Down to the Wire!

The Scouts hit the hardwood at ASU's Wells Fargo Arena! Stephen Ponder hit a BIG 3-pointer tonight with his wonderfully orchestrated ASU Basketball game. The Scouts were recognized on the court during half time (they were thrilled to see themselves on the Jumbo-Tron) and they got to meet the players after the game. What a wonderful family outing. Scouting is FUN!!!

No Den Meetings for 2 Weeks: Next Den Meeting on Jan. 4

We are on Christmas Vacation! No Den Meetings for the next two weeks.

We will, however, meet on Monday, January 4 at our normal time: 6:30pm at the church. On that day, we will probably do a little bit of preliminary work on our Pinewood Derby cars. We'll have some basic outlines for the boys to choose from and they can use those to prep their cars for step two: an initial cut. Chuck Canode has graciously offered to use his band saw to make the initial cut one Saturday afternoon in January. We'll probably try to stagger things so that Scouts can show up between a certain period of time and Chuck will make the cut. The boy can then sand, paint, and prep the car for the big race. Of course, if your Scout has a handy dad feel free to start working on the cars any time.

The Pinewood Derby is on Saturday, January 23 in the afternoon.

Tigers on Ice!

They may not be ready to form their own hockey team, but our Tiger Scouts sure were a sight out on the ice. They all did their best to learn a new sport and they all earned their Ice Skating Belt Loop! We hope everybody had an "ice" time!

Pinewood Derby Cars at Next Pack Meeting

One of Santa's helpers will be at this Monday's Pack Meeting (on December 14 at 7:00pm) handing out the Scout's Pinewood Derby Cars. (Preparing the cars is quite a project, so they need to be handed out this month). The Derby is on Saturday, January 23. The Pack buys each boy one car. Extra cars can be purchased for about $5. We are going to try and set up a "woodworking" workshop one afternoon with some of the more "handy" dads leading the workshop.

Chandler Parade of Lights!!

The Tigers had a terrific time marching in the cold weather! We had Nathan, Benjamin, Carson, Gavin, Kaydon, Michael, and Andrew all decked out in lights--not to mention their fearless leader Earle!

Ice Skating Tonight! No Uniforms!

Dress warm and comfortable. No need for uniforms. See you tonight at 5:45!

ASU Basketball Game = Tiger Go See It

If you haven't already RSVP'd to Jennifer Stork at jenniferstork1@yahoo.com regarding the ASU Basketball game on Sat., Dec. 19, at 4:30 pm please do so by Wednesday, Dec. 9!

For the Tiger Scouts, attending the game completes Requirements 3G, which is a Go See It!

Go Sun Devils!

(And a BIG thank you to the Ponders for making this night possible!!!)

Polar Ice On Wednesday, Dec. 9!!!!

ITEM 1:

There is no Den Meeting tonight!!

Instead, we will gather on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 5:45 pm at Polar Ice Gilbert to earn our Ice Skating Belt Loops.

From the Tiger Den, I've got the following RSVPs: Benjamin, Carson, Gavin, Caleb, Brayden, Kaydon, Nathan, and Michael. Please let me know if this information is incorrect in any way.

Additional details are on the blog: www.awesomeden13.blogspot.com.

Tim's cell phone number is 480-250-7149 if you need to call me.

ONE OTHER THING:

We have a Pack Meeting on Monday, Dec. 14 at 7 pm. I am trying to work it out so that all of the Scouts will receive their Pinewood Derby cars at the Pack Meeting. The Pack pays for the cars, so all your Scout needs to do is be at the meeting and pick up his car.

Bead Questions? See Page 78!!

Your Scout came home tonight with his Progress Toward Rank beads. These beads attach to the white paw print hanging from his shirt pocket (otherwise known as the Immediate Recognition Badge). For an example of how to place the beads on the badge, see Page 78 of the Tiger Handbook. It contains a very helpful illustration.

Family Scrapbook Night!

The Tiger Scouts made their family scrapbooks tonight! If your Scout was at the meeting, he completed Requirement 1D toward his Tiger Rank. You should now sign page 41 of the Tiger Handbook with Akela's "okay" and today's date. You should also color in the 1D paw print on page 163 of the Tiger Handbook. Congrats! It was a fun night!

Mark Your Calendar: Polar Ice on Dec. 9!

We are going to earn our Ice Skating Belt Loops on Wednesday, December 9, at the Polar Ice in Gilbert!! This means we are canceling the December 7 Den Meeting. Instead, we will gather at Polar Ice on Wednesday, December 9.

WHERE is Polar Ice Gilbert?

Polar Ice Gilbert

2305 E. Knox Road

Gilbert, AZ 85296

The facility is just off Greenfield Road, between Ray Road and Warner Road.

WHAT will we do and WHEN will we do it?

Our evening will begin at 5:45pm.

We will receive a tour of the facility, including an up close look at the Zamboni and the enormous chillers. We will also get to see a short video about how they make the ice.

We will then be able to get our skates and hit the ice. We'll talk about safe ice skating tips/rules before we start skating. The evening will also include cookies and hot chocolate. We will probably start skating around 6:30 and you'll be able to skate as long as you like until the facility closes at 9:30. (Or, you can leave whenever you get tired!).

WHY would we do this?

Every Scout who joins us and tries to do their best out on the ice will earn their ice skating belt loop.

WHO is invited?

The entire family! The Den will cover the cost of each Scout, which includes skate rental, ice time, the tour, and cookies and hot chocolate. Each adult and child who wishes to skate and eat cookies and drink hot chocolate will have to pay $7.50 (that fee includes skate rental, ice time, and the cookies and cocoa). Adults and children who do not wish to eat or skate attend for free.

Please RSVP to Tim Keller (tkeller@ij.org) no later than Monday, December 7 with the total number of people who will need skates and snacks.

If you have any questions or need to get hold of me the night of the event, my cell phone number is 480-250-7149.

This should be fun!!!!!

Tiger Cake Walk!

Carson and Mr. Stork With Their WINNING Cake!

Benjamin And His Camp Fire Cake

Send me a picture of your Tiger Scout with his cake and I'll add it to the Tiger blog!

Salvation Army Food Bank

The Pack is trying to fill up the Chandler Salvation Army's Food Bank's shelves and will be collecting nonperishable food items at Monday's Pack Meeting.

Police Station Patches!

A Police Station Visit Patch will be awarded to each boy at the Nov. 30 Den Meeting! What do you do with the patch? Well, you can buy an official scout vest (I posted a picture of one on the Bear Den 11 blog: www.awesomeden11.blogspot.com), or you can make a patch quilt, a patch flag, or even a shadow box. These patches, like the camp out patch, are fun keepsakes--but unfortunately they aren't authorized to be sewn onto the uniform.

ALSO: At the Nov. 30 Den Meeting we will be awarding the Scouts their "Progress Toward Rank" beads. Jennifer Stork will be contacting families prior to the Nov. 30 Den Meeting to determine the number of beads to be award each Scout. He will be awarded one bead for each "Family Activity"; each "Den Activity" and each "Go See It" he has completed. So you might want to get a few of the activities done before Nov. 3o! (The Family Activities are particularly easy and fun). If this isn't making much sense, check out p. 163 of the Tiger Handbook or call or e-mail Jon Kempiak, Earle Glazier, Jennifer Stork, or Tim Keller and we'll help you figure it out!

And remember, there is a Pack Meeting this Monday. Don't forget to bring your cake for the cake walk! If you didn't receive the "rules" for the cake walk, please respond to this e-mail and I will forward you a copy of the rules!

THANKS and see you on Monday!!

Leaf Rubbings: Den Activity 5D

The boys made leaf rubbings tonight during the Den Meeting, which completed Den Activity 5D. You may sign off on this activity in their Tiger Handbook (p. 75) and color in the 5d Paw Print in the back of their book (p. 163).

PB&J Reminder

I should have sent this reminder earlier, but we are collecting Peanut Butter and Jelly at tonight's Den Meeting to help feed hungry kids over the Christmas break. Thanks in advance for your service to our community!

Service Project: Feeding the Hungry

One of my favorite things that Jesus said was that He came not to be served, but to serve. Service is an important part of Scouting especially as our Scouts seek to "help others." Our community has two very important needs that will allow us to feed the hungry here in Chandler. We can meet one of those needs at the next Den Meeting and the other at the next Pack Meeting.

DEN MEETING SERVICE PROJECT: Please bring crackers, peanut butter, jelly, and juice boxes to the Nov. 16 Den Meeting. These items will help feed under-privileged children who otherwise will not get breakfast or lunch over the Christmas Break. Thank you to the Kempiaks for bringing this need to our attention.

PACK MEETING SERVICE PROJECT: The Chandler Salvation Army's Food Bank is really struggling this year. There are many families who are in desperate need. Our Scouts have a chance to make sure that families do not go hungry over the holidays. Please bring nonperishable food items to the Nov. 23 Pack Meeting to fill the Salvation Army's shelves.

Mark Your Calendars!!!

We have updated the Blog's "Upcoming Events" section and highly recommend you check it out and make sure that you've got the events that you wish to participate in written down in your calendar.

Here are some highlights of things you might want to know:

1. Saturday, Dec. 5 is the Chandler Holiday Parade (5:30pm) (In theory, the Pack is turning in paperwork so that the Scouts will be able to march in the parade).

2. Saturday, Jan. 23 is the Pinewood Derby (1:00pm to 5:30pm) (The Pack is trying to reserve a Ramada at Tumbleweed Park, so this location is subject to change).

3. Saturday, February 27 is the Blue & Gold Banquet (Special Advancement Ceremony where ranks will be awarded).

FYI: The Spring Camp Out is April 23-25. The location is going to be Camp Raymond, which is (as I understand it) between Flagstaff and Williams. It is supposed to be a magnificent location with a lot of amenities.

Nov. 23 Pack Meeting Is The Cake Walk!

(An example of Jon Kempiak's cake making prowess)

There is a Cake Walk at the Nov. 23 Pack Meeting!! That means your family is supposed to bring a homemade cake! There are four themes to choose from when decorating your homemade cake: (1) Cub Scout; (2) Thanksgiving; (3) Outdoor/Camping; and (4) Heroes.

Every Scout that brings a cake will come home with a cake. If you are bringing a homemade cake, please arrive by 6:45 (or earlier) to register and get it set out for viewing so that it can be voted on. There will be a prize for the winner in each category. If your Scout has a sibling in another den, you may want to consider bringing one homemade cake instead of two, unless you want to go home with two cakes. Just a thought.

And in case you missed it, the cake has to be homemade. No store bought cakes allowed.

Book 'Em, Den-O

We had perfect attendance at tonight's "Go See It"! Lt. Craig Walter of the Mesa Police Dept. and Mrs. Kimberly Fiorucci from the Mesa Crime Lab took the boys on a terrific tour of police headquarters and the forensics building. The boys saw the Chief's conference room, a polygraph room, a courtroom for initial appearances, a squad car, a forensics crime van, a firearms display, and the DNA lab--where Mrs. Fiorucci showed the Scouts how she tests for blood!!

With 14 BOYS you might think we would have had our hands full, but our Tigers did an absolutely fabulous job of keeping quiet, listening, and showing respect to our hosts. In short, they did their best!

Tonight's Go See It satisfies Requirement 2G in your Scout's Tiger Handbook and will help your Scout earn his Tiger badge!