Just a quick hello from me. I hope you and the boys had a great summer and are geared up for school and our new Scout year. We’re in the midst of planning so look for an email in the next week or two on the kick off meetings and schedule.

The Links are in London but there may be a couple of new boys this year to help fill in the ranks.

The uniform for the Bear Cub Scout is the official blue Cub Scout shirt (same as last year), Bear neckerchief, and slide. The official Bear cap and blue web belt with a Cub Scout buckle are optional. I’m also going to order some class B shirts for our den outings…if you could send me the youth sizes for your child, it is much appreciated. The Bear Handbook will be handed out as part of your registration at the kickoff/registration meeting.

As always, check the website for requirements if you want to get an idea of what Bear Rank is all about:

http://www.pack284.com/ranks/bear-requirements/ (overview)

http://www.pack284.com/ranks/bear-requirements/bear-scout-achievements-list/ (achievement reqs)

I’m also soliciting input for the website – what you’d like to see more or less of.

thanks and I look forward to another great year with your sons!

Charlie

We had a great camping trip this past weekend.  Sunday morning was a little wet but overall I think everyone had a great time.  We had over 50 scouts attend with close to 125 people spend the night on Saturday night.  A special thanks to the parents who helped with the cooking duties, organizing the games and the hike.  Without your help a camping trip for 125 people would never happen.

If you did not yet pay Ben for the camping trip please reach out to him or myself to arrange payment as soon as possible so we can close the books for this year.

Next Monday is the Memorial Day Parade.  We have a large flag that the boys march with to rave reviews from the bystanders.  Each year we have done this the boys have a lot of fun and I do believe get a better understanding of the purpose of the parade.  There is also a chance this year that we will have an antique car leading the group.  We do need a minimum number to pull this off (it is a big flag) so please send me an e-mail confirming that your son will be able to attend.  I will send out the details soon but the rough idea is that you drop off your son at the Radnor Financial Building at 10am on Monday and then meet us at the end near the war memorial across from the Radnor Middle School.  If you want to march with us as well that is great and we would be happy to have you.  Please let me know ASAP.

We have one more den meeting this year (this Tuesday the 25th).  Please look for information from your den leader as to what your den’s plans are.

The final event for this year (after the parade) is the June Roundup.  It is Troop 284′s end of year picnic that the cub scouts and families are welcome to go to.  The roundup will be on June 5th and I will need to RSVP for those cub scouts and families who will be attending so please let me know if you are planning to attend.

Keith

Friday

You are welcome to come up Friday night.  If you want to and have not yet told me please let me know.  If you are coming up on Friday you are responsible for your own dinner on Friday as well as your breakfast and lunch on Saturday.

Saturday

10:00am – Arrival – set up camp

12:00pm – Lunch  - Bring your own bag lunch

1:00pm – Hike

3:30pm – Group Activities

5:00pm -  Dinner -Supplied by Pack

7:00pm – Campfire  - Songs and skits

9:00pm -  Lights out

Sunday

7:30am – Wake up

8:00am – Breakfast

9:00am – Pack up

10:00am – Campsite cleanup

Departure

Directions

Take Route 3 west to Providence Road.

Turn left on Providence Road and follow for about 1 ½ miles to Gradyville Road.

Turn right on Gradyville Rd and follow about 1 mile to Sandy Flash Drive South (don’t get fooled by Sandy Flash Drive North).

Turn left on Sandy Flash Drive South and follow the signs for site #13.

It is important that everyone understands that the park will close the gates at about 8:15pm.  So if you plan on staying for dinner but not the evening you need to keep an eye on the time.

Keith

Ridley Creek Camping Trip Packing List

Our last big event for the year is the camping trip scheduled for May 21-23 at Ridley Creek State Park.

We have reserved two large campsites that have pretty decent bathrooms nearby with running water (no showers of course). The “official” trip will take place from mid-morning on Saturday through mid-morning on Sunday but we have reserved the site for Friday night as well. So if you want to come on Friday night you are welcome to do so. The pack will provide dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday.

This is a family event so your whole family is invited if you would like. We are camping in the woods though so use your discretion with younger siblings. We are purposely camping close to home so the boys with baseball games can easily leave and return or come up a little later after their game.

Different than years past this park does close the park gates at night (sunset to sunrise) so please realize that if you are not at the site by sunset you will be unable to get in and vice versa you cannot plan on leaving after dark.

Some of the events we will likely do include some team relays/games, a hike, and a campfire.

The expected cost will be $10 per adult and $5 for siblings. We will be collecting money for adults and siblings are our next pack meeting (5/11).

There is a lot more information to come but at this time I’m trying to get a head count. Please e-mail me as to whether you are able to attend (include a breakdown of scouts, adults, and siblings).

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Keith

The bike rodeo will be at the Lower Perkiomen Valley Park in Oaks.  I have the address and directions included at the bottom of this post.

Please make sure that each cub scout (and siblings if they come) all bring their helmet to wear while riding.  I will have a pump and some tools if anyone’s tires are low or you need a seat raised. Please also wear your uniform shirt and dress appropriately for the weather.  We will be in the shade a fair amount on the bike trail so it could be a little colder than you expect.

We will start at 1pm and should be done around 4pm.  There are a number of places to ride in the area so if you want to stay longer with your son afterwards please feel free to do so.

I have reserved the lower parking lot in the park.  After entering the park follow the signs to the picnic pavilions.  Right after the pavilions you should see a sign pointing to a parking lot on the right – that is where we will be.  If it is full you can park up above and ride your bike down.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Keith

Address: 101 New Mill Road,  Oaks, PA 19456

Directions

422 West to Oaks Exit

Right on Egypt Road (bottom of exit ramp)

Quick right onto New Mill Road

The park is at the end of the road on the left

The weather appears to finally have turned!  It is great to get outside again.

We are going to move forward with our Bike Rodeo this weekend.  Due to many conflicts with Little League games (and Picture Day) on Saturday we have moved it to Sunday.

The Bike Rodeo will be Sunday from 1-4pm at the Lower Perkiomen Valley Park in Oaks.

For those of you not familiar with that area it is just 10mins or so up 422 to the Oaks exit at which point you will take a hard right and you are basically there.  I will send out more detailed directions later.

We have reserved a parking lot that will give us the ability to have some bike safety discussions, review the rules of the road, conduct some bike handling events and then have the opportunity to ride along the Schuylkill and Perkiomen Rivers for a couple miles (depending on how things are going).  It is actually a neat little park with things for everyone.

The boys will need to bring their bike and their helmet as well as water to drink.  I will provide some simple snacks.

You do not need to come for the whole time if your schedule does not allow.  Parents are welcome to bring your bikes as well – we do need some help if you are willing and able.

I would like to get a rough idea of how many boys will be able to attend so please send me a quick e-mail if you plan on attending.

Keith

Pinewood Derby

I want to thank everyone for their help with the Derby.  Whether you were part of the weigh-in or race day crews and/or you helped your son make his car, your participation is what helped make the event a success.

Unfortunately we did get a complaint from the school district that I wanted everyone to be aware of:

“On Saturday, March 13, 2010 around noon, the District Mobile Officer reported finding numerous unsupervised children running throughout the main artery and wings of Wayne Elementary School.  All of the adults were standing in the Cafeteria.”

I know that we are talking about young boys (and siblings) with lots of energy but imagine the trouble that we will be in if we lose our ability to meet at WES.  Finding an alternative location for 70 boys and their respective parents to meet will be very tough if not impossible.  I really need all of your help to keep the kids in the cafeteria and little theatre whenever we are at the school.  This is the second warning we received this year and I don’t think we are going to get many more.  Please help me with this.

Also, I have a Nikon lens cap that was left at the Pinewood Derby.  If it belongs to you let me know and I will get it to you.

Next Meeting

Our next meeting is a Den meeting on Tuesday the 23^rd.  Please look for information from your den leader as to what is planned.

ScoutReach

A number of you have asked about the ScoutReach program, and whether they take donations of “gently used” books, caps, uniforms, etc…  The answer is that they do — donations can be sent or brought to:

Cradle of Liberty Council, BSA,

1485 Valley Forge Road

Wayne, PA 19087

Attn: ScoutReach

The ScoutReach link is - http://www.colbsa.org/openrosters/view_homepage.asp?orgkey=1880

Keith