CONGRATULATIONS (AGAIN) TO ALL OUR SCOUTS FOR BEING HIGHLAND GAMES CHAMPIONS FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR!

Theme: "My Family Tree" – Just as individual members of a family contribute their unique knowledge skills and abilities to help the "family unit" as a whole. So too do the individual members of the "Pack Family" have unique knowledge, skills and abilities that could prove invaluable to the other scouts in your son’s Den and even the Pack. Even extended family members (e.g. grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) have potential contributions that our scouts could really benefit from. Please consider what contribution that you could make to help our scouts get the most out of their scouting experience.

Pack Interpreter – We are still in the need of a Pack Interpreter to help "Sign" for our meetings. If anyone knows someone willing to contribute in this way, we would appreciate it.

Upcoming events include:

Jan 7 - Pinewood Derby Workshop, 1:00-4:00PM in the Ridgeway school cafeteria. Boys will be provided assistance using power tools to carve out their pinewood derby car designs. We will have tools available for them to use but we could always use more - please see your leader if you can help out in providing more…. The workshop will be open the entire time so drop in whenever is convenient.

Jan 21 - Pinewood Derby {Date Change} (January Pack meeting), 1:00-5:00PM in the Ridgeway school cafeteria. Time to rev ‘em up! The boys race the cars they have made (along with their parent’s help) out of a block of pinewood (kits will be provided for the scouts and will be available for sale upon request for adults/siblings). This racing event helps the boys learn good sportsmanship and craftsmanship while they are having a great time.

Jan 28 - Klondike Derby {Date Change} (Webelos event). This is an event for the Webelos scouts to put to use their scout skills. The scouts pull a "Musher Dog Sled" to different stations where they are given various challenge scenarios. Using their own abilities and working as a team, they must try to resolve the problem/challenge. Adults are allowed to watch but not help. The scouts will be scored not only on accomplishment of the task, but on teamwork, scout spirit, and other items.

Feb 18 - Blue and Gold Banquet. Our Pack Committee has been diligently scouring the globe to populate this years event with International treasures from the remotest parts of the world. Don't be surprised for this event to find culinary delights from many different nations that you wouldn't otherwise believe came from the nations our scouts associate with them. Word is that we could have as many as 70 different chefs from around the Pack each contributing to the evening's meal. Certificates of authenticity from our event chefs should not be expected, however a great conversation might ensue should you ask for one.
Scouts/Families are encouraged to Register On-Line to assist our volunteers in preparing for this extensive event.

Feb 19 – Scout Sunday. {Date Change} We will be celebrating Scout Sunday at our Charter Organization (First Lutheran Church of Odenton) again this year. This event is a juxtaposition of our famed Charter Organization, and our very own scouts. Where else would you expect to find Cub Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Scouters all visibly demonstrating the 12th point of the Boy Scout Law as well as their scout sanctioned "Duty to God" by worshiping with this willing congregation. This year, Scout Sunday will include presentations of various Religious Awards to our scouts who have earned them.

Feb 25 – Scouting for Food Scouts will meet in the Ridgeway parking lot at 9:00am and proceed to drop-off bags/flyers/door-hangers to houses in the surrounding communities. Parents are needed to drive and supervise the scouts.

Mar 4 – Scouting for Food Pickup Scouts will meet in the Ridgeway parking lot at 9:00 am to pickup bags of food donations from houses in the surrounding communities. Parents are needed to drive and supervise the scouts. All food collected will be donated to the Christian Assistance Program (CAP) food pantry located at the First Lutheran Church of Odenton. Volunteers are also needed to assist in the sorting of food at the Church.

Mar 29 – Cubstruction (Pack meeting), 7:00PM in the Ridgeway school cafeteria. Cub Scouts are given a collection of materials to "invent" and construct something of their own design. These creations will then be judged and awarded prizes by our Charter Organization.

Apr 8 – USS New Jersey Encampment. This is a unique opportunity where our Scouts will have a chance to camp aboard the USS New Jersey Battleship. See Annette Nicosia if interested.

Apr 26 - Arrow of Light ceremony and Bridging of Webelos II scouts into Boy Scouts.

Apr 29 - Rain Gutter Regatta (Pack meeting) at Ridgeway Elementary School. The boys race the sail boats they have crafted out of balsawood kits (which will be provided for the scouts and will be available for sale upon request for adults/siblings).

May 24 - Cake Bake (Pack meeting) at Ridgeway Elementary School. The boys get out their favorite recipes and bake their best cake. Cakes will be auctioned off to the top bidder. Prizes will be awarded for categories such as the biggest, smallest, most patriotic, most colorful, best theme, best scout theme, or yummiest cake.

Jun 3-4 – Pack Graduation/Pot Luck/Family Camping – details to follow….

Summer Time Events:

Jun 17 – Cub Scout Olympics

Jun 19-23 - Cub Scout Day Camp,

Jul 8 – Fishing Derby

Jul 22 – Pack Pool Party

Aug – Hershey Park/Family Camping,

Aug 7- 11 - Cub Scout Day Camp

Leader/Adult Volunteer Training Opportunities (please see Wayne for more info):

7:30pm Youth Protection Training - Glen Burnie United Methodist Church

General Information

Welcome to Cub Scout Pack 662! We are pleased to have you join us and are looking forward to another great and exciting year! Many of you are new to Scouting and/or new to Pack 662 and have a lot of questions. The following provides some information on how Pack 662 operates. Additional information on Cub Scouting can be accessed on the internet on our own web site at www.pack662.com.

Meetings - Den meetings for the Tigers (1st grade), Wolves (2nd grade), Bears (3rd grade), Webelos I (4th grade) and Webelos II (5th grade) are generally held once every week for the first 3 weeks of the month and last 1 - 1 ½ hours. Generally, meetings will be held on Wednesdays, however, it will be up to each Den Leader to set the day/time that is the best for his/her Den. Pack meetings (the pack consists of all the dens together as one big group) will be held on the 4th Wednesday of every month (unless announced otherwise) at 7:00PM in the Ridgeway school cafeteria. This is a fun meeting where all the Dens get together and put on skits, sing songs, play games, and are recognized for their accomplishments over the past month.

"Sign’s UP!" - During den meetings, pack meetings, and any other gatherings it will be necessary to gain the attention of the entire group in order to make announcements, begin activities, etc. This is accomplished when the right hand is held up with the "scout sign" (two fingers raised like Garfield above - symbolic of Wolf’s ears). When you see this we ask that you assist in ensuring that everyone (children and adults) stop talking and focus their attention to the leader.

Parent/Adult Required - We require each boy to be accompanied by an adult during all of the meetings and events. Leaders are not permitted to take responsibility for any child other than their own. If you cannot be there, please ensure you have another adult accept responsibility for your child.

Siblings - We understand that at times you may need to bring along siblings in order for the boys to attend meetings. Siblings are welcome, however, you are required to maintain supervision over these children.

Uniforms - We require that the boys obtain and properly wear a Scout uniform for their rank. Our policy is for the boys to be in uniform from the waist up -see your leader for details on the appropriate uniform. Appropriate times to wear the uniform are listed in each Cub Scout book. Please see your leader if you are willing to turn in a used uniform and/or need assistance in obtaining a uniform. In addition to the formal uniform ("Class A") which is to be worn at Pack meetings, we have Pack 662 T-shirts that may be worn at group events and activities ("Class B").

Den Dues - Throughout the year your Cub Scout den will be involved in various activities and projects. Most of them have an associated cost, therefore, you will be required to pay den dues of $1 each week. Dues are required whether your scout attends the weekly meeting or not. Leaders plan and prepare for the entire group to participate in projects and many times find that the dues collected will not cover the expenses of activities that they do or want to plan. Please help them out by paying dues promptly.

Den Doodles - At every Pack event that the scout attends he will receive a bead for his Den's Doodle. The scout is to take his bead to his Den Leader and his particular Den's Doodle. The more Pack events that a scout attends, the more beads that the scout gets for his part of his Den's Doodle. Each scout will be presented with all of his Pack-beads for each year of his participation when he receives his "Arrow of Light."

Volunteers - As with any organization, our success will depend on the amount of effort put forth. We have a great group of boys that have the opportunity to grow physically, mentally and socially but it cannot be done without the help of many adults. We need help in a wide variety of areas, some requiring more time than others. ANY help you can provide will be greatly appreciated not just by fellow leaders/volunteers but by your son as he sees that you share the interest and enthusiasm of the scouting experience. Keep in mind that we have wonderful leaders and volunteers that are more than willing to guide you through your effort. Please review the List of Positions/Activities that we need assistance with, fill them out and turn them into your Den Leader or Cub Master. Also, please see the event volunteer sign-up sheets available at the September Pack meeting and sign up to assist in the event(s) of your choice.

Fund Raisers - The Pack does a couple of Fundraisers through-out the year. The first fundraising activity is what we use to cover the costs of the various scouts badges, awards, and other recognition items. Each scout/family is asked to either participate in this fundraising activity or donate $40 to cover this particular expense for the boys. Otherwise, we will be unable to present our scouts with the recognition that they have earned and deserve through-out the year.

As mentioned above, profits from the fundraiser go toward patches, pins, belt loops, beads, etc. provided to the scouts as recognition for their achievements. All training costs for our volunteer leaders are also paid out of Pack funds. Other Pack expenses/costs which must be covered include registration costs for the Pack to enter events and other necessary supplies (e.g. Blue and Gold banquet costs, new scarves, other keepsakes for Rank Advancement, as well as Pinewood Derby and Raingutter Regatta kits.)

Scout Accounts - This year we have decided to try establishing Scout Accounts for our boys. This will enable our scouts to use a portion of their fund-raiser proceeds towards other Scouting Expenses through-out the year. This will include expenses such as the registration fees for some of the various Pack, District, and Council events. This will hopefully provide additional opportunities for our boys to better develop their personal skills and fiscal responsibilities.

Cub Scout Summertime Award - Scouts who participate in at least one qualifying Pack event for each of the summer months (i.e. June, July, and August) are eligible for the National Summertime Award. This is an individual recognition for each scout who participates in qualifying Pack events for each month through the summer. This also helps the Pack to qualify for a National Summertime Pack Award and streamer for our flag. Well-represented Dens for these summertime events may also qualify for an additional Den award.

Conservation Projects and Community Service Projects - An important part of Scouting is preserving our environment and providing for our community. At each Pack meeting we will be collecting non-perishable food items and clothing for the Christian Assistance Program (CAP). Also, we will collect material scraps (i.e., old clothes/sheets that are not re-usable due to rips or stains) that will be used to make quilts for the homeless. Please bring your donations each month to the Pack meeting. If you have any other ideas for potential projects, please pass them on to your leader or Cub Master.

As always, if you have any questions/concerns/ideas please feel free to call or e-mail your leaders.

We are always looking for new ideas and topics for the monthly newsletter. If you have an idea or would be interested in writing an article, please let us know.