Jump on IT!

Scouting for Food and Neighborhood Blitz

Join us on February 27th to pass out Scouting for Food bags in local neighborhoods as well as to sell the last of our remaining popcorn inventory!!

One week every year Cub Scouts are dedicated nationwide to the collection of non-perishable food and hygiene items for their local community food banks.  Pack 285 is entering its third year of participation in this worthwhile project.

Scouting for Food is hosted this year by Kristin Kanaan, a Wolf Den parent volunteer.

Each year families receive approximately 25 plastic grocery bags which are pre-printed with instructions on how to make a food donation.  Scouts then take their bags and distribute them to neighbors.  Residents have several days to fill the bags and the scout returns to collect the bags on or before March 3rd.

To make this process more effective and friendly, families are encouraged to pair up and let the boys go as teams through neighborhoods. This year we encourage families to visit their own neighborhoods but we will also offer three BLITZ opportunities.  These are ideal for families in apartment complexes, outside of neighborhoods, or in small communities with low participation. We will host a blitz in Milton, Alpharetta and Roswell.  Stay tuned for more information.

In addition to distributing bags for food collection during the blitz, scouts will be selling off the remaining popcorn inventory or accepting cash donations which allow us to convert the popcorn to donations for either the Food Bank, area shelters or the police/fire stations nearby.  Our goal is to sell or collect $900 from popcorn sales in one day as well as to spread word about the Scouting for Food collection.

In addition we will again be collecting food through bins in the lobby at Amana Academy.  We encourage parents to consider making donation boxes to place in their work locations or at their house of worship.  Food collected during this drive is especially important in North Fulton where NFCC Food Bank donations drop-off after the winter holidays.

All food collections and popcorn donations must be turned in by March 3rd at the designated drop-off location (Amana Academy parking lot) during the specified times.

 

Crossover and Blue and Gold HIke

Celebration Time!

Happy birthday to the Boy Scouts of America and congratulations to our Webelos 2 for their crossover from Cub Scouts.

Pack 285 is excited to celebrate the upcoming crossover of our first Webelos 2 den from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting. These fifth graders started with us way back in third grade. Now they are heading off to new adventures as Boy Scouts.

Come join Pack 285 on Saturday, Feb 13th at 2:00PM at the Roswell Mill Park in historic downtown Roswell to witness this achievement. We will be hosting representatives of their select Boy Scout troops who will be on hand to re-scarf our Webelos into their new colors. Cake and refreshments will be served afterwards.

Meet us on the City Park side at the start of the covered bridge. The address is 95 Mill View Avenue, Roswell, GA 30075 and you will see several red brick buildings to indicate that you are in the right parking lot.

If  you see these buildings, then you are on the correct side of the bridge.

Webelos 2 should contact their den leader, Cynthia Khan, regarding where they should meet, what to bring and how to dress for this special occasion.

After the crossover concludes and refreshments have been served, a Blue and Gold Hike will held on the National Park side. This is a lovely park with a terrific waterfall to view.  Den leaders have been encouraged to come early and enjoy the park with their scouts.

Please don't leave without collecting your Pinewood Derby kit.  The race will be held on Saturday, March 19th.  Get a  jump start on your car design by joining us for the February Pack Meeting.

Snowpalooza!

We plowed through Snowpalooza 2016

Celebrating three years of frosty fun!

This year Pack 285 took an new approach to an old favorite: Snowpalooza.  In the past our scouts have built catapults to launch snowballs, made their own snow using basic chemistry and enjoyed themed snacks. This year we learned about being prepared for winter weather through a series of educational games. We also enjoyed a service project, snowball fight and of course themed snacks.  

(Some things are just a staple! Themed snacks rule!!)

We started with a game which reinforced the meaning of COLD: 

C - Keep it Clean

O - Avoid Overheating

L - Wear Loose Layers

D - Keep Dry

Scouts competed to see who could put on their layers quickest!

Kain - representing our Bear Den - was the winner!!!

Then we learned about sleeping bag safety and had a sack race of a different kind.

The object was to scoot your sleeping bag to the end without standing, crawling, etc.  

Only scooting was allowed.  

The winner actually flipped over accidentally back at the start line. He couldn't figure out how to get back on his belly and ended up scooting to victory on his back. He couldn't really tell where he was going as his view was of the ceiling.  It was hilarious. After taking the win, Andrew was unzipped by his fellow Bear scouts.

Scouts also learned about the rule of "Tell Someone" where anytime - in any weather - when you go out into nature, you must tell someone and leave instructions as to where you are going, how long you plan to be out, and who all is in your party. This message was reinforced when a 12 scouts (gummy bears) went out into the snow (shaving cream) and didn't come back.

Luckily the scouts told this Webelos and this Bear. They were sent in to locate and rescue the missing scouts.  

Using one gloved hand, the scouts raced to see who could rescue the most gummy bears in a minute.  

The Webelos Den won! Good job, Aziz!

For a little active fun, we engaged in a snowball fight using new rolled-up white athletic socks. Siblings are always welcome to play in Pack 285!  The scouts were divided into four equal teams. The first round was a traditional snowball fight but the second round was a dodgeball game.  The parents were BEGGING for turns but we never were allowed to play.  

Ultimately the 195 pairs of new, clean white athletic socks were donated to Crossroads Atlanta for distribution to their clients.  Our scouts connected clean, dry layered footwear with the needs of the homeless in our community.  A scout is HELPFUL.

Snowpaloosa is this FRIDAY!

Third Annual Snowpaloosa!!

January Pack Meeting - Friday, 1/8 @ 6:30PM - Amana Academy

It's snowing inside Amana Academy on January 8th!  

We are doubling the fun this year by teaming up with Crossroads Atlanta and combining the Snowpaloosa fun with a great winter service project.  What a wonderful way to start the New Year!

If your family wishes to participate in the BIGGEST INDOOR SNOWBALL GAME EVER then please bring one large package of new white men's athletic socks for each team player or share within your family.  The more socks you bring, the more fun you will have...guaranteed!  

These socks will be used in the BIGGEST INDOOR SNOWBALL GAME EVER and then donated to Crossroads Atlanta for use by their patrons.  

Can't imagine how that would work?  Well come out to the pack meeting and let us show you.

There will also be SNOWBALL TREATS and ICE water!!  Come on you know you want to have some fun!