We would like to let you all know there is are opportunities for in person scouting on Oct 24th. There will be Archery 10am – 12pm and a Hike after lunch.

Event: Briones Archery and Hiking
Where: Camp Herms
When: Oct 24, 2020, 10am – 3pm (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time

No big surprise but COVID Protocols  will need to be in place in order to make this outing as safe as possible.

1. Please take everyone’s temperature before you leave your home. If anyone in your family has a temperature of 99.5 or higher you must not come to the event!
2. When you arrive, please check in and get screened. Do not allow your scout to join everyone until your family has checked in and been screened.
3. No Carpooling please (I hate to say this, but its the safest way right now)
4. Face masks must be worn at all times. If you are eating or drinking you may take it off. If you need air, please walk away from the group and get a breath of fresh air.
5. We must use hand sanitizer often and will need to observe social distancing as much as possible.
6. If anyone in your family feels ill (headache, soreness, upset stomach, congestion, fatigue or fever) please do not attend. If you anyone in your family has any of these symptoms within 2 weeks after the event, please contact me asap. ecpack104cm@gmail.com

Make your way to the Bear Creek Staging Area.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Archery+Range/@37.9258518,-122.1574706,16.08z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x396da45511fdc432!8m2!3d37.9288258!4d-122.1442675

We will be meeting at the Parking lot at 10 AM and will shoot until Lunch. Please pack lunch, snacks and a water bottle! There is nothing around for miles!

Bring $3 for parking and $5 per family for use of the range CASH!! They do not except cards and there is no ATM. Do not forget your Bow and Arrow. There will not be any for rent or use there. If you do not have a bow and arrow, please check these kits on Amazon

CenterPoint Archery ABY215 Sentinel Youth Recurve Bow, Right Hand

rootmemory Recurve Bow and Arrow

Getting these sets or something similar is appropriate for Cub Scout age kids. These are recurve bows similar to what we use at Camp Herms when we shoot there. Compound bows are not ideal for beginners. Please try to share as little as possible. If you do share, please sanitize equipment after each use.

For more information about the Archery in Briones please see the club website.

There will also be an opportunity for a hike. Boy Scouts from Troop 24 may be setting up an orienteering course. Cub Scouts will be able to go on that hike and find out more about what orienteering is. If they do not end up putting together the Orienteering Course, we will take a hike around the hills in Briones.

Please shoot me an email so that I know you are coming. The archery range is a long ways from the parking lot and the cell reception is spotty. If I do not know you are coming and you show up late you may have trouble joining the group.

ecpack104cm@gmail.com
Please RSVP for this event through Scoutbook

My Dashboard > Events > My Calendar

Two weeks ago, Pack 104 Cubmaster RJ “The Great” Lane, shared that the Webelos visited a Cool Pumpkin Patch (called the Cool Pumpkin Patch!) in Dixon. https://www.coolpatchpumpkins.com/

RJ reports:

“The farm and pumpkin patch are set up very well for COVID safety protocol. The staff is taking things very seriously. RJ noted that the majority of people were wearing masks and doing their best to socially distance.”

“They have a fantastic Corn Maze that is about 3 miles if you do not have to back track too much. I highly recommend bringing a backpack with plenty of water, snacks, hats and sunblock. There are not spots to buy water or fill water bottles along the Maze. I will be purchasing Corn Maze Patches if you plan on attending with your den or family, please let me know (and give me a number of patches to get for your den)”

The Corn Maze cost $15 per person (but worth it in the end) Parking is free. Pumpkins are reasonable (We got 4 for $16) They have pedal cars and hay rides. You can borrow a wheelbarrow and pick your own Pumpkin in the field.

On the weekends they have food and drinks for sale.

Some of the Pack 104 Bear Den already took RJ’s suggestion and took their families to the pumpkin patch. Photos from their visit are shown in the gallery below!

On Saturday, October 17, 2020, Pack 104 scouts convened bright and early at Camp Herms for the Annual Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) event. There were 15 scouts who participated in this outdoor event.

All COVID safety guidelines were strictly followed. Attendees all wore masks, kept physically-distanced from others, and hand-sanitizer was used extensively.

Jamboree-on-the-Air is an annual international event in which Scouts and Guides all over the world speak to each other by means of amateur radio. Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared, via the radio waves. Each year about half-a-million Scouts and Guides “get together” over the airwaves for the annual JOTA.JOTI is a similar event but uses the Internet. JOTA and JOTI will be different this year.JOTA will take place at Camp Herms.

For those of you who are interested, registration and info on the JOTA and JOTI events for this year are provided below. You must register to participate.

The Golden Gate Area Council International Committee presents Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) 2020 and Jamboree-on-the-Internet (JOTI) 2020.

Jamboree-on-the-Air is an annual international event in which Scouts and Guides all over the world speak to each other by means of amateur radio. Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared, via the radio waves. Each year about half-a-million Scouts and Guides “get together” over the airwaves for the annual JOTA.

JOTI is a similar event but uses the Internet. JOTA and JOTI will be different this year.

JOTA will take place at Camp Herms.
JOTI may be done from your home by signing up at https://www.jotajoti.info/ and using your computer.
Video introduction to JOTA-JOTI:. https://vimeo.com/191558208

Scouting Magazine article on JOTA-JOTI:: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2018/06/21/

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2020
Time: Come anytime from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. BUT YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR A 1-HOUR TIME SLOT!
The typical time on site is 1 hour.

Place: Camp Herms, 1100 James Place, El Cerrito, CA

Cost: $15 includes JOTA patch

Registration: Registration required at https://www.scoutingevent.com/023-JOTAJOTI2020

Notes:

All COVID-19 safety guidelines will be followed. ALL attendees must wear masks, keep physically-distanced from others, and bring a small personal of hand-sanitizer. All activities will be outside.
Snacks, drinks, or lunch will NOT be provided, so bring your own if needed.
BSA Jamboree-on-the-Air 2020 patches will be mailed out when we receive them.
For All Scouts:

All scouts will learn about amateur radio – what it is, how it works, types of equipment, and how to use it. Scouts will have an opportunity practice 2-way radio communications using UHF radios, and will have a chance to listen to and talk to other scouts and ham radio operators participating in Jamboree-on-the-Air.

For Cub Scouts:

Webelos/AOL Scouts will have an opportunity to complete Requirement 10.d. for Building a Better World Adventure.

For Scouts BSA & Venturers:

The Radio Merit Badge requirement # 9a or #9d may be completed. There may be an opportunity to take the rest of the Radio MB training at a future date.

On Sunday September 13, 2020, the Pack 104 Bear Den gathered in a socially-distant outdoor setting to conduct knife safety training and complete the requirements for the Bear Claws adventure. During this time, all scouts who attended successfully demonstrated their ability to safely handle and use a knife, earing their Whittling Chip patch and Bear Claws belt loop.

They each made a soap carving with butter knives before advancing to pocketknives.

Although each family brought their own first aid kits, we are thrilled to share that nobody had to OPEN their kit, and there was no blood or tears to be shed. Congratulations to the Pack 104 Bear Den for completing this exciting adventure!

Happy August!!

Pack 104 2020-2021 Committee Leadership roles were established in an early July parent meeting. Please visit our our Leadership page for this year’s committee members. 

Note that there are a number of Pack 104 leadership roles that are still up for grabs:

• Secretary – (Position Open)
• Treasurer – (Position Open)
• Advancement Chair – (Position Open)
• Community Service Project Coordinator – (Position Open)
• Summertime Activity Coordinator – (Position Open)

If you would be interested in volunteering for any of these roles, please email our Committee Chair, Mira Roseman or Pack 104 Cubmaster, RJ Lane. 

Mira Roseman, Pack 104 Committee Chair

RJ Lane, Pack 104 Cubmaster

Why did the fish get bad grades?
Because it was below sea level.

What is the difference between a piano and a fish?
You can tune a piano but you cannot tuna fish.

Where do fish keep their money?
In a river bank.

<º))))>< Featured Family Activity <º))))><

This month, all scouts of Pack 104 will be encouraged to fish with the family or den!

Please go fishing with your family or Den and take pictures of the fishing (and fish if you are catching). Scouts who submit photos can have them posted on the Pack 104 website!

Please visit any of our public piers in the Bay or go fishing anywhere in CA if you have a fishing license.

If you do not have a CA State Fishing Licence, you may fish off any public pier in the Bay. There are no specific requirements, just try fishing for a while.  If there are any specific questions, please email RJ at rjthegrt@gmail.com. He would be happy to provide advice and answer any questions you might have concerning where, when, what and how of fishing in the Bay.

Note that participating in this outing will count as a Pack activity towards the Summertime Activity Award. <º))))>< <º))))><  <º))))><

August 16 | Annual Camp Herms Clean Up 

On August 16th at 10 am to 12 pm we will be doing our Annual Camp Herms Clean Up. Sean will have many projects for us to tackle as Dens or individual families. I hope to see everyone there, Camp Herms is a second home for our Pack and need to show it some love. Coffee and Snacks will be provided. Please bring personal water bottles.

August 27th | Pack 104 Meeting

Mark your calendars for our first Pack Meeting of the year. This will take place via zoom and will be on August 27th at 7 pm.

Cubmaster RJ “The Great” Lane shared some photos from his recent trip with the Pack 104 Webelos Den to the Bowman of the Redwoods Archery Range near Chabot Space Center.

If you’re interested in taking your scout(s) to the archery range, please visit:

https://sites.google.com/view/redwood-bowmen

Redwood Bowmen Archery Club maintains a 35-acre archery range in the hills of Oakland, California. A few highlights from their website:

• Open to the Public – a facility of the East Bay Regional Parks
• Dawn to Dusk everyday (excluding day of events – see Events page for more info)
• $5 donation for day use is appreciated (Look for our donation tube as you walk past the Range House)
• Beginner classes available: https://sites.google.com/view/redwood-bowmen/classes?authuser=0
• NO EQUIPMENT RENTALS
• Maintained through the hard work of volunteers, membership dues, and donations from the public
• The range and surrounding property is part of the Roberts Regional Recreational Area, an East Bay Regional Park District Facility

Since we are not able to convene for a pack-wide hike this summer due to safety and health recommendations from state and local authorities, the pack has been keeping Pack 104 families busy with the *brand-new* El Cerrito Historical Trail. This historical trail hike features several El Cerrito landmarks, and can be done by each family separately at their own pace and time.

Download the Historical Trail booklet using this link.

Organized by Bear Den Leader, John Bowen, the Historical Trail is a self-guided 8-mile loop through the lower elevations of the city. The hike can be split over several outings, and while it is designed to start and end at the EC Del Norte BART Station, hikers can jump in anywhere along the route.

Step-by-step directions are included in the trail guide booklet, and to help keep the scouts engaged, there is also a series of scavenger hunt type questions to answer along the way. Booklets were distributed by den leaders at the beginning of July. 

Scouts who hike the trail will earn the *exclusive* El Cerrito Historical Trail patch. Cub Scouts are encouraged to do their best and complete as much of the trail as possible, but they are not required to hike the entire route. 

EXPANSION AND NEW NAME FOR OUR BSA LOCAL COUNCIL

On June 1, 2020, Pack 104’s local BSA council – formerly Mount Diablo Silverado Council- merged with two other Bay Area Councils and has been renamed Golden Gate Area Council (GGAC). This merger represents exciting new opportunities for Bay Area scouting and our Pack now has access to additional scout camps and programs that the other merged Councils bring to the table.

To learn more, please visit this page.

GGAC CUB SCOUT VIRTUAL SUMMER DAY CAMP – JULY 10 thru AUG 1, 2020

The GGAC has pulled together a Virtual Summer Day Camp program as an alternate to the now canceled day camp usually held at Camp Herms. The Virtual Day Camp starts July 10th and continues through August 1, 2020. It is open to all cub scouts – Everyone is encouraged to join in the fun!

Registration is now open at https://scoutingevent.com/023-virtualdaycamp2020. The cost is $70.00 per scout. Special Patches, T-shirts and other items included. The theme this year is “Beneath the Sea”. The program will involve a lot of fun activities for Cub Scout Families and Dens to participate in – including Water-themed games, Nautical Flag Codes, EmergenSea Preparedness and more!

SHARE THE CUB SCOUT DAY CAMP WITH OTHER FAMILIES!

Please note that the Cub Scout Virtual Day Camp CAN be available to other families who are not part of our Pack. These families would be required to register for National BSA Scouts and pay the national dues but are NOT required to enroll in our Pack or in another unit if they do not wish to continue with BSA Scouting after August 1.

Any families eager to provide their children with more organized projects and activities this summer are encouraged to participate. The costs for non-scout families would be around $100.00 for the program (i.e. including the BSA national registration fee).

GGAC2020VirtualDayCampFlyer