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2004-2005 News July 2005 News Just a
reminder about upcoming Summer Scout events: Family Picnic and Scout Olympics - Join us
Sunday, July 17th for a family picnic at Lunga Park on Quantico MCB. We'll be in the area at one of the
pavilions near the general store.
Please bring a lunch for your family (we'll have a grill going - bring
your own hot dogs or burgers to grill).
After eating together, we're going to have a Scout Olympics for the
boys. We had a great time last year -
join us for the fun. Potomac Nationals Game - Friday
August 5 is Scout Night at the Potomac Nationals game (Game time is 7:05
PM). We will join the scout parade on
the field prior to the game (Scouts should be in uniform if they want to join
the parade). After the game you can camp out for the evening on the field.
There will also be a movie shown on the scoreboard following the game. You
can stay for the movie or for the night, or just leave after the game. Tickets are $8.00 each - Phil Vivirito has
tickets remaining. To order, please call Phil at (703) 580-0959. HELP! - We'll be
meeting in August to plan for the upcoming Scout year. EVERYONE, EVERYONE, EVERYONE (did I mention
EVERYONE?) is invited and encouraged to provide input and ideas. We always need leadership and assistance -
even if you can help out for just one event, or take a committee
position. If you are interested in
joining us for our planning meeting, or have ideas you wish to share, please
contact Phil (Vivirito@bbcpa.com) or I. June 2005 News Gunner the Police Dog - I'm sure
many of you saw this item in the news.
Officer VanAntwerp and Gunner were among those who did a demonstration
with us just last month. We'll have a
card to sign for Officer VanAntwerp at the bridging ceremony on
Saturday. I though
you'd like to see a picture of Gunner and Pack 35. It's attached. Officer
Fatally Shoots Pr. William Police Dog Mistake
Occurs During Foot Chase By Tara
Young Washington
Post Staff Writer Wednesday,
June 8, 2005; Page B02 A veteran
Prince William County police dog became the department's first canine killed
in the line of duty after an officer accidentally shot him while trying to
capture a suspect, authorities said yesterday. Police
believe Gunner, a 7-year-old German shepherd, was doing his job as he guarded
the front door of a Woodbridge townhouse that his handler had just entered
late Monday in pursuit of a drunken driving suspect. The dog blocked the door
when other officers arrived on the scene. Not recognizing Gunner as a police
dog, one of the officers fatally shot him, said 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn, a police
spokeswoman. The officer
has not been identified, and the incident is under investigation by the
department's internal affairs unit, Chinn said. Officer
William VanAntwerp, and Gunner, his partner for four years, were pursuing a
man in connection with a traffic stop involving possible drunken driving.
They had followed him to a house in the 1900 block of Winslow Court. As the
suspect ran into the house, VanAntwerp released Gunner from his squad car.
VanAntwerp raced toward the front door, assuming that the dog was right
behind him. But as he entered the house, the door closed, trapping Gunner
outside, Chinn said. It wasn't
until he heard a gunshot and looked around to find Gunner missing that
VanAntwerp realized something was wrong, Chinn said. The officer
who fatally wounded Gunner told police that the dog approached him
aggressively and refused to let him enter the house where VanAntwerp was
searching for the suspect. The officer, a member of the force for three
years, said he did not know Gunner was a police dog. "The
dog approached the officer. The officer shot and killed the dog," Chinn
said. After hearing
the gunshot, VanAntwerp ran outside and saw that Gunner had been wounded. He
picked up the dog and took him to the Woodbridge Animal Hospital, but the
animal died, Chinn said. The dog's
death has hit VanAntwerp hard, Chinn said. Gunner, a
dog trained to search for drugs and apprehend suspects, had been on the force
for six years, Chinn said. The highly decorated dog had placed in many
competitions and was recognized in one contest, sponsored by the U.S. Police
Canine Association, as the best overall dog. He also had received awards for
obedience and criminal apprehension. The
department will honor Gunner at a service, and he will be buried at a
cemetery on police academy grounds reserved for police dogs. "This
is a sad day for us here," Chinn said. Jason Beer,
24, of Woodbridge, the man officers were chasing Monday night, had been
spotted by officers on Route 1 after he ran a stop sign, police said.
Officers pulled Beer over, but he sped away and led the officers on a chase
to his house. Beer then jumped out of the car and ran inside, police said. Beer has
been charged with driving under the influence, possession with intent to
distribute marijuana, possession of a concealed weapon and eluding police,
authorities said. Bridging and Family Camping - This Saturday, June 11 at 7
PM, we will hold our annual campfire and bridging ceremony at Camp Lunga (on
Quantico Marine Corps Base), where the Cubs will bridge to their next
level. Afterward we'll roast
marshmallows and make smores!. Families
are welcome (encouraged) to camp out with us for the evening. But even if you’re not staying to
camp, please join us for the ceremony as we recognize the boys for their hard
work this past year, and move them on to their next rank (we suggest you
bring chairs and/or blankets to sit on).
We plan on
updating everyone later this week with the exact campground we're going to be
in, but if there's any question, our location should be listed on boards
located by the General Store as you enter the Lunga area. I'll be on
travel for the rest of this week, so if you have any questions, please direct
them to your den leader, or Phil Vivirito (Vivirito@bbcpa.com). Directions are below. May 2005 News May Pack Meeting - Our next pack meeting will be this
coming Wednesday, May 18th at Ashland Elementary School at 7 PM. We are going to have a Prince William
County police officer and his K-9 partner "Justice" joining us and
giving a demonstration. It should be
a great time! Please join us. Day Camp - The price is now $120. Please bring your completed forms (attached
below) and a check (payable to 'Pack 35') to the May pack meeting. Bridging and Family Camp out in June - On Saturday June 11 at 7 PM, we
will hold our annual bridging ceremony at Camp Lunga (on Quantico MCB), where
the Cubs will bridge to their next level.
Afterward we'll roast hot dogs and make smores, and families are
welcome (encouraged) to camp out for the evening. Even if you’re not staying to camp,
please join us for the ceremony as we recognize the boys for their hard work
this past year, and move them on to their next rank (we suggest you bring
chairs and/or blankets to sit on). DIRECTIONS: Before you go - understand that you
will need a photo ID at the gate. Tell
the guards at the gate that you are headed to Camp Lunga. Also – obey posted speeds – the
military police will ticket. Take
Route 95 South to Exit 148. At the end
of the exit ramp, turn right on Russell Road.
Continue on Russell Road (the total distance to Lunga will be just
over 7 miles). Russell Road will
become MCB-1. Continue on MCB-1 past
the intersection of MCB-2 (Fire Station on your left), and bear left onto
MCB-4 when MCB-1 makes a right hand turn.
Continue on MCB-4 past the Weapons Battalion and the FBI Academy. Turn Right toward the Lunga Lake Recreation
areas (you'll see signs). Continue
until you come to a barrier - turn left onto the dirt road. Look for the signs for which campground we
are in. Flag Day Ceremony - Have you ever wondered what
happens to American Flags once they start to become worn, tattered, and
unserviceable? Did you know that there
is a proper ceremony to honor the service these flags have rendered as they
are retired? What better day to honor
flags that have served this country well than June 14th, Flag Day? What better place for this ceremony to take
place than Quantico National Cemetery?
Cub Scouts and their families are invited to come to Quantico National
Cemetery on Tuesday evening, June 14, at 7:00 PM. The ceremony begins promptly at 7:00 PM.
Plan to get there before that time to get in place. Everyone present will be
given the opportunity to bring flags up to the retirement fire. (This is a summer activity for Cub
Scouts.) Please bring your old flags. If you do, the organizers ask that you (1)
remove all wooden sticks from smaller flags; (2) try to remove all the metal
grommets and hooks from flags before you arrive; and (3) please bring only
cloth flags, no plastic or paper. If
you have never been to the cemetery, take I-95 to exit 150B (the
Triangle/Quantico Exit). Head west approximately .6 miles. The Quantico National Cemetery will be on
the left side of the road. Follow the
driveway back until you see the people congregating. Plans for the Summer - Once again, we'll have activities
over the summer for the Scouts and their families. In July, we will once again host a Sunday
afternoon family picnic. In August,
we'll go as a group to a Potomac Nationals game - and after the game, you'll
be able to camp out in the outfield!
More info on both of these items are to follow. March 2005 News March
Pack Meeting - the Invention Convention! - Join us Wednesday, March 16 at 7PM
for our March Pack Meeting. We'll have
some fun invention related games, and then it's time for "Silly Science
Tricks" - fun with science you'll have to see to believe! Rank
Progress -
Please continue to work with your son on their rank achievements. We'll be
presenting earned badges at the pack meetings. Please keep your den leader
informed of your son's progress so we can rightfully recognize his
accomplishments. The next cutoff for
awards is March 9th for the March Pack meeting. Pack
Hike - Join us
Saturday, March 12th at 9AM at the parking lot of Forest Park High
School. We'll then drive over to
Prince William Forest Park for a hike. (There is a small entrance fee to the
national park, so we'll carpool).
Siblings are more than welcome to this family event. Summer
Day Camp - It's
time to polish up your suit of armor and join Sir Campalot at this year's Cub
Scout Day Camp, A Festival of Knights.
Spend time learning about the days of old with knights and ladies at
Leesylvania State Park, August 1-5.
Activities vary from camp to camp, but usually range from traditional
Scouting games and achievement opportunities to archery and BB instruction,
crafts, nature study, soccer, fishing, handicrafts, leatherwork, and camp
skills. Camp runs roughly from 8:30
AM till 4 PM each day. We must
furnish one adult (Den Walker) for every five boys attending camp. Therefore, we must require that each boy
signing up have an adult attend at least two days. If we get enough response, hopefully we can
lower that requirement to one day each - but as someone who's attended the
past 5 years, I will tell you that it's a lot of fun and gives you plenty of
good time with your son(s). Please
consider joining us all week if you are able. Also, please
remember that all of the staff at the camp are volunteers. If you are willing and able, please
volunteer to help staff the camp (military moms and dads - think about asking
for permissive TDY!). There is
especially always a need for trained BB and archery range volunteers (the
boys want to do this the most), and for medical personnel. If you are interested, please contact me immediately. I've
attached the forms that must be completed to register. If you register before March 14, the cost
will be $100. Please bring the completed forms and a check (made out to Pack
35) to my house (15701 Bacons Castle Court in Ashland) by Monday March
14 at 6PM. (I have to turn in the forms at 7 PM). The cost will increase after the then. Offering
of Religious Programs - this year, we're pleased to be able to offer the Religious Awards
program for both Catholic and Protestant scouts. Kristi Pappas, who is a chaplain with the
US Army, is going to be teaching the Scouts.
We plan on offering the classes on Saturday mornings in April, at a
location TBD. The programs to be
earned are: Roman
Catholic: Light of Christ (Tigers, Wolves) Parvuli Dei (Bears, Webelos) Protestant:
God and Me (Tigers, Wolves, Bears) God and Family
(Webelos) We'd like
to get a handle on how many Scouts will be interested. Please reply to me via email with your
interest. Webelos
II Arrow of Light Ceremony and Bridging to Boy Scouts - on Friday, April 8th at 7PM, our
Webelos IIs will be receiving their Arrow of Light awards (Cub Scouting's
highest award), and some will be bridging to Boy Scouts. All are welcome to join us and honor these
young men for their hard work. The
ceremony will be held in the Story Room at Ashland Elementary. Model
Train Show – An annual favorite
is Troop 964’s model train show.
Come see the Largest HO Modular Layout assembled in Prince William
County, as well as layouts of N, Z, G gauge, Lego & Steam Powered Trains. The dates are April 2nd (10AM - 5PM) and 3rd
(1PM – 5 PM), and it is held at Saunders Middle School (13557 Spriggs
Rd). Cost is $5 for Adults, $2 for Students, and free for those 5 and
Under.
National Council Response to recent Media
Reports - some of you may
have seen recent news reports about alleged falsified membership records at
Scout councils in Alabama and Georgia.
Just as an FYI, I wanted you all to see National Council's responses
to the stories. (As an aside, I can tell
you that our area council works very hard and making sure the
numbers are right - I can't tell you how much they make us check and recheck
all of our information!)
Honesty, integrity, and truthfulness are
fundamental principles of the Boy Scouts of America. Accurate reporting of
membership is essential. Falsifying records is unacceptable and not
tolerated. Of our more than 300 local councils, a very small
number have ever experienced challenges regarding membership records. The
leadership in our local councils has always responded quickly to investigate
such allegations, and we are confident they will continue to take all
appropriate measures to ensure the integrity of their membership rolls. The NBC
Nightly News report on February 17 contained a number of inaccuracies: ·
The
claim that "national turns a blind eye" to membership inaccuracies
is simply untrue. The BSA's policies and procedures clearly require local
councils to maintain accurate records. Numerous procedures are in place to
ensure this, and employees have been terminated or dismissed for falsifying
membership documents. ·
The
report displayed troop rosters and claimed duplicate names of members and
false Social Security numbers. Social Security numbers are not collected from
youth members, and adult volunteer Social Security numbers are not placed on
BSA rosters. Duplicate names do occur in instances of multiple registrations
of leaders. ·
Registration
revenues of $109 million were reported for 2002. Actually, total 2002
revenues from membership fees were only approximately $24,716,000 million. ·
The
report said: "Most funding comes from businesses." It also cited
government grants as a source of income. In fact, individuals are the largest
single funding source for local Boy Scout councils, and government grants are
a very small source of income for the Boy Scouts. ·
NBC
was aware that in both Birmingham and Atlanta, investigations are in progress
with the full cooperation of the volunteer boards of directors and staff, and
no clear findings have been made as yet. Nevertheless, the news report
suggested that irregularities had been confirmed. ·
The
Dallas situation occurred in 2000 and decisive action was taken by the
council at that time. The NBC report did not note this or the fact that
nothing has occurred since then. The BSA
National Council is concerned about the allegations made. We received
multiple calls from NBC requesting a variety of information. We responded in
a helpful way by providing information about our standards and procedures and
our dedication to accurately reporting membership. We believe these are
isolated local problems, but we are committed to handling any problem quickly
and fairly. We
appreciate our volunteers and professionals in all Boy Scout councils who are
dedicated to delivering an outstanding program. Looking
forward to April
- Using our monthly theme of "Waterways of the USA", we'll have a
fun pack meeting - centered around a fun game of "Will it Sink or
Float" (you Letterman fans out there will understand where we're going
with this one.) Make sure to join us
on April 20th. February 2005 News Scout Sunday - a reminder that this Sunday,
February 6th, is Scout Sunday. The Boy
Scouts of America designates the Sunday before February 8, Scouting
Anniversary Day, as Scout Sunday (the following Saturday is Scout Sabbath). These
are the primary days to recognize the contributions of young people and
adults to Scouting - Scouts (and Leaders!) are encouraged to wear their
uniforms to their place of worship. Blue and Gold Dinner - We need to know by this Saturday
(2/5) how many parents, siblings, and scouts will be in attendance for our
annual Blue & Gold Dinner (the
celebration of Scouting's birthday) on Sunday, February 13, 2005. The cost is $6.00 per adult, $3.00 per sibling,
and scouts are free (please feel free to invite grandparents, etc. - we'd love
to have them). We will be celebrating
Cub Scouting's 75th anniversary - so if the boys have granddads, uncles etc.
who were former scouts, make sure to give them an invite. We will have a silent auction to raise
funds for the pack, skits from the boys, and advancements. Please let your den leader know how many
will be attending ASAP. Silent Auction - we're still looking for items for
the Silent Auction. If you have items
that can be donated, please contact Debbie Ford at fitzyit@comcast.net. Friends of Scouting - We'll also probably have a
presentation from someone from the Occoquan District about Friends of
Scouting (FOS). FOS is the annual fund
raising program by the National Capital Area Council, to help defer some of the roughly $140 spent on
each Scout involved in Scouting (this is over and above he registration
fees). Although completely
voluntary, please consider giving when asked. Rank Progress - Please continue to work with your
son on their rank achievements. We
will begin to present earned badges at the Blue and Gold. No worries if your child hasn't finished
yet - we'll be presenting earned badges from this time on at the pack
meetings. Please keep your den leader
informed of your son's progress so we can rightfully recognize his accomplishments. Summer Day Camp - It's time to polish up your suit
of armor and join Sir Campalot at this year's Cub Scout Day Camp, A Festival
of Knights. Spend time learning about
the days of old with knights and ladies at Leesylvania State Park, August
1-5. Activities vary from camp to
camp, but usually range from traditional Scouting games and achievement
opportunities to archery and BB instruction, crafts, nature study, soccer,
fishing, handicrafts, leatherwork, and camp skills. Camp runs roughly from 8:30 AM till 4 PM
each day. We must furnish one adult (Den
Walker) for every five boys attending camp.
Therefore, we must require that each boy signing up have an adult
attend at least two days. If we get
enough response, hopefully we can lower that requirement to one day each -
but as someone who's attended the past 5 years, I will tell you that it's a
lot of fun and gives you plenty of good time with your son(s). Please consider joining us all week if you are
able. Also, please remember that all of the
staff at the camp are volunteers. If
you are willing and able, please volunteer to help staff the camp (military
moms and dads - think about asking for permissive TDY!). There is especially always a need for
trained BB and archery range volunteers (the boys want to do this the most),
and for medical personnel. If you are
interested, please contact me immediately. I've attached the forms that must be
completed to register. We'll start
registering this weekend at the Blue and Gold. Please bring the completed forms and a
check (made out to Pack 35). If you
register before March 14, the cost will be $100. The cost will increase after the then. T-shirts - for those who ordered T-shirts, we
hope to have them in soon. If you ordered
a shirt but have not yet paid, please pay your den leader (or me) so as soon
as possible ($12 per shirt). Open Houses of Faith - Here's an email from Mark Clardy,
the Open Houses of Faith coordinator:
"Open Houses of Faith" is an exciting and educational forum
for enhancing public awareness about different faiths and religions in and
around Prince William County. Each
participating religious group independently hosts its own Open House for
conveying basic information about its beliefs and practices. It is an excellent opportunity for a
variety of different religious groups to introduce themselves to the
community. The series takes place in
February and March, and has been designed for anyone interested in learning
about their religious neighbors. It is
organized as a public service by local volunteers of the Boy Scouts of
America and Girl Scouts of the USA. A
patch is available for Scouts to earn, but the series is not just for
Scouts. For more information, contact:
S. Mark Clardy at open-houses-of-faith@hotmail.com. Derby Wrap-up - A huge thanks once again to Bill
Dane for serving as our derby coordinator.
Did you know that we were able to let each boy run double the amount
of races over last year, in the same amount of time? Most importantly, I think the boys had a
fun time. Kudos to Bill and all who
helped out. We have great needs for
help in other areas - namely, publicity.
If you are able to help us out just even one hour a month, please
let Phil Vivirito or I know. Looking forward to March – Following March’s
theme of ‘Invention Convention’, our March pack meeting will
feature an inventor’s theme.
Also, as the weather warms and the ground gets a little less soggy, we
hope to hold a hike. More info to
follow! December 2004 News I hope this holiday season finds
everyone well! Here's your December
news for Pack 35 - December Pack Meeting - December's pack meeting will be this
Wednesday, December 15th at 7PM.
Since we realize that everyone is very busy during this holiday time, this
will actually be an abbreviated pack meeting.
The Tigers will be presenting the colors, and the Wolves will be
providing our skit. The main event
will be the arrival of a certain "visitor" from the North who will
arrive with the Pinewood Derby car kits.
Don't worry if you are not able to make it - you'll be able to get
your car kits through your Den Leaders.
Join us for the fun! Pack 35 T-Shirts - These shirts make a great class B
uniform, and help spread the word about Pack 35! If you are interested, please bring the
attached form and money (checks payable to 'Pack 35') to the pack meeting on
Wednesday. We'd like to close out the
order, so if you haven't turned on in, please do ASAP. Winter Coat Drive - Thanks to all who donated
coats. We've collected over 125 coats
so far! Advancements - please keep working with your boys
on their advancements. These often
provide a good structure for some great family time. We'd like to award the boys their rank
advancements at the Blue and Gold Banquet in February, so please try to keep
them on track. Boy Scout TV - as an FYI - Thursday nights at
8:30PM on Channel 3, Comcast is showing the half-hour program, "The
History of Boy Scouts in America". Recharter - If you haven't paid for this year
yet, please pay immediately. We have
already had to pay the recharter fees for next year. Thanks! Summer Camps - It's not too soon to start
thinking about Day Camp and resident camp (Webelos). More info to come soon. Coming up - the Pinewood Derby will be held on
Saturday, January 22nd. A huge thanks
to Bill Dane for serving as our Derby Coordinator. Bill has done a lot of work on the Derby so
far, and it will be very evident come race day. Pack 35 is only able to provide a quality
program because of people like Bill who step up to volunteer. If you're able to help out, even for single
events, please let us know. November 2004 News Scouting for Food - Scouting for Food will be
Saturday, Nov. 6 and 13. On the 6th, we will meet at 9 AM at Ashland
Elementary, and distribute the bags. (These are white Giant/Safeway
type bags, complete with instructions for what people should do). We
will again be collecting in the Ashland area. The following Saturday
(13th), we will pick up the bags the folks leave on their front steps.
While we think about the needy and homeless more often as the holidays
approach, hunger knows no season - Scouting For Food
goes a long way towards stocking the shelves of the local food banks well
into the new year. Please make every effort to have your son come
out and help the community (parents are always VERY welcome to
join us as well!) Tiger Scouts are welcome and invited to join us -
however, Tigers need to be accompanied by a parent/adult guardian. November's Pack
Meeting - Our
November Pack meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 17, at 7 PM at
Ashland Elementary School. Following November's theme of "Cub
Scout Collectors", our main event will be a scavenger hunt. Join
us for the fun! Pack Hike - We'll offer another hiking
opportunity on Saturday, November 20th. More
information on the location following soon. Last month, a number
of Scouts went hiking through Locust Shade Park in Triangle. Along the
way, the Scouts noticed the trash that had accumulated along the trail, and
began to clean it up, gathering an entire trash bag worth of cans, bottles
and other garbage. Well Done, Scouts! Recharter - Reminder, if you have not paid
your recharter fee for next year ($55), please do
so through your den leader promptly. Thanks! Pack Committee Meeting - Here's a chance to get involved
with the leadership of the Pack. All parents are always welcome to
attend the Pack Committee meetings. November's meeting will be
Wednesday, November 10th, at 7:30 PM, at Phil Vivirito's
house. For more information, give Phil a call at 703-580-0959. What's coming - December's theme is "Holiday
Food Fare" - so our pack meeting will include holiday games and good
food! October 2004 News October Pack Meeting: Our October pack meeting will
be Thursday, October 28, at 7PM at Ashland Elementary. (PLEASE NOTE
THE DATE CHANGE). Keeping with this month's them of "It's a circus
of stars!", we will have our own circus - with
skits, games, and fun! Please join in on the fun under the big top! Hike: We will going hiking on Saturday, October 23rd at
Locust Shade Park in Triangle. If you are interested in coming along,
meet at the parking lot at Forest Park HS at 10AM, and we'll head to the park
from there. Recharter: If you haven't yet turned in
your recharter fee ($55) for next year, please do
so by the October pack meeting. The pack has to recharter
in November. Parents Pack Committee
Meeting: The Pack committee takes care
of the administrative needs of the pack, including the charter, funding, and
finding leadership. It is organized and chaired by the Pack's Committee Chair
(in our case, Phil Vivirito). The committee meets once a month to
discuss and plan the upcoming pack events. All parents are more than
invited to attend and have a part in the leadership of the pack. This
month's meeting is Thursday October 14, 7:30 PM at Phil Vivirito's
house. Email Phil (vivirito@bbcpa.com) for more info and directions. Volunteers: A big thanks to Jim Houslinger for agreeing to serve as the Tiger Den
Leader! There are some other critical needs that we need help with
(including Scouting for Food coordinator, publicity and Goshen and Day Camp
coordinators). These jobs don't require much time or effort, but would
be of a huge benefit to the pack. Please consider how you can help out. T-shirts: We will again be offering Pack T-shirts this
year. They make a great "Class B" uniform, and show off your
Pack 35 pride. The design is identical to last year's. The price
is dependent on how many we order (a minimum order for the pack is 25 ($16
per shirt)), and the price drops if we get above 40 ($12 per shirt).
Adult sizes are available. Please let me know (via email) if you are
interested, so I can gage what the price will be. After we get a handle
on that, we'll put out order forms. Scouting For Food:
Once again, Pack 35 will be participating in the annual “Scouting for Food”
drive. The food drive will take place on two consecutive Saturdays. On
November 6th, Scouts will place plastic bags at doorsteps throughout our
neighborhood. The following Saturday, November 13th, Scouts will return to
pick up the filled bags. Please make every effort to help out in
collecting food for the needy in our area. Pack Website: A reminder - you can find the
latest news and Pack 35 calendar at http://ashlandpack35.home.comcast.net/index.htm.
You'll also find a link to the site on the Ashland Elementary website.
If there are items you wish to see us add on the site, please feel free to
let us know. Beltloops: I get questions time to time
about Cub Scouting's Sports and Academics (the
"beltloops") program. The best site
I've found that lists and discusses that different
requirements is http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/academics-sports.html.
Email addresses: Have a different or
additional addreess you want the pack emails to go
to? Please let me know. Looking forward to
November: November's theme is "Cub
Scout Collectors" - so on November 17th, our pack meeting will include a
scavenger hunt! Don't forget Scouting for Food on the 6th and 13th, and
another hike on the 20th. September
2004 News I hope you all had a great summer - and that you're
ready for a great year in Cub Scouts! Here's an update on all that's going on: Family Campout: Mark your calendars now - we'll have a
family campout on Saturday September 11.
We're still finalizing a location, but it will be in the area. More info to follow. September Pack Meeting:
Our first pack meeting will be Wednesday, September 22, at 7PM at
Ashland Elementary. Keeping with Cub
Scouting's September theme ("Time in a Capsule"), we'll be making a
time capsule of our own (the boys will be invited to contribute items). We'll also have our annual "Year in
Review" slideshow, as well as some more fun as we welcome everyone back. Den Meetings:
Den Meetings will be starting up in mid-September. Den Leaders will be in contact with you
with times/locations. Beltloops:
Parents - your boys may have earned some sports or academic beltloops
over the summer - you can check out Cub Scouting's Sports and Academics
program at http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/academics-sports.html. Let your den leader know if your son has
completed any beltloops requirements. Books:
A reminder, if you haven't already bought your book for this year, you
can find them at Peebles (Rt.1 in Woodbridge) or Sunny's Surplus
(Manassas). Tigers who have moved on to
Wolves (i.e. 2nd graders) should also get their Scout shirts and necessary
patches. Join Scouting Night/Back to School
Nights: We plan on holding a Join Scouting Night on
Wednesday, September 15th at 7PM at Ashland.
We'll give an intro to Scouting, and then have fun activities for the
interested boys as we tell the parents more about Scouting. A flyer will be going out to the boys at
Ashland - please feel free to invite any boys you know that may be
interested. We'll also have a table on
the Back to School nights. Webelos Woodsmoke: The Occoquan district is planning
it's annual Webelos Woodsmoke for Saturday Oct. 16. Webelos Scouts can learn about Boy
Scouting, and can campout with Boy Scout troops. More info to follow as we learn it from the
district. Volunteers:
A big thanks to Paul Baker and Mike McGrail for filling some critical
positions! Paul is going to be the new
Bears den leader, while Mike is going to handle membership and rechartering. There are some other critical needs that we
will be asking for help with in the very near future. Please do your best to help out when asked;
we want to have a quality program for the boys, and that's only possible with
strong volunteer leadership. Looking forward to October: Ocotber's theme is "It's a circus of
stars!" - so on October 20th, our pack meeting will be a three-ring
circus!. We'll also have a pack hike
on Saturday the 23rd, and the Webelos Woodsmoke will be on the 16th. |
