Cub Scouts
Lions Program goes Beta
In an earlier article, I had described the Lion Cub program in Northern Star Council. Now National has taken the program into national beta.
No word yet whether our council will pick up and run with it. Given the number of betas we run, you make the bet.
Scout Sunday: Feb 7, 2016
This Sunday is Scout Sunday. Hopefully your unit has made some plans to participate. If not, it is not too late. Simply
having your boys agreed to attend one service together in uniform, regardless of denomination is a major contribution. A small contingent in uniform is usually The desirable enough target that any minister would want to recognize the group from the pulpit.
Another alternative is to work hand in hand with the pastor to become an integral part of the service. It may be a simple matter of greeting attendees. It may be helping the ushers. In any case, the idea is to be a participant in the service.Similar ideas can be done for Scout Shabbat for members of synagogues.
To learn more, see the link to Bryan on Scouting.
Pack 105 Bear Den 2 Service
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Here is a report from John Salewicz:
One of the new adventures in the Cub Scout program is to do community service.
The Den 2 Bears in Pack 105 did a E-Cycle Drive. We set-up a collection drive of unwanted, broken electronics and took them to a recycle center. Prior to the collection, the boys learn about why these items should not be put into landfills and types of material are in electrons. We disassembled a flat screen television to see what is used to make something that we spend a large chunk of our time.
During the e-cycle drive we collected all sorts of old computers, printers, ipods, stereos, phones and TV’s. The large tube TV’s were taken to St Luke’s Church and donated so that they can be fixed if needed and given to families who are less fortunate. I am very proud of these boys, their parents and our community for coming out and supporting the environment and Scouts. Wahoo!
Blue and Gold Banquet Planning
The topic of tonight’s Cub Scout Roundtable is Blue and Gold Banquets with Cross-over ceremonies. Instead of handouts, this page will provide the links.
The Scouting.org website on blue and gold banquets does not provide much information. It basically acknowledges their existence and purpose.
Scouting magazine has several articles and links that are very helpful.
Like anything else with scout programming, there lots of ideas on the web. Here is an example of an entire how-to manual. Another website has links to 6 other manuals.
Ultimately, you need to intrigue younger cub scouts about the fun that awaits them, thank the adults for making the program happen, and encourage graduating Webelos to continue into Boy Scouts.
The part of the program that is least within your control but is the most important to inviting Webelos to transition into Boy Scouts is the cross-over ceremony. A good cross-over ceremony is planned by the Cub Scout Pack but relies on Boy S
couts and Scoutmasters to make it work.
Our local chapter of the Order of the Arrow, the national scout honorary society. offers to send boy scouts to perform the actual cross-over ceremony. Our chapter the Lowaneu Allonque chapter is eager to perform for you. (Their chapter advisor John Ruggles is a good contact. Please copy District Commissioner Jeff Heck to avoid any breakdowns in communication.) They will typically send 4-5 boys of about 15-18 years old. Once your master of ceremonies hands the actual cr0ss-over cere
mony over to the OA boys, your pack can sit back and watch. The Webelos and their parents will be called forward to walk through the ceremony. If members of the welcoming Boy Scout Troop(s) are present, they are invited to participate.
Remember there are good reasons to have a blue and gold ceremony without Webelos crossing over. This is the ideal time to have boys make their rank for the year. The younger scouts can then see what older scouts can do, too.
Good luck.
Pinewood Derby Track
As we enter into a new season of Pinewood Derby racing, we will have some changes to how district supplies tracks.
Fred Steinhoff, our stalwart Pinewood Derby track provider, is preparing to retire out of state. Fred has been working with Pack 830 Bill Buchalter to hand off those responsibilities. 
Recently Pack 830 has built a new and beautiful track. It is a bit longer than the old track. Consequently, the races will have a bit of a different feel.
Bill Buchalter said, “As much as I am available I will help those packs with track setup and with running their derby for them as Fred did in the past.” Bill explained that his job takes him out of state sometimes with less warning than he would wish for pinewood derby planning, but there is a plan in place. “[A]ny commitments that I make to help with another pack’s pinewood derby will have to be with the understanding that [I might be] shipped out for work…. Fortunately, there are lots of other parents in Pack 830 that routinely step up to help out – so if I’m not available we should hopefully be able to find someone else who can.”
If there are emergencies, Fred Steinhoff is still available.
Now is the time to make sure that your pack has reserved the track for your pinewood derby. Please contact Bill via email at wbbuch1@comcast.net.
Fred also reminds us that the District Pinewood Derby will be Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the American Legion Post #3 in Broad Ripple. Click the link to reserve your ticket. The top 3 finishers compete for free. All others, including adults and siblings, are welcome to enter events for a fee. There will be Cub scout official heats that comply with BSA rules, adult heats, sibling heats, and non-compliant heats.Look forward to seeing you there.
Report: Pack 358 Cub Hayride
Thank you to Pack 358 to opening their annual hayride to the district. I know one or two packs took advantage of the offer with resoundingly glowing compliments to the hosts.
For those packs that missed out, a good time was had by all.
Thank you to Daniel Corum for the photographs.
A Cub Scout is Helpful
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H
ere is an article submitted by John Salewicz, Ass’t Cubmaster and Bear Den Leader of Pack 105, Den 2 (Thank you!)
During Zionsville Pack 105 Fall Camporee at Spring Mill State Park, our Cub Scouts completed a service project. We worked with the Park’s Property Manager to determine their needs.We decided on a trail rehab project.
They had been very short-handed this year and have not had the time nor the manpower to do the work. During the spring and early summer months they experienced very heavy rains that washed out part of a trail they call “The Stagecoach Trail”.
This trail is a historically significant part of the area. During the settlement era, it was the life-line to the mill. The trail was was the only way in or out of the village. It was used to move goods from the village. The village supplied a growing nation with corn meal and lumber. After the park opened, this trail served as the main entrance to the park until the 1960’s.
This project required us to move a tri-axle of gravel down the trail — bucket brigade style — to fill in the numerous washed out areas. This was quite the accomplishment for these Cub Scouts and Webelos. The trail has a very steep grade
and took a lot of effort! We were able to complete this project in an 1 hour and 45 minutes. Hikers will benefit from this hard work for years to come.WAHOO SERVICE!!!
This is a great example for future story ideas. Keep them coming.
Pack 105 celebrating their successful service project.
Hayride Reservations
Cub Packs, don’t forget to make your reservation for November 1st!
Nov. 1st Cub Hayride: Update
Pack 358 has decided to pay for the entire costs of the wagons. That means that all other packs only need to pay $6.00 per car (out-of-county residents) or $5.00 (Marion County residents) and contribute a pitch-in dinner dish per family.
To RSVP, click here.
For more information and a flyer to distribute to your Pack, click here. Pitch in dinner dish requests are by age level, and are printed on the flyer.
Haunted House for all Ages
The Children’s Museum’s Pirate’s Revenge Haunted House is now open! Oct. 10th through Halloween. 
This makes a great scout outing for all ages. The Children’s Museum’s Haunted House has haunts with
- lights-on for Cub Scouts or other persons who scare easily
- Wednesdays–Saturdays 10 a.m.–3 p.m.;
- Wednesdays 3:30–8:30 p.m.;
- Sundays 11 a.m.–5 p.m.;
- Halloween: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
- lights-out/frightening for Webelos and Tenderfoot scouts, or other persons who dare to be scared
- Thursdays–Saturdays 3:30–8:30 p.m.
- No Frightening Hours on Halloween
- Xtreme Scream, strongly recommended limited to teens and adults
- Oct. 23, 24, & 30: 8:30–11 p.m.
All Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts who visit the Children’s Museum Haunted House can earn a patch for free with their paid admission. Ask for the patch at the Bootique’s cashier (sign about patches hangs over her head).
Other special events that are especially appropriate for Cub Scouts, such as Feast with the Witches, is also available. See the Haunted House webpage for more information.
Look for some of your fellow scouts and District Commissioner staff, haunting at Xtreme Scream!
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
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