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CUB SCOUT PACK 268 NEWS &
INFO 8/9/09
Hello Pack, The time is near for our exciting overnight stay aboard the "Gray Ghost" so pack your things and gear up for an experience like those who served aboard her! For those of you who are going next weekend I have included some info and a map to get there (please read and printout). "Now Hear This" Parents please go over the inclosed rules with the scouts. There will be no running aboard the ship. There will be no tolerance for running, a bump that might be of no consequence at home can result in a real injury aboard the ship! The ship is made of steel and the deck is painted with a mixture of paint and rough ground sand or something similar to create a non slip surface and does a real good job of removing skin from knees and palms. The door levers that can be found at every door are off limits they are referred to as "dogs" do not play with the door levers. We will all meet on the pier (pier 3) right by the boarding ramps somewhere. We will meet at 4:00 pm sharp, at this time we will take a head count and go over changes. If you don't know where the hornet is and you will be using a map please plan extra time for the unexpected.
Prepare for fun one of a kind experience. Being able to walk around, explore and sleep overnight on an aircraft carrier is exciting, kind of like the first time you got to sleep overnight at a buddies house! From the moment we board to the moment we hit the racks (bed) to sleep we will be on the go touring the ship and having dinner. The whole experience is fast paced no time to sit and socialize. There are pictures and a story on the pack website if you would like to look at them feel free (see below). See you at the pier! Allen T. Cubmaster
5/12/09 USS Hornet Overnighter August 15, 2009, Sign-up Deadline June 5, 2009
I would like to remind everyone of the June 5th deadline to sign up for the USS Hornet Overnighter in August. If you are interested in going, I will need your commitment and payment to secure reservations aboard the ship As of our last den meeting, I have an easel set up with a display board that contains all the pertinent information regarding the trip, including photos. The display board will be available at all upcoming den and pack meetings so everyone will get a chance to look it over. You can also check out the photos of last summer's Hornet Overnighter posted on our website at www.cubpack268.org. Here are the requirements: Participants must be 5 yrs or older. The cost is $60.00 per participants regardless of age. Only immediate family members are allowed to attend due to BSA insurance coverage. Siblings are OK if 5 yrs or older (also $60.00). One adult is required for every youth member age 9 and younger in accordance with the required 1:1 ratio. Otherwise, one adult is required for every six boys age 10 and older.
The arrangements: The group will meet on the pier at 4:00 PM Saturday, August 15th, in the former Alameda Naval Air Station where the USS Hornet is moored. Participants will carry all gear from the parking lot to the pier (200 yards max). From there we will wait for the Hornet crew to meet with us. Then we will board just as the Navy sailors do, carrying our own gear (pack light) up the gangplank then eventually two or three decks below the aircraft hanger. They will feed us dinner Saturday evening and breakfast Sunday morning. We will tour the ship Saturday after going over the rules and stowing our gear in our bunks. The adults will be assigned night watch in groups of two for one two-hour shift during the night. The next morning we will have an early wake-up call and will have to be out of bed and up three decks ready for inspection with all of our belongings lined up in the aircraft hanger within fifteen minutes time (breath mints might be better than toothpaste for lack of time!). Breakfast will be right after inspection, and since we are a Cub Scout Pack, our group will probably serve breakfast for the whole ship. The program ends at 9:30 AM, at which time you will be free to leave. However, you might want to stick around a little longer -- the flight simulator and ship store open at 10:00 AM. That's the program in a nutshell. Keep in mind that the
program is conducted in a fun-spirited, navel-organization
manner. Falling in, stowing your gear, and following orders
are all a part of the experience! Exploring a Navy aircraft
carrier and sleeping overnight in the original bunks is
something the average citizen wouldn't ordinarily get to do.
I hope to see the whole pack attend this overnight experience. The Scouts will love it and remember it forever. Please see my display board for more info. Additional information will be passed along as we finalize the trip. Important note to Webelos parents regarding the summer schedule: If you plan to have your Webelos scout attend Webelos Adventure Camp in August as well as the Hornet Overnighter, please choose the first session of Webelos camp (Aug 3 - 8) to avoid the schedule conflict with the Hornet trip and the second session of camp (Aug 10 - 15). Thanks and stay tuned, Allen T. Cubmaster Pack 268 7/13/09 Cub Cruise 7/18/09 - Map and Driving Directions PDF Here are the driving directions for the cub cruise. Please remember to bring a sweat shirt or coat the mornings are cold on the bay. Also you may bring a snack and a bottle of water, the ordeal may last two hours. We will meet on the wharf in Redwood City at 7:30 and board at 8:00 am sharp! Refer to the Map and Driving Directions PDF for the details. Look forward to seeing you all there Thanks. Allen T.
5/28/09 2009 ''Cub Cruise'' Sign-Up Now!
The cost of the Cub Cruise is $20.00 per person and includes the 45 minute ride to the San Mateo bridge and back, a Sea Scout activity patch, and lunch afterwards (regular or vegetarian hot dog and a water). The activity is open to all of our Cub Scouts and their families. In the past, infants have been allowed, and the ship will have life vests available for all. It is suggested to bring a warm coat, snack, drink and camera. There will be plenty of free parking. Lunch will be served in the grassy area as we disembark the boat, so you may wish to bring a blanket to spread out to sit and eat on. Please plan to arrive early, as the route to the pier can be confusing. Seaport Blvd becomes two independent roads parallel to each other and separated by a narrow median of shrubs at a point at or just after Seaport Ct where a stop light is located. You'll need to veer left to the business side of Seaport Blvd then to Henry A Beeger Rd. We will be parking in the open area in front of wharf #5 along the fence. (Wharf #5 is directly parallel to Sidney D Kerkner Rd.) From there we will walk up to the wharf and board the ship. Last year's cruise (see photos at our Pack website) was aboard the SSS Challenger, formerly the Coast Guard cutter, ''Cape Jellison'', now operated by Sea Scout Ship 145 of Redwood City. (Sea Scouts are a special division of Boy Scouts of America, especially devoted to developing maritime skills.) The ship is 95 feet in length with a mass of 105 displacement tons It has an aluminum hull, and cruises at 20 knots or approximately 23 miles per hour. Prepare to explore the vessel when we cast off. The crew will lead tours of the engine room, wheel house and other areas while underway. Please share this e-mail and our Pack website www.cubpack268.org with your Scout and encourage him to explore the website. This is a great way to become more familiar with the Pack as well as the computer and internet! Thanks ======================================================= 6/8/09 Graduation Campout at Arroyo Flats Group Camp, Garin Park, Hayward, CA
Back to the subject of camping! As you know we are camping at Arroyo Flats Group Camp at nearby Garin Park. This should be convenient for those who can t stay overnight. There was a map hand-out made available at this last Friday's den meeting. We will post it on the Pack website for those who still need one (see info packet PDF here). It also has a list of what to bring attached, which is a great tool to check off when packing. I use it all the time. If you have not signed up with Jo Hendee, you need to do so soon, as we need the head-count for food shopping. There is also a $10.00 charge to help offset the cost of the campsite. If you wish, you may volunteer to purchase various items and be in charge of bringing them to camp (just contact Jo).
We also distributed a revised grad camp hand-out outlining some changes that were made, which will also be posted on the website (see info packet PDF here). There will be no potluck lunch as previous planned...sorry! For those of you interested in hiking, we will have a hike that will start at 10:00 AM. Before or after the hike, the visitor center and blacksmith shop may be open for a tour. You may bring your fishing pole to fish with your Scout during our free time. Adults will need a fishing pass and license. Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM and the adults will be cooking. At 7:00 PM, the graduation ceremony and campfire program will begin. At this point, class "A" uniforms are required for all Scouts and registered adult leaders. After the ceremony and campfire program are complete, we will have a night hike and "Cracker Barrel" (fellowship time that includes a before-bedtime snack) where Wolf Den 1 (actually Bear Den 1 by then!) will share some fresh-baked dutch oven treats On the menu are "almost pumpkin pie", peach cobbler and a mystery cobbler. And of course we'll have all the fixins for S'mores, as well as hot and cold beverages. In the morning I hope to see Webelos Den 4 cooking breakfast to take advantage of the opportunity to fulfill a requirements needed for the Arrow of Light. They can also fulfill another requirement towards Arrow of Light if they pitch the tent they will be sleeping in, on their own with minimal help from mom and dad, and sleep in it overnight.
This camp-out is one of the most exciting activities for the Scouts. The younger Scouts can explore and the older Scouts can learn about campfires, outdoor cooking, etc., and all will learn Scoutcraft. Being outdoors in the fresh air under the stars can't be beat. Fellowship, story-telling and perhaps some songs/skits at the campfire is what it's all about! (By the way, I'm looking for volunteers to tell a story or two during campfire.) Finally, when you arrive at the park, you will need to park your vehicles in the loop to the left of the entrance, then walk to the campsite or call one of the leaders for the key to the gate. Once the gate is open, drive to the campsite, unload your gear, then bring your vehicle back to the lot before setting up camp. We are allowed to have only two vehicles unloading at the same time. Two leader's vehicles will occupy those two spots overnight, but we'll make them available again the morning when it's time to load up. I've attached a few pictures of our campsite to this email. Two show the fire pit and picnic tables, and the other shows where the tents will be set up. Look forward to camping with you all! Allen Tarnowski ======================================================= 5/21/09
Our pack will be participating in the placement of flags at the graves of our country's fallen service members this Saturday, May 23rd. This will be a joint venture with Boy Scout Troop 168 and Cub Scout Pack 815. These two groups have a connection just as we do with Troop 110. We will meet at Chapel of the Chimes memorial park just past the Union City line at 32992 Mission Blvd in Hayward, 94544. Our contact is Allison Rodman (510) 471-3363. We will meet in the main parking lot (in the gate just past the building on the left) at 9:00 AM sharp. If you don't know the place or route plan to arrive early. After we gather, we will enter the main building at 9:00 AM with the other scout group to receive instructions and go over flag etiquette, etc. Danishes and other goodies will be served at this time. Once fed and properly oriented, we will walk in groups as the scouts poke holes in the ground at individual grave sites and insert the flags. We should be done by 12:30 PM. Class "A" uniform is required. This is a service project -- the scouts will receive an activity patch and be signed off for their service. This type of activity is what scouting is really about -- service to others, exploring the outdoors, and conservation! Depending on how this event goes, I am thinking of making it a regular yearly event. I like that it is local and we can make connections in our community. In the past the pack has participated with Troop 110 at the Golden Gate Cemetery in San Bruno. As Cubmaster, I feel we should try to remain local. If there is interest in continuing the San Bruno trip we can look at that. On a personal note, my family has hallowed ground at Chapel of the Chimes, and I served there as a Boy Scout in 1982, directing traffic and planting flags. For me it is more than volunteering my service to others -- it brings me closer to my family and allows me to fulfill two passions in my life at the same time. Now for the adults and Boy Scouts only: There is an opportunity to assist the other Scout Troop. They had asked me if I could round up adult volunteers to help out with directing traffic in the park on Monday, May 25th from 10:30 AM to about 2:00 PM. They volunteered to do this, and have been doing so for 20 years, but this year fell short on help. If we have willing adults to help that would be great. Every adult should have a pack t-shirt at the least, and for our regular leaders the class ''A'' uniform is required. Thank you and look forward to serving with you! Allen Tarnowski ======================================================= 1/23/09 ======================================================= 1/22/09 ======================================================= 1/1/09 Pinewood Derby Car Building
Demonstrations ======================================================= 12/20/08 12/20/08 ======================================================= 12/10/08 ======================================================= 12/7/08 ======================================================= 11/14/08 ======================================================= 11/2/08 ======================================================= 10/28/08 ======================================================= 10/22/08 ======================================================= 10/19/08 ======================================================= 10/18/08 ======================================================= 8/18/08 ======================================================= 8/31/08 |
USS
Hornet Trip, August 15-16, 2009
What
to bring? I recommend packing light, a sleeping bag, pillow,
tea shirt to sleep in and breath mints or gum, camera,
bottle of water for the night, flashlight to find the
bathroom at night, and a light jacket for the bay breeze
when we walk from the flight deck to the flight control
tower at 10:00 at night on our tour. If you can get all this
in a day pack (school book bag or back pack) it would be
ideal, that way all you carry is a rolled up sleeping bag
under your arm the pack on your back and a free hand for
your camera or the hand rail! Avoid bringing so much stuff
you and your scout can't carry it aboard. We will be walking
and carrying our gear up and down steep stairways called
"Ladders" to our bunks where we will leave it behind. The
next time you will be reunited with your gear you will be
unpacking it at 11:00 pm to sleep in it! Don't bring
anything valuable, and no electronic devices (see general
info sheet). There is also a list of what to bring. Keep in
mind at seven in the morning we will have fifteen minutes to
roll up your sleeping bag and pack your gear and walk it up
to the hanger deck and fall in for breakfast with a great
sense of urgency. So if you require more time to prepare
your self in the morning and want to fight the brush your
teeth line at the sinks you need to get yourself up before
then. This was a great surprise for me last year and I would
like to prepare you for it. It is just like the
military.
Hello
Pack 268
What
to bring: A pillow, sleeping bag, extra blanket (in cold
weather only), toiletries, hand towel, bottled water,
flashlight, and jacket. Scouts and adult leaders should wear
their class "A" uniform's. Also, if you have a particular
diet you may bring your own food. (There is a sample menu
posted on my display board.)
But
we have the opportunity to do just that--not only on a
magnificent and historic, steam-powered vessel that carried
aircraft, nuclear weapons and Navy personnel all over the
world, but also on the very ship that recovered the Apollo
11 and 12 astronauts when they returned from the moon in
1969 (the space capsules are displayed on board!). The ship
also has nice views of the bay and surrounding areas, making
for great photo opportunities. The view of San Francisco
from the ship's fantail is particularly good, especially at
nighttime.
We
now have the date! The 2009 Cub Cruise is scheduled for
Saturday, July 18th at 8 AM, at the Port of Redwood City. I
will need all sign-ups completed and monies collected by the
close of our den meetings on Friday, June 5th. (This is also
the cut off date for USS Hornet sign-ups.) Sign-up sheets
will be located on one of the back tables in the
multi-purpose room during tomorrow night's den meetings as
well as the June 5th den meetings. On the Cub Cruise
sign-up, be sure to indicate your lunch preference (reg hot
dog or veg dog). Your payment--a check written to Pack 268,
or cash in the exact amount--should be placed in an envelope
marked with the names of the participants from your family
and what it is for (ex: Hornet, Cub Cruise, Den Dues, etc.)
and inserted through the slot in Pack ammo can" (till)
located next to the sign-up sheet (envelope may need to be
folded to fit in slot).
Here
we are at the end of our program year and it seems the
summer will be just as busy...which is great! Our Pack
probably has one of the highest-quality summer programs of
all! I have been with the Pack for two years now and have
seen the changes. I have to say the Pack has changed
dramatically since my first year. As I bump into other
leaders at trainings and such. I am constantly told we have
one of the largest Cub Scout packs in Union City. Personally
I feel we have a small pack as compared to the past when Jay
was Cubmaster and the Pack had over 50 Scouts! I think
Scouting just isn't as popular now as it was in the past. I
tell you this because you the parents and Scouts are what is
bringing this Pack back to what it once was! It makes me
feel great to see all of you pulling together and helping
out and volunteering. I hope you sense the ownership of the
Pack as I do. The quality in the Pack is its participants
making it something it was not. So thank all of you for
being a part it!
Each
family will need to bring a tent. The Pack, unlike the Boy
Scouts, has no tents in its inventory to loan out. It is
always the family's responsibility to provide one. However,
some of us may have extra tents to loan. You can check
around with the Pack leaders and other families for one or
you may purchase one from Big-5, Walmart, Sport Authority,
etc. Don't get one bigger than you need. And for a good
night of sleep, be sure to have a good pad to sleep on, a
comfortable sleeping bag, a pillow, and an extra blanket.
(You might even want to bring ear plugs in case of
loud-snoring tent neighbors!)
We
will need all families to help out by monitoring their own
Scouts in between the leader-run activities. We will have
areas set up for them to run all they want but in camp there
is no running, yelling or horseplay. This is important so
the leaders can relax a little and not be constantly in
charge.
Cub
Scouts Memorial Day Flag Placement on
Saturday