Gathering the Pack...

***ANNOUNCEMENT***

Hear ye, hear ye!
The next Pack Meeting will be held this Friday (9-21-07) at 6:30pm.
We will be meeting at the LDS ward on Wasatch Drive.

It's sure to be a great event.
Our Den will be presenting the colors, several of our Cubs are lined up for awards and we'll be meeting the new Cubmaster!
The excitement is almost too much to contain!
I hope to see all of you there.

Playing it Safe at Home...(9-15-07)

The 9/15 Den meeting was a busy one!

Our first order of business was the selection of a Color Guard.
It took a little bit of haggling and encouragement. But once we were done, the final detail assignments were:
J.W. - Orator
C.L. - US Flag Bearer
A.H. - Den Flag Bearer
D.S. - Escort
S.W. - Escort
We rehearsed the ceremony a couple of times to let the boys get a feel for the actions.
At first, they were a little nervous and uncoordinated. But by the last run-through, the Cubs were acting like old pro's. Why aren't there any pictures of them? Because I want you parents to attend the Pack Meeting this Friday to see them in action yourself!

After rehearsal, the Cubs divided up between myself and the Assistant Den Leader to complete Achievement #4 (p. 60, WHB). We talked about how to be prepared and safe at home along with how to help their parents keep the household running smooth.
(That means they're trained and ready to go, Parents. Feel free to put them to work! ;-)

As the boys listened to their lessons, the Chief went around snapping photos.
Take a look!

Lecturing to Eight-Year-Olds can be like herding cats sometimes.
But not our guys. Even through their usual rambunctiousness, the Cubs settled down when it came time to work.






Here's a group listening to the A.D.L. talk about household chores and other responsibilities in the home.







My lessons focused on making a list of important phone numbers and dealing with strangers that call on the phone or even worse...knock on the door and try to come in.






Thankfully, they were all ears.








Well, most of the time anyway.








Once the classes were finally over, the boys turned up the juice and went back to their wacky selves.



I didn't mind. They earned a little time to fool around. ;-)











Thanks a bunch for working hard and paying attention, guys. Well done!

Our next meet-up will be the Pack Meeting this Friday at 6:30pm. (I'll double check to be sure!)
I've got a ton of awards to give out, so come see our boys put their best face forward.

See you then!


Before I forget!!!
For those of you keeping track at home, I've made a list of the Wolf Handbook checkpoints covered by last week's Day Hike:
Requirement #10c (p. 91)
Elective #15e (p. 187)
Elective #18b, g (pp. 196 and 199)
Elective #23b, c, d (pp. 223 and 224)

That's all folks. Please e-mail me if you have any questions. Thanks a bunch!

Changes to Our Next Meeting!!!

***ANNOUNCEMENT***

The Cubmaster has asked our Den to perform the Flag Ceremony at the Pack Meeting! (This will cover Wolf Achievement #2, for those of you who don't have it!)

Because we've got to practice so we can be ready, we need access to the US Flag.

That being the case, I'm moving the location of Saturday's Den Meeting to the LDS Ward building on Wasatch Drive. Once there we'll select our color guard, practice the ceremony a couple of times and then talk about Wolf Achievement #4, Knowing Our Home and Community.

So just to make sure:

Our next Den Meeting will be this Saturday, September 15th at 10 am.
The location will be the LDS Ward on Wasatch Drive.

I hope to see you all there.

Please e-mail me if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Thanks!

Hiking the Butte! 9-8-07

Today's hike went off spectacularly!
The weather was perfect and our timing couldn't have been better. Not a mosquito in sight and plenty of cool shade all the way to the Garden.

Today was also the first day for some new members. Specifically, the Den is eager to welcome a new scout to the fold along with L.W. (J.W.'s dad) as the new Assistant Den Leader.

Take a look!
Up bright and early for an opening prayer, a safety briefing and a picture at the trailhead. The boys were eager to get on the road.







The first stretch of the hike took us up Red Butte Canyon Road. Here's the ever-diligent A.H., toting the Den Colors and keeping up the Cub Scout Spirit!






At the end of the gravel road, the group took a short break to prepare for their ascent up Red Butte. We talked about how the canyon was formed along with the types of critters that might live there.

Here's S.W. and Mama S.W. getting ready for the big climb.



The new Assistant Den Leader really took well to his new position. Here he is with his boy, J.W., ready to continue the hike.








After the break, the boys tackled the long climb up the butte. Thar' she blows in the background.

This was the hardest part of the hike. The Cubs hunkered down and climbed...







...and climbed...











...and climbed some more...








...until we finally got to "Lunch Rock" where we stopped for the meal break!

The Cubs were relieved and triumphant at their accomplishment !





Even the Cubmaster was ready for a break!








Spirits were high after the boys had some food in their bellies. Once they had time to let their feet recuperate, it was on to the Garden!






We entered the Garden through a deer gate in the back-country fence. Getting past it was easy 'cause we worked together!







The trail inside the Garden was thicker and bushier than hike up the Butte.

Watch out for those jutting roots, guys!








The trail wound down the hill like a snake, switching back and forth.

It made for some really tricky terrain, but it also gave us great opportunities for pictures like this one!




All of the sudden, the trail cleared up and spanned the steep incline along the hill.

Oh yeah, that's our new scout keeping terrific pace with the Den vets!




I know I don't have to say it, but the view was awesome!








We took our last break at a lonely little park bench with a beautiful overlook.






Here we are on the home stretch. From here the path brought us to the arboretum proper, where we planned to splash around the Children's Garden and wash off the trail dust.







Sadly, the fountains were all off. :-(
But that didn't stop us from enjoying the Garden's beauty.







Among other things.

S.W. sure got a kick out of the play area.









While V.Z. enjoyed the lush greenery.











L.W. and J.W. really dug the snake maze.








And what about the Chief?
Well, the Chief enjoyed the cool shade after a job well done.










Everyone was glad to be at the Garden. It served as the finish line for a really great adventure.

From here it was back to the trailhead and onward home.





What about me?

My favorite part of the hike was watching the group mesh together before my eyes and seeing the boys take care of each other. We've got a really great vibe going between the Cubs, the Parents and the Leaders. It's sure to carry us far and help the Den Family teach our guys how to live, learn and grow.

I want to thank everyone who helped plan and execute this hike. I could never have done this without your help. Thanks to all the parents who attended even though we met the adult minimum requirement.
And as always... Great job, Cubs.

***CORRECTION*** Red Butte Admission

Ok, remember all that stuff I mentioned about needing to pay for admission?
Forgetabouuutit!

It turns out that our awesome sponsor, the LDS Church, will gladly pick up the tab for everyone's Red Butte Garden Admission!
(A big, BIG "Thank You" to our illustrious Cubmaster for cluing me in!)

So, yeah. Don't worry about bringing any money for admission. The costs have been mitigated.

Please e-mail me with any questions, comments or concerns.

Spidey says, "Do the Happy Dance of Savings!"

Preparing for the Red Butte Day Hike

Our next meeting will be a day hike through beautiful Red Butte Canyon!


The Hike Particulars:
The hike will take place on Saturday, September 8. The Cubs will assemble in two different areas. Participants living in the University East Village will meet in the 1300 Court promptly at 8:00 am. From there, the Cubmaster will transport everyone to the trailhead. As for the Cubs living in Medical Towers or Shoreline Ridge, they will meet at the Shoreline Ridge playground at 8:00 am and then walk to the trailhead.

We will be hiking the Northern portion of the Red Butte Skyline Trail (solid red line) to a deer gate that will gain us entrance into the Red Butte Botanical Garden. It's a pretty moderate hike for boys, but the views are positively stunning! The group will take a short snack break on the mountain before entering the Garden. Once in the garden, the group will proceed to the Children's Garden to play in the exhibits and cool off after the long walk. Once that's done, we'll walk down the gardens and exit through the main entrance, paying admission as we leave (more to come). Then we'll return to the trailhead.

The whole hike will take about three and a half hours, so its best to set aside the whole morning for the activity.

What to Bring:
Hiking is tough hobby to enjoy. Therefore, it's best that each Scout be prepared with the right equipment so they can get the most out of the outdoor experience!

Right. Before we proceed, every Cub must have a signed and completed Informed Consent Agreement. This little darlin' keeps all our boys insured in case of an accident.

As for equipment, I've prepared this packing list to present some gear every Cub should carry.

-> Neckerchief: This is our only mandatory uniform item. It'll keep our unit integrity and protect little necks from sunburn.

-> Shoes: Make sure your Cub has a good worn-in pair of shoes to hike in. The trail can be ruthless to unprepared feet. (Sneakers will work.)

-> Hat: A good hat will give additional protection against the sun. Wide-brimmed hats are preferred.

-> Food: A snack break will be taken at the hike high-point before we enter the Garden. Each Scout should bring some food to replenish their energy. Nothing too fancy, though. Standard sack lunch fare should be fine.

-> Water: I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but it is going to be hot. Make sure your boy's got plenty of water because dehydration is a real danger!

-> Sunscreen: Sun + Skin = Sunburn. This is a parental no-brainer! ;-)

-> Bug Repellent: The butte's got a ton of flies, ticks and mosquitoes eager to sink their proboscises into human youth. But a little bit of bug juice should be enough to fend them off!

-> Rain Gear: Just in case! A slicker or a poncho should be enough.

->Towel: The Garden's children area is full of fountains and wet areas where the boys can rinse the trail dust off them. That in mind, it may be a good idea to bring them something they can dry off with.

-> Backpack: Well, we've got to have something to haul this stuff in. Giving your Cub a backpack gives them something to be responsible for and prepares them for more advanced outings.

Ok, that's all I can think up for now.
If there are any questions, please drop me an e-mail (pack4684wolves@gmail.com) .

Considering just how much the boys wanted to go on this hike, I hope that every parent will endeavor to join their son in this experience.
It's sure to build memories to last a lifetime!

A Look at Recycling

Our second meeting was held this Saturday and focused on completing the Wolf Badge requirements for Achievement #7 (p. 74). The boys and I talked about the pollution threat facing the world along with how a dutiful recycling habit could help improve the Earth. The Cubs were very receptive and had plenty to add to the discussion.

Today was also the day I presented the boys with our very own Den Flag, just like this one (but without the number). The Flag will come to every meeting and activity our Den attends, acting as the symbol of our unit. Along with the flag, I selected Cub Scout A.H. to act as the Den Bannerman for the month of September. His job will be to care for the flag in between meetings and make sure it attends every one of our Cub Scout gatherings. Next month, a new Bannerman will be selected from among the Den. Take care of our flag, A.H.!

Finally, a vote was taken within the Den to see which field trip we would take next week. The day hike to Red Butte won with a landslide!

That in mind, I'll be following this post with a detailed message for when the hike will take place along with what your Cub will need to participate.

Stay tuned!