Author: wjcolion

Bridging Ceremony

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Did you know that scouting doesn’t end with Cub Scouts? Once a scout reaches eleven years old or fifth grade, they can join a Scouts BSA Troop. The transition from a Pack to a Troop is celebrated in a Bridging Ceremony, so named because traditionally the scout walks across a bridge between the two units.

The Bridging Ceremony typically takes place in the early spring, and is a joint effort between the Pack and whichever Troops the scouts have chosen.

It is up to each scout and their family to choose which Troop they will bridge to, as different Troops have a different focus, preferences, and, of course, meeting location. Troops chosen by members of Pack 8 in the past include: Troop 8, Troop 201, Troop 350, Troop 94, and Troop 95.

In this picture, Den 4 (2014-2019) poses with their den leader before bridging to various Troops.

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Kevin White

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Kevin White joined Pack 8 with his Daughter in the fall of 2018. He started his leadership role as an Assistant Den Leader and now serves as Den Leader for Den 8 and as Assistant Cubmaster. His prior scouting experience was when he himself was a Cubscout around 1985. He has fond memories of these times and wants to share them with his two scouts. Liza, 8, will be a Bear this year (2020) and her sister Charlie, 5, will begin the program as a Lion. Kevin is specialist in mapping and geospatial information. His career has allowed his family to live in very interesting places including 5 years in interior Alaska. His favorite things about Cubscouts is that it shows kids that things don’t have to be on a screen to be fun and interesting and that it provides opportunities to do interesting activities as a family

Lee Allen

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When did you join Pack 8?
August 2019, when our oldest joined as a Tiger Cub.

What scouting experience did you have before volunteering?
I joined Boy Scouts in fifth grade and finished as an Eagle Scout with weeks to spare. Kia Kima Scout Reservation in Hardy, Arkansas was my favorite (summer) camp, where I really enjoyed the Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience (COPE) high ropes courses, canoeing the Spring River, and was the 1995 Freak (of Nature) of the Week. I’m an Ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow.

What is your current role with Pack 8?
Wolf Den Leader, and possible rotating Lion Den Leader.

How long have you had this role?
I’m new to the Wolves this year; I moved up with my Tiger. Helping with Lions is new this year (and could be dizzying).

What previous roles have you had and for how long?
I held several leadership positions in my scout troop, but Quartermaster was my favorite. I was briefly a Jr. Assistant Scoutmaster with my old troop before I started college and forgot when meetings were. After that, I took a brief 20-year hiatus before serving as Tiger Den Leader (2019-2020) for Pack 8. It was a fun, weird year.

How many Cub Scouts are you raising?
Two (a Wolf and a Lion). They are getting heavy, so I should set them down somewhere.

Something interesting about you?
I was mistaken as an Elvis impersonator once, and it earned me a free lunch. If you don’t know who Elvis is, ask your parents (or grandparents).

I am an Eagle Scout, like my father before me.

Favorite part of being in Pack 8?
Post-meeting snacks. After that, it’s helping kids to learn and live the Scout Law.

I have a malformed seriousness gland, and I can provide a doctor’s note if needed.
Lee Allen
King of the Impossible
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2020 Pinewood Derby Results

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Our annual race took place on March 7, 2020, less than a week before everything shut down due to COVID-19. Congratulations to the winners!

Scout – Looks

Tied for 1st: Liza W. (Wolf) and Gracie B. (Lion)

3rd place: Sean K. (AOL)

4th place: Daniel H. (Web)

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Scout – Speed

1st place: Zeke M. (Lion)

2nd place: Sean K. (AOL)

3rd place: Elijah A. (Bear)

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Den 8

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The current Den 8 is our first all-girl den! Due to BSA regulations, all dens must be single-gender. This Den formed in Fall 2018 as a multi-rank den, with members working on age-appropriate requirements from Tiger through Arrow of Light. This den currently has 3 scouts led by Kevin White and Kayla Walsh.

In Spring 2019 this den’s first Arrow of Light scout bridged to Troop 95.

Girls in Cub Scouts

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Earlier this year the BSA announced that for the first time ever, girls would be allowed to join the Cub Scouts. What is your reaction to this announcement? Pack 8 will be hosting an open house in March for parents to discuss the BSA’s announcement and voice their opinions regarding how Pack 8 should move forward. If you have questions, please review the information and watch the videos at these links:

https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2017/10/11/bsa-welcomes-girls/

https://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/family-scouting/

 

Information regarding the integration of girls into Boy Scouts can be found here:

http://talakto.org/2018/04/family-scouting-program/

In summary:

For Cub Scouts, the options are:

  1. Packs could have girl dens and boy dens, but not coed dens.
  2. Packs could remain all boy and not serve girls.
  3. A new all-girl pack could be started.

At the Boy Scout level, troops will not be integrated. A Chartered Organization may choose to sponsor an all-girl Troop that would share the same Committee, but have separate Scoutmaster, Asst. Scoutmaster, etc.

2018 Pinewood Derby

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Congratulations to our 2018 winners!! All of these are eligible to participate at the Talakto District Pinewood Derby on March 10, 2018. The top three Scouts in Speed and Looks will receive trophies at our Blue & Gold Banquet on March 3, 2018.

Scout – Speed

  1. Aiden K. (Lion)
  2. Spencer B. (Web I)
  3. Brayden B. (Web I)
  4. Eli H. (Lion)
  5. Caleb F. (Web II)

Scout – Looks

  1. Will P. (Tiger)
  2. Aaron L. (Web II)
  3. James W. (Wolf)
  4. Brayden B. (Web I)
  5. Spencer B. (Web I)

Outlaw – Speed

  1. Will L. (Web I)
  2. Buckhorn Engineering
  3. Tom B. (Adult)

Outlaw – Looks

  1. Jennifer H. (Adult)
  2. Tom B. (Adult)
  3. Will L. (Web I)

2017 Sights and Sounds of Christmas

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The theme for this year’s Madison Christmas Parade was “The Sights and Sounds of Christmas”. Of course our chimney again played a prominent role in the design, flanked by two artificial trees. The big additions this year were a giant plywood tree, complete with decorations, and a detailed, hand-painted gingerbread house. Coming from the chimney of the gingerbread house floated bubbles filled with smoke – our interpretation of snow. Elf hats were available for the boys, but the night was so bitterly cold that most opted to wear a beanie.

For the 4th year running we were pleased to receive the Mayor’s Large Float Award.

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