Pine Wood Derby

We seem to be drifting away from scouting, but the pack we were with had the coolest Pine Wood Derby set up! This light pole goes from red to yellow to green, it had a sensor at the bottom to calculate who won, it was just the bomb!

Elias' car is the blue one.

Scout Vest

Here's Elias in his scout vest. I bought this one on Ebay. It's actually made out of red denim and cut to look just like the ones at the scout store. The price was comparable, or less, and it's not made of that cheesy felt that gets all nappy!

Space Derby & Tigers

 (Does a year late count? If so, read on LOL! Elias is now a Wolf, but this is the beginning story of his Scout Adventure)

No, not real tigers....tiger cubs!  Cub Scouts!!  Elias has wanted to do boys scouts for a long time, and I told him this year we'd do it.  Over the summer he told everyone he saw , "I'm going to be a boy scout!". Well, the pressure was on!  Find a nice pack.

My friend Angela and I used to lead cub scouts, way back when our teens were little. Then my son got out of it, and hers kept going, so I looked to her for advice on packs. You know, you want a fun pack, but one that's homeschool friendly...an organized pack that does cool stuff, and has nice leaders...lots of things could make or break the little guy's first experience!

So, Angela pointed me to 2 packs.  1 large, but super fun, super nice, but did I mention large? 1, newer, much smaller, but also fun and organized.  Anyone guess which one we tried first?!? Yes, the smaller one!

So we went Monday night to our first meeting, and he LOVED it.  They played games, they worked on activities, and the coolest thing..they are working towards the Presidential Physical Fitness Badge.  The leader explained that every day they have to write down some activity they've done, and then at the end of 6 weeks, she gives it all to the President, and he will send back a certificate and a badge!  Boy, was he excited!!!  Man, this pack has it going on!

Not only did the pack work for Elias, but also for me and Sebastian!  As a mom of a Tiger, you are required to stay.  Staying with a 2 year old, especially one with special needs.....not always the most fun idea. But, the leader has 2 special needs foster babies/toddlers.  There are actually quite a few kids with various needs in this pack. And the kids are SOOO loving with the babies!!  I have never seen so many boys want to play with or hold babies.  It was amazing. Everyone looked after the babies/toddlers, they weren't seen to be a problem when they cried, or when they ran all over..it was fabulous!

So, no need to try the other pack, we're very happy here!

So, that was Monday. This pack goes year-round, so they had just started their popcorn sales and they also let us know the Space Derby was on Friday.  Yes, as in, 4 days from then, Friday.

We got our Popcorn Sales stuff, and our Space Derby kit and got to working on it all.

The next morning, Elias jumps up, does his "exercises" and puts on his uniform to go sell popcorn! Man was he raring to go!  Ok, so by 10am on a Tue morning we're out selling popcorn to our neighbors.  Good thing they all know we homeschool!  The minimum "requirement" was $75, the kid sold $230 in half an hour!  He was so cute, "Hi, I'm Elias and I'm a Tiger.  Would you like to buy some popcorn?"  He had scripted it all out with me before we left the house, had play acted it out a bunch of ways.  He was so cute!!!!  We need to get back out and sell some more, but the Space Derby started to take precedence.

So, we started on our Space Derby Kit. Sanded it all down, then got to spray painting it.  Primer of white, then color blue.  I had to ask Angela's kids to help me figure out the directions  ( it takes a strong person to ask a kid for help!) and we got the pieces all glued into place.

Here's a picture of Elias before the event, holding up his Space Rocket.

Here's the rocket right before it launches.

Now, if you don't know anything about space derby....well, it's fun but its llloooonnngggg.  Have to keep disqualifying rockets after  giving them a bunch of turns.  By the end the kids had even lost track and were playing around.  Eventually everyone got given certificates of achievement and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners were left.  Elias was one of them!  He got 3rd place!  It was so cute!  Here's that pic.

He's so enjoying scouts.  What a great way to start off in the program!

Blue and Gold Banquet

Good thing there's no grading involved in blogging! I'd get an F. This is also months late. Oh well, accept it!

This was Elias Blue and Gold cub scout banquet. We learned about Hawaii and hosted a Hawaii table and craft.

Here's our palm tree:



Here's Elias' Hawaiian name

The Las Vegas Dutch Oven Cooking Society came out and provided the meal for us.  It was fabulous!



Beef stew, yummmmm





It was a great day, and a great learning experience on so many topics!

Crayola Factory

A Family Favorite is The Crayola Factory in Easton PA. It's all hand son fun stuff with Crayola products as the base.

Monkey see-monkey do. Sebastian wants to put his 2 fingers up like Elias. UGH

Here's the show about how Crayons are made.

This is a section where they have various colors of melted wax, and you go around to each "crayon" and color on your paper with a long QTip dipped into the wax.  It's very cute.

Then they have a fingerpainting room and a new section, where you do Japanese Gyotaku. They had fish forms that you paint....

Then you lay a paper over it and press.....

Tada!

This was one of the favorite rooms...whatever you do, it's showcased on the wall in various lights! It's fun to dance in circles and wave your arms.




I have tons more pictures of this trip, but suffice it to say, it's well worth the trip!

Cub Scout Advancing

Elias recently moved up from a Tiger to a Wolf! Here are some pics of his advancement ceremony.

Here I am, putting his Tiger Patch on him, upside down...he earned it this year, and when he does a good deed for someone, it can be turned right side up.


Here he is trying to pin my pin on me.


Here we are, with our fabulous Den Leader, Miss Hope


The boys scouts have to remove the Tiger neckerchiefs, and tie on their new ones.


How proud, to be wearing the new Wolf ones!


Shaking Cubmaster Jim's hand



We love scouts, we love our small den, we love our leader....and we've completed our first year! (Well, Elias' first year! Brian used to be in scouts, and I used to be a leader....then along came more children!)

Bobcat Advancement Ceremony

Also on Elias' birthday, he had his Bobcat Advancement Ceremony! He didn't know what was coming as he's new to Cub Scouts.

A few weeks ago he said the Bobcat requirements to his Cubmaster


But Elias got his patch at this ceremony. Face painting everyone that passed Bobcat rank



Even the parents!


Here's the wording they used as each color was painted on Bobcat Advancement Ceremony

CM: Tonight it is our pleasure to welcome all of you to the fellowship of Cub Scout Pack______. As I call your name, please come forward with your parents.

CM: Scouts, with the help of your parents, you have passed the first test of Cub Scouting. You have attained the rank of Bobcat. I will now ask your parents to assist in the ceremony that recognizes your accomplishment. (Pass out paints to parents and/or assisting leaders.

CM: The blue is from the sky. The blue paw print of the Bobcat on your forehead is the spirit of the bobcat, and to remind you to do your best on the Cub Scout Trail.

CM: The yellow is from the sun. The yellow marks under your eyes will help you see the light of the Cub Scout Trail, and symbolize the bright spirit of Cub Scouting.

CM: The white on your nose is for purity and to help you know right from wrong as you go along the Cub Scout Trail.

CM: The red mark on your chin is for courage to always speak the truth.

CM: Finally, the green mark on each cheek symbolizes the spirit of nature to guide the Cub Scout in living in harmony with the great outdoors.

CM: Remember your marks of the evening, Bobcats. Have fun along the cub Scout Trail. Parents, will you present this Bobcat badge to your son making him an official Cub Scout? This privilege will be yours for every badge he earns. We expect you will work as hard as he does on some of the projects.

CM: Will all parents in the audience please stand and join these new Cub Scout parents in the Parent's Participation Promise, repeating after me... "We the parents of a Cub Scout / Promise to assist our son / in earning his Cub Scout badges. / We will be faithful in our attendance at Pack meetings / and assist in every way possible / as we assist our son to do his best."

Will all the Cub Scouts please stand and repeat the Cub Scout Promise with our new Bobcat Scouts?