Our February Pack meeting is our Annual Blue & Gold Banquet. This event will be held at the Fairview Firehall (Sunset Room) on Sunday, February 20th from 3-6PM. The Pack meeting will start with our Opening Ceremony and Advancements for all Dens. Buffet dinner to follow. After dinner we will have the Arrow of Light Ceremony for our AOL Scouts followed by the Crossover Ceremony for our AOL scouts crossing over to a Troop. Please print this form: http://pack843.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Blue-and-Gold-RSVP-2.pdf . Fill out the bottom of the sheet and mail it, with payment, to the address on the sheet ON or BEFORE February 10th.

This year we have nine scouts crossing over to local Troops. This is a great event where the younger scouts learn about the Arrow of Light Award and have exposure to local Troops. We encourage all scouts and families to join us for this event. Since there is a buffet dinner, there is a cost for this event which can be paid by cash, check (made out to Pack 843) or your scout account. If you have any questions, please email Deb Whitewood at whitewoodD@msn.com.

Due to Covid-19, we will be distancing and ask all scouts and families to remain seated as much as possible. Masks must be worn unless actively eating or drinking.

Get out of the house this winter at Heritage Reservation’s Cub Scout Winter Weekends! Pack 843 Cub Scouts and their families are invited for a weekend of fun and friends.

February 4-6, we will stay in the Potomac Homes overlooking Lake Courage. Cafeteria style meals are provided in the dining area at Pathfinder Lodge. Come with your personal gear and enjoy winter with its exciting program features. Winter Weekends at Heritage Reservation are a tremendous opportunity for Cub Scouts and their families to enjoy a fun-filled day in the great outdoors while experiencing the beauty of winter.

PROGRAM FEATURES

• BB shooting
• Archery
• Giant slingshots
• Klondike games – Log sawing and branding
• Games
• More

Should there be sufficient snow, some activities may be switched out for sledding and/or snowshoeing.  All needed equipment is provided. The camp has sleds and helmets. However, please bring any equipment that you may have (no hockey sticks please). All individuals (youth and adults), per BSA safety policies, must wear a helmet to sled.

The cost is $100 per person for the weekend. Day passes are available for those families that wish to come up for the day and enjoy the winter fun! Day passes will cost $25 for children and $10 for adults.

If you are interested in attending our February 4-6, 2022 Winter Weekend at Heritage Reservation with the Pack, please email Jon Spink at jon.spink@gmail.com.

Join us on Sunday, December 12 as we explore Fairview Park while winter geocaching from 1-3PM. Advancements will be distributed. Siblings are invited to attend. Come dressed for the weather, including appropriate footwear, gloves and coats. Bring a drink and chair for each participant, as well as a mask.

Signups are required for this event, so please register here:
https://pack843.org/sign-ups/

The official Pack rules for the 2022 Pinewood Derby have now been posted. The Derby will be held on Saturday, January 22nd.  Please follow this link to view the rules: http://pack843.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/pinewood_derby_rules_2022-2.pdf

You are required to use official BSA wheels and the supplied axle nails.  You car cannot exceed 5 ounces, or the dimensions posted in the rules.

Weigh-in for the cars will be held on Friday, January 21st from 6:30PM to 8PM.  All cars MUST BE AT THE WEIGH-IN 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.

The tentative schedule is as follows:
9:00 AM         AOL (Fifth Grade)
9:50 AM Webelos (Fourth Grade)
10:40 AM Bears (Third Grade)
11:30 AM Wolf (Second Grade)
1:00 PM Tiger (First Grade)
1:30 PM Lion (Kindergarten)
2:30 PM Winners Race

If you have questions about the Pinewood Derby, please contact Cubmaster Jon Sperry at jdsperry2001@gmail.com

Pack 843 has had a very busy November. Our AOL and Webelos Scouts participated in a flag retirement ceremony with Troop 2 on November 10th.

Pack Meeting – Scout Skits and Foster Love Project Bags

On November 14th the Pack participated in Scout Skits.

During this meeting the Pack collected items to create transition bags for the Foster Love Project. This organization provides bags with clothing, books, a blanket, toiletry items, and a stuffed animal to children who are experiencing a transition into foster care.

December 12 – Geo Caching Pack Meeting, 1-3PM at Fairview Park

Januaray 22 – Pinewood Derby Races, 9AM-5PM at Crossroads Church.

February 20 – Blue & Gold Dinner/AOL Crossover, 3-6PM at Fairview Firehall.

Join us for an evening of classic Scout Skits on November 14th from 1-3PM at the Oakdale Community Center, 104 Seminary Avenue, Oakdale, PA 15071.

In addition to the entertainment, two important things will be happening during this Pack Meeting. First, 2022 dues will be collected, so parents and guardians, don’t forget your credit card or checkbook. Once your Scout’s dues are paid, they will receive their Pinewood Derby kit. The Pinewood Derby will be held in January, so get your kit early!

Second, the Pack will be participating in a service project to benefit the Foster Love Project which serves children in foster care in our region. Deb Whitewood, who has been volunteering with the Foster Love Project since its inception, will be coodinating the packing of 20 transition bags. These bags will be given to children when they enter a foster care placement. Your den leader will communicate to you what items you are to donate for the transition bags. If you cannot attend the Pack Meeting on November 14, please get your items to your Den Leader before that date.

We will hold our next Pack meeting on October 24th at Boys Home Pavilion. Scouts should gather at 1PM to build and decorate the tent for their den. We will have fun crafts, Tent or Treating candy, and a drink for the Scouts and their siblings. Advancements will also be distributed, so please plan on attending. Scouts and their siblings are encouraged to wear a costume. We will finish around 3PM.

Please bring a chair and mask for each participant. Sign ups are mandatory for this pack meeting, so sign up here indicating how many children will be Tent or Treating.
http://pack843.org/sign-ups/

Our monthly Pack meeting will be held on Friday, September 24th at Fairview Park Entrance Pavilion from 6:30 to 8:00PM. We will have an Ice Cream Social with single servings of ice cream and toppings distributed by Scout Leaders. Advancements will be awarded to the Scouts as well.

Please note, the playground will be off limits to Scouts during the Pack meeting. This is to ensure the Scouts are focused and to prevent unattended play. Please bring a camp chair and a mask for all participants. This will be great opportunity for everyone to meet our new scouts and their families. Reserve a spot for your family today! http://pack843.org/sign-ups/