DEN & PACK ACTIVITIES[1]

Happenings or activities are the spark that make a den and pack really special and the envy of all the others. The extra effort involved is well worth the investment as the group's enthusiasm grows. Recruiting becomes easier when a Cub Scout tells his friends all the neat things his Cub Scout pack is doing. Parents will want to be involved when activities are planned that are fun and exciting.

A successful activities program depends on all den and pack leaders and families working together. The single most important word for a smoothly run program is PLANNING. Careful planning of pack and den activities will generate enthusiasm for unit leaders, parents and boys; an important factor for all the people "who make the pack go."

The secret for Cub Scout den activities is the wise use of the monthly theme. The theme is simply an idea or emphasis around which den and pack leaders plan activities for the Cub Scout dens to do from one pack meeting to the next. The theme idea simplifies the planning of den and pack meetings. It gives each den a focus for its work and play during the month and brings them all together at the monthly meeting with skits, stunts, and handicrafts all related to a single theme. If the dens are active during the month, an interesting and entertaining pack meeting is the natural result.

The monthly themes planned for 2008-2009 are:[2]

·         December 2008 – Holiday Lights
Dec 3-Settle Popcorn A/C, Christmas Party Dec 20 (Saturday), NO PACK MEETING

• January 2009 – A-MAZE-ing Games
  Jan 10 re-charter Meeting, 27 Pack Meeting 7pm
• February 2009 – American ABCs
  Feb 1-Scout Sunday (Charles Carpenter, Chaplain), 7-Pinewood Derby 8am followed by Blue & Gold Banquet (covered dish), NO PACK Mtg
• March 2009 – When I Grow Up
  Mar 17-District Volunteer Recognition Dinner, 21-Training, 27-29-Scout Adventures, 31-Pack Meeting 7pm
• April 2009 – Jurassic Park
  Apr 25-Animal Wildlife Center, 4-BALOO Training, 28-Pack Meeting 7pm
• May 2009 – Leave Nothing But Footprints
  May 26-Graduation 7pm
• June 2009 – A Camping We Will Go
  Jun 6-Fishing at Brailey Pond
• July 2009 – Be A Sport
  Jul 4-Flag Retirement @ Gypsy Hill Park 5pm, 11-12 Cub Family Camp Weekend #1, 20-25 Cub Family Camp Weekend #2
• August 2009 – Fun in the Sun
  2-5 Webelos Camp #1, 5-8 Webelos Camp #2, 27-District School Night (recruiting) 6-8pm

Summer Adventures

This is a great time where people can move about freely in our area. Other areas of the country are not now so fortunate with tornadoes and floods. Scouts have lost their lives in spring’s freakish weather. Colorado and Iowa have lost children enjoying scouting activities. Scouting is not without risk. Growing children need all the protection we can afford. That’s why inviting them to participate in a program that will prepare them to deal with nature’s worst as well as best equips them for the realities of life. And the program teaches us as well.

Going to the Roundtable I picked up Pack 122’s planning packet. The scouting program year begins in September. Rechartering the units begins September as well. To have an effective program, we have to begin now to plan for next year’s scouting adventure. What is an adventure, anyway?

Ask the pack as it went to the RoanokeScienceMuseum, a 175-mile round trip, in June. About 13 boys went. Ask what their experiences were. Ask the troop and pack as about 15 boys attend the July 4 Celebration at GypsyHillPark. They will be in a Flag Retirement Ceremony at 5:45 pm (17:45 hours). Or ask a pack member when it attends a cookout at BryanLake near Churchville. These are the planned pack/troop activities. Other activities are available to adults and scouts alike. All the scouts have to do is show up in uniform. And the events will be FREE!

Have a wonderful summer! MikeFallin, Hebron’s Scouting Representative.

Summer Activity Ideas for Valley District
June through August 2008

July 4 -    Frontier Culture Museum 6:00 – 8:00 pm (FREE) Flag Retirement @ 5:45 pm. Fireworks in GypsyHillPark – Part of the July 4th celebration

July 12-13 – Cub Family Weekend – Session #1 at CampShenandoah.  Take the entire Pack and enjoy a weekend of activities.  (Information on Council website:  www.bsa-sjac.org)

July 12- 13 – Extravangza in the Park – Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro.  Lots of activities with fireworks on Sunday evening 

July 14-18 – Twilight Camp at WayneHillsBaptistChurch.  Each evening from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm (Open to all Tigers Cubs, Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts – Information on Council website:  www.bsa-sjac.org)

July 20 -   Staunton Braves vs. Covington (FREE) Come out with your unit flag and participate in the opening ceremonies.  All in uniform get in free!

July 26-28 - Cub Family Weekend – Session #2 at CampShenandoah.  Take the entire Pack and enjoy a weekend of activities.  (Information on Council website:  www.bsa-sjac.org.

July 26 – Sweet Dreams Festival in Stuarts Draft.  Lots of activities and food!

August 5-9 – AugustaCounty Fair

August 16 – Eastside Speedway Scout Night – Come out and enjoy a picnic at the reserved pavilion and enjoy the race from 4:00 – 6:00 pm.  Entrance is free for scouts, Adults $12 each and youth 11 and under free as well.

August 16 & 17 – Jousting Festival at Natural Chimneys

August 27- 30 – HighlandCounty Fair

Staunton Area Activities

Friday NiteFlix at GypsyHillPark Bandstand:

• July 18 – The Bee Movie (Rated PG)
• August 1 – Shrek the Third (Rated PG)
• August 15 – BEATLES Night

Music at Gypsy Hill Park BANDSTAND:

• Mondays @ 8:00 pm - Stonewall Brigade Band
• Tuesdays @ 7:45 pm - Praise in the Park
• Wednesdays @ 8:00 pm - Wednesday Night Blue Grass
• Thursdays @ 8:30 pm - Jazz in the Park

For more information and events, check out:

Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce website:  http://www.augustachamber.org/area_calendar_of_events.html

Staunton Recreation and Parks Department website:

http://www.staunton.va.us (click on recreation)