Webeloree Registration Opens This Week
Attention Webelos den leaders and parents,
Online registration for the September 21-22 or October 5-6 Webeloree will open on August 15th. This popular overnight camping event for 4th & 5th graders and their parent can fill up in less than a week, so don’t procrastinate!!! Go online at http://www.bsa-mdsc.org/events/cub-scout-events/webeloree and sign up on August 15th to enjoy beautiful Camp Herms and earn four activity pins (Forester, Geologist, Naturalist, Outdoorsman). More info on the flier and MDSC website.
Yours in Scouting,
Mike Moffat | District Executive
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Mt. Diablo Silverado Council
Yosemite Camping Trip Recap
Pack 1776 Families:
This year our Pack headed to Yosemite for our summer camping trip. We stayed two nights at the Tuolumne Meadows campground. The campground is located on the Tioga Road in the east side of the park.
On our first day at the park we visited Soda Springs. The Springs are located an easy hike away from the campground. The Scouts crowded around to watch the water slowly bubble out of the ground. On the hike back to camp a couple Scouts dipped their feet (and other parts) into the Tuolumne River.
That night there was a camp-hosted campfire for the Scouts, another campfire where the Scouts learned about owls, and a late night of star watching for those that could stay up past 9:30 p.m. They also learned about a Coyote sound so they could be prepared if anything went wrong. Late in the night, some campers heard a bear near our campsite. Nothing went missing from our site as all our food was securely stored in the bear boxes provided by the park. There were lots of gorgeous motorhomes and a lot of people had RV's and it made me really want to buy one! I don't think I could ever afford to buy one outright but RV Rental is certainly an option for the future. There's something exciting about sleeping in a tent but camping out in an RV would be so luxurious. Something that I'm definitely not used to when I go on camping trips! Luxury and tents are two words that never go together!! I was told that if you do a lot of traveling with your RV then it might be a good idea to make sure that your RV battery is properly fitted/charged. Some fellow camper also reccomended that if I wanted to get a Motorhome, it would be important to use a reliable insurance firm. If you are travelling around the country in a camper, be sure to check out One Sure Insurance for information on the benefits of ensuring a camper!
On Sunday the Pack took a hike to the top of Lembert Dome. It was a steep, but short, hike. We took the hike with a Ranger who stopped from time to time and told the Scouts about the history of Yosemite. By the time we made it to the top of the dome we had climbed over 600 feet to an altitude of 8,800 feet. The views were spectacular!
Sunday afternoon was free time. Some Scouts went fishing (no luck!), others took in a park lecture or went swimming in the river. The water was crystal clear, not too cold and there was even a natural "water slide" the Scouts could use. The Tuolumne River feeds into the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.
The campsite had another campfire and lecture on Sunday night. Some Scouts stayed at our campsite and recovered from a day of fun. Once everyone was back at the campsite we all had s'mores.
Monday morning we packed up our gear, cleaned our campsite and headed home. Everyone had a lot of fun, learned about Yosemite, and became more responsible Scouts. Please try to join us the next time our Pack goes camping.
Pack 1776 Committee
Free Snake Bite Poster
The American Association of Poison Control Centers would like to offer its new poster on snake bite safety to Scouts and Scouters free of charge. The poster features information about what to do, and what not to do, in the event of a snake bite as well as information on how to identify venomous snakes. It also features a map of the United States that shows where venomous snakes live and information about the poison help line.
The poster is 18 inches by 24 inches in size. If you would like to order posters, please email [email protected] with the number of posters you would like and your mailing information.
In the spirit of KNOW risk vs. NO risk, we can all take a tip from the Boy Scout Handbook: “Being able to identify venomous snakes is a good first step toward staying safe where they live. If you leave snakes alone, they are likely to avoid you, too. Use a hiking stick to poke among stones and brush ahead of you when you walk through areas where snakes are common. Be careful where you put your hands as you collect firewood or climb over rocks and logs.”
Note: Image shown is a proof. Please e-mail [email protected] to receive copies of the official poster.
Free Tickets to Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma
The Raceway in Sonoma is pleased to offer all uniformed scouts and scout leaders a free ticket to the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, August 25, 2013!
All Scouts and scout leaders that show up in their Class A uniform will be admitted FREE! Upon arrival you will be issued a complimentary ticket to the Turn 9 Terrace Scout Section.
FRIENDS and FAMILY TICKETS
Specially priced scout tickets have also been made available for scout friends and family. Additional tickets in the scout section can be purchased for just $20.00. (Normally $55.00) . For every scout ticket purchased through dedicated links, Sonoma Raceway will donate $10 to scouting!
See more at http://www.racesonoma.com/media/news/572275.html
MDSC Family Flight Day
Date: Saturday, August 10, 2013
Time: 10am - 2pm
Location: Martinez Marina Waterfront Park
Cost: $15 for Cub Scout, $5 for sibling who wants to participate. Fees increase after August 2nd. Free for parents.
From Mt Diablo Silverado Council:
Come join us for the 7th Annual Cub Scout Family Flight Day! All Cub Scouts and their families and friends are invited to this fun event, held on August 10th, 10am-2pm, at the Martinez Marina Waterfront Park. There will be kite flying, glider racing, water bottle rockets and many other fun activities for the whole family! Only $15 for a Cub Scout, $5 for each additional sibling that wants to participate. Fees increase after August 2nd. There is no charge for parents. For registration and more info, see registration flyer.
Joe Squeri
(925)674-6123
[email protected]
Cub Scout Day Camp 2013 – Recap
“The spirit is there in every boy; it has to be discovered and brought to light.”
-Robert Baden-Powell
Pack 1776 Families:
This year the theme at Camp was “Jungle Adventure.” The weather added to the adventure, with cold, rain and tropical heat. All the boys that attended had a good time and earned some Cub Scout belts loops in the process.
Summer Camp ran from June 24 through June 28. Each day started at 8:30 a.m. and ended at 3:30 p.m. On Friday afternoon the Scouts were entertained with skit performances by their fellow campers and dismissed 1:30 p.m.
Each day of camp was packed with activities. By attending and participating the boys were able to earn belt loops and Webelos pins, getting a jump start on the upcoming 2014 Scouting year. The most popular activities were BB gun shooting, archery and hiking. BB gun and archery are activities that can only be completed at a District run event. In addition there was swimming, crafts, sports, first aid training, whittling, and many other activities.
We had eight scouts from Pack 1776 attend this year. They were assisted by Teresa Noble who was at camp every day, as well as Tom Dutton and Praveen Kesani who helped out one day each. Normally the maximum is six scouts per full time volunteer but we were able to add a couple extra thanks to some help from a Walnut Creek Pack.
The organizers did a great job planning the event. There were lots of Junior Helpers at each station. Safety was a priority with a full time nurse on the premises. Each Scout was given a t-shirt and a canteen. Every adult had a t-shirt as well so it was easy to tell if someone did not belong at camp.
Next year we hope to have more Scouts attending. The theme with be “Space Trek.” We want Scouts to attend and will need volunteers to make it happen. “The Cub Scout helps the pack go. The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.”
Pack 1776 Committee
Pack 1776 Summer Camping – Yosemite
Pack 1776 Families,
Come join us for some summer camping in Yosemite National Park!!
Tuolumne Meadows, at an elevation of 8,600 feet, is the largest sub-alpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada. The Tuolumne Meadows area is graced by the winding Tuolumne River and surrounded by majestic peaks and domes. Spectacular in summer, the higher meadows abound with wildflowers, animal wildlife, and views of the soaring mountain ranges. There will be incredible hiking, fishing (bring your own pole) and ranger activities on top of the usual pack camping activities.
The campground has real bathrooms but no showers and the average high temperature in August is 77° and the average low is 48°.
More info:
Bear and Food storage info: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bears.htm and http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/lockers.htm
Hike info: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tmhikes.htm
Area map: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/tmhikes08.pdf
The cost is minimal - $15 per person for each night staying (i.e. 1 Adult, 1 scout staying two nights = $60) which covers the site, food, and some activities, belt loops and patches. If you decide to stay less than the two nights, please indicate in the comments which night you are staying.
We also encourage all families to bring their own reusable dining sets for meal times to reduce our trash and our Pack footprint.
Payment MUST be received BY July 12 to secure your spots! This is to allow for proper planning and selection of helpers. No excuses please. A standard policy of No Refunds applies. We were only able to get one group site for two nights this year so we are limited to amaximum of 30 campers and parking for 5 vehicles so get your payment in early to reserve your spot.
Please send (or drop off) checks payable to PACK 1776 (see Scout track for my address).
Please feel free to contact me with questions via email.
Scott Spears
Camping Chair
[email protected]
Scouting Research Panel
Would you like to give feedback regarding new Scouting programs and proposed changes to existing Scouting programs? If you are a youth member 14 years of age or older, a volunteer, or a parent of a Cub Scout or Boy Scout, click on the link below to become a member of a Scouting research panel and receive surveys (no more than three per year) on a variety of topics related to potential Scouting programs:
Boy Scouts of America: Membership Resolution
Boy Scouts of America
National Statement
For 103 years, the Boy Scouts of America has been a part of the fabric of this nation, with a focus on working together to deliver the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.
Based on growing input from within the Scouting family, the BSA leadership chose to conduct an additional review of the organization's long-standing membership policy and its impact on Scouting's mission. This review created an outpouring of feedback from the Scouting family and the American public, from both those who agree with the current policy and those who support a change.
Today, following this review, the most comprehensive listening exercise in Scouting's history the approximate 1,400 voting members of the Boy Scouts of America's National Council approved a resolution to remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone. The resolution also reinforces that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting. A change to the current membership policy for adult leaders was not under consideration; thus, the policy for adults remains in place. The BSA thanks all the national voting members who participated in this process and vote.
This policy change is effective Jan. 1, 2014, allowing the Boy Scouts of America the transition time needed to communicate and implement this policy to its approximately 116,000 Scouting units.
The Boy Scouts of America will not sacrifice its mission, or the youth served by the movement, by allowing the organization to be consumed by a single, divisive, and unresolved societal issue. As the National Executive Committee just completed a lengthy review process, there are no plans for further review on this matter.
While people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off when they are in Scouting. Going forward, our Scouting family will continue to focus on reaching and serving youth in order to help them grow into good, strong citizens. America's youth need Scouting, and by focusing on the goals that unite us, we can continue to accomplish incredible things for young people and the communities we serve.
Mt. Diablo Silverado Council Statement
The Mt. Diablo Silverado Council's focus remains to deliver the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The information our Council provided on this issue helped provide perspective to the process, and we respect the integrity of the national decision-making process. As the Scout Executive of the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council, I believe this update to our policy will allow all kids who sincerely want to be a part of Scouting to experience this life-changing program while remaining true to the long-standing virtues of Scouting. While people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off when they are in Scouting. We believe good people can disagree and still work together to accomplish great things for youth. Going forward, we will work to stay focused on that which unites us. -John Fenoglio
Membership Policy
The following is the membership standard for youth members of the Boy Scouts of America, effective Jan. 1, 2014:
Youth membership in the Boy Scouts of America is open to all youth who meet the specific membership requirements to join the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, Sea Scout, and Venturing programs. Membership in any program of the Boy Scouts of America requires the youth member to (a) subscribe to and abide by the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law, (b) subscribe to and abide by the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle (duty to God), and (c) demonstrate behavior that exemplifies the highest level of good conduct and respect for others and is consistent at all times with the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.
Press Conference Video
Memorial Day Flag Planting
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2013
Time: 830am - 10:30am
Location: San Francisco National Cemetery, 1 Lincoln Blvd, Presidio San Francisco (map)
Attire: Full Class A, footwear suitable for walking in wet grass
Cost: Free
Event Leader: Jeff Kahsen
RSVP: Evite
Pack 1776 families,
Again this year, we will join hundreds of Scouts from all over the Bay Area, and thousands across the country, to pay tribute to those who served. We will be planting American flags at the San Francisco National Cemetery. This is typically one of the most meaningful events of the year, given the importance of the holiday and direct involvement the scouts will have in honoring our nation's fallen heroes. The ceremony will begin promptly at 8:30am and we will likely be completed with the flag planting by 10:30am.
Scouts, friends, and family welcome. Scouts will receive a patch. Please RSVP via evite to reserve your spot.
Scouts and leaders must be in full Class A Uniforms.
Stella Lei
