Pack Meeting and Popcorn Kickoff Tomorrow 9/25 @ 7 pm, St. Thomas Church

Pack Meeting 7 pm St. Thomas Church

Come out to celebrate the summer advancements of the pack tomorrow night at the church.  The Webelos II den will lead the flag ceremony and our game.  We will have a brief presentation on the Popcorn and nut sale.  Finally, there will be a fun activity to for the boys to finish the night.

Tiger Den Leader Maggie Foley sent this out to her den and I though that it would be a good framework for the evening for all to see. 

Monday, September 25th

• Pack Meeting at St. Thomas Church at 7 PM
• These meetings are designed to last an hour.  The first part of the meeting are announcements given by our Cub Master Mike Carney.  Next, each Den (lead by their Den Leader) will give a Den Report about what they have been working on during the month.  Then, advancements are given out to each scout (scouts are presented with either adventure belt loops, adventure pins, or badges earned for their completed requirements). At the end of the meeting a den will present an activity they have been working on for the rest of the pack.  Tomorrow night the Webelos Den (5th graders) will present an activity for the pack to do.  
• As you can see, there is a time where the boys need to be sitting and paying attention during the during the Pack Meetings.  Scouts are expected to be able to try and sit through announcements, den reports, and advancements.  We sit on chairs in a semi-circle with parents sitting on chairs behind the scouts.  If you feel your child needs to get up, stretch his legs, take a break, or get a drink of water please do not hesitate to tap your child on the shoulder and take a break.  

Dues/ Medical forms Parts A & B/Youth Protection Training(YPT)/ Clearances:

• If you were unable to join us at the regatta last week and pay your dues, please come prepared to do so tomorrow.  We can take payment by cash, check, and the square (there is a small $2.80 convenience fee for this option). We will give you your  appropriate den level scout book. 
• Please come prepared to hand in a Medical form (parts A&B) for your son and yourself or anyone else that might be going on an outing for scouts with your son, including siblings to an event (like Cub-o-Rama).  We need these for all events in the case of an emergency, better to get this out of the way now rather than scramble at the last minute or be prevented from attending an event. I will have these at the meeting tomorrow. Here is the link to print and fill out your own: Cub Scout Medical Form Parts A & B. If you attended Summer camp in 2017 you do not need to resubmit your form, it is good for one year. Submit these forms to Mr. Matt Whitaker, Assistant Cubmaster.
• Here is a link to the PA Dutch Council website about how to upload your clearances and any questions that you might have about this process. Act 15 Clearances    
• Finally here is the link to the PA Dutch Council website that will allow you to take your Youth Protection Training (YPT) and the policies of the BSA. Youth Protection Training. Please save the PDF given at the end of the training and print a copy for yourself and for the records of the pack. This for should be submitted to Mr. Matt Whitaker, Assistant Cubmaster.  If you have already completed this training, it is good for two years, if you have a copy of the PDF please submit it to Mr. Whitaker as well.

Summertime Pack Award:

• If you attended a summer event with Pack 184, Mr. Carney needs to know.  Mr. Carney will have a list of the events with the names of who he saw and is asking you to check and make sure that your name is the list if you were there. 
• The events this summer were: Summer Game night 6/5/17, Barnstormers Scout Night 6/16/17, Summer Camp July 15-20, 2017, and the Overlook Pool Party 8/20/17

Cub-o-Rama 2017:

• Flyer will be available tomorrow evening.  This is an event for every den and for the whole family. 
• When: event will run from Friday, October 20 - Sunday, October 22, 2017. You can choose how long you want to stay, whole weekend, Friday or Saturday camping over, or just Saturday.
• Where: Camp Mack
• Cost: $15, covers camping, patch, meals on Saturday breakfast & lunch.
• What: Loads of scouting fun including shooting BB guns, and bow and arrow for those who are at least 6 years old.

Popcorn/Nut sale sheets:

• I believe that we have one parent that has steeped forward to organize this fundraiser for us. If you were waiting for another person to join to do this now is the time.  More information to follow tomorrow night.
• All sales sheets are due for processing no later than Monday, October 16, by the end of den meetings. 

Time Traveling Spring Camporee May 5-7/ Deadline for sign up is April 3rd!

 Time Traveling Spring Camporee at Long's Park May 5-7 2017

The Harvest District has a spring camporee (Webelos Woods) every year where our two oldest dens are able to have the opportunity to camp with Boy Scouts and see Camp Bashore.  Every three years the Harvest District has a unique STEM based camp in place of Webelos Woods
at Long's Park where the younger dens Lions, Tigers, & Wolves can attend during the day and Bears and Webelos I can sleep over with a Boy Scout troop (and a parent, parent not required). We are hopeful that Troop 99 might be our host troop. If not, the boys in those dens would just attend during the daytime as the younger dens do.

Why am I posting this tonight you might ask?  Well I apologize for the late notice, I just realized that this is right around the corner.  The District roundtable where I get some of the reminders about Harvest District events was cancelled due to the snow storm on March 14th.

So, if you and your son are interested in attending the camporee I will need your payment of $15 per person attending either at the pack meeting tomorrow night or by the following Monday, April 3rd, so that I have time to enter the information on Tentaroo to register the people attending by Friday, April 7th.
 
As always, if you have any question please feel free to contact me at carneym@gmail.com or at 560-6363. I am attaching a link to the Harvest District website that will give you much greater details about the event than I am able to share here. Time Traveling Camporee

Pack Meeting Monday, March 27, 7 PM & Summer Camp deposits due!

Pack Meeting Monday, March 27, 7:00 PM

Theme: Loyal                                  

Led by the Tiger Den

*Be ready for a really fun (top secret) activity organized by the Tiger Den to be held at the conclusion of the meeting!

*Be sure to have any deposits for Summer camp to hand in tonight is the deadline! The cost is $25 per person attending camp. We can accept cash, check, or credit/debit card payments.

*****************Remember to keep selling those Camp Cards!!*******************

Camp Cards Email Tips & Update

Camp Card Weekly Update:

Attached below is the weekly update from Camp Card coordinator Cindy Zeyak. If you need more cards or to turn in money from the ones you have already sold, Cindy's email is czeyak@gmail.com.

Entering the third week of the Sale

Two weeks of the sale have passed.  We still have another six to go.  If you need additional cards please contact your Camp Card Champion, District Executive or the office to get more.  If you have found out that you have too many cards, they can be returned now and other units that may need them can have the opportunity to sell them.  Keep in touch with your boys and their families to see how they are doing.  This is also a good way of keeping your deadlines in front of them and to help avoid surprises, the family who took 20 cards, (value $100), that are not able to account for them, or forgot to tell you they were going on vacation when you have your collection scheduled.  

“A Scout is Thrifty…”

               Another point of the Scout Law that a youth lives and learns while selling camp cards is That a Scout is Thrifty.  He can help earn his way to camp, to raise money to help make his unit more successful, or to support other experiences in this great program.  As we all know life is not a free event and Scouting is no different.

               There is a cost to this great program.  Uniforming, books and every camp out, whether a weekend or a High adventure trek has a cost associated to it.  While parents can and do pay for many of these outings the Scout can learn the value of money and the hard work it takes to earn it if they participate in the process.  It will also help them to appreciate what it takes to succeed.  By having them set themselves a goal it gives them a target and something to shoot for.

               This can also be an education for the parents who may not realize that awards, and unit equipment all need to be purchased.  Everyone’s disposable income is stretched these days, but by participating in unit fundraisers a Scout and his family can have that cost lowered.   

               So remember that yes while they are raising money, the most important thing is that we continue to help a youth grow mentally and emotionally as we prepare them for their future. 

Selling Tips

               Here are some other sales tips to think about.

1)     Appearance.  Wear the uniform.  When selling camp cards your boys are representing the Boy Scouts of America, your council and your unit.  Make sure the uniform is clean and properly worn.  Shirt tucked in etc.  Have your hair combed.  In general be neat and tidy, a Scout is “Clean.”

2)    Be polite.  Not only is a Scout “Courteous,” but there are many examples of how a Scout’s behavior affected a sale.  Not everyone approached will purchase a card.  Make sure the boys know to thank them anyhow.  There are many times Scout will make a sale after the initial ask was declined, to the person declining or to a witness to the ask, because of how the rejection was handled by a courteous and polite Scout.

Reminder: Summer Camp Meeting tomorrow 3/20, 7 pm @ St. Thomas Church

Summer Camp Meeting: Monday, March 20th @ 7PM

On Monday, March 20 at 7 pm, there will be a meeting for all parents and scouts interested in attending summer camp at Camp Mack from July 15 - 20, 2017.  There are many options for camp including day camp, three day camp, and a six day camp. The leadership wants to encourage all scouts to attend one of the camps if it fits into your summer schedule.  We will handout paperwork to be completed as well as take deposits ($25 per person attending) to reserve/secure our place at Camp Mack.  So be sure to bring a pen and your checkbook: make checks payable to Pack 184 (the Square will also be available for Debit/credit users).  If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to your den leader or Cubmaster Carney at carneym@gmail.com or 560-6363.

Hope to see you there!

Camp Mack information

Campership Deadline/Summer Camp meeting

Campership applications due Monday, March 13

These were handed out a the Blue & Gold banquet and are due to the Scout office by March 15th (firm deadline). Cubmaster Carney will collect these and deliver them to the scout office on behalf of the Pack.  PA Dutch council has money to give to scouts to help defray the cost of camp that goes unused each year, let's see if we can acquire some of these funds to help all our scouts attend one of the summer camp options.

Campership Application 

Summer Camp Meeting: Monday, March 20th @ 7PM

On Monday, March 20 at 7 pm, there will be a meeting for all parents and scouts interested in attending summer camp at Camp Mack from July 15 - 20, 2017.  There are many options for camp including day camp, three day camp, and a six day camp. The leadership wants to encourage all scouts to attend one of the camps if it fits into your summer schedule.  We will handout paperwork to be completed as well as take deposits to reserve/secure our place at Camp Mack.  So be sure to bring a pen and your checkbook (the Square will also be available for Debit/credit users).  If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to your den leader or Cubmaster Carney at carneym@gmail.com or 560-6363.

Hope to see you there!

Camp Mack information

Camp Cards

Sale Begins Today(3/1/17)

               Thank you everyone again for choosing to participate in the 2017 Camp Card sale.  I hope that you are as excited about this year’s sale as we are.  During the next few weeks you will receive emails from us highlighting the sale, giving best practice tips and other information that we hope will be helpful to you.

“A Scout is Brave…”

               Why should a youth sell camp cards?  He can help earn his way to camp, to raise money to help make his unit more successful, or to support other experiences in this great program.  All of these are true, but how does this apply to the Scout Law.  There are many ways, but consider this:

               When a Scout participates in a product sale they approach people who in many cases they do not know.  They ask them to support a program that many of those being approached may not be familiar with.  This forces a Scout out of their comfort zones.  It requires them to face the possibility of rejection.  In short it forces them to be brave. 

               Bravery is a quality where someone faces something they are uncomfortable with, and by facing that they learn they can deal with that thing.  One of the bravest things that a 1^st, 5^th or 9^th grader can do is go up to someone they don’t know and ask them to be a part of what they are doing.  The person may say no which helps to teach rejection, or they may say yes.  This forces the youth to grow and helps to prepare them to be an adult. 

               So remember that yes while they are raising money, the most important thing is that we continue to help a youth grow mentally and emotionally as we prepare them for their future. 

Selling Tips

               With the start of the sale two key things to remember.

1. Safety.  While we want all scouts to be successful we want to make sure that they follow safe selling techniques.  Do not have Scouts selling by themselves, there should always be at least two people.  Do door to door sales only during daylight hours.  Use safe pedestrian practices, especially when crossing at busy intersections. Do not enter the home of a stranger.   Do not carry large amounts of money. Provision for safeguarding the money is made in advance.  It is best to have at least one adult accompany youth, but adhere to the no one on one contact rule.
2. Have the sales speech rehearsed.  Have the boys practice.  It will also improve their confidence.  Here is a sample;

Hi, my name is _____ and I’m a Cub/Boy Scout/Venturer with Pack/Troop/Crew # ___.

I’m selling camp cards so I can ______. (go to camp / pay for my Scouting program) The card can be used at local merchants.  I have a goal of $____.  You can help me reach my goal.   You’ll help me won’t you.

New Parent Camp Card Information Sheet
Camp Card Sales Order Form – 2017

Blue and Gold Banquet Saturday 2/25 Details

  

Please arrive at St. Peters Lutheran Church (10 Delp Rd) at 4:30 PM.  Dinner will begin promptly at 5:00PM.  

Scouts should wear their Class A uniforms.

Reminder:  The entertainment is being provided very graciously by scientists from Eurofins/Lancaster Labs. They are donating their time and materials, but will also be accepting donations to support the STEM Lab at George Ross Elementary School in Lancaster City.  Please feel free to support this worthwhile program.  

ALSO:  Lancaster Barnstormers has generously donated some items for us to raffle off, including a gift basket which will be sold by a silent auction.  Proceeds will benefit the pack.  You don't want to miss this chance!  

REMINDER: Blue and Gold Banquet February 25

Please turn in your banquet registration form to your den leader by February 13!  Only $5 per person.  Scouts and children 2&U are FREE.  

Come celebrate our scouts' achievements over this past year and cheer on our Webelos 2 as they cross over into Boy Scouts.  Enjoy a fun and yummy taco dinner and stay to be fascinated by our STEM entertainment courtesy of Lancaster Labs.  

ALSO Please scan through your digital photos and email pictures of any scout activities to Adrian (Nate Gruber's dad)  adrian@izquieta.net. Adrian has generously offered to put together a slideshow of cub scout pictures to entertain us during dinner and we would love to have pictures of every single scout.  Thank you!!

Blue and Gold Banquet February 25

Please turn in your banquet registration form to your den leader by February 13!  Only $5 per person.  Scouts and children 2&U are FREE.  

Come celebrate our scouts' achievements over this past year and cheer on our Webelos 2 as they cross over into Boy Scouts.  Enjoy a fun and yummy taco dinner and stay to be fascinated by our STEM entertainment courtesy of Lancaster Labs.  

ALSO Please scan through your digital photos and email pictures of any scout activities to Adrian (Nate Gruber's dad)  adrian@izquieta.net. Adrian has generously offered to put together a slideshow of cub scout pictures to entertain us during dinner and we would love to have pictures of every single scout.  Thank you!!

January Pack Meeting

January is National Hobby Month!

Come and be a part of the Pack 184 Museum of Hobbies and Collections at our January Pack Meeting by bringing something to show off and display!

You could bring…

·       A baseball, basketball, football, or Pokémon card collection

·       A rock, seashell, car, train, superhero, comic book, or LEGO collection

·       Sports gear you use for your favorite sport

·       Items you use for a family hobby like hiking, fishing, or camping

We will SCOUT around to see how many different things our friends collect with our “Find a Scout Who” board.

Date:  Monday, January 23, 2017

Time:  7:00 PM

@ St. Thomas Episcopal Church