2007 Pinewood Derby details

(Thanks to Brooks' mom, Jennifer, for sending the information to me.)

Schedule of Events:

January 15, 2007: Meet at St. Matthew’s church from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM if scouts need their cars cut out.

February 9, 2007: Test runs for derby cars are from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

February 10, 2007: Race Schedule is as follows:

Rank Reg. Time Racing Time Awards
Tiger 8:00-8:15 8:30-9:00 9:00-9:15
Wolves 8:45-9:15 9:30-10:00 10:00-10:15
Bears 9:45-10-:15 10:30-11:00 11:00-11:15
Webelos 10:45-11-15 11:30-12:00 12:00-12:15
Champion N/A 12:30-1:00 1:00-1:30

January 2007 Den Meeting

The boys had fun beginning to think about the design of their Pinewood Derby cars. We got into the spirit with checkered flag tattoos and race car plates. And we sampled the first king cake of the season too!

High-profile role for scouts at Ford's funeral

One group that will be paying special tribute to former President Gerald R. Ford is the Boy Scouts.

Ford was a tireless promoter of the Boy Scouts - because he was one. He was the only President who had earned the status of Eagle Scout, scouting's top honor.

The West Michigan Boy Scouts played a prominent role in his funeral in Grand Rapids at the request of his family. Thousands of scouts lined the streets of the motorcade along Fulton Street. Eagle Scouts saluted the motorcade along Pearl Street, right before the Ford Museum where Ford was laid to rest.

President Ford has left an indelible mark on Scouts in West Michigan and around the country.

Ford was such an honored member among the Boy Scouts that he was the only living member to have an entire council named after him. Council 266 in West Michigan is now the Gerald R. Ford Council.

The West Michigan Headquarters on Walker Avenue was rededicated with Ford's name in 1997. Scout Program Director Matt Adams was there because Ford sent him a letter when he became an Eagle Scout.

"The letter said, 'P.S. Be good to scouting as an adult because it's been good to you as a youth.' And when he came here, I showed that letter to him. I'm now working for the Scouts and I told him I tried to follow what he said," says Adams.

[ via Anne Schieber ]

Operation Christmas Child boxes

The boys had a good time decorating their Operation Christmas Child boxes during the November meeting. (And they were especially impressed with the reindeer brownies that Tyler's mom made. Thanks, Tammy!)

Tiger Cubs Roar!

We had volunteered to do a skit for the Cub Scout pack meeting. I thought this one was easy enough to learn during a den meeting, but, unfortunately, it didn't go much smoother in front of the audience! ;)

But we get tiger points for trying, I guess. (And we did have an impressive roar at the end still!)

Mark your calendars...

Important upcoming dates:

• January 9 - Den Meeting
• January 30 - Pack Meeting
• February 10 - Pinewood Derby
• February 24 - Blue & Gold Banquet

Our Tigers Get Their Totems

In addition to the cake auction, our tiger cubs received their totems at the last pack meeting. Keep up the good work, boys! See all of the pictures here.

October Cub Scout Cake Auction

The Cub Scout Cake Auction was a great success for our den. We raised $116 for our boys to use on crafts and activities. If anyone has any suggestions on how to use the money, let me know. If you missed the auction and would like to see the cakes that I had time to photograph, see all of the pictures here. (I made the cake above and Deana bought it - so it all stayed in the den family!)

Camp Out with the Cubs Scouts Do’s and Don’ts

Don’ts

BSA Rules
No Firearm, Fireworks.
No open flames in tents.
No sheath knifes, Machetes, Double Bladed Axes, Gas Saws.
No Alcohol.
No Tobacco use in sight of youths.
No ATV’s.
No Swimming or Boating.
No Fishing in the Swimming area or the canoe area.
No Pets.
No flammable liquid fuels stored in the camp area.

Pack Rules
Boys can not play electronic games at the camp. No loud Radios or TV’s
Boys can not carry or use a knife or axe unless in visual site of their guardian and they have earned their whittling chip (Bears and WEBELOS only).
Boys can have walking sticks but not “spears” (walking sticks should be as tall as the boy so that they can not fall on them.) (Anyone running, swinging or hitting with sticks will not be allowed to have them.)
All fires must be in a fire ring.
No lighter fuels
Boys can not carry matches or Start fires with out their guardian
Boys can not play in the fires or around the fires (poke it with sticks, toss leaves or objects in the fire.)
Fires will be limited to just a few. Ask the Cub Master, Asst. Cub Master, or outdoor committee member before starting one.
(There will be one large fire for the whole pack to sit around at night and fellowship together.)
Only wood and paper in fires. No plastic, foil, glass, or other unburnable items.

Do’s
You should bring the following items:
Tent and ground cloth or tarp. (The cheap ones at Wal-Mart, Target, and Academy work well)
Sleeping bag or Sheets and blankets
Drinking water
Food, Eating and Cooking Supplies (Plates, cups, forks, spoons, pots, tongs, based on what your menu will require) there will be several stoves around if you don’t have one we will share.
A cooler and ice if you have perishable food.
Extra Clothes Based on the weather (Extra socks and shoes if it’s raining, extra warm clothes if it’s cold.)
Rain gear if weather calls for it. (Even if it doesn’t, it’s a good idea.)
Flash light (cheap one for the boys in case it is lost. Put name on it)
Toilet paper (1001 uses), Cloth Towels (its great to freshen up), Soap (Soft soap or hand sanitizer works best.)
Chairs
Small first aid kit (the Pack has one, but is limited to general first aid items – no epipens, etc.)

Nice to have
Glow Sticks (The kids love them.)
Lantern (There will be several. You don’t have to buy one if you don’t have one.)
Whistle, compass, binoculars, water bottle with a strap, two way radio (put name on all)
Camp Table
Shade or fly
Rake, Shovel, Small Saw (there will be some one with these that will share if you don’t have one)
Air mattress, Pad or cot.
Camp Stove (There will be several stoves around if you don’t have one we will share)
Paper towels, Trash bags
Paper plates (less washing and can burn in the fire, plastic can not.)
Large wash basin
Rope (small twine 1001 uses)
Ant spray
Large plastic boxes to keep everything in (keeps the rain and bugs out)
Matches or a lighter (keep away from the kids) (There will be several around if you don’t have one we will share.)
A battery fan if it’s hot.
Small amount of wood (Helps if it hasn’t been wet. We will make one big wood pile for the pack to use.)
Fishing pole and bait.

It's camp time!

The Eastern District Akela campout is this weekend.

"Down on the Farm" is the theme this year, and the campout will be held at Camp Hood west of Hazlehurst. If you need driving directions, you can print them out here.

Following is a list of the planed events. If you can't make all of the activities, it’s OK. You can participate in any of them even if they have started.

Friday, Oct. 20 - Set up camp. (optional)

Saturday, Oct. 21 -
8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Set up and water rockets (a 1-liter or 2-liter bottle that you can decorate however you wish)
12 p.m. - Opening Ceremony (wear cub scout uniforms)
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Activities
6 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Pack Supper
7:30 p.m. - Akela Campfire Program (at the Council Ring)
8 p.m. - Pack Campfire - Stories, Jokes, Trivia Questions (bring your best)

Sunday, Oct. 22 -
8 a.m. - Church Services (at the Council Ring)

We will be camping in camp site #3 (here is a map of the property). We will be sharing this camp site with Pack 298 (Madison Methodist) so we need to set our tents as close together as possible. We will have one large camp fire for all to enjoy. Anyone who needs to build a small cook fire needs to get approval by a pack leader first. There will be far too many of us to all have a camp fire and the Council rules allow for only 1 camp fire per pack.

We will be having a Pack Supper Saturday night about 6 p.m. It will be a Pot Luck so cook or bring your favorite dish. We will all eat together as a pack. We will need some of everything so don't be shy. (Be prepared for your own family’s breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday.)

Remember also that there will be several families with stoves/grills so if you are new to camping, don’t fret…there will be plenty of parents happy to help you out with your cooking if you need it.

If you have any questions, just e-mail me at shawn.lea@gmail.com and I will try to find an answer for you.

Our next den meeting is set for Nov. 14

During our next den meeting, set for Nov. 14, we will work on the Operation Christmas Box project. Please bring the items that your child wants to put in his box to send and we will provide boxes and items to decorate the box.

If you have any suggestions for a Go See It for November, just let me or Dena know or leave a comment here. (Dena is also working on an optional additional Go See It for this month, too, since several of us were not going to be able to go camping.)

October pack meeting date change

Because of a conflict with an event in Madison, the October pack meeting has been changed from Oct. 24 to Oct. 26. This is the pack meeting that we will be making cakes for - and also the tiger totem will be presented to those cubs who have earned it. (If you missed the meeting where we all worked on this together, please let me know that you have gone over this at home so I can put your child's name on the list.)

We Pledge of Allegiance

Dena also led the boys in the pledge of allegiance at the opening of the den meeting.

New Junior Fire Marshalls

Congratulations to Tyler B., Bailey, Grayson, Quentin, David and Bart - they are all now officially Junior Fire Marshalls. Dena led the boys through a brief fire safety course, they completed the requirements, colored their own badges and they are all now official junior fire marshalls.


Junior Fire Marshall Bart


Junior Fire Marshall Grayson


Junior Fire Marshall Tyler B.


Junior Fire Marshall Quentin


Junior Fire Marshall Bailey


Junior Fire Marshall David

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child will be the major service project for Pack 15 this year. Cub scouts will fill a shoe box full of small toys and trinkets for children who would not have a Christmas otherwise.

The deadline to get the boxes in is Nov. 14, which is the date of our November den meeting and the November pack meeting. (The den meeting will be at 6 p.m. and the pack meeting at 7 p.m.) We can spend that time letting the boys decorate their boxes and get them ready to send.

Phillips Godwin is heading up this project. If you would like more information, call him at (601) 214-0198.

Cake Auction

During the next pack meeting, scheduled for Oct. 24, there will be a cake auction. From what I understand, the cakes generally have a Halloween theme. Please bring a cake to the pack meeting that night for the auction - all funds collected goes directly to our den to use for Go See Its and arts and craft supplies.

I have found links to a few easy, fun Halloween cakes:

• Goofy Spooks Halloween Cake
• Pumpkin Cake
• Kitty Litter Cake
• Black Cat Halloween Cake
• Witch's House Cake
• Halloween Cake

For more ideas, here's a gallery of Halloween cakes.

Dena McDonald is assistant den leader

Thanks to Dena McDonald, David's mom, for agreeing to serve as assistant den leader. We will be working together to make den meetings fun and educational for all of our boys. If you have any suggestions, let Dena or me know.

Tiger Totem Time

Congratulations to Quentin, David, Tyler, Grayson and Hunter! They all earned their Tiger Totem at the den meeting yesterday. We will officially present the boys with their Tiger Totem at the next pack meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 24.

Our next den meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m. in Room 205 at St. Matthews Church. We will be working on the beads that go on the Tiger Totem then and also getting ready for the campout.

If you missed our first den meeting, you can catch up by teaching your cub scout the cub scout motto: Do Your Best. (Yes, parents who made it to the den meeting, they changed it this year, unbeknownst to me - my Search Discover Share was for naught - we will have to learn Do Your Best at the next meeting, which would actually have been easier to begin with.)

Also, teach them the cub scout sign and the cub scout salute. Let me know that they know these three things and I will mark down that they have earned their Tiger Totem also. You can e-mail me at shawn.lea@gmail.com.

Akela Campout Information

The Eastern District Akela Cub 2006 Campout is scheduled for October 21-22 at the Camp Hood Scout Reservation. (Some families do come down on Friday night, Oct. 20, too.) For Early Bird registration prices, you must register before Oct. 5.

Families should bring a tent or tents and ground cloths/tarps, a sleeping bag and/or sheets and blankets, drinking water, food and snacks, cooking supplies, flash lights, toilet paper, sun screen and bug repellent. The camp site has running water, but bring bottled water for drinking.)

You can download the registration form and a list of Do's, Don'ts and Nice to Haves that was handed out at the pack meeting here. (Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and click on the Download button.)

The Tiger Cub Badge

The Tiger Cub badge is the badge we will be working on this year.

The badge is earned by completing all 15 parts of the five achievements - five family activities, five den activities, and five Go See It outings.

The Tiger Club Belt Totem, shown at the top, is an instant recognition tool. To earn the totem, a scout must

• Learn the "Tiger Cub Motto" (The MOTTO is: "SEARCH, DISCOVER, SHARE ")
• Learn the "Cub Scout Sign"
• Learn the "Cub Scout Salute"

The Cub Scout Uniform

Many of you have asked about the Tiger cub scout uniform.

The current uniform is the official blue Cub Scout shirt with blue/orange neckerchief and neckerchief slide. The official Tiger Cub cap and blue web belt with a Tiger Cub buckle are optional. Adult partners don't have to wear a uniform, but it is highly recommended that they wear a Tiger Cub orange T- shirt or sweatshirt.

Locally, you can buy the uniforms at our Andrew Jackson Council shop, located at 855 Riverside in Jackson. For directions or more information, the shop can be reached at (601) 948-6111. You can also purchase uniforms online at www.scoutstuff.org. (Some can also be found on eBay and other re-sale shops if you prefer to buy a used uniform.)

If you have more questions, feel free to e-mail me at shawn.lea@gmail.com.

Welcome to the Den 16 blog!

Welcome to Den 16's blog! We are a den in Pack 15 of the Andrew Jackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

For parents, I will use this blog to post important upcoming dates, links to cub scout information and pictures from our den activities. If you have any questions or suggestions, just e-mail me at shawn.lea@gmail.com.

I'm looking forward to a fun year of watching our tiger cubs grow!