At Pack 1's Blue & Gold Picnic on Sunday, June 6 (5-8 p.m., Richfield Veterans Park Picnic Shelter), we will be awarding the Advancement badges/belt loops that our Scouts have earned this year (and last year!). We will also hold a Crossover Ceremony for our Arrow of Light Scouts who are graduating to Scouts BSA Troop 1.
Due to Covid-19 protocols in place at the time of planning and scheduling, our Blue & Gold Picnic/Crossover Ceremony will be held as a bring-your-own picnic basket/food/non-alcoholic-beverages event, rather than a paid, buffet-style catered meal, as has been the custom in years past. Although Northern Star Council still recommends face coverings for unvaccinated individuals when social distancing is not possible, however, as of May 28, 2021, Minnesota terminated nearly all state COVID-19 restrictions, including all capacity limits and distancing requirements, both indoors and outdoors.
That being said, your family members are welcome to wear face coverings if you will be more comfortable doing so, and it might be prudent if we plan to spread out while eating, limiting seating to one family/household per picnic table. There are a dozen or so picnic tables in the large pavilion/shelter, but there may not be enough tables for every family, so to Be Prepared, bring a picnic blanket as an alternative. There is plenty of green space around the pavilion in which to spread out and lay down multiple picnic blankets.
If your Scout participated this year in Den and Pack 1 activities and meetings, but never officially registered with -- and paid dues to -- Northern Star Council, we'll need to prioritize doing so ASAP prior to June 6, because the Council won’t allow us purchase advancement/rank badges at the Scout Shop without Scoutbook documentation, per Scout, per badge/patch. As such, we wouldn’t be able on June 6 to award your Scout with any of the badges he/she earned without Northern Star having her/him officially registered.
Here's a tentative schedule:
5-5:15 p.m. -- Arrival and Set-up. Move picnic tables as needed.
5:15-5:20 p.m. -- Flag ceremony
5:20-6 p.m. -- Eat dinner while Pack 1 leaders award Advancement badges/belt loops
6-6:30 p.m. -- AOL Crossover Ceremony
6:35-6:45 -- 2021-22 Pack 1 Planning, Volunteer & Recruiting Outlook
6:45-7:45 -- Social Hour, Outdoor Play, etc.
Yours in Scouting,
Greg Huff
Pack 1 Cubmaster
greghuff@mac.com