How Turtle's Shell Got Cracked

In the days when the People and the animals still spoke the same language, Possum and Turtle were best friends. Many people thought it odd that two such very different creatures would be so close, but Possum and Turtle knew they had a lot in common. Neither of them liked to go anywhere in a hurry, and they both loved persimmons.

Here is how they shared persimmons together. Possum would climb a persimmon tree, wrap his strong tail around a limb, and hang. Turtle would come and stand at the foot of the tree, and Possum would swing up and pick a persimmon for himself and eat it. Then he would swing up and pick another one, and Turtle would open his mouth as wide as it would go. Possum would take careful aim and drop the persimmon into Turtle's mouth. They could do this for hours.

Baggie Greenhouse Printable

Click Here for your printable.

Item List:

• Sandwich baggie with a zipper
• Seeds / Beans
• Coloring items (crayons, color pencils, markers)
• Greenhouse Printable
• Sharp Knife (Akela to cut out the window on the printable)
• Water
• Tape and a Home Window

This little greenhouse can be used to start any seeds.  For my Wolf's we used beans since their germination time is quicker than most seeds.  By the time next den meeting rolls around each boy should show some type of growth.

Have the boys personalize their greenhouse and have an adult use a knife to cut the window out of the middle.  I used half page shipping labels so I could stick the greenhouse onto the sandwich baggie.  Using regular paper and taping the outer edges to the baggie works very well also.

Get your paper towel damp and fold so that it will fit within the bottom of the greenhouse. Place your beans/seeds in the last fold and make sure that the sprout will have an exit path within the paper towel. Seal the sandwich baggie and tape your new greenhouse up in your window with the paper greenhouse facing you.

Make sure to check your greenhouse each day a record what you see. What is forming on the side of the baggie? Has anything sprouted? 

Fitness Activity Badge

FITNESS

Do this:

1. With your parent, guardian, or Webelos den leader, complete the Health and Fitness Character Connection.
   1. Know: Tell why it is important to be healthy, clean, and fit.
   2. Commit: Tell when it is difficult for you to stick with good health habits. Tell where you can go to be with others who encourage you to be healthy, clean, and fit.
   3. Practice: Practice good health habits while doing the requirements for this activity badge.

And do six of these:

2. With a parent or other adult family member complete a safety notebook, which is discussed in the booklet "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse " that comes with this book.
3. Read the meal planning information in this chapter. With a parent or other family member, plan a week of meals. Explain what kinds of meals are best for you and why.
4. Keep a record of your daily meals and snacks for a week. Decide whether you have been eating foods that are good for you.
5. Tell an adult member of your family about the bad effects smoking or chewing tobacco would have on your body.
6. Tell an adult member of your family four reasons why you should not use alcohol and how it could affect you.
7. Tell an adult member of your family what drugs could do to your body and how they would affect your ability to think clearly.
8. Read the booklet Choose to Refuse! Take A Stand Against Drugs! Discuss it with an adult and show that you understand the material.

Horrible Pirate Story

One time I was down by the docks and I saw this old sailor that I swear looked just like a pirate; peg-leg, eye-patch, and even a hook for a hand.
But I guess I was staring at him because he comes stumping over and says...
Arr, I saw yez lookin at me! Bet yer wond'rin hows I got this peg-leg? Well... it was HORRIBLE!
Me ship was a cannonading another ship, when they lets go with a broadside themselves. Whoooom, off goes me leg. Arr!
Then he turned to walk away when suddenly he turns back and says...

How To Make A Water Jug Lantern

One of the most needed necessities while camping is light when it is dark.  One trick that I learned was how to make a lantern using only a headlamp and a clear water container.  The process is simple; place the light directly on the side of the clear water container.  Just make sure that there is water inside the container. I personally like to use an old milk jug so I can have a handle when walking with my newly created lantern.

Genealogy Merit Badge Requirement 1

Genealogy Merit Badge
1. Explain to your counselor what the words genealogy, ancestor, and descendant mean.

Genealogy: The study of family history.  The history of a particular family showing how the different members of the family are related to each other.

Ancestor:  A person who was in someone's family in past times : one of the people from whom a person is descended.

Descendant: Proceeding from an ancestor or source 

Asteroid 2014 DX110 Buzzed The Earth

The newly discovered asteroid known as 2014 DX110 passed close to earth Wednesday afternoon, buzzing by at 33,000 mph. The video above is the flight path of the astroid and all planets within its path.

Scientists estimate the asteroid is between 45 and 130 feet across. The distance between the Earth and moon is about 239,000 miles where 2014 DX110 passed 217,000 miles from us.  That's right, It flew between us and the moon creating a 1/10,000,000 chance that 2014 DX110 would colide with Earth.

According to Weather.com, this passing was just an appetizer for a larger astroid named 2014 CU13 scheduled to buzz the planet this Sunday night, March 9th, 2014.

While gazing up at the sky for a glimps of 2014 CU13 this weekend; Here are a few other Astronomy requirments you could pass off.