Den Baskets Update

We're still looking for a couple of volunteers to help put together our den gift baskets that will be auctioned off at the Blue and Gold ceremony. To help make our volunteers' job easier, we would sure appreciate it if everybody would bring a small cash donation (suggested amount is $10.00 per Scout, but whatever you can do would be most appreciated) to tomorrow night's den meeting. Our volunteers will then be able to buy items to put together a "theme" basket. This might make it easier than having our volunteers request each family to purchase an item to match the basket's theme. Thank you so much for supporting our Scouts and our Pack!

Den Meeting Tomorrow: Bring Those Pinewood Derby Cars!

Tomorrow night we're combining Dens 11 and 13 for a Pinewood Derby Showcase and the whole family is invited! We'll have name cards to display next to each Scout's car. We'll also have oreo cookies and capri suns for the Scouts and their siblings. We'll also pass out some belt loops, some Pinewood Derby patches, and the boys progress toward rank beads. We're looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night!

We Need Two Volunteers To Coordinate Gift Baskets!

Hello Wonderful Den Moms and Dads!

There is going to be a silent auction at the Blue and Gold Banquet in February to help cover the cost of food, awards, decorations and thank you gifts. Each den is going to contribute a "gift basket" that will be auctioned off at the banquet. Our very own Jennifer Stork is coordinating the entire effort for the Pack. What Jennifer needs is for at least one parent to e-mail Jennifer at jenniferstork1@yahoo.com and take charge of putting Den 11's basket together.

Volunteering for this responsibility means: (1) collecting items from each family in the den to contribute to our den basket's theme; (2) wrapping the collected items in an attractive basket with cellophane; (3) providing a list of items in the basket along with a total value of those items; and (4) having the basket ready and available for pickup by Monday, Feb. 22. This should be fun and our volunteer can even help decide what our basket's theme should be.

One more thought. The basket that brings in the most money is going to win a special prize that rhymes with ice cream party. Considering the size of our den, I think we could probably contribute TWO baskets to the blue and gold. Why not double the odds of winning that special prize?! Just a thought.

Please e-mail Jennifer no later than next Wednesday, Feb. 3 (and please cc: me at tkeller@ij.org) to let her know that you're willing to coordinate this fun project.

THANK YOU for your faithfulness! We love our extended Den Family!

There Are New Belt Loops To Earn!!

Yes, there is now a Video Game Belt Loop. And several of our Scouts, including my two boys, have already earned it! My boys were so motivated by the Video Game belt loop that they went the extra mile to earn their video game pin as well. There are many new belt loops like Hiking, Skateboarding, Pet Care, Good Manners, Family Travel, Reading and Writing, and Hockey.

You can go to:

www.boyscouttrail.com/cub-scouts/acad-sports.asp

And click on the name of the belt loop to find out the requirements. In all, there are now 28 sport and 25 academic belt loops and pins your scout can earn. I'm sure we will do some of the new belt loops together as a Den: like Kickball.

Also, some of them require your Scout to make a poster and share it with the Den. We would love to make time for these types of presentations! Just e-mail or call us before the Den Meeting so we know to leave some time!

HAVE FUN!

Next Den Meeting: Pinewood Derby Showcase!!

We want your Scout to show off his Pinewood Derby car at the next Den Meeting (which is Monday, February 1st)! We are going to combine the Bear and Tiger dens and have a good ol' fashioned Pinewood Derby Showcase. We'd love for parents and siblings to attend and really "ooh" and "aah" over the boys cars. I've heard repeatedly that many parents and kids did not get to see all of the cars. This is your chance and your Scout's chance to show off his hard work!

We'll have some light refreshments for the Scouts and their siblings (sorry adults, we'll just have stuff for the kiddos).

We'll also have a combined awards ceremony during the Den Meeting where we will (1) give all the Scouts a Pinewood Derby patch and a special, individualized recognition for a job well done on their car; (2) give out belt loops and pins; and (3) hand out rank advancement beads.

I Need Pinewood Derby Pictures!!!!

Congratulations to all the Bears in Den 11--with special congrats to Conner H. for winning 1st in Bear Rank and to Tristan for winning 1st in Den! Way to go boys! Of course, every one of our Scouts was a winner at the Pinewood Derby. The boys worked hard on their cars and it showed! You could see the boys personalities reflected in their designs and in their attention to detail.

For some reason, I don't have a lot of pictures of our Bears so please send me pictures at tkeller@ij.org and I'll get them up on the blog!

No Den Meeting On Monday: Next Den Meeting Is February 1st!

There is no Den Meeting this coming Monday.

Our next Den Meeting will be Monday, Febraury 1st at 6:30pm at the church. We would strongly encourage you to use this time to finish your Bear Requirements!

I'll post Pinewood Derby pictures and let you know the plan for the February 1st Den Meeting very soon.