1/4/24 - Pack 333 January Events: Pinewood Derby, Klondike Derby, and Den Meetings

Good evening and Happy 2024 Pack 333 families. 

With the passing of winter solstice and the slowly increasing daylight, our January is an excellent time to work on our family faith (Duty to G*d) based adventures. Your Den Leaders and Parent helpers will be reaching out to you with the Requirements for your Rank.  Once you've completed the requirements, let your Den Leader know and they'll complete the Advancement.  If you are interested in learning about other faiths, we will have the opportunity to visit and explore as the year progresses.  If there is a particular faith, organization, or group that you feel you would benefit from visiting or talking, please let me know.  

Our Pinewood Derby is fast approaching and this year we have a few changes.  We'll be holding the event at the Sykesville Freedom District Volunteer Fire Department (SFDVFD) on Sunday 14 January 2024 and will start weighing in cars at 11:00 am with races beginning at 1:00pm.  Any volunteers for setting up the track, weighing cars, assisting with the lunch run, overseeing kid's activities (especially while their Den isn't racing), judging cars, etc. are welcome (please drop me a quick note or text). We'll set up the track beginning at 10am. We will be awarding Den and overall awards as well as creativity awards.  There will be some small tools available for any last minute modifications and changes. We will also be having a "Friends and Family" heat after the Dens are finished.  These can be cars of any era and build as long as they are under the 5 oz. weight limit and max. width restriction.  You may also bring as many vehicles for this race as you like.  We have Troop 417 Scouts there to help with our event, I encourage our Cubs to talk with the Scouts.  For those who cannot attend but still want to race, you can drop off your car before 9pm on Saturday 13 January; just reach out to me.  I can't wait to see the amazing cars!

The Klondike Derby is also scheduled 27 January 2024 from 8am to ~5pm at the McKeldin Area in Patapsco State Park. These outdoor activity has 2 trails (Cub for our Lions to Bears and Scout for Webelos to Scouts).  The event is $15 per Cub and $5 for non-registered adults, and free for registered adults.  We need a minimum of 2 adults for each trail. If you are interested in attending or walking the trail as an adult with your Cub, please reach out to Matt Tabisz (mtabisz1@gmail.com),  For more information on the Klondike, visit https://scoutingevent.com/220-76989 .

We will also be preparing also for our February Rocket Launch as well.  A sign-up will be forthcoming.  As always, any questions, suggestions, or comments are welcome.  

Respectfully,

Tara Lydick, Cubmaster

12/6/23 Cubmaster Bi-weekly updates

Good evening Pack 333 families. We've got a busy but fun couple of months upcoming.

Our December Pack meeting will be on Tuesday 12 December 2023 beginning at 6:30pm. Our Cubs will be preparing personal care bags for deployed community members with personalized cards. Jessica Hanauer is graciously coordinating and has ordered materials and items for the event This will also be our Gift Exchange. For any Cubs (or siblings) who wish to participate, please bring a $5 or under wrapped gift for our game. For those who have not yet picked up their Pinewood Derby car, the Den Leaders and I will bring cars for distribution.

Our Pinewood Derby will be held on Sunday 14 January 2023 at the Sykeville Freedom District Volunteer Fire Company thanks to Troop 417's sponsorship. Members of Troop 417 will be on-hand to assist, but we still need plenty of adult volunteers to make the event happen. We also will be doing a friends and family race after the Cubs event. Please see the Pack website and signup (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4CA9AB2EA7F94-pack#/).

January is also our family based Duty to G*d Adventure. Your Den Leader should reach out to you regarding the requirements for this Adventure. This is a good opportunity for both Cubs and their families to discuss what faith looks like in their lives. We are also starting a series of voluntary visits to faith organizations for those who wish to learn more about other faiths. More information is forth coming.

Also in January is the 2024 National Pike Klondike Derby. The event will be held at the McKeldin Area of the Patapsco State Park on the weekend of January 27th. Camping will be available for Troops on Friday and Saturday nights; the trail event (Cub Trail and Scout Trail) will be held on Saturday. This event allows Cubs to practice different skills while learning about the Klondike and is split between our younger Cubs (Bears and under) and the Webelos/AOLs who will pull a sled. We are looking for a coordinator to organize registration, carpooling, and on-site meeting points. For those Webelos and AOLs interested in camping with a Troop, please let your Den Leader know so we can coordinate. Cub participants are $15 each, Adults are $5, siblings 5 and older are welcome to participate at the same rate. Please visit the registration web page FAQ and general information located at https://scoutingevent.com/220-76989. More information, including a signup, is forthcoming.

We are also looking for volunteers to coordinate the annual Blue and Gold Banquet and AOL Bridging ceremony currently scheduled for Friday 16 February 2024 at St. Johns in Ellicott City. This is our Scout celebration and also brings our Troops in to welcome our AOLs bridging from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA. If you are interested in any of the planning, please reach out.

I look forward to seeing you all at the Pack Meeting. As always, any questions, comments, or suggestions are welcome.

Respectfully,

Tara Lydick, Cubmaster Pack 333

Cubmaster Bi-weekly: Service Project, Gift Exchange, and Pinewood Derby Prep 11/18

Good Evening Pack 333 families. We have entered the fall busy times. Dens meetings are starting to shift towards indoor/outdoor activities and we're getting ready for one of our service projects, gift exchange, and the Pinewood Derby.

Service Project: During our December Pack meeting on 12 December, we will be assembling kits for deployed community members (this also counts as part of the Cubs Duty to Country individual rank requirements). This includes our Cubs making handmade cards. We are looking for a couple of volunteers to order supplies (which will be reimbursed by the Pack) as well as a couple volunteers to drop off the completed kits. If there are any parents interested, please let me know.

Gift Exchange: In conjunction with the Give Back, we also have a Pack Gift Exchange at the Pack Meeting. For this activity, any Cub (and siblings) who wish to participate should bring a wrapped (or bagged) gift ($5 or less) that is either Scout, outdoor, or team related and is also biological sex neutral.

Pinewood Derby: Cubs who have not yet received their Pinewood Derby car kits should talk to their Den leaders. The Cubs should work to develop a design they would like to race during our event. The general rules are that the car must use the wheels provided in the kit, weigh no more than 5.000 oz, be less than 7. inches long. The web link below provides a bit more detail, please ignore the heat start times. The Pack usually has several build events during November, December, and January hosted at different parent's houses to allow the Cubs (and parents) access to space (usually a garage), tools (basic woodworking with some power tools), and others who may have some ideas or suggestions. If there are any families interested in hosting a build event, please reach out to me. https://scoutingevent.com/Download/16295772/OR/2023_Official_Pinewood_Derby_Rules_Peshewa.pdf