Winter Cabin Fun
Come join us for the Pack 497 Winter Campout
Where: Camp Kingswood in Watertown (directions)
When: February 26th thru 27th (6:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
Cost: $25.00 per scout $30.00 per adult
(Recommended maximum 2 children per adult
Please RSVP to Karol Joos by February 12th.
kajoos {at} comcast(.)net or 952-949-8795
We only have room for 18 scouts. So RSVP early to get your spot.
Polar Cubs
I know it is crazy to be talking about an all day winter outside experience on a day where the high will be zero, but hey, this is Minnesota and Polar Cubs is a great experience!
Polar Cubs – Jan 16 OR Jan 17
This is a one day experience from 9:00-3:30 (registration is 8:15-8:30) enjoying winter activities at Phillippo Scout Reservation. The day will include activities such as sledding, winter nature, games, snow obstacle course, and learning how to stay warm and dry in the winter season. Cost is $29 for scout and $9 for adult. Lunch will be provided. Two separate programs will be run at the same time…one for 1st & 2nd year Webelos and one for Tiger, Wolf, and Bear cubs. At this time, Webelos program only has openings on Jan 17th on our pack choosen days although they can participate in the younger group if they choose. The Webelos Program will focus on Outdoor Winter Adventure and earn an unique activity pin. Webelos and Cubs will be together for opening and closing but participate in separate activities.
If you are interested, please contact Brenda Claver ASAP at brendaclaver {at} aol(.)com with the title Polar cubs in the e-mail to get registered before the camp gets full. If the pack chosen dates do not work with your family, you can still attend as individuals by registering yourself and your scout at www.goscouting.org. The polar cub camp runs through March.
Groups must have at least adult/scout ratio as follows: Tigers 1:1 Wolf/Bears 1:4 Webelos 1:8 No siblings at Polar cubs.
For more information go to Northern Star Council Polar Cub Registration
January Pack Events
It is nearly January and you know what that means – Pinewood Derby Time!
Pinewood Derby Car Cutting
On Saturday, January 9th, scouts from our pack can get their cars cut for $2 at the Eden Prairie Senior Center from 9 am – noon. The seniors cut the car with the boys and love to see new challenges! The Senior Center is located at 8950 Eden Prairie Road, not far from the intersection of Eden Prairie Road and Pioneer Trail. Please have a design in mind, preferably already sketched on your car.
For planning, please choose a time slot on the spreadsheet and return your request to Joe Thomas at jthomasfamily {at} comcast(.)net.
January Pack Meeting
Our January Pack meeting is on January 11th at Cedar Ridge, gathering activity at 6:45pm. We will be hosting a local ski jumper – just like you can see in the Winter Olympics!
January Parent/Leader Meeting
Our January Parent/Leader meeting is on January 15th at 7pm at the Nichols’ house. We will learn the basics of updating our Pack website from Bill Heyman as well as ensuring our next few scouting activities are ready to go.
Pinewood Derby
The Pinewood Derby weigh in is at Cedar Ridge on Friday January 22nd from 6:30 – 7:30pm and the Derby itself is on Sunday, January 24th beginning at 1pm sharp!
It is a busy and fun January! I look forward to seeing all of you there!
December Pack Meeting (Location Change!)
Our December pack meeting is Monday night, Dec. 14. Because our theme is “Works of Art,” our pack meeting will be held at the Eden Prairie Art Center (7650 Equitable Drive)!!! (Thanks Ann Rorem for setting it up!) As usual, our gathering activity will be at 6:45 and our meeting will begin at 7:00
We’ll have a uniform inspection (get those shirts, etc. looking nice), a special speaker from the EP Art Center, an art show from our own cub scouts (den leaders: remember to have your dens bring next stuff to share!). Here are the den assignments for the meeting.
(1) Dragon Patrol: Uniform inspection
(2) Raven Patrol: gathering activity
(3) Cobra Patrol: Flag ceremony
(4) Den 6 Jr. Webelos: Jokes
(5) Bears: Skit
(6) Wolves: Song
Here are directions to the Art Center from Ann Rorem:
I think the easiest way to the art center from Cedar Ridge is for the families to take County 4 north to Valley View and turn right. They will stay on Valley View and cross Mitchell/Baker and take the first right after that interection into Equitable Drive. The art center is well marker and located at 7650 Equitable Drive. Some of the families may have to pack in the street out front. When they enter the building please have them turn left throught the door and down the hall. Thanks we don’t want to disturb the clay class in progress.
December Notes
Pack 497 — The calendar has turned to December and all your holiday greenery (and extra popcorn) should have been delivered. If not, please do that just as soon as possible.
Also,
1. We still have a handful of extra wreaths, living trees, etc. If you can help sell these for the pack (even to yourselves at discounted rates!) please contact Ann Rorem asap. annrorem {at} gmail(.)com
2. Attached is a sign-up for bell-ringing. We still lack 6 spots (and can accommodate more than that if needed). If you haven’t signed up please email Beth Witherspoon bspoon01 {at} aol(.)com or we’ll fix it at the Dec. 14 pack meeting.
3. Finally, the Pinewood Derby is coming up on Sunday, January 24 at 1:00. We’ll send more info to the boys about it, but our theme is “Winter Olympics.” We’ll have prizes for best cars in theme and best cars not in theme. We’ll also have a car-cutting day at the EP Senior Center if you’re interested. It looks like this will likely be the morning of Sat., Jan. 9 (and possible Jan. 16). I’ll let you know when I get confirmation about it.
Have a great day!
Extra Wreaths
Hi Pack 497!
1. Extra Wreaths. We have some extra wreaths, since we have to order in full boxes. We REALLY need to sell them. Any money from these is straight profit to the pack.
If you want any of these (or can sell them to a neighbor), please contact Ann Rorem directly at annrorem {at} gmail(.)com or 952-937-3500. You can pick them up from her (and pay for them at pick-up). Let’s do this as soon as possible, and make sure to get your other wreaths and popcorn delivered! Thanks!
4 25″ classic $16
1 36″ classic $27
1 48″ classic $42
3 25″ victorian $22
2 25″ wintergreen $22
2 36″ wintergreen $32
5 classic spray $16
1 victorian spray $20
4 living tree $25
1 25′ garland $25
2. Roster. A current pack roster is attached.
3. Pinewood Derby. Our theme for car decorating is “Winter Olympics.” Be creative! There will also a category for “best cars not in theme.” I’m going to work on arranging a car-cutting date/time at the EP Senior Center and will let you know. Also, we need another volunteer for the Pinewood Derby. If that’s you, please let Kelly Zarling or Joel Nichols know!
4. Bell-ringing. Last but not least, it’s bell-ringing time on Saturday, Dec. 19. See the note from Beth Witherspoon (and attached sign-up sheet) and let Beth know when you can ring. (We really need help in the afternoon and over the noon hour.)
“It’s a Pack 497 tradition to ring bells for the Salvation Army each December. This year we’ll be ringing in front of one door at Rainbow Foods in Eden Prairie. Several of you signed up last night at the pack meeting to ring for a shift or two. Thanks!
If you haven’t yet, please check your calendars, look at the attached sign-up sheet for timing, and e-mail Beth Witherspoon (bspoon01 {at} aol(.)com) by the end of the week if you’re able to volunteer for a shift.
Thanks so much!”
Joel
November Notes
(1) Wreath and popcorn pick up. Please pick up your wreaths and extra popcorn at Ann Rorem’s house, 15546 Village Woods Drive. Times are: Wednesday 4-6, Thursday 6-9, and Friday 4-7.
(2) Last night you should have received an envelope with a little cash in it for your scout. This is wreath sales money for the scout, calculated at 5% of each scout’s total sales of wreaths. (This was the “prize” for wreath-sales, as there was no separate prize structure for that.) Please tell the scouts that we appreciate their hard work in selling, and expect them to use this little cash wisely — for Christmas presents for others, for scouting or camping gear for themselves, for service projects for others, or something else you come up with for them. Prizes for popcorn sales will be handout out separately, likely at the December pack meeting.
(3) Pinewood Derby cars were available last night. Den leaders should have them if you didn’t get one. Parents and siblings, if you want to race you’ll have a chance… You can buy your own kit, or get one from the pack for $5.00. More info before too long about the Derby.
(4) All are welcome to a leaders meeting this Thursday night, Nov. 19, at Ann Rorem’s house (15546 Village Woods Drive) at 7:00. We’ll be done about 8:00 or very shortly after it, I promise.
Thanks for a fun night. Tell your scout that Bruce and I enjoyed the pies in the face!
Don’t Forget
Pack 497, just a reminder:
Saturday, Nov. 14: Service Project at Simpson House Homeless Shelter, 1:00-2:30. More information and directions pasted below. It would be great if you could RSVP (today!) to nichols.jenni {at} gmail(.)com (though you can still come if you don’t).
Monday, Nov. 16: Pack Meeting at Cedar Ridge, 7:00 (6:45 gathering activity). We have a special guest (or 2!!!), pies in the face for Bruce and Joel, and plenty of other fun. There is a uniform inspection, so tell the boys to look sharp and get their badges on their shirts properly. There is info in your scout books if you need help getting your uniform together.
Service Project: Simpson Homeless Shelter
Service Project: Simpson House Homeless Shelter
Saturday, November 14th, 1:00-2:30
Scouts — What can you do to help people in our own city that don’t have homes? Our pack service project is Saturday, November 14 from 1:00-2:30. We’ll be visiting Simpson House Homeless Shelter in Minneapolis. We will be making sandwiches for their dinner, touring the facility, and participating in an activity that will help us understand what it is like to be homeless in America. Learn more about Simpson House at http://www.simpsonhousing.org/ . (Parents, note that the men will not be present while we are at the shelter; we will only interact with staff members at the facility.)
Please Bring: There is no cost to attend for this service project, so please consider bringing in some needed items for donation: men’s underwear, travel sized toothpaste, men’s long john’s sized M, L, and men’s T-shirts sized M, L, used pillows and blankets. Currently they have no long john’s in stock and are very low on underwear. The pack will provide all the supplies for sandwich making.
RSVP and Questions: If possible, please let Jennifer Nichols know by Wednesday, November 11 if you’ll attend. Yes, siblings and entire families are invited and welcomed. (If you don’t RSVP you can still come, but having a count is important so we buy the right amount of sandwich supplies.) Jennifer is also the contact person for questions: nichols.jenni {at} gmail(.)com
Directions
Here are directions to our Men’s Shelter from 35 W:
35W northbound
Lake Street/31st Street Exit
Left on Lake Street
Right on 1st Avenue South
Left on Cecil Neuman – there is no stop sign, look for this after the K-mart parking lot
Right on Nicollet Ave South
Right on 28th Street West
Turn left into the Alley between Frenz Brake Service and Simpson United Methodist Church and park in the gravel parking lot
The Men’s Shelter is located in the basement of Simpson United Methodist Church – 2740 1st Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408.
Pack Meeting Tonight
REMINDER: There’s a pack meeting TONIGHT at Cedar Ridge. Gathering activity is at 6:45 and the meeting starts at 7:00.
Please bring
(1) Something to dress up the leaders with (e.g., a shirt, hat, mask, feather boa, or something else funny and not gory/scary)! This will be fun!
(2) Your fundraising information, including money from sales of wreaths and popcorn, leftover popcorn product, and order forms. The note below is what I received from Ann Rorem, fund-raising chair extraordinaire!:
I would need to have the wreath totals on the provided sheet and that is where they let me know what popcorn prize is choosen by the scout. Just write it on the bottom of the sheet. Also would need the popcorn order form with their totals, please do not add the popcorn they have already given out in this total!! I wil return the forms when they pick up the popcorn. There has been concern about not knowing who to deliver to if they turn it in, I will be returning the form.
Oh — and if you sold any popcorn at all (I hope so!) see the note pasted below about special price tickets to an upcoming Vikings game.
Thanks! See you tonight!
