Pinewood Derby Flyer (2015)

Zoom on over to the Pack 115 Pinewood Derby for some high-speed fun! The derby is open to all cub scouts from each pack in the district. Come cheer for the scouts and see all the hard work they have done to make the fastest and most stylish cars in the Pack!

Trophies and/or Certificates awarded for the following:

• Fastest in Pack – 1st, 2nd, 3rd
• Fastest for each rank – 1st, 2nd, 3rd
• Most Creative, Funniest, Best Workmanship for each rank

Weigh-in Date: Friday, January 9th, 2015

Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00PM (CUMC)

Note: Weigh-In, registration/impound and event set-up. Please try to make this because we won’t be able to process all the scouts on the day of the event. We are going to try to play the movie “Down and Derby”, if so, it will begin at 7:00pm. We have space restrictions at CUMC.

Race Date: Saturday, January 10th, 2015

Location: Community United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall

Final Weigh-in: 8:00 AM until 8:30 AM

Racing schedule:

• 0900 - 1030 Tiger, Wolf, Bear Heats
• 1030 - 1100 Webelos 1, 2 heats
• 1115 - 1145 Finals
• 1200 - 1245 Exhibition heats

Cost: FREE

Special Event: This year we are introducing the exhibition event. This is open to Adults and siblings. You will have to purchase your own kit. Michaels and the Scout store have kits. The same rules will apply.

Time: After the championship finals.

Cost: $5

Committee Chairperson – Scott Abramson, scottabramson@gmail.com, 301-802-4700 (cell)

Official Rules

Pack 115 Pinewood Derby Rules (2015)

The car must have been made during the current year (the scouting year (AUG-JUL) in which the derby is held) with the kit that is provided at the November Pack meeting. Car must be made from the Official BSA Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Kit (Official BSA wheels and axles may be used as well) using the following specifications.

LENGTH, WIDTH, & CLEARANCE

• Car cannot be more than 2 ¾” wide (including wheels and axles) or 7” long
• Overall car height shall not exceed 3” from the ground
• In order to clear the center guide strip of the track the minimum width between wheels shall be 1 ¾” and minimum clearance between bottom of car and track shall be 3/8”
• If desired, you may change the wheel base (the distance between the front and rear axles)

WEIGHT AND APPEARANCE

• Weight shall not exceed five (5) ounces
• The reading of the official race scale will be considered final
• Forward most edge of the car must be ¾” (.75 inch) wide in order to rest against the rear of the starting gate pin (in center of its lane). If the front of the car is pointed and doesn’t meet this measurement, the car will race with the rear end becoming the front. If the rear end is also less ¾” of an inch, the car will not race.
• The forward most edge of the car must be the one piece wood block from the Official BSA Pinewood Derby Kit. No devices which allow a faster start are permitted.
• The car may be hollowed out and built up to the maximum weight by the addition of wood or metal only
• All items must be securely built into the body or firmly affixed to the car
• No liquids or loose materials of any kind are permitted in or on the car
• All weights shall be passive – non-moveable, non-magnetic, non-electric, etc.
• Details such as steering wheel, driver, spoiler, decals, painting and interior details are permissible as long as these details do not exceed the above mentioned specificationsThe car body must not have any moving parts
• Cars with wet paint will not be accepted

WHEELS AND AXLES

• Official BSA axles and wheels must be used
• All 4 wheels must touch the ground
• Wheels may be lightly sanded to smooth out molding imperfections in the tread area only
• Beveling, tapering, thin sanding, wafering, or lathe turning of the wheels is prohibited
• No reduction in the width, diameter, or shape is allowed
• Axles may not be altered in any way except for filing of the nub at the head of the nail and polishing
• The front edge of the wheels must be behind the nose of the car (100% of the car behind starting peg)
• Wheel bearings, washers, bushings and hubcaps are prohibited
• The car shall not ride on any type of springs
• The car must be free-wheeling, with no starting device, or other type of propulsion

LUBRICATION

• Use dry powered lubricants ONLY
• You may not use any other lubricant, especially oils and silicone sprays since they may soften the plastic parts and/or damage the surface of the track
• No graphite may be applied once the car has been registered. Scouts will be allowed to lubricate their cars before the championship round.

THE PINEWOOD DERBY RACE RULES AND PROCEDURES

Each car must pass inspection by the Official Inspection Team before it may compete. The inspection team has the right to disqualify those cars that do not meet these rules. Car owners will be informed of violations and may modify the car to meet these rules provided that the car can pass all the rules before the closing time for registration.

No one is allowed to touch any car on the “pit” table once the car is registered, inspected and weighed.

Scouts may only handle their car again if there is a need to make repairs to the car as allowed in the rules.

If a car jumps off the track, the heat will be run again. If the same car jumps off the track a second time, it will automatically lose the heat.

If a car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, the heat will be run again. If the same car leaves its lane a second time and interferes with another car, the heat will be run again without the interfering car. The interfering car will automatically lose the heat.

If a car suffers a mechanical problem, loses an axle, breaks a wheel, etc., and a repair can be accomplished (if it is still in the race) it will be allowed to be repaired and continue. Damage repair shall be allowed during the Derby only if it does not delay the race for more than five (5) minutes. No modifications shall be allowed. The Official Inspection Team reserves the right to inspect and/or reweigh the car before proceeding. Damage must be evident to race officials. Repair is one-time only.

Only race officials may enter the track area.

Ungentlemanly and unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or member of the audience will be grounds for dismissal from the competition and/or race area.

The top three (3) winners from each bracket/rank are eligible to race in the finals. Additional entrants for the finals MAY occur based on winners from various Pack Pinewood Derby events held prior to the event. The final championship race will be the last race of the day unless there is an exhibition event.

Awards will be presented at the completion of all races. Additional recognition will be awarded based on creativity.

Any participant has the right of appeal to the Pinewood Derby Committee for an interpretation of these rules. The Pinewood Derby Committee, by majority vote, will be the final judge of these rules and their interpretation. In case of a tie vote, the decision of the Pinewood Derby Committee Chairperson will be final.

Please remember that the scouts, not the parents, should be making the most significant contribution to the creation of their pinewood derby car. The most important values in Pinewood Derby competition are parent/scout participation, good sportsmanship and learning how to follow rules.

ALL RULES WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!!

Great Times at the Annual Bike Rodeo!

Pack 115 took over the Crofton Woods Elementary School (CWES) faculty parking lot on a recent Saturday morning for their second year running of the Bike Rodeo! Close to 70 kids came out on a crisp Crofton morning to hone their bike riding and safety skills.

Time to Register.

Upon registration the riders received a goody backpack provided by Fence and Deck Connection. Each rider then headed over to the required bike and helmet inspection. Manned by mechanical support from Eastern Mountain Sports and knowledgeable volunteers, parents could be confident that their child’s bike and headgear were both road-ready. After minor adjustments to some of the bikes and helmets, the kids were able to choose their next station from a wide variety of options. Some of the activities included Passing Pedestrians, Demon Driveway, Slalom, Bike Safety and Newspaper Toss.

Beautiful day for some biking.

First stop, bike and helmet check

Safety and fun, all in one.

While our young riders clearly thought it was all about having fun, observers could see that the children were learning important skills to keep them safe on the road.

Winner for coolest helmet.

Our sponsors made it worth the ride! Fence and Deck Connection graciously provided reflective bags/backpacks and lights for all the participants. The backpacks included free kids meal coupons and reflectors from Chick-fil-A and large Dickey's cups. Additionally Four-Season's and Bruster's provided items that were raffled off during the event.

Ready to make a delivery.

Everyone, kids and spectators alike, enjoyed themselves and got to learn valuable bike safety and skills in a fun and interactive way.

Pack 115 would like to extend a special thanks to all the pack volunteers that came out and helped with setup, station leading and breakdown. The event was a huge success because of your help. Additionally we would like to thank CWES, Crofton Town Hall, Fence and Deck Connection, Chick-fil-A, Dickey's and Bruster's for their support.

Newspaper Toss was a big hit!

Webelos Woods 2014 Report

Pack 115 attended the annual fall gathering of the Webelos at Colhone Farms in near-by Harwood for Webelos Woods on the first weekend in October.  Situated along the Rhode River the site offers a variety of outdoor activities for the Scouts to participate in a full-day and evening schedule of advancement and adventure similar to the annual Boy Scout Camporee.  The stations are hosted by local Scout Troops and offer a variety of activities such as canoeing, archery, rockets, as well as leave no-trace that cover requirements for the Scouts advancement along the Arrow of Light path.  It also serves as an opportunity for the accompanying parents to learn more about Boy Scouting and Troops in their immediate area.

Heading to Opening Ceremony with some cheer!

All present and accounted for.

This year saw the highest Pack-115 attendance in recent years with a total of XXX Webelos braving the early rainy conditions on Friday night and Saturday morning.  As the flags were raised on Saturday to kick off the festivities the weather gave way to clearing skies and perfect conditions for the Scouts as they got underway with rotations.  The Den-1 and 7 first year Webelos schedules featured the timeless Geology, Outdoorsman, and Leave No Trace stations and were highlighted with some range time for Archery and BB’s.  The Web-II Den’s worked hard at Readyman and other Arrow of Light staples and were rewarded for their diligence with Rockets and Canoeing as well as an opportunity to speak with potential Scout Troops for their pending Spring advancement.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Blast off for Webe 2's!

Webe 1's learning Readyman.

Canoes!!

As the daylight hours came to a close the Scouts retreated to their respective Dens for a camp-styled dinner and Pack related fun.  With the winds shifting out the west the skies cleared and temperatures dropped for the traditional evening bonfire.  Rousting cheers, skits and songs were the order of the evening under the stars. The campfire was ended with a respectful flag retirement ceremony. The Scouts, parents and leaders settled into their tents for a well-deserved night of brisk fall tent camping.

Our campfire clowns!

Sunday dawned cold and clear with temp’s in the low 40’s on Sunday morning alerting the Webelos that Fall was officially here.  After a light breakfast the boy’s were back in action for another flag ceremony, followed by Sunday services and raucous Pack vs Pack tug-a-war challenge.  Though the rope pull didn’t go our way on this occasion, the Pack 115 Scouts worked well together and made their presence known throughout the weekend with resounding cheers and upbeat attitudes.

Tug-o-war time!

Thank you to Larry Wans for putting this post together. Thank you also to the Troops and District level personnel that made Webe Woods a great time. Thank you to the Pack 115 parents that allowed their sons to attend such a fun event.

A Spooky Good Time is coming soon

C

Cub Scout Pack 115's annual "Trunk or Treat" pack meeting is just around the corner! It will be held on 21 OCT at the Crofton Woods Elementary School (CWES) cafeteria for the first part and then the scouts will head out to the CWES faculty parking lot to have a spooktacular time visiting each of the den's trunk or treat exhibits. The meeting starts at 7pm with the "Trunk or Treat" fun starting at 7:30pm. The scouts will be wearing their Class A uniforms to the start of the meeting but hope many will change into their costumes before they head out to the parking lot. If you aren't a pack member but are interested come on down and see what we are all about.

Here is a link to our past event.

Bobcat Badge Requirements

The first rank that EVERY boy MUST earn when entering the Cub Scouting Program is the Bobcat rank.

To earn the Bobcat rank the new Cub Scout must do the following:

1. Learn and say the CUB SCOUT PROMISE and complete the Honesty Character Connection.
   1. Know: Discuss these questions with your family. What is a promise? What does it mean to "keep your word?" What does honesty mean? What does it mean to "do your best?"
   2. Commit: Discuss these questions with your family. Why is a promise important? Why is it important for people to trust you when you give your word? When might it be difficult to keep your word? List examples.
   3. Practice: Discuss with family members why it is important to be trustworthy and honest and how can you do your best to be honest when you are doing the activities in Cub Scouting.

   "I .....(name).... promise to do my best
   To do my duty to God and my country,
   To help other people, and
   To obey the Law of the Pack. "

2. Say the LAW OF THE PACK.  Tell what it means.

   "The Cub Scout follows Akela.
   The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
   The pack helps the Cub Scout Grow.
   The Cub Scout gives goodwill."

3. Tell what WEBELOS means

   "WE'll BE LOyal Scouts "

4. Show the CUB SCOUT SIGN.  Tell what it means.
5. Show the CUB SCOUT HANDSHAKE. Tell what it means.
6. Say the CUB SCOUT MOTTO. A motto is a guiding principle.

   "Do Your Best"

7. Give the CUB SCOUT SALUTE.  Tell what it means.
8. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the booklet, included in the scout handbook called, "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse".

The above items are the basic information that ALL Cub Scouts must learn, which is why EVERY boy who enters into Cub Scouting MUST earn the Bobcat Badge.

Yeehaw!! The Bike Rodeo is back!!

Initial Tiger (1st Graders) Meeting

We are looking forward to getting the Tiger Den's set up and running! We are going to have a meeting this Tuesday at 6pm in the Crofton Woods Elementary School gym to sort this all out. The ideal outcome of the meeting is that we have leaders for each den, all the scouts are in a den and we provide some guidance on your first couple of meetings.

We plan to have some activities for the kids to do during the meeting. We are going to even try to weave in some Bobcat requirements so that the boys should be able to easily get their Bobcat award at the next Pack meeting. 

Tentative Agenda:

• Brief overview of Den Meetings (typical frequency, amount of planning, support)
• Identify leaders
• Consider day of the week for meetings
• Identify dens
• Break up into new dens
• Answer questions

We are hoping to have tiger handbooks, neckerchief's and slides at the meeting.

Join Scouting Night (Recap)

Thanks for coming to the Join Scouting information session after the Back to School Night. We were happy to have many interested parents come to our booth... and attend Brian's presentation afterwards.
      









In addition to practicing good core values doing their best, learning to be helpful and getting into the volunteering spirit, scouts also have Lots of Fun!

At Winter Camp

  






 At Camp Tomahawk

 
 


 
 At Pine Wood Derby

And recently at the Raingutter Regatta! 

For more information, contact our Cubmaster at cubmaster@croftonpack115.org.

A copy of Brian's presentation can be found here.

First Pack Meeting of the School Year!!

Our first pack meeting will be on September 9th from 7pm to 8:15pm at the CWES Cafeteria. The theme for this month is Cooperation. If you aren't a member but are interested in learning more we will have a short presentation about scouting and the pack while the boys are playing some games. It is Ledo's pizza night so fill up on some pizza and head on over to school.

Raingutter Regatta!

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT… or maybe a beautiful Saturday morning. Accounts vary. One certainty is that a monumental contest of skill and craftsmanship occurred.  The parking lot of the Crofton Swim and Tennis Club by the dumpster has not seen such a contest since about this time last year.

Fourteen carefully crafted boats lined up to compete. The boats showed their owner's passion for sailing, America, skateboards, primary colors, minimalism and rain gutters.

Did we mention these boats are boy-breath powered? There may have been some light-headedness, but we are pleased to report no injuries occurred.

Good sportsmanship abounded

 

The three winners were Jackson S. (1st), Daniel E. (2nd) and Charles O. (3rd). (in order below)

 

Overall, we had lots of fun and hope you can make it next year!

Join Scouting Night

Pack 115 is holding “Join Scouting” night on September 2nd, 2014 at Crofton Woods Elementary School cafeteria at 7:15pm. This will be starting just after Back-To-School night ends. It’s a wonderful opportunity for all boys in grades 1-5 to learn about what cub scouting is all about.

Our Key Leaders will be there to answer any questions that you may have. The annual registration fee is nominal....much cheaper than registering for sports! (And the nicest part is that your son can do both!) Another great thing about Scouting is that you make it work around your schedule; he doesn’t have to be at everything to be a member. Take a look at our website for all our exciting Pack activities. For the awesome additional programs that our council offers, visit the Baltimore Area Council’s website.

Come check us out! We are even going to have some snacks on hand for our rally! See you there.

P.S. If you are interested in Scouting, but live outside our community, please visit BeAScout.org or call the Council office at 443- 573-2500 for information about Packs in your area.