With a lighter number of RSVP’s than normal it was suggested that I provide some more details on the trip to help those who are on the fence in regards to attending 

Ridley Creek is located very close to Wayne.  According to MapQuest it is 20 minutes from Wayne to the park entrance.  This will easily allow those of us who have baseball games or other commitments to come up after the game or even leave mid-day and then return after the game.

We have scheduled different activities throughout the day so that when you are there, we will have something going on.

Camping at Ridley Creek is not roughing it.  The walk from the parking lot to the campsite is only a couple hundred yards so you don’t need to worry about packing in anything special.  A duffle bag is perfect.  We are camping in a field with everyone in eyesight of everyone else.  And finally (and to some most importantly) there is running water at the site with bathrooms and sinks.

The pack will take care of providing dinner and breakfast; you only need to worry about your lunch on Saturday.

On Sunday we usually get up and moving pretty early.  We cook and eat breakfast, break camp, police the site for trash, and then head home around 10am (usually) to enable people to get to Sunday activities.  If you want to stay later you are welcome to do so.

You do need to provide a tent but outside of that there is really nothing special about what you need to bring.  The packing list (attached) details everything you will need.

I have also attached a map of the park.  We are camping at site #13 which is a little below the center of the map and identified by a tent symbol.  I will get everyone who RSVP’s more specific directions next week.

Traditionally we have over 100 people on our trip which usually includes a number of siblings as well as moms.  I hope that we can again have similar participation from the pack this year as it is our final large event of the year and a great chance for those who have never camped before to experience camping for the first time in a safe, controlled environment.

If you have any questions at all about the trip, what happens, what you need to bring, any concerns you might have, etc… please do not hesitate to give me a call or send me an e-mail.

Please let me know if you would like to go before the end of day on Saturday.

Keith

Tomorrow is our last pack meeting of the year.  We are going to focus on having some fun outside as well as answer any question that people have about our upcoming camping trip.

The camping trip is scheduled for May 19^th and 20^th at Ridley Creek State Park.  The annual camping trip is the culmination of our year and has always been a lot of fun for boys and their parents/siblings.

We purposely pick locations that are convenient to our area (Ridley Creek is only about 20 mins from Wayne) so it is easy to leave for baseball games and return later, or come after your game.

All family members are welcome; we just need to know so that we can plan accordingly.

The core trip is from Saturday through Sunday but if you want to also camp on Friday night there will be a group of people there on Friday night and you are welcome to join.  At the end of this message I have laid out our planned schedule of activities.

Please RSVP to me ASAP if you are planning to come camping with us.  We will be collecting money for the trip at this week’s pack meeting ($10 per adult and $5 for siblings) – we need the money collected before the trip!

We reviewed the attached packing list with the boys at the last meeting as well as some of the key aspects of camping in the woods (leave nothing behind, the buddy system, fire safety, etc…).

This is also your chance to ask myself or the other leaders any questions you might have about the camping trip.  This is a low impact trip and a perfect first camping trip for you and your son.  If you are nervous or concerned about anything please let me know.

Keith

Bike Rodeo

It appears that many boys/families are tied up this coming weekend with baseball, lacrosse, and/or other commitments.  As a result we are going to postpone the Bike Rodeo until a weekend in the fall.  For those of you who did respond with interest for this weekend we will still get together for a trail ride led by Clarke Piatt.  I will send those of you who RSVP’d information on that separately.  If you would like to join let myself or Clarke know.

Union Soccer Game

We are moving forward with the Union Soccer game on April 28^th.  The game is at 7:30pm at the new PPL Park down on the Chester waterfront.  If you have not been before it is always a good time.  We do have a couple days left before we have to commit to a number of tickets so if you have not already told me please RSVP ASAP so that I can make sure we have a ticket for you.  We will place our order on Thursday morning so you must let me know tonight.  The tickets will be $20 for scouts and $30 for siblings and parents.

Pack Meeting 4/24

The pack meeting on the 24^th will be our camping prep meeting.  We will talk about the camping trip, reviewing the packing list, setup some tents, start thinking about skits for the campfire, and then time permitting will play some games outside.  If you have a tent that you can bring that would be fantastic, the boys really get excited setting up the tents.

Pack Meeting 5/8

On the 8^th we will have our last pack meeting focusing on fun and games outside.  This pack meeting will be special in that we are inviting prospective Tigers to attend and get interested in scouting.  If there is a kindergartner in your family who is thinking of joining scouts next year please bring them along. Additionally if they have friends who will be in first grade next year please invite them as well.

Camping Trip 5/18-5/20

Our annual camping trip will be the weekend of May 19^th.  We will be returning to Ridley Creek State Park this year.  It is very convenient to our area (about 20 mins from Wayne) so it is easy to leave for baseball games and return later, or come up later on Saturday after your game.  All family members are welcome. The trip is from Saturday through Sunday but if you want to also camp on Friday night there will be a group of people there on Friday night and you are welcome to join.  We do need grills to help with Saturday night dinner.  If you have a charcoal grill that you can bring that would be a big help (if you have one but cannot transport it let me know and we can work it out).  More details to follow on this trip but at the end of this message I have laid out our planned schedule of activities.  Please RSVP to me if you plan on camping with us.  I will need to know the number of scouts, siblings, and adults and what nights you expect to camp out.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Keith

We had a great time on Tuesday with our “Minute to Win It” themed pack meeting and then I think all the boys had a great time at the Derby onn Saturday morning.  It is not easy pulling off those events, thank you very much to all the parents who stepped up to help make both those events possible.  All also a big thanks to the helpers who made each boy’s car possible.

We have still have some big events left for this year (Blue & Gold dinner, planned bike rodeo, and of course the camping trip).

Announcements:

RSVP’s needed

Please respond ASAP to the eVite that went out for the Blue & Gold dinner.  If you did not see it then let me know right away.

Photo’s

If you have any photos that you are willing to share of pack evente/meetings we would like add them to our slide show for the Blue & Gold dinner.

Cookies For Soldiers
We are still looking for soldiers to whom my daughter’s girl scout troop can send cookies to.  If you know of anyone please let me know.

Drill Bit

Finally, I have a 1/2′ drill bit that was left after Friday night’s weigh in.  No doubt from someone trying to reduce weight at the last minute.  If this is yours let me know and we can arrange to get it back to you.

Keith

I expect everyone is putting the finishing touches on their Pinewood Derby cars.  Weigh-in is on Friday night!  Please be there between 7-9pm to weigh in your car and leave it in pit row overnight. Remember, do not put the numbers you received with your car on the car!  Bring them with you and we will assign each car a number when it is registered.  Each car will be checked as per the rules you were given, assigned a number, and quarantined on pit row overnight.  All final changes need to be complete before it is registered.

I still need help to pull this event off.  I need one more person on Friday night (6:00pm start) and four people for Saturday morning (9:30am).  The positions I need for Saturday are announcer, design judge, co-refreshments, clean up.  Please let me know ASAP if you can help.

Schedule

3/6 – Pack Meeting (7pm @ WES)

3/9 – Derby Weigh-In (7-9pm @ WES)

3/10 – Derby Race (10am @ WES)

3/20 – Blue & Gold Dinner (6pm @ St Luke Church)

Blue & Gold Dinner

The Blue & Gold Dinner is coming up at the end of the month (March 20^th @ 6pm).  It will be held again at St. Luke Church in Devon.   The Blue & Gold dinner is the Cub Scout’s annual celebration of scouting.  We will have a catered dinner, deserts created by the Bear den, awards, and then a terrific entertainer after dinner.

The price of the dinner will be $11 for adults, $7 for siblings, and no charge for scouts.  We will be asking you to RSVP and pay up front so that we can coordinate the correct numbers with the caterer.  Please look for an eVite in your e-mail very soon and respond ASAP so that we can get an accurate number as soon as possible.

We do need volunteers for this event as well.  Among other things we need to desert judges, servers, and clean up help.  Please let me know if you can help with this event.

Photos

We would like to setup a slide show this year showing pictures from pack activities, meetings, etc… from this year or recent years.  If you have some that you think would be appropriate please forward them to me so that I can include them in the slide show.  I think the boys will get a kick out of seeing themselves on the screen.

Cookies For Soldiers

My daughter’s Girl Scout troop is of course selling Girl Scout cookies this time of the year.  This year they have really made a concentrated effort to get donations to send cookies to our troops stationed in the US and especially overseas.  While there is a central location that they can send the cookies to they would much rather send them directly to some specific individuals with whom there is some sort of local or personal connection.  Many of those whom they have sent to in past years have thankfully returned safely so as a result they are very interested in finding some new troops to send to.  If you know of anyone who is currently serving our country who you think would like getting a Girl Scout cookie care package please let me know.

Finally, Tuesday’s pack meeting is going to be a very volunteer intensive meeting.  I have a lot of neat “Minute to Win It” type events that the boys will participate in.  It should be a lot of fun to watch but I will need a lot of extra parents to help me pull this off.  Please come prepared to help if you are able, I would really appreciate it.

Keith

Just a quick reminder about the Den Meeting tonight at WES (unless your den leader has told you separately that you are meeting elsewhere).

I will have Pinewood Derby kits and rules for anyone who did not get their kit at the last meeting.  As we did last year there will be an adult/sibling division.  The rules are the same as the cub scouts.  If you are interested you can also pick up a kit at the meeting but will need to pay $4 for the kit.

I will have a volunteer list to sign-up to help with the Pinewood Derby.  We need about 15 people to make this event work.  We are only talking a 2 hour commitment so I hope we will have a lot of interested people!  Please see me to sign up!

Please look for an e-mail about a Pack summer activity at Camp Hart/Musser Scout Reservation. I will be sending out information shortly about this fun event that a number of our members plan on going to this summer.

Our upcoming schedule is as follows:

2/21 – Den Meeting (7pm @ WES)

3/6 – Pack Meeting (7pm @ WES)

3/9 – Derby Weigh-In (7-9pm @ WES)

3/10 – Derby Race (10am @ WES)

Keith

Just a quick reminder about the Pack Meeting tonight at WES. 

In tonight’s meeting we will be discussing the Pinewood Derby and handing out the kits along with a packet of information detailing the rules and regulations as well as some tips and techniques.  We will be dividing the boy’s into groups to talk to them about design, rules and regulations, wheels and weights, and shaping/painting. You are more than welcome to join your son for each of these sessions if you would like – this is a good idea if it is your first car.

This year we will again have the Parent/Sibling division.  All of the same rules apply, but this division will be just for parent built or sibling built cars.  If you are interested you can purchase a car kit from the pack for $4 or you can pick one up yourself from the scout store.

I will have a volunteer list to sign-up to help with the Pinewood Derby.  We need about 15 people to make this event work.  We are only talking a 2 hour commitment so I hope we will have a lot of interested people!

Also on tap for the meeting will be the handing out of the Penn Basketball tickets (you must have paid to get your tickets).  Please make sure you pick up your tickets at the meeting tonight as I don’t want to be waiting outside the Palestra for everyone to show up.

We have the Franklin Institute overnight coming up on Friday.  I need everyone’s final payment tonight.  Please see myself or Bob.

Finally, we still need volunteers for the Blue & Gold dinner.  We will be having a volunteer meeting for 15 mins after the pack meeting tonight, please attend if you can help.

Our upcoming schedule is as follows:

2/7 – Pack Meeting – Pinewood Derby Kickoff (7pm @ WES)

2/10 – Franklin Institute overnight

2/17 – Penn Basketball (7pm @ Palestra)

Keith

For those of you who made it we had a great time skating this past weekend.  It was a good turnout with about 80 participants, it was cool to see all ages on the ice.  If you did not connect with me to pay your $3 per non-scout for the event please catch up with me at one of our upcoming meetings.

Tonight we have Den meetings.  Some dens will be at WES while others are at different locations.  Your Den leader will have told you already if you are meeting elsewhere.

We have extended the deadline to RSVP for Penn Basketball until Sunday.  Please let me know ASAP if you are interested.  On Monday we will be ordering the tickets.

Due to various reasons we unexpectedly have some extra spots for the Franklin Institute overnight.  Let me know ASAP if you are not on the list but would like to come.

Lastly, John Toates is organizing an extra trip in Feb to the Simeone Foundation Car Museum in Philly (located near the aiport).  The Simeone Foundation Museum (www.simeonemuseum.org) is a world class collection of racing sports cars.  According to the collector, there is nothing clearer on the effects of competition as dramatic and beautiful, as the evolution of the racing sports car.  The primary theme of the collection is the “spirit of competition” and the seven decades of evolution.  The cars are exhibited in realistic settings and the context of the venues where they actually raced.  Although I have never been I have seen it as part of a TV special and it looks like a great place to visit and the timing coincides with the boy’s planning their cars for the Pinewood Derby!

The trip will be on Feb 4th at 10am.  There will be no cost for the boy’s (or anyone under 8) - all others will be $6.  Please RSVP if you are interested in this activity.

Our upcoming schedule is as follows:

1/24 – Den Meeting (7pm @ WES)

2/4 – Simeone Foundation Museum (10am)

2/7 – Pack Meeting – Pinewood Derby Kickoff (7pm @ WES)

2/10 – Franklin Institute overnight

2/17 – Penn Basketball (7pm @ Palestra)

Ok, that is it….  Please RSVP in regards to basketball and the Simeone foundation and let me know if you would like to join the Franklin Institute overnight.

Keith

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Franklin Institute

Happy New Year!

We have a very busy next few months for Cub Scouts.  On top of the boy’s working to their rank advancements for the Blue & Gold Dinner we have ice skating, Penn basketball, and the Franklin Institute overnight.  I have a lot of important information contained in this e-mail - PLEASE read it through very carefully!

Upcoming Schedule

1/10 – Pack Meeting – Skits (7pm @ WES)

1/21 – Ice Skating (6:30pm @ Oaks)

1/24 – Den Meeting (7pm @ WES)

2/7 – Pack Meeting – Pinewood Derby Kickoff (7pm @ WES)

2/10 – Franklin Institute overnight

2/17 – Penn Basketball (7pm @ Palestra)

Ice Skating

As we have done in the past we have rented out a rink for everyone’s enjoyment.  This year we will be at Center Ice in Oaks.  Our ice time is from 6:30-8pm on Jan 12st.  We will likely free skate for the first hour and then organize a broom ball game for the final 30 mins for those who are interested (please bring your own broom if you want to participate).  There will still be room on the ice for those who just want to skate the whole time.  As always siblings and parents are welcome to participate.  There will be a nominal fee ($3) for non-scouts to skate.  There is no charge for scouts or for rentals.  Please RSVP to me with the number of scouts and non-scouts and if possible bring your payment to the pack meeting on the 10^th.

Franklin Institute

We have filled up our 100 spaces and then some.  We are up to 105 people attending which is terrific.  I believe there is still time to get in, but you need to let me know ASAP.  I will be sending out a separate message to all who signed up to confirm and to share information about the trip.

Penn Basketball

We have booked a large group of tickets to the University of Penn basketball game vs. Cornell on Feb 17^th.  The game starts at 7pm and will be at the Palestra.  As always siblings and of course parents are welcome to join us.  Tickets will be $6 for non-scouts.  There is no charge for scouts.  Please RSVP to me with the number of scouts and non-scouts by Jan 16^th so that we can ensure we have enough tickets.

Blue & Gold Dinner

We have the Blue & Gold dinner coming up in late March.  This event only happens with a lot of help from parent volunteers.  Many of the parents that helped in the last couple of years have moved on so we really need a number of you to step in and help out.  We do have a couple of returning parents for continuity but we need your help.  Please let me know if you are willing to help.  We will likely have a brief planning meeting during the Den meeting on Jan 24^th.

Ok, that is it….  Please RSVP in regards to skating and basketball and let me know if you are willing to help with the Blue & Gold Dinner. 

Keith

You are getting this because you signed up to attend the rock climbing activity this weekend (Dec 10^th).  We will be climbing at Vertical Extreme in Downingtown. Our session will start at 9:30am and the gym will be reserved just for us until 12noon.  I believe you can stay as long as you want after 12noon.

Click on the link to get the waiver that you need to sign and bring with you for each climber >>   Risk Waiver

I will pay for the cub scouts but will need $15 for each non-cub scout who is climbing.

I have included directions below.

If I remember correctly it is heated but not like a house so dress in some layers if it is cold outside, I expect most boys will end up climbing in pants and a t-shirt but at least have a sweatshirt or something in case.  

Lastly, if you are an adult and plan to climb please confirm with me via e-mail, I just want to make sure that I pay for the right number of people. 

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Keith

Directions

Take 202 South to Route 30 Bypass (not business 30). Go west on 30 Bypass passed the Route 100 exit to the Downingtown Business 30 exit. At light make a left onto Lancaster Avenue. Go to first light and make left on Quarry Road. At the second light, make right on to Boot Road. At next light make a right on Chestnut Street, go up and over the railroad bridge. Vertical Extreme’s entrance is the first driveway on the right, immediately on the other side of the bridge. The entrance is a hard right. If you went as far as Acorn Lane you went too far.