Cuboree March 28th-30th

Its that time again....to go CAMPING!!! :) I just want to remind everyone of the camp rules!!!

1. NO SCOUT IS ALLOWED TO WALK AROUND BY THEMSELVES.  Even Boy Scouts have to have a buddy! I do not grant permission for any scout to walk off even with a buddy. There are still ways a child can get hurt....and therefore I do not feel comfortable giving the ok. It is up to all parents to keep up with your children!! You can go with your child at any time....but if you take another child with you....you must have another adult with you. BSA rules are 2 deep leadership....no adult can be alone with any child other than their own. Its also the same with sleeping in tents. No scout can share a tent with another family...but scouts can sleep in a tent together by themselves.

2. NO RUNNING!! This includes campsites, roads, fishing lake....anywhere!!

3. NO FISHING off any bridges or piers!! We are not allowed to walk into the water to fish either. I realize in some areas....even close to the water you get wet...and that's understandable....but you can not walk out and cast. We also are not allowed to fish around the back side of the lake either.

4. Only CLOSED toed shoes are allowed. However I do not have a problem with crocs or flip flops after a bath to walk to tent....or to bathroom during the night....but other than that....shoes must have a back and closed toe.

5. Sticks are to stay on the ground unless you want to use one as a walking stick....in which case they are used as such and nothing more. There is to be NO weapons made....this include sticks and rocks to hit at trees, ground or anything else.

6. I understand scouts are excited when fires are being built....but BSA policy states no scout should be inside fire ring or managing a fire that has not had BSA approved training on fire building/safety. Only the Webelos have had this training!  Accidents happen when more than 2 or 3 people are trying to get a fire going. Younger scouts can gather wood and fire starter.....but they are to lay it in a pile outside the fire ring. Parents please help me enforce this so that we don't have any accidents.

7. We do not harm nature.....you can use sticks from the ground for walking sticks....but never break one from a tree. We are practicing leave no trace....so we do not harm anything.

8. Also please have scouts be courteous to others if they wake up earlier than everyone else. Please don't let them shine lights in others tents....or leave our campsite. Our scouts are usually good about this....but it is something I have to mention!!

9. Smoking is ONLY allowed in the parking lot next to your car. You are not to smoke around scouts.....even at the lake fishing....the rule is NO SMOKING!!

10. NO using the bathroom in the woods!! LOL There are bathrooms in our campsite....and over by the flag pole/camp store area. NO one is to go into another campsite to use their bathroom....only our bathrooms and those for public use are to be used.

11. Please ask for permission if you are hiking and are cutting through a campsite....most packs don't observe this rule....and some didn't know about it till recently....but all scouts are to ask permission to enter and then wait to be granted permission before cutting through....please help ur son follow this.

12. Lights out at 10...sometimes the paper says 1030....so just follow whatever time it says....it doesn't mean asleep...but we do have to put fire out....and get quiet. :)

Ok...I know that seems like a lot...but its just standard rules that are at any BSA event....but I had to make sure I told everyone. Schedules will be given to you at the gate when you register. Gates should open at 3pm and the gate next to camp site closes at 8:30pm....but the main gate into the camp is open till 10pm. If you come after 8:30pm....you will have to walk your stuff in from you car to the camp site....so you might want to bring a wagon or something to wheel in. Gates will re-open at 7am on Saturday...and they close at 8am....then they do not re-open till Sunday morning to ensure safety. You can come and leave at anytime.....but if gates are locked you will not be able to drive to the campsite....you will have to carry all your camping stuff in or out.

Please let me know if you have any questions!!

Congrats PACK 164!!

Thank you to all the parents and scouts who came out today to the Chappepeela District Derby. I am very proud of each of the scouts (and siblings) with Pack 164 for cheering on your team mates as well as the other scouts who were racing. Congrats to Josh who took home 1st for the Tigers, Jon Ross who took home 2nd for the Bears, and Kase who took home 1st for the Webelos!! Because of all the boys cheering and being supportive....our Pack won MOST SPIRITED....and all boys received a medal!!! Congratulations boys....yall did a GREAT JOB!!!

District Derby is Saturday

In case you missed the announcement....we were in last Sunday (March 16th's) Hammond Daily Star newspaper....look for the Loranger section. You can obtain a copy at most larger grocery stores or the Daily Star will have extra copies.

Our Chappepeela District Pinewood Derby will be on Saturday March 22nd at the Ponchatoula Baptist Church. If you take range road to Ponchatoula.....at red light by Berryland Motors turn left ....church is next block on right. Drive to back parking lot where the gym is....just look for all the cars....LOL Let me know if you need help with directions. You will enter into gym...and do reg/weigh in. If you choose to practice test....you must get there early enough to practice and this MUST be done before you register. Once cars are registered.....your son will carry his car to appropriate area to wait on the race to start. If the car looses anything such as a tire....ect during the race....he will be asked to fix it...

Registration starts at 9am.....RACE is at 10am....they do try to start on time....so the earlier you get there....the better for seating...and faster registration time.....

I have already turned in names on 1st, 2nd  and BOS scouts....if you are unable to attend please let me know so that I can make sure the alternate goes in your son's place. Cars are not to be alternated in any way. Any un-sportmansman like conduct will not be tolerated from the scouts or the parents. (I do not believe pack 164 has ever had this problem but wanted to make sure everyone knew the rules.) Last year a little boy placed his car backwards on the track and when he didn't win....his dad called him stupid for the mistake.....and he was not shy about letting everyone hear his rant!!  This is NOT acceptable on any level and Chappepeela District has said this will not be tolerated!!

Pack 164 is awesome...I don't have any parents that would do that to their son..but for some packs this is the Indianapolis 500.....LOL

Lets earn the spirit award AGAIN this year!! Please make up signs and bring noise makers for the boys to cheer each other on.....Signs can be simple....GO PACK 164!! .....or Pack 164 ROCKS......or PACK 164 is #1.....just something to show support and cheer on the team!! Boys can wear grey pack t-shirt....if your son does not have a pack t-shirt please have him wear his uniform. Concessions will be available for purchase should you get hungry.....or forget to eat before you come.


I'm looking forward to another great race....so see ya'll Saturday!!!

Donations are NEEDED!!

We are teaming up with the Boy Scouts to help a local family who lost their house to a fire. This is the same family who lost their 10 year old daughter last May in an auto accident. I have spoken to the family and she said they are in need of household items such as dishes, silverware, pots and pans, glasses, and bedding for queen and twin size beds. We will be collecting these items on Monday March 3rd at the Loranger Methodist Church at 6pm. Please call or text me or your leader if you would like to donate something.....thank you....

Day Camp 2014

Day Camp is the week of June 9th-13th. All registered cub scouts are eligible to attend. Your son will work on various activities, swim, and have a great time. Its daily from about 9am to 3pm. Cost is $100 if paid by Feb 28th. A late fee of $25 will be assessed after the deadline.No applications will be accepted after April 11th. If you are interested and want your son to attend please let me know!!!!

Pack 164 Pinewood Derby Rules

Our race will be held on Feburary 8th at the church. Registration will begin at 10:30am and race will start at 11am. This is a family event....so you are more than welcome to invite family to come watch your scout race.

We will again allow siblings and dad's/mom's to enter a car to race in our 'Outlaw' race which will be held at the end after all our scouts have raced. The rules listed below apply to the 'Outlaw' race too. You will sign in and register your car the same time as the scouts. There will be a designated place for all 'Outlaw' cars to be placed until racing. Dads/Moms will race together and ALL siblings will race together.

These are the official rules of the Chappepeela District Derby. Our pack uses these rules also since all winners from the pack derby will advance to the district race in March.

1. Official BSA Grand Prix kits ONLY!! Wheels, body and axels must be of the official BSA kit. Kits from other retail outlet stores are NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!

2. Width: not to exceed 2 3/4 inches
Length: not to exceed 7 inches
Clearance: 3/8 inch minimum between car bottom and bottom of wheels
Weight: not to exceed 5 oz.

3. Wheel axel relocations are allowed, but wheels may not extend out the front or back of the car. Only the axels sold with the BSA kit or wheel kit can be used. No substitutions allowed. Substitutions will result in being disqualified from race.

4. Official BSA wheels are the ONLY wheels allowed. They must say BSA on the side!! No shaving or altering of the wheels is allowed. Wheels must remain flat! Rounded wheels will disqualify the car.

5. ONLY dry graphite or official BSA Cub Scout Derby lubricant may be used for lubrication.

6. No loose materials of any kind are permitted on the car. Wood or lead can be added for extra weight but can not exceed the 5 oz limit. The scale reading will be the weight considered for participation in the race.

7. Car must be free-wheeling with no starting devices.

8. Any type of springing of the car is prohibited.

9. Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited.

10. Any details such as steering wheels, drivers, decals, painting are permissible as long as the details do not cause the weight of the car to exceed the maximum weight of 5 oz.

11. Cars made in previous years are not allowed. A new car MUST be made each year.

12. If a car leaves its lane and interferes with another car, the race 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 which will automatically lose the race. If a car leaves its lane and doesn't interfere with another car then the race will not run again.

13. The scout will present his car at registration. No one is allowed to touch the car once it is registered except the scout. (No parents or leaders) The Cub Scout shall place and line up his car on the track.

14. All adjustments to car and application of graphite MUST be done before registering. Once the car is registered, the scout will then place the car in the designated area until his name is called to race. Once race is over, the scout will pick up his car from the track and return it to the designated area until his next race. NO ONE is allowed to touch cars once they are placed in designated area until called to race and you may ONLY touch your car.

15. UNScout-like or unsportsmanlike conduct by a participant or member of the audience will be grounds for expulsion from the competition or race area.

Pack 164 will give trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each Den. There will also be Best of Show ribbons for one scout in each den. Certificates will also be awarded for misc. awards and participation.

Happy Birthday BSA

Saturday, Feb 8th will be BSA's 104th birthday. This week is scout week and begins with scout sunday today. All scouts are encouraged to wear their uniforms to church and perform a service such as helping with offering, leading a bible study or reading scriptures, or leading a song.Anything to show leadership is encouraged. During scout week, scouts are need to do a good turn for someone else thus helping them live by their promise and scout law. I will be contacting the school to see if the boys can wear their uniforms on Friday and I will let everyone know. Saturday, Feb 8th is our Pinewood Derby. Registration will begin at 10:30 and race starts at 11am. All modification or adjustments to cars must be made before registration. No cars will altered once registered unless a wheel comes off then the scout will be responsible for replacing. Please see official rules for more details.