Star Party on Mt. Tam - June 27

Hi everybody,

Here is information about the upcoming Star Party on Mt. Tam. All cub scouts parents and friends are invited. Lets hope for clear skies!

WHEN

June 27, as soon as it gets dark... sunset is at 8:36PM, so a little while after that. Given how close we are to the summer solstice, good viewing will be a bit late. A waxing crescent moon (not quite 1st quarter) will be up all night.

LECTURE

Professor Lynn Cominsky, Sonoma State University: "Exploring the Extreme Universe with Fermi"

NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (formerly known as GLAST) is exploring the most energetic and exotic objects in the cosmos: blazing galaxies, intense stellar explosion and super-massive block holes. Fermi probes the Universe on scales from the infinite to the infinitesimal, and future observations may shed light on the nature of dark matter.

The lectures aren't too technical, and usually have cool graphics. I think the kids will enjoy learning about super-massive black holes!

SKY VIEWING AND VIEWING ETIQUETTE

After the lecture, telescopes brought by San Francisco Amateur Astronomers will be available for public viewing. The observing sessions are courtesy of the astronomers - so be nice to them, and ask politely before attaching a cub to their telescope. The equipment is their personal property. Please do not handle or adjust any equipment without the explicit permission of the owner(s). Use only filtered (preferably red) light around the telescopes (more on that, below).

The observing sessions last about 1 to 1 1/2 hours after the lecture.

WHAT TO WEAR, WHAT TO BRING

Wear layers... no need to wear the cub uniform but it is always nice. Bring a flashlight with a red filter or red LEDs. Multi-color LED flashlights are pretty common these days at hardware and drug stores. I think green LEDs is probably fine, but red is more usual. (White light prevents the eye from becoming dark adapted - a process that can take 20-30 minutes - so shining a regular flashlight around can annoy astronomers. There will be "greeters" at the Mountain Theater with spare red filters and possibly red flashlights for loan/sale - but we're a large group so don't count on it.)

DRIVING AND DIRECTIONS

Lets carpool. I can take about 2 parents / 3 kids - so if you are in my den, let me know if you'd like a ride. Otherwise, organize carpools with your friends.

From Highway 101 take the Highway 1, Stinson Beach exit. At Tam Junction (the first stop light), turn left onto the Shoreline Highway (also called Highway 1). In about 2 miles turn right onto Panoramic Highway. In another 3/4 miles the road splits 3 ways. Take the middle fork. In about 5 miles the Pan Toll Ranger Station will be on your left. Turn right through the gates across the road from the station and continue for about another 1 1/2 miles to the Rock Springs parking area.

Mountain Theater: the lecture, held in the outdoor amphitheater, is about a three-minute walk from from the parking area. By the time the program is concluded (45 minutes to 1 hour) it will be dark. There will be lanterns along the path and on the stairs at the theater, but if you feel that you need any assistance please do not hesitate to ask one of the State Park Volunteers to help you.
PARKING

Parking: Parking is free but limited.

When you approach the Rock Springs Parking Area, you will find the lot has been divided into two sections by a string of orange cones. Astronomers with telescopes park to the left of the cones, while the general public is asked to park to the right. There will be signs and volunteers to assist you. If the lot is filled, there will be a sign directing you to the upper parking lot. Go past the entrance to the Mountain Theater for about another 1/4 mile. The road will be closed by a gate, and there will be a sign directing you to park in the lot to your right. There is a short trail from the lot to the Mountain Theater. It is recommended that if you wish to observe after the program and you are in the upper lot, that you take the trail back to your car then drive down to Rock Springs for the observing. Some patrons do not stay for the observing, so you should find a parking space.

SAFETY

It gets dark so the parent kid ratio should be as close to 1:1 as possible. Be there for your kid, or have an adult appointed to watch out for them. There's no way the cub scout leaders will be able to track everyone at this event.

HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN!
Dave

Presidential Fitness Guidelines

You can download them here. There's no indication yet from the Obama Transition Team whether they're going to make it harder to achieve Presidential and National fitness levels - so these are the goals to strive for now. Good luck! Remember, you and your cub can keep trying.

Scouting for Food, Campout

Hello Everyone,

This weekend we have two events.

Scouting for food, Sat November 8th, 9am, Scout Hall.

Scouts collect over 60,000 lbs of food for the needy and it all stays here in Marin. We will meet at scout hall and each den will be given an area to cover, should only take about 1 hour.

Pack 34 Fall Camp-out up at Camp Tamarancho in Fairfax. Sat November 8th Anytime after lunch.

It looks like there is a small chance for rain, so I would like everyone to plan accordingly. The pack will provide dinner on Sat. eve and breakfast on Sunday am. We need to know if you are coming so we can plan provisions. Can you let me know if you are in:

A) Rain or shine.
B) Only sunny weather.

We plan on heading to the store on Friday afternoon. So we need to know by noon on Friday. If I haven't heard from you, I will consider you're out. If you have already confirmed, will you confirm again. Thanx

This year we want to make this a green camp-out, please bring a mess kit (available at big 5 or any sports shop), we will have proper washing station set up. Also, this is a leave no trace activity. We will have plates for adults. But kids should have a mess kit. This is a very convenient car camping site, your vehicle is very close to your tent sites.

With the recent rains we should be able to have a great camp fire. Last year the fire was not supervised enough, we need help with controlling the fire and maybe only having adults put logs on the fire.

Here is a map of tamarancho:
http://www.doubleknot.com/openrosters/DocDownload.asp?id=17422

and here is how to get there:
http://www.doubleknot.com/openrosters/DocDownload.asp?id=29686

I look forward to seeing everyone this weekend.

Yours in Scouting,
Bruce Berlinger
Doug Gelbach

Fall Campout

Hello Everyone,

We are planning the camp out for November 8th at Camp Tamarancho after we do the bag hand out for Scouting for Food. We will be camping rain or shine, but what we have experienced in the past, "if it rains they won't come." The pack will provide the food for dinner the night of the 8th and breakfast for the morning of the 9th You are responsible for lunches, either before or after. I will ask for volunteers to provide either cooking or clean up help for the two pack meals. Doug and I won't do the shopping until a couple of days before, so let us know your intentions, if your in rain or shine, or on the fence because of the weather, that's fine, let us know. We will know the weather forecast a couple of days before.

If you haven't turned in your Youth Membership or your Adult Applications please get them in to Doug Gelbach, our Pack Chairman. For insurance reasons, we need to have applications and dues before the campout.

Our Pack 34 monthly meeting for November is on the 12th, at 7PM.

Scouting for Food, we all meet at scout hall Saturday, November 8th at 9AM. Most will head up to Tamarancho after lunch, but you can always go up early. This is a camp out for the family and I hope that everyone will be able to come. More details to follow.

Doug Gelbach
Chairman pack 34

Yours in Scouting,
Bruce Berlinger
Cubmaster Pack 34

Welcome Cubs of 2008!

It's going to be a great year. We have a lot of activities coming up:

• White Water rafting!
• Camp outs!
• Flying in light aircraft!
• Presidential physical fitness!
• Food drive!
• Popcorn sales!
• Rocket launching!
• Hiking!
• Winter camping!
• Pinewood derby!
• Skits!
• Games!
• Learning about cool stuff!
• Having fun with each other!

Can't wait to get started!!!

Cub Scout Day Camp June 23-27, July 21–25, August 12–16

This year, Day Camp is once again at Camp Tamarancho. It is a five-day-long program for all Cub Scouts and boys entering the 2nd through 5th grades in the up-coming Fall and who are 7 years old by the first day of camp. Boys will participate in age-related activities in groups (dens) of similarly ranked Cub Scouts that rotate through daily activities. Look for more details as they become available on the calendar at the date of the event.

Activities may include archery, BB gun, field sports, handicraft, nature, science, outdoor skills, and waterfront (swimming). The last day concludes with a campfire program filled with skits, songs, and lots of good Cub Scout fun!

A natural by-product of the Cub Scout camping program is advancement. Each camper will be provided a record of activities by rank that occurred at day camp. However, not all campers participate in every activity. Parents, guardians and/or den leaders have the responsibility to find out what they did at day camp and mark each Cub Scout's handbook appropriately. Camp staff members are not authorized to sign a Cub Scout's handbook. The actual awards and purchase of them, such as sports belt loops, is the responsibility of the pack. Early Bird discount ends Friday, May 2!

Flag Planting at the San Francisco National Cemetery Presidio of San Francisco

2008
Flag Planting at the San Francisco National Cemetery Presidio of San Francisco
hosted by
Golden Gate District
San Francisco Bay Area Council
Please join other Scout Units on this day to honor our veterans
in the Presidio of San Francisco
Date: Saturday, May 24, 2008 Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (we start promptly at 9:00 a.m.) Location: 1 Lincoln Blvd. , Presidio of San Francisco
Cub & Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Venturing &
Adult Leaders should be in their uniforms
Following ceremony, all Cub & Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Venturing and Adult Leaders,
in uniform, may visit the Exploratorium for free.

Memorial Day Parade

When: Monday, May 26th

Where: 9:30am in front of Old Mill School. Enter the staging area from behind the school on Elma from Lovell.

Who: All Cub Scouts and their parents. Parents, if you cannot walk with your child, please assign responsibility for your child to another participating parent. Everyone in the parade will receive a participation ribbon.

What to Wear: Full uniform.

En route: Bring your skakeboard/scooters. All participants must be prepared to walk/ride 2 miles and are encouraged to bring water and wear comfortable shoes.

Finish: We will end at Tam High School. Stay and enjoy the festivities celebrating the100 year anniversary of the school.

Bring New Scouts - and Calendar Update

Hey Pack 34 Parents,

If you know of any boys who are interested in scouts (especially kindergarteners) please bring them to the Pack Meeting next Wednesday. We're gearing up for recruiting new scouts and word of mouth is our best opportunity. Any boy who brings a friend who joins scouts in the Fall receives a sweet recruiting patch.

Here is the calendar for pack events for the rest of the year

Wed. 5/14, 7 PM, Pack Meeting, Scout Hall

Awards and more! We will also be giving the presedential awards out, contact your den leader if you need help on this one.

Saturday 5/24 8 am, Memorial Day Flag planting at Presidio Cemetery in SF

Did you know that only scouts and veterans are allowed to plant flags at the national cemeteries? This event makes you look at Memorial Day as much more than a 3-day weekend.

Monday 5/286, Time TBD, Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade

We're marching/scootering en masse with all MV Cub Scouts.

Wed. 6/5 6 PM Bridging Pool Party at Homestead Valley Pool

This is our end of the year blowout.

Sat 6/7 9 am to 12 Noon, Fishing Derby at Marin Rod and Gun Club

The club opens its pier (north of Richmond SR Bridge) to all Marin cub scouts for fishing.

If you have any questions e-mail me back or ask your respective den leader.

Yours in Scouting,

Doug

Cub Scout End-of-Year Calendar

Hey Pack 34 Parents,

This is the final stretch of Cub Scouting as we head toward the end of the year. Please mark your calendars for the following pack activities.

Wed. 5/14, 7 PM, Pack Meeting, Scout Hall

Awards and more!

Saturday 5/24, 8 am, Memorial Day Flag planting at Presidio Cemetery in SF

Did you know that only scouts and veterans are allowed to plant flags at the national cemeteries? This event makes you look at Memorial Day as much more than a 3-day weekend.

Monday 5/26, Time TBD, Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade

We're marching/scootering en masse with all MV Cub Scouts.

TBA, sometime in early June. 7 PM Bridging Pool Party at Homestead Valley Pool

This is our end of the year blowout.

Sat 6/7 9 am to 12 Noon, Fishing Derby at Marin Rod and Gun Club

The club opens its pier (north of Richmond SR Bridge) to all Marin cub scouts for fishing. More info at http://www.doubleknot.com/openrosters/DocDownload.asp?id=36012

Family Fiesta 2008

Join us for Cub Scout Olympics at Camp Tamarancho
Friday, May 2 - Sunday, May 4, 2008
More info: http://www.doubleknot.com/openrosters/DocDownload.asp?id=35719

Bruce and I are going to head up for the day with boys, not sure what time or day yet, let me know if you want to join us.

If you have any questions e-mail me back or ask your respective den leader.

Yours in scouting,
Doug