Webelos Resident Camp Signups

Good Afternoon Bears and Webelos Scouts,

As we previously communicated, we have two options for Webelos Resident Camp this summer.  It is now time to sign up to reserve your spot!  A 50% deposit is required in order to reserve the spot, and spots are filling up quick!  We will be collecting payments at the Pack Meeting next Sunday.   Note that it is highly recommended, but not required, for a parent to attend the camp with their Scout.  It they choose not to attend, then they must find another adult who will agree to be responsible for their son during the event.  No siblings are allowed.

3fallslogoOption 1:  Camp 3 Falls on June 29 – July 2.  Cost is $195 per scout, and $105 per parent. More information can be found HERE.  Vicky Ladjevic will be coordinating this event for us this year.  Please confirm directly with her (vladjevic818@gmail.com) to hold your spot, and give her a check (made out to Ventura County Council, BSA) for at least 50% of the total amount due no later than this coming Sunday, April 27th.

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Option 2:  Camp Cherry Valley on August 10 – 13.  Cost is $235 per scout, and $175 per parent.  A video about the camp can be found HERE.  I (Jim Remley) will be coordinating this event.  Please confirm your spot with me, and get me a check (made out to San Gabriel Valley Council, BSA) for 50% of the total amount due no later than Sunday.

Again, this is a very memorable outing that your Scout will likely remember as the highlight of his Cub Scouting years.  Both of these camps are real “Boy Scout” camps that open their doors to Webelos for a few weeks in the year.  Feel free to contact Vicki or myself if you have any questions.

Yours in Scouting,

Jim Remley

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Rocketeers Take Flight at Rocket Camp

Pack 811 Scouts spent last weekend at Rocket Camp at nearby Firestone Scout Reservation. Scouts and their families spent two nights in tents and a Saturday filled with rocket launching, archery, BBs, slingshots, wall climbing, and a variety of aeronautical themed activities.  Many of the boys earned belt loops and other achievements while having fun.  Fun was had by all!  Check out more pictures in our Photo Albums.

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Scout-O-Rama is Coming!

WSOCC RamaHello Scout Families!

As Mr. Koos mentioned at our last pack meeting, Scout-O-Rama is coming up on May 10th, and Coupon Book Sales have officially begun!

What are Coupon Books?

This year, our local Portola district has created it’s own “Community Coupon Book” which is different than the rest of the Scouting districts in Orange County.  It contains over 50 coupons, and ALL of the coupons are for restaurants, stores, and other establishments in North Orange County! The use of 1 or 2 coupons will pay for the $10 book.   It really looks to be an easy sell this year. 

Why should I sell these?

The proceeds from these books helps to pay for the camping properties that we use in Orange County, as well as help pay for our own pack program.  We are asking every Scout to sell at least one $10 book.  This is a minimal investment to help both our council camps and our pack, and the return on this investment is off the charts.

Of course, we encourage all scouts to sell more than their 1 required book.  Scouts will receive a raffle ticket for every 2 books they sell.  The raffle winner will receive a $30 Gift Card of their choice.  Scouts who sell at least 5 books will receive a $20 discount off of Summer Day Camp.  For every 15 books sold, the scout will receive a $20 gift card of their choice.

How can I sell them?

Every Scouting family can probably use 1 or 2 books themselves.  One of the tickets in the book is a family entrance pass to the Scout-O-Rama on May 10th.  They should also be an easy sell for the regular buyers – family, neighbors, and work associates.  You are also welcome to coordinate selling in front of a store or other establishment — just be sure to gain permission from the store before selling them.

We did make a reservation at Ralphs for a few days this week.  There are only 12 shifts available so far, but we are looking to add more.  They are first- come – first serve via this SIGNUP FORM.  (you will be notified if you made the cut).

How can I get some Books?

Mr. Koos will be distributing the books via den meetings, but scouts can arrange to pick up books in advance of the their meeting directly with him.  Those that are signed up to sell at Ralphs this week will be notified how to pick up their tickets.   All moneys for tickets must be turned in by the next pack meeting on April 27th.

Please contact Mr. Koos or Mr. Remley if any questions.  Please help us to pay back to the Scouting program in Orange County.

Thank you!

 Mr. Koos and Mr. Remley

Cub Pack 811 Fundraiser – BURGER PARLOR

Burger-Parlor-Fundraiser

Dear Pack Families,

Our next “dinner out” fundraising event is at the BURGER PARLOR!  Just bring the attached flyer to Burger Parlor anytime on March 3rd or 4th and 20% of the sales will come back to the Pack.  These are a low pressure way of financially supporting the pack.  Post on your Facebook page and email your friends about the event.

Something unique about this event is that the restaurant is owned by the Mahons – a St. Angela Family!

Yours in Scouting,

John Koos
Cubmaster

Fishing Campout Set for April

fishing2Once again, our pack has been invited by the Izaak Walton League to attend their annual fishing seminar and camp-out at Irvine Lake. For those that have not attended, this is a very short, overnight camping trip on a Friday evening, with a fishing seminar early the next morning.  Scouts will learn the basics about fishing and the environment, provided bait, and then set loose to fish.  They are almost guaranteed to catch a fish as they stock the area the night before the event.  No fishing experience is needed.  The cost of the event is only $5 per person.  Only scouts may fish, and adult partners may assist.  No previous fishing experience is needed.  Here are the details:

Schedule

Friday, April 11:
Campers can arrive any time after 3PM. [At the gate, mention you are with the Ikes Fishing Seminar for Scouts]
Bring your own Picnic Dinners
Informal campfire that evening
Leader Cracker Barrel

Saturday, April 12:
Bring your own quick  breakfast at 6:00AM
Seminar and fishing from 6:30AM – 12:30PM at the Lagoon.
Lunch (provided) at 12:30
Depart after lunch

Note that fishing in the Lagoon (which will be stocked the day before) is for scouts ONLY. Adults can fish in the lake for a daily fee, (or help your own son for free).  Volunteers from the Ikes will provide some tackle (bait, hooks, etc) if needed.  They will also show the scouts how to cast, and assist with tying fishing knots.

What to bring for camping:

Tent (the smaller the tent, the warmer you will be.  Expect overnight temps in the mid 40’s).
Ground cloth/tarp for under tent.
Sleeping bags / blanket /pillow
Chairs
Warm clothing (but remember this is just one night).
Flashlights / lanterns if available
Toiletries 
Picnic Dinner for Friday night
Quick breakfast for Saturday morning. (ie Danish/donuts and juice.)
Frisbee / other entertainment for Friday afternoon
Firewood will be provided.

What to bring for fishing:

Class B Shirt
Fishing pole with line
Sunblock and hat
Handi-wipes
Tackle (hooks, weight, pliers, etc if available)
Bucket (and other gear if available)
Sunblock and hat
Handi-wipes

What NOT to bring:

Electronic games
Radios
Bikes
Alcohol
Too much stuff! (this is a very short overnighter).

How to get there:

57 Fwy South to 91 Fwy East to 55 Fwy South
Exit Chapman, head East. Chapman turns into Santiago Canyon Road.
About 8-10 miles from Fwy to Irvine Lake.

Signup

Please signup by Sunday, March 16.  Remember – only Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and adults on this trip; no non-scout siblings. Signup here:

> SIGNUPS <

Note, if you do not have any fishing equipment, you can purchase a very inexpensive but effective rod and reel at either Big 5 or Fisherman’s Access on Imperial Hwy.  Please feel free to contact me if any questions.  This should be another fun outing!

Scout Sunday February 2, 2014

“Oh Lord, build me a Scout whose heart will be clear, whose goals will be high. A Scout who will master himself before he seeks to master others, one who will march into the future, yet never forget the past…” Amen.

Scout Sunday Observance
February 2, 2014

St. Angela Merici Church will celebrate Scout Sunday on February 2nd.

All Cub Scout and Boy Scout families (of any unit) in the parish community are invited to join together at the 9:30 mass to show their commitment to a Scout’s “duty to God” and to honor the founding of the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910.

Scouts are requested to assemble in front of the church in full Class A uniforms no later than 9:15 a.m. for a color guard and procession into church.

Pack 811 families are encouraged to attend Scout Sunday to show our commitment to youth ministry through Scouting at St. Angela Merici!

A Scout is Reverent

A Scout is reverent toward God.
He is faithful in his religious duties.
He respects the beliefs of others.

Blue and Gold Invitation – February 16th, 2014

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Our annual Blue and Gold Banquet is approaching quickly and this year is shaping up to be another outstanding event.  This is a special night for our pack as it marks the 84th anniversary of Cub Scouting.  The banquet is a catered event for the entire family which includes rank advancement, special awards and recognition, and culminates in the prestigious Bridging Ceremony for our Webelos II’s moving into Boy Scouts.

Please join us on Sunday, February 16th from 4pm to 7pm in the Church hall to celebrate the achievements of our boys.  Because of the space limitation in the hall, this invitation is limited to Scouts and their immediate family.  We ask that every family RSVP by Wednesday, February 5th so that we can be sure to have the right amount of food for everyone in attendance.  

This will be an event you will not want to miss!

Please R.S.V.P. here.

 

 

Rocket Camp is Coming!

rocketcampScouts and their families will be able to combine some of their favorite things — the outdoors and projectiles — into one fun-packed weekend in April.  Rocket camp will take place April 4th – 6th at nearby Firestone Scout Reservation.  Families will bring their own camping gear and food and camp with hundreds of other scouting families for this event, which includes shooting off rockets, archery, BBs, slingshots, and more.  If you do not wish to bring food or to cook, an optional meal plan can be purchased.

Firestone is the same location where summer day camp is held – off of Tonner Canyon road in north Brea.  Camp starts after 4:00 on Friday and concludes on Sunday morning.

This camp is extremely popular, and sells out early every year.  Because of this, we must get our reservation in this month.  Please check your calendars and sign up THIS WEEK if you can make it.  Families with little or no camping experience should not be intimidated, as there are plenty of pack families with extra gear and experience to help out.

The cost is $30 per person, which includes 1 rocket ($25 for campers who do not wish to launch a rocket).  An optional 4-meal plan can be purchased  for $19 per person.

Please sign up HERE.

More information can be found in the camp’s camping guide.  Please contact Jim for more information if needed.  More specifics will be given to families that sign up.   This should be a very fun outing for the boys and their families!

Scouts Do Their Best at the Pinewood Derby

dscn3494 The pack’s annual Pinewood Derby was held this past weekend and it was yet another opportunity for our boys and scouting families to have fun and do their best.  Over 60 cars handcrafted by Scouts, siblings, and “big kids”, raced down the shiny track, and the 8 fastest competed in a final champion round.  Almost all races were very close, with only 0.0059 seconds separating the Pack Champion and second place.

City of Brea mayor and Rotary Club President Brett Murdock was on hand to present the pack with $500 for ongoing support from the Brea Rotary.

While we always have clever designs at our races, this year our boys came up with some really ingenious creations. The design winners for each category, as voted on by those who attended, are:

Best Paint Job:
Ben W., Mitchell D., Justin S.
Best Scouting Theme:
Matthew R., Aiden A., Noah G.
Fastest Looking:
Trent E., Justin R., Vinni P.
Best Use of Stickers:
Nicholas B, Dean K., Dean D., Joshua W.
Scariest Looking:
Ian R., Jack S., Jackson N.
Most Patriotic:
Dylan Diego V., CJ T., Collin H.
Most Hilarious:
Jeffrey M., Evan P., Ian M.
Tastiest Food:
David L., Sebastian D., Vincent N.
Best Sports Theme:
Matthew B., Justin R., Braden H.
Most Creative:
Jacob W., Kegan C., Jason F.
Most Futuristic:
Trent E., Isaac C., Vincent A.
Best Video Game Theme:
Benjamin G., Jacob B., Daren L.
Best Name:
Carlo V., Adam G., Dominic C., Hunter T., Sam W.

The Race Medal Winners from each den are:

Tigers: (1st place) Joseph T. (2nd place) Jack S. (3rd place) Daren L.
Wolves: (1st place) Isaac C. (2nd place) Christopher S. (3rd place) Jeffrey M.
Bears: (1st place) Ian R. (2nd place) Collin H. (3rd place) Mitchell D.
Webelos I: (1st place) Trent E. (2nd place) David L. (3rd place) Jackson N.
Webelos II: (1st place) Vinni P. (2nd place) Braden H. (3rd place) Matthew R.

Mack J. took first place in Sibling Race, and John Spielman took first place and bragging rites for the next year for winning the “young at heart” race.

A close finals round with some of the 8 fastest cars determined the Pack Champions:

derby-winners First Place:  Vinni P. with his car “Veyron X3 P14”
Second Place:  Trent E. with his car “Blue Blazer”
Third Place:  Ian R. with his car “The Deathmobile”

Of course, this fun event could not have taken place without the dedicated volunteer pit crew led by Event Chair Warren Biederstadt. This crew took care of the hundreds of details required for such an event, including activities such as assembling, decorating, procuring, cooking, operating, printing, recording, calculating, announcing, cleaning, and inspiring. This crew included:

Warren Biederstadt, Paul Hinz, Amy Hinz, Peter Gambino, John DiMario, Matt Sikes, Brad Halderman, Shawn Jamison, Jo Rivera, Scott Wemple, Jeff McEntee, Patti Di Mario, Debbie Felix, Remon Girgis, Rowen Pastrana, David Ladjevic, Andre De La Cruz, Jim Remley, Steve Corona, John Koos, and many others who jumped in to help whenever they saw a need.

Photos of the event will be posted soon. If you have some pictures that you can share, please upload them for all to enjoy.  A printout of all race records is available here.

Congratulations Scouts, and thank you scouting families!  Here is a composite of this year’s creative designs:

pwdcars2014

Wolves Get in the Spirit of Giving

Wolves present the gifts they made The Mighty Wolves had the opportunity to make a gift for someone at their last den meeting.  The boys worked on elective 9 – “Let’s Have a Party” and made a Christmas Gift anyone would enjoy.  The boys filled Christmas Mugs with hot chocolate and marshmallows, wrapped them with cellophane, and tied a bow.  The boys are going to make a custom card for someone with instructions:  “just add hot water and enjoy!”.  Check out more adventures of the Wolf den in our Photo Albums.

Get Ready to Race!

Greetings Pack 811 Racers!

Derbyico

Our annual pinewood derby will be held on Sunday, January 12th. Click on the image on the right for the details and official rules. Note that all cars must be turned in on Saturday, January 11th.  Pinewood Derby kits will be distributed at this Sunday’s pack meeting to all Scouts.

There have been several minor changes made to the Pinewood Derby for 2014.

  1. We added a few new design categories for our creative scouts to compete in. We will also be asking each Scout which categories he wants to be judged on (up to 2 choices).
  2. We have limited the display stand size to 9” x 5” and no more than 4” tall.
  3. Please be sure to read all the rules for a few other additions for this year.

We are once again including both siblings and parents in this year’s event. You can contact Paul Hinz if you need extra car kits or stop by the local Scout Shop in Anaheim. Scout entries should include their own “BEST” contribution.

A workshop will be held sometime in December for those that need a little help getting started. No one should feel intimidated or afraid to participate – our pack has plenty of experienced racers willing to share their expertise. Check the Pack Calendar for any updates.  Some useful hints can also be found on line. Check out the Resource Library for some links, and the Photo Albums for some pictures of creative entries from previous years. We are looking forward to another great event!

This event requires considerable volunteer help to make this an enjoyable day for our scouts.  Jim Remley and I will be actively recruiting volunteers to help with the following activities.

a.  SAM Hall set-up and derby car weigh-in on Saturday, January 11th. (4 volunteers)

b.  A photographer will be needed to take photos of each entry during weigh-in.

c.  Food services: hamburgers, hot dogs, snack table with beverages. (6 volunteers)

d.  Pit Crew for January 12th ( Staging cars, operating track, car retrieval after each race). (5 volunteers)

e.  Judging contest organizer

f.  Break-down & Clean-up (5 volunteers)

Each volunteer will earn a highly coveted spot on the official 2014 Pinewood Derby Committee.  Enough volunteers will be recruited to insure every parent will still be able to cheer on their racer on race day. If you are interested in being on the committee this year, please contact Jim Remley or myself.  We will have a meeting some time in December to prepare for race day.

Yours in Scouting,

Warren Biederstadt
Derby Committee Chair
warrencb58@netzero.com

Pack 811 Featured on International Scouting Website

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Pack 811 once again fulfilled its commitment to “help other people” this past weekend as we completed this year’s food drive to help the A.C.T. office provide help to others in our community.  As I indicated at our pack meeting, I submitted this service project to the international Scouting organization so our scouts can wear the new “Messengers of Peace” emblem on their uniforms.

As of this evening, our entry is a “featured post” on the home page of the international site Scout.org.   Our little Cub Scout pack is now getting international exposure!  If you have a few minutes, I encourage you to read some of the entries on the website.  Scouters from 6 different countries have already commented on our little entry (which  can be seen directly here).  You will soon realize just how big the scouting movement is across the world, and how Scouting is helping to make our world a little smaller.

Thank you to all Scouts and parents who helped out, especially to John Spielman for his great leadership on this project.

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Webelos Men Get Handy

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The Webelos II men spent their Sunday afternoon learning about automobile and bicycle maintenance and in the process made progress on their Handyman Activity Badge.   The boys had the opportunity to top off Mr. Remley’s motor oil, optimize his tire air pressure, and rotate all 4 of his tires.   When they were finished, they even washed the car and made it shiny.  They also learned how to make adjustments on their bikes, lubricate their chains and other moving parts, and check the tire air pressure.  The boys survived the three hour gauntlet and came out handymen. Mr. Remley’s car is feeling great and is looking forward to it’s commute tomorrow.  Great job Stealth Ninjas!

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Check out more pics of the day, and more Stealth Ninja adventures in the photo albums.