Pack Meeting - Advancements

Reminder:  Pack Meeting - Tomorrow at 6:30 at Brown's Valley School.  Wear your uniforms and if you have your Tiger emblems with your beads wear that (Leo, you will get an emblem after you are presented with your Bobcat award).  I will try to bring extra beads for those of you who may have lost some of your beads.  You should all now have 5 white, 5 black, and 5 orange. 

 

During the pack meeting, all the cubs who have earned their tiger badge, will receive the mark of the tiger and an advancement card. You will not be receiving the actual badge at the meeting, but will get one as soon as more come in (I turned advancements in late and Den 14 is also getting their tiger badges so there are quite a few tigers receiving their badges). 

 

Everyone has worked very hard for this and they should be very proud - both parents and cubs.

 

Our newest Den member, Leo has earned his Bobcat and should receive the mark of the Bobcat and his badge.  Great work.

 

I am very bad at remembering to take pictures, so if someone can try and get some pictures of the cubs receiving their mark of the tiger, that would be great. 

 

See you tomorrow.

 

Fred Zilz

Tiger Den 12

Reminder: GoSeeIt - Bank Tour

Reminder: GoSeeIt - Bank Tour

 

Saturday April 10 at 2:00 pm is a GoSeeIt at Wells Fargo Bank across from the Nugget on Browns Valley rd.  Laura L Wellman, Joseph's Grandma is going to give us a tour and tell us all about how a bank works.  This is a Tiger Cub elective and should be very interesting, and fun.

 

Please send me a note to let me know if you will make it to this event or not.

 

Fred Zilz

Tiger Den 12

Take Flight - Travis Air Force Base

A huge thank you to John Vito for setting up an absolutely wonderful Saturday.   From the planning through the entire days events it was quite an experience that the cubs nor parents will forget.  While waiting for everyone to arrive at the Travis Air Force Base visitors center, Major John Vito taught the cubs to stand at attention and ran them through a uniform inspection, the boys all passed though a couple were reminded to hide the remains of their breakfast from their uniforms and faces.  We were then taken to the C5 simulator building, where each of the cubs and their parents had the incredible opportunity to sit in the pilots seat and fly the C5.  John sat in the co-pilots seat and guided each person through the controls and what they needed to do to successfully take off and land.
One pilot successfully landed even when one of the 4 engines was lost, another pilot did an instrument landing until they broke through cloud cover at 200 feet.   The simulator was absolutely incredible.  And for the individuals in the simulator waiting their turn to pilot, John arranged for a flight engineer to be on board showing what they do and explaining all of the controls on his console as well as providing great facts about the plane and its operation and maintenance.   The Cubs not on the simulator (we rotated) were busy making paper airplanes and flying them outside at the picnic area where Rob Epperson provided snacks and waters - Thank you Rob.  

Following our simulator experience, we all went over to Public Affairs where the cubs learned how public affairs communicates with large numbers of individuals.  The cubs learned that Newspapers, Signs, Internet, Social Media, Radio and Television are all used on the base to get information out.  The two individuals who gave the presentation were extremely friendly and helpful.  Again we could not have asked for a better experience.   They even had some candy, fruit, and a booklet with postcards of different Air Force aircraft for the cubs to take with them.

And if that was enough, we walked across the yard and spent some time at the Air Force museum.  Where the cubs burned some energy and learned even more.  I don't think there would be a better way to celebrate the theme of "Take Flight".

I am sure the Cubs had a wonderful time that they will remember for a good long while, and I know I thoroughly enjoyed my time and have been talking about the simulator non stop since my visit - it was just (air)plane fun.

Don't forget tomorrow night (3/16/10) the pack meeting is at 6:00 pm at Brendan Theater in Vacaville - See you there.

http://picasaweb.google.com/fredrick.zilz/TakeFlightTravisAirForceBase?feat=directlink

Fred Zilz

Tiger Den 12

Bowling belt loop here we come

Ok, we are booked for Friday night March 5th at 7:00 pm at Stars in Vacaville.  We will work with our Tiger Cubs to complete the requirements for the Bowling Belt Loop.

 

Bowling Belt Loop Requirements

Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts may complete requirements in a family, den, pack, school, or community environment. Tiger Cubs must work with their parents or adult partners. Parents and partners do not earn loops or pins.

Complete these three requirements:

1. Explain to your leader or adult partner the rules of courtesy and safety for bowling.
2. Show how to pick out a ball of proper weight and with finger holes that fit your hand.
3. Play a complete game with your family or den.

 

Also we will be learning the rules for bowling and watching an amature game or sporting event which should satisfy our Tiger Cub requirement 3G.

 

See you there.  Note:  this will take the place of our meeting that week so there will not be a den meeting on Tuesday March 2nd.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Fred Zilz

Tiger Den 12

Wow - the best Den Meeting yet

First on behalf of the Dads (there did not happen to be any Moms there last night), thank you Mike.  I am sure the cubs enjoyed the tour of the fire station, engines, and the fire safety lessons and demonstrations, but the Dads really enjoyed the up close view of the fire engines, the information about the equipment, etc.  (I learned last night the difference between a fire engine and a fire truck).  Pictures. If you have pictures, please send them to me, and I will add them to this album.   

We opened with the pledge of the alllegiance, saluting the flag at the top of the fire station.  Then Mike Duggan began an excellent program, explaining about the fire fighters equipment, demonstrating a smoke detector and the importance of changing the batteries, and provided instructions on what to do in an emergency.  The cubs learned how to get out of their house, to test doors for heat and to stay low under the smoke, "low and go".  The Cubs pretended to be watching TV (which they were amazingly good at), when the smoke detector went off, they found the exit and Mike setup some blankets across the hallway exit which the boys crawled under and out.  They met outside and everyone was safe.

The cubs completed another step (well step and a half) toward their Tiger Badges.  They also completed two electives (27 & 28) - note: parents, you may want to discuss 27 more with your cubs - we touched the basic what to do if there is an emergency at home - but the elective also includes discussion of what to do if "The adult who is caring for you becomes ill" & if  "You are alone with someone who makes you feel uncomfortable" - we discussed calling / talking to parent, teacher, etc. as well as dialing 911 for emergencies. 

If you were not at the meeting last night, be sure to let me know when you have completed the requirement of going to a firestation or policestation and asking the question of how the fireman or policemen help people in the community.  (note: if you do not get this done prior to our March visit to the airforce base, you can accomplish this requirement by asking the same question there (perhaps asking someone like John Vito.).   Also we completed the last step of the Citizenship belt loop.  I will bring the poster to the next meeting on the 9th, and we will briefly talk about the poster - so if you were not at last nights meeting - you can participate in that discussion on the 9th and still get the belt loop or make your own poster and bring it to share.

Next Den meeting - 2/9/2010- we will be handing out belt loops which were previously earned (like the ones presented at the pinewood derby), as well as two new beads, just earned (2G and 3F).  We will also begin work on the Blue and Gold Dinner decorations - I am thinking a tiered birthday cake (not real cake) decorated with craft projects we have already done.  I think we should be able to come up with a good way to make candles for the cake and perhaps as neck slides - theme for the month is Happy Birthday BSA.

I forgot to get a count from everyone for the Blue & Gold dinner.  Please either let me know by email, or give me that information on the 9th, along with a dollar per person attending.  (please someone remind me next week to get this done).

I will be turning in advancement information next tuesday, so if anyone has any belt loops or pins that they have completed outside of what we have done at den meetings, please let me know. List of Belt Loops and Pins. 

What do we have left - if you completed 2G and 3F then the remaining requirements for Tiger badge are "Learn the rules of a game or sport. Then, go watch an amateur or professional game or sporting event" & "Visit a television station, radio station, or newspaper office. Find out how people there communicate with others."  We plan to visit the communications office at the airforce base when we are there in March to complete this requirement.

Lastly, I need to get together the information required for our Tour Permit for the Airforce base visit in March - again someone please remind me to get this at our den meetings: For everyone who will be going I need First and Last name of driver, Driver's California Driver's License Number, Insurance Liability coverage amounts: Per person, Per Accident, Property Damage
 
Example:  Fred Zilz, U0000001, Per Person = $100K, Per Accident = $300K, Property Damage = $50K.

This is required for our Tour Permit, even if we are all driving our own cars and meeting there (which we will be).  You can gather the information and bring it to a den meeting or email it to me.

Thanks again Mike

Fred Zilz

Tiger Den 12

Jan 26th - Den Meeting

Another grrrreat den meeting last night.  Daniel, J.P., and Ben opened with a pledge of allegiance, followed by a quick game of trying to throw a Frisbee in to a circle marked on the floor.   J.P. won and received a Tiger cap to wear.  The cubs all built small wooden race cars.  They glued them together then broke for a few minutes of crab races, etc..  The boys then created whatever colors they wanted starting with the three primary colors (red, blue, yellow).   For the cubs who did not make it, please go through with them; their primary colors, what materials can be used to make works of art (any material really - paper, canvas, wood, paint, etc.) and that when drawing or painting lines, circles, curves, colors and/or textures can be used.  We have discussed this on several occasions, so I am confident that all the cubs have already participated in / been exposed to these topics one or more times; and therefore have all had their names turned in to get their "art" belt loops.  The cubs were very creative in painting their cars, and seemed to have a lot of fun.  We discussed the fact that we are working on our citizenship belt loops, now.  I handed out charts for them to do at home (list jobs down the left side, days of week across the top.  So that they can write down a list of jobs they will do for a week, and then mark each day that they did what they agreed to do and are "good citizens" in their family.  For the cubs who were not there, I can get you a chart or you can make one at home - does not matter how you do it, just that each of the cubs learn about doing their part for their family, by agreeing to do some jobs and recording how they do for a week.

Pinewood Derby is Sunday at Elmira Fire station.  We need to get their at 9:30 am as we are the greeters for this event.

Next Den meeting will be Tuesday, Feb 2nd at 7:00 pm at Mike Duggan's fire station: Station 67 Cantelow -  4135 Cantelow Road, Vacaville (Mike, correct me if I am wrong).   Try to have a family fire drill before this meeting, so when asked the boys can say "yes, I know what to do in case of a fire" at their house.   Also, we will be making a poster of what citizenship means (being a good citizen).  Bring clippings from newspaper, magazines, etc - so that we can do a collage on a poster board.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. 

Also there have been a couple requests from Joel, who is organizing the Pinewood Derby, for volunteers to help setup and take down - He is starting at 7:00 am to setup, lots of chairs, tables, etc. and will also need people at the end to clean-up. If you can arrive early or stay late, let me know and I will pass your name to Joel.

See you Sunday

Fred Zilz

Tiger Den 12

Den Meeting - Power Up

Great meeting tonight.  We got a lot done.   The theme for the month is Power-up and the cubs did seem to be powered up tonight.  They each used a power drill to help polish the axles for their pinewood derby cars and to drill holes in their neckerchief slide. 

 

After our normal opening (pledge of allegiance) We talked about how they power up by eating the right foods, and how engines power up with fuel, and power tools power up with electricity.  They each made a neck slide by taking a wood plate, painted it, colored a car, cut it out, glued it on.  Then they drilled holes in the wood plate which they pushed pipe cleaners (don't remember the correct craft name for them) through to tie on to the neckerchief.   The boys (wearing safety glasses of course) used power drills to polish their pinewood derby axles, and when they were not doing those items, they helped cut out numbers for their den flag.

 

Next week - no meeting, the following meeting, we will plan to spend some time working on pinewood derby cars.  The Derby is the 31st. 

 

We will work on our Citizenship belt loop.  There are 3 requirements, the first is Develop a list of jobs you can do around the home. Chart your progress for one week. Please try to help your cub to get this requirement (just make a simple list of jobs and then each day for a week record getting them done). When we have our Firehouse tour we will be doing the second requirement: Make a poster showing things that you can do to be a good citizen. The last requirement we did with the food drive, park clean-up, and the christmas wish (Participate in a family, den, or school service project).

 

Also, before the firehouse tour - probably February 2nd - the cubs should have a firedrill at their house.

 

Thanks Dads and Moms for great participation.

 

Fred Zilz

Tiger Den 12

 

Events - Tiger Den 12

First I have to say thank you to Mike Duggan for all his work on getting the Live Aboard Event on the USS Hornet setup and then managing it.  For those of you who could not make it - wow you missed a truly amazing experience.  I was reluctant to take Ben, thinking he may be too young, but it really was wonderful.  There were 2 tigers from Den 12 and 4 more Tigers from Pack 180's second Tiger Den.  Not sure what the final count was of cubs and parents - my guess is 30 some.  The Tours were managed very well and the entire experience was catered to for the scouts.   If / When this opportunity comes up again, I would highly recommend it. (I have a few pictures loaded on Picasa Web - http://picasaweb.google.com/fredrick.zilz/TigerDen12?feat=directlink.)

Which brings us to upcoming events. 

Den Meeting: I plan to have Den meeting Tomorrow - Jan 12, and Tuesday Jan 26th but not on the 19th (I will be attending Pack 180 Committee Meeting).   for  tomorrow - Bring your cub scout handbooks, battery powered drills, safety glasses if you have them (I have some extras), and your pinewood derby kits.  Also, someone volunteer to finish the flag - or help finish it, I would love to be able to bring it to the Pinewood Derby.

Pinewood Derby:  Jan 31st  (Sunday).

Next Month -  The First or second meeting of February, Mike Duggan is going to arrange for a hands on Firehouse tour for the boys - should be alot of fun.

March - John Vito is arranging for a visit to Travis Airforce base - Should be another amazing experience for the cubs (and parents) - we may get to use the flight simulator :-).   And we are hoping to get to visit the communications office and knock of the tiger cub requirement for visiting a newspaper, tv, or radio station (communication).  For this trip I am going to need some information from you: First and Last name of driver

Driver's California Driver's License Number.

Insurance Liability coverage amounts:

Per person

Per Accident

Property Damage

  

Example:  Fred Zilz, U0000001, Per Person = $100K, Per Accident = $300K, Property Damage = $50K.

This is required for our Tour Permit, even if we are all driving our own cars and meeting there.  You can gather the information and bring it to a den meeting or email it to me.

My goal is to have all the cubs complete their Tiger requirements in March.  So there may be one or two items that your cub needs to get done between now and then.  Most if not everyone needs to do a Firedrill at home.  Maybe we can try to get this done before our firehouse visit, so that all the cubs can say yes they know what to do in case of a fire at their house. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.   If you are not sure about something we are, or are not doing, at meetings, outside of meetings, go see its, let me know - I won't know what is working and what is not working unless you tell me.

Fred Zilz

Tiger Den 12

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone.   I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday.  It's time to get back in the routine.  I know the cubs are starting back to school this week and are likely to be worn out Tuesday night (Jan 5), so we will try to have a quick meeting (no guarantee but I am going to try).   I plan to go over the remaining requirements for Tiger Badge, finish up the cubs scrapbooks, and if possible work on the den flag - I'ld like to get that done so we can start displaying it at Den and Pack meetings.   We should have the all purpose room at Browns Valley.  I will try to confirm on Monday and send a note out if it is not at the school.

 

How is it going with your Pinewood Derby car?   We can discuss at Tuesday's meeting if we want to have a meeting where we work on our cars together.  The Derby is the 31st of January.

 

The other Tiger den is in the process of planning an outing to a sports event to meet their requirement and asked if our den would like to join them.  They are currently exploring the option of going to a Kings game in Sacramento on the 30th (it is a night game) and would be the night before the Pinewood Derby.   I believe the price / ticket is ~$20.   Please, let me know via email or at Tuesday's meeting if this is something we want to do, or if we would rather do something closer at either a college or high school level game.

 

I show Reger as signed up to provide snacks for the Den meetings this month, and Vito for helping with activities.  Let me know if you will not be able to make it, or run into any issues.

 

See you Tuesday,

 

Fred Zilz

Tiger Den 12