Bear Den Family Newsletter
October 2011
October Achievements
| Be Sure These Are Recorded in Your Bear Book |
Coming Up
| Who does what, and when |
Denners, please plan to arrive by 4:10 if possible to help set up.
Den Meetings:
November 7th, 4:15-5:30 at the Scout Cabin
Bicycling if the weather and darkness cooperate. Bring a bicycle, helmet, flashing light. Denner: Seth
Snack: Jimmy
November 14th, 4:15-5:30 at the Grange
Denner: TBA
Snack: TBA
Bicycle Belt Loop and Badge Achievements:
We will be earning our Bicycle Beltloop if the weather cooperates. This will help the Wolves and Bears earn their badge as well. During the first den meeting that is not raining we will meet at the Scout Cabin with bicycles and spend at least ½ hour riding together on Mill City’s streets and bike paths. We will need to start right at 4:15 to finish before dark. If we are unable to do this at a den meeting due to weather or darkness, we may schedule it for a Saturday.
Parents, please ride with your scout if you can, but if you can’t you may still send your boy on the ride! Helmets are a must. A flashing light on the bike or boy is also a good idea; I have a few to loan. I also have extra adult bicycles to loan if you need one. Please let me know as soon as possible if you need my help to find a bicycle or gear to use, or if you have any question.
What you might do at home in November
| Work toward your badges |
Please bring your Bear Book to all den meetings. When you sign off an achievement or elective, mark the page (bookmark it, fold it, post-it note it, or whatever works) and show me so that we can be sure your progress gets recorded in my notebook.
Report segments and awards earned to me by November 21st in order to receive them during the November Pack Meeting.
Work toward your Bear Badge at home
Plan to finish by April 16th.
· Achievement 5: Sharing Your World With Wildlife
o Make plans to do either 5c or 5d before April 16th; we will do the rest of A-5 with the den.
§ Talk to a wildlife conservation officer (5c).
§ Visit a zoo, wildlife refuge, or similar place (5d).
· Achievement 9: What’s Cooking?
o Plan a snack you can make for the den when it is your turn (9b).
· Complete one Bear Achievement from the God or Family sections that we will not be working on as a Den.
o #1 or #2
o #8, #10, #11, #12, or #13
Work toward Arrow Points
Plan to finish by May 21st.
For every 10 electives you complete, you earn one Arrow Point patch for your uniform. Parts of Achievements that are not used for your badge can be counted as Electives as well. You can work on Arrow Points now, but they will be awarded only after your Bear Badge has been earned.
· Elective 21: Sales
o If you participated in the Popcorn sale, do 21a
If you are working toward the World Conservation Award
Plan to finish by May 21st.
This is an award you can choose to earn on your own. We will not be actively working toward this award in Den Meetings, but may do parts of Elective 12, Nature Crafts, during the year. The World Conservation Patch is a purple panda patch that our Pack allows to be worn on your uniform. To earn it, you will choose two out of three electives and complete all parts: Weather, Nature Crafts, and/or Conservation.
Academics and Sports
Plan to finish by May 21st.
This program allows boys to earn belt loops or pins through a wide variety of activities. The following areas are available:
| Academics: | | | Sports: | |
| Art | Language & Culture | | Badminton | Kickball |
| Astronomy | Map & Compass | | Baseball | Marbles |
| Chess | Mathematics | | Basketball | Physical Fitness |
| Citizenship | Music | | Bicycling | Roller Skating |
| Collecting | Nutrition | | Bowling | Skateboarding |
| Communicating | Pet Care | | Fishing | Snow Ski & Board |
| Computers | Photography | | Flag Football | Soccer |
| Disabilities Awareness | Reading and Writing | | Golf | Softball |
| Family Travel | Science | | Gymnastics | Swimming |
| Geography | Video Games | | Hiking | Table Tennis |
| Geology | Weather | | Hockey | Tennis |
| Good Manners | Wildlife Conservation | | Horseback Riding | Ultimate |
| Heritages | | | Ice Skating | Volleyball |
There are three basic requirements to earn each belt loop. A scout must usually gain some basic knowledge of the area and do a related activity. For sports belt loops, if you have been part of a sports team, you have earned the belt loop. There are five additional in-depth requirements to earn the pin, such as learning history, interviewing experts, completing a project, and gaining more skills. If you are interested in any of the belt loops and/or pins, you can ask me for the complete requirements of any, or look online; one place to find requirements is: boyscouttrail.com/cub-scouts/acad-sports.asp.
