Scouting Day at the Braves!

We love a parade!

Apparently somewhere close to 3000 cub scouts attended Scouting Day at the Braves and took to the field as part of the annual parade.  As our first optional activity, Pack 285 was well represented.  Thank you to Steve Jackson, Committee Chair, for stepping up and pre-arranging tickets for the pack.

Thank you also to our well behaved scouts who made us proud both during the parade and afterwards.

The weather was amazing and our seats were in partial shade.  It made for a very comfortable game.  For a few of our scouts this was the first major league ball game!

As always Pack 285 welcomes siblings to attend age-appropriate outings. Look at these smiles and you will see that we all had a wonderful time. Thank you to everyone for coming out and showing your CUB SCOUT SPIRIT!  We hope to see you at another optional event this year.

OA Trailblazer Day Camp - TWO DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER (9/24)

Pack 285 is excited to have many optional activities planned for this year.  Offered on a variety of weekends, there is sure to be one or more of these activities which work around your family's busy lives. Whether you attend with others from the pack or on your own each activity will satisfy one or more achievements and electives for your scout.

OA Trailblazer Adventure Day Camp - October 4th 

The next optional activity is the Trailblazer Adventure Camp hosted by the Order of the Arrow (OA).  While OA members camp overnight, other cub scouts can attend as part of a day camp experience.

Scouts and their siblings are invited to participate in a day of BB guns, archery, monkey bridges, and more. The OA is renown for its education and preservation of Native American history and traditions.  At Trailblazer you will have a chance to watch dance ring demonstrations and observe other Native practices in action.  Participants will also learn how to cast a fishing rod which just happens to be an elective for Wolf Scouts! Come out and learn how retriever dogs are trained to perform their important roles in the hunt. There will be skits and  - if your family stays late enough - a campfire event on Saturday night.

The cost is $15 per scout and sibling plus $4 for lunch.  You are welcome to bring your own picnic instead. Parents are free.  Click here to register.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS 9/24.

Racing to the Finish!

The year may be only just be kicking off but the boys are already racing to the finish!

At the September Pack Meeting we introduced the Raingutter Regatta, an inexpensive but high-thrill event suitable for all cub scouts.  Unlike the Pinewood Derby which requires more advanced design and fabrication skills, the Raingutter Regatta features boats which assemble easily and can be customized by even the youngest scouts.  As we learned on the course, the key to victory isn't necessarily the boat design but the ability to blow into the shifting sail.  The course is long!  So boys need a clear a path to race along side the boats, leaning over and blowing as they go.

As you can see from these photos, the scouts were able to get very close to the sails but their hands were not allowed to touch the boat or the course.

It was tricky to keep your hands away from the boats and to not lean too much on the soft sides of the inflatable track.  However it didn't take long for everyone to master the necessary skills.

We also learned a great deal about customizing one's boat.  Washable markers?  Not the best choice when you are playing in water.  Our boats ranged from tricked out with Lego figures inside to colorful sticker designs to shaved pontoons.

Amana Academy's own Exective Director, Mr. Jaleel, paid an unexpected surprise to the competition!  We were all thrilled to have Mr. Jaleel on hand as a special guest!  The Raingutter Regatta was a great example of STEM education at work.

Least anyone be forgotten even our younger siblings were allowed to enter boats in the competition.  Next year we simply MUST have a heat for the ladies.

But the Pack Meeting wasn't just about the Raingutter Regatta! Our dens also created the den flags.  Thank you to Cubmaster, Jason Blalock, for building the flag poles for all four dens.  This is an exciting element to add to our monthly meetings.

No pack meeting is complete however without a skit!  This time the entertainment was brought to us by the Bear Den.  We also celebrated the rare opportunity to award FOUNDERS patches to all the scouts who have joined thus far.  These very special patches indicate that our scouts were the first to form Pack 285.  If you didn't receive a patch, we have some on order and will distribute them at the next pack meeting.  Thank you for your patience.  In closing we must THANK ALL OF YOU for supplying the varied and delicious dishes that made up our potluck dinner.  At the heart of it all, our pack meetings are about community and family.

The Bears are Just Floating Along!

Pack 285's Bear Den is off to roaring good start!

Den Leader, Melissa Blalock and Assistant Leader, Cyndi Said, kicked off the year with an eventful first meeting using the Middle School Club Shop at Amana Academy!  This space is a ideal for using power and hand tools, assembling models and generally making messes.  

Messes?  Yes. Messes!  

Between snack time and a fun toilet paper "ice breaker" and the crafting of Raingutter Regatta boats, a little mess was made.  Yes when you sand wood, spray paint and decorate something is bound to be messy. Being Bears, of course, the scouts cleaned it all up like pros!

The Bear Den also practiced a skit for Friday's Pack Meeting!  The boys were SO busy and had the best time!!!  Lastly, the Bear Den would like to give a "shout out" to Jaden Blalock (Wolf scout) who was was right there to help in any way needed.  

Wolf Den leaps into a New Year!

Where have all the wolves gone?

On the first cool day of the season, the table is empty.  Clipboards are laying idle.  Wolf handbooks are resting unattended.  Where in the world is that Wolf Den?

Oh here they come!  After working so hard on everything from Bobcat Review to Touch-a-Truck electives to Georgia Pine Tree Identification as part of the State's Junior Ranger Program, the boys needed to unleash some energy.  What better way can their be then a den hike through the park?

Thank you to Fred Johnson and Jessica Parent for staying and assisting.  These parents led pine tree identification small groups and even hiked with the den.  Mr. Johnson was invaluable for his loan of a pencil sharpener!  We will need to add one to the supply bag.

HOMEWORK -

* Complete your sailboat for the Raingutter Regatta on Friday Night!

* Sign up for the Friday night potluck!  We still need a few items.

* Remember to bring your handbook and leather bead strip to the Friday meeting.

* Sell some popcorn! Then bring your sales form and any monies to the Friday meeting.

* If you are attending Scout Day with the Braves, please bring your ticket payment to the Friday meeting.

Raingutter Regatta and Pack Meeting

At all ages and ranks in the Cub Scout program, our young men assemble models of increasing difficulty. The experience of assembling and decorating models helps to improve fine motor skills, requires the ability to read and follow directions, some knowledge of adhesives and paints including the safe application of such, and an appreciation for the time, patience and skill required to finish the project.

This year we will begin our model assemblies with something everyone can enjoy: wind-powered sail boats! Raced in an inflatable "raingutter" track, these boats are powered by the boys own breath.  (We plan to have breath mints on hand!)  The boys literally BLOW the boats to victory!

In addition to our regatta race, families will enjoy a potluck dinner.  Please signup to bring an item from our list as well as to RSVP for the headcount.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Friday, September 19th at 6:00PM.

Collections and Collecting

Our Wolf Den will be hosting its first meeting this Sunday with the completion of Achievement 6 - Collections. 

I wonder what each wolf has been collecting?  A long summer just ended and it's the perfect time to show off those seashells, rocks, baseball cards or action figures that were carefully assembled and saved. Whether displayed in a jar, an egg carton or a fancy plastic box, each collection tells us a little bit about the Scout and his interests.  This activity makes a great ice-breaker for returning scouts and a neat way to introduce new den members.

Wolf families please don't forget your collection on Sunday!  

But the fun doesn't stop there.... Our wolves will also be visiting the Roswell Recycling Center on 10/10 to complete Achievement 7C.   Each scout must bring with him at least FIVE DIFFERENT RECYCLABLE ITEMS inside of a plastic bag.  These items form the basis of the recycling experience.  We watch them be processed right in front of our very eyes!

Wolf families please start collecting materials for your visit now. 

Take Offs underway!

This August our Pack participated in the City of Alpharetta's TOUCH A TRUCK event.  There was so much to see and experience at this event and a valiant effort was made by each family to touch it all.  We even witnessed a medical helicopter take-off right next to our shady snack spot. 

It's good to remember that not only were helicopters taking off but so was our new year of scouting!  Just this week we will see the launch of THREE DENS: the Tiger Den, the Bear Den and the Wolf Den.  

WATCH OUT as we TAKE OFF!  

Tigers are READY TO ROAR!

Pack 285 is excited to launch a new year of den meetings with its youngest and most TI-RIFFIC scouts.

Join us directly after school at Amana Academy on Thursday 9/11 for our first Tiger Den Meeting.  Parents please plan to come a few minutes early to turn in any checks or youth and adult applications.

Remember to notify your scout's classroom teacher that he will be part of the Cub Scout program on Thursday.  Your teacher will send your scout to the Afterschool Program where he will be dismissed to the den leader along with the rest of the scouts.  If you have another child at the school, you may either request that they be sent through carpool as normal or that they be sent along with the walkers.  Please be sure that you understand where the walkers are picked up if you opt for this choice.  To avoid misunderstandings please contact both your scout's (and siblings) teacher as well as Ms. Davis at the front desk (KDavis@amanaacademy.org).

EACH MEETING requires that one parent serve as the Assistant Den Leader and assist in providing "two deep" leadership as a safeguard for all of our children.  The Assistant Den Leader is also responsible for bringing a non-peanut snack and juice to the meeting.  If no assistant signs up, the meeting will be cancelled per scouting regulations.

To select YOUR PREFERRED date, please visit our signup genius:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/5080949A5AB2FA64-tiger 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Welcome Back to School!

Meet Melissa Blalock!  This smile says it all.  Melissa is an extraordinary resource for Pack 285 and is proud to be a Cub Scout Mom.  Last year Melissa, who is a CPA, served as our pack treasurer.  Her son has achieved his Tiger and is now in the Wolf den.  All this excitement led Melissa to test her wings and take on a new role within the Pack.

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW BEAR LEADER!

Yes Melissa  - who will continue in the role of treasurer - is also now our Bear Den Leader!  She was fortunate enough to cohost the Bear Den meetings last year and feels very confident in assuming the reins. An experienced Sunday School teacher and home school parent of three, Melissa will bring energy and joy to our 3rd Graders.

Welcome to the Bear Den!

High Drama!

Summer camp wasn't just about the bb guns, archery or even being doused with water by a fire truck! Our scouts learned songs and skits, made costumes, explored geology, and build a race care display rack.