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Pack Meeting Sept 18th – Geocaching!

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Cub Scout GPSThe first Pack Meeting of the new season will be this Friday, September 18th, at Fairview Park.  We will meet at 7:00 PM at the entrance pavilion for a Geocaching Adventure!  Please be on-time or early — we have limited daylight, so I will be starting PROMPTLY at 7:00.

Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.  And it’s happening right now, all around you!  There are over 2.5 million active geocaches, and over 6 million geocachers worldwide.  For this event, we will have some temporary caches set up, and GPS devices that the scouts can use to track them down.  There will be a reward at the end for all successful cachers.

If you’d like to get a head start, you can visit the Introduction to Geocaching page at Geocaching.com.

Besides the geocaching, there will be our usual Pack Meeting activities, like awards and presentations.  Do not miss this great event!  Recommended dress is long pants (for the geocaching), good boots or shoes, and remember to bring a jacket.

Den Meeting Wednesday

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The first Den Meeting of the year will be this Wednesday, September 9th at the South Fayette Elementary School.

  • If you are a returning scout, you should have heard from your Den Leader about what time to meet.
  • If you are a new Tiger, please come at 6:30 and we will be dividing into dens.
  • If you want to sign up as a new scout, please come at 6:30.

Sign-up Night Reminder

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Pack 843 will have a new scout Sign-up night on Wednesday September 2nd, 7:00 in the South Fayette Elementary School cafeteria.  Parents will have the opportunity to hear about the Cub Scouting program, about Pack 843 in particular, and to ask any questions.

If you are interested in Cub Scouting but can’t make the meeting, there is plenty of time to join.  You can check the Pack Calendar, and show up for any upcoming event.  The next few events are:

  • Den Meeting  — Sept. 9th, 6:30 at the South Fayette Elementary School
  • Pack Meeting — Sept. 18th, 7:00 PM at Fairview Park
  • Den Meeting — Sept. 23rd, 6:30 at the South Fayette Elementary School.

Visit the “About Pack 843” page or the “How to Join” page for answers to more questions.

If you are a new scout who already signed up at the Spring Picnic, then hang on — you should hear from your Den Leader in the next week (after sign-up night is done).

Join Cub Scouting

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Do you have a boy who is interested in the adventures that Scouting can provide?   Since its origin, the Scouting program has been an educational experience concerned with values. In 1910, the first activities for Scouts were designed to build character, physical fitness, practical skills, and service. These elements were part of the original Cub Scout program and continue to be part of Cub Scouting today.

On Wednesday, Sept. 2nd Pack 843 will have a New Cub Scout Sign-Up Night, in the South Fayette Elementary School cafeteria, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.   Potential scouts and their parents can get the answers to all their questions, find our more about our program, and register their boys for the new scouting year.

Some basic information about Cub Scouts:

  • JoinCubScoutsCub Scouting begins for boys in First Grade, or who are 7 years old.  Members at this level  are called Tiger Cubs.  They work closely with an adult partner (parent or guardian) to begin their scouting trail.
  • Members in grades 2 and 3 are called Cub Scouts, and work on Wolf rank (grade 2) or Bear rank (grade 3).
  • Members in grades 4 and 5 are called Webelos Scouts, and work on the Webelos rank and the Arrow of Light rank.
  • Webelos Scouts usually graduate into Boy Scouting in about February of grade 5.
  • All scouts work on their rank by completing a series of Adventures.  They will receive a Cub Scout handbook that will teach them new skills and concepts, and will help guide them through each adventure.
  • The overall Cub Scouting program is family-centered, adult-run, and offers the boys an introduction to scouting.

At the meeting we will be asking for a $35 registration fee.  Fund-raising opportunities will be discussed, and please remember that no boy will be denied membership due to financial concerns.

You can learn more about what our Pack does by visiting the “About Pack 843” page.

Kicking Off The New Year

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BalooHello Scouts!  The 2015-2016 Scouting year is about to begin!  The new calendar is loaded on the website, and the whole thing can be downloaded as a PDF file.

Here are a few important dates to get started:

  • Tuesday, September 1st the Cubmaster will be at the Elementary School to talk to boys about becoming scouts.
  • Wednesday, September 2nd will be a sign-up night for new scouts, at the Elementary School at 7:00 PM.
  • Wednesday, September 9th will the the first Den Meetings, at the South Fayette Elementary School.  Starting time is determined by den, usually 6:30 or 7:00.
  • Friday, September 18th will be our first Pack Meeting.  We’ll be meeting at the entrance pavilion at Fairview Park at 7:00 for a geocaching adventure!

We are also ready to kick off the Popcorn Season!  This is a chance for scouts to raise money for dues, scouting events, uniforms and equipment.  The easiest way to do this is through Popcorn Show-n-Sells, and the first Show-n-Sell dates of the year will be September 5th.  Please go to the Sign-up! page of the website to register for the time slot(s) that your scout would like to work. Don’t let this opportunity pass!

More information about the popcorn sales (and the great stuff you can win) will be coming SOON!

Pancake Breakfast Aug 30th

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Troop 248’s Noah Magdich ( a Pack 843 alumnus ) is having a pancake breakfast to raise money for his eagle project.

Sunday, August 30, 2015
St. Barbara Church
Prestley Road, Bridgeville PA
8 am – 1 pm
$8.00 / kids under 10 $5.00

Information about his project, from Noah’s GoFundMe page:

NoahEagleProjectHello. My name is Noah Magdich and I am a Life Scout with Boy Scout Troop 248 in Oakdale, PA.  I am striving to acheive Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout.  When I heard of K9 Officer Rocco’s Line of Duty death and 8 other K9 officer deaths due to being left in a hot car in the past 11 months, it inspired me to turn my love of dogs into an Eagle project.  I am raising funds through a pancake breakfast at my church, St. Barbara Roman Catholic Church in Bridgeville on August 30, to purchase a bulletproof and stabproof vest for K9 Officer Lord of the Scott Township Police Department and upgrade the temperature control system for Officer Shane McGrath’s K9 police vehicle.

You can contribute to Noah on the GoFundMe page, but that doesn’t come with pancakes!

Family Camping August 1st

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This Saturday August 1st will be the Pack 843 Family Camping Event at Camp Annawana.  If you haven’t signed up, please register now on the sign-ups page.  Registration will close on Wednesday so we have time to buy the food.  (If you signed up but can’t make it, let me know now!)

WHAT TO BRING:  here is a general idea of what to pack for the trip.

  • Sleeping bag
  • pillow
  • flashlight
  • unbreakable dinner service (plate, cup, silverware) for each person
  • toiletries (soap, toothbrush, tooth paste, shampoo, wash cloth, towel, deodorant)
  • bug spray
  • sun screen
  • hat and sun glasses
  • reusable water bottle (filled)
  • change of clothes and extra shoes
  • rain gear
  • warm jacket or fleece
  • pocket knife (if you have a whittling-chip)

Families have the option to sleep on cots in the cabin (which will be divided into the boys’ room and the girls’ room), or to sleep as a family in your own tent.  We will have experienced campers on hand to help you set up your tent, but if you choose that option, think about bringing:

  • tent
  • ground cloth
  • sleeping pads or cots

Here are some things to leave at home:

  • Electronica (let’s let the boys experience the outdoors)
  • open-toed shoes and Crocs
  • fireworks

We will collect $3 per camper to help pay for the food — please bring exact change.  The activities start at 1:00 on Saturday.

Here are the directions to the camp.  Note that the “Anawana Hunting and Fishing Club” is right next door — don’t turn in there!

Day Camp Information

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Day Camp is almost here!  I have a lot of information for the 26 boys who are attending.

The first thing we need to do is collect Medical Forms for all boys AND adults who will be staying at the camp.  You can use the form here:  Medical Form Link

Complete part A and B only.  If you use the PDF format, you can fill everything in, save it, and email it to daycamp@pack843.org  (or just reply to this email).  I’d like to get as many forms as I can before camp begins.

Click here for a Parent’s Guide to Day Camp 2015.  Please read this over.  Here are a few items I’d like to highlight:

  1. We have use of the WHOLE park this year, so drop-off is a little different.  If you are just dropping off your son, use the SMALL parking lot (the West side of the park).  Look for the Pack 843 sign and leader, and sign your son in before dropping him off.
  2. If you are walking your son in, or plan to stay, you should park in the BIG parking lot (East side of the park).  Boys will be gathering near the stage.
  3. Bring a packed lunch the first two days.  Dinner is provided for the last day (Thursday).
  4. I’ll have the T-shirts there on the first day.  The boys must wear their camp shirts.  Otherwise, please dress appropriately for the weather (including the chance for rain).

Troop 248 and the Rebuild of Killbuck Lodge

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Troop 248 in Oakdale is one of the three fantastic Boy Scout Troops in our area.  They meet in Killbuck Lodge, an historic cabin in Oakdale PA.  For many years they have been trying to raise the money to make a number of necessary repairs to the cabin.

A wonderful thing happened earlier this year — the DIY Network contacted the Troop to say that the show “Barnwood Builders” would like to rebuild their cabin!  Plans fell into place quickly, and the multi-year quest for a cabin overhaul is about to be done in one short month.

BUT in order for this to happen, the Troop has to meet some critical deadlines.  Barnwood Builders is going to disassemble the cabin on June 13th.  They will take it away, and return in July ready to reassemble an improved cabin.  In that time the Troop has to dig and lay a new footer, install all electrical and plumbing connections, and basically have everything but the logs ready to go.  This is going to take time, skill and money.

Here is a link to a video asking for help with this project.  I am asking you to please watch (its less than 2 minutes) and share this link with as many people as you possibly can.  There is still a LOT of work to be done, and a LOT of money to be raised.  Let’s see what we can do to help our local Scouting family.

Wild Things Game This Friday!

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This Friday, June 5th is our night for the Washington Wild Things.  Try to arrive around 6:30, and I will meet you with your tickets outside the Right Field gate (see the picture below — look for the arrow).

ConsolPark

Remember that scouts must be in uniform to go onto the field as the Honor Guard.  Also — it’s Fireworks Friday!  Make sure to bring a jacket in case it cools off later.  A rain coat is not a bad idea either — there is a chance of thunder showers.  Be Prepared.