It has been 2 months since our last newsletter and since we last got together as a Pack.  It feels like it's been 2 years!  Scouting sure looks different now than it ever has in the past, but I'm grateful that we have the technology to stay connected, even when we can't be together.  

Please continue reading for some announcements about changes to our schedule, changes to the Seven Mountain's Scout Camp schedule and changes to BSA Policy.

Why do they call it the novel coronavirus??

Pack 375's First Ever

Virtual Pack Meeting

Wednesday, April 15th @ 6:45 PM

Note schedule change from previous e-mail.

Rather than having 2 separate meetings, we will have one Zoom meeting starting at 6:45 PM for the entire Pack. The Bobcat Ceremony will take place as part of the meeting.

Please read through the following information as it may be different than what you are doing for other Zoom meetings. 

• Make sure your Zoom Profile Name shows a first and last name that we will recognize, preferably your Scout(s) name(s).  When you log into the meeting, you will go into a "waiting room." From there, one of the leaders will admit you to the meeting. If you are logged in with a name we do not recognize, (i.e., "Sally" or "Bob's iPhone"), you will not be admitted to the meeting.  This is being done based on BSA recommendations for the safety and security of our Scouts. 
• Microphones will be muted. Due to the large number of Scouts, all microphones will be muted for most of the meeting, except for the people who are presenting. 
• Log in early. Please log in a few minutes early so that we can start promptly.
• Wear Uniforms. While not strictly required, all Scouts and Leaders are encouraged to wear their Class-A uniform while attending the meeting. 
• Speaker View. Please make sure you are set to "Speaker View," not "Gallery View" so that your Scouts can see the person who is talking. We will have too many people participating to have everyone shown in Gallery View at once.

Meeting Information

Meeting ID: 827-2827-7416

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82728277416

Please be patient. This is a new way for us to hold our meetings, and I am sure there will be some glitches. I promise, we will "do our best!"

Summer Camp

"While we are planning for all summer camp programs to take place this summer, we continue to monitor and follow state and federal mandates/guidelines while meeting daily to discuss potential operation and delivery options."

I have also received the following clarifications:

Families who have already registered and paid for camp, but can no longer attend due to the schedule change may contact the Council Office to request a refund.

Cub Scout Day Camp is typically 5 days, but has been reduced to 4 days based on the revised schedule. This is not a mistake.  Revised pricing for reduced schedule will be released soon.  I will share it with the Pack as soon as I get it.

Registration:

Don't register yet!  I know, this sounds completely counterintuitive, but there are two good reasons for this:

1. While we all hope that Summer Camp will take place with the modified schedule, it is impossible at this time to know for sure what will happen. It will be much easier to delay registration than it will be to request a refund.
2. In order to keep our group together at camp, we would like to submit all registrations to the Council as a Pack.  Assuming that nothing changes with the revised schedule, we will collect everyone's registrations and turn them all in before the early registration deadline.  If you have already registered, or if you want to pay on-line with a credit card, I will have instructions for you when we start collecting registrations.

Additional Information:   

Additional information about camp can be found on the Seven Mountain's Scout Camp website below.  Note that it has not yet been updated with the schedule changes mentioned above.

http://www.sevenmountainsscoutcamp.org/index.php/summer-camp/

Extra Time For Advancement

BSA has officially announced that Cub Scouts can continue to work on their current den’s advancement through July 31, 2020. This gives extra time for Cub Scouts to complete their badge of rank; if they earn their badge of rank prior to July 31, 2020, they may advance to the next rank at the end of the current school year.

Note that Cub Scouts can only work on requirements for their current rank. For example, a Tiger Scout could not start working Wolf requirements while they are still completing Tiger requirements.

2020 Pinewood Derby

Den Updates

It's great to see all of the creative ways that our Dens are "getting together" for meetings and activities.  Keep up the great work!

Den 4 - Gray's Woods Bears

The Grays Woods Bears met on 4/8/2020 via zoom.  We worked on Bear Necessities - we talked about what personal (tent, sleeping bag, 6 essentials,etc) and group (food, water, cups, plates, utensils, games,etc) items we would need to pack in order to have a successful camping trip.  We also completed Roaring Laughter - we talked about things that make us laugh (jokes, funny noises, cute things little kids do, our friends), we practiced tongue twisters, and did mad libs, and wrapped it up by telling jokes.  There was even some NFL bad lip reading!  We were all roaring with laughter and had a blast!

Den 2 - Webelos

The Webelos started the Stronger Faster Higher adventure in March by doing several physical challenges and inviting the Lion girls to join them in crab soccer and bocce.  For snack, everyone got into push-up form over their own plates of popcorn – they picked up a piece of popcorn with their mouths with every push-up they did!  Then, for the next month, the Webelos tracked their exercise to finish SFH. During our Zoom meeting on April Fool’s Day, they practiced gravity pulls, sleepers, and breakaways to complete the new Yo-Yo adventure! Our next activity this month will be a Socially Distant Service Project for Earth Day: “Keep Our Roads Clean During COVID-19.” This clean-up is in the bag!! ;-)

Keep Our Roads Clean During COVID-19

The Webelos have invited the entire Pack to participate in their Socially Distant Service Project for Earth Day.  There are just a few essential rules: 

• A parent or responsible adult MUST accompany the Scout.
• Choose a safe section of road for your clean-up.  Do not do this on busy roads!
• Use appropriate precautions like putting plastic Walmart bags over your hands before picking up any trash.  Do not touch your face!  Wash your hands when you are done.
• Do not go more than 2 feet into the high grass or weeds along the road. *It is spring and the sides may not have been mowed since last fall.*
• Do not touch or remove any dead animals you might find.
• Put trash into the trash bag you carry with you.
• Take a photo of your Scout with his/her bag and send it to your den leader along with your service hours (include hours for the Scout(s) and any family members separately).
• Put that trash bag out with your weekly household trash.

Fundraising

Marianna's is currently closed until 5/4 and possibly later. Unfortunately that means we are going to have to hold off on that fundraiser.  Please extend our apologies to anyone who has ordered from you and let them know that we will reschedule the fundraiser for another time.  In the meantime, please refund the money to everyone who had pre-paid. 

Please help us create fundraising opportunities that will best fit your family's needs by completing a  quick, 2-question survey:

https://forms.gle/YMBZfsm7BXGPaN2m7

Calendar

Here is an updated list of Pack 375 meetings and events for the coming year. Information for Den meetings and events will be coming from your Den Leaders.

Scoutbook Bonus Tip: Instructions for subscribing to the Pack Calendar are listed in the August 2019 Newsletter, Part B.

It’s a long story….

Contact Information

Cubmaster - Joe Zanghi

cubscouts375@gmail.com

(814) 862-9616