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.

Family Camping August 1st

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Family CampingThis summer Pack 843 is going on a Family Campout!  We will be staying in Nemacolin Lodge at Camp Anawanna, a Laurel Highlands Coucil camp in Washington County.  This will be a one-night stay, and families can either pitch a family tent or stay inside the lodge.  There is electricity, hot running water, and even a shower.  Our itinerary looks like this:

Saturday, August 1st:

  • 1:00 — arrival and set up.
  • 2:00 — scoutcraft round-robin
  • 4:30 — games
  • 5:30 — prepare dinner over the fire
  • 7:30 — Campfire (skits, songs)
  • 9:00 — Cracker barrel

Sunday, August 2nd:

  • Webelos’ breakfast, pack up and clean up.

There will be a $3 per person charge to help cover some of the cost of the food.  Besides having a great time and learning about camping, this will also be a chance for all Wolf, Bear, and Webelos scouts to meet an important part of their advancement requirements.

Want to go?  You can register now on the sign-ups page.

Swim Check with Troop 248

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Those scouts who are going to Resident Camp may want to get their swim check done early.  Troop 248 in Oakdale has extended this invitation to join them:

Monday: June 15:  Annual Troop 248 pool party and Pre-camp swim checks at the Hanky Farms Pool.   The pre-camp swim check saves the troop about 2-3 hours at check in at summer camp.  The swim party/pre-camp swim check is open to all family members and to Venture Crew 248, Pack 848, and Pack 843.

 

The Eagle Scouts of South Fayette Class of 2015

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The Tribune Review is the latest paper to pick up this story about the Eagle Scouts of South Fayette class of 2015.

“A total of 147 seniors will graduate from South Fayette this year but 10 will hold an even deeper bond.

“Of the 82 males graduating, 10 — or 12 percent — will walk as Eagle Scouts, a number both local leaders and national representatives say is unusual.

” ‘It shows how good the program is here in Bridgeville and in South Fayette because I’m sure most graduating classes have one or two’, said Matt Speidel, 17, who remains active in Scouting, serving as a junior assistant scoutmaster for Troop 2.”

Nationally, only about 2% of eligible scouts ever earn the Eagle rank.  You can read the full story here:  triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourcarlynton/yourcarlyntonmore/8353940-74/troop-2014-eagle

Fuller_and_Speidel_Eagle

Nate Fuller and Matt Speidel, two of the Eagle Scouts from the South Fayette class of 2015.

(This is marked as “Pack News” because Matt, as well as several of the other Eagle Scouts mentioned, began their Scouting journey in Pack 843!)

Do A Good Turn

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I received this request from Bear Den leader Derik Moore:

“A friend at work just accepted twin 2 year-old boys into his home, and will serve as foster parents for them indefinitely.  He is in need of clothing donations, from 24MO up through 3T.  Based on the ages of our scouts (and by extension, their younger siblings), I’m certain there are families out there with bins of used clothes that would be of great help to Mike and his family. ”

If you can help out, please contact  directly to make arrangements.

Post-Picnic Wrapup

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I hope everyone had as great a time at the picnic as I did.  Thanks again to Scott and his wife for all the hard work.

There were a couple items that I forgot to cover there, so I thought I’d give a quick update:

1) No meeting this Wednesday.  It was originally on the calendar, but with our year all wrapped up, there will not be any den meetings this Wednesday.

2)  Program changes.  For anyone who hasn’t heard, there are some exciting changes in the Cub Scout program beginning this year.  The handbooks you received at the picnic are the first step in this program, where advancement will be done through a series of Adventures.  Each Adventure is theme-based, rigorous but fun, and den-based with opportunities for family involvement.

3) Oath and Law.  As part of the program changes, the Cub Scouts will now use the same Scout Oath and Scout Law that is used in Boy Scouts.  You’ll find them printed on the back cover of your new handbooks.

More information about the new program is available here (you’ll find these links on our website, too).

 

Spring Picnic and Other Delights

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picnicThis Sunday, May 17th is the Pack 843 Spring Picnic, and the final Pack Meeting of the year.  The picnic begins at 3:00 PM in the NEW pavilion at Fairview Park.  Remember to bring your side dish or dessert, and all scouts should be in uniform.

The picnic will be your last chance to sign up for the Washington Wild Things game on June 5th, where Pack 843 will be presenting the colors on the field as Honor Guard.  Please bring your payment to the picnic if you’d like to sign up.

Don’t forget the Bridgeville Memorial Day Parade.  Contact Mr. Gubinsky (mark@gubinskylaw.com) to let him know if you will be attending.