Cub Scout Pack 55, St. James Church

Scout Mass, 3/11 at Noon

swetzel — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:54:57 +0000

Please join us for our annual Scout Mass on March 11th at the Noon Mass at St. James Church. Whether your son is receiving a medal or not this year, it is a great way to support the boys who will be, and to show what a wonderful ministry we have! Please refer to the e-mail for specifics. Any questions, please contact Steve Wetzel at skwpaw@verizon.net or 908-696-8591.

Hope to see you all there!

Pack Movie Night!

swetzel — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:02:25 +0000

Join us for our Pack movie night this Thursday, 2/16 at 7 PM in the multi-purpose room of the Parish Center. The movie we will watch is Disney Pixar’s UP! We decide on Thursday instead of Friday because we thought we might lose those families who are heading out of town for Winter Break (and we’re hoping the last day before break shouldn’t be too taxing). Aware that it is a school night, we plan to start the 96 minute movie right at 7:00, so the boys can be out the door just after 8:30. We will serve refreshments and snacks.
Feel free to come comfy in your Pack T Shirt and sweats or even pajamas! Also, the boys can bring either a sleeping bag, bean bag, blankets, etc. for the floor. (We will have chairs for the adults.) All siblings are welcome too! I would ask your help in keeping the boys in the multi-purpose room, and sitting down watching the movie, not running around the room, otherwise we’ll lose everyone!

It’s difficult to fit a Pack meeting in February because of the break and ski trip, so that’s why this event was not on the calendar earlier in the year. The Pack Committee decided that we would give this a try and see how it works out. Thanks for Mike Thomas for the idea of UP, since the boy is a Scout on his journey! Thanks too Mike and Neal Griffin for providing the equipment to view the film. We hope to see you Thursday evening!

Steve Wetzel

Ski/Snowboard Trip

swetzel — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:14:08 +0000

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

Pinewood Derby

swetzel — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:08:23 +0000

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:

*School Supplies (pens, pencils, coloring books, crayons, markers, notebooks)

*Art Supplies-All Kinds

*Books

*DVDs- Movies for kids & teens

*Used cell phones

*Flip Flops

*Hair Stuff (combs, barrettes, fake hair, rubber bands)

*”Gently Used” kids clothing

*Sports equipment of all kinds

We look forward to seeing you at weigh ins Saturday!

Pack Bowling

swetzel — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:34:24 +0000

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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December Pack Meeting/Christmas Party

swetzel — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:54:24 +0000

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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List of Supplies for the military

swetzel — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:52:04 +0000

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.

November Pack Meeting, Friday, 11/18 7-9 PM

swetzel — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:57:52 +0000

November Pack Meeting: Friday, 11/18 7 PM

First, I am excited to announce that we have been given permission to hang a beautiful new US Flag in our Scout room, which honors the memory of all those who were lost in the attacks of 9-11-01. This commemorative Scout flag was released on the 10 year anniversary, and lists all the names of those lost in the blue and red stripes. This will serve our Scouts for years to come in our Scout Room #4.
Next, we will conduct outreach for our Veterans as well as currently deployed soldiers. We will be collecting gently used coats that we can pass along to the Veterans Hospital in Basking Ridge. (Although the VA has a need for mostly men’s coats, feel free to bring all coats, as we are aware of other coat drives who welcome women’s and children’s coats.) And for our Troops currently deployed overseas, we will be taking a collection of items they most need (and treasure). Attached, please find a list of recommended items, as well as those prohibited from shipping. We will pack them up, and Pack 55 will pay for the shipping costs overseas. We will have colored paper for the boys (and siblings) to write notes to our troops, as they really appreciate hearing from us and knowing that we both appreciate them and are keeping them in our prayers. (Please see attachment.) Many thanks to Kelly Bordiuk for her help with our outreach!
Finally, we will have a speaker, Mr. Anthony J. Larocca, Sr., who is a long time parishioner of St. James, as well as a Veteran of the Korean War. Mr. Larocca spoke last year to the Men’s Ministry and his speech was inspiring to all of us who attended, so I thought if him when I was looking for a speaker as we remember our Veterans. I would ask that the boys please give Mr. Larocca their undivided attention and respect.

Dress for this Pack Meeting will be Class “A” uniforms (dress uniforms–shirt, hat neckerchief, scarf and slide)

Siblings are very welcome to our Pack Meeting!

PACK FALL HIKE CANCELLED

syautz — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:14:26 +0000

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 … Continue reading →

FALL HIKE SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 30TH POSTPONED

syautz — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 01:58:38 +0000

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.