Scouts131.com NEWS

Pack 131 will host its second annual Pinewood Derby on March 9th.

The rules for the Okee Tuklo District are located at http://www.etexscouts.com/OT_PWD_Rules.pdf.

Yours in Scouting,
John Daniel

All: February 9th is “Blue and Gold” night- we will be celebrating 100 years of scouting. The cubs are preparing for this event and we will party from 8:00pm to 8:30pm!

Cubs: Tonight we talked about different forms of energy: from our bodies, from the ground- fuels and gases. The boys had to come up with and list 25 things in a house that uses electricity!

The cubs will be planting a tree, dedicating it to Tyler Presbyterian Church.

Boy Scouts: Scouts need to sign up for the Merit Badge workshop.  Bring $25/scout to the next mtg.  Event is Feb 19-20 at Camp Tyler.  We will likely meet there. No cooking.  Eat dinner before arriving at 5/6pm.  Philip Greenwell will spend the night with us.  Mr. Smith is teaching on Sat.

All:

• Blue and Gold party: All scout families are invited to a special celebration of 100 years of cub scouting! Mark your calendars for Tuesday evening, 2/9/10. The cubs will be arranging and planning this party, so they need a idea of how many will come. Would you rsvp Todd ( tb@horizonbusiness.com) if your family plans on attending? Again, all scout families are invited!
• We will be having our own 2nd annual Pinewood Derby race! The date is yet to be determined, but it will be in March. Todd will have the cars next week; they are $4 each.

Cubs:

Tonight we talked about the importance of listening in communication: when we read God’s Word, are we listening to what He has to say to us? How about when our parents speak? Are we really listening?  To reinforce this in a practical way, we played the game, “telephone”.

Boy Scouts:

Congratulations to Ellery Carpenter! He has the new scout position, “Quarter Master”. The Quarter Master is in charge of all the camping equipment.

Tonight the boys discussed how they would be better prepared the next time they camp out:

1. There will be no more disposable cups, plates & utensils. Each boy needs to bring his own plate, cup, bowl and utensils. This is sold as a “mess kit” that can be found at Walmart, Gander Mountain, and even on Amazon.  Also it’s suggested to buy a “lingerie bag” for wet clothing.
2. Another change: all boys will need to obtain permission from the scoutmaster before bring any raw meat on a camp out.

Cubs & Webelos:

• Tonight we starting planning for the Blue and Gold party and we played Bible Trivia.
• Blue and Gold party: All scout families are invited to a special celebration of 100 years of cub scouting! Mark your calendars for Tuesday evening, 2/2/10. The cubs will be arranging and planning this party, so they need a idea of how many will come. Would you rsvp Todd ( tb@horizonbusiness.com) if your family plans on attending? Again, all scout families are invited!

Boy Scouts:

Camporee this weekend!

• Transportation is not provided - Please bring your scout to Camp Ford Friday night, 6pm. James plans on being there at 6pm, so if your scout is earlier, someone there should show him where our troop 131’s campsite is.
• We will pack up by 5pm, Saturday. Please be sure to pick up your scout by 5pm.
• Camporee 2010 details are available in this document:
  http://tinyurl.com/yanv3nb
  Please print them out and go over them with your Scout.  Note that we will NOT be having a fire at our campsite for this event — thus, all cooking will be done on stoves.
  FOOD — Our scouts divided into their patrols at the last meeting, created menus, and then distributed the ingredient list amongst themselves.  Please make sure your Scout knows what he’s bringing and that it is on his checklist.
  WEATHER — It looks as though it will be wet & chilly for the Camporee.  I see good chances for rain and temperatures in the 40’s.  Please have your scout pack appropriate clothing.
  OUR EVENTS — Our Troop is hosting TWO EVENTS at Camporee.  (Please see the details link for descriptions).  During the Pioneering session, our Troop will demonstrate how to use lashings to create a tripod capable of holding a dutch oven over a fire.  During the Competitive portion of the day our troop will host the COMPASS ORIENTATION event.
  Looking ahead:

  – MERIT BADGE WORKSHOP –

  You probably recently received the Merit Badge Workshop flyer in the mail.  If not, I am providing a link to similar information.

  http://tinyurl.com/yhvexdq

  This is MB Workshop is offerring 18 merit badges!  So there is something for everyone here.  We need to register by February 8th to avoid late fees.

  The Signup Sheet for the 2010 Feb. Merit Badge Workshop is at:

  http://tinyurl.com/ycn4kty

  (Let me know if the link doesn’t work.  Remember to SAVE after your edits.)

  Let’s commit to getting all attendees on this list before February!   $25/scout, $15/adult.  (Covers food.)

  NEED: One or two fathers to commit to camping with me Friday night at this event.

  Don Smith will be teaching on Saturday, so that will cover us for the day if the dads need hop off to work that morning; but I do need one parent (at minimum) to stay with me on Friday night.

  – SUMMER CAMP (JUNE 6-12) –

  NEED: One or Two Dads to attend this event with me.  (Prefer 2, as one of us might become ill or have a last minute conflict.)

  Dads: Please review your calendars and let me know if you can support this event with me.  I attended with Mr. Don Smith last year, but he will not be able to attend this year.  Our Troop typically attends the first week as it is the least crowded and the least hot.  To secure our spot for this week we want to be able to pounce on registration as soon as it is available.  To enable that fast response to registration, I need to know that we can field the required adult participation.  So, please make room on your calendars and let me know.  This is a great opportunity to spend a week camping with your son at a beautiful, well-run camp.

All: Please be in prayer for the Daniel family as they travel to China next week to pick up their new son, Josiah.  You may read more about their journey at lovetakesyouin.com.

Cubs: In John’s absence, we could really use help in the following events: Blue and Gold Banquet (in February) the Pinewood Derby Race, 3/13, and the Family Campout in April or May. Please let John know what you can do. His email address is j.daniel@scouts131.com.  Read this month’s newsletter here. 

Bears: Tonight we talked about resolutions: what it means and what we can do better as scouts in the area of our country, family and God. We also met our game requirement by playing Whoonu it!

Webelos: We worked on our traveler badge. Learned how to plan trips, read maps, book tickets.

Boy Scouts: Our focus this week and next will be training for the camporee next weekend, 1/15-1/16 at Camp Ford. Tonight we also planned our meals. Your scout knows what he needs to bring for food. He should also remember to bring the usual camping equipment- only tents and cooking equipment are provided. The boys chose “Campus Orientation” as the event to lead for the camporee. James is getting the supplies for this station, but may need help. Look for an email from him soon.

Looking ahead:

• The Merit Badge Workshop will be on February 19-20, ending at 5pm on the 20th. We must complete signups and register by FEB 2.The Signup Sheet for the 2010 Feb. Merit Badge Workshop is at: http://tinyurl.com/ycn4kty
• DADS: Please prayerfully consider a leadership role in Boy Scouts. You don’t need any special skills, just come and learn with the boys! We wouldn’t want James to be the “Lone Ranger”! On that note, summer camp has a HUGE need. We need 1 more dad (besides James) to go. We know it is a big commitment to make (having to take a week off from work). The boys cannot go to camp unless there are 2 leaders. We plan on going the 1st week of camp (early June).

All:

Court of Honor is next Tuesday, 7:00pm. Please make plans to attend this special evening of awards.

No Scout meetings 12/22 & 12/29.

Cubs:

Tonight we discussed a Christian view of finances with the Bears and Tigers.  The material we used was published by Randy Alcorn of Eternal Perspective Ministries and can be located at http://epm.org/media-database/pdf/MiddleSchoolGuide.pdf and http://epm.org/media-database/pdf/MiddleSchoolHandouts.pdf .   I (John Daniel) encourage each of you to discuss the handouts in more detail with your sons.

The Webelos continued to work toward their ranks with Daniel Carrell.

Boy Scouts:

Congratulations to the many boys that advanced rank tonight! They will be honored next week.

If you worked on a merit badge or a rank but didn’t get to pass, no worries, it’s the scoutmaster’s desire to have scoutmaster conferences and boards more frequently. Your next chance to advance will come soon!

Looking ahead- the “Camporee” (where our scouts compete against other troops in competitive games) will be held 1/15/10-1/16/10.  Dads, we need 2 of you for this event. Please consider.

Boy Scouts of America Nationwide
100th Anniversary Audiocast Kickoff Rally
December 10, 2009
7:00 - 7:30 P.M. Texas Time
Listen in on your computer: http://audiocast.scouting.org

By now, we hope you have heard about BSA’s Dec. 10 100th Anniversary audiocast kick-off rally! These are exciting times! And, this will be our chance to get everyone pumped up and energized for the celebration. If you have already responded, thank you!
 
If you haven’t had a chance to register … want anotherreason to tune-in on Dec. 10th? During the audiocast the BSA will give away:
Two tickets to Gala Twenty-Ten, a very special and elegant 100th Anniversary event in Washington, D.C. on February 9, 2010. One night’s hotel stay is included.
A signed, limited and special edition print of Joseph Csatari’s 100th Anniversary painting.
A specially packaged, limited edition U.S. Mint commemorative coin honoring BSA’s 100 years.
All once-in-a-lifetime prizes. But, to be eligible you must be signed-up and switched-onduring the audiocast rally! You don’t have to go any further than your own computer. All you have to do is register and then listen-in at: http://audiocast.scouting.org.
We don’t want anyone to miss out, and we hope this will be the largest virtual gathering in BSA history. Help us spread the word! Pass this along to friends, family, and other Scouting enthusiasts who should be part of our historic 100th Anniversary celebration. If you have a previously scheduled Scout meeting at the audio-cast time on December 10th - consider making the rally part of the meeting agenda. Join in as a group … but, make sure individuals register for the prizes!
“See” you on December 10th!

All:

Popcorn will be available to pick up on at the 12/8 meeting

Honor Court will be 12/15/09. This is a special event honoring all scouts for their achievements. Same time, same place. James Carpenter will be sending a snack sign up sheet (via email).

No scout meeting 12/22/09

Cubs:

Tonight we discussed nutrition, the basic food groups and how to eat healthy. Then we had ate cookies!

Looking ahead: 3/13/10 - District Pinewood Derby Race, 4/10-4/11 Dad & Lad

Boy Scouts:

Next week, 12/8/09 will be board reviews for the boys that had their scout master conferences.

All:

• We will not be meeting next week, 11/17 or 11/24.  However, recharter fees are due! Since we aren’t meeting the next 2 weeks, it would be easy to forget these fees. So, please mail your scout’s fees to your leader, John Daniel or Don Smith asap. The fees are due December 1st (if you think you will remember to bring it to scouts’ meeting that night).  Here’s what the fee is: $15 dues, $12 Boy’s Life subscription and $1 insurance = $28. (Only $16 if 2 brothers share the subscription.) John’s address: 725 Bentley Ct., Tyler, TX 75703.  Don’s address: 22834 County Road 121, Bullard, TX 75757-8308.
• Court of Honor will be held 12/15/09.  Invite your family and friends to celebrate your scout’s achievements!

Boy Scouts:

• Camp out:A huge “thank you!” to Mike Bertino for agreeing to being the second dad on the camp out this weekend. We could use one more dad for driving the boys. Please consider.  Meet at the church at 6pm. Make sure your son has eaten dinner before meeting at 6pm. The boys should be back at the church by 4pm on Saturday.
• If you are working towards a merit badge, your work must be turned in by 12/1/09 in order for it to count for Honor Court.
• Scoutmaster review: 12/1/09
• Board review: 12/8/09

All:

• All popcorn orders will be due next week, 11/10!
• No Scout meeting, 11/17 or 11/24.
• We will need a couple of volunteers to pick up the popcorn- date to be determined (sometime beginning Dec.)
• Save the Date: Court of Honor 12/15

Cubs:

• We went over a myriad of things tonight! Finished up the fishing and bicycling belt loops, talked about civic responsibilities in voting and requirement 16a- building muscles!
• Please review “Pack 131 Newsletter” that John Daniel passed out tonight… it has a bunch of great information.

Webelos:

• Tonight we talked about famous athletes in history - the good role models. We also ran! Both of these things go towards the fitness merit badge.

Boy Scouts:

• We will be camping out 11/13-11/14 at Davey Crockett on the Neches Bluff.  Meet at the church at 6pm on Friday. We need 1 or 2 dads to drive.  The purpose of this camp out is for the hiking requirement and for second class scouts to cook. James will send out a signup sheet for food. Receipts will be collected and divided by participants.
• If you are interested in a “B” uniform for your son, Don will have a variety of shirts next week- ranging from $2-$10. But remember, the boys must wear their class “A” shirts in the winter.
• If your scout has any merit badge work for this semester, it is due by 12/1/09 if your son wants credit at the Court of Honor 12/15.