What a fantastic and exciting Pinewood Derby! Congratulations to all who participated and to our Pack winners: 1st - Christian R, 2nd - Jacob K, 3rd - Tyler.

And the fun is just beginning…

The next few months are going to be really busy with all sorts of scouting activities. To start, our Scouting for Food campaign is February 20. This is a national community service project for our scouts to help fill the local food pantries, and as a scout, it is our duty “to help other people”. Then, just a few days later, we will be celebrating scouting’s 100th anniversary with a spectacular Blue & Gold Banquet. This is a super fun banquet for the entire family. We will hold a couple of our largest ceremonies at this event recognizing many of our scouts who have earned their ranks and bestowing the Arrow of Light award on a few of our Webelos. In addition, some of our Arrow of Light recipients will be “crossing the bridge” into Boy Scouts making this their last day in Cub Scouts! We will miss them, but will wish them continued success as they move through the ranks in Boy Scouts on their way to Eagle Scout.

Also, don’t forget to check out all of the upcoming events for our scouts below.

Until next month,

- Ronnie Rhodes, Cubmaster Pack 418

Go Scouts!

Scouting for Food		Our biggest service project of the year happens on Saturday, February 20. Scouting for Food is the largest door-to-door food collection effort in the Dallas-Fort Worth area benefiting more than 40 assistance agencies across the area. Scouting for Food involves approximately 30,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, friends, family and volunteers from Circle Ten Council, BSA. Meet at Groves at 9:00 that morning to help collect canned food.Also, look for a food collection box in the school’s foyer during the weeks leading up to February 20.
Annual Blue & Gold Banquet		We’ll celebrate our accomplishments and say farewell to our Webelos II scouts at our annual Blue & Gold Banquet on Friday, February 26. Watch for more information from your Blue & Gold committee.
Dad n’ Lad Cake Bake and Auction		Our March Pack Meeting will be our Annual Dad n’ Lad Cake Bake and Auction event. This is a “hands down” fun event our scouts look forward to every year. Scouts get to design a cake and with Dad’s (or Grandpa, Uncle, etc) help bakes a cake and decorates it. Then, you get to bid on your favorite cake. What’s better than having cake and getting to eat it, too!
		The proceeds we raise during this event help to fund our summer programming like game nights and swim parties.
Pack Family Camping		This year’s Family Campout will be held at Lake Tawakoni State Park on the weekend of April 23-25, 2010. We will have a full weekend of fun planned for everyone. Scouts will work on some of their electives and build sailboats for our Annual Raingutter Regatta race on Saturday. There will be games, a Pack family cookout, and an exciting and fun campfire program.
		This year’s camping fee is $25 per family for the entire weekend if you sign-up and pay by the March Pack Meeting. After the March Pack Meeting, the fee increases to $35 and sign-ups for this event ends on April 17, so don’t miss out!
		Both tent and RV camping will be allowed at this event; however, only 12 RV sites will be available first come, first served at sign-up.
		If you just absolutely despise camping or have a conflict on Friday or Sunday and cannot camp with us, you are still welcome to join us for the day for just $7 for your entire family.
		Sign-up sheets will be available at the February and March Pack Meetings.
		Directions to Lake Tawakoni State Park
		Please note our camping and Saturday-only fees do NOT include the State Park’s daily access/usage fees. Lake Tawakoni’s access fees are $3 per day for each person 13 years of age and older and are due upon entering the park.
Next Pack Meeting		Our next Pack Meeting is on Friday, February 26, 2010 starting promptly at 6:30pm at Groves Elementary. Please note the earlier starting time as this is our Annual Blue & Gold Banquet. This event is expected to last about two hours.