Weekend Patrol Box #23

Autumn is off on a dead run.  Mid-October already?  Really?

We are headed off on a Medieval Camporee this weekend.  Should be quite a lot of fun, despite the rainy forecast.

Check out some of these gadgets and pieces of the Patrol Box:

1. An energy generating backpack from The Adventure Blog.  I can't tell you how much I hate my cell phone dying over a weekend--it is my watch.
2. Contest at The Boy Scout Trail:  if you have email, you can enter.  Personally, I want the fire piston, pictured above, from Wilderness Solutions.  Watch the clips and you will, too.
3. Twitter find:  BSA Licensing announces Boy Scouts of America Outdoor Fire Rings Now this is a good-looking product.
4. In addition to the 3 fire types listed in the Camping Merit Badge of the Week, check out the Dakota Fire Hole.  Anyone use this?
5. BSA's Camping Elite:  the Order of the Arrow Troop (or Team) Representative info online--great snapshot of what this important role does and how to make it useful.  What does your OA Rep do?
6. We should probably have a Trails End version of this poster!
7. National Hall of Leadership:  Have you nominated someone yet?  Make it a priority this weekend! (@cbblog)
8. Cub Scout's October theme:  Jungle Safari and Centennial version Jungle Safari (yes, they are different!)  More of interest to compare the formats and differences--hopefully October is already planned...;-)
9. November's theme for Cub Scout is Cub Scout Salute. Now is the time to get started on the plans.
10. OA Trading Post online--how did I miss this one?  Do you know of other Scouting related stores online?

Feel free to share your thoughts and links in the comments or via Twitter (one day this will happen!  I have faith!).  Thanks!

2009 Cub Scout Monthly Themes

Many packs and dens find the monthly themes useful.

They help to integrate the program with fun ideas and twists to keep the boys engaged.

[I wish the Program Helps covered Webelos--they always seem to get left out of the theme.]

One of the first things I do in June is email out the list of monthly themes to our den leaders, with the expectation that the themes be used. They are great skeletons to build on.

2009 Monthly Themes

January--"A-MAZE-ing" Games
February--American ABC's
March--When I Grow Up
April--Jurassic Pack
May--Leave Nothing But Footprints
June--A Camping We Will Go
July--Be A Sport
August--Fun In The Sun
September--Cub Scout Pockets
October--Jungle Safari
November--Cub Scout Salute
December--Works Of Art

June's theme is special. My youngest son will finally be a Tiger Scout, spending the last 5 years watching an older brother move through the pack and into the Boy Scouts.

Do you use the monthly theme in your pack or den? Do you have trouble (or a good solution) for integrating the them with your Webelos Scouts?

Share your expertise in the comments.