Friends of Scouting

Longhorn Council is a nonprofit Scout organization that provides services, programs, camps, and facilities to over 30,000 youth each year in 23 counties in North and Central Texas. The Council supports Units just like ours through providing and maintaining camping facilities, providing adult training and a professional staff that supports these functions as well as new unit and recruitment support. Of the money recently paid for registration, $0 is retained by the Council. The registration funds are passed on to the National Office to fund their operations and programs... so how do we continue to be so awesome?  Through Friends of Scouting of course!

At our January Pack meeting, we presented the Friends of Scouting campaign and distributed pledge cards.  We also gave information at the Blue and Gold and passed the hat.  I want to further reiterate the importance of this campaign not only for our Unit (please keep reading as there IS a considerable savings we receive by meeting our goal) but it also helps strengthen our Council and provides the infrastructure for the camps we are able to reserve and enjoy -- FREE OF CHARGE. 

We are so blessed that not only Pack 1910, but also Troop 1910 have both been leaders in many aspects of Council and District Operations. We have several youth and adults on summer camp staff, training committees and training faculties and we provide leadership at the District and Council levels.  We represent... this should be no different!

Our Council's projects are funded with Friends of Scouting contributions by Scouting families and business leaders, popcorn, Camp Card sales, and activity fees.

So, as you can see, the Friends of Scouting is a critical fund-raising campaign that assists the Longhorn Council in offsetting program costs and enables them to continue providing quality service. The true cost of Scouting is much greater than what local dues, camping and event fees cover.

Our Unit goal this year is $1,500 and by meeting that, we will receive FREE RANK ADVANCEMENT for our Unit (this includes the rank patches, all adventure loops and activity pins). We have always exceeded our goal and want this year to be no different!   If we can get each of our unit families to do a minimum of $30 donation to the FOS drive, we will exceed our goal!

Unit insurance per Scout went up this year from $2.50 to $15 per Scout (adult and youth). If we are unable to meet our FOS goal, we will have to raise dues to cover the cost not only of the advancement insignia (which we now get for free because of meeting last year's goal), but also the cost of the insurance increase. 

So, helping us meet this goal for our Unit, proves to be a savings to us both!  Without the dues increase to cover these two changes that took place January 2019, we would operate in the red per scout per year.  That's no bueno!

SO the next burning question is...

WHO WANTS TO BE THE SOURCE OF CELEBRATION?

PLEASE HELP US MEET OUR GOAL!

The pledge can be a one-time gift, it can be a monthly or quarterly contribution – however it makes sense for you to meet your commitment, Friends of Scouting can accommodate your request. No gift is too big... no gift is too small...

Please go to www.myfos.org and register your commitment to the campaign TODAY! On the site, you will be able to make your pledge and schedule your payment(s) according to your own needs. (Note: Make sure you designate Pack 1910 when you make your commitment so we can accurately record it to our Unit's campaign).

Pledges are tax deductible! Please consider a pledge to the 2019 Friends of Scouting Campaign to help the Pack hit our goal. If you completed a pledge card and need to turn it in, please scan and e-mail it to April Driggers.

Spring Family Campout

One of the things all boys look forward to in Cub Scouts is CAMPING and it's almost time! Make plans to join us for our Spring Family Camp Out March 29-31.

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

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 just 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.

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! That's definitely something you never want to not have and need.)

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 Arrowhead Camp and Retreat Center, you won't necessarily need a ton of supplies.

Camping is definitely one of the highlights of any Cub Scout's year. Campouts are fun occasions where we get to come together as a Unit and we all have a blast. We have great food and a fun experience for the whole family. 

Be sure to complete THIS ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM and submit payment no later than March 4 at the Parent/Committee Meeting.

We will take a day trip to Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose for an afternoon of hiking.  Be sure to check out the camping event on Scoutbook for more information.

Save the Date for Summer Fun

One of the best parts of Scouting is the outdoor program -- it's awesome and that is very intentional! Our goal is always to keep the OUT in scOUTing!

Another fun perk of being involved is collecting cool insignia and patches. The Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award is one of those special awards that can only be earned by attending one of the District-sponsored Summer Day Camps or by attending one of the Cub Scout or Webelos Resident Camps. Resident Camps are overnight experiences held at Sid Richardson Scout Ranch, Worth Ranch and/or Tahuaya). You can read all about Resident Camp HERE.

Today, however, I'm specifically talking about Day Camp! Our summer day camp is organized by some great volunteers whose only wish is that your Scout has an exceptional experience.

Mustang District Summer Day Camp is an annual themed week-long adventure that will take place Monday - Thursday at Camp Burnett in Southlake, usually the first Monday after school is released for summer. The cost is about $100 per "camper" and that cost can be reduced greatly by participating in one the Camp Card fundraiser that will start at the end of February.

Attending Day Camp will enable your Scout to earn the Outdoor Activity Award pictured below.

Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos and AOL Scouts are eligible to earn this award which is sewn onto the uniform pocket flap.

Read all about it HERE.

Because attending either Day Camp or Cub Scout/Webelos Resident Camp is a required component for earning this award, I would suggest starting work on this optional award in June after attending District Day Camp. That gives you a full year of Scouting to fulfill the requirements. We have an awesome program that will allow for it to be completed easily with your continued involvement each month.

Better yet -- the Outdoor Activity Award can be earned every year. The patch is awarded once and then pins are awarded for the additional years it is earned.

So, save the date... the first week of June for MUSTANG DISTRICT DAY CAMP! More information coming soon.

Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.

The best news is that anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, or anywhere in the world.

Each checklist submitted during the GBBC helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how birds are doing, and how to protect them and the environment we share. Last year, more than 192,000 participants submitted their bird observations online, creating the largest instantaneous snapshot of global bird populations ever recorded. A record 6,310 species were identified and more than 176,000 checklists were turned in.

The 22nd annual GBBC will be held Friday, February 15, through Monday, February 18, 2019.

Pack 1910 has coordinated a February Pack hike to coincide with this event. Be sure to check out ScoutBook for the event information and make plans to join us! Thank you Mr. Strong for organizing this event again!

The first thing is to register. Next you count. Then you report. Three simple things that make a HUGE difference! Check out the informative links below.

Downloadable instructions can be found here.
A how-to slideshow can be found here.
Birding apps can be found here.
Bird lists can be found here.
Online bird guide can be found here.

Join us and get out there and get counting.

Become A Reading Warrior!

Become a READING WARRIOR and get whisked away on time-traveling adventures with Jack and Annie! All you have to do is enter for a chance to win a copy of the newest Magic Tree House book Warriors in Winter you can also win an exclusive, limited-edition Magic Tree House patch! Here’s how:

• Read any two Magic Tree House books or two chapter samplers on the Magic Tree House site between now and March 15, 2019.
• Once you’ve finished, answer the question on the form below. The first 1,000 entrants earn the exclusive Magic Tree House patch.
• All warrior readers who complete the form are eligible to participate in a drawing for the newest Magic Tree House book, Warriors in Winter. Twenty entrants will be randomly selected to receive the book.

Start your Magic Tree House adventure today!
LINKS HERE