Pack 303 Scout Tracks Newsletter - March 2020
Author: Steve Walker

Pack 303 Scout Tracks for MARCH 2020
Buckeye Council, Hetuck District
Chartered to: Canal Fulton United Methodist Church, 363 Cherry St W, Canal Fulton, OH 44614

Cub Scout Motto: Do Your Best
Scout Oath: On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

Cubmaster Comments

With warmer weather on the horizon and Spring Break later this month, our pack has a lot of fun and excitement ahead. Pinewood Derby details are below including important sign-up links related to the snack bar. An early-bird summer camp deadline reminder and pack movie night details are on page 2 along with information on our neckerchief and slide program.
Not mentioned elsewhere in this edition of the newsletter is the Akron RubberDucks game on April 18. Tickets may be purchased here at a special group rate before April 11. There’s also an option to receive information on food packages and a souvenir hat. Moreover, our pack will run the opening flag ceremony on the field then it’s Pirate Night at the game with free fireworks to follow.
I hope to see many scouts and their families at the pack events as the dens work to finish rank requirements before the rank advancement ceremony on Sunday, May 17.

WHAT TO KNOW FOR THE PINEWOOD DERBY

The Pinewood Derby is a highlight of the scouting year with car check-in this year on Friday, March 13 from 6-8pm and racing all-day on Saturday, March 14 in the Fellowship Hall at the Canal Fulton UMC.
First, make sure you have a car kit. (If you don’t then contact Steve Walker ASAP for one.)
Next, check your scout’s car number and write it clearly on the bottom.
Then, take a moment to read the rules. Volunteers will measure each car at check-in to ensure cars are not too long and have enough clearance underneath to roll freely on our track. They will also weigh each car using the pack’s scales with each car allowed to weigh no more than 5 oz. The pack’s scales are the final word when it comes to weight. Some materials, tools, and advice will be available to make last minute adjustments. Once the cars are checked-in, they will not be available to the scouts or their families again until after the finals on Saturday.
Scouts and their families are encouraged to come and go throughout the day then return for the finals. The schedule is: 9-10am - Lions; 10-11am - Tigers; 11am-noon - Wolves; (lunch break); 12:30-1:30pm - Bears; 1:30-2:30pm - Webelos; 2:30-3pm - Outlaws; and, 3-4pm - Finals.
The top three cars from each rank will advance to the finals. The outlaw class is (mostly) no-holds-barred (again: read the rules) and anyone can enters but the winner does not participate in the finals. Also, there are three categories of special awards. Those are “Scout Choice” and “Most Patriotic” voted by the scouts plus “Scout Spirit” voted by pack leadership.
Finally, your help is needed and there are three specific opportunities to assist:
Each family is asked to sign up to donate at least one item to help stock the snack bar. Bring your contributions to check-in on Friday night. (This is a critical one!)
Sign-up for a shift at the snack bar here. Have your scout join you for the opportunity to practice their cash register skills and meet other pack families. (This is a another critical one!)
The soup/stew/chili cookoff returns for another year so cook up your best entry and drop if off at the snack bar in the Fellowship Hall by 10am. A sampler of all entries will be available with votes cast throughout the day. The winner will be announced during the finals.
Here’s to a great day of racing and best of luck to all entrants!

Neckerchief and Slide Collection

In keeping with the "thrifty" portion of the Scout Law, the pack committee is again asking that all Scouts except Webelos turn in their scout's current neckerchief and slide after the April 30 pack meeting. The neckerchiefs and slides will be inspected and cleaned for presentation to the scouts entering each respective rank during our Rank Advancement Ceremony on Sunday, May 17.
Families wishing keep these items for sentimental or other reasons may reimburse the pack $15 in advance at the pack meeting in April 30. This will allow the committee to purchase a new neckerchief and slide for those scouts so everyone receives their respective recognition.
We also run an on-going uniform drive so please contact a committee member if you have any uniform items to offer such as hats, belts, and shirts or Class B items like rank-specific or other Scouting t-shirts. These efforts will allow our pack to maintain high uniform standards while adhering to the Scout Law and freeing up funds to invest in programming.

Pack Movie Night

Scouts and their families are invited to an optional Pack Movie Night on Saturday, March 28 starting at 6:30pm in the Canal Fulton UMC Fellowship Hall. That is the weekend at the end of Spring Break for most scouts.
If your family plans to attend then please participate in the poll in our secret Facebook group to select our G or PG movie. The movie is secondary to sharing some informal time together as a pack, of course.
We plan to have popcorn and water available to enjoy. Scouts may bring a blanket and/or pillow and dress in their PJs. Please do not bring sugary drinks so as to not risk any sticky spills.

A Scout is Brave
A Scout can face danger even if they are afraid. They have the courage to stand for what they thinks is right even if others laugh at or threaten them.

Scout Law OF THE MONTH

Summer Camp | Early-Bird Deadline

The pack early-bird deadline for Hetuck District Day Camp and Hetuck District Twilight Camp (open to all scouts) as well as Resident Camp (current Bears and Webelos) is the Pinewood Derby.
Just $25 down per camp holds their spot! Plus, the pack will put 5% of your scout’s fall popcorn sales total toward a campership (camp scholarship).
Bring your checkbook to the Pinewood Derby and visit the Summer Camp Table to discuss the details then secure your scout’s spot for fun and adventure this summer at one or more camps!

Pack 303 Calendar
The most current calendar is always available at bit.ly/1303_1819

March 7 Optional Skating with Girl Scouts, 3:40-4:40pm at Center Ice Sports Complex
March 13 Pinewood Derby Car Check-In, 6-8pm
March 14 2020 Pinewood Derby, 9am-4pm
March 28 Pack Movie Night, 6:30pm
April 6 Parent/Leader Meeting, 7pm
April 18 Akron RubberDucks, 7:05pm, Canal Park in Akron
April 20 Pack Meeting, 7pm (Flag: Tigers)

All events held at Canal Fulton United Methodist Church unless otherwise noted.

Committee Chair:
Andrea H...
first.last@gmail.com
Treasurer:
Randi B...
first.last@gmail.com
Secretary:
Jenele M...
first.last@gmail.com
Cubmaster:
Steve Walker
303stevewalker@gmail.com
(919) 880-9990 (cell)

BPI Note:
The hyperlinks in the articles on the first page have been removed for BPI purposes but the text remains as underlined blue for reference.
These links pointed to files saved to DropBox (car numbers, race rules) as well as Sign-Up Genius (snack bar donations and work shifts).

BPI Note:
The fonts used in the original version of this file may not be installed on most people’s computers. This version of the file uses common fonts but does not match what is shown in the BPI slide deck.
Font issues is one reason that it’s important to save your newsletter as a PDF before distribution!