RSVP for End of Year Fest

All right, we're two weeks out from our end of the year party, and I need to know who all is going to be there.

To refresh your memory, it's May 31 at my Dad and stepmom's place in Apopka, 4029 Ponkan Road. We'd like to have everyone arrive between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. At 2 p.m., we'll have a short den meeting, and then we'll have a couple hours of swimming, rockets, bubbles, games, etc. We'll roast hot dogs and eat dinner around 5 p.m., followed by the inevitable S'mores.

Please RSVP in the comments to this post. Once I know who's coming (and how many), I'll start contacting folks to bring drinks or whatever. Thanks, and hope everybody can make it!

And just so it's clear, we will NOT be using lawn tools to roast our hot dogs!

Math in real life!

Today's date, 5/7/09, is one of only six this century that will feature three consecutive odd numbers. Cool, huh?

End of year party date change

My folks have requested that the party be moved from Saturday 5/30 to Sunday 5/31. I've made the change on the Google calendar. Hope this doesn't prevent anyone from coming.

Let's Get Cookin'

You may have noticed the addition of an entry to the calendar for the annual Den 8 End of the year FEST. It'll be May 30 at the same place as last year -- my dad and stepmom's place in Apopka. Clear your calendars!

I'll soon be contacting you all about organizing the event. To get everyone in the mood, here's a picture of some Scouts from 1920 whipping up a tasty meal.

Cub Scout Day Camp!

Some of you had expressed an interest, so I wanted to let you know I'll be signing Wyatt up for the Cub Scout Day Camp to be held at Killarney Elementary the week of June 8-12. And if things go according to plan, I'll be serving as the shooting instructor for archery and BB guns that week. (I went up to La No Che a couple Saturdays ago and went through the certification course.)

The camp theme is "Books Come Alive," and it costs $85 for the week. (You can volunteer to help out and get a reduced price.) Other than that, I can't tell you much about it. But I'm told it was a lot of fun last year. Here's a link to the registration form.

Hope you all can join us! I'll drop another note when I'm confirmed as a volunteer.

Lake Lotus birdwatching tour

Lake Lotus Park in Altamonte Springs will have its monthly guided bird walk next Saturday, May 9 at 7 a.m. Here's a link to their flyer.

I've done it twice and really enjoyed it both times (aside from getting up so early on a Saturday!) There's usually only a few other people there -- the park's still closed at that hour -- and the ranger really knows his birds. If anyone would like to join me (and maybe Wyatt, not sure yet), let me know.

-- Eric

Corn Maze event 10/25/2008

We have an even on Saturday, October 25, at the Corn Maze on Long and Scott Farms north of Apopka. We'll meet for a picnic lunch and a quick den meeting at 12:30, after which the boys can run around on the playground area for a few minutes. At 2 p.m., Den 4 will arrive and we'll do the corn maze together. Well, at the same time, at least.

And if anyone tells me the score of the 12:30 p.m. Gator game, which I'm taping, I refuse to be held responsible for my actions!

Here's the directions from Altamonte Springs from the Long & Scott web site:

Go north on 436 to Apopka. As you are entering Apopka 436 becomes SR 441. Stay North on SR 441 to Zellwood. In Zellwood, take a left at the stoplight at the intersection of Jones Ave. and SR 441. You will stay on Jones Ave. until it dead-ends into CR 448A (about 3.6 miles). Take a left and we are the SECOND LEFT after you turn left from Jones, look for the yellow Scott's Country Market sign.

Of course, you could always take Maitland Blvd. out to SR-441, and take that up to Apopka.

Hope the weather holds out for us. If it's just a little drizzle, we'll try to tough it out. (Ponchos might be a good idea, if you have them.) If it's a downpour, I'll probably cancel -- by phone if I can, by email if I must. (Unfortunately, my cell phone disappeared on my last camping trip, so you can't get me once I leave the house. Home number is 407-622-1548.)

Remember to bring food for lunch (or money for the food vendors), and family members are welcome! Hope to see you all there!

This year, for the first time, the corn maze folks are doing a catch and release fishing deal called "Fishing for Kids." It's $2 for the boy (adults free with kids), and the corn maze people supply the equipment and bait. Wyatt and I and his grandpa are going to try it before the picnic, and everyone is welcome to join us. However, I realize this is already going to be a long day, so the fishing is not "officially" part of the den meeting. We'll be getting there at 11 a.m. if anyone else wants to engage in any extracurricular catch-and-release.

And I looked it up, and there's a fishing belt loop our guys can qualify for. Try to let me know ahead of time if you want to try the fishing, I can try to pick up the loops before the 25th.

Also, have the boys wear their uniforms! I want our guys to start showing off their belt loops!

Speaking of belt loops, I know two boys who have earned their chess belt loops, which I'll be presenting at the Pack Meeting. If anyone else has earned any loops, let me know and I'll try to get them picked up before the meeting.

Hope popcorn sales are going well. Remember, we only have until the end of the month -- and for door-to-door sales, you need to pick up the money at the time you take the order. I'll have new schedules to hand out at the den meeting Saturday.

-- Mr. Dentel