Cub Scout Belt Loops and Pins

One thing we have started doing to help the boys earn their belt loops and pins is talking to their teachers. The Art teacher is always happy to make sure the boys get recognition for their work. She went through the Wolf Art Electives and Art Loop and pin requirements. All of the Wolf boys from my son’s school have their Art belt loop and pin now.

Last year, at the end of the year, I asked the PE teacher about the Wolf Sports electives (20 a-o). They didn’t do all of them, but they did many of them, plus the sheriff’s department came to the school and did a boating safety program, taking care of Elective 20b.

This year I am more pro-active. The PE teacher has been keeping me posted as to what sport they are playing. I then print out the loop/pin sheet and he marks off what they have accomplished.

http://moorescouting.org/forms.htm – go to the bottom of the page for the cub scout resources in pdf

More Low Fat Ramen

I found some Dr McDougall’s Ramen in some local stores – Fred Meyer and Thriftway. The nutrition – 2 servings per cup (these are not very big cups!) Per serving: 85 cal, Fat .5g, Sodium 340g, Carbs 18g, Fiber 1g, Protein 3g.

The only flavor available was hot and sour. I finally got a chance to try it today. Well I am disapointed. I followed the directions, but the noodles are really mushy. The flavor was an overwhelming pepper. I tried adding olive oil, but it did not smooth the flavors the way it did with Choice Ramen (I miss this product!)

Back to the Ramen drawing board!

Badge Requirements and Loops and Pins

As I am looking at my page stats – a lot of people are visiting for my cub scout experiences. I would say wisdom, but I really don’t know how much wisdom is used in herding cats.

My job in the den (we have more than one leader) is to arrange the field trips. Last year, when the boys were Wolves, I would plan the trip based on the schedule and recommendations listed by the head leader. While making arrangements, I would get a copy of the exact requirements or elective out of the wolf handbook to our guide for the adventure. If there were belt loops or pins that were related, I would also get that information to them. I tried emailing links, but pdfs worked much better.

An example of this was the Books elective, we went to the Library. I sent not only the books elective information, but the reading and writing pin/loop and communication pin/loop information. The librarian went through the list and put together her program from the various requirements. The boys were able to accomplish a number of items on the lists. They couldn’t get everything accomplished from the lists, but they accomplished a lot from the lists.

We did have to make book covers another time – but that is a quick project. It is part of a Wolf elective (6c) and also Reading and Writing Pin 5 and Art Pin 9. We cut up paper grocery bags for the covers and decorated them with pen, pencil, crayon and stickers. Directions for making a cover are in the wolf handbook (see the links below) or here is a step by step guide from About.com:
http://specialchildren.about.com/od/schoolissues/ss/bookcover2.htm

As for the herding of cats, our head leader has started some games before we go inside the field trip, to channel some of their energy. We also use 1 parent for every two boys. If they do not behave, they must hold their adult’s hand (such a blow to a grown up third grader). It has been a wonderful experience getting to know each of the boys. I am enjoying working with them, I wish I had their energy!

Resources:
http://meritbadge.org – this site has a very useful crossreference between badge requirement and electives and belt loops and pins

http://moorescouting.org/forms.htm – go to the bottom of the page for the cub scout resources in pdf

 

 

Great Article

This is on other uses of vinegar:

http://www.circleofmoms.com/article/10-more-household-uses-vinegar-01351?trk=digest_editorial_1351&email_enc=oMer19OYmNXJ2MrJyabJoq2hw6HXmJao1A%253D%253D&email_src=13156964289e9749468dd1db9496971486c60994c9&template_name=digest_weekly_2&subject_id=2938&has_fb=1

Another cool food find

This one was local. It is a little specialty shop called The Meadows. They sell chocolate, wine, bitters and salt. They also have a few other spices. It is a tiny shop, but they have an amazing selection. I didn’t really look at the wine, bitters or chocolate, we came for the salt. There are salts from all over the world. So are ground or flaked. Others are in blocks for cooking on. Some comes in large pieces and are shaved right before use.

http://www.atthemeadow.com/shop/

Food Find on Vacation

We were shopping (ok wine tasting) in Leavenworth, Washington. We came across an oil and vinegar shop I really liked:

http://www.oilandvinegarcellar.com

I got lime infused oil and cherry balsamic vinegar. Hubby picked out rosemary infused oil, son picked out strawberry champagne vinegar.

WW Materials

So I cleaned out the drawer of WW materials. I have stuff from the Turnaround Plan, Momentum Plan and Points Plus. The Turnaround and Momentum programs had lost of information. Points Plus there was one book and the weekly newsletters oh yeah and the calculator you HAD to buy to make the program work. There is allution to activity points, but I can’t find anything documenting it.

Well I am glad I have changed back. There is plenty of information on the old plans out there in internet land.

I am still sticking with going to the meetings. I want the support – that is what Jean Nidetch founded the group on.