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