Smoke Signals – March
Smoke Signals is a monthly newsletter published by Mount Diablo Silverado Council. The March issue is now available for download.
Find out the latest on Blackhawk 500, Cub family camps, Cub Scout rangemaster training, Scoutreach golf tournament, distinguished citizen luncheon, and many more.
March Hike – Pleasanton Ridge
Date: Saturday, March 5, 2011
Time: 1:30pm - 4:00pm (Meet in the Parking lot at 1:30 PM sharp.)
Location: Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park
Note: Large parking lots, with a few additional spaces before the gate. No entrance or parking fees.
This 5.9 mile loop climbs through oaks and grassland to a series of bare rolling hills, then drops back to the trailhead. Trailhead elevation is about 260 feet. The featured hike climbs to about 1430 feet. Most of the trails are moderate, although there's a bit of steep up and down on the ridgeline -- total elevation change is about 1200 feet.
[stextbox id="info" caption="Hike Statistics" align="center"]Distance: 5.9 miles
Time: 2.5 hours
Trail surfaces: Dirt fire roads and trails.
Be sure to read: Hike info and area info[/stextbox] [stextbox id="info" caption="What to Bring" align="center"]Wear Boots. Bring water and snacks. Dress in layers.
[/stextbox] [stextbox id="info" caption="Directions" align="center"]From Interstate 680 exit Sunol Boulevard/Castlewood Drive (exit 25).
Head west on Castlewood Drive and where the road splits stay to the right on Castlewood.
At the stop sign, turn left onto Foothill Road and drive about 1.6 miles to the trailhead on the right side of the road.
GPS Coordinates for trailhead:Latitude 37°36'52.83"N, Longitude 121°52'54.88"W
View Larger Map[/stextbox]
REI Concord’s Scout Night this weekend
Date: Saturday, February 26, 2011
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: REI Concord
Cost: Free
Pre-registration required online
From REI Concord:
Join us for a special evening of fun and educational activities planned for Scouts of all ages and gender. Perfect for leaders and parents of younger Scouts who will soon begin camping and backpacking and for older Scouts who want to take it to the next level.
Learn what gear to choose (and avoid!) in our various gear, clothing and footwear mini-clinics. Find out about outdoor recreational and conservation project opportunities in 2011 from East Bay Regional Park District and Save Mount Diablo representatives. Activities for kids will include climbing on our indoor wall and zany contests like mini geo-caching, tent building and sleeping bag stuffing.
We'll have lots of prizes and a raffle for some great gear any Scout would love to own. Younger Scouts will enjoy meeting Chipper and learning Leave No Trace principles in a fun, interactive way. All Scouts who arrive in uniform will receive a 15% off coupon for one full-priced item, with limited exclusions.
Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or Scout leader and adequate adult supervision must be provided for each Scout group that attends. Pre-registration is required. Find out more online.
Oakland A’s Scout Day
Date: Sunday, May 1st, 2011
Time: 1:05pm
Location: Oakland Coliseum
Join the A's for their annual Scout Day. The event includes a pregame, on-field parade for uniformed Scouts and leaders, a commemorative patch for all participating Scouts, a special A's Magnet Set for kids 14 and under, and a discounted game ticket:
Lower Box: $25 (normally $30)
Field Level: $20 (normally $26)
Plaza Level: $16 (normally $24)
Detail and purchase information at A's website. Use password SCOUT when ordering online.
Following is a list of upcoming Scout Days/Nights:
02/26 (Sat): Monster Jam
02/26 (Sat): REI Concord Scout Night
03/05 (Sat): San Jose Sharks final Scout Night
05/01 (Sun): Oakland A's Scout Day
08/28 (Fri): BSA Motorsports at Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma
Coyote Creek Lost and Found
Pack 1776,
The sorting of the Lost & Found items yesterday was a success! Six scouts showed up to help out:
- Alexander B
- Brandon B
- Gavin R
- Jacob L
- Marc R
- Nolan R
The other two leaders besides myself that helped were
- Harry Beck
- Marco Rico
YiS,
CME Ed
Recap of the Celebration of Scouting at Oakland
Pack 1776,
We would like to acknowledge the following scouts:
Jack P – Bear (received the Parvuli Dei Emblem -“Children of God”)
Adam G – Tiger
for their participation at the special prayer service at the Cathedral of Christ the Light on February 12, honoring all the scouts and their adult leaders in Scouting. Pictures of the event is available on SmugMug.
If your scout is interested in earning the religious award or emblems of faith, please inform your den leaders. More information of the BSA Religious Emblems Program can be found on the BSA website. Remember, “a Scout is Reverent…”
John & Ammy Pluth
Scout Discounts
The following events are offering scout discounts. Click on the links for detail.
02/17: Cal Men's Basketball vs. USC - Flying Dubs at Halftime (Use promotional code: HONOR)
02/18: Smucker's Star On Ice at HP Pavilion
02/23-27: Disney On Ice presents Let's Celebrate at HP Pavilion
02/26: Monster Jam at Oakland Coliseum
03/02-06: Disney On Ice presents Let's Celebrate at Oracle Arena
03/24-27: Quidam by Cirque Du Soleil at HP Pavilion
Forest Conservation Days
Update 3/26/2011: This event is ON, rain or shine, today and tomorrow at 1:30pm.
Some parents inquired about the event on Thursday during our pack meeting. It is definitely on. It is not often that we can hike and learn from a forester. The Scout will earn a pin and I think that this event will help them with Science at school.
Bernard
Date: Two sessions to choose from:
----- Saturday March 26, 2011 1:30-3:30pm
----- Sunday, March 27, 2011 1:30-3:30pm
Location: Sanborn Park, Saratoga, CA (directions)
Cost: Free, except for a $6 park entrance fee
RSVP: Indicate your session selection on evite by this Thursday February 17, 2011
Pack 1776 will be joining the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department and the Northern California Society of American Foresters in the 2011 Forest Conservation Days (FCD) celebration to be held on March 26 and 27.
We will go on a 2-3 hour interactive, hands-on hike with a forester through the redwood forest and the oak woodlands of Sanborn Park. Included will be tree identification, and instruction/activities on geology, soils, wildlife biology, native culture, fire fighting, forest products, demonstration of a vintage 1882 Steam Donkey, and more!
This is a great opportunity to fulfill requirements of the Webelos forester and geologist activity pins, Bear elective #15 (water & soil conservation), Wolf elective #18 (outdoor adventure), belt loops and pins for geology and wildlife conservation, etc. Cloth patches commemorating FCD 2011 will be available for participating scouts. More information on FCD in this flyer and at this website.
Siblings welcome. Reserve your spots via evite by 2/17/2011, that is this Thursday!! Send inquiries to Hiking Chair Bernard Kiriakos.
Blue and Gold Pictures
What a night! I hope everyone enjoyed the dinner and entertainment last night and that the B&G committee can finally take a break. Plenty of pictures are already available. Head over to SmugMug to check them out!
