November’s Thanksgiving cake decorating contest seems to have been a great success.  The cakes were all excellent and very creative.  We may have to make this an annual event.  Thanks to everyone for donating supplies for Mathew Newnan to help the Newnan family in December, they were very appreciative. It is too bad we didn’t get to have the December Pack Meeting but we moved some to this meeting and we’ll have to make up the rest next December!  We hope you enjoyed tonight’s meeting with the HAM Radio demonstration and candy bar “SCOUT”.  Special Thank You to Tate Keegan for the radio demonstration.

 

PACK 163 MEETING CANCELLATION POLICY

After December’s snow storm causing the cancellation of the Pack meeting, the committee has instituted a policy with regard to cancellations.  The Pack 163 Meeting Cancellation Policy is: No School – No Scouts.  This makes it simple for everyone to know if scouts is cancelled due to weather or other reasons.  There may be times that school is in session and we still need to cancel scouts.  Den leaders will contact everyone if one of these situations arises.

POPCORN

Almost all the money has been turned in.  If you still owe money please get it to Julie Sprague as soon as possible.

We will be looking for a new Popcorn Kernel for next year if anyone is interested in helping out.  Requirements are simple: Have some organization skills and attend a roundtable meeting in the summer to learn about the program and obviously be willing to donate some time.  You will not be alone as others will help out with some of the work.

WINTER CARNIVAL

The Cub Scout Winter Carnival will be held on February 11 from 9 – 3 at Camp Carpenter.  This year’s carnival will combine Tiger Cubs with the Cub Scouts so there will not be a separate one for Tigers.  The cost is $5 per person if registered prior to Feb 3 and $7 after Feb 3.  More information will be available soon. 

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHARTER REPRESENTATIVE

My name is Pastor Rick Francis.  I represent the Fellowship Bible Church as your charter representative.  Normally, the charter representative of a cub scout pack provides a place for the scouts to hold pack meetings and other activities.  But since the pack already has one of the best spots in Chester to meet - Chester Academy, our involvement must take on a different role.  As an active church in the community, we would like to offer our services to the scouts in helping in whatever ways are needed.  Perhaps helping with achievements, mentoring, or teaching certain skills necessary in scouting.  Having been a scout myself, I know the value of adults investing their time to teach and train young men in the practical issues of life. 

 

I look forward to meeting many of you in the weeks and months to come.  In the meantime, if I can be of any personal assistance, please feel free to call me at 887-2599.

 

SUMMER CAMP

It may be a little difficult to think of summer camp in January but it is time to start thinking.  More details will follow.  There is both day camp and resident camp available depending on age.

 

Justin Hoitt has agreed to head up Summer Camp this year but all dens need to help out for their den.  All Den Leaders, please get a list of all the boys and their ranks to Justin.

 

CHESTER BOY SCOUT TROOP 163 EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT

Buy a brick to help landscape the area in front of Chester Academy and become a permanent part of Chester Academy History!  All money raised will go towards the construction of a habitat for Butterflies and Hummingbirds!  This project will beautify the front entrance of the school and serve as an area of study for science classes!   The anticipated completion date of the project is the Spring of 2006.  Contact Paul Thomas Rioux for more information, 887-6822
http://www.chesternhcubscouts.org/eagle.htm

 

DATES TO REMEMBER

February 17^th 7:00 PM

Chester Academy Cafetorium

February Pack Meeting

This will include indoor Olympics so wear your sneakers.

 

March 24 7:00 PM

Chester Academy Cafetorium

March Pack Meeting

This will be the Blue and Gold Banquet where many awards will be given and boys will be graduating to their next year of Scouting.

 

DEN NEWS

Den 6:  Visited home depot for a project they are doing in their Wolf books. This also linked into a tour of the state house in Concord. Den 6 is planning a conservation project for the spring. And as always they are moving right along in their Wolf books toward the Wolf rank.

 

Den 8:  The Tigers in Den 8 have been busy completing their Making My Family Special achievement and have started on their How I Tell It achievement.  They visited the Chester TV station to finish up the Go See It.  Working on their Where I Live Achievement, they visited the fire station and had a great tour from Captain Antoine (including ‘training’ in the tunnels the firefighters train in).  They also visited the library and made their own maps of the town.  They have also been spending time learning knots, making and playing musical instruments, and playing plenty of games.

 

Den 11/12:  Four boys from Den 11 and one from Den 12 attended a Boy Scout meeting on December 5 and had a great time.  Dens 11 and 12 also took a trip to the Derry News.  It is nice to see dens doing things together outside of the pack meetings.

 

I know the other dens have been busy too… please send any updates to epstinson@chesternhcubscouts.org to include in next month’s newsletter (1 week prior to the pack meeting).  Who knows, maybe other dens can get some ideas from your den.

DISTRICT NEWS

Scout Night with the Monarchs

Saturday, February 4th, 2006 vs. Hamilton Bulldogs
Saturday, March 11, 2006 vs. Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins

All Scout tickets are $10 per person and all games begin at 7:35 PM. Supplies are limited, so act today!   More information is available on the Daniel Webster Council website.  All scouts also get a patch for the event.

 

OTHER MEETINGS/DATES

Pack Committee Meetings

February 1 at 7:00

February 22 at 7:00 (replaces March meeting)

Scout Room (behind Multi-Purpose Room)

 

If you are interested in what is being planned for the pack, feel free to stop by.

 

District Round Tables

2^nd Wednesday of Month

7:00 PM in Manchester

Contact Eric Stinson (epstinson@chesternhcubscouts.org) for more info.

 

VISIT WEBSITES FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.chesternhcubscouts.org

This site has a lot of great content from individual den sites, dates to remember, committee minutes and agendas, newsletter, pictures, and more.  Thank you to Nancy Pilotte for creating and keeping this site up to date as well as to those individuals creating and maintaining their den portions.

www.dwcbsa.org