Join us for the December Pack Meeting

The whole family is invited to the Pack meeting on Monday, December 6th at 7pm in the Social Level. The meeting will start promptly at 7:00 pm, so please arrive a little early if possible.

Other items of interest:

• Our Webelos IIs will receive their Arrow of Light, a major award in scouting. Venture Crew 483 will participate in the memorable ceremony.
• Coloring for the younger siblings
• Awards and belt loops will be presented to scouts
• Someone special will visit our pack, with a surprise for all...
• As discussed at last month's Pack meeting we will be collecting $12 from some families to cover a Boys' Life subscription per a Mid America Council mandate; please bring your checkbook. Thank you for your support.
  

Hope to see you there!

Join us for the November Pack Meeting

The whole family is invited to the Pack meeting on Monday, November 8th at 7pm in the Social Level. Come see what your scout has been up to for the last month.

Other items of interest:

• Popcorn awards will be presented to scouts that participated in the Popcorn fundraiser
• Dens that had every scout sell at least $100 of popcorn will all get to "pie" their selected leader. (Our Popcorn Kernel is still tabulating the sales at this time, so we don't know if any dens qualified.)
  
• Awards and belt loops will be presented to scouts
• Coloring for the younger siblings
• And a game and treat too

Hope to see you there!

Pack 359 Trip to Vala's Pumpkin Patch!

One of the best nights of the year! Join us on Friday, October 22nd for a fun night at Vala’s pumpkin patch in Gretna. Arrive anytime during the day and enter via the Group Admissions entry. Scouts and leaders (including Den Chiefs) are 1/2 price admission - just give your name to the employee. At the campfire we will collect $6 for each scout/leader that attends (less than half the cost of admission). All other family members must pay full price, $12.75 per person (2 and under are free).

We apologize for the change in cost to you for this event (previously it was free to scouts/leaders), but recently the Mid-America Council unexpectedly increased the fees that the Pack must pay to register each scout. As a result, our Pack must cut back on costs. More info on this will be provided at the November pack meeting.

Dinner is provided by the Pack: hot dogs, pop, chips, condiments, and roasted marshmallows too. (Trust us, this saves you a lot of money!) We will have a campfire for our group - admissions should tell you which one. After dinner, you are free to roam all night long! (Vala's is open until 10 p.m.)

Uniforms are not necessary, please just wear Pack T-shirts. If you have not received your pack t-shirt and have paid your registration fees, please email Jim Astuto at jastuto@cox.net.

IMPORTANT! You will receive an e-vite very soon; please follow the link to R.S.V.P. (even if you cannot attend) no later than October 17th so that we can estimate how much food we require. Please include the number of adults and the number of children attending. Thank you!

For more Vala's info including directions to their location, visit http://www.valaspumpkinpatch.com

[updated schedule] After-Mass Popcorn Sales

[This schedule will continue to be updated as people sign up for slots...]

As stated during our Popcorn Kick-Off (at the last pack meeting), our pack will be selling popcorn following all masses during the October 2/3rd weekend (blitz weekend). Any scout that participates in the mass sales will get an equal share of the total sales credit that occurs during the after-mass sales. If you don’t have much time to sell on your own this is a GREAT way to get some credit and help out the pack (these sales will count toward the scout incentives). Scouts should, as with all popcorn sales, wear their ‘class A’ (blues) uniform, neckerchief, and a smile. Leaders will make sure popcorn product is on hand. Adults should manage the money as much as possible, as sometimes the sales can be quick. Thanks to St. Columbkille for granting us permission to sell to the home crowd…

To sign up for a slot, please email rick.denne@cox.net.

Sat 5:00 service, Be there 5:45 - 6:30
Adults: (1) Natalya M (2) Mark N (3) Teresa W
Scouts: (1) Joey M (2) Broden N (3) Luke W (4) Sam W

Sat 6:30 service, Be there 7:15 - 8:00
Adults: (1) Ryan C (2) Laura E (3) Aline L
Scouts: (1) Kyler C (2) Sam E (3) Luke L (4) Mark C

Sun 7:30 service, Be there 8:15 - 9:00
Adults: (1) Roger A (2) Will K (3) Tim G
Scouts: (1) Michael A (2) John K (3) Ben K (4) Sam K (5) Zach G

Sun 9:00 service, Be there 9:45 - 10:30
Adults: (1) Michelle G (2) Anne P
Scouts: (1) Patrick G (2) Nick P (3) Aidan C (4) Alex E

Sun 10:30 service, Be there 11:15 - 12:00
Adults: (1) Lynne Q (2) Kevin M (3) Brian M
Scouts: (1) Jared Q (2) Noah M (3) Sean M (4) Nathan M (5) Luke N

Sun 12:00 service, Be there 12:45 - 1:30
Adults: (1) Anthony F (2) Fran H (3) Sheilah S
Scouts: (1) Ben F (2) Blake H (3) Alex E (4) Quinn S (5) Ean M

Sun 5:00 service, Be there 5:45 - 6:30
Adults: (1) Rick D (2) Eric S (3) Lee K
Scouts: (1) Nate D (2) Griffen D (3) James S (4) James K

Join us for the September Pack Meeting

The whole family is invited to the Pack meeting on Monday, September 13th at 7pm in the Social Level.

We have a lot to cover this meeting:

• Summer awards (patches, belt loops, etc.)
• Popcorn fundraiser kick-off!
  
• Annual scout registration ($35 per scout, $30 if you have multiple scouts)
  
• Upcoming events (Family Fun Festival, Pack Campout, Vala's)
  

Parents, please bring your checkbook - we really want to get our scouts registered early this year. Thanks!

Patriot Day
A special event at the Sumtur Amphitheater (just south of Papillion La Vista South HS) will honor 9/11 this Saturday at 9 AM (gates open at 8 AM). This event is free.

Come to the Aug 24th Pack Meeting/Open House

Please join us for the first pack meeting of the year, on Tuesday, August 24th at 7 p.m. in the St. Columbkille Social Level. (The Social Level is located directly beneath the church with an entrance on the south side of the building.) The highlight of the meeting: Amazing Arthur the magician will be there to entertain you! This meeting is all fun and no boring information (just to ease you back into the swing of the school year).
As always, families are encouraged to attend. This is also our Open House; scouts are welcome to bring friends interested in joining our pack.

New scouts do not need to worry about uniforms just yet; plenty of time for that in the next month.

This year's pack schedule is now online in the calendar found on www.cubpack359.com. Check it out!

Ice Cream Social on August 15th

Please join us for the first event of the year: our annual ice cream social on Sunday August 15th, from 3pm - 4:30pm at the recently refurbished park in Halleck Park, across the street from Papio Fun Park. Meet the new scouts or catch up with friends from last year. Families are welcome to join us and please bring along any friends that may be interested in joining scouts too!

See you there!

Summer Splash at Schwer July 21

Come join the Pack for summer fun on Wednesday, July 21st at the Schwer Splash Pad from 5pm - 8pm. The water park is located west of Super Target and includes a pavilion. So bring the family and your swim suits! More info on the water park can be found here:
http://www.papillion.org/public_works_parks_splashpad.cfm

The Pack will provide dinner (hot dogs, chips, pop) and dessert (flavor ice). For those that need a break from the water fun, we'll also have some games set up.

And after we're done with dinner, we'll race our first annual Raingutter Regatta! Each scout can get a free kit that includes the supplies to build their boat. At the race, the scout will blow on the boat's sail to propel their craft down the gutter. 2 tracks will allow 2 scouts to race head-to-head. Building the boats should be much easier than building the pinewood derby cars. Hopefully this race will be a lot of fun. Scouts can pick up their regatta kits at either the Denne or George households (email rick.denne@cox.net for more info).

See you at the Summer Splash!

Please join us for our June event, the Papillion Days Parade on Saturday, June 19th. (This also counts toward the summertime pack award for the scouts.) The scouts get to ride on our float and do the "parade wave". If you are planning on your scout riding on the float in the parade please reply to this email to let me know (so we have enough room for everyone).

Please arrive at the Scout Center (June 19th) at 1pm. You can drop off your scout at the school's north parking lot (things may be a bit congested on the side streets by then). The parade lineup is at 1:30pm and the parade starts at 2pm. We will keep the scouts cool in the scout center, watching Looney Tunes.

Scouts should be in uniform and don't forget sunblock (it's always a hot day). We will have water on hand. See you then!

Additionally, our Pack will have a 'Raingutter Regatta' in July (think pinewood derby with boats, but a LOT less work). We will hand out the kits at the parade (we will get the kits to those scouts who cannot be at the parade). An email will be be sent in the near future with the info about the July picnic.

La Vista Days Parade May 29th

Our pack has been invited to participate in the La Vista Days parade, Memorial Day weekend; we will continue to participate in the Papillion Days Parade (June 19). So, now you can pick a parade that works for your family! (or, go to both)

Meet at the Scout Center at noon on Saturday, May 29th. We will then, as a group, drive to the line-up position at 96th and Granville Pkwy in La Vista. Scouts should wear their uniforms and bring sunblock. We will provide water for the scouts. Scouts will ride on our float in the parade while adult leaders walk and hand out tattoos. This our first year in the LV parade; it should be fun!

Last Pack Meeting of the Year - May 18th

Come join us for the last Pack meeting of the year, with a bit of fun. Meet at Papio Greens at 7pm on Tuesday, May 18th for a short meeting and then some putt-putt. The entire family can come and play, paid for by the Pack. We'll have prizes and treats, too!
If the weather prevents us from playing outside we'll meet in the Social Level - please watch your email for updates.

IMPORTANT: Please RSVP to rick.denne@cox.net (do not reply to this email) with the number of adults and kids coming to Papio Greens so that we have an accurate number to give to the management.

HELP: Are there any avid golfers in the Pack? We're in need of a few that can teach interested scouts how to swing a club at the driving range, and possibly help them earn their golf belt loop. Please contact rick.denne@cox.net if you can help. Thanks!

Papio Greens is located by Canoyer Nursery, on 66th between Cornhusker and 370: click for map (Directions from 72nd and Cornhusker)

Now is the time to sign up for camps - some are close to registration deadlines!

With camps just around the corner, we need everyone to fill out and turn in a health form for all scouts, adults, and siblings attending any of the camps. If you can fill out a form ahead of time, please use this link here. Please fill out only Parts A & C. You can enter info digitally and save it for future updates. Please bring your form to the pack meeting. Email or call with any questions...

Mother's Day Pancake Breakfast - ALL HANDS

IMPORTANT - do not reply to this email - Google's reply feature is not working. Instead, please email rick.denne@cox.net.

Sunday, May 9th (2 weeks away), is Mother's Day and the last pancake breakfast for this school year. We need everyone's help (all dens) to support this breakfast, since everyone has plans for the day. And this is the busiest pancake breakfast for the Knights, so we need more scouts and parents there than the typical breakfast. Please sign up your scout for at least 1 slot. If everyone pitches in, then it will be easy!

Leaders and parents, please let me know if you can be there too, since our scouts will need some supervision.


Open slots are listed in bold red below. We really need help with Shift 4!
Shift 1
7:30 AM-9:00 am
Scouts: SD NM SW ND S5
Adults: JA BM TW RD

Shift 2
9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Scouts: ZG JS MA KC DG
Adults: TG JS RA RC

Shift 3
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Scouts: AM JR NR LL MS
Adults: JR AL A3 A4

Shift 4:
11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Scouts: S1 S2 S3 S4 S5
Adults: A1 A2 A3 A4

Please email rick.denne@cox.net with your desired slot(s).

Thanks for your support... The Knights are counting on us :O)

Apr 19th Pack Meeting (Cake Bake) and more

The whole family is invited to the Pack meeting on Monday, April 19th at 7pm in the Social Level. This Pack meeting is our annual Feller's Cake Bake. Rules and category assignments were sent out in a previous email. Your scout must create a cake within his assigned category. (If you have questions, please contact your den leader.)

Reminder: Cakes should be delivered to the social level by 6:45 PM on April 19. The judging will be done at this time.

Also, we will be registering scouts for all camps at the pack meeting (see earlier post for camp info, on www.cubpack359.com). Please bring your checkbooks and calendars. (This includes the late registration for the Cabela's Day Camp.)

Scouting for Food Part II
Please meet at 8:45am this Saturday (April 17) in the St. Columbkille north parking lot by the library to help pick up the food donations. If we have another good group then the pick up will completed quickly.

Hope to see you there!

Scouting for Food, Apr 10th and 17th

Saturday April 10th is the kick-off for the annual food collection drive, "Scouting For Food". Our Pack will place bag hangers on doors in the neighborhood behind Super Target. The hangers ask homeowners to place food donations outside 1 week later on April 17th, when our scouts will pick up the donations for delivery to the food bank. (In past years we only put out hangers, but this year due to our increased size we will handle both the drop off and the pick up.)

Last year, Scouts and volunteers collected over 381,000 items of food for those in need in 484 communities served by the Mid-America Council. This community-wide drive helps reinforce the value of the Scout motto, “Doing a Good Turn Daily.”

We need all scouts and leaders to meet at 8:45 am at the north St. Columbkille school lot (by the library) on both April 10th and April 17th. Please wear scout uniforms. If we have a lot of help we can get this done more quickly. Sibling and adult help is also welcome. Please, we need everyone to help accomplish this task! Thanks...

Click here to see a video about Scouting for Food in our area.

Summer Camps are the BEST Part of Cub Scouting

Celebrate Scouting's 100th anniversary by attending camp this year!

Our den leaders have selected camp dates for each den. Please add this to your calendar now so your scout won't miss the fun. Camps vary with each rank but they are all tons of fun. Prices below are after our Centennial Quality Unit Award discount (this is one reason we sell popcorn!). A change in Council policy this year means that our discount can only be applied to a single camp - the Cabela's Day Camp. All other camps have regular costs listed. If, however, we are able to reuse the discount for other camps, you will be refunded the difference.

Below are the current plans for Pack 359's various camps. If you have questions or comments please talk to your den leader or reply to this email. Our goal is to have EVERY scout attend a camp this summer. Camp is where you create memories...

Scouts are registered for camp as a group, please do not register on your own. Your den leaders will have registration forms at your next den or pack meeting and will collect registration fees at that time (checks to be made out to Pack 359).


Cabela’s Day Camp, Chalco Hills Omaha, May 15
This camp is for ALL cub scouts and the entire family. Cabela's gives away many prizes and it was a lot of fun last year. No overnight, just a day camp. Cost is $28 per scout. The cost includes 1 adult attendee, t-shirt, patch, lanyard, and lunch for both. Since this camp is only about a month away we need to get registration in soon. (siblings are $15, additional adults are $5)

Camps by rank to follow. These camps are all overnight, with only the Webelos staying 2 nights (all others are a single night). IMPORTANT: your scout will attend the next rank camp since most camps take place after school ends and scouts automatically advance to the next rank. i.e. today's Tigers will be Wolves, Wolves will be Bears, Bears will be Webelos Is.


Wolves – Camp Wakonda, Bellevue, May 21-22 (1 night)
An adult must accompany the scout to camp. This is a great first camp after your first year in scouting; it's just in Bellevue's Fontenelle Forest (where we had our campfire in October). Cost is $45 for a scout and $30 for an adult. Cost include two meals, t-shirt, patch, and lanyard


Bears – Camp Eagle, Fremont, June 11-12 (1 night)
An adult must accompany the scout to camp. This camp is about 1 hour away from Omaha and is the real deal. Your scout will learn archery and BB gun, swim, and have a blast. Cost is $45 for a scout and $30 for an adult. Cost include two meals, t-shirt, patch, and lanyard.

Webelos I/IIs – Camp Cedars, Fremont, July 23-25 (2 nights)
Also just outside Fremont, this camp takes place at the Boy Scout facility and is a real challenge for the boys - but they love it. Your scout will have the opportunity to go horseback riding, rockwall climbing, and get a taste of being a Boy Scout. Cost is $85 for a scout and $65 for an adult. Adults are welcome to attend but not required; den leaders will be there to guide the scouts. Cost include six meals, t-shirt, patch, and lanyard.

Here comes the Pinewood Derby!

Welcome to Derby Week!

Friday March 19 Weigh-in #1 6:00pm - 7:30pm (Scout Center)
Sunday March 21 Weigh-in #2 12:30pm - 1:30pm (Social Level)
Sunday March 21 Pack Meeting/Pinewood Derby 2pm (Social Level)

Notes:

• After weigh-in, cars must stay with the Pack derby committee
• Your car must be entered at one of the weigh-ins
  
• Snacks will be provided at the Derby
  
• Scouts will race within each group (e.g. Tigers vs Tigers)
• Each scout will race 4 times (once on each of the 4 lanes)
• After the scouts are done, there will be an open race for anyone to enter (adults included)
• Do not put a number sticker on your car - the leaders will number the cars
• Weights, graphite, and tools will be available at the weigh-ins to help gain or lose weight (to stay under 5 oz)
• During this week, the official scale and 'measuring box' can be made available at the scout center for checking your weight and dimensions during den meetings. Contact your den leader if you would like to pre-test your car.
• The winner of each rank (Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos) will advance to the District Derby, held in April. The 2nd best time in each rank will be an alternate for that Derby. (Note, ranks that have multiple dens still only yield a single 1st place).
  

Remember what's important about the Derby!
1. Working together - the scout and adult should build the car together, according to the ability of the scout's age (as much as possible, especially for the younger scouts). It's about learning, not perfection :O)
2. Learning about tools - the scout should learn something about the tools and materials used
3. ! Sportsmanship ! - the scout needs to be a good sport whether he wins or loses. Please prepare your scout for the races by stressing this point. We just want everyone to have fun :O)

Don't forget there is an Open Class race following the rank races, open to all adults, siblings, etc.

If you have any questions please reply to this email or contact your den leader.

We need several volunteers to help set up the track on race day (at noon) and to clean up after the derby. If you can help, please reply to this email. Thanks!

See you at the Derby!

Blue & Gold Banquet - Feb 20th

The Blue & Gold Banquet (Saturday, Feb. 20st, 6:30pm, in the Social Level) is quickly approaching!

Please remember to R.S.V.P. to the invitation (email stacy.denne@cox.net) that you should have received from your scout (if you attended the Winter Lock-in) or in the mail. Also, please include the number of adults and children attending the event. We appreciate your timely reply, as this info will help with planning.

Remember, the whole family, including grandparents, is invited to the banquet. We will witness the Webelos II scouts as they cross over into the Boy Scout troop, as well as honor some of the special people in our pack. We will also recap some of the events of the year...

This year we will enjoy a sit-down dinner, provided entirely by the Pack, including:

• Fried chicken
• Drinks (pop and juice boxes)
• Cake
• Condiments, dressings
• Salad
• Bread
• Side dishes
  

We look forward to a great meal and a fun night!

Winter Lock-in on 1/15

Join us for the Winter Lock-in on Friday, January 15th at 6:30 pm in the Social Level. Families are invited for pizza, the Pack Meeting, and a movie. Scouts (and adults) are invited to stay the night.

Agenda:

• 6:30pm Arrive at the Social Level for pizza
• 7pm Pack meeting (awards, etc)
• 7:30pm Scout activity
• 8pm Movie (with popcorn)
• 10pm Lights out
• 7am Donuts
  
• 8am Leave for home
  

Things to bring if you are staying overnight:

• sleeping bag
• air mattress or pad, something to sleep on
  
• pajamas
• toothbrush/toothpaste
• pillow
• flashlight
• earplugs (snoring defense for adults)
  

Again, only scouts can stay overnight, not their siblings, so that our group doesn't get unmanageable :O) Thanks for your understanding...