Citizenship 2011

  This month’s Pack Meeting was all about Citizenship.  With Veteran’s Day this month, it was a good meeting.  Nov 14th PM 2011 is our meeting plan.  It is something that I send out to every Den Leader and Committee Member so they know what I am planning to do.

This month, I got a bit of a curve ball sent my way.  Our meetings for both Den and Pack are on monday’s in the school gym.  Apparently some boys got into the PE room where all the balls, hoops, scooters and other impliments of fun are kept for the PE Teacher.  Which, enabled everyone to play with a lot of stuff and cause a lot of ruckus for all the Dens still meeting.  So much so, the Principal got in touch with me and explained what happened.  The use of the PE Equipment always bothered me due to the fact someone could get hurt running around and also several boys did not like anything flying around them.  Also, there were Hockey Sticks….

So, I implimented a no PE room rule and the School started to lock the room.  It has never been locked since Elliot was a Tiger, but oh well.

So, I redid most of the meeting.  We were still going to have awards, a game and a song, but I taylored the talk towards what Citizenship is and how we work towards it. Because I wanted to keep the PE room off the minds of the boys I had a Dot to Dot, Question, Word Finder game on one page that was all about Citizenship. (It’s from Scouthelps.com) It kept everyone occupied and working on a goal of getting it all done.  I am not the strongest in gathering games since the Pack usually shows up 10-15 minutes before with the lionshare there right at Flag.

So, with Flag and announcements out of the way, I had every Den do their Yell.  After that it was the Bobcat awards.  There were 5 boys who earned that badge.  After that I broke right into a song about Thanksgiving.  Did not even give anyone a chance for any more Awards or anything.  It was about my Albuquerque Turkey.  We only did the first two verses, but I pitched as a Repeat after me song.  Which, ended up having the boys face the parents and sing it back and forth.  The boys won.  After that, we ran through all the Dens Yells.

During the Den Awards after the Yells, each Den was able to get up and explain what they did & hand out awards.  When we got to the Wolves, the Den Leader who went to the Program & Training Conference learned a few things from the Den Discipline class.  What he deployed first Den Meeting was a Marble Jar.  If the boys come to the meeting on time, with books, uniform and are respectful, they get a marble.  If they do something very good, they get more.  Which, during the talk about how we show respect one of the Wolves said that we show respect by being quite.  He got 5 marbles.  Once the jar was filled, the boys get a bowling/pizza party.  That was so not planned, but I used it.

After each Den got their say and awards, it was off to the Wink Game.  I changed it up so there was not a Killer and no one died.  The Killer was IT and those who got Winked at, had to sit down.  I physically pointed out three boys who were IT and explained the rules.  Game on.  After a bit with boys getting tagged and sitting down, I stopped the game.

I then explained to them that during the game I told three Scouts that they were IT.  Now, first round everyone knew who was IT. Now, they did not.  I also pointed out that you could not look up as well as not talking like the first time.  Game on.

During this game, the scouts did not know who was it and tried not to talk.  The Den Leaders and I told scouts who talked had to sit down.  Also those who were walking silly.  Several boys started coming up to me saying that those that they winked at did not sit down, same as first time.

I stopped the game.  I then asked what they thought of the game.  As they raised their hands they told me that some did not play be the rules, did not sit down when winked and that the den leaders changed the rules.  I asked them how they liked that.  They did not.  I asked if that was showing respect.  They slowly started to get it.  Message delivered.

We ended with a Closing Flag, Vespars and a quick demo of how to fold a flag.  Done.

What I also did throughout the whole meeting was not really raising Akela’s Ears, but to play my Native American Flute.  I got tired of them not listening/watching, so I brought it in.  It very quickly got people’s attention as the night went on.

Overall, it was a good Pack Meeting.  The flow was there and I felt good during the meeting.  The Scouts responded, learned and had a lot of fun.

After I got home I sent a note to the Committee and Den Leaders asking for feedback.  Yes, I got some. They are all good and I plan to impliment them as soon as possible.

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Advancement when Danger Strikes

Today, I got a call from my wife to see if I could take one of the Moms home since her car got a flat.  This was after school and my wife had to pick her up from the house due to the flat.  No problem.   The Mom has a Webelos I Cubscout in the Pack, it so was not a problem.   As we got to her house and talking about the flat, I realized that if her son wanted to, he could knock out a couple of requirements for the Handyman Activity Pin.    It also give the Scout his Good Turn Daily!   Help an adult change a tire on a car.  Reminds me that I need Elliot to go mow the lawn….;)

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The Cub Scout helps the pack go.

Each year within Cubscouts there is the annual Popcorn drive.  Some Packs do this and/or wreath sales.  In the Spring some Packs also do meat sticks and chocolate bar sales.   I get the fundraising aspect of Scouts. “The Cub Scout helps the pack go.”   In our Pack, we usually do Popcorn as the main source and fundraiser.  We also have done Wreaths since Elliot was a Tiger as a Pack.   But not a lot of wreaths get sold.  This year that changed.  Our District Popcorn Kernal ended her three year run and the District was late in getting a Kernal.  Our Pack PK bailed out on us saying they did not want to do it for several reasons.

Now, for those in the District/Pack/Council that read this, I have nothing bad to say about the people who are/were the PK.  I am just frustrated with the CHANGE and deployment issues it created.  Those people are my friends and I understand the situation.  I am working under the “A Scout is Kind” theory for this blog.  However, being Kind does not limit a Scout in biting their tongue when something needs to be said, as in A Scout is Honest too!

Because of the change in Popcorn Kernals, out Pack really did not roll it out.  We normally have a show & sale at stores.  This year since we did not have a PK, it was a take order only and deliver later like the Girl Scouts do with Cookies.  So, we are not going to meet the sales we did last year.  We did send out an email to all the Parents of the Pack before School started (which I think this has started and ended earlier than normal) asking and explaining Popcorn and that we need a PK.  The Sound of Silence was deafening. The Council training that we sent a new Committee Member to was so not geared to newbies.  It was all the ones that know how the game works.  Also getting info on how to do what we needed to do it was severely lacking.

A quick note before going on…The Council gets 33%, Trails-End gets 33% and if you get to the Popcorn Meeting the Pack gets 32%  If you don’t then its 27%.  Doing the math here?  Last year we as a Pack got $3500 or so.  The boys sold $12-$13K.  Our Pack uses a ISA setup and we changed the split this year to benefit the boys and pack a lot better.  While I understand that Popcorn is how a Council gets Operating Capital along with other resources, it’s still a lot taken away from the boys.

With Wreaths all we have to do is pay the cost of the wreath and then split it between the Pack & Scout in the ISA.  It’s now 50/50 between the two of them.  Both the Scout and Pack benefit.  There is no 3rd & 4th party.

So, the benefit to doing Wreaths is that the direct Scout and Unit get more money to cover and do more stuff.  Using Popcorn, others cut into your profit.  But, let’s look at this further.  Within the world of Popcorn each year Trails-End changes packaging, product offerings and weights of them.  The prices also change and are not always in a cheaper fashion.  In Girl Scouts, the cookies are really almost the same price and they do not change offerings that much. Yes, this year they did away with a couple, but Thin Mints are still there! (Mind you the whole infrastructure to GS cookies are completely different. In GS, there is no way to turn in any left over cookies. in BSA, you can turn back popcorn.  In GS all checks are made out to Girlscouts, in BSA it’s to the Unit.  The GS is the bank for the cookies, the BSA has no bank and the Unit is respondsible.  In GS each Parent is financially libel for every box, they sign a form before the girls can sell. In the BSA, there are no forms to sign to be financially libel. How do I know this? I took Cookie Training last year and signed the form.  SCOUTS HONOR!)  So, with the change of pricing within Popcorn a lot of Scouts were turned down or got questioned about it.  If someone did not buy they gave $$ instead just to make sure they got to camp.  This year, I have even heard that when one Scout went Door to Door the person not only did not buy they gave back last years popcorn cause they did not like it.

So, for several reasons we are switching to Wreaths.  They are not profitable, support from the District and Council was not really clear and late.  Will I continue to support the District & Council? Yes, by all means.  I have done FOS each year, and will continue to do so.  And yes, I do have the James E. West Knot.

So, to Elliot.  The reason that I am in Scouting and care deeply and passionately about.  Because the fundraising was not totally rolled-out correctly (my fault at the Pack Meeting/Join Night I skipped right over it and ended the meeting and realized it too late).  He was disappointed that there were no real prizes like in years past. (Yes, again gripe of mine with Popcorn).  The Pack came up with a Marshmellow Gun type thing for the top $$ earner in each Den and then the Den with the most $$ gets a Bowling Party at Big Al’s.  While he likes that, Elliot is more into the prizes.  So, I made him a personal deal.

Deal is this: First each boy to pay for the year in our Pack is $300. That will cover the $145 for Registration/Boys Life, books, awards ETC.  If there is $$ left over that can be applied to other activities that are not covered by Pack Dues and including Summer Camp.   He gets and understand this.  So, today when we went to go sell, he said that he did not want to.

He explained that he would do it, but there are no prizes that he likes.  Good reason.  In a Sales Job there needs to be a motivation.  I did explain that why should I pay $145 for him to do Cub Scouts when he has earned it himself the past couple of years.  He asked what he could do.  Told him about work around the house.  Ok, he’s not into that.  Asked again.  He came up with, what if I do Wreaths but get prizes that I want.  Ok, what do you want Elliot?  Magic Cards and a DS Game. (He had just seen one at a store that in the used section for $14).  Ok, seems fair.  But, I have rules too.  $300 in sales and he gets $30 of Magic Cards.  $450 for the DS Game.   He agreed with that.

Did I bribe my son?  No, not really.  I gave him an incentive to earn money for Scouting so he would pay for it himself.  He was going to do it only if there were prizes.  So, to me, that’s instant gratification.  Something tangible.  It’s like handing out the patch they earned the next meetings or day of the event.    I kept him involved with earning his own way and explaining how important it is that he does it.

The whole idea about earning your way, being thrifty is providing a tangible benefit to the person doing it so they get something out of it.  Which, if the people who run the Popcorn program stood back and looked at what was good, what was bad, what could be better and how to better comunciate the WHY you should do it, then the people putting it on would get a better return.  I know this because the former District PK, raised sales for three years running each year from when she took it over.  When she took over it was very low.  This year, there are only 4 Pack participating.  Last year there were 8-9.

I had to make it attractable to Elliot.  Which in the end, it’s really about “The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.”  It’s a cycle.  Teach and explain to them well, and everyone will get what they need and want.

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District Cubscout Training

Today was the first time that my Program Chair and I  trained others within the District.  It was the Cubscout Basic’s for Den Leader, Tiger, Webelos, Cubmaster and Committee.  We had a morning and afternoon session that was about 3.5 to 4 hours.  In the first there were three people.  A Tiger Den Leader, Cubmaster and Committee Chair.  In the second session a Cubmaster.  Training was held and not canceled.

We also had Varsity, Scoutmaster, Youth Protection and Hazardous Weather.  My DE ended up teaching YPT for one ASM and the Hazadous Weather training washed out since no one signed up.  Bummer. Their loss since he is a Weatherman by profession.  However, Varsity had two and Scoutmaster had six.  So, overall, 13 Adult Scouters came out for a day of training and it went well.

Since it was all me, I started the Training with the Pledge and a few announcements.  I pointed out that we have ITOLS coming up and that our new Pow-Wow is Nov 5th. It was off to the races.

Our Cubscout training held to what the Powerpoint slides had us talk about.  However, we did not stick to the overall format or slide to slide.  Death by Powerpoint is a slow horrible death.  So, we covered what was needed.  We went over the Purpose, 12 Core Values, and Character Connections of Cubscouts.  As well as the Methods. We drove these four topics home in several way and examples.   We talked about how in November, we are using the Flag as a centerpiece for respect & citizenship.  Explained a Flag Folding Relay that we will be doing at an upcoming Pack Meeting.  Also,  we explained that Cubscouting is a Family activity and that while advancement is part of the method, we look at it last.  We want to create fun for the boys and parents so they will come back again and again.  We have skits and den yells to help bond the boys together and promote activities that while fun, serve to explain many of the purposes of it.

We explained how to work advancement into “A Game with a Purpose” mentality.  Explaining that if you can have an event or even work with the local school teachers, gym teachers or other people the Cubscouts come in contact with, that advancement will happen without them knowing it.  We explained that these people are Activity Badge Counserlor‘s.  Much like a Merit Badge Counserlor’s, but not an official position within Scouts.  For the ABC, think of other parents who know something about Construction or is a Lawyer or Doctor and the Webelos Den Leader gives them the OK to sign off in their book for completion.  If a Teacher is going through a Geology section within class over four weeks, why spin your wheels teaching it in two Den Meetings and an Outing.  Your wasting time and money.  Yes, you need to have the boys show, explain and possibly demostrate what they have learned.  But if that Teacher is a ABC, then they have earned it.

As Cubmasters we talked about how a Den and Pack meeting should be planned and how parents should be involved.  We pointed out many resources on Scouting.org  The main one we focused on was the Den and Pack resource guide.  While we had hardcopy versions of this and others we pointed out that many of them are downloadable off Scouting.org.

In covering Pack Meetings, we covered Committee Meetings, budgets, fundrasing and other Pack, District and Council Activities.  This is the point in which both of us started to point out many outings, campouts, cub0rees and derbies we have done.  We pointed out where to go, what to do and other pitfalls.  It’s also were I showed a slideshow of my Pack’s latest Pumpkin Derby.  A Committee Chair and Cubmaster wrote that down.  They were going to go to a Pumpkin Patch, but now switched it because what I showed them was a lot more FUN.  My Co-Trainer Allan, explained that the best ideas are shared and stolen.  I used Allan’s Pumpkin Derby and changed it up and also added a food launcher.

Throughout the entire first training we pepper the talk with what WE did, how WE did it and offered suggestions on how to make THEIR Pack/Den meetings fun and entertaining while educational.  Some of it was just pure fun at the Parents expense.  Allan also had several ideas such as making hats out of paperplates as shown above.  Take one paperplate and cut it like a pizza without cutting the edges.  Don’t tell the boys that they are making a hat.  Then have them decorate it.  Such as, use Car Photos, matchbox cars and the like.  Glue/Staple/Adheare it to the plate on the pizza slices.  Then, put it on.  It’s your Rally Cap for Pinewood Derby or whatever else you can think of.

In the second session, we only had one Scouter show up.  It was my friend Wes who was a the Eagle Troop Guide this year when I was the TG for the Bobwhites.  He came for the Cubmaster & Webelos Den Leader session.  OK. One person!  We are on this.  This session took about three hours, but all worth it.

We dived right into Cubmaster and how he runs his Pack meetings.  He’s a new Cubmaster and is on his first year, second meeting.  We again went over what we did in the first session, but disected what he does.  We asked why he does this and explained that just because it was a tradition before, does not mean you cannot change it.   We gave many ideas of what he could do and what Allan and I do in our Den/Pack meetings.  I showed and shared all the books that I brought and explained I use them as guides.  Both Allan and I run our Pack’s very differently.  I would love to impliment some of Allan’s ideas within my own.  So, I learned a lot too.

As to Webelos, we again explained that the Webelos can earn the Activity Pins within the Den, but also within the home and School or other activtives.  Meaning, Family Member is done at home, Scholar is at School, Aquanaut can be a Den/Troop activity.  I explained that a local Troop has historically took our Webelos IIs on a swim night when they work on the Swimming Merit Badge and other items.  The Webelos earn the Aquanaut in one night and knock out a Troop visit for Arrow of Light.

The main thing that both Allan and I tried to convey over both sessions is that Scouting is not cut and dry.  It is also not about doing it all yourself and re-inventing the wheel.  Look at your resources, parents, teachers and the like and see what the Scouts are doing in other places that will make YOUR LIFE EASIER.  Yes, you do want to have Scout Activities based upon SCOUTING.  Have those Scout moments Count and Matter.

The two last things we touched upon are the Religious Emblems and Leader Knots.  Since we had two LDS Leaders at our training we dived into what their Religious Emblems were like and how they accomplished it.  We explained that it is an important aspect within Scouting and should be promoted.  As for Leader Knots, I explained while I like earning them, it helps me make sure that the program I am providing to the Unit and others, is a quality one.  If it was not for the Cubmaster Knot, I would not have started a Summertime Pack Event for two years, not worked the Quality Unit Award and continued towards the Journey to Excellence.

I also explained that as the District Training Chair, I felt that BALOO and OWLS are vital to the continuing education of Leaders.  Once they get into Boy Scouts, there is more face to face training than the Online Training they are used it.  Plus, it prepares them for ITOLS and the like.  Taking BALOO & OWLS educates the Leaders as how to promote, plan and execute a great Pack Program.

It was a great training session.  I am looking forward to the next round of training.

YIS

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Pumpkin Derby 2011

This weekend was our first Pumpkin Derby.  Another Pack within the District has done it for a couple of years now, and so, I used their idea.  I had wanted to do a JOTA/JOTI event for the past couple of years.  Each year I work on it, nothing happens.  I have sent emails to local HAM Clubs and other resources.  All to no avail.

Also, for the past three years that I have been in the Pack, we have gone to a Pumpkin Patch in the area.  It was fun the first year. Second year was ok.  Last year was doing it again.  I suspect when the kids are younger it’s more fun.  This year, our Committee Chair asked if there was something else we could do.  I brought both of these up.

I am very glad that the Pumpkin Derby won out.  I will say that our new Events Chair, Hamish really stepped up to the plate and made it all happen.  This is how Great Events get started and continue is by having Parents use their skills and put on these types of events.

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Called to the Carpet

  On Sunday our Pack Committee Meeting.  It was a good meeting.  We have an agenda that we plow through.  Figuring out what needs to get done, by who and when.  Some discussion about events and projects that we want done.  There are reports on all the den activity and progress.

During this meeting I had to defend my stance on why the new boys were getting their Bobcats.  Point was that generally none of the current boys really could give you the Cubscout Promise or Law of the Pack.  Yes, it’s pretty sad.  Most of the boys cannot say it without prompting with some more than others. That is why I started having it with the Opening Flag and doing it at every chance we get.

Within the Pack, when Elliot was a Tiger,  all we did was the pledge, flag, awards and a brief talk and maybe a game.  That was all we really did.   So, for the most part I followed the agenda of the meetings but I kept putting in stuff that I wanted to see.  Remember, I was only a Wolf and I this is the start of my fourth year in the Pack and third as Cubmaster.  So, I have learned a lot of what I want to do from Roundtable, Wood Badge, Pow-Wow, PTCMEDIA and surfing the Internet.  I still have a lot to learn and do.

Towards the middle of the year, I started to inject the Promise and Law as much as I could.  Hindsight, I should have done it earlier and and required at all meetings.  At the end of the year, I had placed it in the Pack Meetings and now require it at all openings.

Back to the defensive stance.  I explained that as our tradition the boys getting the Bobcat will get it.  I will ask them several questions, but slacked on the Promise & Law.  I got questioned on why.  I explained that Tigers generally cannot recite it.  Once in a great while a Tiger can.  I walk them through the sign, motto, handshake, WEBELOS and then had it out.  This year is a tad different since I am going talk them through the Promise and Law.

A few Committee Members got on me about how their son could not recite it publically cause they do not know it.  I explained that is why I am doing it at Openings and that I am getting back to what a Tradition Pack SHOULD BE!  They all understand and agree that it needs to be done.  However, a debate ensued of “Did they earn the Bobcat?”  I explained that in the Tiger meetings we went through all of it, having them repeat it several times, asking them what each line ment.  Several of the less shy boys stepped up and explained  what they thought it meant.  So, we did go through the whole process.

Then, it came.  I got called to the carpet.  I was asked by the Committee Chair as Cubmaster to recite the Promise and Law.  He did it right there. Crap….my worst fear.  Asked for the Promise and Law…..  On the Carpet and failed.  Yes, it’s something that I just have not worked at, and it should be something that I should know by heart.  My Committee Chair does.

So, I am starting to practice the Promise and Law.  If the Cubscouts are required, then the Leaders will be required as well.

Yours in Scouting….

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The Training Chair look at Journey to Excellence.

This year will be the first year that the Boy Scouts of America has rolled out the Journey to Excellence.  If your in a Leadership position within your Unit, and your not aware of this, start your research.  It’s the replacement to the Quality Unit Award program. There is a lot written already about the JTE on several websites outside of Scouting.org.  So, I am not going to re-explain it here.

I am going to talk about JTE as it pertains to my position as the Training Chair within my District.   As the Training Chair, I get a report from Council that shows me all the latest training records for the district.  It also contains all other Districts.  A very interesting set of records.

Using some quick math here are our stats.  554 registered positions. (There are duplicate people since they might be an ASM and WDL or a CC/CM in seperate units.  Hence, I am not using People.)

Within the Packs, there are 189 positions and only 42 are fully trained. The requirements for fully trained are listed here from Scouting.org’s website of www.scouting.org/training.  This covers every program within the BSA.  If your local Council has a different set of standards, please consult your Council Training Chair.  Overall, that’s 22% of the positions trained in Packs alone. In District out of 554, only 147 are fully trained (by Council’s terms).  As a District we are at 26.5%.  To obtain Bronze Status as a District for JTE, it’s 40%.  Last time I was in school 70% on a test was a C.  Pretty lame.

What to do?  Well, I have just written a note to my Program Chair with a copy to the District Chairman and District Executive pointing all of this out.  I stated that my goal for this year is 40%. It’s Bronze level.  Next year it will be 50%.

To point out how simple a task I view this is, let’s look at what Silver is for CREW.

Have an Advisor, an associate Advisor, and a committee with at least three members. All have completed This Is Scouting, Fast Start training, and Youth Protection training or, if new, complete within three months of joining.

That is Silver.  So, why not make it mandatory at the Unit level to have EVERYONE take all that training. You can do this ONLINE as with the Boy Scout, Varsity and Pack training. (this is taken from my personal MyScouting.org account)

For the Pack Gold Level JTE you need  this: Silver level, plus pack participates in BALOO training and in OWLS training. (Note: I could not find any BSA info to link to. )  If you do not have anyone who has taken these trainings, then your Pack will not get Gold in that area, which could be what you need to get Gold as a Unit if your short in other areas.  Currently in the Pack that I serve as Cubmaster in, myself and a Webelos Den Leader both have BALOO and OWLS.  Along with ITOLS.    I will talk more about the difference between OWLS and ITOLS and why they should not be lumped together along with BALOO.

District Training: The district Key 3 and district committee have completed orientation or training plus Youth Protection training (YPT). New members complete YPT before joining and orientation or training within six months of joining.  I believe we all have met this with the exception of District Committee Training.  To which, I have one planned for.  We just need to set a date & time.  If the District Committee does all of this and meets as scheduled, we will be at least Bronze for this year.

So, training is a big deal.  It’s not something that people should take lightly. Granted the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs were bought, built and flown on the lowest bid.  Look at what NASA did with the barest of  contract spending limits.    Now, just think of the barest of training that the BSA can get by with.  Look at what can be done if we give a little bit more of our time and energy to get and be trained at the level we need to be but also EXCEL at!  Look at the reward that the Scouts will get if we do.

The Cubscout Motto says it very well.  “DO YOUR BEST”

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1st Pack Hike 2011

Saturday was our first Pack Hike of the 2011-2012 season.  We have done this for the past three years to get us out of the Gym as soon as possible and also to use it as a get to know you for all the new scouts.  While our numbers are trending to 19 new Scouts we only had four new scouts and four old scouts and my daughter show up.  This included a few parents that I was able to talk too.  One nice thing is that we had a Scout return for Webelos II after one year as a Wolf.  We met at Tryon State Park.   Here is the Friends of Tryon and the State Park websites.  Both are chock full of great info.

Our Pack has at lest for the four years that I have been with them, gone to there to use it to talk about all the different requirements for all ranks. Last year the Tigers used it to earn the Leave No Trace award.  I made this a Wood Badge Ticket item back in 2009 that 50-75% of the Pack would earn the LNT.  Which, we did.

While the hike was there as a mixer, the boys did fulfill several requirements toward their rank and other awards.

Webelos I & II covered:
Naturalist Activity Pin #4

Bears covered:
#5 D
#12 C, D

Tigers:
#5G (Hike with Den)

Wolves:
#10 C

All Completed:
Wildlife Conservation Academic Pin: #1,7,8

Leave No Trace Award:
#1 Discuss LNT with Parent/Leader
#2 (went on one outing)
#5 Can complete if boys agree to sign Pledge.

  What I found really very cool, is that the Ranger that our Events Chair had scheduled to give a talk had a trick up her sleeve that I didn’t see coming.  She was incredibly passionate about Scouting.  She herself is a Girl Scout and also pointed out that her brother was in Scouts as well.  She also mentioned that many Eagle Scouts come to the park to find and complete Eagle Projects.  However, the most impressive part of the talk was when she took out all the animal pelts and asked the boys to figure out what is what.  There was a: Skunk, Mole, Fox, Beavers, Coyote, Mink, River Otter, Rabbit, Squirrel and Raccoon.  They all squeeled when she brought them out, but had a great time with the identification.

Overall, it was a great first Outing for the Pack.  I got to talk to many of the parents, explain a bit of the program and get interest in helping out the Dens and Committee going forward.

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