Webelos Den Update, February 2

Dear Webelos Den Parents:

This is an early reminder that we will meet MONDAY of next week for our Webelos Den meeting. All eight members of the den are interested in joining Troop 13.

We need to be at the Troop 13 meeting house a little before 7:00 on Monday.

We can meet in the Davis lot and leave by 6:40 to arrive on time. This meeting requires a parent and a cub scout to serve purposes of both communications and meeting an Arrow of Light requirement.

I will assume that you will participate. If you and your son cannot make it, please let me know so that I can keep Mr. Broadhead informed.

I am working on our other February den meetings, but as with last month, my work-related tasks have expanded. I will be sure to notify you all as far in advance as to what to expect.

Best regards,

Ken

Blue and Gold Banquet

Dear Pack Parents:

I hope you enjoyed the Pinewood Derby as much as I did, and my thanks to Brian Kerner and his team for making it happen are boundless.

Our next pack event is the Blue and Gold Banquet. For new parents, it is like a pack meeting, but we use it to celebrate the birthday of cub scouting as we share a feast together, and say "farewell" to our oldest Cub Scouts as they ceremoniously move into Boy Scouting. This event will take place on Sunday, February 22. Reservations need to be made to Bonnie Kampen by February 15. Her contact information is included in the email message sent out on January 28.

As you plan your food item to bring and share, let me share a note regarding nut allergies from one of our pack families:

First, when a child is eating nuts, even though it may be in a confined area, proper washing of hands with soap and running water is required to rinse the nut oils and salts from the hands. If this is not done, the oil and salts can easily be spread to other common items and then transferred to another person. Even though we have bring medication for this, we would rather not spend the evening in the emergency room as a consequence of nut exposure.

The second reason, for which there is no medication, is the exclusion factor. It's difficult for a young boy to be excluded from any event and watching other boys enjoy something that he is denied is difficult.

I know there may be customs, such as enjoying nuts—and dishes with nuts—at a Scouting event, but moving away from nuts helps make our pack events safer and more inclusive for everyone.

* * *
See you all at the Blue and Gold Banquet--

Ken
Cubmaster

Pinewood Derby

Dear Pack Parents:

Our annual Pinewood Derby Race will take place on Tuesday, January 27. The race will start at 6:00 PM sharp; check-in/weigh in will begin at 5:00 PM.

Pizza by the slice and soft drinks will be available for purchase.

The meeting will run slightly longer than usual due to the race, but we anticipate departure around 8:00 PM.

* * *
NOTE FROM THE PACK TREASURER: Please bring check books to settle your scout participation fees. If you have any popcorn money outstanding, please bring it as well, as we need that income to cover our operating expenses.

* * *
BLUE AND GOLD BANQUET is taking place next month, on Sunday, February 22. We will have information to share regarding our winter celebration of cub scouting.

See you Tuesday!

Ken
Cubmaster

Becoming Boy Scouts

Dear Webelos Parents:

We will meet with Mr. Broadhead on Monday, February 2.

Troop 13's meeting begins at 7:00, so we should arrive shortly before then. Mr. Broadhead will receive us during the meeting to chat with you and your sons about Boy Scouting and Troop 13.

At the Blue and Gold Banquet, the boys will officially (as well as literally and metaphorically) "bridge" into Boy Scouting from Cub Scouts.

I will send a reminder in advance of our Troop 13 meeting. Due to the nature of the meeting, each boy needs to have a parent present.

See you next week at the Pinewood Derby....

Best always,

Ken

Den Meeting Recap, January 18

Dear Webelos Den Parents:

Just to recap what we accomplished at the meeting today:
--the boys discussed what they wanted to do in scouting, and a consensus has grown that the boys (at least the five attending the meeting today) wish to join Troop 13.
--I will arrange for a meeting with the scoutmaster of Troop 13, Mr. Broadhead. I assume that we will visit them on a Monday evening and make his official acquaintance. This will serve the process of making a smooth transition into boy scouting and meet the final requirement for the Arrow of Light Award.

At this point, three boys (Micky, Zachary, and Marshall) have committed to attending the Winterall event in early February. If your son wishes to attend, I am happy to process the application. I simply need a check for $7 (payable to Three Fires Council) and he needs to bring a can of soup to the Winterall to contribute to a pot of deliciousness.

Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 27 for the pack meeting and pinewood derby.

Best always,

Webelos Den Meeting -:- January 18

Dear Webelos Den Parents:

Just a reminder that we will meet on Sunday, January 18, 2009 from 2:00 - 3:30. We will have a mini-Winterall, and practice the outdoor skills (firebuilding, snow-snake sliding, etc.) during our time together. Please be sure your son dresses warmly so that we can spend most of the time outdoors.

Winterall participation notes are below...please bring the participation fee.

Arrow of Light notes are below....

Please let me know if your son will *not* make the meeting by Saturday night, so that I can plan well.

I hope the boys are enjoying their day off today....

Ken

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Arrow of Light
We've taken care of all the den-related requirements for completion of the Arrow of Light award.

Two things remain:
1) the scouts need to demonstrate to me that they have memorized the scout oath, law, motto, and slogan
2) the scout--and his parents--need to visit the troop of their choice and meet with the scoutmaster. This provides a chance for all parties to meet and make a commitment to entering the next phase of the scouting movement.

I will make contact information available to you to initiate that meeting. Please let me know when it takes place, so that I can record your son's progress towards his award.

Winterall
We will practice some of the skills that we will use at the winterall, so please have your son bring the participation fee to me on that date. [The fee for that event is $7 (checks made out to THREE FIRES COUNCIL) and a can of soup, per the information I distributed previously.] If you are interested in spending a day at the event, let me know.

Camping Bargains

Dear Pack 108 Families

Brian Kerner (father of Ben and Sam, and our race-master for the pinewood derby) was at Target yesterday and saw that the Coleman camping gear is on clearance right now, with huge discounts in place.

This would seem to be a good place and time to pick up some bargains before our summer camping adventures gear up.

Thanks to Brian for sharing this--and I look forward to seeing you all at the Pinewood Derby/Pack Meeting later this month.

Pack information is here: http://pack108.blogspot.com/

Pack calendar is here: http://faculty.roosevelt.edu/King/personal/scouts/cubs/calendar.htm

Best regards,

Ken
Cubmaster

Upcoming Webelos Den Meetings -:- January

Dear Webelos Den Parents:

We had a nice visit with Troop 56 last night; I hope that the boys who have been considering different options have plenty of information to make a decision as it comes to joining a boy scout troop.

We've taken care of all the den-related requirements for completion of the Arrow of Light award.

Two things remain:
1) the scouts need to demonstrate to me that they have memorized the scout oath, law, motto, and slogan
2) the scout--and his parents--need to visit the troop of their choice and meet with the scoutmaster. This provides a chance for all parties to meet and make a commitment to entering the next phase of the scouting movement.

I will make contact information available to you to initiate that meeting. Please let me know when it takes place, so that I can record your son's progress towards his award.

* * *
I've mentioned by email that I am now the department chair at work. Besides the bonus of a new paper sign outside my office door, a consequence has been that my work responsibilities--and the time it takes to complete them--have expanded tremendously. For this month, I am not going to be able to host webelos den meetings on Tuesday eveningss; instead, please mark your calendar for Sunday, January 18. We will have a den meeting from 2:00 - 3:30 PM. I will announce the location in advance. I'm sorry to reduce the number of meetings so abruptly; I feel like I am downsizing with the rest of the economy, and I don't like the feeling at all.

As far as February meetings, I will learn more as we draw near, and as always, I will keep you informed.

We will practice some of the skills that we will use at the winterall, so please have your son bring the participation fee to me on that date. [The fee for that event is $7 and a can of soup, per the information I distributed previously.] We will also debrief/reflect on the various troops we have visited, and what the scouts are seeking to obtain from continued participation in scouting.

Best regards,

Ken

Fox Valley Winterall

Dear Webelos Den Parents:

We'll give the Winterall another try this year, as one of our final den adventures. I'll have hard copies of the attached fliers for the boys attending the meeting tomorrow. We will practice the skills needed during the Winterall during our January den meetings, starting next week.

The skills are more boy scout-based, so we should have more success--and fun--than we did several years ago.

Best regards,

Ken

Webelos Den Meeting, January 6

Dear Webelos Den Parents:

Our next meeting, January 6, will feature a visit to Troop 56 at Wildrose School in St. Charles. We should meet at the Davis School parking lot and depart by 6:35 to make it to their meeting place at 7:00 PM.

Our meeting help for this week is from the Covino/Gannet family, so if you could provide additional transportation, we should all make it there in one piece and on time.

Alex: you are welcome to attend since you are our den chief. Let me know if this is something you would like to do.

Next week, I will ask boys to share which troop they would like to join, and help make arrangements for that to take place. If you already know which troop you wish for your son to join, let me know. The only one I know for sure is that Micky will join Troop 13, where his brother is a scout.

* * *

I delivered the pinewood derby cars and pack fee invoices over break, so hopefully you have started constructing your cars.

Best regards,

Ken