This blog has moved!

The new address for the Pack 681 blog is:
http://pack681fallschurch.blogspot.com/

You can jump to it here.

We made this change to consolidate our email and blog accounts and allow more folks to post to the blog. This blog will remain in place, in case you want to visit it for pictures, etc.

Pack 681 Calendar for 2008-2009

Pack 681 hopes all pack families had a wonderful summer!  We look forward to seeing you all at Cub Scouts this year.  We have a fun-filled and rewarding program planned for the scouts. 

 

Please refer to your email for the Pack 681 Calendar for the 2008-2009 season.  Please download the pack calendar and put all the dates on your family calendar!

 

Coming soon:

 

Back to Scouting Night is Wednesday, Sept 17 in Heller Hall.  All pack families are welcome to attend.  We need the help of parents on Back to Scouting night.  Please contact Frank Vasquez if you can help. 

 

Also in September:

 

Sep 4:  Planning meeting (parents only); Knecht Gym Conf Room; 7pm

Sep 13:  Catholic Scout Retreat; Camp Snyder; 8-9am registration; Mass at 4pm

Sep 17:  Back to Scouting Night (see above)

Sep 28:  Pack Hike

 

Please do not "Reply to All"
 
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Visit the pack blog at:
http://pack681-stjames.blogspot.com/
Contact the pack at:
sjpack681@gmail.com

Goshen Family Weekend

I highly recommend Goshen Family Weekend. Your family will enjoy all of the program areas at a Boy Scout summer camp for the entire weekend. It is held on Labor Day Weekend. Please contact me if you would like more information. Also, please see the link below for more information and to register:

Goshen Family Weekend

White House Tour - Part 2

Aug 30 also did not work with the White House Tour. We'll try again in the future.

White House Tour

Looks like Aug 23 is not going to work for the tour. We are now targeting Aug 30 and will plan another visit in the future. See the email sent to all pack families for more information.

Pack 681 August Activity: Mini Golf!

Pack 681 will be playing
 
MINI GOLF
 
from 0930 to 1130
 
on Saturday 16th August
 
at Jefferson District Park
see park info at
 http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/golf/jefferson/ 
JEFFERSON DISTRICT GOLF COURSE
7900 Lee Highway
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-573-0444
 
More details to follow soon.  Hope you can join us!
 
Directions:
From Route 66:
Take I-66 East towards Washington DC. Merge onto I-495 South/Capital Beltway, exit 64A. Take exit 50B, US-50/Arlington Blvd. Merge right towards Fairview Park. Merge left towards Fairview Park North. Follow ¾ miles, cross intersection at Lee Highway, to entrance on left.
From Interstate 95 South:
Take I-95 North towards Washington, DC. I-95 North becomes I-395 North. Take exit 170B, I-495 North/Capital Beltway towards Tysons Corner. Take exit 50B, US-50/Arlington Blvd. Merge right towards Fairview Park. Merge left towards Fairview Park North. Follow ¾ miles, cross intersection at Lee Highway, to entrance on left.
From Interstate 395 North:
Take I-395 South towards Richmond. Take exit 170B, I-495 North/Capital Beltway towards Tysons Corner. Take exit 50B, US-50/Arlington Blvd. Merge right towards Fairview Park. Merge left towards Fairview Park North. Follow ¾ miles, cross intersection at Lee Highway, to entrance on left.
 Please Do Not Reply to All!!

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Visit the pack blog at:
http://pack681-stjames.blogspot.com/
Contact the pack at:
sjpack681@gmail.com

Pack Picnic

Don't forget the pack picnic on Sunday 7/27!

For details, see below (or your email).

Goshen Blog

All, please see the below blog to see updates of our pack's trip to Goshen 2008!

http://goshen2008.blogspot.com/

Pack Picnic

Just 3 more weeks until the Pack 681 Annual Picnic… Join us for food, fun, and games on Sunday, July 27, 2008 at Madison Park in Falls Church.

Scouts & their families will bring salads and desserts; the Pack will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, sodas, plates and utensils. We've reserved the Picnic Shelter and shelter area. The fun starts at 11:00 am and runs until 3:00 pm. Please see the attached flyer for details.

We'll need 3-4 volunteers to help me set-up (we have the park reservation starting at 10:30 am), lend a hand as chef/cook/burger jockey, or help out organizing the games and events. Let David Taylor know if you are interested.

We'll see you on the 27th!

Great Campout!

Thanks to all who made this campout a success, especially Marty Freeman.

Thanks to Father Handley for braving the heat and celebrating Mass. It was so wonderful to have the Lord present with us and we thank you for your spiritual leadership.

Photos above include sprinkler fun, a strange bug, Mass in the amphetheatre, the light of scouting, and a Black Widow.

Campout

See you at the Family Campout this weekend. Bring a bathing suit and towel, we might get wet.

Pack 681 Planning Meeting for 2008-2009 - This Thursday, June 5, 7:30pm

This is a reminder that we have our planning meeting this Thursday, June 5 at 7:30pm in the conference room next to the Knecht Gym, St. James School.  Please note the time (7:30pm) and location are different from our normal comittee meeting. 

 

We will plan out the program for the next year (2008-2009).  We will set program events, dates, and responsible parties.  We will also vote on open leadership positions.  The committee chair will have a draft program for review and the program launch materials from the National Captial Area Council.  We need your ideas and input to make this a great program for next year. 

 

We need all den leaders, patrol leaders, and committee members to attend.  All parents are highly encouraged to attend.  We need volunteers to make th pack go, even if it's just for one event.   

 

Please contact Victor Bieniek with any questions or ideas at vbieniek@gmail.com or (703) 855-8428 (cell)

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Visit the pack blog at:
http://pack681-stjames.blogspot.com/
Contact the pack at:
sjpack681@gmail.com

Planning Meeting This Thursday, June 5, 7:30pm

This is a reminder that we have our planning meeting this Thursday, June 5 at 7:30pm in the conference room next to the Knecht Gym, St. James School.  Please note the time (7:30pm) and location are different from our normal comittee meeting. 

 

We will plan out the program for the next year (2008-2009).  We will set program events, dates, and responsible parties.  We will also vote on open leadership positions.  The committee chair will have a draft program for review and the program launch materials from the council.  We need your ideas and input to make this a great program for next year. 

 

We need all den leaders, patrol leaders, and committee members to attend.  Also, please encourage at least two able bodied volunteers from your dens to attend to sign up for pack events.  All parents are welcome to attend. 

 

Please contact Victor Bieniek with any questions or ideas at vbieniek@gmail.com or (703) 855-8428 (cell)

 
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Visit the pack blog at:
http://pack681-stjames.blogspot.com/
Contact the pack at:
sjpack681@gmail.com

Pack 681 Wins Award in Falls Church Memorial Day Parade!

What a great float, beautiful day, fantastic crowd, and wonderful parade. See our guys and their handywork below.

Memorial Day Parade

Please wear full uniform.

Please plan on being at our meeting place no later than 1pm. We are number 18A in the line up. We will meet near the intersection of West and Greenwich. Call me on my cell if you cannot find us: 703-855-8428. Bring a bottle of water and comfortable walking shoes.

Thanks to all those who helped prepare the float today.

Memorial Day Parade

New parade line up #18A!

Once again, our Cubmaster, Bob Harding, will lead us in the annual Falls Church Memorial Day Parade down Park St. Here are the plans:

Sunday, May 25
Meet at the Scout House between 2pm and 5pm - show up anytime between 2 and 5 and stay as long as you can. We will be constructing a train float. Wear old clothes suitable for painting, etc. We hope to wrap things up with a hot dog roast. We need lots of help - we always deliver an awesome float!

Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day)
Meeting place: Parade slot # 18B, near the intersection of West St. and Greenwhich
Time: Arrive no later than 1pm
Dress: Full scout uniform and comfortable shoes
Bring: Water bottle, rain jacket, if threat of rain

Parents can march with their scouts or pick up scouts at the end of the parade route. This event is great fun - both the float construction and the parade. The boys love handing out candy and marching in the parade.

Found at Pack Meeting: Blue Old Navy Fleece Jacket

If you lost it, contact Victor Bieniek at 703-855-8428 (Cell) or vbieniek@gmail.com

 

 

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Visit the pack blog at:
http://pack681-stjames.blogspot.com/
Contact the pack at:
sjpack681@gmail.com

Pack 681 in the Memorial Day Parade!

Once again, our Cubmaster, Bob Harding, will lead us in the annual Falls Church Memorial Day Parade down Park St.  Here are the plans:

 

Sunday, May 25

Meet at the Scout House between 2pm and 5pm - show up anytime between 2 and 5 and stay as long as you can.  We will be constructing a train float.  Wear old clothes suitable for painting, etc.  We hope to wrap things up with a hot dog roast.  We need lots of help - we always deliver an awesome float! 

 

Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day)

Meeting place:  Parade slot # 21B, near the intersection of West St. and Greenwhich

Time:  Arrive no later than 1pm

Dress:  Full scout uniform and comfortable shoes

Bring:  Water bottle, rain jacket, if threat of rain

 

Parents can march with their scouts or pick up scouts at the end of the parade route.  This event is great fun - both the float construction and the parade.  The boys love handing out candy and marching in the parade.

 

Other reminders:

 

May 22:  Last Pack Meeting of the Season at Cherry Hill Park

 

June 5:  Planning Meeting:  St. James Knecht Gym Conference Room

Committee Members, Den Leaders, and two volunteers from each den should attend.  This is when we plan out the program for the 2008-2009 scouting year.  We need volunteers to coordinate pack events.  We will also vote to fill open positions.  There will be food...  All are invited - help shape the program for next year!

 

June 7-8:  Spring Family Campout at Camp Wilson

Don't miss this exciting campout with the great campfire as its centerpiece. 

  
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Visit the pack blog at:
http://pack681-stjames.blogspot.com/
Contact the pack at:
sjpack681@gmail.com

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Visit the pack blog at:
http://pack681-stjames.blogspot.com/
Contact the pack at:
sjpack681@gmail.com

Reminder: Pack Meeting May 22, 7pm

What:  Last Pack Meeting of the Season

Where:  Cherry Hill Park Pavillion

When:  Thursday, May 22, 7pm

 

Please join us for the last pack meeting of this season!  We will have skits and songs, cheers, advancement, and bridging.  All ranks bridge to the next level - Tigers to Wolves, Wolves to Bears, Bears to Webelos, and Webelos to Webelos 2.  The pack will provide new neckerchiefs for the scouts. 

 

Join us for an evening of fun and recognition.

 

In case of inclement weather, please stay tuned to the pack blog for last minute updates (e.g., if we decide to move the meeting indoors) 

-------------------------------
Visit the pack blog at:
http://pack681-stjames.blogspot.com/
Contact the pack at:
sjpack681@gmail.com

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Visit the pack blog at:
http://pack681-stjames.blogspot.com/
Contact the pack at:
sjpack681@gmail.com

Reminder: Committee Meeting: Thursday, May 8, 7pm, Thoreau Middle School

This is a reminder that we'll have our May committee meeting at 7pm this Thrusday, May 8 at Thoreau Middle School.  I look forward to seeing you there. 

 

All dens - please send a representative. 

 

This is our last committee meeting prior to the planning meeting on June 5th planning meeting.  Please save the date for June 5th.  This is the meeting where we plan out the program for next year.  Please help us determine our program for 2008 - 2009. 

 

Upcoming dates:

Pack Hike / Jam on the Trail:  May 10

Last Pack Meeting of the Season:  May 22  (boys bridge to next rank)

Memorial Day Parade:  May 25-26

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Visit the pack blog at:
http://pack681-stjames.blogspot.com/
Contact the pack at:
sjpack681@gmail.com

Tornado Safety Saves Lives

The below was sent from Arlington Alert - see details at the bottom of the post.

Know the difference between a tornado watch and warning:

Tornado watch: Tornadoes could develop in your area. Stay tuned to your local radio, TV or NOAA weather radio for further information and possible warnings. Be prepared to take cover if necessary.

Tornado warning: A tornado has been sighted or has been indicated by NWS Doppler radar. Warnings are given to individual counties or cities and include the tornado's location, direction and speed. If you are in or near its path, seek shelter immediately.

A weather alert radio is an important part of being ready for an emergency. These radios will deliver weather watches and warnings from the local National Weather Service offices, 24 hours a day. They can be programmed to receive alerts for specific areas, and some have a tone alert that will activate a weather radio even if the audio is turned off.

If a Tornado is Headed Your Way:

Shelter immediately in the nearest substantial building. Go to the building's basement. If there is no basement, move to a small, windowless interior room such as a closet, bathroom or interior hall on the lowest level of the building. Be sure to use the stairs to reach the lowest level, not an elevator. Protect your body from flying debris with a heavy blanket or pillows.

Take precautions if you can not get to a substantial buildings. If you are in:

Open buildings (shopping malls, gymnasiums or civic centers): Try to get into the restroom or an interior hallway. If there is no time to go anywhere else, protect yourself right where you are by getting up against something that will support or deflect falling debris. Protect your head by covering it with your arms.
Automobiles: Get out of your vehicle and try to find shelter inside a sturdy building. A culvert or ditch can provide shelter if a substantial building is not nearby — lie down flat and cover your head with your hands. Do not take shelter under a highway overpass or bridge, because debris could get blown under them or the structures themselves could be destroyed.
Outdoors: Try to find shelter immediately in the nearest substantial building. If no buildings are close, lie down flat in a ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.
Mobile homes: Do not stay in mobile homes. You should leave immediately and seek shelter inside a nearby sturdy building or lie down in a ditch away from your home, covering your head with your hands. Mobile homes are extremely unsafe during tornadoes

Sent by Arlington County OEM to All users (e-mail) through Arlington Alert
....powered by Cooper Notification RSAN
---
- Tell a friend about Arlington Alert by forwarding this e-mail to them. Registration for this free service is at https://www.arlingtonalert.com
- Tune into Arlington County Radio – AM 1700 for additional information

- Arlington Alert is now also available on XM Satellite Radio Channel 214

What a Great Campfire Pack Meeting!

What a glorious night and a great campfire!

Thanks to all those who made it happen:

Marty Freeman for organizing and running the meeting
Bob Harding for set-up
Jessica and Mark Maleski for the food
John Handley and Rick Tyacke for cooking
Karen Lucchetti for the s'mores!

Please email pictures to vbieniek@gmail.com and I'll post them on this blog.

Pack Campfire!

Bring a rain jacket and/or umbrella. We're at the Scout House today!


The Pack Campfire will be held on Saturday, April 26 from 5pm to 9pm.

This year, we will hold the pack campfire behind the Scout House in Falls Church. The address is:
128 S. Spring St
Falls Church, VA

Please park in the Scout House parking lot, along Spring St by the Scout House, or also on Irving St and access the Scout House Lawn via Berman Park.

Details: We will start things out with a picnic. The pack will provide burgers, dogs, buns, drinks, condiments, cups, plates, and utensils. All families should bring one side dish – salad, fruit, vegetable or desert. Right after the picnic, we will conduct our pack meeting around the campfire. Each den will present a skit and song and lead us in a cheer. We will also have advancement for scouts who have completed achievements. We will finish up with s’mores.

All families should bring one side dish. Please dress appropriately for the weather, bring a camp chair to sit in, and a flashlight for clean up and exiting.

Please contact Bob Harding for more details or if you would like to help at (703) 532-1159. You may also contact Victor Bieniek at (703) 206-0152.

Happy Earth Day!

Let's celebrate Earth Day by commiting to refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rebuy.

Precycling:

Refuse what you don't need
Reduce what you do need
Reuse what you can't reduce
Recycle what you can't reuse
Rebuy (buy recycled) whenever possible.


What is precycling?
Precycling is a term that refers to the consideration of the use and disposal of all components of the item you are purchasing, including the packaging. It means buying products that use less of the earth’s resources, create less solid waste, and conserve valuable landfill space.

Why precycle?
Each year 25 billion Styrofoam cups are thrown in the landfill.
Americans throw away 25 million plastic bottles every hour.
Over 1/3 of municipal solid waste is packaging, most of it paper.

By considering what will happen to the product and its packaging before you purchase it you are helping to decrease solid waste, particularly non-recyclable solid waste.

How do you precycle?
Its as simple as bringing your own grocery bags when you go to the supermarket, or at the very least choosing paper bags that are recyclable with cardboard at SRP’s drop-off centers. You can precycle by bringing your own mug to the coffee shop or dining in instead of taking out. Choosing glass or aluminum over plastic is precycling, as both glass and aluminum are easier to recycle and create less hazardous waste in their manufacturing. Look for products made or packaged with recycled materials and close the loop.

Most importantly avoid disposable products and those with elaborate packaging. Send the message to manufacturers that Americans don’t need over-packaged and disposable products. Use your dollar as your vote – money talks!

Pack Campfire: Apr 26 at the Scout House

The Pack Campfire will be held on Saturday, April 26 from 5pm to 9pm.

This year, we will hold the pack campfire behind the Scout House in Falls Church. The address is:
128 S. Spring St
Falls Church, VA

Please park in the Scout House parking lot, along Spring St by the Scout House, or also on Irving St and access the Scout House Lawn via Berman Park.

Details: We will start things out with a picnic. The pack will provide burgers, dogs, buns, drinks, condiments, cups, plates, and utensils. All families should bring one side dish – salad, fruit, vegetable or desert. Right after the picnic, we will conduct our pack meeting around the campfire. Each den will present a skit and song and lead us in a cheer. We will also have advancement for scouts who have completed achievements. We will finish up with s’mores.

All families should bring one side dish. Please dress appropriately for the weather, bring a camp chair to sit in, and a flashlight for clean up and exiting.

Please contact Bob Harding for more details or if you would like to help at (703) 532-1159. You may also contact Victor Bieniek at (703) 206-0152.

Earth Day and Arbor Day Coming Soon!

Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 25) give us great opportunities to teach our young scouts about nature, ecology, and service. Please see the below links for DC area activities or come up with an activity on your own for your den or scout!

Usually, local nature centers hold activities for kids.

Fairfax County has a big event on April 19 and also a Recyling Event (you can recycle old computers for free!):
Earth Day - Arbor Day


Earth Day:

Earth Day Events in DC Area

Earth Day Network


Arbor Day:

Arbor Day Site

For Kids

Happy Arbor Day - let's plant some trees!

Committee Meeting - Apr 10, 7pm Thoreau Middle School

Pack Committee Meeting - Thursday, April 10, 7pm
Thoreau Middle School, Vienna, VA

Roundtable follows immediately after at 8pm. Roundtable is a great forum for picking up tips and tricks for den meetings and outings, including camping.

Each den should send a representative and all committee members should attend. Hope to see you there!

Agenda is as follows:

Pack Campfire Details
Jamboree
Spring Hike
End of the Year Pack Meeting
Memorial Day Parade
Planning Meeting for 2008-2009
Spring Campout
Leadership Vacancies

Thoreau Middle School
2505 Cedar Ln
Vienna, VA 22180
Get Directions

Cub Scout Rock Climbing at Sport Rock

One of our dens had a great time at SportRock!

Camp Snyder Jamboree! May 3

Below (at the bottom of this post) are details from the Camp Snyder JAMBOREE DAY poster. You'll see there are lots of interesting activities the boys will really enjoy - looks like a fun day for all.

Key points are:

Date: 3 May, 2008
Programs begin at 10:00 AM and run until 5:00 PM
Cost: $5 per individual (Youth & Adults). Walk-Ins will be accepted at the door, for an additional $2 Fee.
Lunch: Lunch Tickets maybe purchased in advance for $5. Alternatively you may bring your own lunch for the day. NOTE: Lunch tickets will not be sold the day of the event.
Car Pooling is recommended so it's suggested that each Den coordinate accordingly.
You'll need to take blankets/towels for dining as seating is limited
Camp Snyder is at 6100 Antioch Road, Haymarket, VA 20169, which is about 32 miles from Falls Chruch. We'd need to allow an hour to travel there.

You'll note the Poster states Pre-registration is required on-line - we'll do this as a Pack. If you's like to attend then please contact the coordinator for this event, Lyn Tyacke with:

Names/numbers
Confirmation if you wish to purchase Camp Snyder lunch
Den Number
Your contact details
Please respond by end of day on April 18.

Please contact Lyn Tyacke - the contact information is in the email distributed to all pack members. If you did not receive the email, please contact Victor Bieniek at vbieniek@gmail.com

Info from the flyer:

May 3, 2008
Camp William B. Snyder
JAMBOREE DAY!

Programs to include:
• Civil War Reenactors
• American Revolutionary War Reenactors
• Remote Control Flying
• Outdoor Scout Skills Expo, sponsored by the Wood Badge Committee
• Fishing
• Paddle Boats
• Remote Control Submarines
• Various Outdoor Vender Displays
• COPE activities & Climbing Wall
• BB Gun Ranges
• Archery Ranges
• Model Railroading
• Outdoor Sportsman & Conservation Programs
• United States Army
And much, much more!!!
Registration & Fees:
• Registration will open up on March 20th
• $5 per individual (Youth & Adults) and pre-registration is required on-line
at www.boyscouts-ncac.org
• Walk-Ins will be accepted at the door, for an additional $2 Fee.
• Optional: $5 Lunch Tickets maybe purchased in advance
when registering or you may bring your own lunch for the day.
NOTE: Lunch tickets will not be sold the day of the event.
Additional Notes & Recommendations:
• Programs begin at 10:00 AM and run until 5:00 PM
• Car Pooling is advised
• You should plan to bring blankets or large towels for dining on, as seating will
be limited at meal times
• Because of the focus on “More Program” overnight camping will not be available
• Scout Uniform is advised, but not required
• The program is available for all levels of Scouting: Packs, Troops, Teams & Crews
• The Camp Trading Post will be open
For additional information visit us online at: www.boyscouts-ncac.org
JOIN US!

Arrow Of Light Pack Meeting - Location: Scout House

The Arrow of Light Pack Meeting will be held on Thursday, Apr 3, 7pm at the Scout House.

Please note we have changed the location to the Scout House.

This is the pack meeting where our 2nd Year Webelos bridge to Boy Scouts and includes a ceremony conducted by the Boy Scouts of the Order of the Arrow. It's a great ceremony - not to be missed.

The focus will be on the 2nd Year Webelos, but all are invited to this meeting.

Committee Meeting: Now Tuesday, March 18

Our rescheduled committee meeting will be held tomorrow evening:

Tuesday, March 18, 7pm
Conference room next to the St. James Knecht Gym

Agenda is as follows:
Arrow of Light Pack Meeting (includes advancement)
Trout Fishing
Falls Church Clean up (Wolves)
Pack Campfire (includes advancement)
Cub Scout Jamboree
Day Camp Sign-up
and more...

This meeting is open to all parents. Each den should send at least one representative to each committee meeting. We look forward to seeing you there!

March 13 Committee Meeting Postponed

Den Leaders and Committee Members:

Due to a conflict with the St. James School PTO meeting on Thursday, we will postpone the commitee meeting scheduled for this Thursday, March 13.

Let's target next Tuesday, March 18. I'll confirm once I have identified a meeting place for us. Please let me know if you cannot make it on Tuesday, March 18 by replying to this message.

This is an imporant meeting, as we have a lot of exciting spring events coming up:
Arrow of Light Pack Meeting (includes advancement)
Trout Fishing
Falls Church Clean up (Wolves)
Pack Campfire (includes advancement)
Cub Scout Jamboree
Day Camp Sign-up
and more...

Space Derby - May the Force Be with You

Space Derby
Sunday, March 9
New location: Heller Hall

There will be a $2.00 Registration fee. When assembling the kit, make sure you lightly lube the rubber bands with dish washing soap or some sort of slippery liquid. Do not over do it. I will not allow any kits that have anything dripping from them. Also use all the rubber bands that come with the kit. See you Sunday.

We need a few volunteers for setup - see below.

1:30 Setup Track (I will need some help on this)
3:00 Tigers Arrive & Register
3:30 Tigers Race - Wolves Arrive & Register
4:00 Wolves Race - Bears Arrive & Register
4:30 Bears Race - Webelos 1 & 2 Arrive & Register
5:00 Webelos 1 & 2 Race

Thanks
Ed Digges

Space Derby - March 9 at 3pm

This is a reminder that the Pack 681 Space Derby will be held on March 9 at 3pm. At this time, we are planning on holding the space derby in either the cafeteria or outside, weather permitting. More details to come, but get those rockets ready!

Information on Goshen Summer Camp

If you were unable to make the Goshen information meeting, please feel free to call me and I can get you more information about Goshen Summer Camp. We have created an email distribution list with information about the camp and details around payment schedules, etc. If you'd like to be added to that list, please email me at victorbieniek@cox.net.

You may also direct any questions to Victor Bieniek at 703-855-8428 (cell).

See the Goshen Planning blog at: Goshen Blog

Young Scout Retreat - Cancelled

The Young Scout Retreat originally scheduled for Mar 8 has been cancelled.

Please follow the below link to order Sabbath patches for those scouts who regularly attend church.

The Catholic Committee on Scouting and Camp Fire, Diocese of Arlington

Reminder: Goshen Information Meeting

Reminder for Bears and First Year Webelos:

The pack will hold an informational meeting on the Goshen Scout Reservation Summer Camp program on Friday, Feb 29, 7pm at the Scout House. This meeting is targeted to parents/guardians, so scouts and other siblings should not attend, unless you are unable to leave them at home.

Pizza and soda will be served.

We will also hold an orientation meeting at a later time for those folks who decide to attend Goshen.

Please see the below site for information on Camp PMI, where we will camp this summer:
Goshen Information

Please call Bob Harding or Victor Bieniek with any questions.

Blue and Gold Fun

What a great Blue and Gold Banquet today. Thanks to all who helped set up, especially the Web 1 and Web 2 families. Thanks to Mark and Jessica for organizing.

Mother - Son Game Night Postponed

We will reschedule Mother - Son Game night to a new date in March.

Goshen Information Meeting

For Bears and First Year Webelos:

The pack will hold an informational meeting on the Goshen Scout Reservation Summer Camp program on Friday, Feb 29, 7pm at the Scout House. This meeting is targeted to parents/guardians, so scouts and other siblings should not attend, unless you are unable to leave them at home.

Pizza and soda will be served.

We will also hold an orientation meeting at a later time for those folks who decide to attend Goshen.

Please see the below site for information on Camp PMI, where we will camp this summer:
Goshen Information

Please call Bob Harding or Victor Bieniek with any questions.

Blue and Gold and Friends of Scouting

We will have a guest speaker from the BSA National Capital Area Council to talk about Friends of Scouting at the Blue and Gold Banquet this Sunday, Feb 24. Friends of Scouting is one of the Council's main fundraising events. It costs the council an average of $150 annually for each scout (above the BSA dues) to fund such things as:

- Maintains and operates 5,000 acres of camps for year round short-term and long-term summer Boy Scout camping, Cub Scout resident and family camps, and training facilities for Scout Leaders.
- Bethesda Service Center and administrative staff
- Leader Training
- Cub Scout Day Camps, Overnights
- And much more

You know how very important Scouting is to our boys. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. The George Mason District has set a goal of $25 per family. For those who donate a minimum of $140, you will receive this year's commemorative Council patch. In addition to the patch, those who are able to give $250 receive a hat, $500 a polo shirt, $1,000 a windbreaker. No donation is too small - any and all help is appreciated.

How the money is used

Blue and Gold Banquet Fun

The Blue and Gold Banquet will be held on Sunday, Feb 24, 3-5 pm, in Heller Hall. The Blue and Gold is the big awards ceremony for the year. We hope to see you there. As a reminder, please see below for the agenda and specific responsibilities:

Families should bring a dish to share as the Blue and Gold is a potluck dinner. Below are the assignments for dishes (by last name):
A - I Desserts and Breads
J - Q Side Dishes and Salads
R - Z Main Dishes

Set up: Set up begins at 2:00 p.m. Web 1 & 2 Dens will be in charge of set up
Clean up: All dens and patrols

Program:
1) Opening Flag Ceremony (Weeblos 1)
2) Grace
3) Dinner
4) Award Ceremony
5) Cheers/Songs/Skits
6) Advancement
7) Distribution of Space Derby Kits
8) Closing Flag Ceremony (Weeblos 1)

Blue and Gold Banquet Approaches

Save the date: Sun, Feb 24, 3pm. Be ready for skits, songs, and fun.

Pack Winter Hike - Today, Feb 10

More information will be posted on this soon.

Article on Patrol from Boy Scout Troop 681 in Washington Post

Please use the below link to access a story in the Washington Post about a patrol of 11 boys from St. James Boy Scout Troop 681.

Viking Patrol

St. James Scout Mass - Feb 3

St. James will hold it's annual Scout Mass on Sunday, Feb 3 at 9am.

All Cub Scouts should arrive at Heller Hall no later than 8:30am in full uniform. We will process to the church at 8:45am. Scouts and their leaders will sit in reserved seats at the front of the church. Parents and siblings will sit on their own. Please plan on arriving early, since seating will be tight.

There will be a reception in Heller Hall immediately following the Mass. All family members are invited to the reception.

Scouting is a faith-based activity and the Scout Mass at St. James serves a dual purpose to both encourage scouts to embrace their faith and also demonstrate to our sponsor, St. James Church, the strength of the scouting movement within the parish. We hope to see you all there.

Spaghetti Dinner - Entertainment by: Mad Science!

Please join us for the Pack 681 Family Spaghetti Dinner! See the attached flyer for more information.

Thursday, January 24, 2008, Heller Hall: Dinner to start at 6:00pm sharp. All family members are welcome.

Families with last names beginning:
A-I Salads/ Bread or rolls
J-N Side Dishes
O-Z Desserts

Please bring serving utensils & dishes w/ name on it to reclaim at end of dinner. Pasta, sauce, meatballs, and refreshments provided by the pack.

Special Appearance by: Mad Science 6:45pm thru 7:30pm (Bring your cameras)

Pinewood Fun

The Pinewood Derby was a huge success and much fun was had by all. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped, especially event organizers Ed and Laura Digges.

We are proud of our scouts for all the hard work they put into their derby cars. Their innovative designs and craftsmanship were second to none.

Below are a few pictures captured on Pinewood Derby Day that summarize the event in a way that words cannot. The final object is a video - a new experiment for this blog.

Pinewood Derby Fun & Timeline for 1/12/2008

Tonight's Pinewood warm-ups were exciting indeed. All present had a great time and anticipation is growing for the big race. Here are the details:

Pinewood Derby
Sunday, January 13:

12 noon Race officials arrive to complete final Race Day preparations. Give Ed Digges a call if you plan to assist as a Race Official. 8-12 adults are needed to ensure things run smoothly.

REGISTRATION: Registration for the Pinewood Derby will be $2 per scout to cover costs.

Sunday, January 13: 1:00pm Tigers arrive for Registration and Official Weigh-in.
1:30 Tigers begin racing.
1:30 Wolves arrive for Registration.
2:00 Wolves begin racing.
2:00 Bears arrive for Registration.
2:30 Bears begin racing.
2:30 Weblos1 and Weblos2 arrive for Registration.
3:00 Weblos1 begin racing.
3:15 Weblos2 begin racing.
3:30 Fastest Pinewoods Race for the Pack Trophy.
3:45 Single elimination for the Turtle Trophy begins.
4:00 All-comers (parents and non-scouts) race for fun
4:15 Clean up

Don’t forget to bring your completed booklets for your Religious awards/medals.

Rules were sent through email.