Dear Cubmasters and Pack Committee Chairs:
This is your monthly e-bulletin to all top Cub leaders in the Golden Arrow District. Please delete or edit items not relevant to your Pack, then forward to all your volunteers.*** To add a new recipient, please send me full contact information, volunteer position, and Pack #. ***
*** Please check that we have your Pack leadership info correctly listed at http://www.goldenarrow.org/packs.html ***
*** Please pick up the items in your Pack Mailbox each month at Roundtable ***
********** ROUNDTABLE, DISTRICT, AND COUNCIL MESSAGES **********1) MARCH ROUNDTABLE: This monthly meeting will be Thursday March 6 at 7:30 p.m. sharp. Roundtable is the "continuing education" vehicle for Scout leaders, and a place to learn new materials, receive mentoring, and get event information for the benefit of your Den and Pack. This month we will preview the April Pack theme in plenty of time for you to prepare and deliver an excellent program: Abracadabra. We will also start doing breakout sessions for Tigers/Cubs, Webelos and Pack Leadership after the general meeting.
Click here to download handouts: http://www.scoutingthenet.com/Training/Roundtable/Handouts/
The Golden Arrow District Roundtable is held in the basement level of the St. John the Divine Parish Life Center, 2450 River Oaks Blvd. at Westheimer. There is a meeting every month EXCEPT JULY. All leaders are warmly invited. Your Pack mailbox is available in the foyer and contains hard copies of important information. Every Pack should be represented. What is Roundtable, and why should you attend? Click here: http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/roundtable-cub.html
2) CUB SCOUT SENATE: The CSS is a new approach to help us coordinate District Cub Scouting program events that affect your Unit directly. This team meets at 6:30 p.m. before Roundtable at Crescent City Beignets, across River Oaks Blvd from Roundtable, for dinner and conversation to plan and coordinate the District Cub Scout events that benefit your Pack such as District Pinewood Derby Race, Twilight Camp, Tiger Day, Webelos Woods, and this year the new Arrow of Light Transition Crossover.
3) FRIENDS OF SCOUTING FAMILY CAMPAIGN: We are over half-way to our financial goal of $200,000 raised in the Golden Arrow District. Hooray for you! As always, our Unit-level goal is 100% participation with a pledge card returned by every family, because many hands make light work. After your kick-off presentation, your Unit Coordinator will be doing clean-up to work towards that 100%, in any amount that is right for each family. The Council budget is approximately $135 per traditional Scout, therefore that is the amount we seek to raise on average across the population. For more information email claudia.hackbarth@shell.com
Congratulations to these Packs, which have ALREADY exceeded last year's totals: Packs 197, 202, 354, 455, 505, 1226. (Packs 80 and 130 are really close!) If your FOS Chair is holding pledges, please turn them in at Roundtable to get them logged in and credited.
4) SCOUT FAIR TICKET TURN-INS: Remember that the quicker your boys sell and turn in their Scout Fair ticket proceeds, the more prize stamps they receive! The next upcoming turn-in opportunities for your Unit Scout Fair Ticket Chair (not individual families) are at Roundtable March 6, then 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. on March 17 and March 24 at St. Francis de Sales Scout House, near corner of Waldo and Rowan streets (near 8100 Roos). It would be appreciated if you can bring a single check for the total proceeds made out to BSA SHAC, rather than a collection of cash and small checks....
The $10 family ticket includes over $250 of very usable coupons plus a raffle ticket for a new Chevy Malibu. For questions contact SF Ticket Chairman to phyllismr@aol.com or 281-501-9945
5) SCOUT FAIR BOOTH SIGN UP: Hosting a booth with a game, craft, skill, or demonstration is a good experience for your boys, plus it significantly increases your commission on Scout Fair ticket sales proceeds. Click here to register online: https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Forms/ScoutFair2008OnlineUni/
6) SCOUT FAIR AD SALES: Purchasing an ad for the 2008 Scout Fair yearbook is a great and easy way to earn money for your unit. Many businesses want to participate in this opportunity since the yearbook honors SHAC's newest Eagle Scouts is viewed and collected by the 70,000 Scout Fair attendees. At least 25% of ad sales is returned to your unit, thus a $700 full page black and white ad would return at least $175 to you. And it's easy to participate - simply download the form seen at this link and return it at Roundtable or drop it off at the Scout Shop. The link is
<https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Forms/ScoutFairAdSalesContra/Scout%20Fair%20Ad%20Sales%20Contract%202008.PDF>. The form will show how to submit your own artwork or the staff at SHAC will do it for you!
7) DISTRICT AWARD OF MERIT 2008: Congratulations to this year's winners of this year's highest District-level recognition: Virginia Trier T354, Tim Gerbode T740, Mary Farley T549, Frank Pavlick T505, Jim Hugenard T13. Well done! Click here to read about this award: http://www.goldenarrow.org/news/district-merit-2008.html
8) SPRING RALLIES: Every Pack is requested to hold a spring recruiting event between March 10-13. Attendance with your Dens at Scout Fair can be an enticement. Any new members will be eligible to attend Twilight Camp in June, and parent-child camp adventures at Bovay with their parents over the summer. This will also help your Tiger Cub yield for the fall-
9) CENTENNIAL QUALITY AWARD 2008: Each Unit is asked to log into this site and fill out their goals for the coming year. (Typically the Committee Chair would do this.) If you can keep it up for four years total, you will achieve Centennial Quality Unit status for the 100th anniversary of Scouting, which will be an extremely Big Deal. Please give it a whirl: https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/HOME/FORMS/CENTENNIALQUALITYACHIE2/
10) UNIT FINANCIAL HELP: An updated page of money-earning FAQs and links to helpful forms is posted on the SHAC website. Click here: http://samhoustonbsa.org/Home/DistrictSites/UnitResources/FAQ1/
11) SCOUT SHOP MARKDOWNS: The Scout Shop is putting out sale merchandise the third Wednesday of every month.
********** ADULT TRAINING ********
12) EXCELLENCE IN TRAINING AWARD: In our drive towards 100% trained leaders, a ribbon streamer will be awarded once during the calendar year to units achieving the goal of 75% direct contact leaders trained in their registered position. At the 100% level, you will further be awarded a plaque. Cub Scout leaders are considered trained when they have completed Fast Start Training, New Leader Essentials, and the Cub Scout Leader Specific training for their position. Read about it and download an application: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/ExcellenceinTrainingAw/
13) BRAND NEW LEADERS: Our goal is 100% trained leaders. This consists of a "Fast Start" online training, then online Youth Protection Training. Access both by clicking http://olc.scouting.org/
Then take live training "New Leader Essentials" and "Cub Leader Specific" lectures (see items below). Finally, outdoor skills are taught at BALOO / OWL and IOLS. See below for the specific opportunities. To read the Grand Unified Explanation of Scout Training, click here: http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/training-overview.html
Other Districts also offer these trainings; a list around the Council is available on the SHAC website at http://shac.org/Home/Training/TrainingSchedule/
14) HOW DO I GET MY PERSONAL ID NUMBER? When registering for online training classes, if you put in your leader ID#, the system should automatically record your achievement. This number is found on the annual ID cards you are issued at recharter time. (Hint: The Committee Chair should photocopy the sheet of cards before tearing them apart and distributing them, then you have a back-up paper record.) However your Advancement Chair can look up your Unit's list of personal ID numbers anytime, if your Unit is registered for Internet Advancement.
15) ONLINE WATER SAFETY TRAINING: Click here to take Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat: http://olc.scouting.org/
16) NEW LEADER ESSENTIALS and CUB LEADER SPECIFIC : The next date for this efficient combo training in our District will be Saturday May 3 on the campus of Houston Baptist University at 7502 Fondren immediately south of US 59, in Atwood II room 214. Brand new leaders should come at 8 a.m. for "New Leader Essentials". At about 10:00 a.m., the course will continue on to Cub-specific and position-specific training. So, if you are a returning trained leader but NEW to your position (for example, new Cubmaster, new Webelos leader, etc.) you should plan to attend from 10:00-noon. If you are a brand new leader, you should plan to attend from 8 a.m. through noon, and then noon to 12:30 p.m. to complete Youth Protection Training. The registration cost includes a copy of the Cub Scout Leader Book. For questions, contact Mary Farley 281-649-3349 or mfarley@hbu.edu Also: pre-register using the form at this link to save $5 off the fee: www.goldenarrow.org/training/adult-pack.html17) BALOO (Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation) and OWL (Outdoor Webelos Leader training): This combined course covers the rules, guidelines, skills, and safety considerations for "Pack family camping" and Webelos campouts. Trained adults, who will receive both BALOO and OWL credit, can deliver the outdoor portion of the Cub scouting and Webelos programs. (Local Tour Permits require that a BALOO-certified registered adult leader attend Cub Scout Campouts and overnight activities.) The next opportunity in our District will likely be in fall 2008. Read more about it and download a pre-registration form: http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/baloo.html . For questions, email Ed Biegert, biegert@alumni.rice.edu
18) IOLS (Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills): Second-year Webelos leaders are invited to take IOLS, one of the modules leading to full training in the Boy Scout Leader sequence. Learn what you need to successfully transition your boys into Scouting! This class consists of an evening orientation followed by a weekend campout. See District website for details - no advance registration is required and cost is usually about $35 including shared food costs. www.goldenarrow.org/training/outdoorskills.html The next upcoming dates are an orientation on April 2, 2008 at location St. Paul Presbyterian, 7200 Bellaire Blvd, with the weekend campout on April 12-13.19) WOOD BADGE: Wood Badge is a mentally-intense 6-day leadership course designed for all adult Scouters. It is hoped that every Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, and Venturing leader, as well as Council and District leaders and professionals, will take it to help you focus on your responsibilities, identify a goal, help you work toward that goal -- and give you the personal tools to reach it. For more information see: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/WoodBadge/
SR-920 April 4-6 & April 25-27, 2008 (begins Friday at 7:30 AM, ends Sunday at 5:00 PM)
SR-921 September 26-28 & October 10-12, 2008 (begins Friday at 7:30 AM, ends Sunday at 5:00 PM)
SR-922 October 9-11 & November 13-15, 2008 (begins Thursday at 7:30 AM, ends Saturday at 5:00 PM)************ EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES **********
20) DISTRICT CAMPOREE: Webelos and their leaders are invited to join the Boy Scout District Camporee, March 7-9 at the Webb Ranch, near Chappell Hill, TX. The cost is 15.00 per person, a bargain, but hurry! http://www.goldenarrow.org/events/camporee2008.html
21) MARSH MADNESS: Have a learning fun day Saturday, March 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, near Port Arthur. This free event showcases natural resources of southeast Texas with hands-on activities and demonstrations, including the live Birds of Prey program by Last Chance Forever. Other activities include bird banding, seining in the Gulf, crabbing, additional live animals, and more! For more info, contact Michele Whitbeck @ 409-252-4311 ext. 27 See: http://www.fws.gov/Refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=21525
22) BRAZOS BEND SPRING BREAK NATURE HIKES: Special for the week of March 17-21, Brazos Bend will have 2-4 daily guided walks and/or live animal and slide shows. This is a great way to fulfill nature and hiking requirements! http://www.brazosbend.org/home.htm
23) TRASH BASH CLEANUP: On Saturday March 29, your Pack can give service with age-appropriate participation in this annual event. See http://www.trashbash.org/
24) SCOUT FAIR: This family fun fest is Saturday April 19 at Reliant Arena, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Games, puzzles, skills, crafts, and demonstrations, with one $10 ticket giving entrance to the whole family. Scouts from Tiger Cubs to Eagle Scouts will have a fabulous, fun-filled day mingling with thousands of other Scouts and their families, participating in hundreds of hands-on activities (e.g., climbing walls, craft booths, monkey bridges, rubber band guns, making Gak, meeting astronauts), tasting gourmet camp-fare cooked by Scouts (e.g., cobbler, chili, turkey, bread), and taking home treasured bits of memorabilia at Reliant Arena. See: https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Events/ScoutFair/
25) MEGA-DERBY: For the fifth year now, boys and family can bring their Pinewood cars to the Scout Fair on April 19 and race them again on three tracks, in events including absolute speed (against the clock), classic (against other cars in your heat), and robustness (a demolition derby- last car standing is the winner, grief counseling available). No extra charge, and all participants get a patch. You can also upload a photo for an interactive "beauty contest". First 350 racers accepted; pre-register to avoid disappointment at www.megaderby.com
26) GEORGE OBSERVATORY AT BRAZOS BEND: Take your scouts to the Challenger Learning Center to experience the thrill of spaceflight while learning about teamwork and problem-solving aboard the Space Station Observer. Scouts become astronauts and mission controllers as they use real astronaut training to simulate a space flight to the Moon. Combine a mission with your camping trip to Brazos Bend State Park, or just come out for the day. Missions are scheduled on Saturday afternoons. You are welcome to stay and work on your astronomy belt loops or badges when the telescopes open at dusk. For reservations call: 281-242-3055 or 979-553-3400, Peggy Halford
27) FREE FUN FISHING: McGovern Lake at Hermann Park (next to the zoo) is open for free, catch-and-release fishing for those ages 12 and under, or 65 and older. You can angle for channel catfish, largemouth bass, and bluegill sunfish. Send your browser here for a map: http://www.hermannpark.org/fishing_and_pedal_boats.htm
28) TWILIGHT CAMP 2008: All den leaders should strongly promote this very low-cost, high-fun, one-week evening camp offered June 2-6 and (repeat) June 9-13. The theme this year is "Scouting for Treasure" at a new location: Westbury United Methodist, West Belfort at Willowbend. All boys will enjoy Archery, BB guns, survival skills, silly songs, and earn sports belt-loops. Attention current Bear and Webelos I leaders: the camps will help boys earn two Webelos pins: Showman and Scientist. You definitely should take advantage of this and lighten your own load! Click here: http://www.goldenarrow.org/events/daycamp2008.html Register early, the spaces fill up fast; there is also a $5 earlybird discount before March 31.
29) SUMMER CAMP AT BOVAY: Parent-child 3-day camps at Camp Bovay are a very fun and economical get-away for adventure and closeness. These sessions run between July 24 - August 9, see: https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/AboutBSA/CubScouting/OutdoorCamping/
Activities Around Houston
Cub Activities - Houston www.shac.org/Home/AboutBSA/CubScouting/Activities1/
American Indian Weekend
American Red Cross www.shac.org/Home/Camping/Training1/RedCross/ Basic Aid Training (BAT); Webelos Readyman
Armand Bayou www.abnc.org/education/scouting.php Cub/Webelos classes, Eagle Projects, badge classes, unit camping, canoeing, fishing
Bechtel Engineering Day www.bechtelengineeringday.org/ Merit Badge Fair in Feb for sci & engineering badges
Bovay Fishing Day www.shac.org/Home/Camping/Camps4/Bovay/ Texas Parks & Wildlife Junior Angler Program
Brazos Bend State Park www.bbspvo.org
ECO-DOINS Conservation programs held at Camp Strake
Fort Bend Museum www.fortbendmuseum.org/education/scout/ Texas Badge for Cub Scouts
Gem & Mineral Show www.hgms.org/client_show/Show_Scout_Badges2.pdf Belt loop, Webelos badge, Merit Badge
Houston Arboretum www.houstonarboretum.org/ Free Sunday afternoons nature programs
Houston Zoo www.houstonzoo.org/Community_Groups/Index.aqf Webelos Naturalist badge; Cub Scout classes; overnights
McNair Adventure Camp www.shac.org/Home/Camping/Camps4/Bovay/ Weekend cub camping; summer camps
Museum of Hlth & Medical Sci www.mhms.org Webelos Fitness & Readyman activity badge, Merit Badges
Museum of Natural Science www.hmns.org/education/scouts.asp Cub Scout, Webelos, Merit Badge classes
Ocean Star Museum www.oceanstaroec.com/education/bscouts.htm Belt loops, Webelos badges, Merit Badges
Space Center Houston www.spacecenter.org/scoutcampin.html Cub, Webelos, Boy Scout overnighters
********** WHY A SPRING RALLY? **********1. Most parents think that they can only sign up for Cub Scouts in September! They think that because they either didn't get the message early enough or weren't able to attend the signup night, they have to wait a whole year to join. The more opportunities we give boys to sign up, the more boys will in fact join!
2. Boys crave fun outdoor activities! Who has a better outdoor program than the BSA?
3. Joining in the springtime gives Scouts the opportunity to participate in many premier activities: Twilight Camp, Scout Fair, Summertime Pack Activities. Kindergartners can join June 1 and attend Twilight Camp (late registration fees do not apply for new Tigers; however, a parent must attend).3. Young people who sign up to attend camp are more likely to remain in Scouting. Furthermore, we know that the longer young people remain in Scouting, the greater impact we can have on their lives. Kids who sign up in the spring are in line to get the best part of the Scouting Program, right off the bat!!
4. Joining in the springtime give the boys a chance to get acquainted with their den leaders, and familiarize both them and their parents to how the pack operates. The Pack can place young people in dens and get them involved in some of the pack's summer activities.
5. Joining in the spring gives the Pack a chance to meet the parents and determine whom the Packs' future Den Leaders may be!! The spring and summer months are a great time to recruit and train new leaders, before the "fall rush" begins!!
LET’S RECRUIT!
********** INTERESTING WEBSITES **********
30) ScoutingTexas.com provides an interactive map view of conservation related activities and projects for the entire state of Texas. Go to www.ScoutingTexas.com. ConservationBSA.com has an extensive list of material related to conservation service and program opportunities. Go to www.ConservationBSA.com.********** IN CLOSING **********
31) You can contact your Golden Arrow District staff by email:
Jeff Hutchinson, District Director jeff.hutchinson@shac.org or 713-756-3337
Shannon Harlan, District Executive shannon.harlan@shac.org or 713-756-3338The mailing address for the Scout Office is P.O. Box 924528, zip 77292
32) Thanks to the Webmaster James Cauble, our Golden Arrow District website has a wealth of information: www.goldenarrow.org
Beware the Ides of March,
Claudia Hackbarth - Golden Arrow District Cub e-bulletin Editor - SR-446"The information presented here is not an official document of the Boy Scouts of America, but is solely my volunteer work and responsibility."