Monthly Notifications Archive

Good afternoon Pack 12,

It was great to see some old friends and make some new ones at Back to Pack last weekend. The fun continues with several fun events coming up including our first official Pack Meeting of the year. But first we have some important logistics to take care of here:

Please join Pack 12 by Monday (9/1): You can find the link here. 

• You will need your family's personal information and a credit card for national dues

• If you have two prospective scouts, they each need their own registration and pack dues

• We will be closing registration for the year after Monday so we can finalize headcounts for our programming this year

• Registration for non-parent Guardians: We aim to make our Pack inclusive for the entire family, no matter how you "define" family. That said, there are additional safety requirements we need to take if you're a non-parent guardian (e.g. uncle, grandparent, or family friend) and want to participate in Pack 12. If so, we need you to join the Pack as an Adult and register as a "Scouter Reserve" position and complete Safeguarding Youth Training. Click the link above to get started. 

Please bring Pack Dues ($125) to our first Pack Meeting on Sun September 14 (at Pine Methodist Church)

• Pack dues are separate from National Dues. The cost is $125 per scout.

• We accept checks (please make out to Cub Scouts Pack 12) and our Treasurer, Heath Tohara, is offering venmo this year

Please fill out Medical Forms for your Scout and to our first Pack Meeting

• Scouting America requires us to maintain health records for every scout and bring to each meeting. It also is one of the requirements for many of the scout ranks. 

• You can find Forms A, B1, and B2 here. Please complete all three of these forms. 

• You do not need to fill out Form C (which is for 3+ night camps)

FAMILY PHOTOS

• Submit to <Jalyn's Email - see your email inbox> by Sep 1st

• Please send in a family photo(s) with your Scout's family members' names and which den(s) your Scout(s) are in.

• I will create a photo directory for each den. Photos will only be shared within the Pack.

Cubmaster Brian's Thoughts on Uniforms: I spoke to a few of you at Back to Pack about the role of uniforms in our Pack and what the expectations are for Scouts, so I thought I'd share my perspective.

• I'd like to encourage all of us this year to "Do Our Best" and have scouts wear the full Uniform as requested at each specific meeting. 

• Depending on the meeting, sometimes we request Class A's (i.e. full uniform), and sometimes Class B's (scout/Pack 12 t-shirt). The Class type is listed on the Calendar Google Doc so you should have easy reference to it, and I will try to remind you in the update emails. 

• Why uniforms matter: There is something special about bringing people together from all different walks of life (different houses, income, backgrounds, jobs, etc.) and yet in this special space we create together, we have a unique opportunity for all of our scouts to be "equal". I've seen the power of this not only in our Pack, but also when we engage with other Packs and Troops at various Camps, Events and Overnight trips. It also opens the door for us to learn more about other people, especially outside of the SF Bay bubble we sometimes live in. 

• My offer to help: I also know how hard it is to get my own kids to wear the entire uniform and sometimes it helps to have a non-parent adult leader be the one to encourage my own scouts to fully participate. If you're finding uniforms to be a challenge, please consider this an offer to help - I'm happy to find time during the next Pack Meeting to personally encourage your scout.  

• Additional Resources: If you're looking to acquire a uniform at a lower cost, I recommend 1.) checking our Uniform Bank to see if we have any existing to borrow, and 2.) take a look for for used uniforms online (ebay, facebook marketplace, goodwill.org). It doesn't matter if the uniform style is a few years old or the patch still says "Boy Scouts of America", we aim to do our best with what we've got. If you have more questions Jalyn (cc'd) is also a great resource for this, please reach out to her.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Regards,

Cubmaster Brian

Cub Scout Pack 12

Reminders:

PINNACLES CAMPING TRIP (optional)

Friday, September 5th - Sunday, September 7th 

Forged by volcanoes 23 million years ago, Pinnacles National Park is a memorable visit.

Pack 12 has reserved a few sites for tent camping. Capacity is for 38 people and 8 vehicles.

Check your email for your a link to the signup sheet for Pack coordination.

FAMILY PHOTOS

Submit to <Jalyn's Email> by Sep 1st

Please send in a family photo(s) with your Scout's family members' names and which den(s) your Scout(s) are in.

I will create a photo directory for each den. Photos will only be shared within the Pack.

Hello Pack 12 families, 

Happy Spring! ☀️

We've got more jam packed fun this month and on into May which will round out our activities for the 2024-2025 scouting year. 

Our next Pack Meeting is this month, Sunday, April 27th at Fort Scott Field 3pm.

Please read on for Pack 12 news, there's a lot of key info so please take note of the action items below!

All the best,

Jalyn and Alex

Cub Scout Pack 12

UPCOMING MAY CAMPING TRIP

The date for our upcoming May 17, 2025 campout at China Camp State Park is rapidly approaching, and the camping committee is busily working on some of the final logistics. We are pleased by the level of interest, but unfortunately we have 105 total campers currently on the signup sheet and only have space for 88 overnight campers. We were not able to secure the group site this year, and have 11 individual sites that accommodate 8 campers per site per park rules. Thus, we need to initially restrict the camping to current scouts and one parent per scout, and then determine how many additional overnight spots are available. We can then prepare a signup sheet for additional campers. 

To that end please confirm on the signup sheet that your scout will be attending:

1. Enter an email contact for the 1 parent

2. Enter the number attending for Scout + Parent 

3. Enter the number of desired additional attendees (non-scout siblings or other parents)

RE-ENROLLMENT & RECRUITMENT INFO for 2025-2026

We will be kicking off our re-enrollment and recruitment at this month's Sunday, April 27th Pack meeting:

1. You have most likely heard from your Den Leaders asking whether your family plans to return next year. We hope you do!!!

2. If you are returning, please bring a check made payable to Cub Scout Pack 12 to April's Pack meeting on Sunday the 27th and hand it to Alex or Jalyn. We have set Pack 12 dues for next year at $125. Reminder that District dues are processed directly with the District via email reminders around the fall. 

3. In an effort to maintain best practices around safety for our scouts in compliance with Scouting America we are asking that one parent per scout gets finger-printed and completes the YPT (Youth Protection Training) videos by the May campout. To facilitate this we will have ID Solutions on site at our April meeting to conduct fingerprinting covered by the Pack. Please fill out and bring this form and a valid ID with you. YPT videos can be found in your myscouting.org account under My Training.

Recruitment for 2025-2026 also kicks off this month:

1. We will have a soft recruitment session with families interested in joining next year. They'll arrive around 4pm to see our Field Day activities and then will participate in a brief overview about joining Pack 12.

2. If you have friends interested in joining please have them sign-up here!

3. There will be another opportunity at this fall's Back to Pack.

TRACK FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!

We've been presented with the opportunity to loan our Pinewood Derby racetrack to a local company for $1,000!!

However, we need volunteers to deliver it and set it up and tear it down. 

Date: the afternoon of Thursday, April 17th at 1 De Haro Street (Design District) 

Any takers??? Please respond as soon as possible so we can let the company know. 

CUBMASTER UPDATE

I have thoroughly enjoyed the role as Cubmaster this year along with the incomparable support of Alex (we have truly been co-Cubmasters). Together we are so proud of the year we've shared and the joy experienced with our scouts and families. I am pleased to share that I'll be passing the Cubmaster baton on to Brian, current Webelos co-den leader. Brian is dad to Webelo Evan and Tiger Clara and has been involved with scouts for many years. Please join me in congratulating Brian! 

I will move into one of our Key 3 roles, called Committee Chair. In this role I will work closely with the Cubmaster, Unit Commissioner, and Treasurer, as well as further support our Pack 12 parents. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

PINEWOOD DERBY GOLDEN GATE DISTRICT RACE

🏆 Pack 12 Takes 1st and 2nd Place!! 🏆

After placing in the top 3 spots for our Pack, our 4 finalists (2 tied for 3rd) headed on to the District-wide Pinewood Derby Finals on Saturday, March 22nd at the SF Firefighters Local 798 hosted by Pack 88. Eva, Kai, Alex, and Ryan represented Pack 12 with great pride and fast cars!

At the end of it all, it was Eva's car that took the top prize for the District Win! And right behind her was Kai! Way to go Pack 12!! 🌟

With this comes a large trophy inscribed with Eva's name and Pack 12. 

We shall aim to defend the championship next year! 

Speaking of next year, our beloved track has seen its better days and a few parents who will be on our Pinewood Derby Committee next year are looking into new track options. Please let us know and we'll connect you with parents Heath and Jen if you are interested in supporting this effort!

SHOUTOUTS

A BIG THANK YOU to Jen (mom to Bear Kai and Tiger Miya), Heath (dad to Bear Eva) and Tiger Den Leader, Kate (mom to Tiger James), for getting BALOO trained last weekend. This Outdoor training allows our Pack to host overnight campouts as well as provides tools to assist in planning campouts for next year. Great work!

THANK YOU to Kate for Pack 12's Instagram account! Be sure to check it out and follow along:  ggac_pack12

Kate has also stepped up as our Recruitment Chair and has been instrumental in getting the website up and ready and rolled out to spread awareness about our Pack and more seamlessly welcome prospective new families for next year. 

APRIL

Sunday, 4/27 3pm-4:30pm - Field Day / Spring Recruitment @ Fort Scott Field

Focusing on the Personal Fitness Adventure we'll have a fun day of games and activities

Tiger Cub Safari Weekend 1 - April 27th 

MAY

Saturday 5/17 - Sunday 5/18 - Final Pack Meeting Campout @ China Camp 

Mom & Cub Weekend 1 - May 2nd-4th at Camp Royaneh

Tiger Cub Safari Weekend 2- May 3rd-4th at Wente

SF Bike Rodeo at Stonestown - May 10th with GGAC RSVP here

Mom & Cub Weekend 2 - May 16-18 at Camp Royaneh

Info Sessions for Mom & Cub:

There are two info sessions: “April 20th for those attending Weekend 1 (May 2-4) and April 27th for those attending Weekend 2 (May 16-18).  The information is similar for both weekends. If you can't attend the session for your weekend and need to attend the alternate session, that is fine.”

***zoom info redacted, please see your email or the whatsapp group chat!***

8:30-10:00 pm

April 20th (May 2-4) April 27th (May 16-18)

(Yes, the same link will work for both sessions.)

SUMMER ACTIVITIES THROUGH GGAC

Cub Scout Day Camp (Camp Yunakin) (Registration to open soon)

June 16-20 in Golden Gate Park

$275 Early Bird; $325 otherwise

Open to all Cubs entering 1st through 5th grade next year. This is the second year of our summer drop-off day camp. Ed and Deb run this camp and it is really fun! We do shooting sports, spend some time at the Academy of Sciences, do lots of STEM activities, and cap it off with a beach clean-up and bonfire.

Discovery Day Camp (Camp Ta-Ki-Ma)

June 16-20 in San Pedro Valley Park

$300 before 3/1, $350, $400 after 5/1

Open to all Cub Scouts. Fees discounted if adult volunteers.

Wolf & Bear Adventure Camp

June 20-22

$205 per Scout/Akela pair (additional adult $95/additional Scout $125)

Open to all current Tigers and Wolves (next year's Wolves & Bears). This is a Scout/Akela experience. (Note: This is Deb's favorite of all the council events she's EVER attended)

Stanford Day Camp (Camp Ta-Ki-Ma)

June 23-27 in Steven's Creek County Park

$300 before 3/1, $350, $400 after 5/1

Open to all Cub Scouts. Fees discounted if adult volunteers.

Redwood Day Camp (Camp Ta-Ki-Ma)

July 14-18 in Coyote Point Recreation Area

$300 before 3/1, $350, $400 after 5/1

Open to all Cub Scouts. Fees discounted if adult volunteers.

STEM Day Camp (Camp Ta-Ki-Ma)

July 28-August 1 in Palo Alto Service Center

$300 before 3/1, $350, $400 after 5/1

Open to all Cub Scouts. Fees discounted if adult volunteers.

Webelos/AOL Adventure Camp

July 29 - August 3 at Camp Royaneh

$565 (late registration after 6/21 is $595; 1 adult per Scout is free, additional adults are $350)

Open to all current Bears and Webelos (next year's Webelos and AOL Scouts). This is a sleep-away experience for the Scouts and is a great practice run for Scouts BSA Summer Camp.