BEARS DEN 4
Bear Den Leader:Dan DeOliveira
Asst. Leader: John McCue
Blue Hills Weather Observatory
The Wolf scouts of Den 4, Pack 18 in Bellingham learned a good deal about the weather, proper hiking techniques, as well as the ‘Leave No Trace Guidelines’ for outdoor adventuring, during an outing this past fall. Scouts Joshua DeOliveira, Ethan Carr, Ian McCue and Daniel Gavin along with their Den Leaders Dr. Daniel DeOliveira and Asst. Den Leader Mr. John McCue, spent an afternoon hiking the Blue Hills in Milton, MA, just south of Boston. They were joined by chaperones Mr. Michael Carr and Mrs. Bela DeOliveira, as well as Cristina DeOliveira. The Blue Hills offer more than 125 miles of trails at all levels some are easy going, while others are rugged and challenging. The weather proved to be picture perfect for the hike. The trail they planned and ventured out on was a steep and rocky trail. They began their hike at the base of Great Blue Hill along side the Trailside Museum. After the rigorous hike up to the top of Great Blue Hill they stopped for lunch and a snack. After lunch they climbed to the top of Eliot Tower- a rustic observation tower built by the ‘boys’ (not much older than the Wolf Scouts themselves) of the Blue Hills Civilian Conservation Corps 71 years ago. The two story observation tower affords excellent views of the Boston Skyline and Logan Airport to the North, Boston Harbor to the East, and Mt. Wachusett to the west.
The scouts then continued their hike to the Blue HillMeteorological Observatory. They were led on a tour of the Observatory by a staff member. The observatory, they learned, is the foremost structure associated with the history of weather observations in the United States. And is home to the oldest continuous weather record in North America. The first regular observations of weather was begun on February 1, 1885. The observatory remains active to this day, continuing to add to its data base of weather observations now more than one hundred twenty years old, and stands as a monument to the science of meteorology in the United States. In 1980 it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
The tour started on the first floor of the Blue Hills Weather Tower containing the director's office. The weather bureau was on the second floor and a laboratory and access to the roof was on the third floor. Various wind gauges and other meteorological recording instruments are attached to the roof of the tower. The observatory still retains barometers and other instrumentation dating from the late 19th century. These instruments are used to calibrate the modern instrumentation to preserve the accuracy and integrity of the data base dating back to 1885. The scouts learned about the use of anemometers, a device used for measuring wind speed, and aerovanes that measure wind direction, as well as barometers that measure atmospheric pressure and can predict short term changes in the weather. They were allowed to go up on the roof of the Observatory to see first hand the dozens of weather instruments that are used to monitor, gather and transmit weather information used by many local News Stations and the National Weather Service to forecast the weather.
The scouts ended their tour and then began the hike back down Great Blue Hill again practing the six Leave No Trace Guidelines: 1. Plan Ahead, 2. Stick to Trails, 3. Manage your pet, 4. Leave what you find, 5. Respect other viistors, and 6. Trash your Trash.
The scouts continued their learning about weather at home by drawing posters about the Water Cycle, (Precipatation, Evaporation, and Condensation) and presenting their posters at a Den meeting. At the Den meeting they each also built their very own functioning aerovane that they could use at home to determine the direction the wind is blowing. For their efforts, at a Pack Meeting the scouts received the Cub Scouts Weather Belt-Loop, the Blue Hills Weather Obervatory Patch for taking the time to learn about the History of the Tower and it’s role in recording and forecasting weather, and they also received the Cub Scouts Leave No Trace Award.
Bear Cub Calendar:
SEPTEMBER
09/16 Pack Meeting @ 6:30 PM (South Elem.)
09/24 Den Meeting @ 5:45 PM Wojcik Farm, Corn Maze
09/15 Committee Meeting @ 7:30 PM
09/20 PopCorn Sales @ Stop & Shop /AC Moore
09/26 PopCorn Sales @ Walmart/Market Basket
OCTOBER
10/7 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
10/21 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM, Flag football at the Bellingham Common
10/22 Pack Meeting @ 6:30 PM (St. Blaise)
10/11 B A Bear Day (10AM -2PM; Champlin Scout Reservation)
10/15 Committee Meeting @ 7:30 PM
10/17 Scouting Family Day (9AM – 6PM; Champlin Scout Reservation Free for new scouts and families)
NOVEMBER
11/4 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM "Build air-powered cars / Turn in wreath forms and payment"
11/13-15 Bear & Webelos Camp out @ Camp Waldron in Ct.
11/18 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
11/20 Pack Meeting @ 6:30 PM (St. Blaise)
11/01 Scouting For food (Deliver bags)
11/07 Scouting for food (Pick-up bags)
11/19 Committee Meeting @ 7:30 PM
DECEMBER
12/2 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
12/16 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
12/10 Pack Meeting @ 6:30 PM (St. Blaise)
12/xx Cable 8 Toy Drive
12/16 Committee Meeting @ 7:30 PM
JANUARY
1/6 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
1/20 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
1/21 Pack Meeting @ 6:30 PM (St. Blaise)
1/xx Committee Meeting @ 7:30 PM
FEBRUARY
2/3 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
2/17 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
2/27 Pack Meeting @ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Pine Wood Derby @ St. Blaise)) “Start your Engines”
2/18 Committee Meeting @ 7:30 PM
MARCH
3/3 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
3/17 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
3/xx Blue & Gold Banquet
3/13 District Pinewood Derby
3/xx Committee Meeting @ 7:30 PM
APRIL
4/7 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM “Geocaching in Bellingham”
4/15 Pack Meeting @ 6:00 PM (St. Blaise)
4/21 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
4/15 Committee Meeting @ 7:30 PM
MAY
5/5 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
5/19 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
5/20 Pack Meeting @ 6:30 PM (St. Blaise)
5/xx Committee Meeting @ 7:30 PM
JUNE
6/2 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM
6/16 Den Meeting @ 6:00 PM “End of year party”
6/xx Pack Meeting @ ---- PM Arcand Park(Graduation