Pack Meeting set for Friday April 22nd

Only 2 More Pack Meetings Until the End of the Year

Join us for the April K-9 Pack Meeting

Once a year Pack 285 invites the City of Alpharetta's K9 Department to Amana Academy. This Pack Meeting is exciting for many reasons.  It presents an opportunity for the scouts and siblings to test their patience, to be quiet and respectful, to clear away food. Attendees learn basic dog safety as well as how these particular animals are used in the community. The final activity is traditionally a parent volunteer wearing the safety suit experiencing a K9 "take down." 

Join us please at 6:30PM in the Amana Academy cafeteria on 4/22 for this exciting event.  We will serve a light snack after the completion of the visit so as not to distract the dog.  Parents may wish to feed their children dinner before attending.

Spring Fling 2016 - The Best Campout Yet!

It's true! The more you practice, the better you get!

Bert Adams Scout Reservation

Spring Fling 2016

What a great weekend Pack 285 had celebrating it's third year together with it's third camp out!  A total of 25 individuals came together to enjoy the Spring weather at Spring Fling, an Atlanta Area Council event hosted at Bert Adams Scout Reservation in Covington.

Using lessons from our passed camping trips, we opted to beat the rush hour traffic on Friday by meeting earlier at Panola Mountain State Park. This park is about 45 minutes West of Bert Adams and roughly an hour from the Alpharetta/Roswell corridor.  Panola is a lovely park with granite outcroppings similar to Stone Mountain as well as a lake and plenty of green meadows.  Our adventure included a ropes-based tree climbing class!

Taught by Brian Lanier and his staff, the scouts and siblings were harnessed in to a seat harness which allowed them to rest as they hand-pulled themselves upwards.  We sent the siblings up first and these 7 year old girls made it look EASY.  As one father who attempted it found out, this was not an easy task.  No one gave up.  It was the ideal activity even for scouts who preferred the swing option to the climb. There was something for everyone.

Mr. Lanier was a great instructor. Our scouts and siblings made it to the very top of the tree where they were able to sit on the branch to which their rope was attached.

The photo below gives some scale to exactly how high the kids climbed.  Pretty exciting!

Afterwards the families had free time at Panola to explore.  Then it was off to Bert Adams!  We arrived when the gates opened at 5PM with plenty of time to get the fire started.

The Bear Den (3rd Graders) cooked our Friday Night dinner and everyone was hungry.  The menu was based on a survey we did of families to ensure that our dining options not only were allergy and dietary restriction-safe but also something everyone would enjoy.  On Friday night we had chicken in Italian dressing marinade cooked over the fire in tin foil packets along with steamed broccoli also in tin foil packets plus a raw veggies and fruit tray and lots of delicious rice.  Dessert was the famous - and much in demand - dirt cake!

While the Bear Den cooked, others took this opportunity to set up their sleeping quarters.  Located in the Adventure Camp, each canvas tent is raised with a wooden floor and frame. The tents are complete with four wooden bed frames and cot mattresses plus an electrical outlet. Families accessorize their tent with whatever items they need.

Because everyone had exhausted themselves at tree climbing, they were more than content to join other scouting families at the group viewing of Toy Story at Love Dining Hall.  This provided ample opportunity for the Webelos Den to start the biscuits for the following morning. Because each camping pod has a communal cooking station and picnic tables, it was easy to supplement campfire cooking with small appliances.

Yes, we brought a toaster and a coffeepot plus crockpots, rice cookers, and electric skillets.  Why? because Saturday was forecasted to have winds in excess of 21mph.  There was a Burn Warning because high winds can spread campfires out of control quickly.  As a result we worried that there wouldn't be a campfire allowed on Saturday.  Scouts are always prepared with a Plan B!

Saturday the Webelos were up in the cold of the morning to cook eggs and sausage, grits and of course the overnight biscuits.

Some of us slept in to the very last possible moment of course!

A glorious Saturday warmed up and the scouts and siblings had an amazing time together.  There were activities that met everyone's needs from chess to catapult building to fishing and nature hikes to pick-up games of football and soccer. Archery, BB guns, sling shots, rock wall climbing and more were available to all participants.

Lunch was self-serve given that everyone was scattered around the campus. With hot dogs kept warm in a crockpot, turkey and cheese for grilled sandwiches, chips, cookies and veggie and fruit trays, no one went hungry.  The siblings even learned to make sun tea!  After breakfast they set the tea out to warm and by lunch it was ready!!

The best part of the trip was the dinner and dessert options made by our Wolf Den (2nd Grade). Walking Tacos are tacos served in a single sized Doritos bag with all the fixings.  In addition the scouts made chicken fried rice using the two left over chicken breasts from Friday's dinner and the leftover rice as well as some peppers and onions from the veggie tray. Homemade mac and cheese rounded out the warm foods! Fruit and raw veggies made another appearance and as always were quickly eaten. This group loves its raw food!

The desserts included oranges cored out and stuffed with raw brownie batter then covered in foil and cooked in the campfire and "campfire cones" which were sugar cones stuffed with candies and marshmallows then wrapped in foil and melted over the fire.  Delicious was an understatement!

Just as we were ready to burst from eating, it was time to hike to the Council Fire and enjoy the lovely night air.  It's a beautiful location.  You can just see the roaring council fire as we cross the bridge!

In the morning, a self-serve breakfast of toast, bagels, cereal and Poptarts were served along with fruit. Coffee, juice and hot chocolate fortified campers for the final push to backup and head out.

The very best part of Pack 285 - besides of course that we love good food - is that we like each other.  The boys like one another.  The siblings enjoy each other.  The parents are friends.  We welcome you to come out and meet our small pack.  There is room here for YOU!

Spring Fling 2016 is just a Week Away!

Things are Heating Up!

Here it is Spring Fling time once again and Pack 285 is headed for a campout!!

With the start of nicer weather, everyone is eager to explore the Great Outdoors and Pack 285 is no exception.  With every passing year, our little Pack stretches and grows.  Back in October we participated in our first-ever Spooky Ree campout at Bert Adams Scout Reservation.  This event was a great learning opportunity for the adult participants and a fun weekend for the scouts. Based on feedback from that event, we were eager to try out the Spring Fling campout which also at Bert Adams.

This camping trip offers new challenges to both the leadership, the parents and the scouts. For the first time ever we are providing and cooking our own meals.  Last summer a neighboring Boy Scout troop helped us celebrate our first campout by providing us with meals and expert chefs. In October we purchased meals from the Bert Adams dining hall. The purchase option made sense as we had no idea what cooking facilities would be available in our campsite. Now, however, armed with prior knowledge and with several dens who have cooking experience, Pack 285 is ready to prove themselves at meal time.

All of the activities are pretty much the same as in October with BB guns, archery, slingshots, a wildlife demonstration, campfire activities and an evening nature hike. What proves to be different is that our den leaders have been encouraged to use this time to complete any last minute adventures, electives or tasks necessary for scouts to make their rank. I am excited to have both the Bear and Webelos Den Leaders in attendance. Wolf families are also encouraged to use this time individually or as a den to complete activities with a parent.

Even more exciting is our visit to Panola Mountain State Park for a Tree Top Excursion! Using a harness system scouts will learn to safely and respectfully climb trees. Early arrival at the park will allow for families to have a picnic lunch and explore! This is an exciting opportunity for everyone - spectators and scouts!

Thank you to everyone who is joining us on this trip!

Webelos Overnight Summer Camp is taking Shape

Rising Fourth and Fifth Graders are Invited to Attend a Webelos Only Overnight Summer Camp Experience

Pack 285 congratulates it's Bear and Webelos 1 Dens on the progress made this year!

With the rank advancement of these scouts in May, they will be officially either a Webelos 1 or Webelos 2 scouts. Dens at this rank work hard to achieve more proficiency in their outdoor skills as well as a greater level of comfort with camping.

To assist these dens in maximizing their learning opportunities, this year Pack 285 is encouraging rising Webelos 1 and 2 Dens to attend the 2016 Summer Overnight Residential Camp.  This camp is located at Bert Adams Scout Reservation, the same location as the Spooky Ree and Spring Fling camp-outs.

Let's Start a Conversation!

Our goal is to start the conversation with you and your scout about attending camp. Because this is not a "drop-off" camp, attendance will require the participation of one or more adults. If we can get a general understanding of family interest, it will be easier to predict the number of adult volunteers required.

Youth Protection Ratios:

1 Scout :   1 Parent 

2-8 Scouts :   2 Leaders 

9-12 Scouts :   3 Leaders 

More than 12:   4:1 Ratio 

When: July 11-16th is Webelos only (no siblings or younger scouts). 

Cost: $280/Webelos1, $290/Webelos2 and $100/adult 

Please read the description of the program below and let Pack 285 know if you have an interest in your scout attending.  An informational call will be held with interested parents to discuss further.
Description of Webelos-Only Camp Experience:

The goal of this week is to prepare your Scouts for their transition into Boy Scouting by closing any skill gaps that might exist as well as expanding their comfort level with camping. Your scout will accomplish many of his required Adventures for rank advancement while at camp. This frees up time during the school for less intensive scouting activities as well as more time for athletics, academics and family.

Accommodations are two man canvas-side tents with cots. No electricity is available at these sites. If you have a medical need for electricity, power packs can be rented.

Together your campers will register online in April for classes that meet their combined interests. Think of this as similar to registering for college courses!  This is a fun opportunity for the boys to collaborate and determine a workable group schedule.

You may subdivide your campers into as many small groups as you have adult volunteers and in this way meet multiple interests for your campers.  For example, Group A might consist of three scouts and an adult who are interested in taking a Wilderness First Aid class while Group B might consist of three scouts and an adult who are interested in taking a First Time Zip Line Course. These courses are divided into Webelos Tracks.

Besides these group courses, our campers will have two other types of events to schedule: free time and pack/den activities such as bouldering or mountain biking. These are also selected online as a group in April. Free time activities can include: traditional RR at the campsite, free swim and aquatic activities, mega slip and slide, human foosball, and slacklining among others.

Webelos 1 will have four days to schedule into Webelos Tracks in the various Program Areas.   
Webelos 2 will have two days to schedule into Webelos Tracks with the other two days being for the NEW! Outback Adventure Program. 
 
Webelos Week will definitely prepare your Webelos for his Boy Scout Summer Camp experiences and will challenge them with many fun learning experiences.   On Friday afternoon, a camp wide Scout competition will be held just for the Webelos Week attendees.  Packs may enter a group of Scouts to compete in this whirlwind group of activities to the finish that includes many Scouting skills that they will have learned this week at Camp.  Further details will be coordinated with the Adults while at Camp.

What's New this Year for Incoming Webelos 2?

The Atlanta Area Council has listened to feedback from Webelos parents. The result was the creation of an Outback Adventure Program just for entering Fifth Graders.

The Outback Adventure program has been designed to give second year Webelos Scouts the   greatest opportunity to learn basic Boy Scouting skills and stay excited about Scouting.  This     program requires some independence and maturity.  Scouts are divided into Patrols and taught the Patrol Method. The Patrol Method is the basis for Boy Scouting where young men are divided less by age and grade than by accomplishments.

The Outback Adventure includes the following elements:

• Shakedown– Scouts and leaders will meet on the first night of camp before campfire for a review of needed equipment, schedule, and leadership elements.  Rules and policies will also be reviewed at this time and an introduction of the instructors.  
• Canoeing- Scouts will canoe across Bert Adams Lake from Camp Gorman to Camp Jamison as their first activity.  In order to participate in the canoeing, Scouts must have passed the BSA swim test; a hike to Camp Jamison will be conducted for those that cannot canoe.  Scouts return to Camp Gorman on the second morning of camp by canoe.  
• Outdoor Skills– The first full day of program (Monday or Thursday, depending on session) will be spent in Camp Jamison learning basic outdoor skills with an Australian Outback theme.  These activities will include: 
• The Patrol Method through Team Building Games 
• Knot Tying 
• Fire-building 
• Survival Skills 
• Outdoor cooking (Scouts will prepare a breakfast, lunch, and dinner while in Camp Jamison) 
• Tent care and set-up 
• Wood Yard  
• Orienteering 
• Leave No Trace etiquette 
• Campfire - A special campfire program is held at night in Camp Jamison    
• Rappelling– After returning to Camp Gorman on the second day of program (Tuesday or Friday), participants will complete a 30’ rappel  
• Free Swim–The Outback Adventure ends with a free swim   

Adult Chaperons of Outback Adventure Participants: Special Note!!

Every Pack that has a Scout in the Outback Adventure program is required to register at least 1 adult to support. This means that one of our volunteer adults will be specifically assigned to Webelos 2 scouts.  This adult will spend the first day at camp in special training to be able to assist their scouts in completing the program.



Pinewood Derby was a RACE TO EXCELLENCE

Second Annual Derby Nets Excitement for All Ages

Once again Pack 285 felt the need for speed!  Contestants competed with one another as well as against the clock to achieve record speeds.

Amana Academy hosted the 2nd Annual Pack 285 Pinewood Derby this past weekend. Each year our cars get better looking as well as more efficient on the track. This year even the sibling cars sported a good deal more flair. Reports from the track this year included that scouts did a better job attaching wheels (Who can forget last year and the Flying Wheels of Death?!) and weighing their cars for faster speeds on the gravity track.

Awards were given out for a wide variety of design categories as well as at the den and pack levels.

Thank you to Mr. Jaleel, Executive Director, Amana Academy for judging this year's competition. Thank you also to the teachers and staff of Amana Academy who honored the final wishes of a recently passed colleague by making a financial donation to Pack 285 in her memory.

One Tent Left!

There's an extra tent just perfect for YOUR FAMILY

One family's unexpected cancellation can be your family's great weekend!

We had an unexpected family cancellation for Spring Fling 2016 and now find ourselves with an extra tent.  This could be YOUR LUCKY DAY!

It's not too late to join us for this fun adventure.

These are the amazing tents that we will be using and look how convenient unloading is!! The center shelter has ceiling fans and lots of electrical outlets. It's a great location for cooking and relaxing.

 

In this photo, besides seeing the charming faces of Zack and his father, you can see into the tents themselves.  Four bedframes with cot mattresses and plenty of room for belongings. There are two electrical outlets in the back, center of the tent.

Want more comfort? Bring an air mattress, sleeping bag pad or extra cushy sleeping bags. 

Afraid it might be too hot? Use the outlet to power a fan!

Do you use a cPAP machine? Not a problem.  Roger used his in October easily.

The bathrooms are private. Each individual bathroom has a locking door with it's own toilet, sink and hot water shower.  There are benches and hooks in each private bathroom on which to place your belongings.  You can apply makeup and blow dry your hair.  It's convenient and comfortable.

This year Pack 285 will be cooking it's own food and it's going to be both fun and delicious. Thank you in advance to Lyndon's mother, owner of Dinners by Adrienna, who will be helping with the meal planning. If you haven't tried Adrienna's meals, you are missing out. 

Please let email amanacubscoutpack285@gmail.com know as soon as possible if your family is interested in this tent.

It's going to be a GREAT weekend.

Religious Emblems to be Awarded

A Scout is Reverent

Pack 285 is preparing to honor those cub scouts which have completed their specific Religious Emblem Program in May.  We are happy to recognize any scout in the last two years who has achieved this award. 

Please let the Committee know if:

1.) Your scout has completed the program, has his medal and would like to be recognized.

2.) Your scout has completed the program, a medal has been applied for but has not yet been received, and you would like him to be recognized.

3.) Your scout is undertaking the program now and you are scheduled to finish by the end of April.

Are you interested in starting the program with your scout? 

A list of the faiths which participate can be found here.

For the most part these programs can be done individually and your family turns in the necessary completion documents to the contact provided online along with any fees for the cost of medal/emblem. You may opt to have the emblem presented at your congregation as well as being recognized in May at our final pack meeting.

We look forward to acknowledging the hard work of our scouts who have completed this program.