October 27, 2008 5:33 am
This past week was a great one for Pack 19. Last Saturday, we hiked a two-mile trail in the Ouachita National Forest. The trial connects the Old Military Road picnic area to Talimena State Park, near Talihena, Oklahoma. We hiked the two-mile trail to the state park where we ate sack lunches. Then we hiked the trail back to the picnic area where we started. Most of the trail is rather hilly and is a pretty good workout, but it was a lot of fun. We had 19 boys attending with almost as many parents along as well. The weather in the 60′s was perfect. Everyone seemed to have a very good time.
Tuesday, we did a conservation service project at Burnham Woods which is a 13-acre nature preservation area in Fort Smith owned by the Girl Scouts. We had about 50 Cub Scouts cleaning litter throughout the area. It was a good project to do and the boys seemed to enjoy it.
Most boys really like to be outside, especially out in the woods.
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CUB SCOUTS, Environment, Hiking, Service Projects | 
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Posted by Mike Newman
October 7, 2008 5:08 am
The October 2008 issue of Scouting Magazine is now available at the magazine website. Link
This issue has articles of interest to Cub Scouters on the following subjects:
- Getting parents excited about Scouting. Link
- Avoiding sickness when hiking. Link
- Teaching media literacy to kids. Link
- Developing good money habits. Link
Leave a Comment » | CUB SCOUTS, Hiking, Magazines, Money | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
August 14, 2008 5:51 am
Packs are encouraged to have a new-boy outdoor event soon after their fall recruiting has been completed.
Most boys who join Cub Scouts are expecting to get to do cool stuff in the outdoors like hiking and camping. Don’t disappoint them. Be sure your pack has a fun Cub Scout hike or campout shortly after your recruiting is done.
The flyer below from BSA National has more suggestions on planning a fun new-boy outdoor event.
Link (pdf) [Via wiki.ironhorsebsa.org]
Leave a Comment » | Camping, CUB SCOUTS, Hiking, Recruiting, Retention | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
July 23, 2008 5:54 am
It is important that Cub Scouts be aware of and follow the Buddy System during outdoor scouting activities (including at camp or hiking).
Each Cub Scout should have a “buddy” with him who is aware of his circumstances at all times.
Theme: New Buddies
Link
Leave a Comment » | Camping, CUB SCOUTS, Hiking, New Buddies, Safe Scouting | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
May 21, 2008 5:27 am
Here is a hiking stock patch from Advantage Emblem. We frequently use patches such as this in our pack to reward participation in den or pack events.
They are $2.00 each (discounts for quantity) plus shipping. Link
Leave a Comment » | CUB SCOUTS, Hiking, Patches | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
May 20, 2008 5:33 am
It’s not a good idea to be leading your den or pack on a hike and get lost. Or come upon a hazard or barrier which you were not aware of.
The best way to prevent this is not to take your Cub Scouts on a trail that you have not already hiked yourself. It is a good idea to already be familiar with the trail so that you won’t get lost, you can assure the families who are with you that you know where you are going, and you can avoid or minimize the danger associated with any hazards.
Leave a Comment » | CUB SCOUTS, Hiking, Safe Scouting | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
April 4, 2008 5:10 am
Simon Kenton Council’s Buckeye District roundtable packet for May (“Leaf It to Cubs“) is now available for download. It has games, hiking suggestions, crafts, songs, skits, and more.
Link (pdf)
Leave a Comment » | CUB SCOUTS, Hiking, Leaf It to Cubs | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
March 31, 2008 5:50 am
Saturday, our Pack went hiking at Robbers Cave State Park, Oklahoma. We did a 3-mile hike in the morning, had a sack lunch picnic, and then concluded with the cave trail (about a half mile). It was a lot of fun.
Boys love the “adventure” of hiking, and it’s good for them too.
(The photo above is from our February hike at Lake Wister State Park.)
If your Pack doesn’t have a regular hiking program, I would encourage you to start one.
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Posted by Mike Newman
March 2, 2008 5:50 pm
May’s tree-focused “Leaf It to Cubs” theme is really cool. In our Pack, we are already planning a “Leaf Hike” for one of our regular meeting weeks in May, and we will be giving each boy who participates one of these monthly theme patches at an upcoming Pack meeting.
The patches are $1.19 each from BSA National.
Link
Leave a Comment » | CUB SCOUTS, Hiking, Leaf It to Cubs, Nature, Patches | Permalink
Posted by Mike Newman
