Blue and Gold

Dear Parents,
Can you believe that the end of our scouting year is upon us? Where did the time magically go? Just a moment ago it was September and we were just starting the year and then POOF!!! It is over. We are having our end of year Blue and Gold Banquet on June 2, 2018. The doors open at 12:15 and the banquet starts at 1:00. Tickets are available. Each scout gets a ticket for themself and 2 tickets for parents. Any extra tickets are $5.00 each. Payment at the door is acceptable. Head counts are needed by May 30th. We look forward to ending the year with the same spirit that we have had all year!

Thank you!
Sincerely,
Regina Giuffre

2018 Whittling Chip (Bears Update)

Whittling Chip CardOn Monday, April 9th, the Bears began their Pocketknife Safety training. This class is designed to teach pocketknife safety and additional rules that must be followed when using a pocketknife. Bears should immediately start reading the Bear Claws adventure which can be found on page 30 of their handbooks as well as the handouts they were given Monday night (see below).

We started these series of classes by covering the following: what the whittling chip is; the whittling chip pledge; the difference between a tool and a weapon; how the pocket knife, although a useful tool, is considered a weapon in schools; the no school rule; an introduction to various bladed items with their differences and validity of use; the basic parts of the knife; and how to pass a knife to another.

We ask that you ask review these materials with your scout, ask them to show you how they are to properly hand off a pocketknife and help reinforce it at home with any bladed items.

On Monday, April 16th, we will continue our knife safety course by reviewing what was already covered, go into more detail about the parts of a knife, the different types of pocket knives, how to choose a good pocket knife, the rules, safety, and the care of a pocketknife.

Finally, we will have a third installment where we will complete the whittling chip course by having the scouts practice what they learned with apples and/or bars of soap; if time permits we may allow some of them to use other pocket knifes to try whittling a piece of wood.

These next few weeks will complete the Bear Claws Adventure  and allow your Bear to earn his or her Whittling Chip Card. We may have activities that allow the use of a pocketknife and having a whittling chip card is a requirement to participate in such activities.

Attached below are a parent letter describing the course, a copy of safety rules and care tips they can keep, and a parent permission slip. Your scout must sign the permissions slip to acknowledge the rules, and a parent or guardian must also sign the slip acknowledging the rules and giving the scout permission to participate and earn his whittling chip. This slip along *MUST* be turned before your scout will be permitted to use a knife for this adventure.

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Whittling Chip Parent Letter

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Whittling Chip Sign Off Form

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Whittling Chip Pledge, Rules, Safety & Care

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Bears Update 3/12/2018

Bear Adventure: Bear NecessitiesOn Monday, the Bears began working on the core adventure Bear Necessities to prepare for upcoming camping trips in spring and summer.

We discussed some of the items that our Bears have taken camping in the past, as well as what items they should always bring to be prepared; how to pick a decent spot for a tent site; and what to look out for when setting one up.

Afterwards the scouts learned how to properly set up and take down a tent, practicing with an 8-man tent that they could all run around in.

Bears Update 2/19/2018

Bear Adventure: Bear Picnic BasketThe bears finished up the Bear Picnic Adventure and the bears in attendance were no longer growling with hunger. After a quick review of what was learned last week, the different food groups and how to make healthy choices last week, the scouts used the ingredients they selected to create a meal and snack that they could enjoy on a camping trip. They put together foil packs, containing steak, brown rice, and various veggies and while they were waiting for those to cook they created a delicious trail mix that will keep them fueled on hikes and they finished it up by making something a camping just possibly cannot be a camping trip without enjoying – smores.

As the different items were prepared, the scouts learned about the importance of cleanliness, proper hygiene when cooking, safety when cooking and more. After tasting their foil packs and trail mix, scouts were asked to share their meals at home. If they liked their meal, they were asked to write it down as a recipe to bring in next week. If they didn’t like it, they were asked to write down a variation that either added or removed something which they felt improved their their recipe.

Bear Update 2/12/2018

Bear Adventure: Bear Picnic BasketOn Monday the bears began working on the Bear Picnic Basket elective Adventure.  We reviewed the food groups and what each group provides our bodies and discussed the importance of healthy eating, especially when engaged in physical activities such as camping and hiking. They looked through sale ads and food posters to aid them in creating a “shopping list” of healthy foods items to make a healthy snack and meal that incorporated all of the food groups for a balanced meal.

Next week the bears will learn how to prepare and make a trail mix as well as a meat, veggie, rice dish. They will also write down the recipes they created to take home.

For those that missed Monday’s meeting please work with your scout and help them come up with two healthy recipes – a snack and a main dish. They should understand the ingredients and how they correspond to the food groups. This will ensure that they cover last weeks requirements before finishing the adventure next week.

Bear Den Update 1/15/2018

Bear Adventure: Critter CareOn Monday the bears worked on the Critter Care adventure. This in an elective adventure through which Cub Scouts learn how caring for a pet fosters responsibility and offers a sense of companionship that they will learn to nurture and cherish throughout their lives. Pet care gives them an opportunity to learn about their pet and provide ways to care for their pet. It also gives them an opportunity to learn about the many ways animals return the favor and assist people in need.

During the evening the scouts completed the following requirements, to complete the adventure:

  • 1a – Make a list of and discuss the tasks needed to provide care for our pets.
  • 2a/2b – Make a poster about your pet and/or how animals can help people.
  • 3b – Learn about careers that involve the care of animals.

Additionally the scouts covered the different types of animals found in shelters, how shelters save and care for animals, and how new/strange domestic animals should be approached. It should be noted that we did not teach them how to approach wildlife as scouts are taught to leave wildlife alone.

For those that were not able to attend the meeting, the requirements can can be found in the Bear Handbook on page 184 and the updated requirements can be found on our website by clicking the words Critter Care.

Home activity: Scouts should take care of their pets for the next two weeks and make a list of what they did during those two weeks. For those that do not have pets, make a short report on what care would be needed for a pet that you would like to have.

Optional Home Activity: Research heroic animals that exemplify how animals can help people. Some examples would be:

Not to mention the more bizarre or the wild; like the parrot that saved a baby from choking, the lions that saved an Ethiopian girl, the bears that saved an elderly hiker, the dolphins that save someone from a great white shark attack and more.

 

 

 

Bears Update 11/6/2017

Bear Adventure: Baloo the BuilderOn Monday, the Bears began working on Baloo the Builder Adventure, which will expose the scout to the proper use and safety of hand tools, how to choose the correct type of wood for a project, and also how to construct a project.

The scouts were introduced to various tools and their functions, tool safety, and hands on practice to give them a better understanding of how they work and how to use them.

Homework: The scouts were asked to come up with ideas for projects over the course of the week. Also don’t forget the scouts were asked a few weeks ago to display a flag somewhere in their home for 30 days. It can be a picture of a flag, or a miniature flag.  They can take a picture of it and bring it in or send it in an email.

Have a great week!

Bear Den Update 10/09/2017

Bear Adventure: Paws for ActionOn Monday, the Bears and the Wolves worked together.The Bear portion of the meeting focused on completing the Paws for Action Adventure which has it’s root in the Duty to Country part of Scouting.

The meeting started with those who went to the Revolutionary Germantown festival sharing their experience with the dens. They talked about famous people and places along with their significance in history to complete requirement 2.  The discussion then turned to the meaning of freedom, the significance of the American flag, and the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to complete most of requirement 1 (see homework).

They then switched pace and worked with the wolves learning about and trying to use Morse code, nautical flags, and semaphore flags which expand ones understanding of the many ways in which we can communicate.

At Home (Homework)

To finish requirement 1, the scouts should work with an adult to display the American flag in the home for one month. For those that attended both Germantown and Monday’s meeting. This assignment will complete the Paws for Action adventure.

 

 

Bear Den Update 10/02/2017

Bear Adventure: Fellowship and Duty to GodOn Monday, the bear den started by going through the advancement requirements and discussed a little about what each adventure entails and they were very excited to hear that they will get started this year with pocket knives. They then started with a generalization of the Fellowship and Duty to God adventure in which Bear Cub Scouts will have opportunities to be good neighbors as they reach out in fellowship to those in their communities. Cub Scouts will experience the universal principle, common to many religions, that we should treat others the way we want to be treated.

Next week they will go deeper into this adventure and explain how they do their duty to God, to name and discuss someone of faith that they admire, and how they will continue to show their duty to God.

At Home (Homework)

This adventure requires the assistance of families and loved ones in order for the scouts to make the most of the adventure.

  • Please discuss with your scouts someone of faith that they admire. It can be a person within your family, someone you know, or even a holy figure in your particular faith.
  • Help your scouts prepare a list of things that they can do to practice their duty to God according to their beliefs. We will then ask the scouts to select two of them to practice for two weeks.
  • The scouts are welcome to bring in something religious and meaningful to them to discuss.

Firehouse Visit (5/15/17)…

Attention LIONS, TIGERS, WOLVES & BEARS we are having our annual Firehouse visit this Monday (5/15/17) at 6:30pm. We will meet AT the Firehouse. It is located at 7818 Frankford Ave, 19136 (right by Holmesburg Branch library). It is Engine 36, Ladder 20. We ask that adults stay for the duration of the tour, because if the firehouse gets a call, they have to go. If your cubs have uniforms, please have them wear them. This will be the meeting for the week, we will meet here and dismiss from there. So, we’ll see you all on Monday and we’ll meet in front of the firehouse, by the flagpole.