BSA Pickens District - Blue Ridge Council

100th Anniversary Commemorative Patch Tracking charts. Use these charts in tracking the progress of all who are participating in the Commemorative Patch program.

100th Anniversary Commemorative Patch Legal Size

100th Anniversary Commemorative Patch Letter Size

A Year of Celebration will take place from September 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010. The program is open to all Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, adult leaders, and Scouting alumni.

Read the patch requirements and complete the patch order form on http://scouting.org/100years.

Major Features of the Program

“To improve the QUALITY of program in every unit in America!”

• Improve and increase adult leader training.

• Improve youth recruitment and retention.

• Improve parent participation.

• Improve youth advancement.

• Improve outdoor program participation.

• Improve annual program planning.

How Does a Unit Know When It Has Qualified?

Between October 31 and December 31 of each year, a “Centennial Quality Achievement form” is completed and signed by unit and district leadership—usually a commissioner—after they meet to review their achievements for the calendar

year compared to the goals they established at the beginning of the year.

The achievement form to be completed will help each unit and the district leadership to:

• Evaluate where the unit is on accomplishing the goals established for each criterion.

• The meeting will allow the district leadership to meet with the unit leadership before year-end.

• If the unit has not yet accomplished all of its goals, it will have time to develop an action plan to achieve the award before year-end.

For more information on the 2010 Centennial Quality Commitment and Achievement for your unit. Click here.

For the 2010 Centennial Quality Commitment and Achievement Form for Unit Award click here.

The Pickens District Pinewood Derby will be held March 13th 2010 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church starting at 8:30am. The rules have been set and can be downloaded here. Please email Jeff Crump at c5comics@aol.com if you can not download the derby rules.

Also we are looking for volunteers to assist us with the District Pinewood Derby at St. Andrew United Methodist Church. We need the following:

Master of Ceremonies :

The MC is the 'mouth' during the Derby. He / she announces all races and racers, all results, and all other general communications during the event. The MC also presents all trophies, certificates, and medals to event winners during and after the Derby.

Rules Team :

This team is responsible for the application of the procedure' rules during the race. Do not underestimate the importance of doing a quality job here. The Rules Team can consist of all interested Pinewood Derby Committee members. 

Registration Team :

PWD cars are required to be inspected and turned in for impound before the Derby. We would like to have minimum 3 - 4 individuals responsible for check-in, weighing, and conformance to our rules during this period. These individuals MUST be very familiar with the car construction rules. This can be a 'tough' job!

Pit Crew Chief:

Responsible for safety around tools, supervise the handling of tools in the pit area. Ensures that powder lube being used on cars is not making a complete mess of the pit area.  

Impound Chief:

Watch over the impound table to ensure PWD cars are not touched or handled by anyone other than its owner.

Starters :

Two to three individuals responsible for staging and starting cars.

Finishers :

Two to three persons responsible for working the finish-line during the races. This job involves judging car finish order (as a backup for the electronic timers) and minimize scouts jumping over track.  

(Finishers and Starters are also responsible in making sure the track is clean of debris)

Cleanup Team :

All of our DPWD members (and maybe some volunteer parents) help with post-event cleanup.

YIS

SM Jeff

2010 Boy Scout Monthly Themes

January - Citizenship

February - Physical Fitness

March - Forestry

April - Leadership

May - Special Cooking

June - Backpacking

July - Aquatics

August -  Fishing

http//www.scouting.org/cubscouts/resources/csmonthlythemes.aspx

MARCH 2009 - WHEN I GROW UP Explore career possibilities of the 21st century this month. Host a pack career fair, inviting several adults to share what they do for a living and how these career opportunities might change as you grow up and technology advances. Discover how having a positive attitude is essential in reaching career goals. Den meeting plans could include field trips to learn about different occupations of interest to the boys and playing games centered on different jobs. This would be a good month to work on any of the Cub Scout Academics and Sports belt loops and pins - let the boys vote on the one that fits best with what they want to be when they grow up. For those future astronauts this month is a perfect time for a space derby!

APRIL 2009 - JURASSIC PACK Explore the land before time! Imagine living in a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. What have paleontologists learned about the great beasts that roamed the Earth millions of years ago? Did any dinosaurs live where you do now? Find out what they ate, where they lived, and how they moved. What could we learn of these creatures that lived so long ago? Make a model of a dinosaur or visit a museum where dinosaur fossils can be seen. Make your own "dinosaur footprints" or "fossils" in plaster. Take a "dinosaur" scavenger hike by going on a hike and looking for things that might have been found during the Jurassic era. This would be a great time to work on the Geology belt loop and pin.

MAY 2009 - LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS Warm weather is a perfect time for outdoor adventure, complete with den hikes in the neighborhood, park, or on local trails. As we enjoy our outdoor world, we should strive to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints. Learn about Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines and ways we can minimize our impact on the environment. Take a backyard hike and practice the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines. Have a contest to see who can take the best wildlife photograph. Earn the Cub Scout Leave No Trace Awareness Award. Do your Good Turn and leave these areas cleaner then you found them. Remember to record your service with Good Turn for America. The end of the month has all dens moving up the Cub Scout trail. You might want to consider working on the Wildlife Conservation belt loop and pin this month.

JUNE 2009 - A CAMPING WE WILL GO This month Cub Scouts go camping! Have a backyard campout with your family. Pitch a tent or sleep out under the stars! Conduct a pack campout at a nearby Scout camp, state park, or even the local museum. An outdoor pack meeting might include a nature observation hunt, followed by an evening around the "campfire". Attend your council's Cub Scout or Webelos Scout resident camp as a den or pack or the council's family camp with your whole family. Camping doesn't always mean overnight; day camp is always lots of fun. Get those boys outdoors and let them discover the fun of camping while working on their Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award. Whatever you do, do it outside and find out what the outing in Scouting is all about. While out on the trail, you can work on the Map and Compass belt loop and pin or the Astronomy belt loop and pin.

JULY 2009 - BE A SPORT Not only is it important to do your best when you try new sports but it is important to understand the rules of being a "good sport" no matter how the game goes. Play ball, soccer, tennis, or any sport! Learn about a sport that you've never played before. Have a sports competition with another Cub Scout pack in your area. Have athletes from a local high school or college speak at your den or pack meeting. Ask them to teach you about their sport. Learn a sport you can play with your family: golf, tennis, bowling, swimming, or skating. Have a pack sports day. Cub Scouts can create an obstacle course for the pack to enjoy while earning the belt loop and pin for Physical Fitness or any of the many Cub Scout Sports subjects.

 AUGUST 2009 - FUN IN THE SUN Let's go outside and have fun in the sun. Plan some outdoor activities this month that will encourage dens to meet and make preparations together for your pack event. It's a great time for a pack picnic, with each den planning a game or activity. Have a Cubanapolis derby with dens preparing their vehicle and practicing maneuvers during den meetings. Stress good sportsmanship and team building during the planning stages, as well as during the actual event. Create kites in your dens and have a kite flying derby or a family picnic to show off your creations! This might be a great month to work on the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award or a Cub Scout Sports belt loop or pin.

SEPTEMBER 2009 - CUB SCOUT POCKETS - Character Connection: Compassion What can possibly be in a Cub Scout's pocket? What is in a boy's pocket can tell a lot about who he is and what he likes. The boys can share and show off their collections and maybe even start a new one! Put some marbles in the boy's pockets and teach him how to play the game of marbles. Pick an interest of the boys and go on a field trip to explore and learn about it. Maybe a trip to a rock quarry in search of fossils, or a nature hike around the den meeting site to pick up items. This is also a great month to educate the boys on what can go on their uniform and then make some goals to accomplish their rank advancement, special awards, belt loops and pins, and involvement in camps and council events. This might be a good month to work on the Collecting or Marbles belt loop and pin.

OCTOBER 2009 - JUNGLE SAFARI - Character Connection: Resourcefulness Help boys discover fun and adventure in the wilds of Scouting. Take them on a month-long safari. Learn why Africa is special to our founder Lord Baden-Powell. Find out how the Jungle Book story connects to Scouting. Use it and its characters to highlight den meeting games, crafts, and costumes for the pack meeting. Learn about the things you need if you are going on a safari and how would you survive. What do Scouts in Africa do? What are their uniforms like? Take a den trip to a local zoo, animal rescue facility, or wildlife refuge. Work on the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award or the Wildlife Conservation Academic belt loop and pin.

NOVEMBER 2009 - CUB SCOUT SALUTE - Character Connection: Respect This month Cub Scouts salute those heroes who help keep us safe and secure each and every day. Can only adults be heroes? Heroes are often ordinary kids who did something out of the ordinary! A den can decide what makes a hero and who the heroes of tomorrow might be by looking at people they know today. Learn about heroes in your own community, as well as Scouting heroes who have earned BSA heroism awards. Have your Cub Scouts invite their hometown heroes to a den or pack meeting. Perhaps your den can become "silent heroes" by performing service for others without seeking any recognition. Visit a fire station, veteran's hospital (Veterans Day is this month), police station, or teacher's classroom and learn about their heroic deeds and reciprocate with a "Scout salute" for their contributions. You might work on the Citizenship belt loop and pin.

DECEMBER 2009 - WORKS OF ART - Character Connection: Faith December is a time of celebration and giving. This is a perfect month for involving friends in doing good deeds and creating holiday magic through art. Cub Scouts use their artistic abilities to create holiday decorations, gifts, or cards. This artwork might be put on display in nursing homes, in churches, schools, or homes, and at the pack meeting or at a meeting of the chartered organization. Boys can make cards and ornaments and share them with residents of a local nursing or retirement home, children's hospital, or community center and do a "Good Turn for America." Boys can discover different forms of art, write poems, attend a musical or performing art show, or visit a local art museum. Works of art can become gifts for family members. The Academic belt loop or pin in Art or Music could be worked on in conjunction with these projects.

JANUARY 2010 - POWER UP! - Character Connection: Responsibility Boys explore the science of energy through solar, electrical, and wind power and how this energy is used in their everyday lives. They can explore different ways to conserve energy and protect the world we live in. Work on the Science or Weather belt loop and pin. Boys can invite friends to join in the pinewood derby and discover the power behind those little cars. What types of things are powered up by the flip of a switch? A field trip to the local water works or power plant might be part of the den's monthly plan. Finish up the month with a real power-packed pack meeting. The boys can power up by being physically fit and working on the Physical Fitness belt loop and pin.

FEBRUARY 2010 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, B.S.A. - Character Connection: Honesty It's time to celebrate with a big birthday bash. Boy Scouts of America is 100 years old this year. Learn the history of how Scouting came to the United States. Find out about those who have given us this great Scouting legacy such as Daniel Carter Beard, James E. West, Ernest Thompson Seton, Waite Phillips, and W. D. Boyce. Let's play birthday games, make party decorations, and have birthday cake for our blue and gold banquet.

MARCH 2010 - TAKE FLIGHT - Character Connection: Courage The Wright brothers had a lot of courage to accomplish their dream to fly. Air has power to push and pull objects so that they can fly. This month learn all about air, what it consists of, and why it is needed to fly. Learn about gravity. Make your own flying machines as you hear about the Wright Brothers and their invention. Explore different types of paper airplanes. Figure out which ones fly farther, higher, faster, longer, and why? Hold a pack-wide paper plane derby fun night! How many things can you name that can fly? Study birds and their flyways. Why do some fly in a V formation? Take flight outdoors with a den or pack kite derby this month and enjoy that air! Take a field trip to the airport, hobby shop, or a science museum. Earn the Science belt loop and pin.

APRIL 2010 - SPRING INTO ACTION - Character Connection: Positive Attitude This month is a good time to spring into action with outdoor activities such as hikes, sports and games, cleaning up litter along ponds, parks or roadsides, or planting some trees for improved habitat. Make plaster casts of the animal tracks you find on your hike. Visit and talk with someone who works with wildlife conservation and visit a fish hatchery, zoo, animal shelter, or wildlife sanctuary. Bring along food and supplies that they might need as part of your "Good Turn for America." Build bird houses, bird baths, feeding stations, or boxes for nesting materials. Do a community service project with your chartered organization to show your positive attitude in doing your best. This would be a good month to work on the Conservation belt loop and pin.

MAY 2010 - IN THE SPOTLIGHT - Character Connection: Cooperation It's time to perform and be in the spotlight! This month spend some time making musical instruments to be used in the pack meeting variety show. The variety show could be skits, songs, puppet shows, magic trick - you name it. Have the boys and their parents and families participate in a variety show and have some adults record the show. Dens can create posters announcing the show and make programs to let everyone know what's coming. Commercials could be videotaped by the den during their den meetings and then be shown between acts. (Get the parents involved) Take a photo for the local newspaper or a video clip for the local TV station for recognition of their achievements and put Cub Scouting in the spotlight. Visit a television, radio, or cable station to see how they prepare and produce their shows. Attend a play or musical production. The Cub Scouts can earn the Music belt loop and pin.

JUNE 2010 - HOOP-DE-DOO! - Character Connection: Health and Fitness This is a good time to learn and play the game of basketball while you learn about sportsmanship. Have a member of the high school basketball team (preferably a Boy Scout) teach the boys the rules of basketball; then play a game in the pack with older boys and younger boys balancing each team. Play other games such as ring toss, hoop games, soap bubble contests, and hoop obstacle course. Start working on the National Summertime Pack Award or Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award. The boys will be able to earn the Basketball belt loop and pin or another Sports belt loop and pin of their choice, including the Physical Fitness belt loop and pin.

JULY 2010 - CELEBRATE FREEDOM - Character Connection: Citizenship Celebrate America's freedom established on July 4, 1776, with patriotic songs, games, and family fun. Discover what makes America so special to us. Decide on a birthday present your pack can give to America by doing a service project and a "Good Turn for America." Participate as a den or pack in an Independence Day parade. Enjoy the beauty of our country by participating in outdoor activities. Have a pack barbeque or family gathering and share some family heritage about coming to our great nation. Design and serve a birthday cake and sing to America! Earn the Citizenship and Heritage belt loops and pins.

AUGUST 2010 - WAVES OF FUN - Character Connection: Perseverance Jump in and make a BIG splash with fun activities that explore water and waves. There is an adventure waiting in one of Earth's final frontiers, the depths of the ocean floors. Creatures never imagined before can be found there. What kinds of animals do live there? What does the ocean floor look like? The den could discover what makes a boat float, learn about different sea vessels, and even make their own boats. The pack can celebrate this month with a beach party (no beach required) and family picnic as they enjoy the great outdoors. Top it off with a raingutter regatta. Complete the requirements for earning the National Summertime Pack Award. This is a fun month to bring a friend! This is a wonderful opportunity to teach water safety and practice the buddy system while having fun and earning the Swimming belt loop and pin.

SEPTEMBER 2010 - CUB SCOUT INVESTIGATORS - Character Connection: Resourcefulness What happened to the cookies in the cookie jar? Let's find out. Learn techniques that the police use to solve crimes. Use microscopes, dust for fingerprints, and learn observation techniques. Visit your local police department and find out how to contact them in an emergency. Show your respect for law enforcement by thanking them for what they do. This would also be a great month to use your investigative skills to find friends to join Cub Scouts.

OCTOBER 2010 - UNDER THE BIG TOP - Character Connection: Cooperation "Ladies and Gentlemen," welcome to the Cub Scout Circus. It will be a month of entertainment. Dens will practice stunts, skits, songs, run-ons, and cheers as part of their advancement and just for fun. They can share their talents at the monthly pack meeting, with the Cubmaster serving as ringmaster. The focus will be the magic of the circus with a center ring set up for performances. Be sure to have lots of balloons, peanuts, and popcorn for the audience, as well as spotlights on all dens as they perform.

NOVEMBER 2010 - CUB SCOUTS SPREAD THE NEWS - Character Connection: Citizenship Cub Scouts spread the news about the fun that they are having in Cub Scouts. They learn many different ways to communicate. Plan a field trip to the local radio station, television station or newspaper office. Dens can publish articles and pictures in a den or pack newsletter or make their own commercial about a service project to be shown at the pack meeting, or on a local cable or school access channel. They can email a friend to join Cub Scouts. This would be a good month to work on Good Turn for America as well as the Communication belt loop and pin.

DECEMBER 2010 - WINTER WONDERLAND - Character Connection: Positive Attitude The excitement of the holiday season brings magic to the eyes of Cub Scouts as they prepare decorations, make gifts, and sing songs of the season. Den or pack activities may include a Good Turn field trip to bring some holiday magic to the lives of others. Northern Cub Scouts will enjoy winter games in the snow. Southern Cub Scouts might play games with paper snowballs or take to the beach for a Klondike derby in the sand. This might be a good month to work on the Ice Skating or Snow Ski and Board Sports belt loop and pin.

 JANUARY 2011 - ROAD WORK AHEAD - Character Connection: Perseverance What does it take to build our roads and bridges? Who builds our roads and what materials and equipment are used? Find out this month as you put on your construction hats and dig in! Arrange to tour road building equipment. Have a construction company foreman/owner come visit at your pack meeting. What vehicles travel the Cub Scout roads? Why not have a pinewood derby this month and find out?

FEBRUARY 2011 - TURN BACK THE CLOCK - Character Connection: Honesty "Turn Back the Clock" and see what the world was like in the past. Learn about an era of your choice with songs, games, and transportation from the time that you choose. Whether it is the Space Age, the Wild West, rock-n-roll, or the Ice Age, each time period had something special about it. Construct a pack "time machine" to help introduce the den's era skits or demonstrations at the blue and gold banquet. Whatever you choose, find the "best" in your time period and share it with others. The boys can work on the Heritages belt loop and pin this month.

MARCH 2011 - FORCES OF NATURE - Character Connection: Faith Behold the awesome forces of nature. Discover how wind, rain, fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, avalanches, and glaciers can alter and shape the earth. Cub Scouts learn now to prepare themselves and their families to meet the challenges associated with these forces. Each Cub Scout can work on preparing an emergency kit to keep in his home or car. Explore a different force of nature at each den meeting, creating models of these natural powers or their results. This is a good month to work on the Emergency Preparedness BSA Award and the Weather belt loop and pin.

APRIL 2011 - SCOUTING THE LAND DOWN UNDER - Character Connection: Respect Scouting is alive and thriving in Australia. Let's learn about the earth's smallest continent, its animals, and its Scouting program. What kind of games do the boys play? What is a Joey? What kind of outdoor activities do they do in the Australian Scout program? Learn about Australian art work and ancient musical instruments. Come on mate and have a g'day. This would be a great month to work on the Language and Cultures belt loop and pin.

MAY 2011 - ACORNS TO OAKS - Character Connection: Responsibility Nature provides a miraculous wonder in the life cycle. This month the boys can discover how plants grow from seeds. They can build and grow a terrarium or plant a garden. Here is the opportunity to assist nature by building birdhouses, bat nurseries, or squirrel feeders. This theme also can be used to assist the leaders in helping the boys learn about their own growth and health. They can make goals using a food pyramid. This would be a good month to work on the Physical Fitness belt loop and pin. All these things will help them grow strong and healthy much like a sturdy oak tree.

JUNE 2011 - CUBS IN ACTION - Character Connection: Health & Fitness This is a great month for outdoor or indoor activities with focus on ACTION. Hikes, games, or relay races using Scout skills would all be good activities. The boys can learn and grow through sports, practicing good sportsmanship and team building. This might be a good time to work on the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award and any of the team Sports belt loops and pins.

JULY 2011 - SPLISH SPLASH - Character Connection: Courage What could be better than a water carnival complete with games, skits, and a fishing derby? Create a water adventure trail with plenty of opportunity for boys to get wet. Stations could include a sponge toss, sprinklers, water slides, and raingutter regatta. Or plan a pack outing to a local swimming pool or beach. Be sure to teach the Cub Scouts the buddy system before you go and use Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat. Cub Scouts could work on their Swimming and Fishing belt loops and pins. The pack could also work toward the National Summertime Pack Award.

AUGUST 2011 - ON THE WILD SIDE - Character Connection: Compassion Imagine being shipwrecked on an island of wild adventure! What kinds of wild animals and fauna might they encounter? Go on a hike and learn about the wild side that might be in your own backyard. And if that isn't enough, help the boys release some of their "wild side" fun with exciting games and creative projects. This is one month you'll enjoy the wild side. This will be a great time to invite a friend to come and join in the Scouting adventure!