2009 NORTH STAR DISTRICT CUB POLAR DAY
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14h
AT CAMP IYATAKA
Last updated on 02/14/09
POST-EVENT RECAP
The North Star District Cub Scout Polar Day held at Camp Iyataka Saturday, February 14th was a great success. Even though 40 degree temperatures and rain during the week reduced the snow pack, and made things a little icy, the annual event was held on a sunny, calm day, with temperatures in the low 20’s.
The event was attended by a 226 participants - record high - with nearly 30 more people than last year.
The sledding/tubing his was open most of the day, and holding the 2nd annual Cardboard Classic Sled race in the afternoon, which drew fifty-four entries in four divisions: the “Pre-built “division; the “Built-on-site” division; the “No-frills” division; and the “Outlaw” division .
Other events during the day included Cross- country skiing, snowshoeing, a snowball throwing range, broom ball, sledding and tubing. We had planned to build igloos also, but the snow conditions didn’t cooperate. Perhaps next year.
To view photos taken throughout the day, check out the Cub Scout Polar Day Photos
, now posted on the photo album on the district website.
Thanks to all those who helped run the various events, the registration, helping in the kitchen, and especially to the members of the Iyatonka Chapter of the Order of the Arrow for their assistance. Thanks to all the Scouts, leaders, parents and family members who attended.
If you have any comments or suggestions about how this year’s Cub Polar Day went, or you have suggestions for next year - or you’d like to help with next year’s Polar Day, please contact Dennis Helland.
Below is the pre-event general information.
The 2009 North Star District Cub Scout Polar Day is Saturday, February 14th, 2009 at Camp Iyataka. This one-day event is for all registered Cub and Webelos Scouts. Tiger Scouts may attend with an adult partner.
This event is filled with plenty of fun, adventure, and winter activities. Past year’s events included such things as sledding/tubing, ice fishing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, igloo building (depending on snow depth), Capture the Flag, broom ball, Klondike sled races, etc.
Don't forget to bring your sleds, tobbogans, snow saucers, and inner tubes! If you have cross country skiis or showshoes, bring those along too. We have some skiis and snowshoes at camp already if you don't have any and would like to try you hand at them. If you don't have any of these, or you want to try a new challenge . . . check out the "Cardboard Classic" information near the bottom of this page.
For those with inner tubes, there is an air compressor near the tubing hill that you can use to inflate your tubes, so you don't have to haul them in your car inflated.
As this is a Cub Scout event, Cub Scout leaders, parents, and other volunteers are needed to help determine, plan and run the events. We already have a number of Cub Packs who have stepped forward to volunteer to help plan and run the various events and other Polar Day tasks.
Latest update - 02/12/09
We've got some sledding hill grooming to do. Got lots of snow at the top, but need to fill in a few areas lower on the hill. Units particpating are asked to bring some shovels and rakes, so we can hall some snow on saucers to areas lower on the hill that could use more snow before we get underway.
As of 02/09/09
The District’s annual Cub Scout Polar Day is this coming Saturday, February 14th at Camp Iyataka from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
We need to know as soon as possible how many Cubs, leaders, and family members from your unit are planning to join us. E-mail your estimated headcount as soon as possible to Dennis Helland at [Click for member's page] .
If your Pack and your families haven’t had a snow outing yet this year, this weekend’s Polar Day may be the best opportunity this season to do so. The cold weather’s gone, and Camp Iyataka has been having one of the best snow seasons in many years, with a forecast calling for a 50% chance of snow on Tuesday, with a 20% chance again on Wednesday. Check out the forecast at the bottom of this page.
We currently have the following units and events being planned:
Tubing /Sledding Hill - Pack 8
Cardboard Classic Sled Race - Pack 319
Snowshoeing/X-country Skiing - Pack 23/Troop 23 (the camp has skis & snowshoes)
Igloo Building - Pack 293
Snowball Range - Pack 264
There’s currently too much snow to get down to the lake, so we won’t be having ice fishing this year.
We still need one Pack to head up the Broom Ball event and someone to head up a tug-of-war event. If your unit can give us a hand on this event, please let us know.
Wanted: Volunteers to serve as official event photographers. Got a digital camera or video camera? Have we a good job for you! We could also use a couple volunteers to man the warm-up room and first aid room. We're also looking for three volunteers to be the official judges for the "Cardboard Classic". Great hours and fringe benefits! This is a position that would look good on a resume!
NOTE: Last year we were able to have a supply of cardboard at the camp for those needing it building a cardboard sled on-site. We’re not sure we’ll be able to do the same this year, so units and individuals are asked to bring their own cardboard this year. Remember, even just a large sheet of cardboard or a large cardboard box is all that’s needed to enter the Cardboard Classic Sled Race. Check with the furniture and appliance stores in your community for large boxes or sheets of cardboard.
This year we’ve added an “Outlaw Division” for those adults or non-Cub Scouts wishing to compete.
We need to know by Wednesday, February 11th, how many Cubs, Leaders, parents and family members from each unit will be joining us. Please e-mail your unit’s anticipated headcount to Dennis Helland at dhelland@juno.com as soon as possible.
Cost for Cub Polar Day is $8.00 per Scout , which includes an event patch, hot lunch/snacks, insurance and program materials); and $5.00 per adult or non-Scout youth. The noon meal will be served in three shifts.
Units are required to bring a ratio of 1 adult for every 6 Cub Scouts, with of minimum of 2 adults per unit attending.
Registration/check-in begins at 9:00 a.m., with events concluding at 3:00 p.m. Folks may continue to sled after that if they please. There are no rigid schedules for the events . . . . everyone is encouraged to take in each event in any order and time they please. If one event is busy, you may come back later.
Registration Form - Units can now print out a copy of the Polar Day Registration Form. Please start filling it out with the names of those Scouts and adults you know will be participating in Cub Polar Day. Your unit's registration form can either be e-mailed to [Click for member's page], or be dropped off at the registration station first thing Saturday morning, where names may be added or deleted. Units can settle up with the registrar when everyone from your unit has arrived.
Maps to Camp Iyataka - If you need a map to Camp Iyataka, or you'd like to see what it's like and what's there, see the Camp Iyataka Website
Lost & Found will be located in the registration/warming room. Please mark your personal items so we can get them back to you if they get lost and are found.
A warming room will be available for those who get wet or cold.
If you've never been to Polar Day before, check out previous year's Polar Day photos.
Back again by popular demand is the "Cardboard Classic" sled race!
Zipping down Camp Iyataka’s sledding hill on a sled or inner tube has always been one of the favorite activities at the North Star District’s Annual Cub Scout Polar Day. Again this year we'll hold the second annual North Star District "Cardboard Classic Sled Race".
Packs, Dens, or individual Cub Scouts can compete against each other going down hill in snow craft made entirely of cardboard and duct tape.
Imagine yourself going down the hill at Camp Iyataka in one of these babies . . .
If you’ve never seen this event before, click on the video links below to see what it's like and to get ideas for your entry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRpYb3-RzXQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bojp2OVawDc&feature=related
/eu.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3d5kua0hRU4fo
Another source information about cardboard sled racing is a Snow Box Derby article that appeared in the Jan/Feb 2002 issue of Scouting magazine.
There are four divisions being planned.
The Pre-built Division - In this division you design, build and decorate your sled ahead of time at home or at a Den meeting and bring your sled already built to Cub Polar Day.
The Built-on-Site Division - If you don’t have the time to build a cardboard sled a home, or you don’t have room in your car to haul a completed one, you have between 9:00 to 11:00 am to build one at camp. You can draw up a design at home, then put it together at the camp.
Cardboard Carpet Division - Finally, the "no-frills division", where the only thing between you and the snow is a sheet of cardboard!
Entries in each division can have either multiple or single occupants, so entries can be by indivduals, dens or packs. All entries must be constructed, registered and ready to race by 11:00 am.
Outlaw Division - This year there will also be an "Outlaw Division" for parents and non-Cub Scouts.
Awards are being planned for the the winners of all kids' divisions and categories, including "Best Design", "Fastest", and "Most Sluggish" - check back for more details, but start planning your entry now!
A helmet of some type is recommended - bike helmet, snowmobile, or football helmet.
In the past, some parents brought lawn chairs so they'd have a comfortable place to sit during the events.
Hint! Hint! Hint!: The bottom surfaces of your entry may be "turbo-charged" by coating with wax or colored with crayons. Sleds with rounded or curved front edges or corners move across the snow easier. Sleds can have runners if they're made of cardboard or cardboard tubes.
Those wishing to build their own sled on-site Saturday morning should plan to bring thier own cardboard. If anyone has any large pieces of cardboard they can bring, please do so. There is a no-frills division for those who would like to just bring a large piece of cardboard to sled on. Parents should also bring a box cutter or utility knife. Box cutters and utility knives are to be used by adults only.
Your Cub Pack should start making plans now for Cub Polar Day. It's become one of the most popular Cub Scout events of the year.
Check this posting regularly for more information and any updates.
CURRENT CAMP IYATAKA AREA WEATHER AND 7-DAY FORECAST
Return to "Potpourii Page"