Submitted by Samantha Good
Leave electronics at home! Outdoor adventures with Pack 32 in May and June included spring camping in the rain and a regatta at the brook in Mobus Park, Watchung. The events offered by the Cub Scouts continue to encourage the youth of today to develop skills outside of those traditionally taught in school or in sports, and strengthen them as individuals and help develop leadership skills and team work. Scouting is about adventure, family, fun, character, leadership and so much more.
Scouts from Pack 32 joined other Packs for the Spring Camporee from May 11-13, 2018. The Cub Scouts from ages 6-10 packed their bags with tents, sleeping bags and other camping equipment and headed out to Camp Winnebago, Rockaway, NJ for at least one night of camping fun. It was not a sunny weekend but this did not stop the Cubs from fully embracing all of the activities. They started Saturday morning with an opening ceremony allowing Cubs representing more than 10 Scout Packs from all over NJ to introduce themselves to other Packs with a greeting of their choice. Following the opening ceremony, the cubs returned to Pack 32 base camp and started a campfire in the rain with little more than flint, cotton wool and Vaseline. The Scouts scoured the area for wood supplies to keep the fire going. Thank goodness for the resourcefulness and preparedness of these Cub Scouts!
Scouts from Tigers (6 year olds) to Webelos (10 year olds) participated in many events over the course of the day including a fishing derby, BB guns, archery, rock throwing, whittling, go-carts and boating on Durham Pond. The Bears were able to learn how to use their whittling knife and achieved their whittling chip. The Webelos participated in first responder training and learned what to do in a medical emergency. This year, the stars of the show returned: Kotori and Samson from the wolves of Howling Woods Farms, Jackson, NJ made an appearance.
Back at base camp some of the Scouts prepared dinner and helped cook the food on the campfire whilst others climbed trees. The rain continued throughout the day and the Scouts realized that the rain was not going to stop. As a team they used some string and attached a tarpaulin to nearby trees. The resulting creation was a shelter to protect them from the rain and enabled them to pull out a pack of cards and continue their evening in the dry. The Scouts found their tents later that evening after cooking marshmallows on the fire and making smores for their parents. There was not an electronic to be seen. The following morning Pack 32 packed up their equipment and ensured they left no trace at the base camp before leaving the campsite until next time.
In June, the boat “Armada” from Pack 32 was seen sailing down the brook in Watchung. The Scouts prepared their boats as a group ahead of the start of the race. There were catamarans and dinghies decorated in all colors of the rainbow. Den leaders Scott Meek and Darren Lumbard, Cub master Betul Ayvedi and the Pack Chair Kurt Weber were in the water as the Armada lined up at the start. Robyn Gibbs started the race and as the boats made their way down the 50-yard length of the Creek, the Scout leaders helped boats veer out of trouble. It was a close race and the top three boats were from Hansil P. (Bear), Carter W. (Tiger) and Daniel C. (Webelos). Pack 32’s Armada will return in June 2019. Come on down and visit us to witness the Regatta.
For information on scouting please visit website beascout.scouting.org. If any boys and girls in Kindergarten through 5th grade are interested in joining the Cub Scouts of Watchung, please contact the Committee Chair of Pack 32 at pack32chair@gmail.com.
(above) Spring Camporee with Pack 32 was held Camp Winnebago in Rockaway, NJ. Cub scouts camped out in the rain for some fun outdoors.
(above) Pack 32’s Armada sailing down the brook in Mobus Park, Watchung.
