Great Groceries!

Thank you everybody for making the first meeting of the year a real success, particularly the willingness to take nine boys to Publix on short notice. The boys showed real ability when it comes to grocery shopping.

You son's homework assignment is to watch a televised sporting event with a parent. Please mark it in Scout Track when you've completed it.

Also in Scout Track, please double check your information to make sure its complete and accurate. It makes getting you information easier and helps us with the records we have to file with BSA.

Look for a seperate message from me with the schedule in it. It shows the dates as well as snack and denner responsiblities as well as the location. It also shows what we plan to cover at each meeting, but as today shows us plans will change. The second and third sheets (its in Excel) have the Bear requirements and achievements. What is most important to know is that we will cover 8 achievements in den meetings - #6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 23, 24. There will be some homework assignments. You need to do four achievements at home.

Next den meeting is Sunday, Sept. 13, at 3 p. We'll meet at the Reynolds' house, 4493 Ashburn Walk. Bring a tennis racket and be prepared to play. Christopher Euston is denner - which means he will prepare an elective for us to work on - and Euston will bring the snack.

Other key dates are Sept. 12 is the East Cobber Parade. If you'd like to march in it, meet the Pack at Mt. Bethel Elementary at 9:30 a.m.

Fall Family Camping is Oct. 16-18. The Space Derby is Oct. 24. Buy your Space Derby kit at the Scout Shop or www.scoutstuff.org.

Bike Hike on the Silver Comet Trail

On Sunday, we're taking a Bike Hike down the Silver Comet trail. We could ride all the way to Alabama, but we're not gonna do that. Instead, we're going to ride only a few miles - about 30 minutes west, take a break to do some den business, and then 30 minutes back to the cars.

Let's plan on meeting at the Floyd Road enterance to the trail. A map with directions from my house is here. There is a parking lot on the west side of Floyd Road, on the south side of the bike path. It's not the closest trail enterance, but I am told that it will be a lot less congested.

Be sure to bring a bike helmet and water. Boys should wear a Pack or Cub Scout t-shirt. I am responsible for snack this time out. I will select a random 3rd grader to lead the flag ceremony.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Plant a Tree?

Is anybody thinking about improving their home landscaping this fall by planting a tree? I have a group of willing young laborers who love to get dirty and can earn part of a Bear requirement by taking part. (You probably know them too.) Let me know and I'll put it on the schedule.

Getting Started for a New Year

I don't know about you, but I'm getting excited about the upcoming Cub Scout year. Keith and I have been working on a great plan and have plenty of "fun with a purpose" in store for you and your son.

The schedule of Den Meetings for the year is here. It has the date, the location, snack responsibility and a new column called Denner, which is like being junior assistant Den Leader. Each boy will be responsible for planning a den activity (not the whole meeting) for each time he's Denner. We can talk about this in greater detail at our first meeting.

Which, by the way, is August 30. We are going to bike a part of the Silver Comet Trail. When the date gets closer, I'll get you the details. Just know you'll need a bike and a helmet and a bottle of water.

Have a great Back to School and we'll see you at the opening Pack Meeting on Aug. 24.