We learned about the native Michigan wildlife and how to help care for the nature all around us. We learned about the local flyways and what birds can be seen locally and how we can study them by keeping a bird-watching journal. We also learned how everything works together in harmony from the sun shining down on us, to the moss under our feet and the carrion on the side of the road. The boys had a great time learning through a lot of hands-on activities including making ‘paper’ out of wood pulp like a hornet and making bird feeders that can be easily replenished.

The boy’s who completed the Naturalist Pin are well on their way to completing the World Conservation Award. For this special achievement, they need to complete the Outdoorsman (which many have and some are working on) along with the Naturalist and the Forester Pins. We’ve been invited back to the Nature Center in the spring to complete our Forester Pin in another free program put on by the Huron -Clinton Metroparks.

Check out some photos from our day on Belle Isle! Visit:

The first is a simple Morse code translator. You type in your text and it comes out in Morse code! The link for that is: http://inter.scoutnet.org/morse/morseform.html 

The second is an audio translator. It will play back what you type in Morse code. It’s especially useful if you’ve already translated your text with scoutnet and can look at it as you list to it using this site: http://www.glassgiant.com/geek/morse/

On the 14th, many of our boys came out to help with the collection of the bags!  We collected many carloads worth of food donated by our generous neighbors. The collection site at Kroger in Garden City was busy and in all, we filled up two truckloads for Gleaner’s food bank. Ours was one of 13 sites that the Detroit Area Council had collecting donations. The estimate we’ve been given is that something like 6 tons of food was gathered in Garden City’s site alone!

We all know that times are tight at present for many of us, but generosity such as what was shone by our boys and neighbors is one of the things that makes this country so great! Thanks again for everyone’s time and efforts!

If you’d like to see the photo album of our Pack’s efforts during Scouting for Food, just click here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=35484&l=6cc8767e16&id=1541610940

The boys (and their families!) got to shoot BB rifles at the range and earned their Junior Rifleman patches. Everyone also made their very own bow and arrow sets out of PVC pipe, dowels and pool noodles! It was hilarious watching everyone take aim with their bows! Some laws of physics were discussed and many rockets, fueled by sodium bicarbonite tablets, were launched high in the air!

We all stretched our legs and practiced the principles of Leave No Trace when we went for a three-mile-hike on the Pedro Trail. Even hiking a relatively short distance, we collected a small garbage bag full of refuse that didn’t belong in the Great Outdoors!

In the late afternoon, we enjoyed a hayride that turned into a race! We ‘beat’ the other wagon and it was an exciting (and very bumpy!) ride around most of the vast campground!

We had a great time with family, friends, food and fellowship! Saturday night we had a good old-fashioned campfire and had a sing-a-long. Sunday, we concluded our time together by having a Scout’s Own service before camp was dismissed.

So, the next time we have a family camp, be sure to sign up so you don’t miss out on all the fun!

Here’s a link to the Photo Album:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27754&id=1541610940&l=73708b50d0  Be sure to check it out!

It was a very blustery day- so much so that the boys nearly were able to let the boats compete without their aid! Once we relocated the ‘gutters’ out of the direct wind, all was (relatively) smooth sailing! For those who are unfamiliar with how the Regatta works, the boys set their boats in a channel of raingutter and they ‘race’ the boats by using a straw to blow onto the sail and propel the boat forward as fast as they can. It’s a lot of fun both to participate in and watch this challenging race!  

The boys enjoyed the competition and a pizza luncheon with their families. We are so pleased to see all the support that our families give to the Cubs and hope we can have many more events like this in the future!

In addition to the Raingutter Regatta and the annual Pinewood Derby, we are looking to also ‘blast off’ with a Space Derby as well! 

Thanks!   -Akela

Thanks everyone for making the Raingutter Regatta tremendous fun for all!

http://scouting.org/Parent.aspx

In 2010, BSA will celebrate it’s hundredth anniversary of Scouting in the United States and there’s a lot of neat things to explore on Scouting’s heritage and goals for the future.  Check out what’s going on for the 100th Anniversary at:

 http://scouting.org/100years/100years/ 

All of our Scout leaders have been trained in accordance with BSA guidelines so that we can provide a safe environment to help develop the character of tomorrow’s leaders.  

You, too, can help by taking a few minutes and taking the Youth Protection training online at:

 http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection/CubScout.aspx 

Thanks again for all your support! We couldn’t put on  aprogram without you!

The chief area we serve is the Douglas Elementary School population, but any eligible boys are welcome to join us!

We generally hold Den Meetings at Douglas Elementary School.

The school is located at 6400 Hartel St, Garden City, MI 48135

Our Charter Organization (the group that sponsors us with Boy Scouts of America) is Garden City Presbyterian Church. 

Garden City Presbyterian Church
1841 Middlebelt Rd.
Garden City Michigan 48135

http://www.gardencitypresbyterian.org/

If you have a son, nephew, Godson or grandson that is interested in Scouting-  please contact us at:   gardencitypack764@yahoo.com                                                                         and our Cubmaster can get you all the information you need!

Thank you for allowing us to serve the community by providing Scouting opportunities for our Boys!

Thanks!    -Akela 

Some of training events for the next year include: New Leader Essentials, Leader Specific Training, University of Scouting, Baloo, Jungle Book, Wood Badge and Leave No Trace.

These events are not only informative, but also a great way to meet others who are in the same position.

Help your Den be successful- Get Trained!