Helping Our Australian Scouts

Scouts have been known time and time again to help those in need. Therefore, when our Unit heard that our Australian Scout Councils created a patch to help rebuild, our Committee voted unamiously to support our scouting friends down under by purchasing one for every registered scout in our Unit.  What a great way for these kids to show their support.

Thank you to our new Assistant Cubmaster, Michael Ford, for spearheading this endeavor not just for Pack 1910 but for all UMC Units.  

Patches!

If you or your son are new to Cub Scouts, you may notice at some pack meetings or events, that some scouts are sporting red vests with many different kinds of patches attached. Another fun perk of Cub Scouts is getting to collect colorful activity patches for many of the activities they take part in.  For instance, when they turn in their take-order popcorn sales sheet, they earn a patch.  When you go to most special events -- they earn a patch! Just for joining Pack 1910, we provide boys with their FIRST patch -- a circular Pack 1910 patch to start their collection.  

(Please note, the circular patch pictured above does NOT go on the official uniform. The official Uniform Insignia Guide designating what can be affixed to the actual uniform can be found HERE or just ask one of the leaders!)

The question most parents have is -- what in the world do we DO with all these things?  To that I say, you have options!

The easiest option is to just collect them in a box (but what fun is THAT!) or you could let you Scout pin them on a bulletin board. The downside of that is that they may get lost and the segments are small so it does require dedication to keep up with (and a LOT of pins)... oh, and pins can fall out or be knocked off so if you step on a pin, it's going to HURT! So, be sure your scout knows first aid!

I think the BEST way is to display these is on a red vest also called a "brag vest".  These can be purchased at the Scout Shop, online at ScoutStuff or you can use THIS PATTERN to make your own.  There is another online company called www.PatchVest.com that has free shipping and charges $10 per red vest.  Since these aren't official BSA uniform components, you can get them anywhere you want!

  

Another option is a blanket.  This is a way that you can carry the patch collection display into Boy Scouts as well if you like.

Please know that the red brag vest is not a required component of the official BSA uniform, but you gotta admit -- they look really cool -- especially when they are full of Scouting adventures!  That's why we call them a brag vest!  The boys get to show off and brag about all their experiences!

To note -- most patches do not have an iron-on adhesive backing so sewing is the preferred method of attachment.  If you're not one who likes to sew, most dry cleaners have a seamstress that will do this for a nominal fee of $1-2 per patch for the large ones. 

Patches!!

At last night's Pack meeting, everyone (well, just about -- whoops) received a small clear envelope with their name on it.  This contained several really cool things.  This post is to tell you WHAT to do with what you got!  

If you or your son are new to Cub Scouts, you may notice at some pack meetings or events, that some scouts are sporting red vests with many different kinds of patches attached. Another fun perk of Cub Scouts is getting to collect colorful activity patches for many of the activities they take part in.  For instance, when they turn in their take-order popcorn sales sheet, they earn a patch.  When they attend the USS Lexington (which you DEFINITELY WANT TO DO THIS SEPTEMBER), they get a patch!  Just for joining Pack 1910, we provide boys with their FIRST patch -- a circular Pack 1910 patch to start their collection.  

(Please note, the patch pictured below does NOT go on the official uniform. The official Uniform Insignia Guide designating what can be affixed to the actual uniform can be found HERE or just ask one of the leaders!)

From there, for every Pack activity they participate in, they will earn a small colorful segment (unless it's a special activity, then they'll likely earn another specialty patch to add to their collection along with their segment). The segments are grouped along the edges of the circular patch (pictured above) so that it's a history of their Scouting career. After a wonderful, industrious Cub Scout career, their vests could look something like this on the back... what an awesome keepsake!  {update 9/2017: The segment program has been discontinued}

The question most parents have is -- what in the world do we DO with all these things?  To that I say, you have options!

The easiest option is to just collect them in a box (but what fun is THAT!) or you could let you Scout pin them on a bulletin board. The downside of that is that they may get lost and the segments are small so it does require dedication to keep up with (and a LOT of pins)... oh, and pins can fall out or be knocked off.

I think the BEST way is to display these is on a red vest also called a "brag vest".  These can be purchased at the Scout Shop, online at ScoutStuff or you can use THIS PATTERN to make your own.  There is another online company called www.PatchVest.com that has free shipping and charges $10 per red vest.  Since these aren't official BSA uniform components, you can get them anywhere you want!

  

Yet another option is a blanket.  This is a way that you can carry the patch collection display into Boy Scouts as well if you like. But again, this would likely be something that is stuck in a box or on a shelf -- no fun!  

Again, please know that the red brag vest is not a required component of the official BSA uniform, but you gotta admit -- they look really cool -- especially when they are full of Scouting adventures!  That's why we call them a brag vest!  The boys get to show off and brag about all their experiences!

To note -- most patches do not have an iron-on adhesive backing so sewing is the preferred method of attachment.  If you're not one who likes to sew, most dry cleaners have a seamstress that will do this for a nominal fee of $1-2 per patch for the large ones. 

Outdoor Activity Award

Did your scout register for Day Camp? 

If so, he's on his way to earn the Outdoor Activity Award. 

Read all about the requirements for this cool award here. 

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

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 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.

Journey to Excellence 2016

Each of the Pack’s leaders and Scouts were given a GOLD 2016 Journey to Excellence patch. We are very proud to have earned this prestigious award and are especially grateful to the Pack’s team of den leaders and committee members whose hard work made its attainment possible.

Journey to Excellence is basically a score card for us to be able to measure the quality of our program. It takes everyone's commitment to make our unit a success, so THANK YOU!

Patches were distributed at the April Pack Meeting. If you have not yet received your patch, please check with your den leader or see Mr. Attel at the next event. We want to ensure each leader and Scout has one to wear proudly on their uniform! This award is given units who have met a list of requirements and is worn on the right sleeve of the official uniform. Please see THIS LINK for a .pdf on Cub Scout Uniform insignia if you have any questions about patch placement.

Recruiters Wanted!

One of the best ways to enjoy Cub Scouts is to do it with friends!  What a better way to share in fellowship with people you already know and love, than in the Scouting Program! 

Do you know your sons can earn a special patch just for getting a friend to sign up?  

Our spring recruiting drive is underway for the Cub Scout program that will begin this summer. (Oh yes, we are YEAR ROUND and have lots of fun in the summer!) If your son has a friend that you think would be interested in joining, we encourage our scouts to bring a friend to the April Pack Meeting next week.  

We will have leadership available to answer parent questions so that they can get started in their Cub Scout journey the first day of summer (or sooner) and even attend the BEST District Day Camp in Texas this June!

We encourage you to send your interested families to our website or our Facebook page for more information. If you'd like a flyer, we can provide you with one.  Thanks for all you do to make Pack 1910 the best around!

Congratulations!

Congrats to Pack 1910 CUB-O participants!  

Our Wolf den placed 20th out of 41 teams with a total of 135 points and our Webelos den placed 39th out of a total of 77 teams with 135 points as well.  Great job!

AND the campers earned their POLAR BEAR PATCHES for camping in weather that falls below freezing!  WHAT A BUNCH OF SUPER TROOPERS!

Patches!

If you or your son are new to Cub Scouts, you may notice at some pack meetings that some scouts are sporting red felt vests with many different kinds of patches attached. You see, yet another fun perk of Cub Scouts is getting to collect colorful activity patches for many of the adventures they go on.  For instance, when they turn in their take-order popcorn sales sheet, they earn a patch.  When they attend the USS Lexington, they get a patch!  Just for joining Pack 1910, we provide boys with their FIRST patch -- a circular Pack 1910 patch to start their collection.  

From there, for every Pack activity they participate in, they will earn a segment (unless it's a special activity, then they'll likely earn another specialty patch to add to their collection along with their segment). The segments are grouped along the edges of the circular patch so that it's a history of their Scouting career.  After a wonderful, industrious Cub Scout career, their vests could look something like this...

The question most parents have is -- what in the world do we DO with all these things?  To that I say, you have options!

The easiest option is to just collect them in a box (but what fun is THAT!) or let him pin them on a bulletin board. The downside of that is that they may get lost and the segments are small so it does require dedication to keep up with them.

Another way to display these is on a red vest also called a "brag vest".  These can be purchased at the Scout Shop, online at ScoutStuff or you can use THIS PATTERN to make your own.  There is another online company called www.PatchVest.com that has free shipping and charges $10 per red vest.  Since these aren't official BSA uniform components, you can get them anywhere you want!

 

Yet another option is a blanket.  This is a way that you can carry the patch collection display into Boy Scouts as well.

Again, please know that the red brag vest is not part of the official BSA uniform, but they just look really cool -- especially when they are full of Scouting adventures!

To note -- most patches do not have an iron-on adhesive backing so sewing is the preferred method of attachment.  If you're not one who likes to sew, most dry cleaners have a seamstress that will do this for a nominal fee of $1-2 per patch for the large ones. 

What are those for? What do we do with them?

From the time your Scout earns his first rank patch, which will always be the Bobcat for ANY scout rank, he will also be presented with several items.

The first is, obviously, his rank patch.  This is cloth patch that should be sewn onto his uniform.  You may find the proper location to place all insignia here.

He will also receive a card indicating his having received this rank patch.  



These cards should be kept in a safe place. This is your "proof of ownership" for each rank, belt loop, pin and activity badge that your scout receives.  A great way to store these from now until the time your Cub Scout crosses over to a Boy Scout Troop and earns his Eagle is to store all of these inside plastic sleeves within a 1" binder.  The best sleeves are the ones intended to hold baseball cards.  I found ours at Hobby Lobby.  To the right is a great example I found on the internet.  This is obviously a Boy Scout notebook (you can tell by the blue Merit Badge cards), but it serves the same purpose.


Lastly, your scout will also receive a small metal pin which is a miniature version of his rank patch.  In this case, the Bobcat rank patch



These pins are called Parent's Pins.  These are also referred to as Mother's Pins.  These pins are given to your Cub Scout to present and subsequently pin to the lapel of his parent's shirt (usually Mom).  Why? Because it gives them a chance to share recognition with their parent.  We realize that it takes a village... and we want to give your Scout an opportunity to provide his parent with a token of his appreciation for all YOU have done to help him attain his rank.  In short, it's a big deal and you deserve to be rewarded and celebrated, too!

These Parent's Pins may be worn on your lapel, but they are generally worn on a mother's ribbon.  These can be bought at the Scout shop or you could make your own. The ones available at the Scout shop are shown to the right.


There are other options as well.  The one shown below is for both Cub Scouts AND Boy Scouts.  This allows your son to just pin the ribbon.  There is even a great way to make your own here:


See how he pins the ribbon?  Cute isn't it?  They're a great idea.  I will say that I have seen many a pin clap get lost down the front of a mom's shirt by little fingers that aren't used to "pinning" pins onto clothing.  The ribbons are a great way to prevent this from happening and you only need wear them at the Pack meetings where he would be receiving his rank advancement.

Photo Source

So, now you know!