Improvements for 2015/16

Dear Parents/Guardians

Although 2014/15 was a good year for A-Pack we want to improve. Several meetings during the year where disrupted while we dealt with behavior issues. How are we planning to improve?  

1. Better and earlier planning. There were several stretches during 2014/2015 where we met in the gym for weeks at a time. Our goal is to have no more than 2 weeks in a row of regular meetings at the gym. If the cubs are outdoors and engaged with new people or environments I believe they won't be bored and behavior won't be a problem.

2. Rewards / Bribes / Gamification. While we keep attendance and dues records I would like to use these along with behavior points  to reward the best Six each month with prize for each member of that Six. Also maybe a bigger prize for the best Six at the half year mark, and the best at the end of the year. (FYI: the smaller groups within a Cub Pack are referred to as a Six. Each Six has a Sixer and a Second).

3. Yellow & Red Behavior cards. Working together with the cubs early in the year we will establish a code of conduct and determine yellow and red card offences (like soccer). 

• Yellow card offences might be disobeying a leader, disrupting activities, etc.
• Red card offences might be things like hitting, bullying, etc.
• Two yellow cards in a night equals a red. 

Hopefully with clear rules and examples, rewards, and lots of activities to occupy the cubs, we won't need to issue many cards.

These ideas are starting point. We want to work with the cubs and the parents to make sure everyone can enjoy the activities. If you have any suggestions, advice, or concerns please let us know.

Remember: if you register online before June 30th you will save $15 per registered cub.

2015/2016 Registration Fee Clarification

My registration email was incomplete and misleading, sorry.

The group commissioner had a further clarification of the fee:

I have been receiving a number of inquiries about the registration fee for next year, so I thought I would send one mass e-mail with an explanation:  

Scouts Canada changed their fee structure for 2015-2016.  Councils can no longer set the registration fee (which could, and did, vary across the country); there is one fee (payable to National) that is the same for all Councils.  There is a reduced fee for early registration that is in effect untilJune 30th.  The normal registration fee is $190, while the early registration fee is $175.  (These changes were described in an e-mail that I sent on April 24).

(The nasty sting in these changes is that the half-year fee has jumped from $90 to $150, and is effective as of January 1, 2016.)

On top of the National fee, 1st Manotick has levied the following additional fees: Group Fee $0, Section Fee $25.  These are the same fees that have been in effect for the last couple of years.  In other words, Group is not making any money from the registrations but we continue to collect the $25/head fee to help out the individual sections. 

So $175 + $25 = $200.  This fee has increased by 5% over last year (IIRC, last year's early registration fee was $190) but we can only blame National for that.

So when you register for a 1st Manotick Group you will be charged $175 by Scouts Canada + $25 for 1st Manotick or $200 in total.

The $25 goes directly to the Section -- in our case that is A-Pack.  That $25 eventually goes into A-Pack's bank account.

If you register after June 30th will be $190 from Scouts Canada + $25 from 1st Manotick.

Online Registration for 2015/16 is Open!

From the Group Commissioner

If your parents ask, you can tell them that the on-line registration is now active for next year.  The reduced early registration fee ($175, down from $190) is in effect until June 30.

A few folks have already signed up for next year -- that's awesome!

I hope to see some more before the June 30th!

Canoe Night - Long Island Locks

Canoe Night 

Day: Wednesday May 27th
Start: 18:30
End: 20:00
Location: Long Island Locks (from Parks Canada) and from Google Maps
Nichols Island Road, Ottawa, ON
613-692-3030

From Parks Canada

... 

Long Island Lockstation is accessible from county road #19 (also called the River Road, located on the west side of the canal just off Highway #16).

Parents drop off cubs at the locks
Parents pick up cubs from the locks.

If you have a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) or Life Jacket please bring it.

So far the following cubs have confirmed:

1. Ayden
2. Sage
3. Logan
4. Leo
5. Eric
6. Tyler
7. Liam
8. Greg

Forecast

Day: Mainly cloudy with 40 percent chance of showers and risk of a thunderstorm. Wind becoming southwest 20 km/h near noon. High 28. UV index 7 or high.
Night: Partly cloudy. 40 percent chance of showers late in the evening and overnight. Wind southwest 20 km/h becoming light in the evening. Low 17.

The weather is warm but possibly wet. We will be getting in and out of canoes so no heavy jackets or boots.

Bonus Meeting & Camp

Topics

1. Bonus Meeting
2. All Sections Camp

Event Attendance?

Cub	River Meeting May 27	Camp Friday Night May 29	Camp Sat Night May 30	Camp Sat Day Only May 30
Ayden Dorman	yes	yes	yes	n/a
Sage Dorman	yes	yes	yes	n/a
Colton Guest	no	no	no	n/a
Logan MacCulloch	yes	yes	yes	n/a
Leo McSweeney	yes	no	no	n/a
Nathan Morrow	?	no	no	n/a
Jakob Parato	?	no	no	?n/a
Eric Paterson	yes	no	no	n/a
Tyler Peppy	yes	no	no	n/a
Kyle Ricker	?	?	?	?
Joshua Semeniuk	?	yes	yes	n/a
Jack Rollins	?	no	no	n/a
Liam Tinley	yes	yes	yes	n/a
Greg Zuccato	yes	yes	no	n/a

1. Bonus Meeting - On the River

Day: Wednesday May 27th
Start: 18:30
End: 20:00
Location: Long Island Locks

Scouter Dan said:

Todd we are going to Long Island Locks for fishing derby.
If you want I could bring the Canoes and you could use them. We could run an introduction to canoeing and have the Cubs go out on the water.
Cubs should bring a PFD (personal floatation device) if they have one.
Dan.

So far John and I are available as leaders.

Please email me (or call/txt 613.203.3479) if you are interested in attending.
If we have enough interest we can do a session with Dan and the scouts.

2. All Sections Camp

See last weeks's post for camp details

 We need to confirm attendance (and option) by Saturday May 23rd.

Funhaven & Camp

Topics 

1. Funhaven
2. All Sections Camp

Event Attendance?

Here is what I have so far. If the text has a red background, I don't have a firm answer

Cub	Funhaven May 20th	Camp Friday Night May 29	Camp Sat Night May 30	Camp Sat Day Only May 30
Ayden Dorman	yes	yes	yes	n/a
Sage Dorman	yes	yes	yes	n/a
Colton Guest	yes	no	no	no
Logan MacCulloch	yes	yes	yes	n/a
Leo McSweeney	yes	?	?	?
Tristan Mondoux	no	no	no	no
Nathan Morrow	yes	no	no	n/a
Jakob Parato	yes?	?	?	?
Eric Paterson	yes	no	no	no
Tyler Peppy	yes	no	no	no
Kyle Ricker	yes	?	?	?
Joshua Semeniuk	yes	yes	yes	n/a
Jack Rollins	yes	no	no	no
Liam Tinley	yes	?	?	?
Greg Zuccato	yes	yes	yes	n/a

1. Funhaven

Day: Wednesday May 20th

Location: Funhaven

Time: 18:00 - 21:00

Funhaven Entertainment Centre

1050 Baxter Road, Ottawa

ON, K2C 3P1

613-828-4FUN (828-4386)

Map link

Pizza supper followed by games and activities at Funhaven

Parents drop off at Funhaven.

Parents pick up from Funhaven.

Some things to remember about Funhaven:

• Socks are a health and safety requirement of our Jungle Gym/Ballocity area.  Please ensure your group all have socks, or they will be available for purchase at the facility for $2 per pair.
• Running shoes are a safety requirement for the Climbing Wall, and will definitely make your Laser Tag experience more comfortable! 

2. All Sections Camp

Start: 18:30 Friday May 29th

End: 10:00 Sunday May 31st

Location: Fitzroy Harbour

We need to confirm attendance (and option) by Saturday May 23rd.

From our Group Commissioner:

The 1st Manotick Group All-Sections Camp is an (annual) event where all of our Sections (Venturers through Beavers) can come together to enjoy two nights of outdoor camping, plus a ceremonial campfire and other activities.  This year, the event has been scheduled for the weekend of May 29-31 (the last weekend in May).  We are planning to book the group campsite at Fitzroy Harbour Provincial Park to hold this event.  The Camp will run from 6:30 pm on the Friday night until approximately 10:00 am on the Sunday morning.

Document Links from the Group Council:

• The invitation flyer
• Schedule
• Adult packing list
• Youth packing list

Additional information from A-Pack:

• The 1st Manotick group rates are $30 for two nights, $20 for one night. A-Pack is going to use our funds to further subsidize the cubs. I don't have the amount at present, but consider the group rates a "maximum" cost.