking Basics, Fort Worth
3/22 at 6:30 pm Camping Basics, Southlake
3/24 at 6:30 pm Camp Cooking Basics for Backpackers, Fort Worth
3/28 at 6:30 pm Climbing Knot Basics Class, Fort Worth (fee based class)

Log into their website and sign up for the class notices in case you might be interested in checking out a few.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Camp Cards are IN!

Attention Pack 1910 families.  If you reserved bundles of Camp Cards for your Scout to sell, they are IN!  Please contact April via text or e-mail to pick yours up.  



Please see THIS POST for all camp card information!  For every $10 camp card sold, $5 goes into your son's Scout account to pay for things such as camping goods, scout items, day camp, resident camp, event registration... no risk and everything to gain!  

All unsold camp cards are DUE back to April by May 1.  


Sunday, March 5, 2017

U.S.S. Lexington Overnighter


Save the date for an epic adventure!  Pack 1910 is going on an overnight trip this fall aboard the Blue Ghost, otherwise known as the USS Lexington!

Date: Saturday, Saturday 23, 2017 – Sunday, September 24, 2017
Location: U.S.S. Lexington, 2914 N. Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi
Cost: $55 per person (dinner and breakfast included) (11 camp card sales per person)
Dress code:  Class A and B uniforms required for all Scouts.

An adventure awaits Pack 1910 when we board the USS LEXINGTON for an overnighter like no other!  We'll hear stories from the ship’s illustrious past – covering topics like kamikaze attacks, the manpower it takes to navigate an aircraft carrier, and being named the “Blue Ghost” by Tokyo Rose herself. The chapters of this history lesson unfold over 11 different levels within the ship, giving their curious minds a hands-on experience that reflects on the sacrifices made by that patriotic generation, builds camaraderie, inspires love of learning and is just plain fun!

Our itinerary serves as a lesson plan and includes tours of the ship, stories of historical events from her past, a scavenger hunt, a movie in the 3D MEGA Theater, LEX ghost stories, a commemorative patch, two trips through the chow line, bunking in original crew quarters, an unforgettable flag ceremony and so much more!

We will be sending out a list with an itinerary, packing list, directions and more through Scoutbook and here on the blog.  Campers must be 5 years old and will be divided at night with males sleeping in one sleeping quarters, female in another.  Be mindful of that when making reservations.  

(If we have enough interest, we will charter a bus again for the journey.)

Note: RSVP, paperwork and payment due by Saturday, July 8

Friday, March 3, 2017

Back To Nature in Trophy Club

The City of Trophy Club has extended an invitation to Pack 1910 Scouts families and friends to join them for a day celebrating the great outdoors and Arbor Day. They will have wildlife demos, horseback rides, kayaking, fly fishing, food, crafts and more! The best part -- IT IS FREE!


If that wasn't enough, there's also an optional Family Camp Out that starts at 3pm that is $15 per person and includes archery, a wildlife exhibit, a scavenger hunt, live music, dinner and breakfast. Pack families please RSVP on ScoutBook (although you will need to register with them directly) to enable us to see who from our Pack is attending so we can all look for each other and be together!

PLEASE NOTE THAT is NOT the Pack's Spring Campout... just another fun family event that you might be interested in! :) Just so there's no confusion.


All registrations are done on their website: www.tcparks.org

You will need to create an account and then go to Activities: Outdoor Events to sign up.

Lions Tour The Fire House


As part of their Animal Kingdom Adventure that requires Lions to learn about people who provide services to our community, Lion Den 9 went to visit Keller Fire Station #4 and were welcomed by B-company who was on duty that night.  


We have an incredible group of firemen here in Keller!  Did you know that all of the firemen in our great city are also paramedics?  I thought that was very cool and how fortunate we are to have community service providers who are so prepared -- just like we want our Scouts to be!


The Lions learned about the gear... 


...the time limits they put on the firemen to get out of bed, in their gear, in the truck and out the garage (they average about 45 SECONDS!)... 


...the fire station... 


...the teamwork involved... 

...those Scouts saw what's in every nook and cranny of that gigantic ladder truck... we left no latched compartment unexplored!


...and they asked more rapid-fire questions for those guys were ready for!  

  

...Could he be any cuter?  I mean, seriously, folks.... it's just not possible!

Thank you Keller Station 4 for a great outing!

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

March Committee/Parent Meeting

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!  You can RSVP on Scoutbook or just show up!  The meeting agenda link will be posted in the Comments field below the event on the ScoutBook calendar.  We ask that you please print your own (no wasted paper).

The meeting is at 7pm at the Scout House on Monday, March 6.  We will be finalizing the Pack Meeting, discussing Pine Wood Derby, the Spring Campout and more.  Come join us!

STEM and Scouting

Have you heard about the Cub Scouts Nova awards and the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program? It is a Boy Scouts of America initiative to encourage boys’ curiosity in these integral fields of the future.

As part of the Cub Scouts Nova STEM program, boys can earn two different awards. The hope is that the requirements and activities for earning these awards stimulates interest in STEM-related fields and shows how science, technology, engineering and mathematics apply to everyday living and the world around them.


The NOVA Awards program has four Nova awards for Cub Scouts. Each award covers one component of STEM—science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Boys may earn a patch for the first award and a pi pin for each of the remaining three awards.

NOVA Pi Pin

NOVA Pi Pin The NOVA awards can be earned by working with your parent or adult leader.  

There are four modules for Cub Scouts and Webelos.





Science Everywhere – This sections helps boys discover how science impacts our every day life.






Tech Talk – Boys learn how far-reaching technology is.








Swing – Swing explores engineering and simple machines such as levers.







1-2-3 Go – Cub Scouts discover how and why math is such an integral part of our daily lives.

For a more intense study of STEM topics, Cub Scouts can work on the Supernova award

Unlike the Nova award where you as the parent can be the counselor, the Supernova award requires that boys work with a council-approved mentor. 


Do you work in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathmatical career and think you'd like to serve for our Unit as a Nova counselor for the youth seeking this award?  You simply need to complete an adult membership application. However, to be a Supernova mentor, you must complete THIS application as well. All Nova counselors and Supernova mentors must have current BSA Youth Protection training and certification appropriate for the programs being administered. 


To learn more about the Nova counselor and Supernova mentor roles, you can review materials HERE


Our Bears and Wolves can earn the Dr. Luis W. Alvarez Supernova Award. Webelos earn the Dr. Charles H. Townes Supernova Award. (
Lions and Tigers aren’t eligible for these awards.)

FAQs on the STEM/NOVA experience can be found HERE.