Photos from Christmas at Ardenwood
Here are some photos and additional info about our day at Ardenwood Farm.
Traditional Victorian Celebrations
The Victorian Celebration of Christmas had a great variety from place to place. It was a time of change that saw some old holiday traditions fade and new traditions introduced. Many still observe today such as having Christmas trees and wrapping presents.
About the Yule Log
The burning of the Yule log provided a blessing for the coming year. It marked the end of the days getting shorter, celebrating the “return” of the sun and lengthening of the days. A piece of the Yule log kept in the home radiated good luck throughout the year. It was used to start the fire for the next year’s Yule log.
At Ardenwood, the Yule Log hunt was a big hit. The kids were provided with a series of clues and a large bell signaled the kids to return to the farmyard for their next clue.
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- Group photo at Water Tower
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- Petting the Goats
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- Pumping Water
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- Accordionist Denis D'Aoust Plays Holiday Tunes
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- Christmas Crafts
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- Learning About Acorns in the Trees
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- Yule Log Hunt Instructions and Clues
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- Looking for the hidden Yule Log
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- Patterson House Decorated for Christmas
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- Santa Meets the Scouts
Flag Hill Trail Trek Hike in Sunol on December 12th (updated)
The first Trial Trekker hike will be located in the beautiful Sunol Regional Park Saturday morning on the 12th of December. We will meet at the foot bridge just past the visitors center and the park office. This is the same location of our Bridging ceremony which was held last June.
The first half of the Flag hill hike may be a bit strenuous for some of our scouts. To allow for greater participation this hike will be split into two hiking groups up to the top of Flag Hill.
- Scouts and parents who feel they are up to hiking the steeper route will be led north following the regular Flag Hill path.
- The second group will head east then northeast up the more gradual Hayfield rd./High Valley rd. towards Flag Hill’s summit.
Both groups will meet at the top of Flag Hill then return following the Hayfield rd./High Valley rd. route. No one will be allowed to return following the steeper Flag hill trail route.
A brief historical & nature talk will be given at the summit before returning.
Rain cancels.
Bring:
- $5 parking fee
- water
- bring your own snacks (for top of Flag hill)
- light sweater/jacket, something you can take off and carry.
- maybe cold in the morning.
Schedule of Events:
- 9:30 am Meet at foot bridge
- 10:00 am Start Hike (two groups)
- Flag Hill Summit - rest, discussion, then decent
Directions to Sunol Regional Park:
- Drive north on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road.
- Turn right on Calaveras and proceed to Geary Road, which leads directly into the park.
- Enter the park and park near the Visitor Center where the foot bridge is just a short walk away.
Update: Hike Canceled due to Rain
Regretfully our Flag Hill Hike is canceled.
Thankfully Mother nature has provided us with much needed rain and snow. But with rain yesterday and again tonight with 90% chance of heavier rain due to fall during our scheduled hike tomorrow our hike is canceled.
- Tonight: Periods of rain. Low 44F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
- Tomorrow: Rain. High 54F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Rainfall may reach one inch.
We’ll keep you posted concerning future announcements of our BSA Trail Trekker program.
Thank you and have a great weekend,
Andrew Galindez
Pack 163
Trail Trekker Coordinator
December 5: Christmas at Ardenwood Farm
The East Bay Regional Park District and the City of Fremont invite you to visit Ardenwood Historic Farm at Christmas. The historic Patterson Farmhouse is decorated and brimming with holiday cheer. Browse the grounds; 205 acres of fully functioning 1890’s farm preserved in a modern world. Enjoy a truly old-fashioned style Christmas at Ardenwood Farms.
Christmas at Ardenwood Farm: Saturday December 5 at 11:00 am
Activities: Music, arts and crafts stations, Father Christmas and train rides, cookies and cider
Pack 163 Scouts and Families: meet inside the front entrance at 11:00 am (near the train station). We’ll enjoy the activities as a group. Make sure to bring some water and a light snack. For any questions about this event, please contact Yvonne Srem (510-744-1430) or Kevin Crossman (510-393-2883).
Fee: $8 for adults and $6 for kids
Ardenwood Historic Farm
Photo courtesy Ardenwood Historic Farm
Scouting for Food - November 14 and 21
Scouting for Food is Scouting’s community stewardship project aimed at addressing the problem of hunger in the community in which we live and work.
Scouting for Food is a food collection effort carried out by Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Cub Scouts from our community. Scouts distribute food drive donation flyers throughout a designated area and then return to collect plastic grocery bags filled with donated food the following week. The bags are collected and taken to local food pantries, churches, shelters for the homeless, and other local agencies that feed the needy.
Each year we partner with local Boy Scout troops to distribute flyers and to collect food. The Troops are able to introduce themselves and their Troop, serving as an introduction to Boy Scouts for many of our Cubs. Our distribution and collection area is shown on the map.
Pack 163 Scouting for Food Collection Area
Saturday, November 14
9:00 am at Brookvale Elementary School (yellow dot on map)
Distribute flyers with Troop 143
Saturday, November 21
9:00 am at Brookvale Elementary School
Food pickup with Troop 154
Bring bagged food to Robert Cook’s house at 3344 Surry Place (red dot on map)
In addition to doing a good turn, the event allows the Boy and Cub Scouts to bond, provides visibility for Scouting, and gets us in walking shape for our hike in December. Event should last approximately three hours, depending on level of participation.
Make a Difference Day - October 24
Part of Cub Scouting is doing a good turn daily. With that in mind we are once again participating in Make a Difference Day where we help with a community project. Our project this year is at Millard Elementary School.
Here’s a description of some of the activities listed from the event organizer, Val Wagner.
Below is a list of tasks that we will be trying to get done.
- Pull staples from the poster walls
- Clean trash a long the back fence (anywhere needed)
- Candy prep for fall carnival
- Paint or fix any carnival games required.
- Plant flowers
- Spread wood chips
- Paint signs for the disaster shed.
Our big project this year is installing a drip system in some planter boxes around our science lab. I think it is a good way to start them off on helping others.
We will meet Saturday the 24th at 9 am at Millard Elementary School, 5200 Valpey Park Ave, Fremont.
