ARROW OF LIGHT DEN 13
Please check out our Local Boy Scout Troop page for contact information and Troop activities to become involved with!
One thing an Arrow of Light den does early in the year is determine their Patrol Name. This results in the addition of a Patrol Patch to their uniform and helps bring them one step closer to becoming a Boy Scout. The location of the Patrol Patch on the Webelos uniform is shown to the right. The awards ribbon will move down the sleeve to make room.
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Cyber/Protect Yourself Rules Requirements
Each parent is required to review How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide, which can found via link at the very bottom of our website home page or directly at this link. To fulfill the requirement, you need to do the five exercises (essentially a discussion with your Scout) beginning on page 19.
The specific "Protect Yourself Rules" adventure requirements are as follows:
Each of the situations above should end with going to a trusted adult to discuss what is happening.
6. List five adults you could tell if someone has made you feel unsafe.
7. Inform your Scout what the BSA's barriers to abuse are:
a. Two Deep leadership: Two registered (and background checked) adults are required for ALL meetings and activities. For our meetings and activities, this is myself and Greg.
b. No one one-on-one. At no time is an adult allowed to be alone with a youth that is not their child. This includes digital communications - a parent must be copied on texts, emails and social media interactions.
The specific "Protect Yourself Rules" adventure requirements are as follows:
- Watch the Protect Yourself Rules video located on this web page (select the 5th grade Arrow of Light video). It is 22-minutes long so set aside some time for it.
- Complete the "Protect Yourself Rules" worksheet.
- Ask your Scout what Cyberbullying is and, after they answer, read and go over the following with them: Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, texting, and apps. It can also happen online with social media, forums, or gaming—any place where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It also includes sharing personal or private information about someone else that could cause them embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.
- Complete the "Online Safety" worksheet.
- Discuss what to do when you feel unsafe. Here are some situations that can be used as discussion points:
- An older sibling routinely attacks you physically, but your parents or caregivers don’t take what your sibling does seriously.
- A group of students make offensive posts on your social media account or spread rumors about you on the internet.
- A sports coach is sometimes physically rough with you and your teammates, and it makes the whole team uncomfortable.
Each of the situations above should end with going to a trusted adult to discuss what is happening.
6. List five adults you could tell if someone has made you feel unsafe.
7. Inform your Scout what the BSA's barriers to abuse are:
a. Two Deep leadership: Two registered (and background checked) adults are required for ALL meetings and activities. For our meetings and activities, this is myself and Greg.
b. No one one-on-one. At no time is an adult allowed to be alone with a youth that is not their child. This includes digital communications - a parent must be copied on texts, emails and social media interactions.
Building a Better World Requirements
We finished most of the outstanding requirements for the "Building a Better World" adventure on January 7. Details about the requirements from the Cub Scout handbook can be downloaded here. If your Scout missed the meeting, here's what can be done to satisfy the requirements:
- Discuss the history of the United States flag by going over the different flags shown for Requirement 1. When you get to it, see if your Scout can identify which two states were the last to join the union - I was impressed that some could! No one got the years, though (LOL). Some things that were interesting to them: The Star Spangled Banner had 15 stripes and Flag Day celebrates the day that Congress settled on Old Glory as our first national flag.
- Discuss properly displaying the flag: The U.S. flag should be higher than others, always on the left when the audience is facing it displayed on a stage, and the stars should be up and to the left.
- Raising and lowering the flag does not need to be discussed - we handled this in October during the campout. The same goes for folding the flag.
- Discuss showing respect to the flag.
- Go over Requirement 2, rights and duties as a citizen and being loyal.
- Go over Requirement 3, Rule of Law.
January 3, 2022
Hi everyone - our next den meeting is this Thursday, January 6, at 6:45 PM. I'll be finishing off the "Building a Better World" requirements with some discussions with the boys, we'll be learning how to properly fold a flag, and those that didn't get a chance to decorate the patrol flag will have an opportunity to do so. I'll also be passing out pinewood derby cars.
If you haven't finished the cyber/protect yourself rules requirements, don't forget about them. We bridge in March so I'm shooting to have our requirements done by the end of February to get credit!
Thanks and see you Thursday!
If you haven't finished the cyber/protect yourself rules requirements, don't forget about them. We bridge in March so I'm shooting to have our requirements done by the end of February to get credit!
Thanks and see you Thursday!
November 12, 2021
Great news - I confirmed we can visit Troop 735 Monday evening, November 15. They meet at the same church we have our den meetings at, but in the Scout hut behind the church. Please note meetings start at 6 PM, not 7 PM.
Some other notes:
Some other notes:
- Pack meeting is next Wednesday, November 17 at the fire station. We'll hold it outside if it's nice but we are cleared for indoor activities at the fire station - so the meeting will be rain or shine! Don't forget to bring stocking donations for Shepherd's Staff (details on website home page).
- Pack hike at 1 PM on Sunday, November 21. Dan's Webelos den is planning and leading it. Specific details are TBD, but it will be close by - one of the trail paths around Liberty Reservoir.
- Our next den meeting is Thursday, December 2. We're usually 2nd and 4th Thursdays but we'll switch to 1st and 3rd for December to accommodate Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Camp Hashawha is still up in the air, but if Pack 150 goes there our den is invited even if we've bridged to Boy Scouts! Even better, Adam plans to dust off the plans we made for it so we'll get to enjoy the Survivor theme and wilderness training if we can book them.
- If you haven't paid your yearly dues yet, please do so. No Hashawha for you if you don't! Link to Cheddar Up is on the website home page!
November 11, 2021
One of the Arrow of Light adventures is "Building a Better World," and one of the requirements is to meet with a community leader and learn about their job and the challenges they face.
Sara Seitz is part of Pack 150 and we were fortunate enough to have her speak with the den. She's a Director for the Maryland State Office of Urban Health and was able to talk with the Scouts about what she does and give us some insight on how her office works to meet community needs. A great den meeting and requirement completed! |
October 15, 2021
In addition to the picture above that shows where the patrol patch belongs, a photo of our Black Mamba patrol patch is to the right . The den number patch can be removed. The Webelos award ribbon is lowered to make room.
Don't forget we're visiting Troop 735 in the Scout Hut behind Calvary United Methodist at 7:00 PM this Monday, October 18! Hopefully everyone can attend the camping trip the following Saturday, October 23rd. We'll be leading the flag ceremony (requirement for Building a Better World), teaching younger Scouts how to tie knots (requirement for Outdoorsman) and setting up a tent (requirement for Outdoorsman) as well as satisfying the camping requirement for Outdoorsman. If you can't stay overnight next weekend but you've been camping with your Scout in June or later of this year, let me know. Thanks and have a great weekend! |
September 7, 2021
Our first den meeting is Thursday, September 16th. Same place and time: 6:45 PM at Calvary United Methodist. We'll hit some of the requirements for "Scouting Adventure" and discuss visiting Boy Scout Troops this fall.
Some other dates to keep in mind:
Note September 30th is not a normal Thursday for us but I want to get as many meetings in as I can early in the year.
We will have rocket day on October 23 as part of the pack camping trip. I also plan to knock out some Arrow of Light requirements including teaching younger Scouts how to tie knots and leading a flag ceremony. These may be difficult to make up so even if you can't camp overnight, you're welcome to join the activities during the day and take credit for the requirements.
Thanks and have a great week!
Some other dates to keep in mind:
- September 29: First Pack Meeting
- September 30: Our Second Den Meeting
- October 23 - 24: Pack camping at Gamber Fire Hall
Note September 30th is not a normal Thursday for us but I want to get as many meetings in as I can early in the year.
We will have rocket day on October 23 as part of the pack camping trip. I also plan to knock out some Arrow of Light requirements including teaching younger Scouts how to tie knots and leading a flag ceremony. These may be difficult to make up so even if you can't camp overnight, you're welcome to join the activities during the day and take credit for the requirements.
Thanks and have a great week!
2020 Year as Webelos
June 8, 2021
For our last den meeting of the year we decided to treat the Scouts with a trip to the Bus Stop, a local ice cream shop in Upperco. The owners invited us to come on their night off, showed them the shop and allowed the Scouts to make their own sundae creations! It was a blast and a really great way to end the year! Check out the slide show below!
April 22
Mary finished the Art Explosion elective adventure this evening with a fantastic tour and art description of exhibits at the Baltimore Museum. I was able to record the Zoom meeting of her presentation, and it can be watched here. You can download and review the slides from her presentation here. If your Scout was unable to attend the meeting, please watch the video to get credit for the museum tour and then create the origami cicada below to bring to the next den meeting.
The final requirement for the Art Explosion adventure is an origami project. Directions for that project can be found here. If possible, all Scouts should bring their cicada's to the next den meeting!
The final requirement for the Art Explosion adventure is an origami project. Directions for that project can be found here. If possible, all Scouts should bring their cicada's to the next den meeting!
April 8
Mary did a fantastic job leading the den in the Art Explosion adventure this evening! The Scouts learned about artwork and then created some of their own. Some artwork was even created on canvas!
April 6
Our next den meeting is at 6:45 PM this Thursday, April 8, in-person at Calvary United Methodist. I have a guest leader lined up - Mary will be leading the den for the Art Explosion elective adventure! Here's what you need to know for the meeting:
Thanks and see you Thursday!
- PROMPT start time of 6:45 PM. Mary has a lot to get through and daylight isn't quite making it to 8 PM.
- No uniforms! Our Scouts will be painting.
- Self Portrait - sorry for the short notice, but have your Scout sit in front of a mirror and make their best Picasso of themselves, then bring it to the meeting.
Thanks and see you Thursday!
February 22
Our next den meeting is this Thursday, February 25, at 7 PM and will be virtual. I'll be continuing the outdoor camping series with some video of different types of fires and when to use or make them. I also have some skits filmed at Boy Scout camps that I think our Scouts will enjoy. And, of course, I will punish them with some more 'dad' jokes...
February 8
Hope everyone is keeping warm and enjoying the snow! Our next den meeting is this Thursday, February 11th, at 7 PM and will be virtual. Join the Zoom meeting link at 7 PM this Thursday!
January 25
Our den meeting for Thursday, January 28, is cancelled. I'll see everyone for our February 11th den meeting!
January 11
Our next den meeting is this Thursday, January 14, at 7:00 PM and it will be virtual. I don't know if we'll make it a full hour, but I'll have something put together for the Scouts along with some more corny "dad jokes" as virtual punishment.
Hope you're having a Happy New Year - See you Thursday!
Hope you're having a Happy New Year - See you Thursday!
December 15
Our next den meeting is this Thursday, December 17, at 7:00 PM and it will be virtual. If your Scout or family has a Christmas tradition or something you do every holiday season, I'll give the Scouts an opportunity to share it during the meeting. This isn't mandatory so if anyone is shy or doesn't want to share, no problem. We'll also take care of the Duty to God adventure.
Thanks, and stay warm and safe!
Thanks, and stay warm and safe!
November 29
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and was able to enjoy the past few days with mild temps. I'm actually looking forward to colder weather so I can use it as an excuse to avoid some chores - lol!
We're in really great shape for required Webelos adventures so I'm cancelling the den meeting this coming Thursday. Our next den meeting will be December 17 and I'm considering a Zoom meeting for it. If so, I'll put some things together for the Duty to God adventure - a good one for Christmas and likely better via Zoom than huddled together in the dark.
The Cast Iron Chef adventure is a homework assignment. Specific requirements are:
1. Plan a meal with your family, including a budget for ingredients.
2. Shop for the ingredients and stay within budget.
3. Cook the meal, preferably outdoors.
4. Demonstrate food safety practices while preparing the meal.
For more details on the adventure, click here.
We're in really great shape for required Webelos adventures so I'm cancelling the den meeting this coming Thursday. Our next den meeting will be December 17 and I'm considering a Zoom meeting for it. If so, I'll put some things together for the Duty to God adventure - a good one for Christmas and likely better via Zoom than huddled together in the dark.
The Cast Iron Chef adventure is a homework assignment. Specific requirements are:
1. Plan a meal with your family, including a budget for ingredients.
2. Shop for the ingredients and stay within budget.
3. Cook the meal, preferably outdoors.
4. Demonstrate food safety practices while preparing the meal.
For more details on the adventure, click here.
November 16
Our next Den Meeting is at 6:45 PM this Thursday, November 19, at Calvary United Methodist. We'll be outside again so dress warmly, bring a bottle of water (or something warmer) and a camp chair if you need it. Please also remember to wear masks!
For anyone that attended the hike this past weekend, I'm accumulating pictures on the pack website. If you have any you'd like me to post, please forward them. In fact, if you ever have pictures of any event, including our den meetings, feel free to forward them to me for posting on the website.
For anyone that attended the hike this past weekend, I'm accumulating pictures on the pack website. If you have any you'd like me to post, please forward them. In fact, if you ever have pictures of any event, including our den meetings, feel free to forward them to me for posting on the website.
November 2
To accommodate the holidays we'll be meeting the first and third Thursdays for November and December. As a result, the next Webelos den meeting is at 6:45 PM this Thursday, November 5, at Calvary United Methodist. Format is the same - we'll be outside so dress warmly, bring a bottle of water and a camp chair if you need it. Please also wear masks - we have at least one family with an immediate family member at high risk.
Here are the homework assignments we've had so far:
* First Aid Kit (part of First Responder adventure)
* Exercises for four weeks (part of Stronger, Faster, Higher adventure)
If your Scout has completed these, let me know and I'll mark them complete in ScoutBook.
Here are the homework assignments we've had so far:
* First Aid Kit (part of First Responder adventure)
* Exercises for four weeks (part of Stronger, Faster, Higher adventure)
If your Scout has completed these, let me know and I'll mark them complete in ScoutBook.
September 17 Den Meeting
I'm super glad we were able to get together in person and let the boys blow off steam! It was pretty obvious they were ready to run around and expend some energy so working on the Stronger, Faster, Higher adventure was probably the only one I could choose with any chance of success. We were able to successfully complete it with the only remaining requirement a homework assignment for Scouts to work on improving three activities of their choice over the next month. Please work with your Scout on the activities I emailed you and we'll mark the adventure complete in October!
Plans for the New Scouting Year
Hi everyone - I hope you've had a safe, healthy and fun summer! It's that time of year again - school (in some form) and Scouts (in some form). We plan on meeting in person as much as possible but it's optimistic to think there won't be a few Zoom meetings this year. Here's what's planned so far:
1. September 10th is the first week of school so I'm targeting September 17th for our first den meeting. I plan on meeting outside at Calvary United Methodist - if weather is poor we'll postpone until September 24th. Uniforms are not required for this meeting because we won't have our new caps and kerchiefs yet and I'm planning on the "Stronger, Faster, Higher" adventure, which is heavy on sports/athletics.
2. Our first pack meeting is September 30th outside at the Gamber Fire Station. We're planning a bridging ceremony at the pavilion and will hand out new caps and kerchiefs.
3. Your Scouts are Webelos! This means a new uniform. I'll have details on the website for anyone with questions by the end of this weekend. The good news is that if you buy the uniform a little large it can be carried over into the Boy Scouts. If at all possible, have your Scout in uniform by the end of September to receive their new hat/kerchief at the crossing ceremony.
4. We have permission to hold our annual family camping event the weekend of October 17th at the Gamber Fire Hall. If you can attend, please do so. We're taking the opportunity to knock out some in-person adventure requirements in case we can't meet in person later in the year.
5. Officially, masks are optional outdoors if social distancing is maintained. We've discussed asking them to be worn to err on the safe side and because it may be difficult to keep Scouts apart - but no official decision has been made. I plan to wear one due to my proximity with the Scouts and respect for anyone that may have health issues or a family member with issues. If social distancing is maintained I have zero issue with someone that does not want to wear one. If the committee and/or den parents decide masks should be worn, I also have zero issue asking everyone attending and staying to wear one. Both myself and the Cub Scout committee are completely open to any comments or concerns you may have on this subject.
Thanks very much and I hope to see everyone soon!
1. September 10th is the first week of school so I'm targeting September 17th for our first den meeting. I plan on meeting outside at Calvary United Methodist - if weather is poor we'll postpone until September 24th. Uniforms are not required for this meeting because we won't have our new caps and kerchiefs yet and I'm planning on the "Stronger, Faster, Higher" adventure, which is heavy on sports/athletics.
2. Our first pack meeting is September 30th outside at the Gamber Fire Station. We're planning a bridging ceremony at the pavilion and will hand out new caps and kerchiefs.
3. Your Scouts are Webelos! This means a new uniform. I'll have details on the website for anyone with questions by the end of this weekend. The good news is that if you buy the uniform a little large it can be carried over into the Boy Scouts. If at all possible, have your Scout in uniform by the end of September to receive their new hat/kerchief at the crossing ceremony.
4. We have permission to hold our annual family camping event the weekend of October 17th at the Gamber Fire Hall. If you can attend, please do so. We're taking the opportunity to knock out some in-person adventure requirements in case we can't meet in person later in the year.
5. Officially, masks are optional outdoors if social distancing is maintained. We've discussed asking them to be worn to err on the safe side and because it may be difficult to keep Scouts apart - but no official decision has been made. I plan to wear one due to my proximity with the Scouts and respect for anyone that may have health issues or a family member with issues. If social distancing is maintained I have zero issue with someone that does not want to wear one. If the committee and/or den parents decide masks should be worn, I also have zero issue asking everyone attending and staying to wear one. Both myself and the Cub Scout committee are completely open to any comments or concerns you may have on this subject.
Thanks very much and I hope to see everyone soon!
2019 Year as Bears
February 27 Den Meeting
Den 6 built tool boxes during this meeting to fulfill a Baloo the Builder adventure requirement!
Right click and "Save As" to download full size pictures from the slide show below:
January 23, 2020, Den Meeting
November 21 Den Meeting
The Bear den is leading a "carnival" for the January pack meeting. Each Scout will manage their own carnival game for the rest of the pack to enjoy. This will fulfill the Grin and Bear It adventure for the Den 6 Bear Scouts. We spent the majority of our November 21st Den Meeting making signs for the various carnival games the Scouts will run. It's going to be a lot of fun!
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November 7 Den Meeting
September 26, 2019, Den Meeting
2018 Year as Wolves
October 25 Den Meeting
FINALLY no rain! Our first THREE den meetings were completely indoors due to Mother Nature. We were able to go outside and balance on some 4x4's, play catch and run a relay race to complete more activities for the 'Running with the Pack' adventure. We also prepared for the upcoming Pack Hike at Harper's Ferry by going over the Cub Scout Six Essentials, the 'buddy system' and packing for a 'virtual hike.' The boys wrote lists of things to take on a hike and then were presented with hiking scenarios in which they might need certain items. Kudos to the boys for being prepared! Especially Kameron and Austin - they took a chest along which seemed to have everything in it they needed. "It's in the chest!"
September 27 Den Meeting
September 13 Den Meeting
The Wolf Den hit the ground 'running' in the new Cub Scout year by working on requirements toward the 'Running with the Pack' adventure. They learned about the food groups and started thinking about their homework assignment of cooking a meal with mom and/or dad. Unfortunately, rain kept us in the church social hall but our Scouts were not deterred from pursuing some of the activity requirements, such as the frog stand, crab walk races and limbo!
2017 Year as Tigers
Fishing
Not really a den meeting, but several of us got together for an evening of fishing at the reservoir. The boys had great fun drowning worms and reeling in some 'lunkers!'
Not really a den meeting, but several of us got together for an evening of fishing at the reservoir. The boys had great fun drowning worms and reeling in some 'lunkers!'
Tiger Tag
For our first den meeting in May, the Tiger Den completed one final elective adventure - Tiger Tag! In a nut shell, it's an adventure that stresses team participation by playing various team oriented games such as a millipede race (the boys in two separate teams had to hold on to each other), a relay game, tug of war and human Foosball. The boys had a blast!
For our first den meeting in May, the Tiger Den completed one final elective adventure - Tiger Tag! In a nut shell, it's an adventure that stresses team participation by playing various team oriented games such as a millipede race (the boys in two separate teams had to hold on to each other), a relay game, tug of war and human Foosball. The boys had a blast!
The last game we played was human Foosball. Boys held PVC pipes that slid on ropes held by parents. This was a lot of fun! A video of some of the action can be watched here.
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Television Station Tour
Our February 8 den meeting was held at the Carroll Community Media Center in Westminster. We were given a tour of the television station and saw the command center where commercials are created and edited. Then we were allowed in the "Green Room" to try our acting skills with the cameras rolling! Stay tuned for the final commercial to air on Carroll County Public Television and Youtube!
UPDATE: Check out the commercial on YouTube!
Our February 8 den meeting was held at the Carroll Community Media Center in Westminster. We were given a tour of the television station and saw the command center where commercials are created and edited. Then we were allowed in the "Green Room" to try our acting skills with the cameras rolling! Stay tuned for the final commercial to air on Carroll County Public Television and Youtube!
UPDATE: Check out the commercial on YouTube!
December, 2017
The Tiger den learned about Duty to God at our last den meeting. Parents will continue the adventure requirements at home by discussing what makes their family and its members special, what duty to God means to their family and by participating in a worship experience or activity with their family. Regular Sunday church services count!
Jasper entertained the den with his game of 21 Questions. Eric, Ethan and Emmett are on deck to play their games with the den next!
The Tiger den learned about Duty to God at our last den meeting. Parents will continue the adventure requirements at home by discussing what makes their family and its members special, what duty to God means to their family and by participating in a worship experience or activity with their family. Regular Sunday church services count!
Jasper entertained the den with his game of 21 Questions. Eric, Ethan and Emmett are on deck to play their games with the den next!
One of our goals is to put together educational activities that young Cub Scouts can get excited about. Enjoying new activities and learning outside of school is part of the fun of being a Cub Scout! One example is the recent tour of the Gamber and Community Fire Company that our Tiger den recently attended:
They were able to see the various emergency vehicles at the fire company and were allowed to see inside several of them. They also learned how the fire engines operate and respond to emergencies and were shown several fire fighting tools such as the “Jaws of Life.” One fireman even demonstrated how he dons his fire suit and air tank!
The boys had a blast and really enjoyed the tour. Kudos to the Gamber and Community Fire Company for such a great tour and their service to our neighborhood!
The boys had a blast and really enjoyed the tour. Kudos to the Gamber and Community Fire Company for such a great tour and their service to our neighborhood!
The Pack 150 Webelos Den meets the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at Calvary United Methodist Church along Route 91 in Gamber, MD.
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