November Newsletter

Dear Parents

With the Pinewood Derby less than two weeks away, I thought that I needed to explain the timeline and the rules for the race so we all have a fun time.

The Pinewood Derby will be on December 1. On that day, the racetrack will be open from 6:00 PM to 6:40 PM. This is the time to test your Scout’s car and make any last minute adjustments. I will have some tools and some dry lubricant (powered graphite) for your use. You may bring and use your own tools, too. At 6:40 PM, the car registration will begin and the track will be closed. Your Scout will need to have his car weighed and measured to ensure that it is within specifications. (We will be following the specifications that came with the Pinewood Derby Kit. They are reprinted below.) At 7:00 PM, we will have our Opening Ceremony and start racing.

Specifications:

• Maximum width: 2 ¾ inches
• Maximum length: 7 inches
• Maximum weight: 5 ounces
• Width between wheels: 1 ¾ inches
• Bottom clearance between car and track: 3/8 inches.

We will be following the same procedures that we have followed in the past. A general outline of the procedures is attached. As we have done in the past, we will not be using a double elimination format. Each Scout will race six times in the first round. The top six cars will race another three times. The winner will be the car with the most accumulated points. (Three points will be given for a win, two points for second place and one point for third place.) This system works very well because by the middle of the first round, most Scouts have forgotten where they placed in the previous heats and are enjoying the races.

I ask that each family bring a snack or a treat to share with the Pack. It can be a bag of chips, popcorn, cookies, etc. I also encourage each family and Scout to invite a friend to help cheer him on. Families can also make cheering banners to encourage their Scouts.

I hope that the Pinewood Derby is a good experience for each Scout and a fun time for each family. If there are any questions, please contact me at 703.349.2119.

Thanks!

Bruce Brown, Cubmaster

October Pack meeting

Last night (26 October) was our Pack Meeting. It was great to have more boys and families there. I'll post pictures soon.

Fathers and Sons--Recap

It was COLD! It wasn't the coldest campout that I've been to, but... (If you want to hear about the coldest campout that I've had, ask me.)

We should thank Oliver Christensen for bringing the food, and Kristen for getting the food. Every time we asked, "Where is...?" We found it. Kristen thought of everything. :D

Jared Mason was the only Cub Scout to come.

Fathers and Sons

I'm declaring the Fathers and Sons campout a "Pack Overnight Campout". That means that you can pass off 3 or more requirements. Because the Church doesn't let Wolfs/Bears to go on overnighters (and limits the WEBELOS to one overnighter a year), these requirements are hard to get passed off. If I was thinking ahead even more, I could have arrainged for the Cub Scouts to do a little skit at the campfire. That would have been another requirements.

Wolf: 23 a and h (b, c, d can also be passed off)
Bear: 25 a, d, and e
WEBELOS: Outdoorsman 1, and 3 or 4.

Pictures from September's Pack Meeting

Here are some pictures from September's Pack Meeting. (Thanks to Sis. Brown)






Gathering activity--making masks.





















The Masons looking at some of Bro. Brown's awards.

















The Wolves and Bears receiving their belt loop awards.














Relay Race














Jefferson Landrith receiving his Bobcat.


















Post Pack Meeting basketball.

Pack Calendar

Well...since I'm a geek, I figured that I might as well blog about the Pack.

Here is the Pack's calendar. I'm working on this. There are only three meetings per month, so there is a lot of blank space in it. I should add the Den's (soon to be Dens') calendar to it too. All in good time.