The entire Pack 17 Leadership group thanks the effort put forth by the scouts and the scout parents during this year's popcorn sale fund-raiser. The hard work will ensure we can fund exciting and interesting events for the pack. Now with the hard work behind us - we get to jump right into one of the most exciting parts of the scouting year - the Pinewood Derby Event. November's Pack meeting will highlight the Pinewood Derby with a recap from last year PLUS instruction / demonstration and need to know information for this years race.

The months of Sept / Oct are typically the start of our scouting year and the time we get to know our new scouts and kick off of activities. We did so much together over the summer that I doubted we could make a big splash to start things off. I couldn't have been more wrong!

Pack 17's scouting summer activities are wrapping up and what a summer it was. In August we had a great rocket day event and second of two Summer surprises - ice cream party at Miller Park.

It's summer and we are all taking it easy - right? WRONG! Not PACK 17! We haven't stopped having fun. We've been busy recruiting new young scouts to join our troop.

April showers brings May flowers - they say. April also is time to reflect on our scouting year and be amazed at all we did as a pack. Record Popcorn Sales, (highest in the district), Rocket Day, Pinewood Derby, COSI Sleepover, Spring Campout and numerous guest speakers - all for the boys entertainment. An enormous thanks is due the many parent volunteers that made this year successful. The den leaders and committee members are the engines that make cub scouting what it is- a fun and entertaining opportunity for our boys to co-mingle, adapt, learn and mature into young adults. Thank you for the effort everyone put in to make this year a success. On April 27th from 6pm to 730pm we have our Blue & Gold Banquet at St. Marks Church. A few of the scheduled events include Webelos II Crossover, a wonderful dinner catered by Moretti's and special entertainment. I look forward to seeing everyone there. Please be sure to RSVP to Paul and Sally Boyer if you are planning to attend the B&G banquet so there is adequate food and drink and seating for all. Sign up sheets will be available for parents to volunteer for the various Pack17 committees and leadership positions that are vacant. The majority of these slots require very little time and effort on the parents' part but when they are all combined - they are part of the whole that make our scouting year fun and interesting. Please consider signing up and taking an active role in your child's scouting experience.

The COSI Sleepover was a huge success. Thanks to Alistair Firman for his coordination of this event in his last official capacity in the Pack. We had 81 scouts and parents register for the event and  by my count  I about 76 from Pack 17 actually attended the event. The scouts enjoyed activities that included searching for a hidden treasure of knowledge in the Adventure activity, exploring the Space, Ocean and Human science attractions. Each scout was also was educated on how to care for and raise their own African Horned Frog tadpole. The boys had a blast having free run of the place and being able to explore it with several friends.