January Hike – Briones Regional Park
Date: Sunday, January 19, 2013
Time: 9am (Meet at 8:50am for Flag ceremony and Scout promise)
Location: Briones Regional Park
Attire: Class B
Award: Highlander patch and the Briones rocker patch
Fees: $3 per vehicle (when kiosk is attended)
Meeting Point: Bear Creek Staging Area
Contact: Hiking Chairs Ajay Hampapur & Teresa Noble
How to get there
Bear Creek Staging Area: From Highway 24, take the Happy Valley Road exit and go north. Turn right at Bear Creek Road, take the 1st right onto Briones Valley Rd (37.925776, -122.162733).
Parking
Make an immediate left after the kiosk and park in the lower lot.
Details
The Briones Regional Park Hike is at least three miles with some moderate uphill in the beginning and an easy down hill on the last half. There is a nice picnic area at the half point with portable bathrooms and tables for the boys to take a break. The hike will start at the Bear Creek Staging Area. We will have the flag ceremony and scout promise at 8:50am and the hike will start at 9:00am.
Pinewood Derby – Tip #3
Dear Pack 1776,
Here is Pinewood Derby Tip #3 and a link to a fun article from the Columbus Dispatch.
Sincerely,
John Termotto
2014 Derby Days
The 2014 Dremel Pinewood Derby Days Program, brought to you through Lowe’s, is a source for all materials and know-how you need to create a winning Pinewood Derby car you can be proud of – regardless of your skill level. Select Lowe’s stores will host Pinewood Derby® car clinics where experts share their tips and tricks for making the fastest cars on race day. Everyone who attends an event will be given a:
- How-to demonstration
- BSA-approved badge
- 10% off Dremel coupon, which can be applied to your entire Dremel purchase.
On select Saturdays listed above. Free to attend - give your store a call to verify one is taking place.
Pinewood Derby – Tip #2
Dear Pack 1776,
Here is Pinewood Derby Tip #2.
Sincerely,
John Termotto
Pinewood Derby – Tip #1
Pack 1776,
Here is the first of several Pinewood Derby (PWD) tips that will follow over the next week. The PWD Committee looks forward to you having a great time at the event this year!
Sincerely,
John Termotto
Pinewood Derby Kits and Video
For those of you who missed the December Pack meeting, we passed out Pinewood Derby Kits to all the scouts at the meeting. If you would like a kit for your Scout (free) or Sibling ($5/kit), send me an email & we'll arrange for your scout to get a PWD kit.
Also, here is the video that was shown at the meeting:
More info to come !
YIS,
John Termotto
Bedtime with the Beasts
Date/Time: 7pm March 8th (Saturday) - 10am March 9th (Sunday)
Location: Oakland Zoo
Cost: $35 per scout, $65 each per adult or sibling
RSVP: Reply to evite by January 18th
Payment: Checks payable to Pack 1776 by January 25th
Required Forms: Liability Release for EACH adult and EACH child participant, and
BSA Activity Consent Form for each scout
Patches: Wildlife Conservation Belt Loop
Must read: Behavior Expectations
What to Bring: Packing List
Where to Meet: Zimmer Auditorium
More Questions ?: FAQs
Get ready for a night full of adventure and fun! The “Bedtime with the Beasts” trip to the Oakland Zoo is happening on Saturday, March 8th!
The cost is $65 per person. Cub scouts will be partially subsidized. Immediate family members and siblings (must be 6 years or older) are invited. Please indicate how many cub scouts so we can determine our subsidy.
Please respond by January 18th. Once the subsidy is calculated, payment will be due by January 25th. Payments are non refundable. An increase in participant count after January 29th is subject to availability and payment is due at the time of request.
Sleepover includes:
- An overnight stay in the auditorium
- Nighttime Zoo tour (Saturday 8:30pm-9:00pm)
- Morning Rainforest tour (Sunday 8:15am-9:00am)
- Evening snack and continental breakfast (Sunday 7am-8am) at the Island Cafe
- Overnight parking
- Next day general admission
Important Information
- Drivers should all park at the lower entrance lots (do not go up the hill !)
- The program begins promptly at 7 pm. Departure at 10 am the following day.
- It's very important for everyone to arrive a few minutes early - gates will be locked after group arrival.
- Zoo gates are locked until 7 am - no early departures allowed except for medical or family emergency.
- For the safety of the animals, the following are prohibited: straws, balloons, pets, balls, frisbees, styrofaom, personal electronic devices, (radios, personal stereos, video games)
- The Auditorium floor is concrete - so sleeping pads or air mattresses are encouraged.
- Dinner is not included. Be sure to eat before arriving (concession stands in the zoo will be closed during our stay)
- You can bring in your own food. The Island Cafe opens on Sunday for the public from 10am to 4pm.
- Even though we'll be sleeping indoors, we'll be spending plenty of time outdoors, rain or cold, so wear weather appropriate clothing and close-toed shoes.
- Parking is included; bring your ticket with you to check-in for validation.
- The Zoo requires a signed Liability Release form for EACH adult and EACH child attending the Sleepover.
Click here for more information.
Upcoming Scout Days
If the event dates in Oakland on the previous post do not work for you, Harlem Globetrotters and Disney On Ice Scout discounts are also available at SAP Center on various other days, click on the links below for order forms and more info.
Also, save the dates for upcoming scout days!
01/10 (Fri): Warriors Scout Night (vs Boston Celtics)
01/10 (Fri): Bulls Scout Night (vs Alaska Aces)
01/11 (Sat): Scout Saturday @ Hiller Aviation Museum
01/17 (Fri): Harlem Globetrotters Scout Night @ Oakland Coliseum
01/18 (Sat): Harlem Globetrotters Scout Day @ SAP Center
01/19 (Sun): Harlem Globetrotters Scout Day @ Oakland Coliseum
01/25 (Sat): Super Cross Scout Night @ Oakland Coliseum
02/19-02/23 (Wed thru Sun): Disney On Ice @ SAP Center
02/28 (Fri): Disney On Ice @ Oakland Coliseum
03/29 (Sat): Scout Day @ Forest Home Farms
04/13 (Sat): Scout Day @ Schulz Museum
06/01 (Sun): A's Scout Day (vs LA Angels)
Scout Days/Nights are not Pack 1776 events but rather community events open to Scout groups.
Scout Discounts at Performances in Oakland
Oracle Arena at Oakland offers Scout discounts on the following performances:
Harlem Globetrotters
January 17, 2014 at 7:00 pm and January 19, 2014 at 2:00 pm
The world famous Harlem Globetrotters have been thrilling families and millions of fans for 88 years, all the while innovating the game in exciting new ways. Last year, the Globetrotters did something unparalleled in the history of sports and entertainment, letting fans vote on new rules to be used in actual games. It was so much fun, we are doing it again, and there are cool new rules to choose from on our 2014 "Fans Rule" World Tour. Vote for your favorite, craziest rule now. Click here for details and ordering form.
Monster Energy Supercross
Saturday, January 25, 2014 7:00pm
Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, is the world's premier indoor motocross circuit, comprised of 17 races of heart-stopping action in some of the largest venues in North America. Every week, the best riders from across the globe, like former champions Ryan Villopoto, James Stewart, Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey seek to outrace each other on the sport’s most challenging courses. Featuring tight corners, fast straightaways, challenging rhythm sections, and vertigo-inducing jumps, these tracks pack excitement into every inch of dirt. Click here for details and ordering form.
Monster Jam
Saturday, February 22, 2014 7:00pm
Monster Jam is coming back to Oakland with the BIGGEST line up and most monster trucks than ever before!! Shows consist of three main fan-favorite elements – the pit party, side-by-side racing and freestyle competition. Fan-favorite truck icons will be heading to the Bay, electrifying crowds with the breathtaking stunts and awesome power of the world’s most popular monster trucks.
Pit Party:
Scout orders (of any size) qualify for discounted pit party passes!!! Weather permitting, the Pit Party will take place from 3:00 pm to 5:45 pm. This fabulous event provides fans with the opportunity to meet select riders, take photographs, obtain autographs, and see Monster Trucks up close and personal!
Pinewood Derby:
Scouts are invited to bring their Pinewood Derby cars and informally race against one another inside the Pit Party (located outside the Coliseum in Parking Lot B). This activity is OPTIONAL and JUST FOR FUN! Races will NOT be officially timed nor will there be any judging or organized competition related to racing, design, etc. To participate, indicate the number of cars your group plans on bringing to the event using the ticket order form.
Disney on Ice
February 28, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Jam to a Scottish jig as a group of royal contenders from the latest Disney•Pixar film, Brave, competes to win the heart of headstrong, sharp-shooting Merida, making her ice debut! Experience a show-stopping performance as Sebastian breaks out of his shell for one night only to make waves with Ariel. A chorus of harmless hooligans from Tangled unleashes musical mayhem when they get a visit from the sassy and spirited Rapunzel and her charming ally Flynn. And, get your feet moving as the Beast and his castle’s enchanted entourage take center stage in a spectacular show for Belle. It will be a rockin’ remix of royalty when Disney On Ice brings this superstar line-up to the Bay Area!
Click here for details and ordering form.
Scout Days/Nights are not Pack 1776 events but rather community events open to Scout groups.
December Hike – Sycamore Grove
Date: Sunday, Dec 15, 2013
Time: 9 am
Location: Sycamore Grove Park (map), Livermore
Meeting Point: Whetmore Road Entrance Parking lot (8:30 am)
Attire: Class B
Awards: Trail Trekkers Cub Scout Patch/Progressive Hike Award
Parking Fee: $5 per vehicle
Must read: Hike info
Contact: Hiking Chairs Ajay Hampapur & Teresa Noble
What to bring:
- binoculars, camera
- layers of clothing – this hike can be cold and windy
- water and snacks (granola bars, trail mix, fruits)
Details
Every inch of this park is alive with life - in the air, in the grass, 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. Near the wet areas be sure to look for great blue herons. Don't forget to look up!
About The Park
The park is home to a variety of wildlife. Along the Arroyo Del Valle you might see frogs, pond turtles, dragonflies, ducks or even muskrats. In addition to this riparian area there are grassland and oak woodland habitats. Deer, ground squirrels, butterflies, lizards and birds such as red-tail hawks, white-tail kites, scrub jays, magpies and meadowlarks are just few of the animals you might spot in these areas.
