Saturday evening, Dec. 12, more than 100 Cub Scouts, 16 siblings and 98 adults participated in the third-annual Richardson Cub Scout Night at the Museum of Nature & Science at Fair Park in Dallas.

Youth and adult participants represented:

-  Pack 561, Yale Elementary School

-  Pack 727, Math/Science/Technology Magnet Elementary School

-  Pack 751, Arapaho Classical Magnet Elementary School

-  Pack 777, St. Joseph Catholic Church

-  Pack 808, Northrich Elementary School

-  Pack 898, Jess Harben Elementary School

-  Pack 1001, Prairie Creek and Canyon Creek Elementary Schools

The main theme of the overnight lock-in was “All Things Cold.”  Museum staff members and volunteers helped participants discover how animals adapt to survive in cold climates.  An experiment showed how blubber serves an insulator. 

Participants also explored the museum while on a scavenger hunt, observed a chemistry demonstration and paid rapt attention to Glenn Shirley, who is known at the museum as “Mr. Electricity.”  Mr. Shirley, a 19-year volunteer at the museum and a retired Richardson ISD teacher, taught two audience members when they were kindergarten students at the NorthrichElementary School in the 1970’s. 

His Electric Theater presentation looked at the history of electricity over a period of 4,000 years.  When static electricity from a Van de Graaff generator caused hairs on the head of a volunteer to stand up straight, the audience roared with laughter.  His audience was awe struck when he caused 10-foot lightning bolts, with a purple glow, arc through the air.   

Paul Dodson, a Pack 727 parent and North Trail District Membership vice chair, organized this event for the third time.  “Teddy Roosevelt did not ride through the museum on his horse,” he said.  “But, I know that many Cub Scouts thought an 80-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex was going to leap to life from the IMAX screen during our viewing of the movie, ‘Giants of Patagonia,” he continued.  “We had a lot of screaming children, and probably a few adults, jumping out of their chairs.”

Mr. Dodson already is planning the fourth-annual museum lock-in for Richardson Cub Scouts, prospective Cub Scouts, siblings who are at least six years old, and parents.  “Camping has been and always will be an important part of the Scouting program,” he said.  “However, programs, such as Night at the Museum, show that Scouting has much to offer in addition to camping outdoors.”

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Contributor

Alan  Edwards is among those who report on the activities of North Trail District Cubs Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers.