I hope you’re all as excited as I am to have the kids start school and get back into a regular schedule of scouting. We’ve got lots of fun activities coming up soon. Here’s some of what we’ve got planned.

“Scout Talks” at Parmalee Elementary on Monday, 8/20 and at West Jeff Elementary on Tuesday, 8/21. We’d like kids to wear their uniforms to school this day.

Our first pack meeting will be the Fall Sign Up Night on Wednesday, August 22nd at 6:00 pm at Mountain High Christian Center – 8444 US Hwy 285. The pack will provide hamburgers, hotdogs and drinks. We’re asking everyone to bring something to share according to what den you are in. Here’s what we’d like you to bring:
– AOL: 1 pack of hamburger buns and 1 pack of hotdog buns
– Webelos: Chips
– Bears: Fruit/Vegetable
– Wolves: Dessert
– Tigers/Lions: Salad
We also need some help with activities that evening. Please find something you can help with and sign up here – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44a9ae2fa2f49-signup1

We have a camp out scheduled for 9/15 – 9/16 at McKeever Arena. You can expect more information on this very soon.

After this month, Pack meetings will be moving to the second Wednesday of each month. We’ll be meeting at 6:30 pm at West Jeff, just like last year. Den meeting times/locations are being discussed. You should get info from your den leaders soon.

Memorial Day Flag Placement – 2 Locations
Fri, May 25 @ 5:00 PM – 70 flags
Sat, May 26 @ 9:00 AM – 300 flags
See below for details

Flag Retirement Ceremony
Thurs, June 14, dinner @ 5:30 PM, ceremony @ 6:00 PM
Indian Hills Fire Dept.

Pack Hike – Meyer Ranch Park
Sat, July 28 @ 10:00 AM

Any questions call Janel @ 815-543-5560 or Bob @ 720-810-5811

It is that time of the year again and I am once again hoping to carry on a wonderful community tradition in memory of Ralph Evans, one of the founders of Troop 737 and a WWII Army Air Corp veteran. We will be placing American flags on the graves of all veterans at the two Evergreen cemeteries. I would like to get the flags in place by Saturday, May 26th. My thoughts are to assemble at 5:00pm on Friday, May 25th to handle the placement of flags at the Bear Creek Cemetery (aka Old Evergreen Cemetery) next to Christ the King Catholic Church located on Hwy 74 just above Evergreen Lake. We will assemble at the Evergreen Memorial Park on Saturday, May 26th, at 9:00am.

This is a great way to support our community and honor our fallen veterans. Scouts can earn service hours toward rank advancement. Please let me know your availability as soon as possible for Friday afternoon, May 25th and Saturday morning, May 26th. I look forward to hearing back from many of you. Should you have any questions, please feel free in contacting me. Of course, living in Colorado, we must always be prepared for the weather. The flag placement will be completed, come rain, snow, or shine. “Be Prepared.”

I would like to ask that everyone on my distribution please be so kind as to share this information with their respective unit members. All are welcome.

I would like to thank everyone who participated in this event over the previous years and also thank, in advance, all those participating this year. Being a veteran of 26 years, it gives me great pleasure to see that we do not forget those who made such great sacrifices for securing the freedoms that we enjoy in America.

Yours in Scouting,
Art “Mr. Gutz” Gutierrez
Timberline ADC – Mtn. Area Packs

Hello Pack 400 families!

Hope to see you all at the Pinewood Derby, Saturday, January 20, 9:00 – noon at the Mountain High Christian Center. Note that there will be an optional “test and tune” event from 6:00 – 8:00pm Friday January 19th at the MHCC as well. This is your opportunity to test your car and make any last minute adjustments.

A few tips and reminders:

– You may not change the dimensions of the wood block, with the exception of a few inches in height. Derby rules prohibit adding anything to the front of the car to increase its length, or changing most any other dimension. Putting some fun stuff on top of the car is fine, so long as it will clear the finish line, about 8 inches in height.

– You must use the original axle slots, no moving axles any direction, and the axle slots must be visible on the undersurface of the car. If the race officials can’t see the axle slots your car may be disqualified. Wheels and axels must be the original set that came with the car, and you may not reduce the thickness of the wheel.

– Make sure your car is as close to 5 oz as possible. Total weight under 4.5 ounces you’re at a significant disadvantage and the car may not make it to the end of the track. We will have food scales available at the Test & Tune to check. Just about anything can be use for additional weight (saw a spark plug glued to the top of a car once, it did really well….). Conventional Wisdom says moving weight to the rear of the car provides more push and a faster car.

Click here for the full rules – 2018 Pinewood Derby Rules of the Road

Signup to help: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44A9AE2FA2F49-pinewood

Upcoming Events:

February Meeting: Wednesday February 21, West Jeff Elementary. Usual time and place.

March Meeting: Blue and Gold Banquet. This is the highlight of our year and the graduation ceremony for Arrow of Light Scouts to Boy Scouting.
Location: Mountain High Christian Center, 8444 Hwy 285, Morrison (across from Intercanyon Fire Dept)
Dinner at 6, Ceremony at 7.
There is no Pack meeting in March apart from the Blue & Gold!

Last two meetings: tentatively April 18 and May 16, 6:30pm West Jeff Elementary Gym.

Hello Pack 400 Families!

As you probably know tonight is our community Trunk or Treat halloween celebration for the kids, 6-7:30pm at West Jefferson Elementary parking lot. Pack 400 is signed up to help volunteer as Candy Runners for the event. If you’re not familiar with the event, families sign up ahead of time to decorate their vehicles and pass out candy for the evening. The suggested price of entry to the event is to donate a bag of candy so that the decorated cars can stay well stocked. Candy Runners help to re-stock volunteer cars to keep the fun going for everyone. We will also help to clean up after the event ends.

Jeremy Cadam (dad of Webelo Kanin) has been decorating his vehicle for years and has volunteered to have a Cubs Pack 400 theme. Plan to meet at his vehicle (it will say Pack 400) to help as a Candy Runner either before or after you are done trick or treating. We would love to have you in your Cub Scout uniform when Candy Running, but it looks to be a cold night so make appropriate arrangements.

If you can’t find the Pack 400 vehicle or need help, look for Ms Becky (Barnes) at the entrance to the event. The entrance is on the sidewalk at the top of the stairs coming up from the lower gravel lot.

There is no signup genius, just come to help when you can for as long as you’re able. Hope to see you there!

Hello again Pack 400 families!

This year for our holiday Service Project we have decided on the Scouting for Food program, which is a part of the 9Cares holiday food drive, supporting food banks all over the front range metro area.  Details here: http://www.coloradoadventurepoint.org/activities-events/service-opportunities/scouting-for-food/23829.

Pack 400 is registered to help collect high-protein, non-perishable food items and bring them to our Pack meeting on November 15th.  Rather than go door-to-door (which is logistically difficult in the mountains!) we have set the goal for every Scout to collect from his family and two friends, neighbors, or friendly strangers.

Please try to avoid glass jars when possible; 9Cares will take these but they can be damaged and get messy.   Please discuss with your Scout why we are collecting healthy, high protein foods for those who don’t have enough to feed their families this holiday season.

Please bring your collected donations to our November Pack meeting and be sure to find the designated area for your den.   We will be keeping an eye on which den is able to solicit the most generous donations.

Full Agenda

Saturday September 30: 
9:00 Arrive Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts 
10:00 alternate Outdoor Code & Leave No Trace stations with First Aid station 
12:00 Arrive all other scouts.   Sign In at the sign-in table! 
– Picnic lunch on your own. 
1:30 Service Project at McKeever 
– plan to bring work gloves, shovels, rakes, and a wheelbarrow if you are able! 
4:00 Afternoon Skills Stations 
– Whittling Chip (knife safety): Bears and any Webelos or Arrow that doesn’t have the Whittling Chip done already.   Younger scouts are not allowed to take the Chip training. 
– Knots with Jason 
– Slack Line Monkey Bars:  Paul
– First Aid: Bob 
– Fire Safety:  Keith 
– Hiking preparation:  Kim  (Wolves start here!) 
5:30 Dinner – Arrow of Light scouts 
– Arrows will make Cowboy Chili.    Hot dogs will also be available
– If you have special dietary needs, please bring your own portions! 
– Pitch-In: 
– Bears: salad or chips 
– Wolves: fruits and/or vegetables 
– Lions & Tigers: desserts – please bring bite sized portions appropriate for sharing! 
Dusk:  Campfire
– Webelos: build and light a fire 
– Arrows:  campfire skit 
– Cider, Hot Chocolate ,  Marshmallows for roasting, provided by the pack 
– please bring your own camp chairs for the fire. 

Sunday October 1
7:00 Start Breakfast – Webelos 
– pack will bring: eggs, turkey sausage, hash browns. 
– and any appropriate leftovers from the night before! 
– Pitch-In:
– Arrows: mini muffins, doughnut holes – some starch in small bites
– Webelos: juices for breakfast.  Doesn’t have to be orange juice!
8:30 Tear Down and Pack Up 
10:00 Police Line 
– This is a Scouting tradition where we as a group canvass the entire camping area to get every last trace of our visit picked up, as part of our Leave No Trace principles and respect for our hosts at McKeever.

Hello Pack 400 Families!

Wednesday September 20th will be our monthly Pack meeting and our Fall Recruiting event.  Your den leaders have been diligently manning tables at the August social events at both West Jeff and Parmalee elementary schools and have some upcoming Boy Talks to spread the word about Scouting.  We are inviting all local boys interested in Scouts to the September 20th meeting and hope to get them signed up then!  Boys who bring a friend who then registers for Scouts earn a Recruiter patch for their uniforms and help the Pack grow!

This meeting will include a hot dog cookout.    The dogs, buns, condiments, and service will be provided by the Pack.   We are asking for sides from each of the Dens according to these suggestions:

Arrow of Light: Drinks
Webelos: Chips, crackers, etc.
Bears: Fruit and / or veggies, with dips as you wish
Wolves: Dessert
Tigers/Lions: Salads (of the leafy green or mayo based varieties)

If you have special dietary needs (or don’t enjoy hot dogs!) please bring what is best for you and/or your Scout.

The meeting starts at 6:30.    In the next few days you will see a Signup Genius come your direction, we need a few parents and boys to help set up before and clean up after the meeting.   Remember the impassioned plea your boys made last meeting to persuade you to help and sign up early and sign up often 🙂 !

The Signup Genius will also solicit help for the evening’s activity, making slime from basic household chemicals.   All materials will be provided.

Other upcoming events to remember:

September 23-24: The Council Cub-O-Reefor Lions – Bears at Peaceful Valley.  Cost is $35 for scout & parent combo. Registration is on denverboyscouts.com.    There is also a Timberline District camp that weekend for Webelos & Arrow of Light Scouts at Camp Tahosa.

September 30, Saturday: Pack overnight campout at McKeever Arena, Conifer.
– we expect to have activities from about noon Saturday to noon Sunday
– Scouts can only share tents with adults to whom they are related, so if your Scout is coming, you are coming!
– siblings are welcome.

As always, contact me or your Den Leader with questions.  See you on the 20th!

The Scoutbook website is the official unit management tool of the Boy Scouts of America.  If you have not done so already, please sign up for a Scoutbook account here – https://www.scoutbook.com/mobile/signup.asp.  This will allow you monitor your child’s progress earning achievements and ranks.  It also allows you to enter activities that you as a family do outside of our meetings and have them count towards awards and advancement.  We will also be using Scoutbook’s calendar to keep track of our schedule.  You can subscribe to the calendar so it updates your online calendar.  Here are the links you may need –
Pack activities – http://www.scoutbook.com/ics/42370.D0FCA.ics
Tiger den activities – http://www.scoutbook.com/ics/78474.2282C.ics
Wolf den activities – http://www.scoutbook.com/ics/78475.D3F04.ics
Bear den activities – http://www.scoutbook.com/ics/78476.F924A.ics
Webelos 1 activities – http://www.scoutbook.com/ics/78473.16065.ics
Webelos 2 activities – http://www.scoutbook.com/ics/78477.A1306.ics

If you have any questions or problems talk to one of the leaders at a pack meeting.  We’ll be happy to help you get set up.