Welcome back!

Hello everyone!  Welcome back to our "new year" of Cub Scouting!  Since the scout year effectively runs with the school year, starting again in September, we just had our Kickoff Pack Meeting this week and it was great.  We've got a new Cub Master, Chad Mead, and he jumped right in and ran a very fun pack meeting to get our year off to an amazing start.  We had a life-size Jenga set and an incredible obstacle course - some pictures are posted below.  Thank you to those of who were able to come and to those of you who helped with set-up, clean-up, and the games.  It was a really enjoyable evening.

If you'd like to stay updated without having to remember to check the blog, I encourage you to put your email address in at the top of the blog page and you will receive an email any time an update is posted to the blog.  I don't think that happens if the calendar is updated, though, so you'll need to remember to check back for that, or subscribe to the Google calendar.

The next big event coming up is Pinewood Derby, two weeks from today on Saturday, September 6th.  Our check-in time is 7:30 a.m. and our race time is 8 a.m.  Weigh-in will be the night before at Megan Bowman's home.  More details to follow on that.  I have Pinewood Derby car kits and will bring them to church tomorrow to hand out to the families I see.  If I don't catch you there, stop by my house some evening this week to pick up your kit. 

Megan Bowman has offered to help plan for Pinewood Derby, but she needs some help.  Please let me know if you are willing and able to help with:
- Refreshments (we're thinking breakfast - it will be early in the morning)
- Awards
- Gathering activities while we wait for our race time
- Event photographer
- Energetic Race Announcer

There are some other events and jobs that we need help with.  Please email me and let me know where you are willing and able to help.  We need helpers for:

- Pack Meeting photographer
- Updating the Pack Flag
- Blue & Gold Banquet (next February)
- Scout-O-Rama (next February)
- Scouting for Food (When?  Oh, that's right - next February! - See why Pinewood Derby was moved to September?)

This is a Pack family and the more involved you are, the more fun you have, and the easier and more exciting it is for everyone.  Please let us know how you would like to help!

Thank you for being part of the Pack.  We're looking forward to a great year!

Summer Reading

Whether your scout did or did not get to go to the S.T.E.M. day camp over spring break, check out what the Mesa Library is doing this summer that could help your scout learn more about this program!

http://summer.mcldaz.org/

Scouts in Action

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/05/09/new-jersey-scouts-help-rescue-nbc-journalist-ann-curry/

This is a great story about scouts putting their knowledge into action.  These boys are learning about things they can do to help people, but also values and morals that they do not hesitate to act upon.

February 2014 - Off to a great start!

Hello everyone -

We had a great start to February on Saturday with Scouting for Food.  The gathering of food for United Food Bank went very well.  The boys and leaders were all amazing and collected over 400 lbs. of food!

Our next Cub Scout Committee meeting is next Sunday the 9th at 9 a.m.  Parents are welcome to attend these committee meetings.  We will meet in the classroom of the southwest foyer and be done at 10 a.m.

Our next major event is Scout-O-Rama on Saturday, February 22nd.  This is such a fun event for the Cub Scouts, full of many great projects and even opportunities to pass off some achievements.  Family members are welcome.  Please let your leaders know if your scout will be coming and if you will be able to help drive, or if your Scout will need a ride.

At Scout-O-Rama our boys have the responsibility and opportunity to work in our Stake booth showing other Scouts how to build their own miniature catapults.  Our ward is assigned to work the 1-2 p.m. time slot and each scout will receive an assignment time during that hour.  We need help collecting milk and sports drink lids for the catapults, and if you have equipment to help us cut some segments of PVC pipe for the catapults, please let Emily Truitt know - her husband isn't too keen on having to cut all 250 pieces himself and could use some assistance!

The featured belt loops this month are:

HERITAGES:  Cub Scouts develop a better understanding of personal family history and appreciation for the heritage of others.  Activities include researching family history, organizing family photographs, and sharing heritage information with den members.

BOWLING:  Bowling is a sport that takes skill and determination.  Boys can try their hand at it and earn the Bowling belt loop and pin.

Please see the link on the right side of the blog page to access the worksheets needed to help you complete a belt loop.  These are the featured belt loops for February, but certainly not the only ones you are able to work on this month.  Look through the list and you may be surprised to see several that go right along with things your Scout is already doing!