Camp Emerald Bay August 6-9!

 

Last year we attended Cherry Valley summer camp at Catalina. This year nearly ALL the pack is going to Camp Emerald Bay. We decided to try Emerald Bay this year because we heard good things about it last year. Emerald Bay is the second BSA camp on Catalina.

It's exciting to have almost all the Cubs and families going! It's a very fun experience, and very bonding.

We had a blast last year at Cherry Valley: swimming, kayaking, hiking, archery, BB guns, crafts, lessons about the ocean, nightly skits and bonfires, and much more. A smaller group from our Pack went last year, and we were grouped together in a "Pack" with a couple other smaller groups from other local Packs from Pasadena and San Dimas. It was great to jump in and be a team with them, and my son and I both made friends we keep in touch with - not easy in our busy lives.  We slept in the same grouping of tents, dined together, and did our activities together, too. 

When our family first joined Scouting, it took a minute to figure out how it all worked! If you're trying to figure that out as well:

Your kid is part of a Den of kids their age/grade. The Den meets each month at a time agreed upon by the group, and they play and work on adventures/advancements. 

The Dens are part of a Pack - we are Pack 4 Pasadena, and we meet as a group once a month. We border Altadena, so we have many Altadenans as well, and some La Canadians (?), too. 

The Pack also does other activities, some of which are for the Cubs, and some are family excursions, some are benefits for the community. 

If it sounds like a lot, most of us are on school committees, our kids do sports, and this helps us bring in things they simply don't get elsewhere, and bring in something that's harder to do on your own: opportunities for camping and nature. We all value what scouting brings to the children.

Some of the excursions we do are organized by us, and some are available through the greater Scouting organization. Like these Catalina camps. That's partly where your fees go. In the greater LA area there are a number of locations owned by the Scouts where we can register for day trips or multi-day scouting adventures. Many of these are family camps, so siblings welcome. We are busy people, so we don't do all the activities offered, but we try to keep our Pack apprised of the offerings in case individuals are interested. 

Check back for some pics of camp! I went last year, my husband is going this year... 

Pack 4 Pasadena - July 2023 Fishing Trip

We took a trip to El Dorado Park in Long Beach and learned you don't necessarily have to catch fish to have fun fishing. 

Also, you don't need the fanciest tools. All sorts of rods caught fish that day! Catch and release. 👏💦🎣

Pack 4 Pasadena Graduation Ceremony 2022-2023!

Another wonderful ceremony this year - with two children advancing to Troop 4. Next year we will have at least four Webelos earning their Arrows of Light!

It's lovely to watch the kids have a blast and beam with pride at their accomplishments. Scouting provides important experiences they simply don't get elsewhere: 

* Nature - immersion outdoors in a wide variety of ways (fishing, hiking, climbing, camping)

* Civics - while earning advancements (to my surprise, my Webelo LOVED meeting our Pasadena City Council representative and learning the different parts of city government), respect for our country, flag ceremonies, etc.

* Practical Life Lessons - budgeting, cooking, woodworking, organizing, cleaning.

* Leadership + Teamwork - the kids have opportunities to stretch themselves as leaders, followers, and teammates as part of nearly everything they do. 

* Performance and Public Speaking - through skits, showing their projects at Pack meetings, sharing their thoughts and feelings at meetings, etc.

* Spirituality, Rhythm + Routine - respect for something bigger, whatever your beliefs, be they devout or agnostic with respect for the rhythms of the planet. [In our Pack, advancements related to spirituality are done at home to honor a family's personal beliefs and preferences. At meetings, we do the traditional Scouting oaths, and some Los Angeles Council camping events include prayers before meals, so kids may be exposed to various religious beliefs, just like out in the world. Like spirituality is part of a yoga class, so it is part of Scouting. Different Packs do it differently.]

* Ethics - reinforcing basic values, helping others, earning achievement badges based upon truly completing activities.

* Fun! Camping, fishing, shooting range, archery, rocket academy, camps at Catalina and elsewhere, the kids simply have fun when they get together for meetings.

We are a welcoming Pack that values time in nature and are open to ALL! If camping sounds intimidating: many families have extra camping items and we love to help people new to camping. Seeing your kid playing happily with no desire for a screen is a joy to behold. :)

Reach out to us to learn more about joining for the upcoming year!