This summer Pack 843 will be working along with the local geocaching community to help introduce our scouts to the fun of Geocaching.

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 2,435,261 active geocaches and over 6 million geocachers worldwide.

The event will be on Saturday August 9th, starting at 10:00 AM, at the Entrance Pavilion of Fairview Park.  Several temporary caches will be set up, and scouts along with their parent(s) will be partnered with an experienced local cacher, who will guide them in the skills needed to find the caches.

We will be providing some swag (treasure!) for the scouts, which they can then swap for swag inside the hidden caches.

Bring your own sunscreen and bug repellent.  We will provide drinks and bring a grill — if you want to bring food (for yourself or to share), we will hang around afterwards and have a little picnic.

If you’d like to get a head start, you can visit our Event Cache on Geocaching.com:  http://coord.info/GC57ZDX .   You can follow the instructions on the website to register a team name FOR FREE.  Then explore the site for more information about Geocaching.

• Just Ducky Tours runs RAIN or SHINE (but it looks like it will be a great day!)
• Our tour is at 10:30 — but check-in must occur 30 minutes prior to departure time.  BE THERE AT 10:00!
• Just Ducky Tours is located at 125 West Station Square Dr. right next to the Hard Rock Cafe in Station Square.

This summer Pack 843 is going to get a historic tour of Pittsburgh from the back of a duck.  Or is it a truck?

On Saturday, June 28th we will be gathering at Station Square at 10:00 AM for a Just Ducky Tour.  Riders will enjoy a fully narrated tour of historic downtown Pittsburgh with a splash into the river for a different view of the city.  These duck boats are converted WWII military vehicles. The DUKW was used in amphibious operations throughout the Mediterranean and Pacific, including Operation D-Day in 1944.

The pack is using some of its summer activity fund to bring down the price of the tickets.  The cost will be:

• Scouts:  $10
• Children 12 & under:  $10
• Adults:  $15

To assure your reservation, payment MUST be received by June 1st.  You can use money from your scout account, or mail a check (made out to “Pack 843”) to:

Jeff Morneweck
109 Campbell Ave.
Cuddy, PA  15031

If you didn’t get a chance to signup for the Pack 843 picnic (THIS SUNDAY, 3:00 at Fairview Park), then please send an email to ………..  Include the scout’s name, how many will be attending, and what dessert or side dish you will bring.  We want to get a final count at Tuesday’s committee meeting, so don’t delay!

Pack 843 will be marching in the Bridgeville Memorial Day parade on May 26, 2014. If you are interested in marching in this parade, please e-mail Mark Gubinsky so he will know how many kids will be there. (We buy candy for the kids to pass out during the parade and need to know how much candy is needed). The pack will be meeting on Station Street by the American Legion Post at about 9:15 on the 26th.

The pack has participated in this parade for the past several years.  The boys really enjoy it.  If you are in town Memorial Day weekend, please try to take the time for your son to participate in the parade.

Any adult leaders are invited to participate as well.  Uniform shirts are required for the adults and children for the parade.

If you have any questions regarding the parade email Mark Gubinsky.

The final Pack Meeting of the year will be the Spring Picnic on Sunday, May 18th.  This will be held at Fairview Park from 3 to 6 PM.

Activities will include advancement awards, crossover to the next rank, games and events.

The main course and drinks will be provided. All families are asked to bring one side dish or dessert.  Please sign up at the front desk during the next den meeting.  If you can’t make the meeting, then send an email.  Include the scout’s name, how many will be attending, and what dessert or side dish you will bring.

The deadline for the early bird discount is fast approaching.  The early bird rate is $170 for cub scouts and $90 for parents for a total of $260.  Please note this is a $20 increase from last year and some of the early fliers (and web posts) still had last year’s prices.

A $75 deposit per family is due by March 31, 2014.  Mark will be processing our registration and paying the deposit on March 31, 2014.

If you are interested in attending residence camp, but have not signed up, you need to contact Mark as soon as possible.  At this point there are very few spots still available and it is likely our session will sell out.

You can contact Mark by email.

The 2013 Camp Independence Parent’s Guide is available here.  (The 2014 information has not been published yet)

As a reminder, the Blue and Gold Banquet is this Sunday, March 2nd, 3:00 PM at the Fairview Firehall.

All boys are invited to participate in the Cake Contest:

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 1st, 2nd & 3rd 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.  Place the Scout’s name on the underside of the cake so the competition is as anonymous as possible.  Judging will be done by the 3 Scoutmasters from the Boy Scout Troops that our Webelos II Scouts will be joining.