2014....ALREADY?!?!

Get ready for 2014!  We are already recruiting staff and prepping for not just one...not two...but THREE separate day camps in Trailblazer District!

Your herald, buckler and quest await!

Pictures and Awards update

Where Can I See the Professional Photographer Photos?

Pictures were taken on Friday morning of all of the packs.  These can  be viewed at www.getkaradaway.zenfolio.com.  Go to "clients" and find Cub Scout Camp.  The password is "galactic"  .  You can also get information on how to order pictures if you haven't yet.

What Awards Did Our Scouts Finish?

We had lots of changes this week, due to weather.  So let's cover what the scouts actually accomplished this week:

Art Belt Loop---COMPLETE
Astronomy Belt Loop--COMPLETE
Astronomy Pin--COMPLETE
Bear Elective--Space--COMPLETE
Communicating Belt Loop--COMPLETE
Communicating Pin--COMPLETE
Communicator Activity Pin--4, 7, 9, 15, 16 COMPLETE
Forester Activity Pin--COMPLETE
Geology Belt Loop--COMPLETE
Geology Pin--COMPLETE
Hiking Belt Loop--COMPLETE
Hiking Pin--COMPLETE
Map and Compass Belt Loop--COMPLETE
Music Belt Loop--COMPLETE
Science Belt Loop--COMPLETE
Scientist Activity Pin--1, 4, 9, 10, 13, 14 COMPLETE
Weather Belt Loop--COMPLETE
Weather Pin--COMPLETE
Wolf Elective--Outdoor Adventure b, c, e, g--COMPLETE
Wolf Elective--Grow Something--COMPLETE
Wolf Elective--Be An Artist c--COMPLETE

Now, for the Nova and Supernova Awards

First, a word about these.  In order for Supernovas to be presented, they have to be signed by a Supernova mentor.  Laura Cruse, Jason Cruse and Sarah Arnold are registered as counselors.  You should also register members of your pack as counselors.  Information on registering as a mentor can be found here.  Tigers cannot earn Nova or Supernova.  Wolves and Bears use the forms found on this page.  Webelos earn the same Nova awards as the Cub Scouts, but have different Supernova requirements.  Those forms can be found here.

During this week, Wolves, Bears and Webelos who finished their mission logs completed:

Science Everywhere
Tech Talk
1-2-3 Go!--1, 3, 5

For the Supernova awards:

It is recommended that Cub Scouts and Webelos earn 2 Nova Awards before earning the Supernova.

Alvarez Supernova (Cubs Scouts):  Need to complete Mathematics and show proof in the mission log of requirements 3 and 4 (about Dr. Alvarez and 3 other scientists).

Townes Supernova (Webelos):  Need to complete requirements 1 and 2 and show proof in mission log of requirements 3 and 4 (about Dr. Townes and 5 other scientists).

Friday!

Camp is at the park at the beginning of the Wabash Trace on Harry Langdon Blvd.  Follow Harry Langdon east past Lewis Central HS and MS.  The park is on the right at the bottom of Titan Hill, just across from Tastee Treat. (You might have been there before for baseball games.)

We have a professional photographer in camp today to take individual and pack photos.  If you did not order photos before, we will have a link up by the end of the day for orders.

Science Day!

All Science!  All Day!  It's Thursday!

Thank you Iowa Western for letting be here!

Well, rain came again on Thursday--another day spent mostly inside.  But what a day!  Robot wars, space helmets, a little planning for the camp show and our IWCC Finale, the Science Fair!

Martha Blue led a fantastic 12 station event, culminating in...well...you'll see!

Thursday morning update!

Good morning everyone!

Due to the coming rain, we are moving check-in to inside Stuart Hall for Thursday morning (like we did on Tuesday).  Morning events and activities will be inside Stuart Hall until the weather clears.

See you at camp!

If your son came home and talked about what we're doing at Day Camp, you might check out the following with him: 

A NOVA program on PBS about exactly what we have been learning about during camp:  "Earth From Space."  This program talks about observations coming from the International Space Station (Astronomy belt loop and pin connection) and what they are telling us about Earth's geography (Map and Compass belt loop and pin connection) and Weather on Earth (Weather belt loop and pin connection). Find this program online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/earth-from-space.html

Also, John Johnson of the Omaha Astronomical Society told us that there will be a very exciting comet in the night sky this fall, sometime in November.  The Astronomical Society will have special events to check it out.  You can find out about these special events and all the other public programs the Society holds at:    http://www.omahaastro.com/.  

John also mentioned that in the fall, University of Nebraska-Lincoln has an open house a few times at their big observatory telescope.  The Strategic Air and Space Museum also has programs about the night sky. 

Wednesday:  Blue Skies, Smiling at Me. . . Nothin' but Blue Skies, Do I See!

Our camp photographer could not come to camp today, and I don't have pictures of activities.  If anyone can email me photos, I will upload them for all to enjoy.  Send pictures to lcruse@cox.net, please.

Robotics, again?

We started our day with some of the Wolves and Bears working on Map and Compass belt loop and pin, Webelos finishing a service project of spreading mulch on a garden, and the rest of the Wolves and Bears playing "Capture the Flag."   Afterward, it was back to Robotics.

I asked several groups of boys, "Are you bored with robots yet?"  The resounding answer was, "No!  It's just getting good, because we are having battles now and our helpers showed us how to win!" The Wolves and Bears have been paying attention to the robot wars going on in the Webelos Vex Robotics classroom, and today the younger Scouts went rogue.  They turned their Snap Circuit robots into battle bots! 

(I think we should contact a company that does product testing and invite them to come to next year's Day Camp.  Our boys could find the full extent of the durability of anything the company brought.)

Today was our big shooting sports day:  Launching dog food from slingshots!  The College has a policy of no weapons on campus, so we got to toss dog food around for the deer to eat.

Boys also made terrariums in Mason canning jars.   The Webelos learned how precious life is in the universe; they already knew that Earth is the only planet we know of that has life in existence.  They talked about the essentials for something to be able to live, and they also talked about the process of conducting an experiment to study life.

Every day right after lunch we have been watching different episodes of "Bill Nye, the Science Guy."  Today we watched "Gravity." (It's available on YouTube, Mom and Dad, if you want to watch it, too.)  Ask your Cub what Bill Nye threw off the building to test gravity!

This afternoon we had a visitor, John Johnson, from the Omaha Astronomy Club.  He covered the points in the Astronomy Belt Loops and pin. . . AND he brought a telescope that allowed the boys to look at the sun!  The boys saw an orange ring around the sun, and they saw a black spot that was a solar storm.  As they say in Bill Nye, "Whoa!"

We wrapped up the day with a bounce house and a giant sponge bomb war.  It got intense, but it didn't turn into "Lord of the Flies." 

Is your son getting tired yet?  Remind him to bring his water bottle; we are encouraging the boys to drink often, but it was warm outside today and they are doing a lot of walking.

Reminder:  Camp will be at Iowa Western on Thursday.  The last day of camp--Friday--will be at the park at the base of the Wabash Trace on Harry Langdon Blvd, at the bottom of Titan Hill Intermediate school.  We will walk to the swimming pool at Iowa School of the Deaf, so boys should bring swimming trunks and a towel.  We will have an all-camp cookout on Friday: hot dogs, buns, chips, watermelon, and ice cream or popsicles. 

Hey, Hey, Hey. . . What a Day!

Boy, were we glad for sunshine!

Tuesday

Thank you to all the adults who have come to camp and walked around with the boys!  You should earn a hiking merit badge!

We started off with rain again, so we had to do physical training inside the classrooms. Here we have some knee-volleyball going on with a balloon.

Rain outside made robotics indoors all the more fun!  We had our first bot wars with the Webelos Scouts learning about VEX robotics.



The Wolves and Bears are working on robotics with kits called "Snap Circuits."  If you are interested in checking into a kit for your family or your pack, you can search for "Snap Circuit robot."  We purchased the ones we are using at camp from Carl's Electronics online.

The skies cleared off just in time for Wolves and Bears to take a Freak-a-Nature hike.  Webelos had a special visitor, Arli Boustead, from the Scouting program team to work on the Forester badge.  Who knew you could measure a tree with a yardstick?

In the afternoon, our special guests came from Gifford Farms with a STARLAB.  The lab was like a giant tent the Cubs could enter and watch a program about the constellations. 

We also did service projects for Iowa Western.  Wolves and Bears collected recycling materials around the College and took them to a recycling center behind student dormitories.  (We created a sport: Junk-chucking for points!  They loved throwing empty soda bottles into the opening on the side of the recycling center!)  Webelos collected trash around the campus, and they finished up their service project by spreading mulch around a courtyard garden on Wednesday morning.

Don't forget:  All people attending camp should wear closed shoes, like tennis shoes.  Also, Thursday is our last session at Iowa Western.  On Friday we will be at the park at the beginning of the Wabash Trace, on Harry Langdon Blvd (at the bottom of the hill down from Titan Hill Intermediate School).

 

First Day of Camp: Soggy and rocky!

What a fun first day of camp!  We picked the perfect day to study the Weather belt loop and pin, because the boys got to learn firsthand how to tell what to do in potential tornado conditions, during the morning storm!

Everyone enjoyed robotics in the morning, which we will continue through Thursday.

Thanks to students from Brownell-Talbot, Abraham Lincoln, and Techna Pwn robotics clubs who provided equipment and instruction for our guys about robotics! 

After lunch, we heard from two special visitors from the Air Force.  Majors  Turner and Surita, both with Strategic Space Command, talked to our Cub Scouts about the jobs they get to do in the Air Force.  Major Turner has helped launch two space shuttles!

In the afternoon we got to learn all about rocks and minerals from Aaron, Sarah, and Drew from the UNO Geology Club. 

Thanks to the UNO Geology Club for working on the Geology Belt Loop and Pin with us!

Day Camp access is off of College Road and Valley View drive.   Once you come to that intersection, near College View Elementary, head through the parking lots towards the Arts Center.  We are down the hill behind the Arts Center along the disc golf course.  There is a lot of construction at Iowa Western, so we appreciate your patience as you find us.

Photos at Camp!

Exciting News--Scouts can have a professional photo at camp for their scrapbook!

A local photographer, Kara Johansen of "Get Kara'd Away," will be at camp on Monday morning, taking pictures of the Scouts. 

If you would like to order a photo package for your Scout, please use the order form below.  All orders must be turned in on Monday morning to ensure she will have the photos ready by Friday afternoon at the end of Day Camp. 

The .pdf of her order form did not copy into this posting as originally formatted.  If you would like one of Kara's original order forms, please email lcruse@iwcc.edu and Laura Cruse will get one to you. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get Kara'd Away!

Please print clearly! Data will be printed EXACTLY how it appears on this form. You are responsible for accuracy and legibility.

Scouts Name :

Parents Name :

Pack # :

Item                                                                             Amount                    Quantity

Pack Package - includes 8x10 memory mate                  $20                          _____

(3x5 ind. And 5x7 troop composite), a button 

of your scout and 8 wallets

Memory Mate (3x5 ind. and 5x7 pack                           $10                          _____

composite)

8 x 10 Individual Photo                                                  $8                            _____

5 x 7 Individual Photo                                                    $6                            _____

8 x 10 Photo of Pack                                                     $8                            _____

5 x 7 photo of Pack                                                       $6                            _____

3.5 x 5 Individual Print                                                   $4                            _____

8 Wallets                                                                       $8                            _____

Photo Button                                                                 $5                            _____

Photo Magnet                                                               $8                            _____

Total                                                                            $ _______                _____

Please make checks out to Kara Johansen

Pictures will be taken on June 24th at camp. Photos will be returned to the Scout at camp on the last day. Please send your order form and payment with your Scout on June 24th. Thank you!

Get Kara'd away

Kara.Johansen@hotmail.comfacebook.com/GetKaradawayGetKaradaway.zenfolio.com402.660.1015

New Information about Camp and Swimming!

Leader Guide

The leader guide for Trailblazer Day Camp has been uploaded to the Council Website.  Please check it right away.  It explains the rules of camp, and it explains what you need to prepare and bring to camp.  Most of the forms you will need to fill out ahead of time are included there.

Please note the Iowa Western has MAJOR construction going on this summer.  Things are changing there daily.  While we know that we will hold camp behind the Arts building, on the side of campus by Valley View Drive, we don't know exactly what roads will be like during the week of June 24th.  Please look for updates on that close to the dates of camp.

Swimming on Friday afternoon

Camp will meet at locations along Harry Langdon Blvd. on Friday.  (More details coming soon!)  We will have swimming on Friday afternoon.  Boys must do swim checks BEFORE they come to camp in order to  be able to swim.  That form can be found at http://www.mac-bsa.org/Post/sections/85/Files/Pre-CampSwimCheck.pdf.  Our lifeguards will not have time to do swim checks at camp, so come PREPARED. 

Camperships!

If you find that the cost of the full week of Day Camp is out of reach, apply for one of the Council's camperships. 

The deadline is Week of May 13!   

Check out this link for more details: 

http://mac-bsa.org/camp_csc_resources.aspx

Preparing for the Galactic Mission!

Are your boys ready to have a blast at Day Camp this summer?  Don't wait for June 24 to start the fun!  

Nasa has a website full of games that you can play now!  They are divided up between games for boys who are Wolf-and-Bear-age,  and a separate section of games for boys Webelos-age (and up). 

Find those games at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/education/?page=67

The TENTATIVE schedule for Day Camp (without Webelos Activities--those will be announced shortly):

Monday

Official NASA Astronaut physical training
Robotics
Map and Compass
Geology
Shooting (slingshots)
Nature Hike
Skype with a NASA Astronaut (still in confirmation stages; not definite yet)

Tuesday

Official NASA Astronaut physical training
Robotics
Map and Compass
Special Tour (will count toward a NOVA requirement for Wolf and Bear)
STARLAB special event
Create a planetarium
Craft

Wednesday

Official NASA Astronaut physical training
Robotics
Communication
Visit from Omaha Astronomy Club (Astronomy Belt Loop and Pin)
Create a terrarium

Thursday

Official NASA Astronaut physical training
Robotics
Craft/Sport
Make It/Take It Science Fair
Service Project

Friday

Build Rockets; Rocket Derby
All Camp Games
All Camp Cookout
Swimming
Campfire Closing

What will boys complete in camp for advancement?

NOVA: Science Everywhere and TechTalk modules
Astronomy, Map and Compass, and Geology belt loops and pins
Some rank advancement requirements

During the week, boys will have the chance to read, write, do some math, explore the outdoors, learn how to think like a scientist, play games, learn about NASA and careers in science, and provide service to the community.

I thought I would share a piece of a conversation I had with a Pack Committee Chair:

Committee Chair:  We are going to work on NOVA in our meetings in June. What will be accomplished at Day Camp?

Me:  We are going to complete most requirements for "Science Everywhere" and "Tech Talk."  Kids who come to camp EVERY DAY will complete the Map and Compass belt loop and pin, the Astronomy belt loop and pin, and the Science belt loop and pin. 

There are two areas you can address in the Pack during June to ensure that boys are able to finish the requirements for these areas:

1)  Boys who have already completed the belt loops and pins listed above are supposed to choose a new belt loop or pin from the lists of options in the NOVA requirements.  I know of one boy, for example, who already has the Astronomy belt loop and pin.  He would need to earn a select, additional belt loop and pin to earn the NOVA award.

2)  We will only have time to watch 1/2 an hour of video program each day for the viewing/reading requirement.  If kids come every day and actively participate in the 1/2 hour of watching "Bill Nye the Science Guy," they should be able to complete the "contemplation" part of the NOVA requirements.  You could reinforce this requirement by having a meeting where the boys read books about a science topic for an hour, or  watch a PBS Nature or Nova episode ahead of time.  They could come to their dens ready to share and present what they learned.  That will give them a chance to discuss the reading or episode with their counselor (in this case, den leader), as required.  PBS has episodes of Nature and Nova on its website, so those programs are very accessible.

Maybe the most important thing that the Pack can do to complete NOVA achievements is to let parents know it is a feature of Day Camp and Pack advancement for June.  If all the parents get the brief NOVA hand out (http://www.scouting.org/stem/Awards/CubScout.aspx) and find out what we're covering at Day Camp, they can fill in gaps at home.  Or maybe they want to try to earn Swing! or 1-2-3-Go! at home?

Just Added to Our Schedule!

Tuesday, June 25

2-4 p.m.

Starlab

Do you like camping and looking at the night sky? 

How about climbing in a tent to look at the stars INSIDE the tent? 

*******

Wednesday, June 26

1 p.m. 

Omaha Astronomy Club

Complete the requirements for the Astronomy belt loop and pin
with friends from the Omaha Astronomy Club!

Galactic Trek

It's time to boldly go where no Cub Scout has gone before!

On June 24-28 we will meet at the Iowa Western Campus in Council Bluffs for space cadet training. 

 

Prepare yourself for

 

Physical training, astronaut style

Robotics (creation and control of robots)

Learning about the constellations and space

Learning about planet exploration

Building rockets

Each day we will meet from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the morning we will have cadet classes:

Physical training
Robotics
Belt Loops and Pins that count toward the NOVA award for Cub Scouts

In the afternoon we will have special activities and presentations:

Bounce house
Swimming/water activities
Visit a traveling planetarium to see the night sky
Meet with a special visitor who is an expert on space exploration
Make-and-take Science Fair
More events and visitors to be added soon!

Cost of Day Camp is $100 per boy (adults are free).  Lunch is not provided, but one snack is provided each day.  

Packs should register with the Council at

http://www.mac-bsa.org/camp_details.aspx?ID=2623

by June 7, 2013. 

Parents:  Please check with your Pack about registration for Day Camp. All boys who attend camp are required to be accompanied by an adult leader.  There will not be activities planned for siblings.

For questions about Day Camp, contact Laura Cruse at 402-779-1472.