Advancements/Yard Signs/Summer Activities/Aug 15th Hike Change/USS Consitution

We hope everyone's summers are going well!  We wanted to give some updates regarding the Pack.

Advancements

They have finally arrived! We are working on getting them to you den leaders and they will be reaching out soon.

Yard Signs

We are in the process of obtaining yard signs to show everyone we are proud of our scouts and help promote the pack.  When your den leader arrives with your Scout's advancements, they will be asking if you are ok with the sign in your yard. We are getting enough for one per family.

Summer Activities

Hopefully, your families are enjoying the outdoors.  Just a reminder about our Summer Activities and the possible Outdoor activity awards, we have a lot of opportunities to get out and be active in our communities while being socially distant.  Don't forget to take photos of your activities and share them with your Den Leaders and our Cubmaster - Mark.  We want to make sure everyone gets credit for the awesome adventures they take this summer. 

August 15th Hike Change

We will no longer be doing the Pilgrim Trail on August 15th.  Instead we will be doing the Freedom Trail.  More information to come but we will start at 9am.

USS Constitution

Some of you may have seen on our Summer activity list that there was a potential of a sleepover on the USS Constitution early in July.  Some of you may have even seen some pictures.  Due to COVID, we were restricted to a total of 25 people.  So we decided it was best to offer this trip to our oldest scouts first and then in a future year try to have the same trip for those scouts who were not able to go the first time.  We hope to host this event again very soon.

YIS,

Your Pack Committee

BSA recalls Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Pins

BSA recalls Cub Scout Outdoor Activity pins sold between April 2016 and January 2020

July 1, 2020  

The Boy Scouts of America today announced a voluntary recall of Cub Scout Outdoor Activity pins that depict a gold animal paw painted on a blue background sold between April 2016 and January 2020.

The pins were sold at local Scout Shops, authorized BSA distributors and online at scoutshop.org. About 78,000 pins are affected although about 12% of the affected units are in inventory and have never been sold or distributed.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the affected pins, and the BSA has identified and fixed the problem that led to the recall. The recall was prompted when a regular quality assurance the BSA implements through a third-party testing lab indicated that parts of the pin's face and shaft contained levels of lead above limits set by the federal government.

Families with a recalled pin should stop using it immediately. They're entitled to an exchange or refund, even if they no longer have a receipt or the original tag.

How to tell whether you have a recalled pin

The recall applies to Cub Scout Outdoor Activity lapel pins. Other activity pins are not included in the recall.

If you threw away the receipt, that's OK. If you purchased the pin between April 2016 and January 2020, follow the instructions below or visit your local Scout Shop.

What to do if you have a recalled pin

Families with a recalled pin should stop using it immediately.

Even if you no longer have a receipt, you are eligible for an exchange or refund.

Return the product to any Scout Shop or directly to the BSA's National Distribution Center in Charlotte, N.C.

Instructions for returns can be found at this link.

Update for Hikes and a new one added for this weekend

We had a couple of people attend last Saturday's Hike.  I heard it was a great time.

Please note - if you plan on attending the hikes, we are changing the deadline to contact Mr. Pothier to Thursday night at 5 pm.  This will ensure that he has time to coordinate the car rides.

On these hikes - there will probably be no public bathrooms.  

We have added another hike this Saturday June 20th called Leslie's Retreat. We will meet in Salem at the parking lot on Federal and Church St across from the Peabody Essex Museum at 7:45 am.  Plan to leave some cars there and drive others to the start in Marblehead.  It is approximately 5-6 miles long, with no public bathrooms and we anticipate it taking 4-5.5 hours to complete.  Again, if you wish to join us, please email Mr. Pothier at guggins@yahoo.com so that he will know whom to expect.  Make sure to be prepared for the weather and carry enough water.

Don't forget this weekend is our Spring "Camping" in our own backyards.  

YIS,

Your Pack Committee

Outdoor Activity Award

In addition to the Summertime Pack Award, many of our scouts earn the Outdoor activity award.  This award starts with the completion of a resident or day camp provided by BSA.  The second is completing a required adventure from the Scout handbook (usually done through the Scout year).  The third step is completing an additional 4, 5, 6 or 7 outdoor activities (Tiger, Wolf, Bear and Webelos, respectively).   We have attached the normal requirement sheet to this email for your convenience.  Make sure to mark off and take photos of your completion.  Email your den leaders with questions!

With the difficulty/uncertainty of completing summer camp this year, our Pack has prepared our own guidelines for requirements to fulfill the summer camp portion. The Scouts would have to complete all 5 Alternate Summer Camp Activities to satisfy the Summer Camp requirement.  They would then have to complete step 2 and 3 to achieve the award.   This option will be used if a Scout can't make it to a summer camp this year (there will be some camps around but the enrollment will be scaled back).

Alternative Summer Camp Activities (Must complete all 5 and please send pictures to your den leader for each item)

1. Make elephant toothpaste (https://sciencebob.com/fantastic-foamy-fountain/)  or a working Volcano ( https://sciencebob.com/make-your-own-volcano/ )

2. Make a fort 

3. Practice working on 3 Knots (attachment as well as these videos https://www.animatedknots.com/scouting-knots )

4. Camp out 2 nights throughout the summer (in addition to Father's Day weekend)  Preferably in your backyard, but if you have restrictions, discuss it with your den leader to figure out what can work for you.

5. Earn one elective (listed below) involving the outdoors for your new rank (Remember you just crossed over)

Tigers

Floats and Boats

Good Knights

Rolling Tigers

Sky is the Limit

Tiger Tag

Wolf

Air of the Wolf

Digging in the Past

Finding Your Way

Germs Alive

Grow Something

Bear

A Bear Goes Fishing

Bear Picnic Basket

Forensics

Make it Move

Salmon Run

Webelos/AOL

Aquanaut

Cast Away

Earth Rocks

Into the Wild

Into the Woods

We hope you all have a great outdoor summer!

YIS,

Your Pack Committee

Rank Up/Recruiting/Summer Pack Activities

Good Evening Pack!

We hope you are all doing well and are ready for Summer.  Typically by this point we have had our rank up ceremony and about to host our recruiting Round Up on the common.  However, due to delays and cancellations, we have not been able to do either.

Rank Ups - we are waiting for the advancements to be mailed out.  Once we have them, den leaders will be reaching out to each family to determine the best way to present them to your Scout.  Once everyone has received their advancements, we will be putting together a slideshow in order to congratulate all Scouts for not only ranking up but a few special awards as well.  Be on the lookout for correspondence from your den leader and the Pack.

Recruiting - We are in the process of purchasing some lawn signs.  When your den leader delivers your Scouts advancements - if you would be willing to have one on your property, we would appreciate it.  Not being able to have an in person recruiting event is tough.  However, through word of mouth (TELL YOUR FRIENDS) and placing these signs, we hope for many new scouts in the fall!

Summer Activities - as usual we will be hosting a number of summer activities. REMEMBER: you must participate in one activity each month (June, July and August) to qualify for the Summertime Pack Award.  These events are on our Pack Calendar.  Make sure to watch the calendar for updates or changes.

The first June event technically has passed, however, feel free to do this on your own time.  There was plenty of trash just around the parking lot.  

All park cleanups are in person events, if your family is not comfortable in a group setting, please feel free to do it on your own time. but will generally start them at 9am when Mr. Pothier is in attendance.   The Scouts should be encouraged to carry the 6 essentials in a backpack.  Items not to collect as trash by the Scouts would be but not limited to glass, clothes and needles.  A picture of the Scout at the park during the cleanup is needed and required to be sent to Mr. Pothier ( guggins@yahoo.com) and their den leader. 

The younger scouts have the opportunity to enjoy short hikes in the Town Forest June and July and the longer Pirate Trek hike in August.   

The 3 - 10 mile hikes are designed for older scouts, AOL and Webelos.   Because these are new hikes to us, we don't know much about them including food, water and bathroom stops.  Food and water will have to be carried for the hike.  The first 2, larger hikes, have to be planned out as far as travel because they are point to point hikes and not circular.   If you please to go, please email Mr. Pothier so that he can expect you.  This requires members to reach out to Mr. Pothier so we can coordinate the logistics of car rides or biking from the end back to the start.   We will have to adhere to face coverings and social distancing rules.....neckerchiefs are great for this practice.  

All BSA historical hike hikers have the opportunity to earn a trail patch and medal. 

June 

7th      Sunday - Mapleway Town Forest Cleanup 9am start  

13th    Saturday - Witch Trail 8am start, 10 mile Danvers to Salem 5-7.5 hrs. - Remember to email Mr. Pothier by 5pm the night before so that he can expect you.

20-21 Sat-Sun - Pack Backyard Campout - Make sure to take a photo and send it to Mr. Pothier and your Den leader. 

July

4th.         Saturday - Sons of Liberty Trail 8am start, 10 mile Lex. To Concord 5-7.5 hrs  Remember to email Mr. Pothier by 5pm the night before so that he can expect you.

10-11th.  FRIDAY-Sat. - USS Constitution Sleepover 4-5pm arrival? - This is still unknown, we are waiting for a response from the Constitution if we can participate or not, we will email out once we know more.

11th       Saturday - Clean Grounds at a School of your choice

25th.       Saturday - JJ Round Park Town Forest cleanup 9am start

August

3-7th      Mon-Fri - Wakefield Summer Camp 8am - 6pm - Register with council

9th.         Sunday - Colonel Connelly Park cleanup 9am start

10-14th. Mon-Fri - Wakefield Stem Camp 8am - 6pm - Register with council

15th.       Sunday  - Pilgrim Trail Hike 8am start, 10 mile Plymouth Ma. 5-7.5 hrs  Remember to email Mr. Pothier by 5pm the night before so that he can expect you.

29th.      Saturday  - Upper and Lower Commons cleanup 

30th.      Sunday  - Pirate Trek Hike 9am start, 4 miles, 2-3.5 hrs Remember to email Mr. Pothier by 5pm the night before so that he can expect you.

We are looking forward to seeing you this summer!  If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

YIS,

Your Pack Committee