April 2024 Newsletter

First of all – CONGRATULATIONS AWESOME SCOUTS on the food drive! Our scouts collected a lot of food to be donated to Hopelink. Thanks again to both Sree and Bhavika for organizing us.

In this issue:

  1. April Pack Meeting – Pinewood Derby
  2. April Service Outings
  3. April Baseball Game Opportunity
  4. Friends Of Scouting Fundraiser
  5. Upcoming Camping Opportunities – Signup for May camping is open
  6. A Look Ahead
  7. Reminder: Rank Requirements
  8. Reminder: Help Needed for our Pack

  1. April Pack Meeting: Pinewood Derby

Wednesday, April 17, 6:30pm, Ben Rush Elementary Commons

This is one of our favorite pack meetings. 

It takes a lot of hands to make it run smoothly (checking in cars, staffing a spare parts table, getting cars lined up to race). 

We will need all parents on deck to help out. Please be prepared to participate – assignments will be given out as families arrive. Thanks in advance for helping out!

This is also a great event to invite your friends to. Pack has the supplies for them to build a Lego car that they can race.

Scouts should have received their pinewood derby cars by now (if you didn’t get a car, you may be able to work with your den leader. Or, pick one up from the Scout shop). The Pinewood Derby is on April 17th and cars must be ready! We will have a full schedule of the meeting coming out soon.

We will be awarding fastest, silliest/creative/fun, and maybe most realistic and/or “turtle” (slowest) awards so make sure to use your creativity when designing your car. 

Here is a great site that explains the rules and gives info and tips on how to make your pinewood derby car. It has everything you need to know! Pinewood Derby (scoutshop.org) On the night of, we will have official scales to weigh your car.

  • April Service Outings – April 20

      Earth Day is in April, and we usually try to plan our service project accordingly. This year we have 15 slots reserved for our April Earth Day service project with Green Kirkland. The clean up event is at Crestwoods Park Saturday April 20th, 10am.

NOTE: The Tiger Den is participating in a separate clean up event at Juanita beach that day. We tried to merge the events together, but most events only take up to 20 people. Because our pack is large, we decided to offer two events this year. Thanks, Sommer, for organizing an event for your den!

Please remember – there are LOTS of events offered by our local council. Everyone should be receiving emails about these events from Chief Seattle, BSA called “Adventure Trail.” (The last one came out March 15 – if you didn’t get it, check your junk folder.) There are always lots of great events going on, and you are welcome to join any of them!

  • BSA “Friends of Scouting” Campaign
    Consider Donating to Scouting

Did you know that almost all of our dues go to Scouts BSA national? Of the dues each scout pays, only $20 goes to our local council (and none to the pack*). However, our local council does so much!

Your donations to the Friends of Scouting campaign:

• Keeps camp affordable

• Maintains camp properties

• Provides camp scholarships for youth needing assistance

• Makes Scouting possible for over 1,200 underserved youth

• Ensures trained and dedicated professional staff in each community

Our council relies on donations from community members to provide services to our scouting community. You are a part of this community! Please consider making a donation to the Friends of Scouting campaign using this link: Chief Seattle Council, Boy Scouts of America (funraise.org). The goal for our pack is $2160. If we meet it, we will get free pinewood derby cars! At last count, our pack has raised $800.

            *How is the pack funded, you ask? We rely solely on the matching corporate donations of volunteers. When our leaders and occasional volunteers log their hours, we are able to receive matching donations from many employers. How wonderful!

  • Upcoming Camping Opportunities

Pack Spring Family Camp (Family Tent Camping) 

Friday-Sunday, May 10-12

Skykomish Ball Park Campground – Note – NEW location this year! 

Our Spring Family Camp is at Skykomish Ball Park/Campground. Parks (skykomishwa.gov) 

The Spring Family camp is a great opportunity to camp as a family and finish those important outdoor elements that the Scouts need to earn their badges. This is a new facility, so I haven’t yet explored if there is hiking, but for sure we will be doing field games, a group dinner and a campfire program that will be put on by the Scouts, and even a little relaxation!  Bring the whole family!  Saturday day trippers welcome, as well as one or two night camping.

Because there is no day-use parking at this facility, we are limited to 48 people/16 cars maximum. (You are still welcome to come for the day – we just need to include that in our overall count.) However, if the sign up is full, please feel free to book your own camping site. There are plenty of more sites available at the facility, and they are all nearby each other. Skykomish Campground – Skykomish, United States of America – Best Price Guarantee (cloudbeds.com). If you do book your own site, please still use the Sign Up Genius and indicate that you have, so that we can know to expect you.

We have never been to this facility before, and I ask for everyone’s patience and flexibility. It looks like a great place to camp! But, maybe it won’t be as we expect it. Please feel free to share constructive criticism (and compliments) with me after the weekend, so we can decide if we’d like to camp here again in the future.

This will be the last year I am able to coordinate the spring camping. Next year my scout will have crossed over. I am looking for a co-coordinator (or two) who is willing to work together with me this year to learn the ropes and be our coordinator for next year. Please reply to this email if you would consider this.

Cub Scout Day Camp 

July 16-19, Twilight Session (2:45pm-8:30pm) 
July 15-18, Daytime Session (8:30am-2:15pm) 

Hans Jensen Youth Campground, Lake Sammamish State Park, Issaquah, WA 

Registration now open!

Embark on an unforgettable aquatic adventure by joining Cub Scout Day Camp’s “Cubs Under The Sea” extravaganza! Dive into a sea of excitement with a variety of engaging activities, including thrilling range sports, creative crafts, mouthwatering cooking adventures, and so much more. At Cub Scout Day Camp, young scouts will not only have a blast but also develop valuable skills, make new friends, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Join us as we navigate the depths of fun and discovery—where every scout becomes a sea-worthy explorer! Don’t miss the chance to be a part of the most incredible undersea adventure this summer. Sign up now and let the waves of excitement begin! 

Cub Scout Day Camp at Sammamish – Chief Seattle Council (seattlebsa.org)

Our pack has typically attended the twilight session of day camp, but registration is on your own, so you can choose what works for your schedule. It used to be that a parent must chaperone, but now it is simply requested that we have at least one adult per four youth. If you register – please let me know if you can or cannot attend with your scout (or which of the days you can help). This will enable us to try to meet this requirement for those scouts whose parents are unable to attend.

Cub Scout Residence Camp 
Thursday, August 8-Sunday, August 11
Camp Edwards, Snohomish, WA  

TIME TO REGISTER NOW! CAMP FILLS QUICKLY!

Camp Excalibur

Cub Resident Camp at Camp Edward – Chief Seattle Council (seattlebsa.org)   

Get in on all the fun at Cub Resident Camp! Cub Scouts participate in activities such as archery, BB guns, nature hikes, crafts, swimming, and boating. Webelos earn activity pins, and Wolf and Bear Cubs can complete advancement requirements. Packs also compete in the exciting relay race Run for Chief Joe. The climbing wall is a big hit!  Don’t miss out, get your pack signed up for this summer! Tigers welcome too!

A parent or guardian is required to attend with their scout. Our cubmaster, Tomás has already signed up and is looking forward to leading our pack at the camp!

Please sign up directly with council: Cub Resident Camp at Camp Edward – Chief Seattle Council (seattlebsa.org)

Later this spring we will make a sign up genius for our pack to see who is going, so folks can carpool and communicate with one another. But, registering for camp is on your own. They will put pack members together in the same spot, so be sure to indicate Pack 428 on the registration.

  • A look aheadIn May: Pack Meeting – Airplanes! May 15In June: End of Year Picnic – Grasslawn Park June 12Summer outings: Camps and activities led by parents (see below)

7) Reminder: Rank “Homework”

Some of the rank requirements for each year are done at home. These are Duty to God and the Youth Protection. Please take a look at your scout’s handbook to locate these requirements. When they are met, you can log them onto Scoutbook. If you have questions about the requirements, or how to log them onto Scoutbook, please contact your den leader.

Remember – although all scouts “move up” at the end of each year, all requirements for this year’s specific rank must be met in order for them to receive their rank badge at the June picnic.

  • Leadership Opportunities (Previously Posted)

Hi Everyone,

As we say good bye to our Webelos II Den, it is an important reminder to us that our leadership needs change every year as our cubs grow up! I want to especially thank our new leaders this year – Bhavika Shah, our membership chair, Jesus Barranco, treasurer, Meghana Kshirsagar, our lions (soon to be tigers) den leader, and Naomi Yoo, who will soon be our communications chair. And, a special thank you to John Weale, who has led the Webelo IIs since kindergarten, and to Afan Dallasheh for stepping in to be our assistant den leader for that group this year.

In looking ahead for 2024-2025, we have several roles that will need to be filled. Ideally, we can identify these folks now to begin working with the current leader in the fall, for a smooth transition next spring. (Three of the leaders have scouts who will crossover next March.)

We also have several one-timeopportunities to help out the pack. They are listed towards the bottom and offer a great deal of freedom and flexibility to serve according to your strengths and time commitments.

Here are our leadership needs:

Assistant Cubmaster – currently vacant

This job is that of an on-call volunteer to fill in at pack meetings when the Cubmaster is unavailable. In addition, the assistant cubmaster will be up to date on BSA training, maintain relationships with parents and guardians, and attend monthly leadership meetings. Along with the leadership team, this person helps choose activities for the monthly pack meetings, guides the pack and helps out as needed.

This person should be open to considering the Cubmaster role when the Cubmaster steps down, though they are not required to step into that role. This is not a huge commitment, and more than one person could volunteer.

This leader must wear the brown leader shirt and take 2 or more hours of job-specific online training. Attendance at the monthly pack leadership meeting is required.

Time commitment: 3-4 hours per month

 –

Next year’s Lions Den Leader (do you have a soon-to-be kindergartener?)

The den leader is responsible for running the Cub Scout program at the den level. Dens consist of boys and girls in the same grade. Organize and the den meetings and outings. Coordinate parent involvement at the individual den level. Present den awards to scouts at pack and/or den meetings.

This leader must wear the brown leader shirt and take 2 or more hours of job-specific online training. Attendance at the monthly pack leadership meeting is encouraged.

Time commitment: 3-5 hours per month. Ideally this person will make a multiple-year commitment to the den up through the 5th grade.

Committee Chair – currently held by Miriam

The committee chair is a key administrative role in our pack. They run the monthly leadership meeting and make many of the decisions regarding the pack. They host the annual planning meeting, often help with reservations or organizing outings and camping, and recruit volunteers for open leadership positions. This person handles the annual pack recharter process and is the pack representative to local BSA council.

This leader must wear the brown leader shirt and take 2 or more hours of job-specific online training. Attendance at the monthly pack leadership meeting is required.

Time commitment: 1-2 hours per week.

Events Coordinator – currently held by Kristin

Each month the pack coordinates at least one outing and one pack meeting. The pack leadership organizes the schedule each year, but the Events Coordinator makes it happen.. They are often responsible for researching and coordinating/confirming monthly pack events. This can include payment, reservations, and other pre-planning logistics such as SignUp Genius, event fliers, etc. Also includes soliciting parent volunteers to lead specific event logistics. This person is NOT responsible for planning every event the pack participates in, but rather finding parent volunteers to spread the workload.

Attendance at the monthly pack leadership meeting is required.

Time Commitment: 3-4 hours per month average.

Awards Chair – Currently held by Mark

Collect award information from den leaders and Scoutbook. Buy awards from scout store or delegate the shopping. Organize awards for distribution.

Attendance at the monthly pack leadership meeting is encouraged.

Time commitment: 2-3 hours per month.

One-Time Opportunities

BALOO Training

At every overnight activity, our pack is required to have at least one adult who is BALOO-trained. BALOO stands for Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation. It is a one and a half day camping/training opportunity that I can honestly say is a lot of fun! (I just took the course last spring.) Our pack currently only has four BALOO-trained adults, but some of these will be leaving the pack soon. It can create a problem if BALOO-trained adults are not available for a particular overnight event. We don’t want to have to cancel any of our overnight activities! We are looking for a handful of parents to take the training. You do not need to be on the leadership team, and there is no additional on-going commitment. We simply need more people in the pack with this certification. Dates and information about training are found here: Calendar – Chief Seattle Council (seattlebsa.org). Search for “training” in the calendar. This is lots of fun! (Think scouting for grownups.)

Time Commitment: All day Saturday to Sunday at noon (one time).

Camp Coordinator

Our pack hosts family camping twice per year. In the past the coordinator has been whoever has the skills and interest – sometimes the cubmaster, sometimes a parent-couple from the pack, sometimes a den leader. Miriam has largely hosted the camping the past two seasons (after co-hosting with a seasoned veteran). This spring and next fall will mark my last time camping with the pack. I invite you to co-host this spring’s campout with me – learn the ropes and then be the coordinator on a future camping trip.

Lead a summer activity

During the summer, the pack has a lot of activities or very few, depending on parent leadership. We invite parents to lead activities over the summer – you get to choose the activity and a date that works for you. Past ideas have been a bike ride, mini golf, exploring tide pools when one of the naturalists is there, hiking and participating in a local parade. Feel free to pick one of these or create a new one of your choice!

Many thanks to Phil Allen who already reserved the Kirkland Pool for our pack to swim on July 14!