Cub Scout Fun Day

This Saturday is the Longhorn Council's Cub Scout Fun Day.  

Cub Scout Fun Day is an annual day of activities for families, den and packs.  Initially our Pack was going to have our annual Rocket Launch on Saturday but it was moved to Sunday so if you are looking for some fun for BOTH days, head out to Tarrant County College this Saturday.

Dozens of fun activities to do and displays to see!  Activities include 8 bounce houses, petting zoo, BB, archery, flour battles, jousting, walking the plank, softball toss, face painting, lassoing, monster tag, climbing wall, cub scout golf, leather crafts, monkey bridges, bowling, ring tosses, challenge games, wrist rockets, pipe crawling, reptile show, frisbee golf, wagon hoop racing, chariot racing, soccer, lawn fishing, and lots of new games! Plus the Council Pushmobile Derby (extra charge – separate form).

 


This is a family or den activity.  Cub Scouts and Webelos can participate in each activity as a den or with their family.  Arrival time is open: arrive at any time.  Pre-registration is requested and appreciated, as is will help to properly plan program and events.

Be sure you bring your own drinks and if you want to make it an all day event, pack your lunch and bring it with you!

If you want to attend, the early bird discount ($13 cub/sibling $4 per adult) ends tomorrow at 5pm.  Registration forms and payment may be taken directly to the Council office.  After 5pm tomorrow and walk-ups will pay $18 per Cub/sibling and $5 per adult)

To register, click here, and print out the form.  

Activities are from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. with an hour braek for lunch.  They resume at 1:00 p.m. and run until 4:00 p.m.

Annual Rocket Launch

Please make plans to join us Sunday, November 2 at 3pm in the field outside the Hallelujah Center for Pack 1910's Annual Rocket Launch.

Due to the location of this year's launch, our MC and host for the event, DARS (Dallas Area Rocket Society), has suggested that the only rockets we use should be those requiring a 1/4A, 1/2A and A motors with streamers / not parachutes.  These won't go as high, but we also shouldn't lose as many!  We are trying to keep the launch local as the area we utilized last year is not available due to construction.

For the rocket launch you will need to bring your fully assembled rocket, motors, igniters, pins and wadding. DARS will provide the launch pads.

I have taken the liberty to contact Estes and they suggested something similar to either a Wizard or a Firestreak SST for launching.  The major difference is that with the Wizard, the boys will have to measure, mark and glue the parts together to assemble the rocket and the Firestreak is molded from plastic and simply snaps together (requires no gluing).  The Wizard is pictured here:   and here is a copy of what you get in your kit:

The Firestreak and its kit's contents:

Rocketry may be new to your family and seem somewhat impossible... please don't be intimidated because it is a LOT OF FUN! Hobby Lobby sells rocket kits and you can use an app or download a 40% off coupon as well.  The kits come in a variety of levels of difficulty to assemble.  Some are "RTF" (Ready To Fly), "ARF" (Almost Ready to FLY), "E2X" (Easy to Assemble) and so on.  

Also to note, when we speak of "motors," we aren't talking battery operated engines, we are talking about these guys (pictured right).  These engines come complete with an igniter and pin for each.  So, don't lose the little plastic pieces or the two pronged igniter.  Please be sure to PURCHASE THEM as kits do not include engines since many rockets can be launched by several different engine sizes.  
  
Also pictured is the "recovery wadding."  You will also need this for your repeat launches.



I warn you, however, rocketry can be quite exhilarating!  Bring those cameras....and visit the DARS website for more information on their next public launch.  They have some launches where they shoot off the BIG DOGS!  It's definitely an amazing sight to behold.  

As with all Pack events, this is open to siblings so if brothers / sisters want to launch, they can bring their own rockets, too!

October Pack Meeting

We will be having our October Pack Meeting on Tuesday, October 21 at 6:30 pm at the First United Methodist Church's Hallelujah Center.

Be sure to have your Scouts bring in his GENIUS KIT to show off and at the display. 

The Scouts and LEADERS should definitely wear their Halloween costumes to show off in the costume parade. (Parents and siblings can get in on the costume fun too.)

Find out what all the Dens and the Pack have been up to and get the latest information for the upcoming months.

Be sure to bring all your popcorn money and orders (checks made payable to Pack 1910) to turn in.  

Den assignments:

• Greet/Gathering - Webelos II
• Flag Ceremony – Webelos I
• Opening / Prayer - Bears
• Skit - Wolves
• Song - Tigers
• Closing - Webelos II

Local BSA Establishments

One of the perks of living in the area that we do is that we are just a few miles away from two awesome Boy Scouts of America establishments 1) the Scout Shop and 2) the National Scouting Museum.


Scout Shop
As most of you should know, the Scout Shop is located on Cannon Drive in Hurst just south of Hwy 26 off of Precinct Line.  It has everything you could probably want or need for your Cub Scout.  From t-shirts to uniform, awards and hats, insignia and camping gear -- they have it all.

and 


National Scouting Museum
The National Scouting Museum is located in Irving and offers some unique opportunities for Cub Scout Dens, Webelos Dens, Packs, Boy Scouts and Boy Scout Troops.  One of the many perks is the opportunity to take classes for specific Webelos activity badges.  I hope all of our Webelos and Bear parents make note of this.  It is inevitable that you will miss a den meeting or two, and so this is one way to ensure that your Scout stays on track.  These classes are taught by some of the best Scouters around.  There's not really a way to fall grossly "behind" in Scouting because it is, after all, DO YOUR BEST, but this definitely provides an alternate learning source for those missed meetings.  Check out their website today!

October Pack Hike

The Pack 1910 Hiking Club will meet this Saturday for the October Pack Hike.  

Let's face it -- one of the main reasons boys want to join Scouts is to get OUTDOORS!  There's no better way to do that than getting out for some good ole fun on the trails!  We want to be more a outdoor-oriented Pack and keep our boys ACTIVE!  We will keep the OUT in scOUTing!  Attendance at these events is completely optional, but... you know you want to come!  

The 3rd Saturday of every month, Pack 1910 will have a Pack-wide hike at varying locations somewhere in the D/FW area.  Hikes will be anywhere between 1-4 miles.  Oh, and did I mention that we will be logging miles!  Why?  Because for logging miles -- the boys will receive AWARDS for specific miles along the way.

One of the great things about taking part in a pack hike is that the boys will be on their way to earning the Hiking Belt Loop and/or Activity Pin as well.  To find out more about that, click here.  Simply print it out and once it is complete, turn it into your den leader.  You must earn the belt loop before you can earn the pin.  (Note:  you only need to turn in the first page if you are only seeking the belt loop.)

October's hike will be Saturday, October 18 at 9:00 a.m. at Bob Jones Nature Center in Colleyville.  The scheduled trail is the Walnut Grove National Recreation Trail.  You can find a link here with the trail maps.  From there, we will hit the trails as a group after going over important information on hiking, the buddy system, and such.  We will be going to the trail head that is where White's Chapel deadends into the lake area... you will park there and pick up the trail from there.  I will be there early to determine exactly where to park and will send out an e-mail on Scout Track.

Parents, please take a look at Pack 1910's Hiking Club packet for more information on what to bring, what to wear, etc.  It would be good to go over this with your scout BEFORE they show up to a hike.

If we have an avid hiker or parent that would like to become the Pack Hiking Chair, please contact April.  Many hands makes light work and we need to be sure we are all helping make the Pack "go".  

If you plan to attend, please be sure you e-mail April so that we know to expect you. All Pack events are FAMILY FRIENDLY but please do not bring pets.  


Another real helpful application to download to assist you and your boys is an application called Map My Hike.  I was told this was a must have by the Nature Center Staff.

October's Core Value - Responsibility

The Core Value for the month of October is RESPONSIBILITY.

Responsibility is something Cub Scouts teaches by having boys fulfill our duty to God, country, other people, and ourselves as well as fulfilling our duty to help others and take care of ourselves. It is behaving safely and appropriately without having to be told. 

Why RESPONSIBILITY?

• Being responsible for things makes us learn and grow.
• Knowing you can be counted on to make the right choice creates a feeling of self worth.
• Being counted on to do what you say you're going to do teaches internal qualities and characteristics you can't buy in a store or hope for... it just has to happen.

How can we teach RESPONSIBILITY?

• Have your children do chores.  Have them be responsible for seeing the trash cans at the curb and bringing them inside the garage -- without being told, or paid to do so. 
• Let your children be responsible for a pet or a plant... Here is a fun chia sock pet you can make together at home.

Pack Meeting is TONIGHT!

Tonight is the first official Pack meeting for the new Scouting year!  

We will be announcing our many changes in our Pack's program tonight and we will also be having our annual uniform inspection!!  Make sure you find those neckerchiefs and slides!  

See you there no later than 6:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center of the First United Methodist Church of Keller!  Gathering activity begins at 6:15 p.m.  

Don't forget your donations to the USO!  Tonight is the last time to make them!  

We will have songs, skits, uniform inspections, distribution of our genius kits, information and registration for our fall campout and more!  DON'T MISS IT! 

See you there!

A Camping We Will Go!

It's time again to get in gear for our Fall Family Camp out!  Our Pack tradition is to attend the Fall Festival at Sid Richardson Scout Ranch located on Lake Bridgeport.  It's a weekend campout that's packed full of fun!  No camping experience is necessary!  This is where you go learn the ropes!

The informational brochures can be found here and here (two pages, one needs to be filled out and turned in).  Please note, however, that you will turn the forms into THE PACK.  Please DO NOT mail them or turn them into the Council office.  We will register as a Pack.

Deadline for turning in forms is MONDAY, OCTOBER 6.  

Cost is $22 per youth, $10 per adult.  Payments can be made via check payable to LONGHORN COUNCIL.  

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 day's events.  Once we have an idea of attendees, we will decide as a Pack what we will do for meals Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon.  Friday night will be on your own.  Dinner on Saturday evening and a continental breakfast Sunday is included with your registration fee.  

This is a great opportunity, also, for our newer scouts to get their hands dirty on the range with archery and bb gun ranges.  They will have an area set up for pumpkin carving and there may be a trebuchet (big catapult) set up to do some punkin' chunkin' as well!  We will go over this more as it gets closer to the date.

We will be attending the weekend of October 10-12.  Our Webelos II will be camping out with Boy Scout Troop 1910 as part of their Arrow of Light requirement.  Camping out Friday night is optional but many families enjoy the extra night in the fall air.  Let's face it, camping is a BIG reason why boys WANT to be in Scouts!

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

USO Donations -- Still collecting through Pack Meeting!

We will STILL BE COLLECTING donations for the United Service Organization (the "USO") at the September Pack.  Please note, however, this meeting will be the LAST OPPORTUNITY to make these donations!  

The USO has a mission to lift the spirits of service members and their families. Millions of times each year at hundreds of locations around the world, the USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families. A nonprofit, congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities. The USO is not part of the U.S. government, but is recognized by the Department of Defense, Congress and President of the United States, who serves as Honorary Chairman of the USO.  The USO will use our donations to provide to the men and women of the armed forces who travel through the DFW Airport. They recently put out a call for help because their donations are dwindling! Pack 1910 knew we had to help!  The following items are being collected: 

SINGLE-SERVING SIZED SNACK AND DRINK ITEMS:
Cases of chocolate bars
Variety pack chips
Cookies
Raisins
Trail Mix
Kellogg's Rice Crispy Treats
Pretzels
Beef Jerky
Crackers
Peanuts/Mixed Nuts
Sunflower Seeds
Granola and/or Protein Bars
Chewing Gum
Cases of Apple/Orange Juice and Juice Boxes
Bottled Water

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Batteries (all sizes)
1 lb. Bags of Starbucks - Medium Roast Breakfast Blend
New Coloring Books and Crayons
New Children's Toys/Stuffed Animals
New or Like-New DVDs
New or Like-New games for X Box, X Box 360, Play Station 2, Play Station 3, and Wii
9" Microwave Safe Paper Plates
Rolls of Paper Towels
12 oz. Foam Cups

TRAVEL-SIZED TOILETRY ITEMS
Baby Powder
Shaving Cream
Deodorant (men's and women's)
Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
Lip Balm/Chap stick
Shampoo/Conditioner
Razors

Please encourage your entire family to participate in collecting items for this worthy cause!  Want to learn more about the USO?  Check them out here.  If you watch the videos, have a tissue handy!  What a great program to support!

Tuesday is First Pack Meeting

Hey gang -- WELCOME BACK TO CUB SCOUTS!!!!  We are gearing up for our FIRST PACK MEETING of the 2014-2015 year Tuesday, September 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center of the First United Methodist Church of Keller

We are going to:

... have a uniform inspection (not sure what that means?  Check out this!)
... learn about our annual fundraising goals and what they mean for you!
... hear about our FALL CAMPOUT!
... a fun presentation of the summer awards earned by our scouts (be ready to catch!)
... have some impromptu fun

Den Assignments:  

• Webelos II will be doing the flag ceremony
• Webelos I will be doing the opening and the prayer
• Bears will do our closing

These can always be found here.  

It's going to be a great year full of fun and adventure and we are SO glad you're along for the ride with us!

Join Cub Scouts!!

It's that time of year again!  We are about to kick off a new Scout year and want YOU to join us!  

WHO:       Boys in 1st - 5th grade in the Keller and surrounding areas
WHAT:     Cub Scout Pack 1910 Membership Drive
WHERE:    First United Methodist Church of Keller, Family Life Center
                1025 Johnson Road, Keller
WHEN:      Tuesday, September 2 6:30 pm
WHY:        Because -- IT IS FUN!  But also... 

Scouting promotes and encourages family time.  Time is valuable and what better way to spend it than investing in lasting memories with your son.  More than ever, today’s families struggle to find time to spend together. Cub Scouting helps to support your family by providing ready-made opportunities for you and your son to do things together.

Your son needs to belong to a group of boys his own age. Through this sense of belonging, he builds his self-esteem and learns to get along with others. As a parent, you want to be assured that the groups that your boy joins will teach values consistent with good citizenship, character development, and physical fitness. The Boy Scouts of America has been weaving these lifetime values into fun and educational activities since 1910.

In a society where your son is taught that winning is everything, Cub Scouting teaches him to “do his best” and to be helpful to others.


Scouting teaches family values and works to strengthen your relationship with your son. Scouting activities can bring added value to the time you already have with your son.

He will learn to live by the code of “On my honor.”

But we know that boys do not join Cub Scouting just to get their character built.


Boys join because it is fun!!!

Our program is full but it's not complete without YOU!  Please complete the informational form on the website for more information if you are unable to attend.  Someone from our membership committee will be in touch with you shortly.

September's Core Value

The Core Value for the month of September is COOPERATION.

Cooperation is being helpful and working together with others toward a common goal. Cooperation is also a key element in teamwork. In the Cub Scout program, boys will gain a better understanding of the importance of supporting each other as they play games and learn new skills.

Why COOPERATION?  

• We can do more working together than I can do alone.
• Every person has a unique contribution to make to the group.
• Success is gained when everyone works together.
• Two heads are better than one.
• Things in life come easier if you know how to get along and cooperate with others.

Ready for the 2014-2015 Scouting Year!

If you have son in 1st-5th grade, Pack 1910 is looking for YOU!  

We are kicking off the 2014-2015 Scouting year with a membership rally Tuesday, September 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center of the First United Methodist Church of Keller, 1025 Johnson Road.  

Bring your son and come find out what the world of Cub Scouts is all about!  We have an action packed year planned with community service, camping, racing, parties, detective work, a Cubanopolis, songs, skits, and more fun than should be allowed!  

If you are an active Cub Scout with friends interested, this is the meeting for them to meet with leaders, sign up and find out what our program is all about!  

101 Things To Do In Cub Scouts

Another Scouter posted this video to YouTube and I just had to share!  



The membership rally and recruitment season is upon us.  There are SO many fantastic facets of the Scouting program and many boys do things that they would never get to do otherwise!  Check out the video for a first hand look at some of the awesome things that can be had... just because of Cub Scouts!!!  

Longhorn Council Cub Scout Activities

We are lucky to be part of one of the best Councils in the Boy Scouts of America.  The leadership at the Longhorn Council spends a great deal of time putting together a full year of programming for us all.  

Here is a link to the available activities offered through the Longhorn Council for the 2014-2015 Cub Scout year.  I encourage you to print out this and keep it handy!  

While as a Pack we will not participate in everything the Council has to offer, you (as a family) are more than welcome to!  For instance, every weekend in October, there are available activities for you and your family or your even your entire den to participate in.  So, if you are unable to make one of the scheduled Pack events such as camping, but your Cub still wants to camp -- make it a point to get active with some of the available programs put on through the Longhorn Council.

All of the Pack activities will be listed on our ScoutTrack calendar and also located here on our blog under the Forms page.  Simply look for the link sending you to the 2014-2015 Annual Program Calendar.

August Core Value & Summer Service Project

The core value for August is HONESTY. Telling the truth and being worthy of trust. Cub Scouts will gain a better understanding of the importance of following the rules, playing fair, and being trustworthy in games and in daily life.. 

Simply stated -- a Scout is honest. As boys have fun and interact in their den and pack, they learn that honesty can simply be defined as a refusal to lie, cheat, or steal in any way. Honesty is simply the truth.

Unfortunately, honesty isn't one of those traits we can SEE, we just have to experience and appreciate it when we have it.  I personally believe honesty and integrity go hand in hand.  You see, integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Or, stated differently, doing the TRUTHFUL thing... being honest to what you know is right... choosing to be full of integrity means that you choose what is right regardless of what you have to gain from it.  Honesty... is well... AWESOME!

American businessman Joseph Sugarman once said, “Each time you are honest and conduct yourself with honesty, a success force will drive you toward greater success. Each time you lie, even with a little white lie, there are strong forces pushing you toward failure.” We gain our strength and ability to live not from the days when everything goes right. But rather, it is from days that are full of problems. May we always do the right thing every day, no matter who’s looking.

July Core Value & Summer Service Project

• The core value for July is COURAGE.  Courage is being brave and doing what is right regardless of our fears, the difficulties, or the consequences.

Exploring new territory and challenging oneself with new skills takes a certain amount of courage. Cub Scouts will benefit from the experiences offered to them from Cub Scouts... we know it requires a LOT of courage to learn new skills!  

When we begin to feel that life is hard and the task before us is more than we can handle, stop and remember those who forged the trails before us.  They left for a life in the unknown.  They didn't know what lay ahead of them, but with courage they moved on.  They hiked over mountains and through dry hot deserts, just to name a few of their difficulties. But they drew upon their faith, and their courage and determination to get the job done.

I thought this photo really summed up what "courage" meant to me... and it is a great segue into our SUMMER COMMUNITY SERVICE DRIVE. 



Next month will be our Raingutter Regatta at the Hidden Lakes Clubhouse.  During this time, we will be collecting items for USO to provide the men and women of the armed forces who travel through the DFW Airport.  You see, they put out a call for help because their donations are dwindling!  We have to help!  We will be collecting the following items for the USO to help support our service members:

Single-Serving Sized Snack and Drink Items: 

Cases of chocolate bars

Variety pack chips

Cookies

Raisins

Trail Mix

Kellogg's Rice Crispy Treats

Pretzels

Beef Jerky

Crackers

Peanuts/Mixed Nuts

Sunflower Seeds

Granola and/or Protein Bars

Chewing Gum

Cases of Apple/Orange Juice and Juice Boxes

Bottled Water

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Batteries (all sizes)

1 lb. Bags of Starbucks - Medium Roast Breakfast Blend

New Coloring Books and Crayons

New Children's Toys/Stuffed Animals

New or Like-New DVDs

New or Like-New games for X Box, X Box 360, Play Station 2, Play Station 3, and Wii

9" Microwave Safe Paper Plates

Rolls of Paper Towels

12 oz. Foam Cups

TRAVEL-SIZED TOILETRY ITEMS

Baby Powder

Shaving Cream

Deodorant (men's and women's)

Toothpaste and Toothbrushes

Lip Balm/Chap stick

Shampoo/Conditioner

Razors

Please encourage your entire family to participate in collecting items for this worthy cause!  If you are unable to make the Regatta, please bring your donations to April Driggers' home before the Regatta so that everything can be delivered together to the USO.

Enjoy your time together as a family this Summer, your fellow Scouts and Leaders at Pack 1910 look forward to seeing you soon!  Stay safe, drink plenty of water (we know what happens when you don’t!) and HAVE FUN!

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!