Dec 10: Flag Hill Hike
NOTE: Please keep an eye out for the weather and any announcements.
Date/Time: Sunday, December 10, 2023, at 9:30am - 12:30PM
Location: Flag Hill — Sunol Regional Wilderness https://www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol
[ RSVP ]
Meeting Point: Parking lot immediately to the left after the entrance kiosk — 1895 Geary Road, Sunol, CA 94586
Daily parking fee: $5
Distance / elevation / duration: 3.9-mile loop / 994 ft / 3 hrs (2 hrs 10 mins average per alltrails-com) Difficulty: Moderate / Recommended for Bears and Webelos
Hike info + trail map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/flag-hill-loop-trail?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map
Awards: Trail Trekkers program https://ggacbsa.org/hiking-programs/https://ggacbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Flag-Hill-Sunol-Regional-Wilderness.pdf
Attire: Class B t-shirt and comfortable pants, layers, hiking boots/shoes
Bring: Sunscreen, cap/wide brimmed hat, plenty of water and snacks, optional hiking poles, camera Hiking Chair: Mr. Murali / 408-250-0542
// IMPORTANT - Use extreme caution on the rocks at the Flag Hill summit - Watch for poison oak on narrow sections of trail - There will be cattle at Sunol -- give them plenty of distance
// The hike A moderately strenuous hike will take you to the top of Flag Hill, which is composed of layers of fossil-rich sandstone formed some 13 million years ago. You'll enjoy great views and good opportunities to watch birds and other wildlife.
// The trail Begin this hike by crossing Alameda Creek on the footbridge near park headquarters. Turn left (downstream). After a short distance, Flag Hill Trial will take off uphill, to the right. The trail zigzags up the face of the hill (make sure your hikers understand why it's important not to shortcut switchbacks). After about a mile of rather steep uphill hiking, you'll reach the top where you'll probably want to take a good snack or lunch break. While on top, watch for red-tailed hawks (the red upper surface of the tail is visible when the hawk turns), turkey vultures (which hold their wings in a slight "V" and teeter in flight), and maybe even a golden eagle or falcon. Continue your hike by going down the back side of Flag Hill, turning right when you reach High Valley Road. Return to the cars by way of Hayfield Road.
// Directions Drive south on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of Pleasanton. Turn left onto Calaveras Road and proceed to Geary Road, which leads directly into the park.
// More details https://ggacbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Flag-Hill-Sunol-Regional-Wilderness.pdf
For all in-person pack or den events and activities, please follow the SRVUSD COVID guidelines. If you are sick or are experiencing symptoms, please stay home and stay safe.
Nov 15: November Pack Meeting🎇
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 15, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Location: Coyote Creek MPR
Attire: Class A uniform or your favorite cultural attire
Bring: Your scout spirit and a refillable water bottle!
Volunteer to help with our meeting activities - it helps to get you closer to earning the required 10-hour volunteer minimum!
[ Sign-up ] to volunteer.
In our upcoming pack meeting, we're embracing the wonderful diversity of our world by celebrating various festivals from around the world. Join us as we embark on a journey of learning, fun, and togetherness, discovering the rich traditions of Diwali, Winter Solstice, and Christmas.
🥙 This Pack Meeting includes a Potluck so please bring your favorite cultural dish. Please reach out to the below leader to coordinate if you are planning to bring a dish for a specific country!
See Cubmaster email for additional details.
India - Anadi
Taiwan/China - Wendy
England - Kevin
USA/others - Cubmaster
Nov 12: Sycamore Grove Hike
Pack 1776
NOTE: Please keep an eye out for the weather and any announcements.
Date/Time: Sunday, November 12, 2023, at 9am start time
Location: Sycamore Grove Regional Park / https://www.larpd.org/sycamore-grove-park
[ RSVP ]
Meeting Point: Wetmore Road entrance parking lot — 1051 Wetmore Rd, Livermore, CA 94550 / https://www.google.com/maps?q=37.645034,-121.782059&z=20
Daily parking fee: $5
Distance / elevation / duration: 4.9-mile loop / 85 ft (gentle, less than 5%) / 1 hour 28 mins average — per alltrails.com
Difficulty: Easy / Recommended for Tigers through Webelos, with close parental supervision for younger scouts and siblings
Hike info + trail map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/sycamore-creek-trail
Awards: Trail Trekkers program https://ggacbsa.org/hiking-programs// https://ggacbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Sycamore-Grove-Sycamore-Grove-Regional-Park.pdf
Attire: Class B t-shirt and comfortable pants, layers, hiking boots/shoes Bring: Sunscreen, cap/wide brimmed hat, plenty of water and snacks, optional hiking poles, camera
Hiking Chair: Mr. Murali (408-250-0542)
Sycamore Grove Regional Park in Livermore, CA provides the ideal place to relax and enjoy nature. With 364 acres of parkland, Sycamore Grove is a great place to hike or bike along Arroyo Del Valle, or have a picnic. Sycamore Grove Park is an open space, preserved for nature study and passive recreation. The park is open year round.
Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Hike: This is a mostly paved loop with a small elevation gain. There are benches with great views along the way. Every inch of this park is alive with life - in the air, in the grass, and even in puddles. Begin your search for signs of wildlife at the Wetmore Road entrance. Follow the paved path until you come to the first sign designating the Nature Area. Turn left onto the broad trail that crosses the usually dry Arroyo. Follow this nature trail through the sycamore grove until you reach the park boundary. While you are here, be sure to pause often and listen for the sounds of reptiles and rodents in the grass. If you are lucky and very patient you might even see an animal. Wandering among the park's sycamores, you may be fortunate enough to see a fox, a bobcat, or perhaps a Red-tailed Hawk soaring overhead. Magpies and Bushtits chatter as you stroll along quiet trails. A quiet hiker can sometimes find deer, rabbits and hares, ground squirrels, mice, lizards, snakes, turtles, frogs, and a variety of birds and insects in the park. Near the wet areas be sure to look for great blue herons. Remember to look up. Cross the bridge and return to the park entrance via the paved path. Insects are very visible as they cross the road. Be sure to take your time and appreciate beetles, grasshoppers and ants up close. Remember: no collecting.
Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RmRh5uL1edc344jW6Take I-680 S, then I-580 E, and exit 51 to CA-84. Continue on CA-84 for 3.3 miles. Turn left onto E Vineyard Ave (1 mile), left onto Vallecitos Rd (0.3 mi), right onto Wetmore Rd. Destination will be on the right.
For all in-person pack or den events and activities, please follow the SRVUSD COVID guidelines. If you are sick or are experiencing symptoms, please stay home and stay safe.
Nov 4 and 11: Scouting For Food
Scouting for Food is BSA’s annual food collection program for local food banks.
Save the dates!
Oct 27: Tags delivered to Den Leaders to distribute to den scouts
Nov 4: Place tags in neighborhoods, assigned by den
Nov 11: Collect food from same neighborhoods, assigned by den
Many thanks to our Scouting for Food Coordinators: Mavis & Maribel!
We need volunteers to drive the collected food to the main collection location at Bishop Ranch.
On Saturday, November 4, 2023, we will place door hangers at residences in our assigned neighborhoods. Each den will receive an area to cover. On Saturday, November 11, 2023, we will collect donations from doorsteps.
Please NO glass containers or food that has a short shelf life. Canned and boxed food is great! Protein items like canned tuna, ham, sardines, & SPAM, as well as peanut butter are greatly needed.
Donations will go to: Alameda Food Bank, Alameda County Community Food Bank, American Canyon Emergency Food Bank, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, Napa Food Bank, San Francisco – Marin Food Bank, St. Helena Food Pantry, United Christian Parish Pantry.
All Pack 1776 scouts are strongly recommended to participate. Each scout participant will receive a cool patch!
General reminders
- Wear Class A Scout uniform
- Wear an approved face covering — applies to everyone involved in Scouting for Food
- Keep your scouts in view at all times
- Supervise scouts when crossing roads
- Bring and use hand sanitizer
- DO NOT to enter a donor’s residence
Door hanger distribution — November 4-5
- Distribute door hangers on another day this week, iff not possible on Nov 4-5
- Place door hanger on the door or partially under the doormat
- Do not place door hangers in mailboxes
- Knock or ring doorbell after placing door hanger and take a few steps back
- Speak with the resident about the program
Food donations pickup — November 11
- Pick up food donations from the same homes where you distributed door hangers
- Do not pick up earlier than 9am
- Knock or ring doorbell at every house that received a door hanger and did not leave a donation; maybe they forgot and would give on the spot if asked kindly
- Drop off the collected food donations in front of Coyote Creek MPR between 10am and noon
- If you cannot drop off by 12pm, drop off directly at the main collection site at Bishop Ranch / 2700 Camino Ramon, San Ramon, by 1pm
For all in-person pack or den events and activities, please follow the SRVUSD COVID guidelines. If you are sick or are experiencing symptoms, please stay home and stay safe.
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Oct 27:Trick or Treat!
All Cub Scouts and their families are invited to our annual Halloween bash!
When: Friday, October 27, 2023 6:00 PM PT - 8:00 PM PT
Where: Coyote Creek Elementary School — MPR + courtyard 8700 N Gale Ridge Road San Ramon, CA 94582
Attire: Costumes Cost: Free to participate
Food: FREE Pizza, popcorn, and shaved ice will be provided
Bring: Refillable water bottle AND trick-or-treat bag No bottled water will be provided at this event
[ RSVP ] by Oct 20!
[ Sign up ] to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4DABAE2CAAF49-44364766-halloween#/
Play carnival games to win prizes. Come dressed up in your Halloween best and take your picture at the photo booth. You may even win one of our 27 best costume medals at the parade. You do not need to be a scout to participate in the parade.
FREE pizza; thanks to outstanding popcorn sale by the pack!
Costume Contest; categories are: Best Costume, Most Creative, Most Scary Costume.
Special thanks to our local businesses who sponsored our Halloween party with gift card prizes: https://www.yersengelato.com/Yersen Gelato - by McDonalds Danville; corner of Crow Canyon & Camino Tassajara https://www.giogelati.com/Gio Gelati - City Center San Ramon https://www.rnbteasanramon.com/R&B Tea - 2475 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 4, San Ramon (near Safeway/680) https://themeadowlarkdairy.com/Meadowlark Dairy - Pleasanton (downtown) https://www.teazentea.com/TeaZenTea - Dublin (7197 Village Pkwy)
Oct 14-15: OCTOBER OUTDOOR PACK MEETING + OPTIONAL FAMILY CAMPOUT
Get ready for an outdoor adventure! Join Pack 1776 at Sugarloaf Open Space in Walnut Creek for a thrilling pack meeting (overnight stay is optional). Don't miss this special outdoor meeting that will be extra special for our Tigers, and new Wolf, Bear, and Webelos scouts. They, alongside a proud parent, will take part in the awe-inspiring Bobcat ceremony!
Complete this RSVP form to let us know if you'll join us in the pack meeting, overnight camp, or both. Please also fill out the form to let us know if you are unable to join the pack meeting.
When:
Saturday, Oct 14, at noon to Sunday, Oct 15, at 10 am
Where: Sugarloaf Open Space — Orchard Campground
2161 Youngs Valley Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
What to wear — arrive in Class A, with Class B underneath (if you have a Class B t-shirt):
- Class A uniform + approved face covering for Opening ceremony, Bobcat ceremony, and Closing ceremony
- Class B uniform or comfortable clothes
- Hiking shoes or sturdy closed-toe shoes
What to bring for each person:
- Drinking water in refillable water bottle
- Mess kit (or unbreakable washable plate, fork, cup, etc for dinner and breakfast). A dishwashing station will be available at dinner and breakfast.
- Sunscreen
- Day pack
- Hat
- Flashlight/headlamps
- Folding chair
- Layers of clothing as it may get cold after dark
For those staying overnight:
- Tent, tarp
- Sleeping bag and optional pad, per person
- Wagon (optional)
- + Refer to the pack's list of Outdoor essentials for overnight camping
Volunteers needed
We need your help to make this event fun and a great experience for everyone.
SIGN UP to volunteer.
Agenda
The weather should be great, and we have a fun, action-packed agenda! A short-pack hike will take place before dinner. The Pack will host a light dinner and s'mores for dessert. A vegetarian option is available. We'll watch den skits, play games, and tell stories during the evening campfire. A light breakfast will be provided for those staying overnight.
Tentative schedule:
Saturday
Noon to 12:45 — Arrive and set up camp (if staying overnight)
12:45 to 1:00 — Arrive (non-camping)
1:00 to 1:15 — Flag ceremony (Bears Den)
1:15 to 2:15 — Hike
2:15 to 3:00 — Free time
3:00 to 4:00 — Den activities
4:00 to 4:45 — Organized games / BBQ dinner prep
4:45 to 5:45 — Dinner & Clean-up
5:45 to 6:45 — Bobcat ceremony for Tigers and new Wolf, Bear and Webelos Scouts
6:45 to 7:00 — Closing ceremony
7:00 to 7:30 — S'mores dessert
7:30 to 8:30 — Campfire, skits, games
8:30 to 9:00 — Head home if not camping / Get ready for bed if camping
9:00 — Lights out
Sunday
7:15 to 8:00 — Prepare breakfast
8:00 to 9:00 — Breakfast provided by the Pack
9:00 to 10:00 — Break camp and Leave
Sep 11: Patriot Day Flag Ceremony
Date: September 11, 2023
Time: 7:45 am to assemble at sundial in Courtyard. Ceremony start 8 am
Location: Coyote Creek School - Sundial Courtyard
Uniform: Class A
Bring: regular clothes to change into afterward
Pack 1776, along with the Girl Scouts of Coyote Creek Elementary, will participate in the opening flag ceremony for Coyote Creek's 9/11 Memorial.
Scouts who want to participate must arrive at the Sundial area behind the office at 745 am in full Class A uniform.
After the flag ceremony, Scouts may take the opportunity to speak to their class about Cub Scouting, after first obtaining permission from their teacher.
Scouts who participate receive a patch!
Sep 7: Parents meeting
Hello pack parents and interested parents
Hope you all had a fantastic long weekend with your families!
We invite you to join us for an evening where you'll get to meet your Den and pack leaders, meet other scout parents, and learn more about scouting and what we have planned for the year. We'll wrap up with Q&A by 6:45pm.
WHEN: Thursday, September 7, 2023 6:00 PM PT
WHERE: Coyote Creek Elementary School MPR, 8700 N. Gale Ridge Rd. San Ramon, CA 94582
[ RSVP ]
This is also a great time to submit your registration paperwork and checks in person if you haven't yet. Please complete steps 1-6 if you're registering new scouts, or steps 2-6 if you're registering existing scouts: https://pack1776.com/join/registration/ If you have any questions beforehand, please email [email protected] We look forward to seeing you all in person!
Sep 9 – Sep 30: Popcorn Fundraiser
Pack 1776
It is the time for our annual popcorn fundraiser again! The funds we raise through popcorn helps cover registration fees, trips, and activities for the scouts. It is also a great learning opportunity for them to gain experiences in public speaking, math, salesmanship, perseverance, and teamwork. In addition to the valuable learnings, it also comes with tangible rewards. We highly encourage every scout, regardless of age or experience, to participate in the fundraiser!
Popcorn team for 2023
We are here to provide logistical support to all participating scouts and parents to make it a success!
Storefront sales
Getting ready
- Download Trail’s End App. (Text “APP” to 62771 to download, or download from Appstore/GooglePlay). One account per scout, so Mom or Dad will have to set up the account and share the login information with the other parent. Select “Golden Gate Area Council” for council, "Meridian" for the district and "Pack 1776" for the unit.
- Siblings can share one account and combine their proceeds and donations toward the pack rankings.
- After activation and sign-in, go to “Storefront Sales” and find shifts available for sign-up on the calendar (calendar icon).
- Signing up for 2 or more shifts is recommended. This ensures the scout gets a chance to start a positive feedback loop in which he/she gets to apply what he/she learned from the previous storefront experience. This also likely allows the scout enough opportunity to sell enough popcorn to qualify for Trail’s End’s Amazon gift card reward.
Selling popcorn
- !! IMPORTANT !! If you have the first shift of the day, please pick up inventory and supplies the night before your shift.
- Set up—set up table and tablecloth with banner secured in front of the table. Set up display products with price labels affixed. Set up Pack Donation Bin and Square Credit Card reader.
- Start of shift—please arrive 10 minutes before your shift begins. Verify inventory and proceeds with previous shift scout/parent. Make sure there’s $60 in small bills in cashbox for change.
- Sales—Be friendly, smile and greet everyone. Show gratitude even if someone does not show interest. Always say “thank you”.
- Record each sale in Trail’s End App with the appropriate payment type and also write it down on the tracking form.
- End of shift—count inventory and proceeds with the next shift scout/parent. Put all proceeds and donations from the shift, along with the tracking form, in a new envelope, then label, seal, and hand it to the next shift scout/parent.
- End of day (last shift of the day)—return remaining inventory, all supplies, and all proceeds in envelopes.
Donation
Some folks prefer to give a cash donation than buying popcorn. We appreciate and welcome any amount. If the customer is not sure about buying popcorn, go ahead and ask if he’s willing to donate a small amount. This is the amount we get to keep 100%.
Credit card donations are available on Trail’s End app as “Heroes and Helpers Donation”, however, the amount does not go to Pack 1776.
Pack volunteer credit
Every shift gives you 1 hour toward the pack volunteer credit. For shifts that require pick-up/drop-off of the inventory at Chris’ place, you get 1 more hour for the extra time needed. If we change location mid-day, the scout/parent of the starting shift of the new location needs to tear-down and set up the table, and will get 1 more hour of credit.
Tips and things to remember
- All cub scouts wear Class A Uniform when selling popcorn.
- Be courteous and respectful.
- Cubs may ask “Would you like to support local cub scouts?” to approach customers.
- Customers are delighted when cubs talk to them. Cubs can tell them which popcorn is their favorite.
- If customers are not sure if they are willing to buy popcorn, encourage them to donate any amount to the donation bin and thank them.
- Make sure customers know we take credit cards. Some customers may not have enough cash with them.
- Please mark it down on your calendar when you sign up for a shift and make sure you do not miss it.
- If you need additional popcorn or have any questions, please call or text Chris/Ravi/Charlie. We will have someone on standby during popcorn sales hours.
- Always smile and say thank you.
- Congratulate your cubs for their results!
For additional information about online selling and additional selling tips, please visit www.trails-end.com
Other ways to sell popcorn
Besides storefronts, there are other ways available to sell popcorn.
- Show and Deliver (wagon sales)—parents and scouts take products in wagons and sell door-to-door in the neighborhood.
- Take Order—parents and scouts go door-to-door and collect orders, return them to the popcorn team and deliver at a later date.
- Online Sales—share fundraising page (or scout code) via email or social media. Supporters visit and transact on-line at www.trails-end.com. Makes it easy to get support from friends and family who do not live close-by. A good way to generate extra sales without additional time from parents and scouts.
Prizes
We offer multiple prizes as rewards to the participation, as well as outstanding contribution to the pack.
- Every scout who sells at least $1 will get a Popcorn Patch, a Pack 1776 multi-color pen, and a Pack 1776 Carabiner Keychain.
- Every scout who sells $500 or more (popcorn proceeds) will receive an Amazon gift card from Trail’s End reward program.
- Top 3 scouts (sales + donation) will receive special prizes.
Top 3 (sales + donation) prizes:
1st place: ~$250 value Potensic Drone with Camera 4K EIS, portable and foldable for beginners
2nd place: ~$100-150 value Nikon Aculon A211 10x42 Binoculars
3rd place: ~$75-100 value Outside Inside Pop-up Badminton Set for camping or outing
Popcorn raffle
This year, we are making $1,250 available for a raffle with drawings taking place at the 9/20 and 11/15 pack meetings. The more shifts completed, the higher the chance to win a $50 gift card.
Raffle prizes
- 25 x $50 gift cards (Amazon & Lego)
- 10 to be drawn at the 9/20 Pack meeting
- 15 to be drawn at the 11/15 Pack meeting
Raffle rules:
- Each completed shift earns one raffle ticket. The more shifts completed, the higher the chance to win.
- If you complete 2 shifts before 9/20, your chance of winning is greater than 23%.
- If you complete 4 shifts before 9/20, your chance of winning is greater than 41%
- Scouts can only win once per drawing. If a scout wins again at the same drawing, the drawn ticket is set aside to be entered again for the next drawing.
- All undrawn raffle tickets remain in the pool to be drawn again. For example, raffle tickets not won at the 9/20 Pack meeting automatically enter the 11/15 drawing.
Sep 10: Pack Hike – Black Diamond
Date: Sunday, 10 Sep
Time: 9:30 AM PT - 12:00 PM PT
[ RSVP ]
Location: Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve (Frederickson Lane and Contra Loma Blvd, Antioch, CA) // Stewartville, Contra Loma, North Portal, and Old Homestead Loop Trail
Meeting Point: Stewartville Trailhead — south west corner of parking lot at cross streets Frederickson Lane and Contra Loma Blvd, Antioch, CA
Distance / elevation / duration: 3.3-mile loop / 561 ft / 1 hour 32 mins average
Difficulty: Easy to moderate, with elevation Recommended for: All, with close parental supervision for younger ones
Hike info + trail map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/stewartville-contra-loma-north-portal-and-old-homestead-loop-trail?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map
Awards: Trail Trekkers program / Highlander program progressive patch / Black Diamond rocker patches —https://ggacbsa.org/hiking-programs/
Attire: Class B t-shirt and comfortable pants, layers, hiking boots/shoes
Bring: Sunscreen, cap/wide brimmed hat, plenty of water and snacks, optional hiking poles, camera
Hike Chair: Zhen Zhou (925-997-4889)
The hike - Discover this 3.3-mile loop trail near Antioch, California. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 32 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.
Directions:
https://goo.gl/maps/gCL2jaebvW1PBehNA
Take I-680 N. Keep right to continue on CA-242 N for 3.2 miles. Use left lanes to merge onto CA-4 E (13.2 miles). Take exit 28 / Lone Tree Way / A street in Antioch from CA-4 E. Turn right onto Lone Tree Way (1.5 miles), right onto Gold Course Rd (0.7 miles), then right onto Frederickson Lane (1 mile — partial restricted usage road). Frederickson Lane becomes Contra Loma Blvd (restricted usage road). Parking lot is at the corner on left.
For all in-person pack or den events and activities, please follow the SRVUSD COVID guidelines. If you are sick or are experiencing symptoms, please stay home and stay safe.
