Cub Scouts Bear Trail Tracking Chart

Attention Bear Scout Leaders:

You don't have to spend hours making this chart, because I have done it for you :D

Among the things my preceding scout leader left me was a packet of charts titled "Wolf Trail". These have been super handy in keeping track of the boys' achievements, especially for boys who don't have a book or are borrowing an older brother's. Also, when we pass off achievements during scouts on a day when a boy just forgot his book, I can mark the chart and then sign it off next time. Super handy. Plus it's all on one page, so it's really easy to see who needs to do which achievements to earn their Wolf Badge.

I thought this was brilliant, and just now did a search on Google for a similar document to use now that some of our Wolves are turning into Bears. Unfortunately, I did not find one. So. Using the Wolf Trail hard copy as a guide, I made one on Word. I've saved it as an image, and I hope this works. I also hope that posting it here will make it SO EASY for other Bear leaders to use this tracking chart. The more we work together, the smoother Cub Scouts becomes for all of us, right?

So here it is:




Things to notice:

There's no way to fit 24 achievements onto one page, and once I was able to get it onto 2 I stopped formatting, so that's why there's so much white space. Do with it what you will.
I've added a line where you can write down pieces of each achievement that the boy does that are electives rather than on the Bear Trail. I found that to be lacking with my prior recording method.
You can do whatever you want in the boxes. Where there's only one option, I just write an X, but where there are several you could write the letter they ended up doing. Or just circle the letter, then write an X if you are attached to X's as I am :D

So anyway, I hope this is SUPER helpful. Our den is really starting to get organized, and it's a HUGE help, so I'm happy to share.

Chapter 11 1/2: The Beginning of The End (With a Surprise!)

You know how when you want to write a scathing email because you're mad at someone it's a good idea to write it, then sit on it for 24 hours before sending it? There's some virtue in that idea.

I wrote a very long post yesterday about recent events, but didn't feel it was best to post it. After sitting on it for 24 hours I've decided not to. So here's what I really wanted to say.

I have decided this blog's life blood, the Graham story, has fizzled. Not only because I've sucked at keeping up with writing it (it's been a year and a half and I'm not done!) but because the story itself kind of fizzles at this point. I will be writing one more chapter to show the map of the big loop we made around Alberta, because that is quite entertaining. But first I need to find the notebook that I found then misplaced the other day containing our timeline. Once that happens I will finish this story and move on to better writing projects.

And HERE'S the reason why!

On Tuesday I was dropping off scouts with my partner. She had just dropped off her son, who was STARVING, and was headed to my house when my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number, but even that wasn't as great as my surprise at who it ended up being. Graham Wood, the one and only, was calling me! Weird.

Graham called simply to apologize for everything my family went through during the summer of 2009. He said that although it was his job to produce, and he did that at all costs, he did feel bad for the things we suffered for his job. I really appreciated this apology. Granted, I had forgiven him long ago, and although the summer sucked in a lot of ways it was a great adventure and there were good times along the way. Graham may not be one of my favorite people, but he's just trying, just like the rest of us. So good luck, Graham Wood, and thank you for your apology.

This call made me realize that while it's been fun to write this story, its time is done. So like I said: One more chapter, which will probably just be a map, and then it will be finished.

I've decided this blog will now be used for various writing projects that I've either started or meant to. I'm also going to post some poetry, so brace yourselves. And stay tuned for such exciting pieces as: The Evolution/De-Evolution of the English Language, What You Should Know Before Applying to Medicaid, English Translations of Goethe's Poetry (by Jill), and I'll be taking requests for further topics.