October 7th

Next week is our first pack meeting of they year at 6:00 at ISB.  I had planned on having a den meeting on that day as well, but I want to make sure if that will work for everyone.  I know its a lot of scouting for one day, but I think it could be fun. 

Does anyone have any objections or concerns about having a den meeting on the same day as the pack meeting?

Uniforms

I forgot to mention in my update that I distributed the Webelos uniforms at the meeting on Wednesday.  Allan and Adam left theirs on the bench, so I brought them back home with me.  I can either have Jacob bring them to school on Monday, or you can arrange to pick them up at the house.  I think Allan's bag also has his Webelos book. 

If there is any issue with the orders, please let me know and I can pass the information on. 

September 23rd Meeting Recap

Den 5 met today in ES Room 219. We reviewed some of the Webelos badge requirements together by playing a humorous trivia game.

Next we started on our citizenship achievements. We did not complete the Citizenship Badge requirement yet, as we will still need additional work at other meetings. Johnny spoke about citizenship, fulfilling one of the Communication badge requirements.

Finally, we started towards earning our Athletic badge. The Athletic badge takes some time, as it requires us to do some exercises and runs now, and then again in 30 days.

Here are some of the results from the boys efforts. I am not presenting this as one boy "winning". This is really about each boy improving as time goes on. The format is name/curlup(situps in 1 minute), pull ups, standing long jump (inches), quarter mile run, vertical jump (inches) 50 yard dash (seconds).

John 2, 1/2, 47", 2:47, 6", 10.9
Johnny P. 25, 1/2, 55.5", 1:59, 9", 10.2
Jacob 35, 1, 61", 1:49, 7", 9.5
Benjamin 19, 3/4, 52", 2:04, 7", 10.4
Allan 20, 1/4, 51", 2:47, 5", 9.9
Adam 25, 1/4, 47", 2:04, 6", 11.8

All the boys tried very hard, and definitely gave it their best.

Thanks to Michelle for assisting and bringing the snacks.

Sept 23rd Webelos Mtg - Rm 219 @ 3:30

Date: Wednesday, September 23rd
Time: 3:30 - 5:00 P.M.
Place:  ISB ES Room 219 (Ms. Bellone).  We will also go to the track and/or fields for part of the day.
Topics:  Work Towards Citizenship and Athletics Badges
What to Bring: 20 Baht Dues


Michelle, can you bring the snacks?

Webelos Books, Meeting & Citizenship

The Webelos books are in.  I believe that everyone has their except Allan and Adam.  I will have Jacob bring theirs to school on Monday. 

We will have a meeting on Wednesday at school.  I'll send the more details in a day or two.  We will do some work towards our Citizenship and Athletics badges, although we work on both more at a later meeting.

The Citizenship badge is required to earn the Webelos badge.  As the Cub Scouts are an American based organization, the material in the book has a definite American theme, talking about American leaders, flag and the national anthem.  As ISB is an international school, and many of the boys in the den have one or more parents from a country other than the U.S., I think it would be great that we include some of that in our citizenship activity.  To do that, however, I need a little help.

I would like each scout give a three minute talk about citizenship as it relates to their home country.  This would not only help towards the Citizenship badge, but also their Communications badge as well.  As this is short notice, I'll not expect all the scouts to be ready at this meeting.  If they are, they will be welcome to present.  If not, they can present at the next meeting.   

Den 5 Gets a Little Crazy

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Originally uploaded by eBv iMAGES

Den 5 Photos

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Originally uploaded by eBv iMAGES

The Den 5 Webelos

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Originally uploaded by eBv iMAGES

Photo From September 9th Meeting

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Originally uploaded by eBv iMAGES

September 9th Meeting Wrapup

Today we had our first meeting.  I would like to give a big asante (Swahili for thank you) to Allan's mother for helping us today. 

Below is a summary of the days activities:
 - Johnny Peters is the Denner for September
- Reviewed high level requirements for Webelos Badge
- Worked on our Webelos Badge Requirements 3, 5 and 7
- Completed Requirement 10 of our Communications Badge
- Completed the Requirements for our Handyman Badge

• Wash a Car
• Change a car tire
• Check the air pressure in car time and the oil level
• Change a light bulb
• Adjust a bicycle seat
• Make sure proper air pressure in a bike tire

- Last, of course, we had a snack. 

Congratulations to the boys on their accomplishment. 

Webelos Activity Badges

My goal this year is to target the following activity badges. 

Fitness *
Citizenship *
Handyman **
Athletic
Outdoorsman ***
Readyman
Communications
Scholar
Forester
Craftsman

We may add, subtract or change requirements as the year goes on depending on our progress, but I wanted to give you a notice of what we hope to accomplish.   

* Required for Webelos Badge
** Elective towards Webelos Badge
*** Will be required to attend the over night camp out.

Webelos Requirements Update

Webelos Badge Requirements

I want to follow up on the earlier post about the Webelos badge requirement.  The plan is for us to accomplish most requirements in the den meetings, but some of them are better suited for completion at home.  Below please find which we will accomplish in den, and which should be performed at home.

In the den:
2 - Be active Webelos for 3 months
3* - Learn Webelos Badge
4* - Learn Webelos Uniform
5 - Citizenship & Handyman Badge
6 - Flag Ceremony
7* - Learn about Boy Scouts

At home:
1 (parent guide)
5  ( Fitness achievement badge)
8 (Religion)

The first requirement specifically specifically involves direct parental involvement.  Most of the Fitness badge requirements involve a parent or adult family member, so it makes sense to do that at home.  The religious requirement is also much better suited for home achievement.

* Although we will work on these requirements (3, 4 and 7) during the meetings, scouts are encouraged to review the material at home so that we can spend den time on more "fun" activities.

September 9th Webelos Den 5 Meeting

Our first meeting will be on September 9th from 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at my home at 39/348 Nichada Villa.  We will be working on our Handyman activity badges. 

Your sons may want to bring a swimming suit, as we will be washing a car.  Also, please have them bring some older clothing, as we will be be getting dirty.  The activities will also include bike related handyman work, so the scouts should feel free to bring their bikes, although it is certainly not required.

Also, I would like to have each boy bring 20 baht per meeting in dues.  We will use the money towards a community service project.  I have an idea for it, but I need to do a little more follow up.  In any case, the Cub Scouts encourages that the boys earn the 20 baht by doing something around the house to earn it. 

Summary:
Time:  3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Date:  Wednesday, September 9th
Location: 39/348 Nichada Villa (compound before Casa)
Goals: Handyman Activity Badge requirements, 1 Requirement for Communications Badge
Bring:  20 baht, Old Clothes (strongly encouraged), Swim Suit(strongly encouraged), Bike (optional)

Webelos Web Site

Below is a web site with the virtual Webelos handbook.  It describes the requirements for the Webelos and activity badges.  It doesn't really replace the book, but its a nice online resource. 

http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/webelos.html

Assistant Leader Update

I want to thank everyone who has agreed to serve as an assistant on a per meeting basis.  I think this will work out fine, as the most important thing is to have someone else with the boys.  I have a few volunteers for the first meeting, so I chose the first who responded.  Don't worry, there will be other chances. 

September 9th    Shirley Ekay
September 23rd  Michelle Ong

There generally shouldn't be anything you need to do to prepare for the meeting, but in the odd case that you do, I'll send out notice in advance. 

Thanks again everyone!

Webelos Requirements

I know that everyone does not have their books yet, but I wanted to let everyone know what the requirements are for earning the Webelos badge.  We will cover much of these requirements in the meetings, but there are some family requirements.  I'll send some more details on what we will specifically cover in the meetings in the near future. 

The earliest any scout will be able to receive the Webelos badge is at the December meeting, as they are required to be an active member for three months.  My plan is to ensure that we meet all the "den" requirements well in advance of the December meeting.

Please also remember that it is not over after the scout earns the Webelos badge.  There are many activity badges that are available.  I will send out more details on which ones we plan on completing in our den meetings.  There may be some activities where we perform some of the requirements in the den, but a part might require some work at home.  
 

WEBELOS REQUIREMENTS

1. Have an adult member of your family read the Webelos Scout Parent Guide that comes with this book (Webelos Handbook, Pages 1-22) and sign here.
2. Be an active member of your Webelos den for 3 months (Active means having good attendance, paying den dues, working on den projects).
3. Know and explain the meaning of the Webelos badge.
4. Point out the three special parts of the Webelos Scout uniform. Tell when to wear the uniform and when not to wear it.
5. Earn the Fitness and Citizen activity badges and one other activity badge from a different activity badge group.
6. Plan and lead a flag ceremony in your den that includes the U.S. flag.
7. Show that you know and understand the requirements to be a Boy Scout.
   1. Demonstrate the Scout salute, Scout sign, and Scout handshake. Explain when you would use them.
   2. Explain the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan
   3. Explain and agree to follow the Outdoor Code.
8. Faith
   After completing the rest of requirement 8, do these (a, b, and c):
   1. Know: Tell what you have learned about faith.
   2. Commit: Tell how these faith experiences help you live your duty to God. Name one faith practice that you will continue to do in the future.
   3. Practice: After doing these requirements, tell what you have learned about your beliefs.

   And do one of these (d OR e):

   4. Earn the religious emblem of your faith*
   5. Do two of these:
      • Attend the mosque, church, synagogue, temple, or other religious organization of your choice, talk with your religious leader about your beliefs. Tell your family and your Webelos den leader what you learned.
      • Discuss with your family and Webelos den leader how your religious beliefs fit in with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, and what character-building traits your religious beliefs have in common with the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
      • With your religious leader, discuss and make a plan to do two things you think will help you draw nearer to God. Do these things for a month.
      • For at least a month, pray or meditate reverently each day as taught by your family, and by your church, temple, mosque, synagogue, or religious group.
      • Under the direction of your religious leader, do an act of service for someone else. Talk about your service with your family and Webelos den leader. Tell them how it made you feel.
      • List at least two ways you believe you have lived according to your religious beliefs.

Notes:

• If you earned your faith's religious emblem earlier in Cub Scouting, and your faith does not have a Webelos religious emblem, you must complete requirement 8e.
• Completion of requirement 8e does not qualify a youth to receive the religious emblem of his faith.
• Religious Emblems are listed in the Webelos Handbook, pages 68-69. (A list of the religious emblems available to Cub Scouts is available on the BSA website.  Click here to see them.)

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When a boy has completed all of these Webelos requirements, he has earned the right to wear the Webelos badge.

Bobcat Trail

The first badge that any scout earns, regardless of when they join is the Bobcat Badge.  A scout earns his Bobcat badge by completing the steps below.  The requirements really are pretty simple.  It is the Den and Pack leaderships hope that all new scouts complete the Bobcat trail in time for the scout to receive the Bobcat badge by the October meeting. 

I believe that we only have one boy, John, new to scouting.  I am going to ask my son Jacob, as well as any other Webelos to help John with this task.  We can review many of the steps at the first meeting, but part of requirement 1 and 8 must be completed at home with the family. 

If there are any questions about the requirements, or how we can support our new members, please feel free to send me an email at bvogel.public@gmail.com

THE BOBCAT TRACKS

To earn the Bobcat badge the boy must complete these eight tracks of Akela:

1. LEARN AND SAY THE CUB SCOUT PROMISE

   "I ____(name)____ promise to do my best
   To do my duty to God and my country,
   To help other people, and
   To obey the Law of the Pack."

   ... AND COMPLETE THE HONESTY CHARACTER CONNECTION.
   1. Know: Discuss these questions with your family. What is a promise? What does it mean to "keep your word?" What does honesty mean? What does it mean to "do your best?"
   2. Commit: Discuss these questions with your family. Why is a promise important? Why is it important for people to trust you when you give your word? When might it be difficult to keep your word? List examples.
   3. Practice: Discuss with family members why it is important to be trustworthy and honest and how can you do your best to be honest when you are doing the activities in Cub Scouting.

2. SAY THE LAW OF THE PACK. TELL WHAT IT MEANS.

   "The Cub Scout follows Akela.
   The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
   The pack helps the Cub Scout Grow.
   The Cub Scout gives goodwill. "

3. TELL WHAT "WEBELOS" MEANS.

   "WE'll BE LOyal Scouts"

4. SHOW THE CUB SCOUT SIGN. TELL WHAT IT MEANS.

5. SHOW THE CUB SCOUT HANDSHAKE. TELL WHAT IT MEANS.

6. SAY THE CUB SCOUT MOTTO. A MOTTO IS A RULE.

   The MOTTO is: "DO YOUR BEST. "

7. GIVE THE CUB SCOUT SALUTE. TELL WHAT IT MEANS.
   

8. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the parent's guide, "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse".

September Meetings

Based on the response that I received, I would like to have the meetings on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m.  The meetings for September will be as follows:

- September 9th at ISB (Room TBD)
- September 23rd at TBD

I may look to add a meeting on September 30th, but that is still up in the air. 

Over the next few days, I will be sending out more updates detailing not only what we will be doing for the first meeting, but throughout the year. 

Thanks for your support.  Remember, if you want to be an assistant leader, please let me know.