January Outing: Colorado Adventure Point

On Saturday, January 23, 2016, the Pack will go rock climbing at Colorado Adventure Point!  Cost will be $10/registered scout, $20/sibling or prospective scout.

Date: 1/23/16
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Location: Colorado Adventure Point
Address: 10455 West Sixth Avenue, Denver, CO 80215, west entrance of building

We will meet at Mission Hills Church at 9:15 am and carpool over there.

Please check back to see if any information has been updated.

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. West

January Webelos Outing

On Saturday, January 30, 2016, the Webelos scouts can attend the Ice Fishing outing with Boy Scout Troop 794!

Date: 1/30/16
Time: 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location: Tahosa Scout Ranch
Address: 173 Co Rd 96, Ward, CO 80481

We will meet at Mission Hills Church at 7:00 am with the Troop, and will drive to Boulder.  In Boulder, we will meet for breakfast at the McDonalds on Baseline Road.  From there, we will drive up to Tahosa for a day of ice fishing.

This is a great opportunity to participate in an outdoors event with the Troop, and for the Arrow of Light scouts to complete their Scouting Adventure requirements.  While the Boy Scouts will be camping there that night, the Webelos scouts can only attend during the day.

All Webelos scouts and adults attending will want to be prepared for very cold winter conditions for this outing.  Here are some tips: Winter Camping

Please check back to see if any information has been updated.

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. Grimes

Pinewood Derby

Cub Scouts, start your engines!

Announcing the Pack 794 2016 Pinewood Derby!

We will be holding our annual Pinewood Derby race on January 14, 2016.  The Pinewood Derby is a time-honored Cub Scout tradition that involves building your own car and racing it against your fellow Scouts' cars.

One derby car kit will be given to each registered Scout at the Pack meeting on 12/10/15.  You can also purchase car kits at the Scout Store, at Michael's, or at US Toys.  Just make sure that you buy Official BSA car kits, NOT other similar car kits like those used for Awanas.

Building Your Car

You will have about a month to build your car.  Mr. West may have a workshop at his house on 12/27 in the afternoon.  If you are interested, please RSVP by email to cubmaster(at)bsapack794(dot)org.

Rules

Use Official BSA materials only
Car must weigh no more than 5.0 ounces
If the car weighs less than 5.0 ounces, that's fine, but it won't win
No motors or fans or other propulsion

Tips and Tricks:
Boys Life: How to make a fast derby car
Maximum Velocity: Five keys to Pinewood Derby performance

Awards

Awards will be given to the first and second place finishing cars for the Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and Webelos dens.  The Scout with the fastest car will also win the Pack Champion trophy.  All Scouts will be awarded ribbons for their cars.  You can try to make the fastest car, or you can try to make the most creative or most colorful or whatever kind of car you can imagine!  Will anyone make an awesome Star Wars-theme car?

Arapahoe District Pinewood Derby

The first and second place winners from each den will be able to participate in the Arapahoe district pinewood derby in April.  More information will be made available closer to that event.

Good Luck!

Bowling!

On Saturday, December 5, the Pack will have a bowling outing!  Cost will be $10/registered scout, $15/sibling or prospective scout.

Date: 12/5/15
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Location: AMF Littleton Lanes
Address: University and County Line,

2530 E County Line Rd, Littleton, CO 80126
 

Please check back to see if any information has been updated.

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. West

November Den Meetings

This has been a great month!  Thank you to everyone that sold Scout Popcorn, especially Mr. Foster, and for getting the popcorn delivered.  We sold over $4300 worth of popcorn this year, doubling what we sold last year.  Also, thank you to everyone that participated in the Scouting for Food food drive this past weekend.  We collected a lot of food for the Mission Hills Church food bank!  And, also thank you to the Webelos scouts that attended the First Responder clinic.

We will meet this week on Thursday night, November 19, at 6:45, for Den Meetings.  If you are a Webelos or Arrow of Light scout, please check our Den Page for details about what we are working on.

We will not meet on November 26, because that is Thanksgiving.  I hope everyone has a great time with their families on this day.

Watch the website for details about our plans for December.  We have a bowling outing coming up, in addition to the Pack meeting and Den meeting next month.

I added a link on the right hand side called "Follow by Email".  If you enter your email address in there, you should receive a notice whenever this website is updated.  I hope this is helpful.

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. Grimes

Visit to DC Sheriff

On Wednesday, November 4, the whole Pack will be meeting at the Douglas County Sheriff Highlands Ranch Substation.  We will be given a tour of the facility and will visit with one or more Sheriff's deputies.

Time: 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Location: Douglas County Sheriff Highlands Ranch Substation
Address: 9250 Zotos Dr, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

This visit will meet the requirements for Adventures in each level.

Please check back to see if any information has been updated.

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. Grimes

Scouting for Food Service Project

On Saturday, November 14, the whole Pack will be participating in the Scouting for Food service project with Troop 794.  This project involves going door-to-door in different neighborhoods near Mission Hills and asking for canned food donations.  The food that is collected will be given to the Mission Hills Church food bank.

Time: 9:00 am to 12 noon
Location: Mission Hills Church

This post may be updated as I get more detailed information.

Yours In Scouting,
Mr. Grimes

First Responder Clinic - Webelos

On Saturday, November 7, there will be a First Responder clinic for Webelos Scouts.  The clinic will be held by Troop 794, and the Scouts that attend will complete the full First Responder adventure, which is required for Webelos rank and counts as an elective for Arrow of Light.

Time: 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Our Father Lutheran Church

Address: 6335 S Holly St, Centennial, CO 80121

Cost: $10

Lunch will be provided.

Please check back because I do not have the full information at this time and will be updating this post.

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. Grimes

Webelos and Arrow of Light Den Page

Please visit the Webelos and Arrow of Light den page.  I have just added some information there for our Webelos Scouts, and this page will be used as a reference for our dens.  I will be updating this each week.

Thanks!
Mr. Grimes

Updates

Dear Scouts and Scouters,

Please keep checking back on this website for any updates that might be made to any particular post after it is first posted.  Our plan is to use this website as a central location for getting information out to our families, instead of having to keep up with multiple email threads and not knowing what may have been told to who.  We will of course be using email and our Pack email lists, but before you send myself or another leader an email, you can check here first to see if you can find your answer.

See you Thursday!
Mr. Grimes

Where Do The Patches Go?

We have a lot of new families in the Pack, and one of the first questions you might have regards the Cub Scout Uniform.  This post will hopefully help you make sense of the uniform and where all the patches go.  If you have any questions, please talk to Mr. West or Mr. Grimes.

Scout Uniforms

Pack 794 has two Scout uniforms: Class A and Class B.  The Class A is the official uniform shirt with its various patches, and the Class B is the Pack T-shirt.  The Class A uniform consists of the following:

• Cub Scout Uniform Shirt
• Blue: Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos
• Tan: Webelos, Arrow of Light
• Cub Scout Belt
• Belt Loops are awarded for advancement towards Rank
• Neckerchief and Slide
• Rank Cap (optional)

The patches for the Class A that parents will purchase are:

• Top of Left Sleeve:
• Denver Area Council patch
• For blue shirt: Red & White numbers 7, 9, 4
• For tan shirt: Tan & Green numbers 7, 9, 4
• Tan shirt shoulder epaulets:
• Blue loops
• Left chest above the pocket:
• Purple World Scouting patch
• Right Sleeve under the U.S. Flag
• Den number patch (optional)
• The den number is chosen by each Den
• Mr. Grimes' Den is always Den 7
• Webelos Colors go here too

These patches and others that your Scout will earn over time are to be placed on the uniform according to the diagrams at these links:

• Tiger, Wolf, and Bear Uniform
• Webelos and Arrow of Light Uniform

Patches are either sewn on or you can use Badge Magic or an iron with fusible web.

There are official BSA Cub Scout blue uniform pants (or green for Webelos/AOL with tan shirts) that can be worn as well, but these are not required.  In our Pack, we require that the Scouts wear either blue jeans or similar pants that have belt loops so that the belt can be worn.  We also need the Scouts to wear closed-toe shoes.

Returning Webelos Scouts will wear the blue Class A shirt until they earn their Webelos rank.  After earning the Webelos rank, they will change over to wearing the tan shirt.  Any new Webelos or Arrow of Light Scouts can wear the tan shirt.

 

Adult Leader Uniforms

Adult Leaders are encouraged to also purchase a Class A uniform, which will be the same as the Webelos/Arrow of Light tan shirt described above.  There are awards that adult leaders can earn as well.  The Adult uniform consists of:

• Tan BSA Uniform Shirt
• Green BSA Scout Belt
• Neckerchief and Slide
• Tiger DL: Tiger Leader Neckerchief
• Wolf/Bear DL: Cub Scout Leader Neckerchief
• Webelos/AOL DL: Webelos Leader Neckerchief (with gold trim)
• Green BSA Cap

Patches for the adult uniform are placed according to this link:

• Adult Leader Uniform

There are official BSA Scout green uniform pants that can be worn as well, but these are not required.  In our Pack, we require that leaders wear either blue jeans or similar pants with belt loops so that the belt can be worn.  Leaders should also wear closed-toe shoes.

For Adult Leaders, we have three classes of uniform:

• Class A: described above
• Class B: Blue Cub Scout polo shirt
• Class C: Pack T-shirt

When to Wear Each Uniform

When the Pack gets together for Den Meetings, Pack Meetings, or outings, the Scouts and leaders should wear their Class A uniforms.  There will be events for which the Class B T-shirt will be worn instead for that event.  Wearing the Class A uniform will set our Scouts apart as being Cub Scouts and representing themselves, BSA, and Mission Hills Church in a respectable manner.

When we travel to any outings, Scouts and Leaders are also required to wear their Class A uniform while traveling.  Once you arrive at the destination, you can change out of it, but while on the road, the Class A is to be worn.  This is a BSA requirement.

The adult leaders will occasionally need to wear the adult Class B polo shirt for certain activities instead of the Class A.  These activities will be discussed beforehand.

How to Purchase the Uniforms

• Class A Uniform
• Denver Scout Store
• Online Scout Store (www.scoutstuff.org)
• Class B Scout or Class C Adult Uniform
• From the Pack, $10
• Class B Adult Uniform, $30
• From ScoutStuff.org
• When ordering, choose
• Color: Navy Blue
• Size: to fit yourself
• Line 1: Pack 794
• Line 2: 
• Design: Cub Scout 

September Meetings

It was great to see everyone and to have all of our new families at our first Pack meeting of the year last night!  For the rest of the month, we have Den Meetings and the Camporee on 9/19-9/20.  Here's the calendar for the month:

September Calendar

• 9/10 - Pack Meeting
• Theme: A Scout is Clean
• Popcorn Sale Kickoff
• Camporee information
• 9/17 - Den Meetings
• Meet as Dens, with new Scouts and new Leaders
• New Adventures start!
• Will meet to discuss Camporee questions at end of meeting
• 9/19-20 - Camporee
• Arrive as early as 8am Saturday
• Overnight campout Saturday night
• Leave Sunday morning
• See link for registration and info
• 9/24 - Den Meetings
• Continue working on Adventures

Coming in October

• Carnival!
• Popcorn Sales Due
• Continued Adventures...

Trails End Popcorn Sale

Each year, the Boy Scouts of America works with Trails End Popcorn to hold a fundraiser for Cub Scout Packs.  Pack 794 participates in this fundraiser, and it is the only fundraiser we do all year.  We will kicked off our sale for 2015 at the first Pack meeting on September 10.

2015 DAC Popcorn Sale

Door-to Door Popcorn Sale

Take the order form that you received from Mr. Foster at the Pack meeting, and go to your neighbors' homes to take their orders.  All orders and money are due on October 15, and pickup for delivery will be on November 7.

Recommended Steps to Follow:

• Go to a neighbor's house and knock on the door
• ALWAYS go with a parent
• NEVER go inside a house, stay on the porch
• Greet them with your name, Pack, and say:
• Hi, my name is (insert name), and I am a Cub Scout with Pack 794
• Would you like to support Cub Scouts by ordering some popcorn?
• If they say no, then say thank you and go to the next house.
• If they say yes, then let them look at the form to see what they would like to order
• If they comment on "high prices", say:
• Well, most of the cost goes to support local scouting and my Cub Scout Pack
• The money goes to provide camping and other activities
• Have them fill out their name, address, and phone number
• Double check that you marked the correct column on the order form
• COLLECT THE MONEY when you take the order
• Cash is good
• Checks should be made out to "PACK 794"
• Checks made out to anything else will have to be rewritten
• Tell them that you will be by to deliver their order after November 7

Online Popcorn Sales

You can sell Trails End Popcorn online, too.  Go to www.trails-end.com and set up an account.

Details to come.

Sale Incentives

You're not just selling popcorn to support Scouting, you can earn prizes and awards!  You received a prize sheet with your order form, and you can qualify to receive an award by selling above certain amounts as listed on the sheet.  If you see something you want, then that sales level will be your goal to reach!

Also, if you sell $500 of popcorn, your annual dues in February will be covered.

More incentives are shown at the Council website.

Camporee!

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone that participated in the Camporee this year!

Every four years, the Denver Area Council puts on a Council Camporee, and this year, Cub Scouts are invited to participate with their families.  Pack 794 is attending the Camporee this year as our Family Fall Campout.  Please see the links below for information about the Camporee.

NOTE: Registration is Now Closed

Information Link:

Denver Area Council Camporee

Registration Link: (now closed)

Cub Scout Family Camping at Camporee

• When you register, indicate that your Unit is "Pack 794" and your District is "Arapahoe District"
• Cost is $12.50/person before 8/16 and $15/person after 8/16

Information For Those Attending:

• Troop 794 Packing List: this is for two nights, not one, but use this as a guide for what to pack
• There are over 1000 Cub Scout family campers signed up!
• Cub Scout family campers are registered as families, NOT as a Pack
• The camp opens on Saturday morning at 8 am, and Cub Scout families need to arrive between 8am and 9am
• If the families in our Pack want to camp together, we must ARRIVE together
• In order to arrive together, we will meet in the King Soopers parking lot at Founders Parkway and 5th Street in Castle Rock
• Google Maps: King Soopers, 750 N Ridge Rd Castle Rock, CO 80104
• Be there by 7:30 am on Saturday, 9/19
• From there, we will go east on Hwy 86, then south on Elbert Rd
• Each car must have the parking permit sheet printed out, in color, on an 8.5"x11" sheet
• This came in an email from Dana Smerchek
• If you did not get this, email me at andrewhgrimes(at)gmail(dot)com
• Each family must have an envelope packet containing:
• Completed family roster
• Receipt showing payment of registration
• Completed BSA Medical Form Part A & B for each camper
• If you don't have the Colorado Addendum for each child, just complete the vaccination section on Part B of the medical form
• Meals
• The camp will provide Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast in the main dining hall
• Sat dinner: barbecue chicken and regular BBQ catered items
• Sun breakfast: continental
• Saturday lunch: bring this with you or buy from food vendors at PV
• There will be a lot of people trying to buy food, so I suggest bringing Saturday lunch
• Also, if you have special dietary requirements, bring your own food
• Drink lots of water!  PV is above 7000 feet elevation, and dehydration can sneak up on you quickly.
• There will be water available there, but take along a water bottle
• Wear bug spray, there are more bugs that usual out there this year due to the spring and summer rains
• Wear sun screen and sun protection, the weather will not be hot but it will be sunny
• Parents will be responsible for any medications
• If you or your children need allergy meds, please have them
• Smellables must be kept in your cars
• This includes any food, but also toothpaste, sunscreen, hair products, etc.
• If you have a question, ask me
• Saturday night Arena Show
• There will be a huge Arena Show Saturday night
• No chairs will be allowed, but it is suggested that we bring blankets to sit on
• We will be part of at Guinness World Record!  This will be the largest number of people popping bubble wrap at the same time.
• Fort Carson rock band, Mt. Everest climbers, and a Laser Light Show
• Restrictions
• No alcoholic beverages allowed at PV
• No tobacco consumption of any kind allowed at PV
• No fires, no cooking in Cub Scout camping areas without permission

Approximate Schedule

• Sat, 7:30 am: Meet at King Soopers in Castle Rock
• Sat, 8:30 am: Arrive at PV
• We will be directed to our campsite
• Park vehicles
• Unload gear
• Set up tents near where you are parked
• There will be young Marines there to assist
• Take packets with roster, receipt, and med forms to Fort Garland lodge to check in
• You will receive a pack of stuff
• Sat, ~9:30 am - Noon
• Go participate in the various activities!
• Sat, Noon, eat lunch
• Sat, Lunch - 4:30 pm
• Continue to participate in the various activities!
• Sat, ~5:00 pm, eat dinner
• Will be served at the main dining hall
• Wear Class A uniforms to dinner and the Arena Show
• Sat, 6:30 pm, head to the arena to be seated for the World Record Attempt
• Will gather as a Pack group to be seated together
• Sat, 7:15 pm, World Record Attempt
• Sat, 7:30 pm, Arena Show starts
• Sat, 10:00 pm, prepare for bed, quiet time, lights out
• Sat, 7:00 am, wake up
• Sat, 7:00 am to 8:00 am, breakfast at main dining hall
• After breakfast, can pack up and leave
• Sat, 9:00 am, Chapel service
• Sat, 10:00 am, Check out and return home

I am really looking forward to this Camporee, I hope everyone enjoys their time this weekend!

Cub Scout Sign Up Night

Our Pack will be having its Sign Up Night for the new school year on August 27 at 6:45pm.  We will meet in our usual location, the Sidewalk area of Mission Hills Church.  Please invite anyone who has sons in First Grade through Fifth Grade to come.  Contact cubmaster@bsapack794.org for more details.

If you are able to show up early to help set up, that will be greatly appreciated.

August Roundtable Links

Every month, the Arapahoe District holds a Roundtable meeting for adult leaders in Cub Scouting in our area.  At these meetings, announcements are made about upcoming events in the district and the Denver Area Council, and training is given for leaders at different levels.  I will write a post each month to capture relevant information for the families in our Pack.

Adult Leader Training

There will be in-person training for adult leaders on September 12 at Hope United Methodist in Englewood.  The training offered on that day includes Leader Specific Training and Scouting Safety.

All adult leaders and parents will be required to take Youth Protection Training, which can be completed online at http://www.scouting.org/training/youthprotection.aspx.

The University of Scouting is coming up on October 24.  This is a great opportunity for all parents and unit leaders, new and old, to get trained so that we can present the best Cub Scouting program to our Scouts.

Council Camporee

The 2015 Council is September 19-20, and our Pack will be attending this for our Family Campout.  Watch for details in a separate post.

Popcorn Sale

The annual Scout Popcorn Sale is starting this month.  Our Popcorn Kickoff will be at our first Pack meeting on September 10.  Watch for a separate post with details

Scouting for Food

The Scouting for Food service project is in November.  We will be working with Troop 794 to stock the Mission Hills food pantry as part of this project.

Football Game Discounts

There are discount tickets available for the USAF vs Wyoming game, and there will be a CU Buffalo game as well.  

August Hike!

When: August 22, 9:00 am to 10:00 am

Where: Grigs Road Shelter to Highlands point on the Douglas County East/ West trail.

Google Maps link: Grigs Road Shelter

We will meet at the pavilion at 9 am, and take a short hike on the Douglas County trails in that area. It should not be too hot at that time of morning, but we do recommend that everyone have sunscreen and water bottles. We live at high elevation, and even when it is not hot, our bodies can get dehydrated quickly.

This would be a good time to introduce the idea of the Ten Essentials. The Ten Essentials are survival items that hiking and scouting organizations recommend for safe travel in the backcountry. You can find more about the link. They are:

1. Navigation. Topographic map and assorted maps in waterproof container plus a magnetic compass, optional altimeter or GPS receiver. 
2. Sun protection. Sunglasses, sunscreen for lips and skin, hat, clothing for sun protection. 
3. Insulation. Hat, gloves, jacket, extra clothing for coldest possible weather during current season. 
4. Illumination. Headlamp, flashlight, batteries. LED bulb is preferred to extend battery life. 
5. First-aid supplies, plus insect repellent. 
6. Fire. Butane lighter, matches in waterproof container. 
7. Repair kit and tools. Knives, multi-tool, scissors, pliers, screwdriver, trowel/shovel, duct tape, cable ties. 
8. Nutrition. Add extra food for one additional day (for emergency). Dry food is preferred to save weight and usually needs water. 
9. Hydration. Add extra 2 liters of water for one additional day (for emergency). 
10. Emergency shelter. Tarp, bivouac sack, space blanket, plastic tube tent, jumbo trash bags, insulated sleeping pad. 

Obviously, we won't need all of these things for a short morning hike, but we will need some of them, such as a first aid kit, sunscreen or sun protection, and water.

Another thing we will need is:

• BSA Medical Form Parts A and B for you and your Scout
• Colorado Addendum for your Scout

Contact Mr. West at sean(dot)landwest(at)gmail(dot)com for more details. I hope to see you there!

Recruiting for 2015-2016

We will be starting the new year of Cub Scouting on Thursday, August 27, with Cub Scout Sign Up night.  In preparation for that, we will be doing some recruiting at Mission Hills and at some schools in the area.  If you can help, please let me know.  Check back here for more details:

Mission Hills Recruiting

We will need some help manning our booth on the weekend of August 22-23.  As we did last year, we will be greeting the families of boys as they arrive to attend Sunday school on Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Adults, please wear a blue or red polo shirt, and Scouts, please wear your Class A uniforms.

The service times are:

• August 22, 5:00 pm
• August 23, 9:30 am
• August 23, 11:00 am

If you could arrive 30 minutes before these times, and stay until 15 minutes after, that would be great.  We will have flyers to hand out to invite them to Sign Up night on August 27.

We will have another recruiting time the first weekend in October.

Other Recruiting

• We are always open to having Scouts and their families join from other groups
• We are talking to some schools and other churches
• Notify Mr. West if you have a group we can recruit from

Boy Scout Days at Elitch Gardens

Note: this event has already passed.

The weekend of July 31 to August 2 is Boy Scouts of America Appreciation Days at Elitch Gardens.  Go to this website for more information:

• http://www.elitchgardens.com/boy-scouts/

A Whole New Adventure

Welcome to Pack 794's new website!

New for 2015, the Pack is going to be using this website as a central place for all information that our families need.  Please check back here soon as I publish more information about the coming year of Scouting.  I am looking forward to another great year!

Yours In Christ and Scouting,
Mr. Grimes