Cub Scout Pack 55, St. James Church

Dear Pack 55,

Pack 55 is planning a Ski / Snowboard Trip for Sunday, February 5^th at Jack Frost Mountain in Blakeslee, Pa.; family and siblings are welcome as well.  Sunday Feb 5 ^th is Scout Day at the mountain, so there should be a lot of Scouts in attendance. We realize it’s also Superbowl Sunday!  We will however be home before the game begins.  In the past, it has been a good weekend to ski, since it hasn’t been as crowded on the slopes. The cost is as follows: $45 a person which includes your lift ticket, lesson and rental equipment. (If you have your own equipment, please refer to the attachment for pricing.) This is a fantastic price and opportunity if you have never skied or snowboarded before. In the event you have younger siblings, there is a half day Snow Monsters Program (ages 3-7) which costs $85. (Information about Snow Monsters is included in the attachments.)

See attached for more details, directions, sign-up sheet, and rental forms.  Please return sign-up sheet and checks to the Den Leaders or Dave Watkins by Sunday, January 29^th. We need to give Jack Frost the final head count by Friday, Feb 3^rd. In addition, please fill out the attached rental/release forms and bring them with you on Feb 5^th.  I will be available to answer questions at the Pinewood Derby, as well as collect registrations and payment if you know you’ll be going and would like to be done with registration!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at dave.watkins@scivantage.com.

Hope you can make it!

Thanks,

Dave Watkins

Helmet Rental Form

JFBB Ski Areas Release1011

Pack 55 Ski Trip

Our annual Pinewood Derby takes place on Sunday, January 22nd in the chapel basement beginning at 1 PM.  Weigh ins will take place on Saturday, 1/21 from 3-5 PM, at which time your car can be submitted for judging by our panel of experts from Troop 555!  Please refer to your Derby rules which came with your kit to ensure that your car will conform to the official BSA rules.  Pizza and drinks will be served shortly after 1PM.  If you  have any questions, please be in touch with your Den Leader ASAP!  Dress will be Class “A” Uniform (dress shirt, hat, neckerchief and slide).  The Pack will pay for the Derby and lunch……so we’re hoping we can count on you to help us out with our outreach for this month…….

We will be conducting an outreach to benefit an organization called, “More than Me”.  MTM takes little girls off the streets of one of the poorest slums in Liberia, West Africa and puts them into school.  Ali Oakes, parishioner and mom of children at SJS is heavily involved with this organization, and asked if the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts could help collect supplies needed in their schools.  Attached is a list of what they are requesting:

Sunday, January 8th from 1:30 – 3:30 PM, Scouts are welcome to join us for a Pack Bowling event at the Strike ‘N Spare Lanes in Green Brook.  The cost for each Scout is $8.(The actual cost is double this, but the Pack will pick up the other half.)  This includes 2 hours of bowling, shoe rental, pizza and drinks.  Please register on line by Friday at noon.  We will collect the money at the lanes on Sunday (Checks can be made out to “Pack 55″).  Because the Pack has grown so much, we are asking that you only register Scouts this year.  In years past, some parents and siblings have also bowled.  If you are an avid bowler, we can see if we can add a lane or two on Sunday, but we can only guarantee enough spots for our Scouts.  We appreciate your understanding!  Class “B” uniforms–that’s the Pack T-shirt.  We hope to see you there!  Don’t forget to register!

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On Friday, December 9th, at 7 PM, we will celebrate Christmas by building Gingerbread Houses!  Each Scout and their family can build a house, and at the end, the leaders will judge the houses in several categories, and we’ll award prizes to the winners!  The cost of the gingerbread houses are $10 each, and will be available for purchase at the Pack Meeting. Please bring $10 cash or check (made out to “Pack 55″).  I ask that each family who would like one, please register on-line for the event by filling out the information below:

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Below is a list of supplies we will put in gift boxes for the soldiers abroad.

We are packing boxes for relatives of St. James parishioners who are serving in the military.

Please keep everything small, individual or travel size.

NO HOME MADE PRODUCTS

NO GLASS CONTAINERS

NO AEROSOL PRODUCTS

Notes from Pack 55 scouts to the soldiers (no names)

Beef Jerky/Slim Jims

packets of hot chocolate, tea and coffee

packets of instant drink mixes

pumpkin/sunflower seeds

protein bars/granola bars/cereal bars

plastic jars of peanut butter and jelly

individual oatmeal packs

individual boxes of cereal (one serving size)

individual bags of trail mix, dried fruit, fruit gummies/roll ups

individual bags of pretzels, chips etc.

individual packages of cookies, candy

gum and hard candy (individually wrapped)

bars of soap

travel size baby wipes

travel size hand sanitizer

body wash, liquid soap, facial cleanser

travel size shampoo/conditioner

combs, brushes

travel size deodorant

disposable razors

cotton swabs

band-aids, gauze pads, first aid kits

lib balm/chap stick

travel size baby powder

travel size tissues

sunblock

bug spray

travel size body/hand lotion, moisturizer, mouthwash

toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss

cough drops

cotton balls

pens, pencils, stationary/envelopes, blank paper (for them to write home)

books of crossword puzzles, word search, mad libs, sudoku etc.

travel size games, cards, dice, yo-yo’s, dominoes

Frisbees, hackey sacks, nerf footballs

disposable cameras

I am sure they will be thrilled to get the packages and happy to share.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Due to the extensive storm-related tree damage on the trails and grounds at Jockey Hollow, the hike scheduled for this Sunday, November 6th, is cancelled.  Instead, we will plan to hike the Cub Scout Jockey Hollow Trail for our Spring Hike in April. Be sure to look for updates as spring approaches!

Due to the snowstorm that hit our area, the fall hike will be postponed, and will be tentatively rescheduled for next Sunday, November 6th. We will be in contact with the National Park Service to ascertain trail conditions over the next few days, and will decide by midweek if they will be cleared enough to go ahead with our hike next Sunday. Please be sure to check back here on the pack website for updates.

To all Scouts–Please join us for a bulletin stuffing at St. James Church at 9 AM on Saturday, Nov. 5th.  With a good turnout, we’ll be done in 30 minutes!  Thanks!!!

We now have more information to pass on to you about the hike at the Jockey Hollow site of the Morristown National Historical Park. As you know, we will be hiking the Cub Scout Jockey Hollow Trail, which is a five-mile course along the trails at the site.

For more information about Jockey Hollow (including directions), please click here. We will be taking registrations online for this event shortly, so be sure to check back on the website over the next few days!

We will meet in front of the Visitor Center at Jockey Hollow at 1:00pm. In the Visitor Center, the pack will view the short film on the encampment at Jockey Hollow, and view the Soldier Hut exhibit. Afterwards, we will exit the Visitor Center and proceed to the Wick Farm for a brief tour, and then hike the trail to the Soldiers’ Huts, which we have an opportunity to explore. Further down our trail will be a stop at the Grand Parade, and at the sites of the New York Brigade and Stark’s Brigade (a magnificent view from here!). Our hike will then proceed through the Trail Center, and then on back to the Wick Farm and Visitor Center, where the Cub Scout Trail ends. Along with tour stops and snack breaks, the entire hike should take 3 – 3.5 hours to complete.

Our scouts will also be working together on a scavenger hunt as a group, which will keep them busy and entertained as they hike the trail! All scouts who complete the entire trail will be awarded a Jockey Hollow Trail Patch!

As for what you need to know and bring for the hike that day:

Required:

A backpack to carry your belongings (can be whatever you have at home– no need to shop for special hiking backpacks!)

A hard copy of the Jockey Hollow Trail Map

Food– trail mix, cereal/energy bars, m&m’s are good options, enough to have 3 – 4 small snacks throughout the hike

Drinks– bring enough water to last the duration of the hike (per person, approximately 1 pint for every hour on the hike, maybe a little more). Sports drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade are fine, too– please feel free to use your discretion

Clothing–at your discretion, an extra change of clothes (just in case we get wet, muddy and dirty). Also, dress appropriately for the weather in layers, to make it easier to add or remove layers to maintain comfort. Shoes should be comfortable and suitable for walking (water-resistant and waterproof is a bonus), and wool socks work better for the outdoor elements than cotton.

Small Plastic Shopping Bags for our trash– for the Cub Scout Trail, we are asked to adhere to a carry-in, carry-out policy.

Suggested Items that Might be Handy to Have:

Flashlight or headlamp

For older scouts, a compass

binoculars

Small first aid kit– if you do not have one, some bandages, antiseptic wipes, and antibiotic ointment can be packed in the backpack

Rain poncho or rain shell/jacket that can fit in the backpack

Hopefully, this information will have all scout families ready to enjoy our hike on the 30th. See you then!