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,
Harry Beck
February Hike – Little Yosemite, Sunol Region Wilderness
Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge on Alameda Creek about two miles upstream from park headquarters. Cub scouts will enjoy this beautiful hike with its gorgeous waterfalls and pools.
Date: Sunday, Feb 24, 2012
Time: 8:45 am – 12:00 pm Time changed!
Location: Little Yosemite, Sunol Regional Wilderness, Sunol
Meeting Point: Corner of parking lot right by the trailhead.
Attire: Class B
Awards: Trail Trekkers Cub Scout Patch/Progressive Hike Award.
Fees: Park Entrance Fees - $5.00
Must read: Hike info
Contact: Hiking Chair - Sachin Sheth (925.968.9940)
Details
Distance, category, and difficulty:
Easy, 4.4 miles
Hiking time:
~3 hours
Exposure:
Exposed
Trail surfaces:
Fire roads and dirt trails
What to bring:
- Binoculars
- Long pants
- Dress in layers – please wear weather appropriate attire.
- Snacks
- Water
Getting there:
• Go south on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of the town of Pleasanton. Turn left onto Calaveras Road and proceed to Geary Road, which leads directly into the park.
GPS Coordinates* for Trailhead:
Latitude 37°30'55.58"N
Longitude 121°49'50.27"W
Spring 2013 Camping – SAVE THE DATES!
Date: Friday, April 19, 2012 2:00pm – Sunday, April 21, 2012 12:00pm
Location: Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore, CA
SAVE THE DATES!! Del Valle Regional Park, part of the East Bay Regional Park District, is located in a valley framed by oak-covered hills. The centerpiece of the park is a five-mile long lake, with all kinds of water-oriented recreation, surrounded by 4,316 acres of beautiful land for hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and nature study. Del Valle is also the eastern gateway to the Ohlone Wilderness Trail, 28 miles of scenic back country trail. The campground has ample bathrooms and showers and the average high temperature in April is 71° and the average low is 46°.
More info:
Park website: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/del_valle
Park map: http://www.ebparks.org/Assets/_Nav_Categories/Parks/Maps/Del+Valle+map.pdf
Details will follow in an Evite in March and will be posted here. We have one group site and the maximum number of campers is 50 with parking for 15 vehicles. Stay tuned.
Scott Spears
Camping Chair
Pinewood Derby Champ Camp
Have you started working on your Pinewood Derby car yet? Do you need help? You do? You are in luck because January is Pinewood Derby® Month at all BSA Scout shops!
From dreaming about the design to crossing the finish line, your local Scout Shop supports your Pinewood Derby® every step of the way.
And now, January is officially Pinewood Derby® Month. Stop in any time, all month long, for:
- A free, accurate weigh-in for your car
- Test runs on a practice track
- Answers to all your building and racing questions
- Speed secrets — ways to shave seconds off your race time
- Step-by-step info, including four great how-to books
- Start-to-finish supplies — ask about new items for 2013!
Then, join us for our first-ever Champ Camp... on Saturday, January 12, for a one-day info session that’ll get you race-ready in no time, including demos on precision tools! And just for attending, you’ll receive a free sheet of Pinewood Derby® decals.
Contact your local Scout Shop for more details, store hours, and event specifics.
Pinewood Derby® Champ Camp takes place during regular store hours on Saturday, January 12. Decal giveaway offer is valid January 12 only; does not apply to previous offers. All Cub Scouts must be accompanied by an adult.
The United States Heritage Award
The United States Heritage Award was designed by Scouts and adults to give youth recognition for learning about the heritage of the United States of America. By completing this award, it is hoped participants will not only increase their understanding of the United States but also foster greater sense of patriotism through service in local communities.
The award may be earned by any youth in the United States. A medal and patch can be awarded to each youth that successfully completes the requirements for the award. All requirements may be completed with a unit, group, family, or individually.
There is a silver medal for youth 6 - 10, and a gold medal for youth 11 - 18. Adults can also earn the gold medal. More information, worksheets, and adult guides are available at: www.nationstrails.com.
Award
A silver medal and patch can be awarded to each youth that successfully completes the requirements for the award. The request form must be completed to purchase the medals and patches. All requirements may be done with a unit, group, or individually.
Requirements
To earn the Silver United States Heritage Award a youth must:
- Tell when the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
- Learn the first verse of the national anthem “The Star Spangled Banner”.
- Know the Pledge of Allegiance. Explain what it means.
- Learn about the United States Flag.
- What colors does the United States flag have?
- How many stars are on the blue rectangle (canton)? What do the stars symbolize?
- How many stripes are on the flag? What colors are the stripes? What do the stripes symbolize?
- How do you show respect for the United States flag?
- Make a list of the original thirteen states of the United States of America.
- Know who is the current President of the United States of America.
- My America. Do one of the following:
- Write a short story or poem about one of the following topics :
- Why America Is Special To Me,
- What It Means To Be Free,
- If I Were President…
- Draw a picture of a famous person in American History and tell what they did.
- Render a service that benefits a neighborhood or community
- Write a short story or poem about one of the following topics :
For more information go to http://www.nationstrails.com/awards/
Boys’ Life 2012 Reading Contest – Last Chance!
From Boys' Life website:
Write a one-page report titled “The Best Book I Read This Year” and enter it in the Boys’ Life 2012 “Say Yes to Reading!” contest.
The book can be fiction or nonfiction. But the report has to be in your own words — 500 words tops. Enter in one of these three age categories:
8 years old and younger
9 and 10 years old
11 years old and older
First-place winners in each age category will receive a $100 gift certificate good for any product in the Boy Scouts official retail catalog. Second-place winners will receive a $75 gift certificate, and third-place winners a $50 certificate.
Everyone who enters will get a free patch like the one on this page. (And, yes, the patch is a temporary insignia, so it can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform shirt, on the right pocket. Proudly display it there or anywhere!) In coming years, you’ll have the opportunity to earn different patches.
The contest is open to all Boys’ Life readers. Be sure to include your name, address, age and grade in school on the entry.
Send your report, along with a business-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope, to:
Boys’ Life Reading Contest
S306
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2012 and must include entry information and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Click here to read the winning essays in the 2011 contest.
Happy Holidays From the National Key 3!
The BSA’s top three professional and volunteer leaders have created a special holiday greeting …
Upcoming Scout Days
Save the dates for upcoming scout days!
12/26-30: How to Train Your Dragon - Live Spectacular @ HP Pavilion
01/11 (Fri): Warriors Scout Night (vs Portland)
01/12 (Sat): Scout Saturday @ Hiller Aviation Museum
01/19 (Sat): Harlem Globetrotters Scout Night @ Oracle Arena
01/20 (Sun): Harlem Globetrotters Scout Night @ HP Pavilion
02/23 (Sat): Monster Jam Scout Night @ Oakland Coliseum
03/02 (Sat): Cal Basketball Scout Day (vs Colorado University)
04/27 (Sat): Scout Day @ Schulz Museum
05/19 (Sun): A's Scout Day
Scout Days/Nights are not Pack 1776 events but rather community events open to Scout groups.
L.E.A.D 2013
Date: Saturday, January 26, 2013
Time: 8am - 5pm
Location: Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill (Campus Map)
Cost: $35 through January 2, $45 through January 20, $55 on-site (reimbursable upon successful completion of training)
Scout "Leader Education And Discovery" (L.E.A.D.) is a full day of relevant, inspiring, and required Adult Leader classes with sessions in all Scouting aspects, from outdoor skills to national policies. This is a great opportunity for all leaders to build their Scouting network.
Visit http://www.bsa-mdsc.org/lead to sign up, view course schedule and descriptions. Class sizes are limited so register early.
