Pack 722 News Blog
News and events from Cub Scout Pack 722, in Wakefield, Massachusetts.
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Sun, 12 Oct 2008
Our October Pack Meeting was wrapped in fun! Check out some pictures in our photo gallery.
The Pack is getting ready to go camping at Camp Nihan and an adventure to Wolf Hollow. See you there!
Fri, 26 Sep 2008Hi! I’m Pam Romano, your Webelos II den leader. My 11 year old son, Kannon, is a member of the Webelos’ den. My first experience, as a den leader, was last year with the Webelos I. We had a phenomenal scouting season filled with camping, hiking and of course, the best time of all… WEBELOS WOODS! What an action packed adventurous weekend for just the Webelos! We learned how to shoot bows with arrows, did target practicing with rifles and had the biggest & best bon fire of all the groups!
I’m really looking forward to an exciting and memorable year for the boys! We’re recruiting a Den Chief (Boy Scout) to work again with the den since this was such a success last year. Final year before the boys move on to the Boy Scout ranks. Buckle your seat belts and get ready for an awesome grand finale year!
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Welcome back, new Webelos Scouts! We're going to have a great year as we begin the trail to the Arrow of Light. There are twenty activity badges for Webelos to earn -- from Craftsman and Engineer to Aquanaut and Outdoorsman -- and each Scout can blaze his own trail. It's a great adventure and we're going to have a lot of fun! We've already had our first adventure as Webelos with a beautiful afternoon of kayaking on Spot Pond.
As a transition between Cubs and Boy Scouts, the Webelos program gives the boys more reponsibility and helps them develop a sense of leadership. Before you know it, we'll be ready for even more adventures as Boy Scouts.
Thanks to all our parents for their support!
Neil Williams and Jeff Crump Webelos 1 Den Leaders
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Welcome back Bears! I hope you had a relaxing and adventurous summer. By reaching the Bear level you are more than half way through Cub Scouting. Now that you’re older you can begin to take more responsibility with your involvement in Cub Scouts.
To earn the Bear Badge, a Cub Scout must complete 12 achievements out of a possible 24 that are offered in the book.
Much of the advancement for the Bear rank is done by the scout with his family outside of the den, similarly to the Wolf rank. The parent signs off in the scout's handbook and the Den Leader records the advancements from the handbook to tracking chart. The Bear program relies heavily on family involvement, but you will see this gradually change with the scout doing more with his den and more individual direction as he reaches Webelos and Boy Scouts.
James Macdonald Den Leader
Welcome Back Pack 722! It’s Frank Polischuk (Joshua’s Dad) looking forward to having a great year with all the returning Wolves. For those who don’t remember me, I was lucky enough to head up the Blue and Gold Event last Spring, and man that was a great time. My summer was awesome and I hope you all had a great vacation with your families and friends. I also hope everyone is getting all psyched up for the coming year with the Cubs…and of course checking their list of all the right people to hit up for popcorn, popcorn and more popcorn! What a great event to get the year off to a great start! Well, I look forward to seeing you in the fall, after all it is my favorite season of the year. I can’t think of a better time to start on my first year heading up the Wolf Den. See you all soon!
Search, Discover, Share! That's the Tiger Cub motto, and we'll be doing just that in our Tiger Den this year. The Tiger Cub program is all about fun, family and friends, and we'll have a lot of fun as we begin the adventure of Cub Scouts.
Tiger Cubs is a family-oriented program where boys and their families begin the adventure of Scouting together. From month-to-month each family takes a turn planning the outing and den meeting, so there's always something new to do around the next corner.
Welcome to our Pack!
Jeff Crump Tiger Den Coordinator
Tue, 09 Sep 2008
Registration Night Tuesday, September 16
Pack 722 Fall Registration will be held on Tuesday, September 16, from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Greenwood Union Church. Come meet our leaders and learn what we've been up to and what we've got in store for the coming year. Registration for the year is $40, $35 for additional boys.
If you won't be able to make it on the 16th, please contact your den leader or send us mail through our contact form.
Mon, 26 May 2008
Retrospective Slide Show 2007-2008
Pack 722 will be participating in two Memorial Day observances in Wakefield this year.
On Friday, May 23 we will be placing flags on veteran's graves at the Forest Glen Cemetery on Lowell Street. Meet right inside the front gate of the cemetery at 3:50 so we can start decorating right at 4 pm. Take Vernon Street to Lowell; the Dolbeare school is across the intersection. Turn RIGHT on Lowell ; the cemetery is on the left.
On Monday, May 26 we will be participating in the Memorial Day parade and ceremony on the Common. We will be meeting in the Galvin Middle School parking lot at 12:45; the parade starts promptly at 1 pm. The observance on the Common starts at approximately 1:30 and is done by 2 pm.
Sun, 11 May 2008Pack 722 led a "Spring Cleanup" effort at the Greenwood School today. While we didn't find any treasure this year (unless a soggy cardboard box or two counts), the Scouts did spread some goodwill and helped our community in the process. Great job!
Congratulations, Webelos 2 Scouts!
Pack 722 is proud to present the Arrow of Light Award to seven of our Webelos Scouts. At an impressive ceremony during our April pack meeting, the boys will be presented with the highest award in Cub Scouting.
Ceremonial arrows will be presented to them to commemorate their achievement:
The colored bands honor their individual ranks and achievements. Orange is for Tiger, Black for Bobcat, Red for Wolf, Green for Bear, Silver and Gold for Arrow Points, Blue for Webelos, White is for the Webelos achievements; Tan for the Religious Emblem of their Faith; and the band of Yellow represents the Arrow of Light Award.
The parts of the arrow itself hold special significance.
The three feathers symbolize the family, the pack leadership and the scout. We have all worked together to help the scouts grow into fine young men. May they always fly straight and true to the mark.
These feathers in turn are joined by the blue and gold crests of Cub Scouting.
The blue crest stands for faith and loyalty, as deep and true as the vast expanse of the sky above us. May they always be faithful and loyal.
The gold crest stands for warmth and good cheer, like the golden rays of the sun. May they always be of good cheer.
The arrowhead represents courage and strength, like the stone from which it is crafted. May they always be courageous and strong.
The shaft of the arrow, fashioned from the hardest wood, stands for honesty and fairness. May they always be truthful, and straight as the arrow.
The lashing that holds the arrowhead to the shaft represents the friendship that has bound us together in scouting and will bind us together in memory.
Alex joined Cub Scouts in 2003 as a Tiger Cub. As a Bear Cub he received the religious emblem of his faith - the Parvuli Dei Medal. Alex earned his Webelos Badge and Compass Emblem in May, 2007. He also earned the Aquanaut, Athlete, Fitness, Sportsman, Artist, Scholar, Showman, Traveller, Citizen, Communicator, Family Member, Readyman, Craftsman, Handyman, Scientist, Naturalist and Outdoorsman Activity Pins. Alex's favorite experience in Scouting was the Great North Woods Challenge, camping at Webelos Woods and visiting the Ecotarium.
Connor joined Cub Scouts in 2003 as a Tiger Cub. As a Bear Cub he received the religious emblem of his faith - the Parvuli Dei Medal. Connor earned his Webelos Badge and Compass Emblem in May, 2007. Connor is a Super Acheiver - he has earned all 20 activity pins: Aquanaut, Athlete, Fitness, Sportsman, Artist, Scholar, Showman, Traveller, Citizen, Communicator, Family Member, Readyman, Craftsman, Engineer, Handyman, Scientist, Forester, Geologist, Naturalist and Outdoorsman. Connor's favorite experience in Scouting was camping at Webelos Woods and attending the Lowell Devil's hockey game.
Dan joined Cub Scouts in 2003 as a Tiger Cub. If we ever had a question about the Scouts, Dan was always ready with an answer! Dan earned his Webelos Badge and Compass Emblem in May, 2007. Dan is a Super Acheiver - he has earned all 20 activity pins: Aquanaut, Athlete, Fitness, Sportsman, Artist, Scholar, Showman, Traveller, Citizen, Communicator, Family Member, Readyman, Craftsman, Engineer, Handyman, Scientist, Forester, Geologist, Naturalist and Outdoorsman. Dan's favorite experience in Scouting was camping at Camp Nihan and the sleepover at the Museum of Science.
Liam joined Cub Scouts in 2003 as a Tiger Cub. He took a short break from Bears and returned for Webelos. Liam earned his Webelos Badge and Compass Emblem in May, 2007. He also earned the Aquanaut, Athlete, Fitness, Sportsman, Artist, Scholar, Showman, Citizen, Communicator, Readyman, Craftsman, Handyman, Naturalist and Outdoorsman Activity Pins. Liam's favorite experience in Scouting was camping at Webelos Woods.
Nick B. joined Cub Scouts in 2006 as a Webelos. For some strange reason he wanted to sell popcorn! Nick earned his Webelos Badge and Compass Emblem in May, 2007. He also earned the Athlete, Fitness, Sportsman, Artist, Scholar, Showman, Citizen, Communicator, Readyman, Handyman, Naturalist and Outdoorsman Activity Pins. Nick's favorite experience in Scouting was camping at Webelos Woods with his friends.
Nick W. joined Cub Scouts in 2003 as a Tiger Cub. He has been an enthusiastic member ever since. Nick earned his Webelos Badge and Compass Emblem in May, 2007. He also earned the Athlete, Fitness, Sportsman, Artist, Scholar, Showman, Traveller, Citizen, Communicator, Family Member, Readyman, Handyman, Naturalist and Outdoorsman Activity Pins. Nick's favorite experience in Scouting was the Ecotarium sleepover.
Nico joined Cub Scouts in 2003 as a Tiger Cub. As a Bear Cub he received the religious emblem of his faith - the Parvuli Dei Medal. Nico earned his Webelos Badge and Compass Emblem in May, 2007. He also earned the Aquanaut, Fitness, Sportsman, Artist, Scholar, Showman, Traveller, Citizen, Communicator, Readyman, Handyman, and Outdoorsman Activity Pins. Nico's favorite experience in Scouting was camping at Webelos Woods.
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Tue, 01 Apr 2008The Bear den recently visited the Wakefield Police Department in the Public Safety building. We saw police officers at work, saw how 911 dispatch works, and even made ourselves at "home" in the holding cells. The Scouts learned that law enforcement is a tough job - we're all thankful to the officers for keeping us safe!
You can see pictures from our visit in the photo gallery, here.
Mon, 03 Mar 2008The 2008 Pinewood Derby is in the books... thankfully, with no tragic injuries caused by cars jumping off the track! Every boy who participated should be proud of their work. The cars this year were very creative... congratulations!
Special congratulations to our Den winners, who will represent our pack at the District Finals on March 15:
Tigers: Jacob Bassett
Wolves: Robert Guida
Bears: William Shea
Webelos 1: Kannon Romano
Webelos 2: Nicholas Basset
Good luck and have fun!
Fri, 01 Feb 2008
Cub Scout Olympics this Sunday
The annual Cub Scout Olympics is this Sunday, February 3, from 12:15 - 3:30 at Burlington High School. Directions are posted here.
This is a really fun event, the boys have a blast. Please let your den leader know if your Scout will be attending.
You can see some pictures from last year's event in our photo gallery.
Mon, 28 Jan 2008
Battleship Cove - May 17th 2008
Hi folks, We’re looking forward to Pack 722’s outing to Battleship Cove
WHEN: Saturday May 17th, 2008
WHERE: Battleship Cove, Fall River MA
We’ve reserved 45 bunks on the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD850
COST: $25.00 for Scouts who participated in the Popcorn fund-raiser, and $55.00 for all others (prices may decrease if the pack is able to raise additional funds before the outing). Checks should be made out to Pack 722, and mailed to or dropped off at my address 122 Kendrick Rd. The deadline for payment is April 10th.
WHAT’S INCLUDED: The price includes Dinner, breakfast and lunch, access to all of the ships and museums within the cove, and lodging aboard the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD850.
WHAT TO BRING: Here are some suggested items for the trip
- Sleeping Bag
- Pillow
- Personal Toiletry items (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc…)
- Spending money
- Towel
SCHEDULE: We’ll arrive Saturday afternoon around 1:00pm visit some of the ships, museums and try our hand at knot tying and then have supper in the battleships main dining room. Reveille sounds at 6:30 Sunday morning, followed by breakfast, tours of the ship, lunch in the wardroom and departure around 12:30AM. See the Plan of the Day for details.
The Kennedy is an example of a Gearing class destroyer, which were built during WW2 and became the workhorses of the Cold War destroyer navy. The JP Kennedy served with great distinction during the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and America's space program to name just a few. DD850 is now a museum ship to educate the public and serve as a memorial to those who sailed aboard destroyers. Below is an example of the berthing areas that we’ll “bunk” in over night.
Please use the following links to obtain detailed information about:
- Battleship Cove ships and Museums
- The USS Joseph P Kennedy
- Directions to BSC
- General Camping Information
- Food and Dining Services
Stay tuned for more information at the date draws closer. Please call (617-512-7762) or email (woneschuk@comcast.net) me if you have any question.
Regards
Walt Oneschuk
Fun had by all at Hockey Night
Hockey Night in Lowell was a blast! The game was fun -- overtime and a shootout! -- and we all had a great time skating afterwards. A few Scouts even slept over at the arena and got a tour of the locker rooms in the morning. Check out some pictures in our photo gallery.
Fri, 18 Jan 2008The Pinewood Derby is coming and it's gonna be a blast! Friday, March 7 is the weigh-in and the races will be held on the morning/early afternoon of Saturday, March 8. We'll have more information at the February Pack Meeting.
In the meantime, some new pictures from last year's Pinewood Derby have been posted (thanks, Jeff F!) in the photo gallery. Check them out!
Wed, 09 Jan 2008
Hockey Night in Lowell this Friday!
Directions to the Paul Tsongas arena in Lowell for the Lowell Devils sleepover are now available on the directions page of the website.
Bear update: November and December, 2007
History is all around us! The Bears got to experience it first hand, on a fun adventure into Boston to visit the U.S.S Constitution.
The day started with a train ride into the city. Thanks to a friendly commuter rail conductor, the boys rode the train in style, in their own private coach! But then she invited the boys to come to come to the front of the train, two at a time, to experience the trip from the point of view of the engineer. It's cool to see the train tracks laid out in front as you cruise down the line. The boys had a real "blast" when they blew the train horn, too! And when we pulled in to North Station, the Scouts got a private tour of the engine car.
A quick walk later, we were at the Navy Yard and exploring the U.S.S Constitution. We heard the story of "Old Ironsides" from a sailor, and toured three decks of the ship. The boys could just picture the excitement and the adventure aboard the ship... but they learned of the cold reality, too: the noise, the dirt, the crowded conditions and the poor excuses for food. All in all, the boys had a great time exploring the ship and learned about an important part of American history.
Before we headed home, we made a quick trip to the World War II destroyer, the U.S.S Cassin Young, that is also docked at the Navy yards. We can't wait for Battleship Cove!
At our most recent den meeting, we made custom, Christmas-themed neckerchief slides and practiced three of the important Cub Scout knots - the square knot, the bowline and the two-half hitches. When do we go camping again?
Thu, 20 Dec 2007
Christmas Caroling at Harborside
Our boys recently treated the residents of the Harborside Nursing Home to an evening of festive Christmas caroling. See some pictures from our visit in the photo gallery.
Fri, 12 Oct 2007
New photos in the photo gallery!
Check out some pictures from our Pawtucket Red Sox sleepover in June, our September pack meeting and an October Wolf den meeting in our photo gallery!
Cub Carnival at Camp Massasoit this weekend
Directions to the Cub Carnival at Camp Massasoit have been posted in our Calendar section.
Wed, 12 Sep 2007The Pack Calendar has been updated with the events for this scouting year. Fall signup is Monday, September 17 from 6:30-8 pm. The first pack meeting is Thursday, September 27 at 6:30 pm. The Camping overnighter at Nihan is Saturday, October 27.
For details, see the calendar of events page.
Fri, 31 Aug 2007
Fall Signup September 17, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Pack 722's annual Fall Signup will be held at the Greenwood Union Church on Monday, September 17, from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Registration for the year is $40. Pack leaders will be there to answer any questions you may have about Cub Scouting in general or our Pack in particular.
See you then!
Wed, 16 May 2007 Sun, 01 Apr 2007Our boys gave some goodwill, and helped our living world at the same time, as they cleaned up around the Greenwood Union Church and the Greenwood school yesterday. The boys did a GREAT job and topped it off with some ice cream at Brighams. Some more pictures are posted in our photo gallery
Once again, the boys of Pack 722 had a great time making and racing their cars. And each den was represented in the district finals, despite some yucky weather.
Check out some pictures from our pack races and the district finals in our photo gallery.
Our February Pack meeting featured our first Mardi Gras party! The boys had fun making masks and collecting beads... then partied with the limbo, musical chairs, and a pinata. Topped off with a cake and other yummy treats, the scouts had a great time!
Sleepover at the Ecotarium a Galactic Success!
A terrific group of scouts and parents had a fantastic time at the Ecotarium recently. Between the planetarium shows, museum scavenger hunt, Mars Lander experiments, animal tours and game time, it's fortunate that the boys got any sleep at all! Take a look at some pictures from this great event in our Photo Gallery.
Sun, 11 Feb 2007The Wolf Den had a great time making birdhouses at the Mottl Cabinets workshop. The boys used a drill press, cordless drills, hammers, screws and nails to make some impressive condos for our feathered friends!
Have your Heard the news? It’s all over Wakefield! We are almost ready! Yes, the Webelos II scouts are counting the days to their CROSSOVER to Boy Scouts.
This month the boys have earned the following achievements:
Congratulations to Grant Simpson for earning his Compass Point Emblem. To earn the Emblem they must have completed earned 3 Achievements for their Webelos Badge and at least four additional activity badges. Congratulations!
Chris Powers has earned his first compass point pin for completing an additional 4 activity badges. Way to Go!
Jonah Dieguz has now earned both his Scholar and Fitness activity Badges. He is working hard to meet all of the requirements to get his Webelos Badge. Keep going, you’re doing GREAT!
Five of our Webelos II Scouts are working on their Arrow of Light Award. This is the highest award in Cub Scouting. This award tells everyone they are ready to be a Boy Scout. This is the ONLY Cub Scout badge you can wear on your Boy Scout uniform. As part of the requirements for this award, the Webelos II will be visiting a Boy Scout meeting in February AND will have a conference with the Scoutmaster, Mike Kilkely and their parents. We plan to award The Arrow of Light at the March Pack meeting.
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Sat, 13 Jan 2007
Bear pictures in the photo gallery
Here are some pictures from recent Bear activities! Photo Gallery
Sun, 31 Dec 2006Our Pack treated the residents of the Harborside Nursing Home to an evening of festive Christmas caroling. The boys and the residents had a great time, and it got everyone in the holiday spirit! See some pictures from our visit in the photo gallery.
We had a great time rooting on the Celtics against the Jazz at the Boston Garden recently. Check out some pictures from our visit here.
Sun, 12 Nov 2006
Pack 722 participates in Scouting for Food
Pack 722 participated in the Boy Scouts of America "Scouting For Food" event over the past two weeks. On the weekend of November 4, our Scouts delivered over 300 bags to our neighbors in the Greenwood section of Wakefield. On November 11, we returned to collect the bags from folks who wanted to donate canned goods. We delivered the food to the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry and helped to sort the cans and stock the shelves.
We are so proud of the Scouts that participated, proving that Cub Scouts, indeed, give goodwill!
You can see a few pictures from the Pantry in our photo gallery.
Tue, 17 Oct 2006
Webelos 2 Update: We've Been Busy!
ALL the Webelos II scouts, Grant, Noah, Chris, Joe, Kevin and Jonah, had a wonderful experience attending The Great North Woods Challenge at T.L. Storer Scout Camp in Barnstead N.H. on October 8th, 9th, and 10th. They even had two Webelos I scouts join them, Connor Shine and Alex Mansour. This program was designed to give Webelos Scouts and their parents a preview of the Boy Scouting experience. It reinforced Boy Scouting values, procedures, methods and skills. Over 1000 scouts and adults participated.
The weekend included such skills as first aid (which Mr. Shine took to a new level!), fire building, knots, lashing. They also participated in archery and the BB range and whittled a walking stick. On Saturday, they had tin-foil chicken dinners cooked over charcoal pits with the help of our own LeeAnn Russell (Grant’s mom) and Gerard Daily (Joe’s dad). Then they participated in a bonfire and learned how to properly destroy, by fire, an American flag. The flags that were burned had flown in Iraq. That evening they also watch several skits, and songs around the fire. On Sunday, breakfast in the mess hall, Sunday Church Services at the lake, then more activities during the day. Sunday night, dinner included roast beef, turkey and ham. Mr. Macdonald was in his glory! Word has it that he even saved some for a midnight snack! After the campfire that evening everyone enjoyed the live band music of “Conniption Fits” from VT.
The nights were very chilly, but most were prepared with long underwear, below freezing sleeping bags, hats and gloves!
Thank you to Jim Wensley who got our Pack eight – two-man tents! These were donated to the District and Jim was able to get them for us.
Activity Badges
Our newest Webelos II scout–Jonah Dieguez has earned his Bobcat Badge - congratulations!
Together as a den, we have been working on the requirements for the Engineer badge, which we expect to finish in October. We have drawn a floor plan of our homes, learned how electricity is generated and gets to our home. We even constructed a simple working electrical circuit with a switch, light and batteries. It was so much fun that the boys kept adding more batteries and eventually blew out the light bulb! Next meeting we will build a catapult and see how it works.
Congratulations to the Webelos II scouts for earning the following activity badges
Kevin Cajuda - Aquanaut & Outdoorsman Noah Macdonald - Outdoorsman Grant Simpson - Traveler and the Cub Scout outdoor activity award Chris Powers – Traveler and Artist
Compass Points Emblem. The Compass points emblem is awarded after the scout has earned the Webelos badge AND four additional activity badges for a total of seven.
Congratulations to Chris Powers for being the first of the Webelos II scouts to earn their Compass Points Emblem. To earn the emblem, Chris completed and earned the Webelos badge and the Communicator, Readyman, Outdoorsman and Sportsman Badges. I know the other Webelos aren’t far behind.
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Wed, 11 Oct 2006The boys of the Wolf Den are proud to have earned their Bobcat Badge! We've also been getting a head start on our achievements. In our first den meeting, we performed the Feats of Skill: an obstacle course, balance beam, tumbling tricks, and lots of running around. Special thanks to Neil Williams for organizing our fitness course! We've also talked about respecting our American flag, and learned how to fold it. We'd also like to thank Ryan Allocco for helping out at our den meetings -- these boys have plenty of energy!
Popcorn Show and Sell a Big Success!
On September 30, Pack 722 participated in the Show and Sell segment of their First Annual Popcorn Fundraiser. Cub Scouts and their parents unselfishly donated their time to insure the success of this event. And what a success it was!!! In less than six hours, the boys sold $2250 worth of popcorn at stations set up across town. What a great accomplishment for our Pack. One of the aspects of the Show and Sell was to ask people if they would like to donate popcorn to the Troops overseas. What a generous response we had!!! It was so rewarding to watch these young boys gain self-confidence with each sale. I'd like to thank my fellow leaders for setting up the various locations. And where would the Pack be without the sacrifices of the boys and their parents. Thank You. Remember - the boys make the Pack go - and what I observed during the Show and Sell - we are going to go far. Thanks to everyone. Janis Shine
Our Tiger den went apple picking at Smolak Farms in North Reading. A great time was had by all!
Calendar for 2006-2007 is available
The preliminary calendar for the upcoming year is available on the calendar page. Of course, more details on all of the pack events will be forthcoming as we get underway in September.