October 16-18: JOTA/JOTI 2020
The Jamboree On The Air/Jamboree On The Internet (JOTA/JOTI) is an annual event in which Scouts all over the world speak to each other by means of amateur radio contacts or the Internet. Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared. Modern communication technology offers Scouts the exciting opportunity to make friends in other countries without even leaving the state.
Find out more about the event here.
December 2nd & 9th: NOVA Out of this World
We're leaving Earth for two nights in December and going Out of This World! In this multi-part STEM program, Astro-Cubs will be learning about NASA, its Mars 2020 mission and Perseverance Rover, planets and constellations. We will be putting what we've learned to the test with two STEM craft projects: build your own Mars rover and pipecleaner constellations.
Out of This World is the Cub Scout Nova Award for space exploration science. This STEM program incorporates learning with cool activities and exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics for Cub Scouts. To earn this award, Cub Scouts explore topics such as planets, space, space exploration, or astronomy. They must also complete one of their adventures related to astronomy, health, or design or they must do a related investigation.
While this award can only be earned by Wolves, Bears or Webelos, Lions and Tigers are encouraged to participate in both nights.
December 2: NASA Guest Speaker, Andy Sokol
- Date: December 2, 2020
- Time: 6:00 p.m. (Note earlier time)
- Zoom link to be emailed
Mr. Andy is a Vehicle Systems engineer with NASA's Launch Services Program. Among other topics, Mr. Andy’s presentation will include discussions on NASA, the Mars 2020 mission that recently launched (and will be landing on Mars in February 2021) and the Perseverance Rover.
December 9: Pack Meeting & Out of This World STEM Projects
- Date: December 9, 2020
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Zoom link to be emailed
Following our Opening Ceremony and Cubmaster's Minute, we will conduct our second NOVA Out of this World presentation. Here, we will reach for the stars as we learn about five main constellations, recreating them in pipecleaner form. For the second STEM project of the night, scouts will build and run their own Mars rover.
Craft materials for both the build your own Mars rover and pipecleaner constellations will be delivered to Scouts' doorsteps by December 5th.
Contact the Cubmaster to add a sibling to the delivery list.
November Hike: Sibley Volcanic Trail
- Date: November - on your own!
- Time: Do as a den or family.
- Trail: Round Top, Volcanic and Skyline Trail Loop
- Location: Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
- Meeting Point: Sibley Main Staging Parking Lot
- Who can come: Everyone!
- RSVP: Do as a den or family.
- FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED. HIKERS NEED TO STAY IN THEIR FAMILY POD WHEN HIKING.
- This hike fulfills the Geology Hike requirement for those working on SuperNova.
- AllTrails Map
- EBRPD Map
November's pack hike of the month will be the Sibley Volcanic Trail, located in the Oakland Hills. Since this area has a small parking lot and given the large turn out we had last month, we'd like to conduct this hike on a smaller level. So, get outdoors as a family or with your den to do this hike. Burn off some of the that Thanksgiving turkey on this cool hike! Send a photo of your scout at the Trailhead and we'll send he or she their patch (note this is not a TrailTrekker or Highlander patch hike) in the next pack delivery.
The Volcanic Trail was once a quarry haul road. This contains most of the stops on a self-guided volcanic tour. The hike is about 3.5 miles long. Did you know we have a volcano in our backyard at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve? Originally called Round Top Park, Sibley shares with Temescal and Tilden the distinction of being one of the East Bay Regional Park District's original parks. The preserve was later named in honor of Robert Sibley, who helped found the District and served for 10 years on its board of directors.
What to Bring:
- Facecovering
- Plenty of water and snacks
- Layers of clothing appropriate for the weather
- Binoculars, camera (optional)
October Hike: Las Trampas Regional Wilderness
- Date: Sunday, October 18, 2020
- Time: 2:00 p.m.
- Location: Las Trampas Regional Wilderness
- Meeting Point: Parking lot at the end of Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA
- Attire: Class B
- Who can come: Everyone!
- RSVP: Evite
- FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED. HIKERS NEED TO STAY IN THEIR FAMILY POD WHEN HIKING.
- This is a TrailTrekker Patch Hike.
- Trail Map
Directions: From Highway 680: Take the Crow Canyon Road exit. Drive west on Crow Canyon for about 1 mile, then turn right (north) onto Bollinger Canyon Road. Continue about 4.5 miles to the trailhead at the end of the road. Alternatively, drive west on Bollinger until it ends at the park. It is about 10 miles from school on Bollinger Canyon Road. Meet at the parking lot at the end of the road inside the park.
Trail: Bollinger Creek Loop trail. It is a very nice nearly flat 1.5 Mile trail. It should take less than 1 hour to complete. Is is an easy hike for our younger scouts.
What to Bring:
- Facecovering
- Plenty of water and snacks
- Layers of clothing appropriate for the weather
- Binoculars, camera (optional)
Overview:
Las Trampas (Spanish for the traps) has two distinct areas, each with its own personality. Rocky Ridge, on the west side of the valley, is known for views in all directions, unusual rocks and green rolling hills lightly forested with California bays, oaks and maples. The wildflower display on the hills just off the ridgeline is an east bay favorite. The Las Trampas Ridge, to the east, is quite different, featuring a plant community dominated by chamise with other chaparral plants such as manzanitas and coyote brush.
2020 Popcorn Fundraiser is on!
Why do we do this?
This is a key fundraiser for our pack and council, the Golden Gate Area Council (GGAC).
73% of all popcorn funds will go to support scouting locally - proceeds are shared between GGAC, our local district – “Meridian District” and our Pack. GGAC and Meridian District use these funds to support activities such as Webeloree, Summer Day Camp, insurance, training and much more and keep participation costs low. Our fundraising effort helps to make Scouting a great experience for our scouts. Here is a sampling of the Pack 1776 activities supported by your fund-raising efforts and participation:
- Halloween Party
- Pinewood Derby Equipment, Awards and Facilities Rental
- Pack Camp Outs, craft and skill station supplies, food
- Blue & Gold Celebration entertainment and dessert
- End of the Year Graduation
Benefits to Your Scout:
- Teaches Scouts the value & process of setting and working toward goals
- Gives Scouts a strong sense of accomplishment through recognition
- Enhances communication, leadership skills and confidence in your Scout
- Scouts can earn a participation patch and rewards
- Scouts can earn their way to a Pack adventures.
Donations to the pack are preferred!
If friends and family are not interested in purchasing popcorn, perhaps they would be willing to make a donation to the pack. They can do so by submitting cash or check to you or donating directly using a credit card on our pack payment portal. Make sure you email us to let us know a donation is coming as we are unable to track donations.
What is our goal?
Our goal is for every scout to sell $200.
Each Scout should strive to achieve $200 in sales
- $100 from sales made to family & friends
- $100 from sales made to neighbors and parents co-workers
Prizes and Rewards:
- Each scout will earn a patch for making a sale or obtaining a donation.
- Based on their total sales, scouts will select the prize or prizes from Trails End they'd like and enter the codes on their order form before returning it on 10/20
- The top earner (sales of popcorn + donations) wins the Grand Prize - a Nintendo Switch Lite! For the purposes of pack awards (not through Trailsend) families with more than one scout can combine their sales & donations
How to Sell:
This year everyone needs to download the Trails End App or make a sales page on Trailsend.com as:
- All sales will be online
- Tracking Inventory will be online
- Credit Card sales willbe online.
- Door to Door / Sales to families can be made through the APP.
You may download the App on your on. If doing so, select "Meridian" for the district and "Pack 1776" for the unit. The Pack will send one family member an invitation to set up an account with the Trails End App that is linked to Pack 1776. You can also text APP to 62771 for a link to download the app.
Unfortunately, we can only send one invitation out per scout, so Mom and Dad, one of you will get the invitation and have to set up the account and give that log in information to the other parent.
Selling Online
Online Direct
- Scouts can ask family and friends far away to support them by purchasing popcorn through the Trails End site online. You will receive an email from the Pack via Trails End with the subject line “Welcome to the NEW Trails End. Sign-in & raise money now!”. Follow the steps with your scout to set up your scout’s account. The new Trails End site allows you and your scout to customize his or her ‘page’ and from there you can send invites to your family and friends.
- Scouts can record an Online Direct sale in the Trail’s End App while selling door-to-door or over the phone. This allows the scout to initiate the order and send a link to customers to enter credit card info to complete the transaction.
Marketing Your Scout
