Dino-mite Campout

Our Spring camp out in Cleburne with a day trip to Dinosaur Valley State Park was absolutely amazing. I hope the memories were plentiful, tummies were full and sleep was sound... and I hope by now you're enjoying some down time after a long, hot shower!  It was well deserved!

A big thank you to the Washington family for pulling the trailer!  That's a serious job as it's packing, balancing the load, pulling, unpacking, repacking, pulling and then emptying... and repacking for storage. It's a job and know that we appreciate you both!

We will need other trailer pullers in the future so if you are versed in pulling a trailer and have a hitch, please contact Chris Warren so that we can get a list established for our future camp outs.

Trish Chell, thank you for securing the releases we needed for Arrowhead. 

Dr. Cooper, a big thanks to you for ensuring our couple of incidents were handled with care. We appreciate your help.

Thank you to Ford Cook for your amazing vocal skills at the campfire last night. You have an amazing voice!

Chase Muery and Stephen Cook -- we all LOVED the Dutch oven desserts!  I can't wait for the rest of our families to branch out and try their hand at Dutch oven cooking.  Thanks, too, Chase for being our fireman.

Thank you to all who pitched in with cooking, clean-up and packing -- there are just too many names to put here but THAT is what it's all about!  TEAMWORK and we appreciate you all so much.

A link was e-mailed to everyone with our photo album. Please continue to add your photos to it!  I saw lots of phones out taking photos so please help ensure we have photos of all our Scouts in our annual slide show.

Friends of Scouting -- Almost There!

We are ALMOST THERE!  We have four days left to raise $460 for our unit!  We have never missed our mark!  Let's not make 2019 the first time that's happened.

We can do it!

Please consider making a Friends of Scouting pledge this week… As you can see the Pack has received commitments that total $1,040. We only need $460 to meet our goal of $1,500.

If we make our goal by 03/31/2019 (less than a week away), the Pack gets the benefit of receiving all advancements for free for the next 12 months. In a Pack our size, this is a huge savings.

These commitments allows the Council to operate at full budget providing Unit Leader Training, Risk Management protection and delivery of the Scouting Values and Mission to the youth in our Service Area – which includes 23 counties throughout North Texas. It also allows the Council to provide some of the best youth development programming and facilities at far reduced costs to similar programs across the US.

Also, as adult leaders start to advance to Woodbadge Leadership Training, the Council continues to deliver that program at a lower participant cost than other Councils in the State of Texas. All of this occurs due to our combined support of the Friends of Scouting Campaign…

To donate, simply go to www.myfos.org.

Click the Blue Button that says “Donate”. 

In “Unit Type / Community Event”, select “Cub Scout Pack”. 

In “Unit Number”, enter “1910”. 

Select how often you would like to be billed and then enter an amount. 

Click “Continue” to finish the process.

It is that simple!

Please take action today and help the Pack hit our goal… and help us make a statement to the Longhorn Council that we support the needs of the Council in our combined delivery of the premier values-based and leadership development youth organization in the United States!

If you have any questions on how to make a pledge or anything else FOS related, please let me or Christopher Mahanna know.

Camping Do's and Don't

• 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!

• Never sleep in a tent with a child who is not your own. – BSA rule
• No alcohol anywhere, anyhow, anytime. – BSA rule
• No smoking or tobacco products 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 and Wolf ranks. Bears and higher ranks may only bring pocket knives if they have completed the “Whittling Chip” pocket knife achievement and have their Whittlin’ Chip card or badge on their person. 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 the Nintendo DS, iPod, or other electronics/game systems. This is the boys’ opportunity to get away from all that. Besides, they could get damaged or lost. BSA insurance doesn't cover that!
• No precious toys/ jewelry – could get damaged or lost.

March LEGO Pack Meeting is TOMORROW!

Friends of Scouting - Don't Forget!

Pack families, we are nearing the deadline of our Friends of Scouting campaign.

If we can get each of our families to commit to a $20-$30 pledge, we will not only reach our goal, it secures a substantial savings for our Pack.

By meeting our goal, our Pack is able to get ALL advancement awards (this includes rank cloth patches, adventure loops and all of the adventure pins for Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts) FREE FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR!

Our last collection will be at the March Pack meeting. You may also log into the Friends of Scouting website and make your pledge or fill out the pledge card at the March Pack Meeting! Thank you in advance for all you do for Scouting!

Longhorn Council camps are where we go for most of our Pack campouts. Did you know that they do not charge Longhorn Council Units for facility usage at all? The money raised through Friends of Scouting helps keep these camps in top shape... from the infrastructure, to maintenance, to equipment... and new construction builds for the benefit of the youth. Everything raised through Friends of Scouting stays in Council for the benefit for all. It's a great thing.

The March Pack meeting is where we will be to collect any remaining pledge cards but the easiest way to ensure your timely donation is to log onto the FOS website NOW. 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...

Texas Rangers Scout Weekend

Attention all you Rangers fans out there! The final season at Globe Life Park is quickly approaching and the Texas Rangers have announced their Scout Weekend for 2019.

There is not one, not two, but THREE games to choose from! You'll get to watch the Texas Rangers take on the Toronto Blue Jays! Something cool is in store for each night so pick and choose wisely!

Friday, May 3 at 7:05pm: Fireworks after the game

Saturday, May 4 at 7:05 pm: Koe Wetzel postgame concert and bark at the park

Sunday, May 5: for King & Country postgame concert; $1 Blue Bell Ice Cream Sunday

Those in uniform attending on Sunday will be able to participate in a pre-game parade around the warning track. 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. 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.

Need A Little Adventure In Your Summer?

Make Memories That Will Last a Lifetime at the Iconic Philmont Scout Ranch!

The Philmont Family Adventure is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the Philmont Scout Ranch like never before!

Open to all registered members of the BSA and their families, you will have a chance to participate in all of the incredible activities offered at Philmont and make memories with your family that will last a lifetime.

WHO

All registered members of the BSA and their families

WHERE

Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, New Mexico

WHEN

Full Session:

Week 3: 6/23-29

Week 4: 6/30-7-6

Week 8: 7/28-8/3

Week 9: 8/4-10

First Session (Half Week) 

Week 3: 6/23-26

Week 4: 6/30-7-3

Week 8: 7/28-31

Week 9: 8/4-7

Second Session (Half Week)

Week 3: 6/26-29

Week 4: 7/3-6

Week 8: 7/31-8/3

Week 9: 8/7-10

COST:

Full Week Adult: $350; Child/Youth: $150 - includes tent, meals, program fees

Half Week Adult: $215; Child/Youth: $100 - includes tent, meals, program fees

Mountain Trek $440

Space is limited, so don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity!

You can customize your adventure by choosing activities that appeal to you. Morning and afternoon programs will be offered daily, as well as day-long activities ... if you’re feeling extra adventurous!

This is different from any previous event at the Philmont Scout Ranch, and will truly be an unforgettable experience for all families in attendance.  Our Troop is actually participating this year in a high-adventure backpack trek there in June!

For more information, click HERE for The Philmont Family Adventure Guidebook.

Camp Cards

Pack 1910 is pleased to announce that the 2019 Longhorn Council Camp Card fundraising program is underway!

By selling Camp Cards similar to the one above, Scouts can earn their own way to District Day Camp this June, the Perot Musem this July or even to Fossil Rim in September!! Units participating in the program earn 50% commission on each card. The cards cost $10 each so each sale nets $5.00 to go NOT to the Pack but we into a reserve specifically designated for your Scout's benefit. Yes, we are passing this commission to the individual scout account of the Cub Scout who sold them.

Again, I repeat, THIS IS NOT A UNIT FUNDRAISER!  This is your SCOUT's opportunity to fund his way all by himself! 

Oh, and did I mention the best part? This fundraiser is completely risk-free! That's right. Any cards you don't sell, you simply return them and you're done. 100% Risk Free.

All unsold cards and funds are due TO April by April 29.

What specific savings can the boys sell from these cards?

Contact April to get your first set of Camp Cards to sell.  Most Scouts are getting between 10-20 to sell. More can always be obtained if your Scout starts seriously cashing in on this opportunity!

If you can get your son to sell 3 packs of 10 Camp Cards, that's a $300 sale and a $150 commission, or, stated differently, your Scout has paid for 100% of Day Camp and the Perot this July!

Please note that while this is an OPTIONAL fundraiser, we want to encourage participation in order to lessen the direct financial burden on our Pack families. While it is SO EASY (albeit sometimes painful) to write that check and pay their way, that fails to give our Scouts the opportunity to learn a valuable lesson in sweat equity by participating in THEIR program. Selling teaches perseverance and being thrifty. Besides, every Scout deserves the opportunity to pay his own way.

Pinewood Derby Final Assembly

Pinewood Derby Car Design

March Parent/Committee Meeting

PARENTS WANTED!!! PLEASE ATTEND MONDAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING TO HELP THE PACK MAKE PLANS AND DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR SCOUT'S 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 4. We will be finalizing the March Pack Meeting, discussing Pinewood Derby event, finalizing the Spring Campout, touching on the summer calendar of events and more.

Pinewood Derby Car Body

Pinewood Derby Wheels and Axels

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

Blue & Gold DEADLINE

The Blue & Gold is the annual celebration of Scouting in America. Each year our 5th grade den chooses a theme to build our celebration around. This year is...

Super Scouting Sleuthy Spies - aka Cub Scout Investigations (CS)

While the event itself is a little different each year, the purpose is the same -- to come together as a Pack family and bid our Arrow of Light Scouts farewell for this will be the last event they attend as Cub Scouts.

The purpose of the Blue and Gold is to commemorate the organization of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910 and to celebrate the birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts organization. The banquet is traditionally held in February because Baden-Powell was born February 22, 1857. The term "Blue and Gold" is the name because those are the official colors of the Cub Scout organization. Blue represents truth and loyalty, and gold represents good cheer, happiness, and helping others.

Your den leaders should be contacting you to verify how many from your family will be attending. The cost is $3 per person with a max of $15 per family though everyone is asked to bring a side and enter a themed desert in our Cake Bake competition. 

Our Blue and Gold will be Friday, February 15, 2018 at 6:30 pm. at the United Methodist Church of Keller's Family Life Center (the gym where we hold Pack meetings).

Another fun component we like to incorporate during dinner is our annual slide show. To make this successful, we need your photos! Please upload any photos you've taken of your scout at den meetings, Pack events, campouts, hikes or Pack meetings HERE! We want them all!!! They LOVE seeing their faces up on the screen!

Please RSVP through the links provided on the e-mail sent through Scoutbook no later than  Monday, February 1.

Remind, Verizon, Texts and Scoutbook

If you're a parent within the Keller Independent School District, you should have received the e-mail notification about the Remind app concerning the fee assessment they were anticipating incurring for sending SMS text messages to patrons on the Verizon Wireless network.

Fortunately for KISD, they likely have a school district plan in place allowing them to continue to send for free. However, as patrons who might be on a Verizon plan, we don't have that luxury to have a "classroom" that isn't a true instructional forum ensuring we remained in that free umbrella.

And although Remind and Verizon have apparently entered into an agreement as of today, I'm unclear if it's only for education institutions K-12 (which we clearly aren't) and, frankly, don't we all have more important things to do than research fee assessments of unnecessary apps?

Therefore, Pack 1910 is no longer going to utilize Remind at this time because Scoutbook already has a feature built in enabling us to use text notifications!  So, in essence, we have our own Remind service, we just need to ensure that our parents put their information in the system to receive those alerts.

Follow THIS plan to input your cellular information into Scoutbook and give leadership permission to send you text alerts. You will still receive the notifications via e-mail for meetings and events as usual, however, this additional text feature will enable us to ensure you are notified of any last minute changes, receive urgent event reminders and, more importantly, is available to ALL Pack leadership and NOT just the owner of our Remind account.

Thank you to Ryan Smith for creating this quick tutorial allowing our parents to make this change on their profile(s).

Parents, please update your information in the system TODAY!