The development of materials to support the change in the delivery method for Cub Scouts (Cub Scouts 2010) continues. Teams of volunteers are working to make the necessary changes within publications and training. A full time line of deliverables will be rolled out at Top Hands in August.

Highlights include:
– A new Den and Pack Leader’s Resource Guide—a one stop tool for running den and pack meetings. This will replace Program Helps. This new resource will be available online and in print.

– Den meeting plans, the core to this methodology, are being expanded to support dens that meet year-round. These plans also will support those that don’t work around a school-year calendar and those that meet more frequently than twice per month. Plans will support advancement, electives, activity badges, and summertime activities and awards.

– Fast Start (den leader and Cubmaster) and Leader Specific Training (den leader and Cubmaster) will be changing to reflect the change in delivery method and to better time content delivery with new leaders’ information needs. Den Leader and Cubmaster Leader Specific Training will be available online as well as in a trainer-presented format.

– Roundtable will be largely unaffected, although the seasonal themes used historically will be discontinued in favor of a calendar more tightly aligned with the traditional Scouting calendar.

Dow Chemical Co. announced on July 1, 2009 the awarding of a 2009 Community Grant to the Bay Area Council.

The Grant proposal was submitted for the replacement of the drinking water pressure tank at Camp Karankawa. The pressure tank was in dire need of replacement and with the Grant Award the tank will now be replaced.

The amount of the Grant is for $25,000. Dow sponsors two types of Grants: The Heritage Grant – Maximum $25,000 and the Diamond Grant – Maximum $5,000. According to Dow’s Gary Hockstra, site manager, there were 72 applications submitted this year. This is double the number as in past years. There were 12 Grants awarded this year. The Bay Area Council was one of three recipients of the maximum $25,000 Heritage Grant.

The Bay Area Council expresses its sincere gratitude to the Dow Chemical Co. for this generous Award. This Award will ensure Camp Karankawa of adequate drinking water for another twenty years.

Eight Houston Boy Scouts explain how they took care of their leader and carried him to safety after he became to sick to continue during their trek in Colorado.