October 2020
Cub Chatter
Greater Alabama Council, BSA
Get the low-down on exciting program happenings for Cub Scouts and their families!

The Cub Chatter is your quick-source for Cub-themed opportunities and exciting events across the Greater Alabama Council and beyond. Published monthly, the Cub Chatter is distributed to Scouts and Scouters who are involved in or interested in the Cub Scout program.

Nation's Oldest Veteran's Day Parade Moves Online

For 72 years, the National Veterans Day Parade has taken place in Birmingham, and 2020 will see the annual tradition still take place, but with a twist: this year, it will be a livestreamed event that culminates in a fireworks show from Region's Park in Birmingham!

Your Troop, Pack, or Crew can take part in this historic event by sharing with event organizers a short, 1 minute video introducing your Scouts and sharing your support of our nation's veterans. To share a video with the National Veterans Day Parade, here are some helpful hints:

  • Use landscape position (sideways) - never Instagram (portrait)
  • Keep it to :60 seconds or less
  • If possible, send it in .mp4 format.
  • If you are inside, make sure there is light on your faces, and if there are only a few of you, that you fill the screen with your bodies, not from across the room. Make sure your camera is sideways, like a flat screen TV.
  • Make sure to get everyone in the camera frame

When making a video, please be mindful of the Scout Oath and Law. To submit a video, coordinate with your Unit's leadership and click on the "Submit a Video" link below to submit this to the Council for review and final submission.

The deadline to submit a video for inclusion into the virtual parade is October 21st
Cub Haunted is an overnight camp-out for Cub Scouts at Camp Comer, Sequoyah and Westmoreland. It is a weekend full of games, crafts, good food, hay rides, BB guns, archery, costume contests, and FUN for the whole family! The ENTIRE family is welcome to attend!

Registration for Cub haunted is pre-registration only, and no walk-up registrations will be accepted this year.

To attend Cub Haunted this year, you will need the following items:
Completed BSA Health Form (Parts A&B), COVID-19 “At Risk” Camp/Activity Participant Statement, sleeping bag, pillow, personal toiletries, towel, washcloth, rain gear, extra clothes, and spending money for the Trading Post. Optional items can include: blanket, flashlight, and costume.

To learn more, access the Health and Medical Form, the COVID-19 Camp/Activity form, and to select your session of Cub Haunted, click here or click on the button below!
fishing cub scouts
Cub Scout Fishing Derby!
 
Calling all Cub Scouts and Families! You're invited to join us for fishing, fun, prizes, and a patch! Don't know how to fish? That's ok, we'll teach you! Poles, bait, and other supplies will be furnished, or you can bring your own! Join us at a Cub Scout Fishing Derby near you! Here are the details:
 
Cost: $10.00 per Scout (new Scouts), $5.00 per sibling or additional Scout.
Event times: All events start at 9am and end at 12pm.
 
Click here or on the button below to see dates and locations near you!

Fishing Derby Locations

October 10th: Camp Sequoyah- Delta

October 17: Aldridge Gardens- Hoover (NEW LOCATION!)

November 7: Camp Jackson- Scottsboro

November 7: Madison Co. Public Lake- Gurley
More New Cub Scout Recruiting Resources Now Available in BSA Brand Center

The uncertainties of the pandemic have meant that recruitment season is ongoing in many communities, and that means your staff and units will continue to need recruiting assets. Photos and videos of youth wearing face coverings, customizable “Scout Talk” videos to provide to schools, videos that help answer parents’ questions about joining Scouting, and new web banners are all available in the Cub Scout Fall 2020 Recruitment folder on the BSA Brand Center. 
Autumn is Popcorn Time!

Is your Pack just getting re-started? The annual popcorn sale is the perfect way to generate funds for your Pack and its upcoming adventures! New this year is Online DIrect Popcorn Sales- a handy feature allows your Pack to sell popcorn all the way through the middle of December! This service is 100% online, and the product is shipped directly to your customer. If you're interested in learning more, contact your District Popcorn Kernal or your District Executive.
Celebration of Heroes!

Save the Date for the Greater Alabama Council Celebration of Heroes Virtual Event on Veterans Day, November 11th at 6:00pm. Join with Scouts and Scouters in supporting our Council and highlighting our Scouting Heroes and Veterans. Scouts will be part of the program! Post comments, share pictures and tell stories. Hear from an Eagle Scout who recently received Scouting’s Heroism Award and see what Hall of Fame Quarterback Terry Bradshaw thinks of Scouting in Alabama! We all have Scouting Heroes who have impacted our lives, join with us in celebrating them and honoring them at this fun and exciting live-streamed virtual event. Save the date! Nov 11th, 6:00pm. More information to come!
2020 Jamboree on the Internet and Jamboree on the Air

JOTA-JOTI is the world’s largest digital Scout event taking place online and over the air. The educational event brings together more than 2 million Scouts every year in October for a weekend of Scouting and friendship. Young people can learn about communications technology and connect with fellow Scouts from over 171 countries
Are you looking for ways to keep Scouting while you're at home? We have compiled a resource page for you to keep the adventure going! You'll be able to find 30-Day Challenges and more on our resource page. To access the page, just click on the button below.
Go Camping in "God's Backyard"

The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama is welcoming Cub Packs to spend a weekend camping at Camp McDowell, a historic camp that has been in operation for nearly 100 years. Situated on 1,140 acres adjacent to the Bankhead National Forest in Winston County, Camp McDowell is open year round with a variety of programs and opportunities. To learn more, click on the links below.
University of Scouting!
Mark your calendars for the University of Scouting, March 20, 2021.

University of Scouting is a fantastic day of training brought to you by the top instructors and volunteer leadership in the Council. There will be several Cub Scout Leader training sessions that can help you take your Cub game to the next level!

More information coming soon!
Want to know more? Get trained!
Training Online
Want to know more about Cub Scouting, how your child's Den works the way it does, or how to help out with your pack? The BSA offers training courses online! Simply go to my.scouting.org or click the button below and create a free account to begin training and learning the ins and outs of Scouting!