Laurel Highlands Council has some financial assistance (Camperships) available for Scouts to use towards their summer camp fees.  This is for Scouts that have a financial hardship that would prevent them from otherwise attending camp.  The maximum available is half the discounted fee.  The discounted fee (paid in full by April 1^st) is $370, so the max available is $185.

The deadline to apply is March 1, which means the application must be at Flag Plaza by March 1^st.  No postmarks here, the application must arrive by the 1^st.  The application has to be signed by Mr. Miller, so the sooner it’s completed the better.

Here’s the link to the application:

2018 LHC Campership Form

Our Blue & Gold Banquet almost here!  Reservations and payment must be made by this Friday, February 16^th

Click HERE for Reservation form.

More details:

On February 25th, all Pack 843 Cub Scouts and their immediate families are invited to attend our annual Blue and Gold Banquet, our yearly celebration of Cub Scouting!  The event will begin with a buffet dinner, after which we will be recognizing the achievements and advancements within the Pack, as well as celebrating the Webelos II scouts crossing over into Boy Scouting.  The event takes place Sunday February 25th from 3 to 6 PM at Fairview VFD Banquet Hall. This is a great event for scouts of all ages.

All boys are also invited to participate in the Cake Contest (see rule below).

Scouts must be in full uniform for this event.

Ticket prices are as follows:

$12.00 for adults and non-scouts 3 or older

$7.00 for Cub/Boy Scouts (of any Pack or Troop)

Pack 843 Webelos II scouts and children under 3 are FREE

To purchase tickets, complete the reservation form and include a check for the proper amount made payable to “Pack 843” or pay with you scout account (forms are under the Resources link at the top of our webpage).  Then:

Mail it to Cara Robitaille (address on the form)

OR drop it off (Thursday or Friday from 11am – 7pm): Karen Billingham |  7022 Clubview Dr.  |  Bridgeville, PA  15017

Flyers and scout account withdrawal forms are available on our webpage.

* Cake contest details:  Each Scout and an adult partner are challenged to bake and decorate a Scout themed cake.  Some examples are camping, achievement activities, good deeds, etc.  There will be ribbons for 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd place.  The entire cake, including decorations, must be edible. No paper, toothpicks etc.  Only the thing it sits on doesn’t have to be edible (but that can’t be part of the decoration).  After the competition, the cakes will be served for desert so we would like as many participants as possible. Judging will be done by the visiting Scout Masters and dignitaries.

Today, Sunday, February 11th:

Troop 2: I just wanted to inform everyone about Scout Sunday on February 11, 2018 at Bethany. If you are interested, the scouts will be meeting at Bethany at 10:30 am to prepare for the event.  This is a full Class A dress event.

Troop 248:  Sweetheart Pancake Breakfast today from 8 am to 2 pm at the Oakdale Community Center.  Cost: $6 Adults, $5 Senior Citizens, $3 Children (under age 6).  Price includes Pancakes, Sausage, Fruit Cup and Drink. All proceeds will benefit the preservation of the Boy Scout Cabin on Clinton Avenue, the home of Boy Scout Troop 248 since 1933.

Reservations Due this week:  Pack 843:  Blue and Gold Banquet is 2 weeks from today!  We ask all of our Cub Scouts to attend to support our Arrow of Light Scouts crossing over to Boy Scouts.  Also, this is our Pack Event for the month.  We will have an award ceremony for all our Cub Scouts AND don’t forget the cake contest!  The Blue & Gold Registration Form (click here for form) must be returned to Cara Robitaille this week.

Due to South Fayette School Closing today, we will NOT have our regular scheduled Den meetings tonight, 2/7.  

Congratulations to our Best in Show Winners!  However, ANYONE CAN ENTER for Best of Show at Frontier Derby Race on Saturday, February 3rd.  The Derby races will be at The Mall at Robinson (inside the mall).  Cost to register is $5 pre-registration or $7 the day of the race.

Best of Show is scheduled to start at 3:00pm.  Please be there 15 minutes prior to scheduled start.

I have attached the Link to register for the Pinewood Derby! If you are planning to race at the Mall at Robinson, you need to register at https://scoutingevent.com/527-FTpinewoodmallshow2018com

Best in Show winners for Pack 843:

Arrow of Light – Tyler Mickey

Webelos – Cody Campbell

Bear – Gabriel Sommer

Wolf – Aiden Belardi

Tiger – Liam Barksdale

Congratulations to our List of Pinewood Derby Winners.  If you placed 1^st or 2^nd  in your rank you are invited to participate in the Frontier Pinewood Derby race.  If 1^st or 2^nd place winner is not able to race please let me know so we can send the 3^rd place winner in your place.  Scroll down for information on the race and how to register. 

Arrow of Light
1st. Kevin Clayton
2nd. William Moore
3rd. Andre Rondon

Webelos
1st. Milan Gupta
2nd. Nathan Henderson
3rd. Jayadev Reddy

Bears
1st. Dylan Marx
2nd. Elijah Rexrode
3rd. Wyatt Massimino

Wolf
1st. Logan Brezler
2nd. Caleb Ford
3rd. Owen Wenger

Tiger
1st. Arjun Yadev
2nd. Mason Lester
3rd. Liam Barksdale

I have attached the Link to register for the Pinewood Derby! If you are planning to race at the Mall at Robinson, you need to register at https://scoutingevent.com/527-FTpinewoodmallshow2018com

IF you are a 1^st or 2^nd place winner but are not able to race or do not wish to race, PLEASE let me know so the 3^rd place winner can go in your place.

The race is on Saturday, February 3^rd at THE MALL AT ROBINSON (usually across from Starbuck’s in the mall).

The cost is $5.00 if you Pre-Register, $7.00 on the day of the Race (cash or check only)

Schedule for Race Day:
8:30 am   Tiger Check in
9:00 am   Opening
9:05 am   Tiger Races
10:30 am Wolf Races
12:00 pm Bear Races
1:30 pm  Webelos and AOL Races (Webelos II)
3:00pm Grand Race Off / Best of Show

*** Please check in 30 minutes prior to your race time ***

>>IMPORTANT<<

All Cars MUST comply with the derby rules.  A copy of the rules is available at:  http://tinyurl.com/2017PWD

 Please let me know if you have any questions.                                    

Weigh-in for the cars will be held on Friday night, January 19th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Zion Lutheran Church.  All cars MUST BE AT THE WEIGH-IN on Friday in order to race!  If you are not available at that date and time, please make arrangements with another scout to bring your car to the weigh in.

Races are THIS Saturday, January 20th at the Zion Lutheran Church.  Scouts should be in uniform.  Please arrive 15 minutes prior to scheduled race times.  There is limited parking and a lot of young ones walking to and from cars so please be careful.  Race Times are set by den level:

• 9:30 AM Arrow of Light (Fifth Grade)
• 10:30 AM Webelos I (Fourth Grade)
• 11:30 PM Bears (Third Grade)
• 1:00 PM Wolves (Second Grade)
• 2:00 PM Tigers (First Grade)
• 3:30 PM Winner Race  (1st, 2nd, and 3rd from each rank race-off for trophies)

Scout cars are required to go through the weigh-in on Friday to be eligible for the race.  There will be no weigh-in on Saturday.

Reminder: you can turn in reservations and payment for the Blue and Gold Banquet at the race or at the Weigh-In.

Due to Community and School Activities being canceled for tomorrow, we have decided to move Pinewood Derby Weigh-ins to Friday evening (1/19/2018).  At this time we have the room at Zion Lutheran between 7pm and 9pm to set up the track.  Due to track setup process we will allow scouts at the entry to the common room and the kitchen area only for registration, weigh-in and adjusting weight (except Webelos responsible for helping with track setup).

I will be checking with Zion Church to see if we can get access early than 7pm.  We will communicate via website and during our Den meeting on Wednesday if there are any changes to our time or if the time will remain 7 – 9 pm. Stay tuned for further communications.

You will NOT have the opportunity to register your car on race day.   Please make sure you bring your car during weigh-in time on Friday.  If you are not able to bring your car during this time, you will need to arrange for someone to bring your car to register and weigh-in.

Enjoy the extra time to make your cars SUPER Fast.

Looking at the latest weather updates it seems the rain, sleet and snow will move into our area mid to late afternoon and continue until early tomorrow morning.  The weather is expected clear by 10am Saturday morning.  At this time we will still plan to have our weigh-in at Zion Church from 10:00am – Noon tomorrow.  However, weather predictions are not always accurate and we will update our website tomorrow morning IF we need to change our weigh-in date.  Please check the PACK843.org website before you leave for the weigh-in.

If you are planning on participating in our Annual Pinewood Derby Race on January 20th, you MUST present your car at our Pinewood Derby Weigh-in THIS SATURDAY (January 13th).  Your car must be complete and ready to race when you show up for the weigh-in.  Please bring your car in a small box with your FULL NAME and DEN NUMBER.  This box will protect your car in transport.  Once your car registered and is checked for specs you will place you car in you box and leave your car.  You will not be able to touch your car again until your first race.

Weigh-in will be at in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church (next to Home Plate Pizza) on Saturday, January 13, from 10:00am – Noon.  If are unsure if your car weight, we ask that you bring any extra weights with you.  There will be a few adults available to help you adjust the weight of your car.