BALOO Training

 

Parents and Leaders - we are in CRITICAL need of more BALOO trained adults in our Pack.

What IS BALOO training?

BALOO training is the Cub Scout training required for any Cub Scout den or pack outdoor event, including pack and Webelos den overnight camping. BALOO certification is reached after completion of two components—one online and one practical, hands-on session (in layman's terms -- that means you'll be camping). Both components must be completed to qualify as a “TRAINED” Cub Scout outdoor leader.

The online component which must be completed prior to the practical component contains introductory and basic information that will be built upon during the camping. Cool thing... YOU CAN DO THIS PORTION RIGHT NOW in the comfort of your own home by simply logging into your my.scouting.org account (the same one where you took Youth Protection Training) and knock that out of the way! Talk about being proactive!

Why take BALOO?

Great question! I'm glad you asked. Here's the simple explanation: We cannot camp without BALOO trained adults -- not leaders.. but ADULTS (this means you). It's that simple.

As a Pack, we are not allowed to camp-out anywhere other than at a Council or District sponsored event UNLESS we have at least one BALOO trained adult. We should have at least one, if not TWO BALOO trained adults in EVERY DEN! Why?  Because eventually your scouts will be Webelos and you will need that to camp as a den.  

As a Pack, we have set a standard that we will have a minimum of two BALOO trained adults on every overnight event, because if there is only one.... and that person has to leave... the event has to end. The more BALOO trained adults we have in our Pack, the better off our entire program is.

We know not everyone can make every camp out which is why we need MULTIPLE PARENTS AND LEADERS to obtain their BALOO certification. This is not the time to rely on everyone else to ensure your Scout's program is the best one around -- THIS is a way YOU can make an IMMEDIATE DIFFERENCE!!!

BUT I'M NOT A TRAINED LEADER

So what? You don't have to be! Cool, huh? You only have to be an adult who wants to see our Pack's outdoor program continue and succeed.

SO, WHAT'S THE CATCH?

The catch is that... we need parents to attend! You need to take the training and then commit to being one of those BALOO trained adults who... ya know... actually comes camping with us!  The more that attend from the same unit, you can really bring some exciting things back to our outdoor program.

WHEN AND WHERE IS THE TRAINING?

Our Webelos leader, Suzie Donskey will be attending the upcoming BALOO training being held Friday, September 17 at 6pm to Saturday, September 18 at 5pm at Camp Burnett in Southlake -- you can't ask for a more convenient location.  REGISTER HERE

There's also the following courses available but those will take place the weekend we are at the USS Lexington.  If you're not going there, I'd encourage you to attend BALOO:

9/25-26 at Camp Wisdom in Dallas, 8am Saturday - noon Sunday. REGISTER HERE

9/25-26 at Hills and Hollows in Denton, 8am Saturday - 1pm Sunday. REGISTER HERE

Once you complete the course, you get a handy dandy business sized card that signifies you are indeed a BALOO trained adult. KEEP THAT CARD IN YOUR WALLET! It has to be on your person for overnight events. Oh, and Pack leadership -- we need a copy of that!

The only way to make our program BE the best one around, is to personally invest in it!

BALOO is one or two evenings with some amazing leadership and parents just like you who want to see their Scout's unit be awesome! Such a small investment with a huge payoff for everyone! Plus if you attend, you'll become one of my heroes. So who's going to sign up and join Suzie in September?

Scout Night at the Cleburne Railroaders

Membership has its privileges and one of those is to attend Scout Night at the Cleburne Railroaders!

Cost is $20 per person and includes: game admission, hot dog & soda, field access after the game for a SLEEP OUT ON THE FIELD, nighttime movie on the jumbo screen, Dutch oven cobbler cookoff and breakfast the following morning -- oh, and don't forget a patch!

Longhorn Council's own Executive, Wendy Shaw, will be throwing the first pitch.

Call and book your seats today or visit:  https://ilovetexasbaseball.com to register for this event enjoying America's favorite pasttime.

Who:  Scouts, friends and family

What: a night of baseball, movie and camping on the field

Where: 1906 Brazzle Blvd., Cleburne 

When:  Saturday, August 21, 7:05 pm

Why:  Cause... WHY NOT!?  Plus, it's cancer awareness night. 

Join scouts from all over Longhorn Council

Click the image below for the flyer.

Summer of Service - Artful Advancement

 

Artful Advancement

Attention Pack 1910 

Our goal is to bring our scouting and environmentally friendly ideals to the Keller Rock Art Trail, so we are painting rocks to share our message. This project can be done independently.

If you need rocks to paint please reach out to Keriane Cully. 

You can drop your completed rocks off at the Keller Rock Art trail anytime from now through the end of August. Look out for our Pack 1910 section!   (Can we all just take a moment and give some major props to Mrs. Cully for this AMAZING JOB?  SHE MADE ROCK HANDBOOKS Y'ALL!)

Don't forget to wear your Pack t-shirts and take a few pics.  

Also **super important** record your time painting for your service hours log.  Send those to Ms. Cully, too!

Helpful hints for rock painting: 

Sharpie Paint Markers work great for writing or drawing

You can seal your rocks with Mod Podge to help the paint stay on

You may want to write “Keller Rock Trail, do not remove” or something similar. We want our rocks to stay on the trail versus the usual “Keep or hide”

 

So, rock on and then hit the trail!  Can't wait to see all of your creations!

Something for everyone

We are blessed to be part of an amazing chartered organization that sponsors all five of the Scout Units so there's truly something for everyone!

Please feel free to share this page on our website with others you might know that would like more information on the units we have represented here at Keller United Methodist Church.

Cub Scout Pack 1910 for boys and girls in Kindergarten through grade 5

Scouts BSA Troop 1910 for boys in grade 6 through age 18.

Scouts BSA Troop 1920 for girls in grade 6 through age 18.

(Age requirements/specifics for Scouts BSA is as follows: completed the fifth grade and are at least 10 years old, OR have earned the Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old, OR are age 11 but have not reached age 18)

Venture Crew 1910 is a co-ed high adventure program for boys and girls 14-20 years of age (or at least 13 years of age and have completed 8th grade).

Sea Scouts Ship 1910 is a co-ed program for boys and girls 14-20 years of age with an emphasis on boating skills through instruction and practice in water safety, boating, paddling, maritime heritage, and more. 

Links to all Keller UMC Units with contact information is in the process of being updated on the page highlighted above but we wanted you to have the information as we are excited to grow them all!

Spot The International Space Station TONIGHT!

Watch the International Space Station pass overhead from several thousand worldwide locations. It is the third brightest object in the sky and easy to spot if you know when to look up.

Visible to the naked eye, it looks like a fast-moving plane only much higher and traveling thousands of miles an hour faster!

Following THIS LINK you can sign up to receive texts to be notified when the ISS is viewable from your location (Fort Worth is the nearest checkpoint for us in Keller).

The Spot The Station link provides information to explain what all the data means for the notification viewing availability.  In short, it answers just how to spot the station.

For instance, it will give you a text or e-mail that reads 

SpotTheStation! Time: Wed Jul 14 9:14 PM, Visible: 7 min, Max Height: 51 degrees, Appears: 10 degrees above SSW, Disappears above NE.

But what does all this sighting information mean?

Time is when the sighting opportunity will begin in your local time zone. All sightings will occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset. This is the optimum viewing period as the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.

Visible is the maximum time period the space station is visible before crossing back below the horizon.

Max Height is measured in degrees (also known as elevation). It represents the height of the space station from the horizon in the night sky. The horizon is at zero degrees, and directly overhead is ninety degrees. If you hold your fist at arm’s length and place your fist resting on the horizon, the top will be about 10 degrees.

Appears is the location in the sky where the station will be visible first. This value, like maximum height, also is measured in degrees from the horizon. The letters represent compass directions -- N is north, WNW is west by northwest, and so on.

Disappears represents where in the night sky the International Space Station will leave your field of view.

Happy ISS chasing

Purify The Park - A Summer of Service Event

As part of our summer-long community service endeavor, we are meeting Saturday morning at 8am at Bear Creek Park to PURIFY THE PARK.  

Please bring sanitizing wipes, your water bottles to stay hydrated and meet us at 8am to clean and sanitize the playground equipment.

This shouldn't take too long to accomplish and then everyone can enjoy the Farmer's Market, too!  Wear your Pack tshirts and a smile.  See you there.

Summer of Service

 

Join Scouting families across the country in a spirited Summer of Service! As we have throughout our history, Scouting families are answering the call to work together in service of the greater good. From public health drives, to caring for the environment, to assisting neighbors in need, Scouts have always been a force for positivity and goodness in our communities. Now more than ever, our world needs that Scouting spirit once again. Let’s step up! Together, we can answer the call to make a positive impact in our neighborhoods and communities. 

Everything Is Awesome

 The Pack has spoken and the movie chosen (by ONE vote) for our upcoming outdoor SUMMER MOVIE NIGHT is...

The LEGO Movie!  

Movie will begin as soon as the sun goes down.  We will have lawn games (corn hole and Yahtzee) but you're also welcome to bring your own games to play until we're ready for showtime!

Bring your lawn chairs, coolers, snacks and join us starting at 7:30 pm TONIGHT for a little summer showcase!  Be prepared for a treasure trove of one-liners if you haven't seen it. 

Happy Birthday America!

 

Texas Rangers Scout Weekend

 

Attention all Rangers fans! The BSA weekend has been announced at Globe Life Field -- August 27-29.

There is not one, not two, but THREE games to choose from! You'll get to watch the Texas Rangers take on the Houston Astros. 

Friday, August 27 at 7:05pm

Saturday, August 28 at 6:05 pm

Sunday, August 29 at 1:35 pm

Those in uniform attending on Sunday will be able to participate in a pre-game parade around the warning track - you will need to be there an hour early. See information on the flyer below (click the image to open full-sized flyer or download to your computer).

Everyone who orders their tickets through the form will receive a commemorative scout patch for their brag vest (while supplies last). A photo of the patch is available on the registration form. Pricing varies depending on where you want to sit.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to get your ticket registration forms in SOONER rather than later. Dens that would like to participate together need to submit their orders TOGETHER to ensure that the seats are all in the same area otherwise the orders will be processed on a first come, first served basis. This will need to be organized at the den level by den leaders or a volunteering parent.