Recharter & Annual Dues

Pack 794 Parents,

At the beginning of every year we have to renew our charter with BSA as a children's ministry of Mission Hills Church.  In January we will need the following from you. We wanted to give you an advance reminder so you can set some money aside if you need to.

• Annual Dues: A check for $160 written to Pack 794 unless your scout sold $500 in popcorn. This covers all shared expenses for basic events, hand books, neckerchiefs,  advancement and Duty to God Programs.  Items that cost extra are: Uniforms, Car, Rocket and Boat kits as well as Trips to Colorado Adventure Point, Day Camp, Camp or family camping.  Our basic program (not including camps and camping) cost us about $250 per year per scout and is a great value.
• YPT Confirmation: A PDF or paper certificate of confirmation that you have completed Youth Protection Training in the last year and that it is valid through 2/1/2018.  Mission Hills Church and our leadership have this from every parent parter who is contact with the scouts.  Go to Adult Training  You will need to log in or create an account.
• Heath Forms: We will need BSA Medical Forms A & B as well as The Colorado Addendum for all scouts as well as any siblings or adult partners participating in activities.  Keep an unsigned and undated copy for yourself.  Medical Form AB  Colorado Medical Addendum
• Talent Survey:Volunteers run our pack and we need every parent partner to be a helper and have some small investment in the pack.  Please turn in a talent survey and consider how you would like to help.  We need administrative helpers for one time events, coordinating volunteers, medical records, website, membership, den advancement records, planning hikes, campouts, shopping for food, communications, public relations, community partner relationships, fundraising projects, building pinewood derby cars, judging events, photography/ historian, leading games before and after meetings, setting up and cleaning up the rooms after meetings.  Scouting is a pie and I want to share a yummy slice with everyone.  It is not too good when you eat too many slices your self.  :)  Parent Partner Talent Survey

Please get the money to K.C. Kilgore our new treasurer and documents can go to Beth Bogan our new Committee Chair.  Checks are great but K.C. can also take cards in person or over the phone as soon as he gets set up. Feel free to email beth PDFs

Thanks for your help in taking care of the logistics.  We are looking forward to a great year! with lots of fun and even more camping to meet hiking, camping and cooking requirements.  See the planning calendar attached.  Feel free to post it on our scouts bedroom wall or the refrigerator.

Yours in Christ and Scouting,

Sean West

794 Cubmaster @ Mission Hills Church.

Car Build Clinic/ Open Garage

I plan to have an open garage to help build cars.  I will have appointments at 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm on Monday 12/26 and Monday 1/2.  We plan to get a sign up genius going for this.  It is best if you can draw out your design on paper, sketch it on the side of the car body with pencil and take it to Home Depot to cut out.  They can do it for free, and we can help you out from there.

Have fun with the brainstorming!  This may give the boys something to work on this week.

2017 Pinewood Derby

Cub Scouts, start your engines!

Announcing the 2017 Pinewood Derby!

We will be holding our annual Pinewood Derby race on January 12, 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.

Mr. White has kits at $10 each.  One derby car kit will be given to each registered Scout who sold $200 in popcorn.  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 will have a workshop at his house on 12/26 and 1/2 in the afternoon.  If you are interested, please RSVP by email to cubmaster(at)bsapack794(dot)org.  We will send out a sign up genius.

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 Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos and AOL dens.  The Scout with the fastest car will also win the Pack Champion trophy.  We may also add a scouts choice design award.  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 Rogue One-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 of go to the DAC site's calendar.

Have fun doing this with your scout!

Scouting for Food

We will be participating in the Scouting for Food food drive with Boy Scout Troop 794 on November 12.  This food drive benefits the Mission Hills Church food pantry.  Watch here for further details.

When: Saturday, November 12, 2016
Time: 8:00 am to 12:00 noon
Where: Mission Hills Church, west side of building, inside coffee shop

The way the Troop runs the food drive is that the participants are split up into groups, with at least 2 adults and 3-4 Scouts per vehicle.  Each group is assigned a neighborhood, and they drive there.  The Scouts then go from door-to-door asking for food donations, for about 2 hours.  At the end of that time, the groups return to the church and put the food in the church's pantry.  Vehicles with lots of seats and a tailgate window that can be left open are needed.

We need an adult to be in charge of this event; please see Mr. West or Mr. Grimes.

Popcorn Delivery

Way to go Pack 794!  We have almost TRIPLED the amount of popcorn we sold over last year!

The final step of the sale will be the delivery of your orders to your customers.  That will be on November 5 at Mr. Foster's house.  Please watch your emails for details.

Webelos Campout

Our Webelos Scouts will have their annual Webelos Campout in October!  This campout will provide them a chance to work on camping related adventure requirements and prepare them for the kind of activities they will get to do when they join Boy Scouts.

Dates: October 7-9, 2016

Location: Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Works Ranch Campsite
Google Maps Link: Golden Gate Canyon State Park

Cost: $30 per person (covers campsite and meals)

Sign up for this campout starts on 8/25, ending on 9/29.  Sign up with Mr. Grimes.

Each family will travel by themselves to the park, bringing their own tents, sleeping bags, and other gear.  Parents and siblings are welcome to attend along with their Scout, but we have a limit of 30 campers.  Meals will be planned by the scouts and assigned to your scout

Webelos Adventures: Cast Iron Chef, Camper, Castaway, Into the Woods, Into the Wild
Activities: hiking, stargazing, Scout skills, sports, games

You will need to get your Medical forms and Activity Consent Forms to Ms. Bogan, Mr. Grimes, and/or Mr. West.  Please watch your email also for updates from Mr. Grimes.

Note: the best way to get to the campsite will be to go up Hwy 46 from Golden to the park, then go past the Visitors Center to Hwy 119.  Turn right on Hwy 119 and go up to Gap Rd/Gilpin Road 2 and turn right.  Then turn left onto Damascus Rd from Gap Rd, and the Works Ranch site will be on Damascus Rd.
The weather forecast is for highs in the low 60s, lows in the mid-30s, and no precipitation.
Yours in Scouting,
Mr. Grimes

Rocket Launch at Bear Creek Lake Park

I hope to see you all at the rocket and airplane launch pad at Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood at 10:45 am on Saturday 9/17. We are guests of CRASH and we are asked to be on time. Meet me in the parking lot and do not proceed to the launch pad. We will enter as a group and then be given an orientation together, after the earlier group is finished. There is a $7 admission per car and you may want to carpool. We will leave when done and will not stay past noon.   Engines, wadding and launch pads will be provided. Have fun building your rockets!

Sean

794 Cubmaster
Map Of:
Bear Creek Lake Park

Climbing Wall

We will be going to the climbing wall again on October 16 from 2pm - 4pm. This was a big success last year. This is a celebration for the boys who have sold $200 in popcorn and is free to them. Others are welcome to participate at $25 each. Siblings of 5 and up are welcome. Adults may participate too if there is space. We will be meeting at the facility in Lakewood in the same building as the scout shop and Council offices. See the link below.  Carpool if you wish.
Map of:
Colorado Adventure Point

Scout Night at the Zoo 2016

Logistics

http://www.denverzoo.org/events/scout-night

Pack adult leading activity: Jason White - Assistant Cubmaster - (720) 232-6460

Meeting Location & Time: Meet as a Pack @ Denver Zoo Main Gate 10/1 @ 6:15pm

Adventure Requirements Sign-Off Opportunities

This event, aside from being an awesome chance to see the Zoo at night, and ONLY for scouts, is a great time to get sign-off's on Scout Adventure Requirements, by rank. There are typically tables and stations setup to help all scouts (typically setup by rank) participate in activities that result in sign-off's on rank and elective adventures!

STEM Sign-Off Opportunities

News Flash! for those able to pursue STEM NOVA awards (all except Tigers & Lions), this is a wonderful opportunity to achieve sign-offs on NOVA modules:

WOLVES\BEARS\WEBELOS\AOL:

Module: Science Everywhere!

4 - "Visit a place where science is being done, used or explained, such as one of the following: zoo, aquarium, water treatment plant, observatory, science museum, weather station, fish hatchery, or any other location where science is being done, used or explained"

A - During your visit, talk to someone in charge about science.

B - Discuss with your counselor (Jason White) the science done, used or explained at the place you visited. NOTE: we can do this at the end, outside the gate and/or at the next Den meeting.

FROM THE WEBSITE

Additional Information

This year, in celebration of our temporary exhibit Washed Ashore, Art to Save the Sea, as a troop/pack, scouts will get a chance to create their own works of art at home and bring them to the event to display in our very own Scout Night art gallery. Scouts will vote on their favorite sculpture and the winner will win a Bunk with the Beasts overnight adventure for up to 10 people!! That’s a $550 value! Let your creativity run wild!

Popcorn Sales at King Soopers

Rocket into Scouting with Popcorn!

Proceeds from popcorn sales support individual Cub Scouts and help pay for yearly dues, extra adventures, and Scouting Camps.

Come out and help make a difference to a Cub Scout.

When: September 17, 2016 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: King Soopers
Address: 2205 W Wildcat Reserve Pkwy, Wildcat Shopping Center, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129


If you are part of the Pack, watch your email for instructions on signing up to sell popcorn this day.  If you aren't part of the Pack, please stop by and help support us by buying some popcorn.

The Cub Scouts of Pack 794 appreciate your support!

Sign Up Night

You are invited to the Pack 794 Sign Up Night.  Come check out Cub Scouting and sign up to join in the fun!

When: September 8, 2016, 6:45pm
Where: Mission Hills Church, in the Sidewalk area
Address: 620 Southpark Dr, Littleton, CO 80120

A New Year of Cub Scouting!

I hope everyone has had a great summer this year!  We have a great program planned for the fall, starting this week with our Pack meeting on August 11.  Please keep watching the website and your email for updates.

A big update is that we now have a Google calendar for all of our events.  Please check it out either on this website at the "Pack Calendar" link above, or you can sync it to your own calendar at "pack794calendar@gmail.com".

You can also follow any updates made to the website by entering your email address in the widget on the right: "Follow Website Updates by Email".

If you are a leader and would like to be added as an author to this website, which uses the Blogger format, please let me know.  There is a page at the top for our Den Leaders to use to give out information to their Dens.

Yours In Scouting,
Mr. Grimes

Family Campout at Mueller State Park

Cost: $50 deposit per family

Each family will travel by themselves to the park, and bring their own tents, sleeping bags, and other equipment.  Parents and siblings are welcome to attend along with their Scout, but we will need at least one parent to attend with each Scout.  Mr. Grimes and Mr. West will arrange meals; if you can help, let us know!


Activities: hiking, stargazing, Scout skills, sports, fun!


Please get your Medical forms and Activity Consent Forms to Ms. Bogan and/or Mr. West.  And, watch your email for any last minute updates from Mr. West.

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. Grimes

Calendar Updates

I hope everyone is having a great summer so far!  We had several scouts attend the Arapahoe District Day Camp earlier this month, and the Space Derby was a lot of fun last week.

Please keep checking back here for updates to our calendar of upcoming events.  In July, we have Magness Camp and in August we have our Family Campout at Mueller State Park.  Details about these events can be found here:

Magness Camp
Mueller State Park

Please look at those posts for more details about those events as they get closer.  And of course, we will be updating our calendar for the fall as we finalize our plans.

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. Grimes

Graduation of Ranks

Congratulations to all of our Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts for coming to the end of the school-year.  Join us on May 26 for our Graduation of Ranks ceremony, where our Scouts will move up to the next rank level.  This will also serve as a kickoff to our Pack 794 Summer activities!

When: May 26, 6:45 pm
Where: The outdoor patio of Mission Hills Church, on the west side
What: BBQ and graduation Pack meeting

See you there!

Mr. Grimes

Summer Camp Join Package!

Summer is the best time for Scouting!

 

If you join Cub Scouts with Pack 794 now, you can get benefit from the Summer Camp Join Package, for only $100.

 

This package includes:

• Twilight Camp Registration for Twilight Camp on June 16-18
• Boys Life Magazine through February 2017
• BSA Membership through February 2017
• One Camp Card

Pack 794 will continue to meet during the summer, and we also have other camping opportunities.  Please contact Mr. West at cubmaster(at)bsapack794(dot)org for more information!

A Day In The Life of a Cub Scout

During March, our Arrow of Light den worked on the Webelos Moviemaking Pin.  The requirements for this are:

1. Write a story outline describing a real or imaginary Scouting adventure. Create a pictured storyboard that shows your story.
2. Create either an animated or live action movie about yourself. Your movie should depict how you live by the Scout Oath and Law.
3. Share your movie with your family, den, or pack.

Our movie was created and arranged by the Scouts in the Den.  They came up with the ideas for what they wanted in their movie, arranged it in a storyboard, and then filmed the various scenes.  We hope you enjoy it.


If you would like to get access to the Youtube link to watch the movie, please send me an email at andrewhgrimes(at)gmail(dot)com and I can add your Google/Youtube account to the access list of this private video.

Magness Camp

Registration is now open for Magness Camp!

Tiger, Wolf, and Bear Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts:

Dates:     Session 6, July 13-16
Location:     Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch
Address:     22799 N Elbert Rd, Elbert, CO 80106
Registration:     Magness Camp Registration
Cost:     $150 per Scout, $75 per adult, $110 per sibling

Details

Magness Adventure Camp is located on the west side of Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch in Elbert, Colorado. The camp is about 1 hour drive from downtown Denver, Colorado. From the Magness Tower, the camp boasts sweeping views of the front range including Pikes Peak.

Magness Adventure Camp is the Cub Scout Resident Camp facility for the Denver Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. With a beautiful lake, archery, tomahawk, and BB Gun ranges, rock climbing site, canoes, paddle boats, and outstanding facilities, Magness provides the Cub Scout camping adventure for Scouts of all ages! Download the map and directions to Magness Adventure Camp.

Family Fun!

Whether you are 6 or 96, Magness Adventure Camp is the perfect place for your Scout and family to enjoy all the fun Colorado camping has to offer! While packs are encouraged to come as a group, many parents and boys choose to attend camp as a family. Parents and siblings (age 6 and up) are encourage to participate in activities with their Scouts. Magness Adventure Camp offers a unique age-specific, grade appropriate, exciting program for all Cub Scouts and their families who attend. It is important to note the Scout must be accompanied by an adult.

Note: there are several sessions of Magness Camp.  Pack 794 will attend Session 6, but if those dates do not work for you, you are encouraged to attend a different session.

Webelos Extreme Scouting Trek (W.E.S.T)

Registration is now open for the Webelos Extreme Scouting Trek!

Arrow of Light Scouts:

Dates:     Session 3, July 24-27
Location:     Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch
Address:     22799 N Elbert Rd, Elbert, CO 80106
Registration:     W.E.S.T. Camp Registration
Cost:     $175 per Scout, $100 per adult, $125 per sibling

Details

These sessions will give Arrow of Light Scout and their leaders a brand new Magness experience as a team of dedicated counselors recreates the very first Scout camp Lord Baden-Powell ever organized.  Campers will experience challenging new activities as they learn to work within their patrols to cook meals, set up a campsite and live by the Spirit of Scouting at Peaceful Valley's Camp Cortlandt Dietler. Camp participants will learn the skills they need to "bridge over" to a Boy Scout Troop. Siblings, age 6 and up may participate in some camp activities and a sibling specific program will be ran during Arrow of Light only activity times.

This program is for boys who have completed the fourth grade by June, 2016.

$25 non-refundable deposit per participant is due March 31st.  Full payment is due May 16th.

Adult Participation

Ratio: One (1) adult to every four (4) Webelos Scouts and a minimum of two (2) adults per pack.

Magness Adventure Camp is located on the west side of Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch in Elbert, Colorado. The camp is about 1 hour drive from downtown Denver, Colorado. From the Magness Tower, the camp boasts sweeping views of the front range including Pikes Peak.

Note: there are four sessions of W.E.S.T Camp.  Pack 794 will attend Session 3, but if those dates do not work for you, you are encouraged to attend a different session.

Cub Scout Day Camp

Registration is now open for the Arapahoe District Day Camp!

Tiger, Wolf, and Bear Cub Scouts:

Dates:     June 16, 17, 18
Times:     3pm to 8pm each day
Location:     DeKoevend Park
Address:     6301 S University Blvd, Littleton, CO 80121
Registration:     Cub Scout Day Camp Registration
Cost:     $65

Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts:

Dates:     June 15, 16, 17, 18
Times:     3pm to 8pm each day
Location and Address are the same
Registration:     Webelos Day Camp Registration
Cost:     $75

Details

Cub Scout Day Camp provides fun and adventure in the outdoors for packs and dens. Day camp is an organized 3- or 4-day program, under trained leadership, at deKoevend Park in Littleton, from 3:00pm to 8:00pm each day.  Day camp youth participants are limited to registered Tiger Cubs (1st grade for the 2016-2017 school year), Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts.

The cost of Cub Scout Day camp is $65 for a 3-day camp and $75 for a 4-day camp. If you plan on making payment by check, you will need to send in the registration number, the children attending and what pack the check is for. It is requested that Day Camp fees be paid in full before the day of camp. Fees include hat, t-shirt, water bottle, activity patch and program.

Adult Leaders:

Adults referred to as Walking Group Guides must register at no charge and accompany every one to five Cub Scouts or one to five Webelos Scouts. All Scouts who register as individuals must provide their own Walking Group Guides.  A Tiger Cub-Adult Partner must register at no charge and attend with their Tiger Cub Scout.

When attending, please park at the South Suburban Ice Arena, 6580 S. Vine Street, Littleton, CO  80121


Day Camp is a great experience for all Cub Scouts, and I encourage everyone to attend!

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. Grimes

Scout Show

Announcing the Denver Area Council Scout Show!

Date:     April 23, 2016
Time:     10am to 4pm
Location:     National Western Stock Show Complex
Address:     4655 Humboldt St, Denver, CO 80216
Cost:     $5 Camp Card per family

The annual Denver Area Council Scout Show showcases the Scouting program in a way that is accessible to everyone.  The Scout Show is a fun, hands-on opportunity for our Scouts to see the “bigger picture” of Scouting, is an opportunity for program enhancement.

Pack 794 can set up and operate a booth at the Scout Show if we have enough families that would like to support a booth that day.  Even if we do not operate a booth, we can still have our Scouts and their families attend to enjoy all the activities there will be that day.

I have been going to the Scout Show for several years and we always have a great time!

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. Grimes

Pack 794 City Hike

Pack 794 will have a City Hike to downtown Denver this month!

Date:     Saturday, March 19, 2016

Time:     10am to 2pm

Location:     Denver via RTD Mineral Station

Address:     Mineral and Santa Fe

Cost:     cost of light rail tickets, lunch

On Saturday March 19 we are going to take a trip to Denver via light rail.  This is going to be fun and a totally new Scouting experience!  We will meet at the Mineral light rail station stairs at 10:00 am, get our tickets, and board the train promptly at 10:15.  We will return about 2:00 pm.  Every scout will need to be accompanied by an adult.   Scouts should wear their uniform.  Bring cash for light rail and lunch.  The train is $4 each way.  We will return on a different route.  We plan to visit Union Station, Low Do, the 16th Street Mall, Skyline Park, possibly Larimar Square and view the Capitol Building.

Yours In Scouting,

Mr. West

Blue and Gold Banquet 2016

On Thursday, March 10, Pack 794 will be holding our Blue and Gold Banquet and Crossover Ceremony!

Each year in February, the Boy Scouts of America celebrates the anniversary of its founding in 1910.  To commemorate this, Cub Scout Packs hold the Blue and Gold Banquet in February or March each year.  Our Pack has one Webelos Scout who will be graduating, or crossing over, to the Boy Scout Troop this year.  In addition, many of our Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and Webelos, have completed their rank and will be recognized for that accomplishment.

Congratulations to James Craig, who will be receiving his Arrow of Light award, and will be crossing over into Boy Scout Troop 794.  It has been a great pleasure to serve as his leader this year and watch him work with his dad and brother to earn this award.  We all wish him the best of luck in Boy Scouts!

I look forward to seeing you all there!

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. Grimes

February Outing: Swimming!

On Saturday, February 6, 2016, the Pack will go swimming at the Highlands Ranch Southridge rec center!  Cost should be free, as many of us are Highlands Ranch residents and we can let guests come in.

Date: 2/6/16
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Location: Southridge Rec Center
Address: 4800 McArthur Ranch Rd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130

We will meet there.

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

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. West

Raingutter Regatta!

Announcing the 5th annual Pack 794 2016 Raingutter Regatta!

We will be holding our annual Raingutter Regatta boat race on February 11, 2016.

The Raingutter Regatta is a time-honored Cub Scout tradition that involves building your own sailboat and racing it against your fellow Scouts' boats down a watery track.  One regatta boat kit was given to each registered Scout at the Pack meeting on 1/14/16.  You can also purchase car kits at the Scout Store or at www.scoutstuff.org.

Building Your Boat

You will have a month to build your boat.

These boats are not that difficult to build, as there are three main parts, the hulls, the body, and the mast and sail.  The hulls are made from balsa wood, and it is a good idea to sand them down to make them more streamlined.  When attaching the hulls to the body, make sure they are centered and even.  And when attaching the sail, you need to try to make the sail as perpendicular to the length of the boat as possible.

The goal is to build your boat so that it will travel as straight as possible down the track.  Each Scout will be given a straw through which to blow on the sail of their boat and make it go down the track.

And, you can also paint your boat and be creative with both the boat and the sail!

Rules

The Regatta is a double-elimination tournament.  This means that each Scout will get to race their boat at least twice against other scouts.  One Scout will only be able to race those two times, while other Scouts will race many times.

Each race will consist of two Scouts on either side of the track.  When given the "GO", they will blow their boat down the track, and the first boat to hit the end of the track wins that race.  The winner will continue up the winner track, and the loser will continue on the loser track.  Two losses eliminates a Scout from the tournament.

Use Official BSA materials for the boats only.  No motors or fans or other propulsion.

Awards

Awards will be given to the first, second, and third place finishing boats for each den.  Even if a Scout does not end up in the last few races, he may still be a winner in his den.

The Scout who is left standing at the end of the tournament will be the Pack Champion!

All Scouts will be awarded ribbons for their cars, such as most creative or most colorful

Good Luck!