North Shore District has hosted its first official in person training since 2019. The BALOO training was the one chosen for this occasion, and was held on December 3 & 4 at the Good News United Methodist Church in Leander, just like in 2019.
We were honored to have participants from the Chisholm Trail District as well as our own.
This training is essential for Cub Scout Units. At least one BALOO-trained leader is required to be present at a Pack campout. To be on the safe side, having at least two trained leaders present is highly recommended.
This also applies to the WEBELOS Dens.As WEBELOS, your Dens can start camping on their own, but only with a BALOO-certified leader. As your AOLs will get to know troops and camp next to the units you will visit, a BALOO-trained leader from your unit will also be required.
But the BALOO training is so much more than that. As a Cub Scout leader, it is often the first exposure you have as to what Cub Scouting is all about. You get tips from experienced leaders that volunteer to staff the training and are ‘all in’. This session had a combined 150 years of Scouting experience.
What you get are tips, ideas, and a thirst to grow your own Scouting experience; BALOO is only the beginning of your journey. If you wish you could have made it but did not, worry no more. We will have another session in spring and will give enough notice for everyone to be able to attend, so stay tuned.
STEM FACT
BALOO participants went on a blindfolded hike to point out a whole world of sounds that Cub Scouts often miss unless it is brought to their attention. Scientific studies show that the brain’s cortex for a specific sense can and will receive signals from other senses when its intended sense is lost, heightening those other senses. This will even occur when the sense is temporarily lost, such as when blindfolded, although to a lesser degree.
STEM FACT
Notice the supports for the picnic table our students and staff are sitting at. Why is it able to support hundreds of pounds?… Answer, the supports form triangles and triangles support, stabilize, and stiffen a structure. Take a look at the interesting video demonstration of building with triangles.
