Monthly News

March 2025 News

PINEWOOD DERBY 2025 - Wrap-Up, Thank Yous and Last Chance to Vote!  

Thank you for an AWESOME 2025 Pinewood Derby, Pack 4 families! We raced 79 cars - a new Pack record! We loved seeing the kids' creativity and hard work on their cars, and their excitement and amazing good-sportsmanship during the races. We hope your scouts had fun! 

Special thanks to the parents who helped with set-up and clean-up, the den leaders for assisting during the races, Cubmaster Ryan for his excellent emcee skills and support throughout the day, and especially to Ashley and Dana for all of the planning, time and effort that goes into this event. Ashley will need a few assistant coordinators next year -  if you and your scout enjoyed the Derby, please consider volunteering! Reach out to me or Ashley if you're interested. 

Scouts still have an opportunity to vote for their favorite car HERE! One vote per scout please; voting will close on Friday. We'll present the results of the "Scouts' Choice," as well as the other specialty trophies (Most Realistic, Most Spirit, etc) at an upcoming meeting. 

BLUE & GOLD BANQUET - Last Chance to RSVP

When: Sunday, March 30th, 4:00pm-7:00pm

Where: Needham VFW Post 2498, 20 Junction St. 

Details: The Blue & Gold is our annual banquet to celebrate the birthday of scouting and our 5th grade Arrow of Light Scouts. The banquet will include a special crossover ceremony for the AOLs, dinner from Comellas, dessert and a fun show by magician Jason Purdy! 

RSVP: All Pack families should have received an Evite on January 21st; one Evite was sent per family. If you haven't RSVP'd yet, please do so today. We're hopeful we'll be able to keep this as a full-family event, but we may need to limit it to scouts and a parent only, as we could exceed capacity limits at the VFW. 

BSA HEALTH FORM REMINDER

Thanks to everyone who turned these in at the Derby. A reminder that the Pack needs to have a hard copy of the BSA Health Forms A and B for scouts and parents if you plan to participate in a day trip or overnight this year.  You are welcome to give them to us in a sealed envelope for extra confidentiality if you prefer; we will only open it in case of emergency. 

The form asks for Unit Leader. Please list  Ryan Bagwell, phone number (443) 867-6413. Our Council name is Spirit of Adventure, and our Unit Number is Pack 4. Please reach out to Ryan or me with any questions or concerns. 

SCOUTING FOR FOOD REMINDER 

Scouting for Food is a wonderful initiative to support the Needham Community Council and our Needham neighbors, organized by scouts in Troop 10. So far, they only have 5 Cub Scouts who have signed up to volunteer, and we would love to see more families get involved. Volunteers are asked to hand out flyers and bags in their neighborhood, and pick up the filled bags a week later. Bags and flyers are all provided. There are two more available dates on April 12th and May 10th - please sign up through this link if you're able to help out! Reach out to ishan.kelkar24@gmail.com and rimi.sen@gmail.com with any questions. 

APRIL PACK MEETING

When: Sunday, April 13th at 4:00PM

Where: Newman Elementary School Cafeteria 

Details: More details to come! 

SAVE THE DATE - SPRING CAMPING

When: May 17th-18th 

Where: Camp Norse in Plymouth, MA

Details: Cubmaster Ryan has planned what promises to be an awesome May camping trip at Camp Norse in Plymouth, MA. Camp Norse is a scout camp with activities that include BB guns, archery, an obstacle course, fishing, a bike track, and more. Keep an eye out for registration and more information in the next few weeks! Thanks to the success of our popcorn fundraiser, the Pack is happy to be able to offer this as a free overnight for Pack families. 

December 2024 News

It's hard to believe it's almost December and the start of the holiday season. With how busy the next month can be for families, we wanted to be sure you have all of the dates, times and details you need for upcoming Pack meetings and events. In December and January, we have our regular monthly meetings plus our Popcorn Celebration, the Pinewood Derby activities, and a fun Sunday afternoon outing to a Providence Bruins game! Please read on for additional details on those and more. 

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and peaceful Thanksgiving!

ECOTARIUM RETURN TICKETS 

If you attended the Ecotarium overnight trip and didn't receive your free return ticket, please email Cubmaster Ryan at ryan@ryanbagwell.com. He has a lot of tickets left over despite trying to hand them out to as many people as possible!

DECEMBER PACK MEETING 

When: Sunday, December 8th at 4:00PM

Where: Newman Elementary School Cafeteria (please note location change - we will not be meeting at the church this month!) 

Details: Our December Pack meeting will be a busy one! We will be holding an Advancement Ceremony to recognize all of the scouts' hard work in October and November. We'll also be wrapping-up our Popcorn Fundraiser AND kicking-off the 2025 Pinewood Derby season! Scouts will receive their Derby car kits and will begin planning their designs, and we'll go over important Derby details (see list of Derby dates below). 

POPCORN CELEBRATION 

When: Sunday, December 15th, from 10:00-12:00

Where: Hometown Arcade, 61 Endicott St, Norwood

Details: To celebrate the huge success of the popcorn fundraiser, the Pack is excited to host a fun morning of gaming at Hometown Arcade on December 15th, from 10:00-12:00. Each Pack family should have received an Evite; one invitation was sent per family to the email listed as the primary contact on the Pack registration form. The celebration is open to all scouts free of charge; due to the size of the Pack, we are not able to accomodate siblings. Please RSVP via the Evite as soon as possible! 

PINEWOOD DERBY DATES

The Pinewood Derby is one of the most fun and highly anticipated events of the year for our scouts! Our updated 2025 Derby Info Packet will be available soon, but for now, please mark your calendars for all of the important Derby dates. Photos from past years can be found HERE! 

1. Car-Building Clinic at the Needham Furniture Makers' Workshop: Sunday, January 5th, 10:30am-4:00pm. For more details and to sign-up for a 45 minute time slot, click here: Derby Clinic SignUp Genius

2. Car Weigh-In: Thursday, February 6th, 5:30-8:00pm, location TBA. SignUp coming soon for time slots; weigh-in is mandatory for all cars and usually takes ~15 minutes. 

3. Race Day: Sunday, February 9th, 10:00am-2:30pm., Mitchell Elementary School Cafeteria. The tentative schedule is as follows, but please note that times are estimates and are subject to change:  

   • Lions: 10:00-10:30 

   • Tigers : 10:30-11:00

   • Wolves: 11:00-12:00 (we will run two races for the Wolf den to accommodate the large number of kids!) 

   • Bears: 12:00-12:30

   • Webelos: 12:30-1:00

   • AOL:  1:00-1:30

   • Siblings: 1:30-2:00

   • Finals: 2:00-2:30

PACK 4 at the PROVIDENCE BRUINS

When: Sunday, January 19th at 3:00pm

Where: Amica Mutual Pavilion, 1 La Salle Square, Providence, RI 02903, US

Details: Join Pack 4 families for our annual outing to the Providence Bruins! The $25 ticket price includes a Bruins hat, and all Pack families who attend will be seated together in great seats. Purchase tickets HERE; tickets are $25/person. Ticket Sales for this event are done directly through the Providence Bruins, but feel free to add your name to this document so Pack families know who else is attending! 

REGISTRATION RENEWAL REMINDER

A reminder that many scouts' BSA registrations are set to expire on 12/31. In past years, the Pack renewed everyone's membership as part of our annual charter renewal, but this year, families must renew on their own directly with the BSA. If your scout is eligible for renewal, you should have received a few emails from the BSA. If you can't find those, you can log-in to your My.Scouting.org account. Under Menu, click My Applications, and then My Renewals. Any registrations eligible for renewal will appear. 

This won't apply to all Pack families - if you were a new family last year, your renewal will be due one year after you joined the Pack. Please reach out with any questions or if you'd like me to check your registration expiration date. 

SAVE THE DATES: 

January Pack Meeting: Sunday, January 12th at 4:00pm at Christ Episcopal Church. More details to follow. 

Tentative - Battleship Cove or USS Salem Overnight: Saturday March 8th, 2025. We are in the early planning stages of this overnight and will send additional details once confirmed. 

Confirmed - Spring camping:  May 17-18, 2025. Pack 4 is going camping again! We'll be sleeping out at Camp Norse in Plymouth, MA, a cub scout themed camp with activities that include BB guns, archery, an obstacle course, bike track, and more. Watch for more details as we get closer. Want to help make it a success? Please reach out to Cubmaster Ryan.

October 2024 News 

OCTOBER PACK MEETING

When: Sunday, October 6th, 4:00-5:30p.m.

Where: Christ Episcopal Church Upper Hall, 1132 Highland Ave, Needham. The entrance to the Upper Hall is in the back of the church off of Rosemary St. Parking is available on Rosemary or at Memorial Field.

Details: In addition to holding our first advancement ceremony of the year, we'll be focusing on acts of kindness and service to others. The Pack will be holding a toiletry drive for the Needham-based non-profit, Generic Ministry, a volunteer-led organization that provides basic necessities and compassion to homeless clients in Boston. Pack families who would like to participate in the drive are encouraged to bring travel-size deodorant, toothpaste and shaving-cream, $5 gift cards to Dunkin Donuts or McDonalds, or new men's and women's white crew socks. We'll also have a special guest speaker, Pack 4 parent and Generic Ministry board president, Emma Navales. 

WORCESTER ECOTARIUM OVERNIGHT - REGISTER HERE (DEADLINE EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 4th)

When: Saturday, November 16th - Sunday, November 17th, 2024; check in is between 5:15-6:15pm and check-out is at 9:30am.

Where: Worcester Ecotarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604

Details: Join Pack 4 families for a special overnight experience at the Worcester Ecotarium! The program will include opportunities to explore the Museum, hands-on educational activities, a planetarium show under the stars, and sleeping among the exhibits, as well as a continental breakfast and a tour of some outdoor exhibits on Sunday.The cost of the overnight is $65 per adult and $30 per scout (the Ecotarium charges $65 for all attendees, but Pack 4 is happy to be able to subsidize a portion of the cost for scouts thanks to our popcorn fundraiser!) Families will be billed via PayPal after registering. We have about 30 spots remaining as of today. 

Please Note: Scout BSA rules require that any adult participating in a scout overnight other than a parent or legal guardian must be registered with the BSA. If a grandparent or other relative will attend with your scout, please let us know ASAP so we can start the registration process. 

HAUNTED HIKE & PUMPKIN DECORATING AT BASE CAMP - REGISTER HERE

When: Saturday, October 26th, 3:00-7:00p.m.

Where: New England Base Camp, 411 Unquity Rd, Milton, MA.

Details: Pack 4 families are invited to participate in the Haunted Hike at Base Camp on on Saturday, October 26. This is a fundraising event organized by the Pennacook Lodge, the Scouting National Honor Society Lodge associated with the Spirit of Adventure Council. New England Base Camp will be transformed into a spooky Halloween experience for Cubs and families, and activities will include pumpkin decorating, a spooky fright hike, apple cider donut making, and more! Online pre-registration is $10 per youth participant ($12 at the door). No charge for adults! 

Please note: Registration for this event is done directly with the Council using the link above. If scouts would like to meet up with friends or den-mates, let us know if you're going by adding your name HERE! 

POPCORN FUNDRAISER REMINDERS

As our awesome Popcorn Kernel, Richard, shared in his latest email update, as of this week, we have sold $7,300 worth of popcorn products, and that’s before storefront sales have started! Thank you for all of the time and effort you and your scouts have put in so far! We are excited to kick off storefront sales this weekend - as of this morning, there is one open shift tomorrow at 1:00p.m. at Sudbury Farms, as well as lots of openings in October. You can sign up for shifts using the Trail's End app. For any popcorn-related questions, please reach out to Richard at needhampack4popcorn@gmail.com. 

And, please save the date for our annual "Popcorn Celebration" on Sunday, December 15th from 10:00am-12:00pm at an awesome new location - Hometown Arcade in Norwood! More details to come! 

YOUTH PROTECTION REQUIREMENT

To earn their Bobcat Adventure, all cub scouts are required to do the activities in the "Parents' Guide to Youth Protection" with their grownup. The booklet is attached to every cub scout handbook, and can also be found here. Adults should review the entire booklet; the activities to work on with your scout(s) start on page 20. When you've completed the requirement, please let your den leader know. Our goal is to award the Bobcat adventure to as many scouts as possible at the October Pack Meeting.

SAVE the DATE: NOVEMBER PACK MEETING

Our November Pack meeting will be held on Sunday, November 3rd. We hope to do a Pack hike for this meeting, so we will meet in the early afternoon instead of 4:00p.m. so we can finish up well before sunset. More specific details to come.

AUGUST 2024 NEWS

Happy August, Pack 4 families! 

We hope everyone has been enjoying a happy and healthy summer. While we're holding on tight to these last few weeks, we're looking forward to seeing all of you and starting our '24-'25 scouting year! We are kicking things off on August 25th with a fun afternoon of orienteering led by Cubmaster Ryan, and our first Pack meeting will be on Sunday, September 8th at 4:00pm - additional details on both below. 

The '24-'25 Pack Calendar can be found HERE. Please note that this calendar includes only full Pack events; Den meetings will be scheduled separately by your Den leaders.

For our returning Pack families, if you are continuing (and we hope you are!), please renew your registration ASAP so we have accurate numbers to start the year. Click HERE to complete the Google Form and pay the annual dues. 

For new families - we are so happy to welcome you to the Pack this year! You all should have received a welcome email from me - please check your Spam/Junk folders if you didn't see it or let me know and I'll resend.  

For prospective families - you are very welcome to join the orienteering event or any meeting prior to registering to get a feel for the Pack. While there is no registration deadline per se, your scout must be registered prior to Camporee if you are interested in attending Camporee (see below for more details). Click HERE, and follow the directions under To Register a New Scout. Please reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. 

Pack 4 is always welcoming new members, and we need your help spreading the word! If you have friends, neighbors or classmates who you think would enjoy being a part of our Pack 4 community, please encourage them to check out our website, Facebook or contact me at committee.chair.pack4@gmail.com for more information.

As always, please reach out with any questions! - Lauren 

AUGUST ORIENTEERING EVENT 

When: Sunday, August 25th at 1:30pm

Where: Nahanton Park - 455 Nahanton Street, Newton

Details: Join Pack 4 Cubmaster Ryan Bagwell on a late-summer adventure as we navigate Nahanton Park with a map and compass. Scouts will get a quick intro to the sport of orienteering and complete a real orienteering course. Be sure to bring the 6 Cub Scout Essentials if you have them (first-aid kit, water bottle, flashlight, trail food, sun protection, whistle)

and a compass. Prospective scouts and siblings are welcome to attend! 

SEPTEMBER PACK MEETING

When: Sunday, September 8th, 4:00PM-5:30PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church, Upper Hall. The church is located across the street from the Needham Library; the entrance to the Upper Hall is on the back of the church on Rosemary St. Parking is available on the street or at Memorial Field.

Details: We'll kick off our popcorn fundraiser, play games, share information about Camporee and more! We'll also be holding our annual uniform swap - please bring hats, neckerchiefs, slides or handbooks that you no longer need (if your scout is okay parting with them).

NEEDHAM CAMPOREE - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

When: Saturday, September 21st - Sunday, September 22nd

Where: Needham Town Forest 

Details: Don't miss one of the favorite scouting events of the year - Needham Camporee! Hosted by Troop 13, Camporee is a great backpacking and camping adventure at the scout camp in the town forest. Scouts will participate in hiking, outdoor activities and skill-building, games, dinner, a bonfire and skits, and an overnight camp-out (staying overnight is optional but encouraged). This event is open to registered scouting families only. Click HERE for additional details, including a schedule and packing list, and to register. 

MAY 2024 NEWS

It's hard to believe we are in the final stretch of our scouting year! We have lots happening in May and June, including our May Pack meeting, Memorial Day events, and our annual family picnic. And although we do not meet formally in the summer, there are several fun activities planned, including Pack 4 Night at the Revs (please note the RSVP date is this Sunday) and a WooSox game and overnight at Polar Park! 

As we begin to wrap things up and look ahead to next year, we are still very much in need of new parent volunteers to help as the Picnic Coordinator, Overnight Coordinator and Day-Trip Coordinator. We're also looking for someone to organize our summer fishing activity (a super light lift - pick a day that works for you, choose your favorite local, kid-friendly fishing spot and bring the bait!). No experience necessary, and you do not need to register as a leader for these roles. Please reach out if you're willing to help or would like to talk more. Thank you!

MAY EVENTS

May Pack Meeting

When: Sunday, May 19th at 4:00PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church

Details: This will be our final "formal" Pack Meeting of the year. More details to come! 

Memorial Day Flag Placements and Parade 

When: Flag Placements - May 20th and May 22nd at 5:00PM; Parade - Monday, May 27th at 10:00AM

Details: In preparation for Memorial Day each year, Pack 4 joins other Needham scouts and volunteers from the VFW to assist with replacing flags at Needham Cemetery and St. Mary's Cemetery. Flag placements usually take place on the Monday and Wednesday before Memorial Day at 5:00PM. Scouts are also invited to participate in the Needham Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27th. The parade usually begins at 10:00 at Needham Cemetery and ends at Memorial Field. I will send confirmed details about flag placements and the parade once I receive them. Scouts should be in their full Class A uniforms for flag placements and the parade. 

JUNE EVENTS

Family Picnic - RSVP Here

When: Sunday, June 2nd, 4:30PM-6:30PM

Where: Mills Field, 96 Gould St., Needham (tentative, pending permit approval from Parks and Rec)

Details: Join us for our annual Pack 4 Family Picnic! Help us celebrate the end of our scouting year, and enjoy great food, games and company. AOL families are welcome to join us! 

Great Scout Campout at Old Sturbridge Village

When: Saturday, June 8th @ 5:00PM - Sunday, June 9th @ 9:30AM

Where: Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA

Details: Pack registration for this event is closed. If you did not register with the Pack but would still like to attend, please click HERE to visit the OSV website and register directly with OSV. 

Pack 4 at the Revs - RSVP HERE by Sunday, May 5th 

When: Saturday, June 15th at 7:30PM 

Where: Gillette Stadium

Details: Join Pack 4 families to watch the Revolution take on the Vancouver Whitecaps at Gillette! 

Registration: Please click HERE to sign up by Sunday, May 5th. To ensure that our seats are together, I have to call in our registration on Monday. The cost should be $36/ticket; there may be additional small taxes and fees. The Pack will cover the cost of scouts' tickets. 

Please note: Because a section/price is not guaranteed until I submit our numbers, families are not required to pay at this time. However, I will need to pay in advance when registering, so please only complete the registration form if you are sure you can attend. I'll follow up with registered families for payment next week.

WooSox Game and Overnight - Buy Tickets HERE
When: Saturday June 22nd at 4:00PM
Where: Polar Park, Worcester 

Details: While our Spirit of Adventure Council unfortunately does not have a WooSox event planned this year, we are able to join scouts from the Mayflower Council for their overnight on June 22nd. This is a very cool opportunity to attend a WooSox game and camp out on the field (optional but encouraged)! The $34 Scout Night Package includes the items below. Make sure to add the $5 Sleepover at checkout to also enjoy outfield camping under the stars and breakfast in the morning! 

• Third Base Reserved seat

• $12 ballpark credit for food or merchandise

• On-Field Pregame Parade

• Honorary WooSox Patch

• Postgame sunset catch on the field

• Movie under the lights

Please note that you are registering directly with the WooSox for this event and we are not guaranteed to have seats together. If you are interested in sitting with friends from the Pack, I'd suggest coordinating/purchasing your tix together! 

March 2024 News 

Blue & Gold Banquet

When: Sunday, March 24th, 4:00-7:00PM

Where: Needham VFW Post 2498, 20 Junction St

Details: The Blue & Gold is an annual, special event to celebrate our 5th grade Arrow of Light Scouts. The banquet will include advancement ceremonies for all dens, a special crossover ceremony for the AOLs, dinner, an ice cream sundae bar and a fun show with Trevor the Games Man! This year, we are asking for a $5 (suggested) contribution per person to help offset food costs, payable HERE. 

RSVP: Please RSVP on the Evite as soon as possible. We're hopeful we'll be able to keep this as a full-family event, but we may need to limit it to scouts and a parent only, as we could exceed capacity limits at the VFW.  AOL families would still be welcome to bring the full family to celebrate your scouts.

Scout Shabbat at Temple Beth Shalom

When: Friday April 5th, 6:00PM-7:30PM

Where: Temple Beth Shalom, 670 Highland Ave, Needham, MA 02494

RSVP: Please click HERE to RSVP

Details: Pack 4 families are invited to a Shabbat service at Temple Beth Shalom on Friday April 5th. We will meet at the Temple at 6:00pm for a short welcome and introduction before the service. The service will begin at 6:15 and go until 7:00, after which families are invited to stay for a sweet snack kindly provided by the synagogue. All Pack 4 families are welcome to attend, regardless of religious affiliation. A parent/adult must attend with their scout. Scouts should wear their Class A uniforms (blue/tan button-down shirt and neckerchief). Lions should wear their Lion shirts.

Special thanks to Pack parent, Evan Metter, for arranging this event for the Pack. While we generally ask families to complete Duty to God advancement requirements on their own, this is an opportunity for scouts who are interested to come together to learn about, practice and reflect on their "Duty to God:" Be reverent toward God. Be faithful in your religious duties. Respect the beliefs of others.

Pack Day Trip to the American Heritage Museum

When: Saturday, April 6th at 10:00AM

Where: American Heritage Museum, 568 Main St, Hudson, MA 01749

RSVP: Please click HERE to RSVP by March 29th. I'll send a separate link for PayPal payments to those who are registered as the date gets closer. 

Details: We're excited to be trying out a new day trip this year, to the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA on Saturday, April 6th. We'll meet at the museum at 10:00, and we'll have a guided docent tour and time to explore on our own. Per the museum, we should plan on being there for about 2.5 hours, but families are welcome to stay longer. The cost to attend is $8 per scout and $15 per parent and non-scout sibling. 

Save the Date: April Pack Meeting 

When: Sunday, April 28th. Time and location TBA. 

Details: This will be a Pack hike led by the Webelos Den. 

January 2024 Pack 4 News 

Happy New Year, Pack 4 families! We hope everyone has enjoyed a happy and healthy holiday season and break. As we begin the second half of our scouting year, check out our highlight reel from the fall: Pack 4 Fall 2023 Highlights! In September, we welcomed 23 new families to the Pack, joining our 28 returning scouts (and giving us our largest Lion and Tiger Dens ever!). Scouts had a great overnight experience at the Needham Camporee, complete with an epic marshmallow roast. October brought a fun outing to Base Camp and our annual Raingutter Regatta, plus lots of popcorn selling. In November, we collected 76lbs (!) of cereal, jelly and fruit snacks for the Needham Community Council, scouts participated in the Needham Veterans Day Ceremony, and families enjoyed a new overnight at the Mystic Aquarium (don't miss the beluga photos in the highlight reel!). In December, we celebrated our record-breaking popcorn fundraiser with a fun night of climbing at Rock Spot and we kicked off our Pinewood Derby at our December meeting. And thanks to our amazing Den leaders, the Dens have participated in hikes, several park and playground clean-ups, visits to the police and fire stations and more. 

We have lots more planned for 2024 and we're looking forward to kicking off the new year with our Derby car-making clinic on Sunday, January 7th - please be sure to RSVP for a time slot! Also mark your calendars for our outing to the Providence Bruins on 1/14, our January Pack meeting on 1/21 and our next overnight, to Battleship Cove, in March! Details below...

Pinewood Derby Clinic

When: Sunday, January 7th, 12:00-4:30. Please click HERE to sign-up for a 45 minute time slot. 

Where: Needham Furniture Makers' Workshop, 590 Hillside Ave, Needham. There is a small parking lot; additional parking is available on Hillside Ave.

Details: The PWD Clinic is a great opportunity for scouts to get assistance building their cars. We will have a variety of tools for the kids to use. Car kits will be available for those who have not yet received theirs.

Important Reminders: 

• Please come with a car design in mind! If you need inspiration, a Google search for "Pinewood Derby Cars" will bring up lots of ideas, and our website has pictures of cars from past years. 

• Want to learn more about the science behind a fast Derby car? Check out this article and video by Mark Rober (thanks to Pack dad Matt Arnould for sharing!). *Please note, not all of Mark's tips are "legal" according to the Pack's Rules and Regulations . Always follow the information in the Derby Info Packet to be safe! 

• Safety glasses are required when using the equipment at NFM. We will have some glasses available, but please bring your own if you have them.

• Remember that we recognize creativity in addition to speed! On Derby Day, trophies will be awarded for:

  • Most Spirit: we'll be looking for Den, Pack, Needham, USA or team spirit!

  • Best Paint Design: we'll be looking at neatness, patterns, colors

  • Most Creative Design: what is your scout's favorite music, book, sport, superhero, video game, animal, etc? Can s/he represent that in a car? 

  • Most Realistic: how close to a real race car can your Scout make his/her car look?

  • Scouts' Choice: the kids will vote on their favorite car! 

Other Important Derby Dates: 

Car Registration and Weigh-In: Thursday, February 8th, 5:30-8:00pm (SignUp Genius for time slots to come; weigh-in usually takes ~15 minutes). The weigh-in marks the official registration for the Pinewood Derby race. Cars are registered by number and name, and are weighed and checked against size requirements and inspection rules. Cars are kept after weigh-in and are returned to scouts after the race. 

Pinewood Derby 2024: Sunday, February 11th, 1:00-5:00pm Don't miss one of the most exciting events of our scouting year! Races are run by Den, with the winner of each Den competing in the Pack finals! We need lots of volunteers for the Derby - keep an eye out for a SignUp Genius coming soon, as well as more specific race times for each Den. Families are encouraged to attend for as much of the race as you're able to watch and cheer on all of the dens! 

Pack 4 at the Providence Bruins 

When: Sunday, January 14th at 3:00PM

Where: Amica Mutual Pavilion, 1 LaSalle Square, Providence, RI

Tickets: Purchase tickets HERE; tickets are $25/person. Order early for the best seat selection! 

Details: Join Pack 4 families for our annual outing to the Providence Bruins! The $25 ticket price includes a Bruins hat, and Pack families will be seated together in great seats. Registration for this event is done directly through the PBruins website, but feel free to add your name to the list HERE so Pack families know who else is attending! 

January Pack Meeting 

When: Sunday, January 21st at 4:00PM
Where: Christ Episcopal Church

Details: More info to come! 

Save the Date: Battleship Cove Overnight 

When: Saturday, March 16th - Sunday, March 17th

Where: Battleship Cove, 5 Water Street, Fall River, MA

Details: Join Pack 4 families for an unforgettable overnight experience at Battleship Cove! In addition to spending the night in a battleship bunkroom, scouts will be able to explore the ship and other Battleship Cove exhibits and enjoy activities like scavenger hunts, historical storytelling, a nighttime movie, games, crafts and more! Dinner and breakfast will also be served on board. Keep an eye out for registration information this week! 

November 2023 News

We hope your scouts had a happy and safe Halloween! We're looking forward to seeing everyone at our Pack meeting on Sunday, which will focus on two service projects for the Needham Community Council. See details below, as well as information about other upcoming events. 

A quick note about Pack parent volunteers: We are so happy to have welcomed 22 new scouts to Pack 4 this year! This is our largest group of new scouts in many years, giving us our biggest Lion and Tiger dens ever! While this growth is so positive for the Pack, it does also mean there is a greater need for more parent helpers. Over the next few weeks, I'll be working on our annual charter renewal with our local Council and the national BSA organization, and unless we have a sufficient number of registered leaders, we will not be able to submit our renewal. If you are able and willing to consider joining our leadership team, please reach out to me or your Den leader. Pack 4 is an entirely volunteer-led organization, and we can't do it without you! 

NOVEMBER PACK MEETING

When: Sunday, November 5th at 4:00PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church, Needham - Lower Hall (please park at Memorial Field or on Rosemary St, and enter through the lower-level door off of Rosemary St).

Details: The Pack is holding a "focused food drive" for the Community Council, and decorating boxes that will be used for gift cards for food pantry households during the holiday season. 

**For the food drive, Pack families are invited to bring in items from the Council's wish list: jam or jelly, applesauce snack packs, diced fruit cups and cereal. Please be sure that items are not expired.** If you're not able to attend the meeting, but would still like to donate, items can be dropped off at my house (64 Mayflower Rd) anytime from now until Sunday. Thank you! 

VETERANS DAY CEREMONY

When: Saturday, November 11th at 11:00 (please arrive by 10:45)

Where: Memorial Field, Needham 

Details: Pack 4 is invited to join other Needham scouting groups to participate in the Veterans Day Ceremony. Our Pack is chartered by VFW Post 2498, and this is a meaningful service opportunity for scouts. However, the ceremony is usually around an hour long, and scouts are expected to stand and watch quietly, so we recognize that this may be best for older scouts. Full Class A uniform is required (blue/tan shirt, hat and neckerchief); Pack t-shirts are not permitted for this event. 

POPCORN CELEBRATION

When: Friday, December 1st, time TBA but likely around 6:00 

Where: RockSpot Climbing, Boston

Details: To celebrate a successful Popcorn Fundraiser, the Pack is excited to host a night of climbing and games at Rock Spot Climbing! All scouts who have participated in our popcorn fundraiser are invited to attend free of charge. Scouts who did not participate are welcome to pay to attend. I'm still working out the details with RockSpot, but hopefully I'll have an Evite and more info coming soon!  

SAVE THE DATE - DECEMBER PACK MEETING: December 10 at 3:00PM (please note time change from 4:00 to 3:00) 

Scouts posing with their amazing items from our 2022 food drive for the Community Council! 

September 2023 News

Welcome to a new year with Pack 4! Whether you're a returning family, a new family or a prospective family, we're so happy you're here! We're looking forward to a great year, starting with our first Pack Meeting on September 10th and the Needham Camporee on September 30th. Read on for details and other important Pack information, and please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions! 

SEPTEMBER PACK MEETING

When: Sunday, September 10th, 3:00PM-4:30PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church, Lower Hall. The church is located across the street from the Needham Library; the entrance to the Lower Hall is on the side of the church on Rosemary St. Parking is available on the street or at Memorial Field.

Details: We'll kick off our popcorn fundraiser, play games, share information about Camporee and more! We'll also be holding our annual uniform swap - please bring any scout hats, neckerchiefs, slides or handbooks that you no longer need (if your scout is okay parting with them).

NEEDHAM CAMPOREE - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

When: Saturday, September 30th - Sunday, October 1st

Where: Needham Town Forest 

Details: Don't miss one of the favorite scouting events of the year - Needham Camporee! Hosted by Troop 13, Camporee is a great backpacking and camping adventure at the scout camp in the town forest. Scouts will participate in hiking, outdoor activities and skill-building, games, dinner, a bonfire and skits, and an overnight camp-out (staying overnight is optional but encouraged). This event is open to registered scouting families only. Click HERE for additional details, including a schedule and packing list, and to register. 

'23-'24 PACK CALENDAR 

The '23-'24 Pack Calendar can be found HERE. While dates/times may occasionally change, we hope this provides a good overview of the year. Please note that this calendar includes only full Pack meetings and events; you'll receive information about Den meetings from your Den leaders. 

PACK VOLUNTEERS

As an entirely volunteer-run organization, we are always in need of helping hands! There are lots of ways - big and small - for parents to get involved. You can view some of our current needs and open positions HERE.

 *We are especially in need of assistant den leaders. Per a new BSA policy, we must have two registered adult leaders at every meeting, and we currently only have one leader per den. If you are interested in volunteering as an assistant den leader or would like to learn more about the role, please let us know!*

RENEW YOUR REGISTRATION AND HELP US SPREAD THE WORD

Returning Pack families - if you are continuing (and we hope you are!), please renew your registration ASAP so we have accurate numbers to start the year. Click HERE to complete the Google Form and pay the annual dues. 

New families - we are SO happy to welcome you to the Pack this year! You all should have received a welcome email - please check your Spam/Junk folders if you didn't see it! 

Prospective families - you are welcome to register anytime, but you must be registered this month if you are interested in attending Camporee. Please click HERE, and follow the directions under To Register a New Scout. Please reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. 

Pack 4 is always welcoming new members, and we need your help spreading the word! If you have friends, neighbors or classmates who you think would enjoy being a part of our Pack 4 community, please encourage them to check out our website, Facebook or contact me at committee.chair.pack4@gmail.com for more information.

May 2023 News

It's hard to believe we have only a month left to our scouting year! We have a lot happening in our final weeks, including our rescheduled April Meeting this upcoming Sunday, a NEW event, Scout Night at the New England Revs, on Friday, May 27th, Memorial Day events, and our annual family picnic in June. Details below! 

April (Rescheduled) Pack Meeting and Hike

When: Sunday, May 7th, 2:00PM (rescheduled from April 30th due to rain) 

Where: We'll meet at the north entrance to Cutler Park at 84 Kendrick Street in Needham

Details: We will be taking a ~4.4 mile hike through Cutler Park, featuring nice views of the Charles River and a walk over a boardwalk through the marsh. There will also be a ~1.8 mile option for families who'd like a shorter route (loop around Kendrick Pond only). We expect the longer hike to last until 4:30, and the shorter hike to last until 3:00 (times estimated). 

• Scouts should wear their uniform shirt or Pack 4 t-shirt, their Den hat and closed-toed shoes appropriate for a hike.

• Don't forget your six essentials for a hike: Flashlight, Filled Water Bottle, Whistle, First Aid Kit, Sun Protection and Snacks. We encourage scouts to carry a small backpack to hold everything.

• Wear plenty of bug spray! 

May Pack Meeting

When: Sunday, May 21st at 4:00PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church

Details: This will be our final "formal" Pack Meeting of the year! We will be collecting items to support the Needham-based non-profit Generic Ministry. Their most-needed items currently are men's sweatpants (new or gently used, sized L, XL and XXL), small tissue packs, razors and travel-sized shaving cream, and Savers gift cards. Additional details to come! 

Scout Night at the Revs

When: Friday, May 27th at 7:30PM

Where: Gillette Stadium

Details: Join scouts from across Massachusetts for Scout Night at Gillette Stadium! Watch The Revolution take on Chicago Fire FC, and enjoy a special post-game fireworks show! Depending on our numbers, we may be able to do a Pack picture on the field before the game, and depending on availability, the scouts may get special Revolution Soccer Scout patches. 

Registration: I just learned about this event yesterday, apologies for the short notice! Please click HERE to sign up by Sunday, May 7th. To ensure that our seats are together, I have to call in our registration on Monday, May 8th. I will request either corner/endline seats ($31/person) or sideline seats ($38/person). There may be additional small taxes and fees. The Pack will cover the cost of scouts' tickets. 

Please note: Because a section/price is not guaranteed until I submit our numbers, families are not required to pay at this time. However, I will need to pay in advance when registering, so please only complete the registration form if you are sure you can attend. I'll follow up with registered families for payment next week. 

Memorial Day Flag Placements and Parade 

In preparation for Memorial Day each year, Pack 4 joins other scouts and volunteers from the VFW to assist with replacing flags that mark our veterans’ resting places at Needham Cemetery and St. Mary's Cemetery. Flag placements usually take place on the Monday and Wednesday before Memorial Day at 5:00PM. Scouts are also invited to participate in the Needham Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 29th. The parade usually begins at 10:00 at Needham Cemetery and ends at Memorial Field. I will send additional, confirmed details about flag placements and the parade once I receive them. 

Save the Date: Pack 4 Family Picnic

When: Sunday, June 4th, 4:30PM-6:30PM

Where: Mills Field, 96 Gould St., Needham (tentative, pending permit approval from Parks and Rec)

Details: Save the Date for our annual Pack 4 Family Picnic! Help us celebrate the end of our scouting year, and enjoy great food, games and conversation! Additional details and sign-up information to come! 

Great Scout Campout at Old Sturbridge Village

When: Saturday, June 10th @ 5:00PM - Sunday, June 11th @ 9:30AM

Where: Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA

Details: Pack registration for this event is closed; however, if you did not register with the Pack but would still like to attend, please click HERE to visit the OSV website and register directly with OSV. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday. Keep you fingers crossed for better weather this weekend! 

Lauren 

March 2023 News 

Hello Pack 4 Families, 

We hope everyone enjoyed a happy and healthy February break! It's hard to believe we're already planning for our spring events, including Adventure Day at Base Camp and our Blue & Gold Banquet. See below for details! 

We also have our overnight at Battleship Cove coming up on March 11th. While registration closed a few weeks ago, please reach out if you would like to be added to a waitlist, in the event that any of the registered families are unable to attend. If you did register, you should have received a separate email from me yesterday with additional details about the overnight. 

Please note that we do NOT have a Pack meeting in March. As always, please reach out with any questions!

Best, 

Lauren

ADVENTURE DAY AT NEW ENGLAND BASE CAMP

When: Saturday, March 25th. Camp is open from 10:00AM-4:00PM; we will meet at 10:00 and families can stay and explore as long as they'd like. You're also welcome to arrive later if necessary. 

Where: New England Base Camp, 411 Unquity Rd, Milton

Click HERE to register - deadline is March 10th. 

Details: New England Base Camp is located in the Blue Hills in Milton and is the home of our governing Spirit of Adventure Council. Adventure Day is an opportunity for scouts and their families to visit Base Camp and participate in the programs they offer at their own pace. Programs may include archery and B.B. shooting, outdoor sports, axe throwing, hiking, scavenger hunts, a ropes course, knot-tying and lashing, and S.T.E.M. activities. All activities are run by trained and certified staff. 

Cost: Adventure Day is free for Pack 4 scouts, and the Pack will cover the cost of one parent/adult per scout. The cost for additional parents/adults and non-Scout siblings or friends is $20/person. Siblings must be age 5+ to attend. 

Did you know that the Spirit of Adventure Council provides programming throughout the year for scouts and their families, including summer camps? With the Adventure Card (which all Pack 4 scouts should have recently received from the Council), many of these programs are free or discounted. Visit the Spirit of Adventure website to sign-up for their newsletter and learn more!

BLUE & GOLD BANQUET

When: Sunday, April 2nd, 4:00PM-6:30PM

Where: VFW Post 2498, 20 Junction Street, Needham, Massachusetts 02492

Details: Please Save the Date for our annual Blue & Gold Banquet on Sunday, April 2nd. This is a special event to celebrate and recognize our Arrow of Light scouts who are "graduating" from Pack 4. All Pack families are encouraged to attend! We'll have a special "crossing over" ceremony for the AOLs, followed by a catered dinner and entertainment from Bonaparte the Magician! Keep an eye out for an Evite later this week! 

APRIL PACK MEETING

When: Sunday, April 23rd, time TBA

Where: Weather-permitting, this will be an outdoor meeting with a hike led by the Webelo Den. 

January 2023 News 

Happy New Year, Pack 4 Families! I hope everyone enjoyed a happy and healthy holiday season and break. We're looking forward to kicking off 2023 with our Derby car-making clinic on Saturday, followed by the January Pack Meeting & Bear Carnival on January 22nd. Details below! 

JANUARY PACK MEETING & BEAR CARNIVAL

When: Sunday, January 22nd at 3:00PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church

Details: The Bear Carnival features fun, indoor carnival games planned by our Bear Den. It will be followed by a brief Pack meeting. Scouts should wear their Class A uniforms (shirt, hat and neckerchief). 

 2023 DERBY DATES 

CAR-MAKING CLINIC 

When: Saturday, January 7th, 12:00-3:00. Click HERE to RSVP for a time slot. 

Where: Needham Furniture Makers' Workshop, 590 Hillside Ave, Needham. There is a small parking lot; additional parking is available on Hillside Ave.

Details: The PWD clinic is a great opportunity for scouts to get assistance building their cars. We will have a variety of tools for the kids to use. Car kits will be available for those who have not yet received theirs, and we'll have extra kits for siblings for $5.00, cash or Venmo (@LaurenRAlexander).

Important Reminders: 

• Please come with a car design in mind! If you need inspiration, a Google search for "Pinewood Derby Cars" will bring up lots of ideas, and our website has pictures of cars from past years. 

• Want to learn more about the science behind a fast Derby car? Check out this article and video by Mark Rober (thanks to Pack dad Matt Arnould for sharing!). *Please note, not all of Mark's tips are "legal" according to the Pack's Derby Rules and Regulations. Always follow the information in the Derby Info Packet to be safe! 

• As your scout plans his/her car design, remember that we recognize creativity in addition to speed! On Derby Day, trophies will be awarded for:
  
  

  • Most Spirit: we'll be looking for Den, Pack, Needham, USA or team spirit!

  • Best Paint Design: we'll be looking at neatness, patterns, colors

  • Most Creative Design: what is your scout's favorite music, book, sport, superhero, video game, animal, etc? Can s/he represent that in a car? 

  • Most Realistic: how close to a real race car can your Scout make his/her car look?

  • Scouts' Choice: the kids will vote on their favorite car! 

• Safety glasses are required when using the equipment. We will have glasses available and will sanitize in between use, but we encourage you to bring your own if you have them. 

CAR WEIGH-IN & REGISTRATION

When: Thursday, February 2nd, 6:00PM-8:00PM (a SignUp Genius will be sent to RSVP for a time slot.)

Where: 64 Mayflower Rd, Needham

Details: The weigh-in marks the official registration for the Pinewood Derby race. Cars are registered by number and name, and are weighed and checked against size requirements and inspection rules (see Derby Info Packet). If you are unable to attend the Weigh-In, you must arrange another time. No car can race without being weighed.

PINEWOOD DERBY 2023

When: Sunday, February 5th, approx 1:00PM-5:00PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church

Details: Don't miss one of the most exciting events of our scouting year! Races are run by Den, with the winner of each Den competing in the Pack finals! 

We need lots of volunteers for the Derby - keep an eye out for a SignUp Genius coming soon, as well as more specific race times for each Den. Families are encouraged to attend for as much of the race as you're able - it's so fun for the kids to watch and cheer on all of the dens! 

Derby questions? Please reach out to Dana at dmalex@hotmail.com. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday! 

Lauren  

November 2022 News 

Parks & Rec has given us the go-ahead for our rescheduled Rocket Day on November 6th! Let's hope for a sunny Fall morning, without any wind! In addition to Rocket Day, we have so many activities coming up in November and December, including our Pack Meetings, a Providence Bruins Game, our Popcorn celebration, several community service opportunities and more. You can always find our full Pack calendar HERE; this is updated regularly as events are scheduled. 

Quick links - all details below:  

Rocket Day SignUp

Popcorn Celebration RSVP - Deadline Nov 10th

Providence Bruins Tickets

  NOVEMBER EVENTS 

ROCKET DAY 2022 

WHEN: Sunday, November 6th, 10:00AM-12:15PM. Click HERE to sign up.

WHERE: Claxton Field, Needham (across from the RTS) 

IMPORTANT DETAILS: 

• If you have not yet picked up a rocket kit, you can do so this weekend. Rockets will be in a box in front of the garage at 64 Mayflower Rd. on Saturday and Sunday from approx 8:00AM-7:00PM. Each individual plastic bag should have all necessary pieces for one rocket. The Pack will provide engines at the event.

• Rockets must be assembled at least 24 hours before launch so the glue can dry. Please do not attempt to modify the rocket. The rockets only work if built according to the instructions and modified rockets can be a safety hazard.

• Parking at Claxton can be tight, especially with the current construction project. If Claxton is full, please park at Horsford Pond. There is no parking on Central Ave. We encourage families to carpool when possible. 

VETERANS' DAY CEREMONY

When: Friday, November 11th (time TBA, likely around 10:00AM)

Where: Memorial Park, Highland Ave, Needham

Details: Pack 4 scouts are invited to join other Needham Packs and Troops to participate in Needham's Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, November 11th. Our Pack is chartered by Needham's VFW Post 2498, and this is a meaningful and important service opportunity for scouts. However, the ceremony can be around an hour long, during which time scouts are expected to stand and watch quietly. We trust parents to make the best decision as to whether or not their scout would enjoy participating. 

NOVEMBER PACK MEETING - FOOD DRIVE for the NEEDHAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL & POPCORN PRIZES

When: Sunday, November 20th at 4:00PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church Upper Hall, 1132 Highland Ave, Needham.

Details: We're happy to kick-off this year's community service opportunities with a Pack food drive to support the Needham Community Council. Pack families are invited to bring donations of any of the items from the Council's most-needed list, below. We encourage you to include your scouts in gathering items, and focus on an item or two that's important to them to make the activity meaningful (ie. Do they have a favorite granola bar or trail mix? Do they love to dip their veggies in Ranch dressing, or put ketchup on everything? Is toast with jam a favorite breakfast food?). In addition to the food drive, we will be awarding advancements from Sept and Oct, and recognizing all scouts who participated in our 2022 Popcorn Fundraiser. 

Council Wish List (we can accept these items only - please do not bring items not on the list, and please be sure that items are not expired): Cooking Oil (any kind), Coffee, Tea (Individually wrapped), Canned Peas or Corn, Tuna, Sugar & Flour, Ketchup, Real Mayonnaise, Household Cleaning Products, Protein Bars, Trail Mix, Laundry Detergent, Aluminum Foil, Salad Dressing (Ranch and Italian), Jam, Jarred Spaghetti Sauce. 

 DECEMBER EVENTS  

PACK 4 AT THE PROVIDENCE BRUINS

When: Sunday, December 4th at 3:00PM

Where: Amica Mutual Pavilion, 1 La Salle Square, Providence, RI

Tickets: Purchase tickets HERE; tickets are $24/person. Order early for the best seat selection! 

Details: Join Pack 4 families for a fun outing at the Providence Bruins! The $24 ticket price includes a Bruins hat, and all Pack families who attend will be seated together in great seats. Scouts had a blast at this event last year (and made several appearances on the Jumbotron!). We're happy to be able to offer an afternoon game this year so more families can attend. Scholarships are available for this outing; please contact Lauren confidentially.

POPCORN CELEBRATION

When: Friday, December 9th, 6:00PM-8:00PM

Where: Rock Spot Climbing Boston/Dedham, 67 Sprague St, Boston

RSVP: Please click here to RSVP by November 10th

Details: To celebrate a successful Popcorn Fundraiser, the Pack is excited to host a night of climbing and games at Rock Spot Climbing on Friday, December 9th! All scouts who sold at least $250 ($400 for siblings) are invited to attend free of charge. Scouts who did not sell $250 are welcome to attend for a fee ($25 or $30, depending on final numbers). Parents and siblings may also be welcome to climb for a fee, also depending on final numbers. Once we have our numbers confirmed on Nov 10th, I'll open up registration to parents and siblings if possible and will provide a PayPal link for those families who need to pay. 

DECEMBER PACK MEETING

When: Sunday, December 11th at 4:00PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church Upper Hall, 1132 Highland Ave, Needham.

Details: More info to come! 

SANDWICH MAKING FOR GENERIC MINISTRY

When: Monday, December 12 and Monday, December 19th, times TBA

Where: The Alexander's Home, 64 Mayflower Rd

Details: We are very happy to be continuing our volunteer work with the Needham-based non-profit, Generic Ministry. Every week, volunteers from Generic Ministry hand-deliver brown bag meals, clothing and self-care items to people experiencing homelessness in Boston. We will be preparing 30 brown bags with sandwiches and snacks. More info and SignUps will be sent out in early December. 

September 2022 News

Welcome to a new year with Pack 4! Whether you're rejoining us, a new family or a prospective family, we're happy you're here. We're looking forward to a great year, starting with our first Pack Meeting on September 11th and the Needham Camporee on September 17th-18th. Please read on for details and other important news, and reach out with any questions. 

SEPTEMBER PACK MEETING

WHEN: Sunday, September 11th, 4:00PM - 5:15PM

WHERE: Christ Episcopal Church, Upper Hall (across from the Needham Library, entrance to the Upper Hall is in the back of the Church). Parking is available at Memorial Field.

DETAILS: Please join us for our first Pack meeting of the year on Sunday, September 11th. We'll kick-off our popcorn fundraiser, play games, share information about Camporee and more! Keep an eye out for an email from our new Popcorn Kernel, Evan Metter, with more details about the popcorn fundraiser prior to the meeting. 

Do you have hats, neckerchiefs, slides or handbooks from last year that you no longer need? Please bring them to pass down to younger scouts. Scouts should wear their Class A uniform or Pack 4 t-shirt if they have them, but it's fine to wait until after this meeting to purchase uniforms to see if hand-me-downs are available. 

NEEDHAM CAMPOREE - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

WHEN: Saturday, September 17th - Sunday, September 18th

WHERE: Camp Nehoiden, Needham Town Forest

DETAILS: Don't miss one of the favorite scouting events of the year - Needham Camporee! Hosted by Troop 13, Camporee is a backpacking and camping adventure at the scout camp in the town forest. Scouts will participate in hiking, outdoor scouting activities and skill-building, games, dinner, a bonfire and skits, and an overnight camp-out. Scouts may also join the daytime activities without sleeping over. This event is open to registered scouting families only. Click HERE for additional information and to register. 

ROCKET DAY 2022

WHEN: Sunday, October 2nd, 1:00PM-4:00PM. A SignUp for specific launch times will be sent soon.

WHERE: Claxton Field, Needham

DETAILS: Mark your calendars for Rocket Day 2022, when Pack 4 scouts will launch homemade rockets high into the Needham skies! Rocket kits will be distributed at the September Pack Meeting. Click here to view photos and videos from past years of this awesome event!

'22-'23 PACK CALENDAR 

The '22-'23 Pack Calendar can be found HERE (and is now available as a Google Calendar!). While dates/times may occasionally change, we hope this provides an overview of the year. Please note that this calendar includes only full Pack meetings and events; you'll receive information about Den meetings from your Den leaders. 

PACK VOLUNTEERS

As we finally return to what we hope is a fully "normal" scouting year, we need to expand our leadership team to ensure that the Pack can continue to run smoothly and provide scouts with a fun and fulfilling experience. We'll be sharing more about our volunteer needs at the Pack meeting; our anticipated open positions can be found here. There are lots of ways - big and small - for parents to get involved, and we hope you'll consider helping out! 

RENEW YOUR REGISTRATION AND HELP US SPREAD THE WORD

Current Pack families - if you are continuing (and we hope you are!),  please renew your registration at your earliest convenience. Click HERE to complete the Google Form and pay the annual dues. 

Prospective families - you are welcome to register anytime! Please click HERE, and follow the directions under To Register a New Scout. You're welcome to attend a meeting or event prior to registering. Please reach out if you have any questions or need any assistance. 

Pack 4 is actively recruiting new members, and we need your help spreading the word! This is the best time of year to register, so scouts don't miss any fall activities. If you have friends, neighbors or classmates who you think would enjoy being a part of our Pack 4 community, please encourage them to check out our website, Facebook or contact Lauren at committee.chair.pack4@gmail.com for more information.

Wishing you and your kids a smooth and happy transition back to school. Looking forward to seeing you all on the 11th! 

May 2022 News 

May Pack Meeting - Needham Town Forest Hike

When: Sunday, May 15th at 3:30PM

Where: Needham Town Forest

Details: For our May Pack Meeting, we will be doing a 3-mile hike in the Needham Town Forest, planned and led by the Webelo Den. If 3 miles feels too long for your scout, you are welcome to join for a smaller portion of the hike. We will meet at Horsford Pond, located on Central Ave across from the Recycling & Transfer Station. Additional parking is available at Claxton Field. Scouts may wear their Pack t-shirts for this activity. Please bring water, snacks, sunscreen and bug spray. Prospective families who are interested in learning more about the Pack are welcome to attend! 

Overnight Experience at the Plimoth Patuxet Museum

When: May 21st-22nd from 5:30PM-9:00AM 

Registration for this activity is closed. 

Memorial Day Flag Placements and Parade 

In preparation for Memorial Day each year, Pack 4 joins other scouts and volunteers from the VFW to assist with replacing flags that mark our veterans’ resting places in both Needham Cemeteries. Scouts are also invited to participate in the Needham Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30th. Please see details, below. 

Flag Placements: 

Monday, May 23rd at 5:00PM at Needham Cemetery, Parish Rd, Needham (meet at the cannons). 

Wednesday, May 25th at 5:00PM at St. Mary's Cemetery (meet near the maintenance garage; enter the cemetery via the 2nd entrance on the left off Cedar Street coming from Central Ave). 

Details: Scouts should wear their Class A uniforms, and bring work gloves, pliers and a tote bag to carry the flags they'll be removing. Please note that this service opportunity is coordinated by the VFW. This is not a drop-off event - parents must stay with their scouts. Scouts should be mindful to show courteous behavior while visiting the cemetery.

Memorial Day Parade: Monday, May 30th

The parade begins at 10:00; scouts should arrive prior to 10:00 and meet at the cannons in Needham Cemetery. The parade starts in Needham Cemetery and ends at Memorial Field. Scouts should wear their Class A uniforms.

Save the Date: Pack 4 Family Cookout

When: Sunday, June 12th, 4:30PM-6:30PM

Where: Mills Field, 96 Gould St., Needham

Details: Help us celebrate the end of our scouting year, and enjoy great food, games and conversation. Siblings, grandparents, friends and prospective families are all welcome! More details and a SignUp to come. 

March 2022 News

 We loved seeing everyone's creative cars at the weigh-in last night, and we can't wait for Race Day! But although this week is all about the Derby, we have lots of other exciting activities coming up, including Pack night at the Providence Bruins, sandwich-making for Generic Ministry and Adventure Day at Base Camp. Read on for details! 

 Pinewood Derby Race Day 

When: Sunday, March 6th, 1:00PM - 5:00PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church Upper Hall (1132 Highland Ave)

Volunteer: We could use a few extra hands with set-up (no experience required!) and clean-up. Please click HERE to volunteer.  

Details: Derby races will be run by Den, with the winning car from each Den competing in the finals. We will do our best to adhere to the times below, but please understand that many things can affect the schedule. Families are welcome to attend the full event or stay for as long as they're able. Masks are required for everyone in attendance, regardless of vaccination status. 

Lions: 1:00-1:30 | Tigers: 1:30-2:00 | Wolves: 2:00-2:30 | Bears: 2:30-3:00 | Webelos: 3:00-3:30 | AOLs: 3:30-4:00 | Siblings: 4:00-4:30 | Finals: 4:30-5:00

 Pack 4 at the Providence Bruins 

When: Saturday, March 12th, 7:05PM

Where: Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI

Tickets: Purchase tickets HERE. Tickets are still available!

Details: Don't miss a fun night at the Providence Bruins! The $24 ticket price includes a Bruins hat and scout patch, and all Pack families who attend will be seated together in great seats. Masks are required at all times while in the Dunkin Donuts Center, regardless of vaccination status. Scholarships are available for this outing; please contact Lauren. See attached flyer for more details. 

 Sandwich Making with Generic Ministry 

When: Wednesday, March 16th at 2:30-3:30PM (early release day)

Where: The Alexander's, 64 Mayflower Rd

Sign Up HERE

Details: We are very happy to be resuming our volunteer work with the Needham-based non-profit, Generic Ministry. Every week, volunteers from Generic Ministry hand-deliver brown bag meals, along with clothing and self-care items, to people experiencing homelessness in Boston. We will be preparing the 30 sandwiches and snacks that will be delivered on Wednesday evening. We expect that it will take us 30-45 minutes to prepare and pack the brown bags. Please note that we need to limit this activity to 15 scouts and sign-ups are on a first-come basis. We hope to have additional sandwich-making opportunities available later in the spring if you're not able to join us this time.

 Adventure Day at New England Base Camp 

Click HERE to Register by March 15th. 

When: Saturday, April 2nd, 10:00AM-4:00PM. We will plan to meet at Base Camp at 10:00, and families are welcome to stay for as long as they'd like.

Where: New England Base Camp, 411 Unquity Rd, Milton

Details: We're excited to announce an April Pack event - Adventure Day at New England Base Camp! NEBC is located in the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton and is the home base of our governing Spirit of Adventure Council. Adventure Day is an opportunity for scouts and their families to visit Base Camp and participate in the programs they offer at their own pace. Programs may include archery and B.B. shooting, outdoor sports, axe throwing, hiking, scavenger hunts, a ropes course, knot-tying and lashing, and S.T.E.M. activities. All activities are run by trained and certified staff. 

Cost: Adventure Day is free for Pack 4 scouts, and the Pack is happy to cover the cost of one parent/adult per scout. The cost for additional parents/adults and non-Scout siblings or friends is $20/person. Siblings must be age 5+ to attend. Payment can be made via PayPal or check; please see the registration form for payment instructions. Scholarships are available for this event; please contact Lauren. 

Did you know that the Spirit of Adventure Council provides programming throughout the year for scouts and their families, including summer camps? With the Adventure Card (which all Pack 4 scouts should have recently received from the Council), many of these programs are free or discounted. Visit the Spirit of Adventure website HERE to sign-up for their newsletter and learn more! 

January 2022 News 

Happy New Year, Pack 4 Families! While we had all hoped 2022 would bring a return to more "normal" activities and meetings, we are instead starting off the year once again needing to weigh the benefits and risks of gathering. Our focus, as always, remains on keeping our scouts active, engaged and having fun - while doing all we reasonably can to keep Pack families safe. As such, we've made some changes to our plans for the Pinewood Derby Clinic on January 8th, and we're asking for your input to help guide our planning moving forward.

PINEWOOD DERBY CLINIC: NEW LOCATION and TIMES 

When: January 8th, 12:30PM-4:30PM (Rain date: January 9th)

Where: The Alexanders' Home - 64 Mayflower Rd, Needham

*Please click HERE to view the new SignUp Genius and select a new time slot.* 

In light of recent news, we've made the decision to hold the PWD Clinic outdoors, as we did last year. The weather may be more of a challenge in January than it was in April when we last did this, but with tailgate tents and outdoor heaters, we think we can manage. We've shifted our times to wrap up before dark and added an additional shift to keep numbers low. Please sign up for a new time slot HERE. Thank you for your flexibility and cooperation as we do our best to make this work! 

We are also still in need of a Pinewood Derby Co-Coordinator! 

After many years of running the Derby, Dana is ready to pass on the checkered flag! We would love to have a parent or two (ideally someone from the Lion, Tiger or Wolf Dens) work with Dana this year, with the goal of taking over next year. The role requires a few hours of "behind the scenes work," in addition to running the clinic and derby. It's an easy, fun and impactful way to get involved! Please reach out to Dana (dmalex@hotmail.com) or me if you have questions or you're interested.

PARENT SURVEY - PLEASE CLICK HERE. 

We recognize that families may have different comfort levels for participating in Pack activities at this time. Please take a few moments to complete a short, 4-question Parent Survey; your feedback is important to us as we make decisions regarding upcoming meetings and events. Responses will be shared only with the Pack leaders. 

JANUARY PACK MEETING

When: January 23rd at 3:30PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church 

We are hopeful that by January 23rd, we will have a better sense of how this recent surge is playing out and we will be able to meet as a full Pack. Save the date for now, and keep an eye out for additional information as it gets closer. 

November 2021 News

Scouts participated in our first-ever Recycled Raingutter Regatta during our October Pack Meeting. Click HERE for photos and videos!

Needham's Veterans Day Ceremony

When: Thursday, November 11th (time TBA, likely around 10:00AM)

Where: Memorial Park, Highland Ave, Needham 

Details: Pack 4 scouts are invited to participate in Needham's Veterans Day Ceremony on Thursday, November 11. Our Pack is chartered by Needham's VFW Post 2498, so we encourage scouts to attend if possible. The ceremony is usually less than an hour; keep an eye out for an email with exact times once that information is confirmed. 

• Scouts must be in their full Class A uniform - blue/tan shirt, neckerchief and hat. 

• The ceremony will take place rain or shine.

• If anyone in your family is feeling ill, awaiting COVID test results or is currently subject to a quarantine, please do not attend. 

November Pack Meeting

When: Sunday, November 14th at 3:30PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church Upper Hall, 1132 Highland Ave, Needham

Details: We will meet at the Church to award prizes to all scouts who participated in our 2021 Popcorn Fundraiser (see more information below). Weather permitting, we will then do a Pack clean-up at Memorial Field and the Town Center. 

Popcorn Fundraiser Update 

Our 2021 Popcorn Fundraiser has been a HUGE success and we are so grateful to everyone who has participated! While online sales can continue through December, storefronts and door-to-door sales have ended. The Pack sold over $20000, far exceeding our goal of $15000! We should be receiving between 37-39% of that in commission. We are still waiting on confirmation, but it is likely that we are one of the top three Packs in the Council. Additionally, we have 10 scouts who sold over $700 each - incredible! 

Why does our fundraising matter? In short, popcorn makes our program possible. The amount we collect in annual dues each year barely covers the cost of what we pay to the Council as part of our annual recharter. As BSA National and Council fees have increased dramatically in recent years, the Pack has worked to keep dues low and to ensure that scouting is accessible to all families. Our fundraising allows us to provide materials such as handbooks and Rocket Day kits, to run activities and events like the Blue & Gold Banquet and Pinewood Derby, to subsidize the costs of day trips and overnight programs (when we can safely do them again), to offer scholarships for Pack dues and much more. 

We thank each of you and your scouts who went door-to-door, emailed family and friends, ran a storefront, put a flyer in your office, posted on social media or otherwise took the time to support the Pack through your efforts! We are especially grateful to our Popcorn Kernel, Allison Coburn, for her exceptional commitment and leadership. We will recognize all scouts who participated at our November meeting. Additionally, we plan to hold our traditional Popcorn Celebration for scouts who sold over $250, but for safety, we will do that in the spring rather than in December.    

Looking Ahead...

For our December Pack Meeting on Sunday 12/12 at 3:30PM, we will be partnering with Storytime Crafts for a book drive! If you're doing a pre-holiday clean-out before the new toys and books arrive, please hold onto your gently used children's books to help us support this fantastic, local nonprofit.  

September 2021 News 

Welcome to a new year with Pack 4! We're so happy to have our returning families with us again this year, and we're excited to welcome so many new families! We're looking forward to a great 2021-2022 year, starting with our first Pack Meeting on September 12th. Please read on for meeting details and other important news and reach out with any questions. Wishing you and your kids a smooth and happy transition back to school!

 Renew Your Registration Today! 

All current Pack families must renew their registration. Annual dues for 2021/2022 are $150 if registered before September 15th. After September 15th, the cost is $175. Pack siblings receive a $25 registration discount this year. To renew your registration, click HERE and follow the directions under To Renew a Current Registration. No Scout will be denied membership in Pack 4 due to financial circumstances. Scholarships are available for all Pack fees by contacting Lauren (confidentially) at committee.chair.pack4@gmail.com. 

September Pack Meeting 

WHEN: Sunday, September 12th, 3:00PM - 4:15PM

WHERE: Christ Episcopal Church, Upper Hall (across from the Needham Library, entrance to the Upper Hall is in the back of the Church). Parking is available at Memorial Field.

DETAILS: Please join us for our first Pack meeting of the year on Sunday, September 12th! We'll kick-off our popcorn fundraiser, play games, share information about Camporee and other upcoming events, and more! Do you have hats, neckerchiefs, slides or handbooks from last year that you no longer need? Please bring them to the Pack meeting to pass down to a younger scout. Scouts should wear their Class A uniform or Pack 4 t-shirt if they have them; it's fine to wait until after this meeting to purchase uniforms to see if hand-me-downs are available. Masks are required for all participants regardless of vaccination status. 

"Bring a Buddy" Pack Hike 

WHEN: Sunday, September 19th, 11:00AM

WHERE: Noanet Woodlands, Dover 

DETAILS: Join us for a fun, family hike in the beautiful Noanet Woodlands. Do you have a friend or neighbor who might be interested in scouts? Bring them along to learn more about the Pack! We promise to have you home in time for the Pats' game! More information and a SignUp Genius to come. 

  Needham Camporee 

WHEN: Saturday, September 25th - Sunday, September 26th, times TBA

WHERE: Camp Nehoiden, Needham Town Forest

DETAILS: Mark your calendars for Camporee 2021! After being cancelled in 2020, we are so happy this favorite scout event is back. Hosted by Troop 13 Needham, Camporee is a backpacking and camping adventure at the scout camp in the town forest. Scouts will participate in hiking, outdoor scouting activities and skill-building, games, dinner, a bonfire and an overnight camp-out. Scouts may also join the daytime activities without sleeping over. We'll share more information at our Pack Meeting.

 Rocket Day 2021 

WHEN: Sunday, October 3rd at 10:00AM

WHERE: Claxton Field, Needham

DETAILS: Save the (tentative) date for Rocket Day 2021! Please note that we are still working with Parks&Rec to confirm this date and location - both are subject to change. Stay tuned for updates. Click here to view photos and videos from past years of this awesome event! 

  Help Us Spread the Word 

Pack 4 is actively recruiting new members, and we need your help spreading the word! This is the best time of year to register, so scouts don't miss any fall activities. If you have friends, neighbors or classmates who you think would enjoy being a part of our Pack 4 community, please encourage them to check out our website or contact Lauren for more information. Are you active on social media? Follow us on Facebook @Pack4Needham, and use the blurb below (or edit as you'd like!) to share with friends: 

Pack 4 Cub Scouts is currently welcoming new members! Pack 4 serves families in Needham, MA and surrounding towns, and welcomes all children in grades K-5.  Our Scouts attend all 5 Needham public elementary schools, as well as several local private schools. From hiking and camping, to community service, to Scout favorites like the Pinewood Derby and Rocket Day, we strive to create meaningful and fun experiences for Scouts and their families. Interested in learning more? Please email committee.chair.pack4@gmail.com or visit our website: https://sites.google.com/view/pack4needham/home

  Summer Fishing Event 

And finally, thank you to all of the Pack families who participated in our summer fishing activity, and especially to Mitchell Leiman for coordinating such a fun morning! Click HERE to see photos! 

May 2021 News

Pinewood Derby 2021 

Weigh-In: All cars MUST be weighed-in to compete! 

When: Thursday, May 13 6:00PM-8:00PM

Where: The Alexander's Home, 64 Mayflower Rd

Click HERE to sign-up for a time slot! 

The Weigh-In marks the official registration for the Pinewood Derby race.  Cars are registered by number and name, and are weighed and checked against size requirements and inspection rules (see the attached newsletter for all rules). All cars, including parent/sibling cars, must be weighed in on Thursday evening. If you are unable to attend on Thursday, please email Dana ASAP (dmalex@hotmail.com) to make other arrangements. 

Important reminders for the weigh-in:

• Cars must be finished! Registered cars remain with the Race Committee until after the race. 

• The car must be named

• The car number (provided to you when you picked up your car) should be highly visible on the car. 

• Paint must be dry. 

• Simple tools will be available at the weigh in to remove excess weight, attach weight if needed (please bring your own weights) and for emergency repairs. 

As your scout puts the finishing touches on his/her car, remember that we recognize creativity in addition to speed! While the fastest cars will receive awards, we'll also be giving trophies for the following: 

• Most Spirit: we'll be looking for Den, Pack, Needham, USA or team spirit!

• Best Paint Design: we'll be looking at neatness, patterns, colors

• Most Creative Design: what is your scout's favorite music, book, sport, superhero, video game, animal, etc? Can s/he represent that in a car? 

• Most Realistic: how close to a real race car can your Scout make his/her car look?

• Scouts' Choice: the kids will vote on their favorite car! 

Race Day Schedule 

When: Sunday, May 16th, 12:00PM-4:00PM

Where: The Alexander's Home, 64 Mayflower Rd

We will be running the race by Den, as we always do, but in order to keep our numbers low, we are asking families to attend only during your Den's designated time slot (with the exception of families with siblings in different dens or those who are participating in the sibling race). We will do our best to adhere to these times as closely as possible. If your scout's car advances to the finals, you are welcome to stay for the remainder of the race or return at 3:30. If you are unable to attend during your designated time, we will still race your car! 

Lions: 12:00-12:30

Tigers: 12:30-1:00

Wolves: 1:15-1:45

Bears: 1:45-2:15

Webelos and AOLs: 2:30-3:00

Sibling & Parent Race: 3:00-3:30

Finals: 3:30-4:00

For all Derby questions, please e-mail Dana at dmalex@hotmail.com 

 Congratulations AOLs! 

On Sunday, May 2nd, we held a small ceremony to recognize and celebrate our graduating Arrow of Light scouts as they officially "crossed over" from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA (formerly Boy Scouts). AOLs received their final advancements and participated in a special crossing over ceremony with scouts from Troops 10 and 13. Following the ceremony, scouts enjoyed a fun performance from caricature artist Don Landgren, as well as a special dessert from Treat Cupcake Bar!  Congratulations to Etan, Gavin, Gabriel, Jacob, Oliver and Declan! Visit our website or Facebook page for more photos! 

Help Wanted 

We are still looking for a new Pack Treasurer and Popcorn Kernel! Pack 4 is run entirely by volunteers, and we rely on our team of dedicated and supportive parents to help us provide a high-quality program for our Scouts.

• Pack Treasurer: Accounting/financial experience preferred but not mandatory. The Pack treasurer will: maintain Pack bank and Paypal accounts; work with the leadership team to establish annual budget, dues and activity fees; track revenue and expenses and oversee reimbursements. Time commitment ranges from approximately 15 minutes to 1 hour/month (Sept-May); peak time commitment during popcorn sales (Oct, Nov) can be 2-3 hours/month. Please click HERE for a detailed description of the role. 

• Popcorn Kernel: The popcorn kernel oversees our annual popcorn fundraiser, which typically runs in September - November. This is ideally a two-person job and we would LOVE to see two Pack parents take this on together! Our current kernel, Allison, is happy to assist new volunteers in getting started. Please click HERE for a detailed description of this role. 

Please reach out with any questions about either role or if you are interested in jumping on board! 

March 2021 News

March Pack Meeting

When: Sunday, March 28th at 3:30PM

Details: In lieu of our traditional Blue & Gold Banquet, we will hold a brief Zoom meeting to recognize and celebrate our Arrow of Light 5th grade scouts who are "graduating"  and transitioning out of Pack 4 this month. We will also recognize advancements for all other Dens. A zoom link will be provided closer to the meeting date. 

Help Wanted! 

As we move into spring and say good-bye to our AOL scouts and families, we have several leadership positions that need to be filled. Our two most urgent needs are Pack Treasurer and Popcorn Kernel. 

• Pack Treasurer: Accounting/financial experience preferred but not mandatory. The Pack treasurer will: maintain Pack bank and Paypal accounts; work with the leadership team to establish annual budget, dues and activity fees; track revenue and expenses and oversee reimbursements. Time commitment ranges from approximately 15 minutes to 1 hour/month (Sept-May); peak time commitment during popcorn sales (Oct, Nov) can be 2-3 hours/month. Please click HERE for a detailed description of the role. 

• Popcorn Kernel: The popcorn kernel oversees our annual popcorn fundraiser, which typically runs in September - November. This is ideally a two-person job and we would LOVE to see two Pack parents take this on together! Our current kernel, Allison, is happy to assist new volunteers in getting started. Please click  HERE for a detailed description of this role. 

Please reach out to Lauren with any questions about either role or if you are interested in jumping on board! Pack 4 is run entirely by volunteers, and we rely on our team of dedicated parents to help us provide a high-quality program for our Scouts.

Summer Day Camp at New England Base Camp

Earlier this week, you should have received the email, below, from the Spirit of Adventure Council. If you are considering registering for Summer Camp or any of the Saturday Adventure Programs at Base Camp, please be sure to follow the instructions outlined in the email to ensure you are receiving your Adventure Card discounts. All Pack 4 Scouts receive an Adventure Card as part of their annual dues.  

From the Council: Summer day camps are expected to be released later this week. As we transition to our new website and e-commerce platform, please keep in mind that you must confirm your account and be logged in to receive any Adventure Card discounts. An email was sent to you fromexperiencebasecamp.org with a link to confirm your account. . If you can't find the email, click this link: https://experiencebasecamp.org/account/register.

Click the person icon on the top right of the menu, then click "Create Account". You must use the email address shown on your Adventure Card. If the email address on your card is incorrect, please send an email to support@experiencebasecamp.org

January 2021 News

Happy New Year, Pack 4 families! We hope you had a relaxing and happy break! 

January Pack Meeting 

When: Sunday, January 17th at 3:00PM

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86496157263 (meeting ID: 864 9615 7263) 

Please join us next Sunday, January 17th at 3:00PM for our January Pack Meeting. We'll be playing some fun Kahoots organized by our AOL Den, as well as making heart cards for the Needham non-profit Catching Joy. Catching Joy is run by a 17-year-old Needham resident and his family, and they promote volunteerism beginning with young children and their families. They aim to send out 100,000 decorated paper hearts with positive messages to essential workers and people in need to spread empathy, inclusiveness, creativity, kindness, love, hope, and peace. 

To help the card-making go smoothly, please make sure your scout has the following during our meeting: 

• Paper (any type is okay and they encourage recycling...you can use paper bags, gift bags, envelopes...as long as it can be cut into the shape of a heart!)

• Scissors to cut the paper into a heart (please assist your scout as needed for safety!)

• Crayons, colored pencils or markers

• Optional: any other arts&crafts materials that your scout would like to use (ie stickers, glue sticks, magazines to cut out pictures/words, etc)

Parents and siblings are welcome to make their own cards! Finished cards can be dropped off at Lauren's house by January 20th (64 Mayflower Rd), and Lauren will deliver them to Catching Joy. 

Adventure Day at Base Camp Milton 

When: January 30th at 10:00AM - 4:00PM (families can choose how long to attend).

Where: Base Camp Milton,  411 Unquity Rd, Milton, MA

We will be organizing a group outing to the Spirit of Adventure Base Camp in Milton, to participate in their Saturday Adventure Day Program! Adventure Day is an opportunity for families to visit Base Camp and participate in the programs offered at their own pace. Programs include archery, B.B., sports, axe throwing, S.T.E.M. activities and more. Program descriptions are available here; please note that not all programs may be offered on the day we attend. 

The Council has COVID-19 protocols in place to ensure the safety and health of participants and staff, and all activities will take place outdoors (please dress accordingly). You can read more about the Council's COVID protocols here. 

Keep an eye out for an email with a SignUp Genius to register early this week! 

Calendar Updates

Pack leaders met last week to adjust and finalize our calendar for the remainder of the year. Our activities for January-June are listed below. Please note these include only full Pack events and not Den meetings/activities. The full calendar is also available on our website. More details about the Blue & Gold Ceremony and Pinewood Derby to come. Pack hikes and other outdoor activities may be planned in the spring, weather and safety permitting. Italicized events are not yet confirmed. 

January 2021 

Sunday 1/17: Virtual Pack Meeting at 3:00PM

Saturday 1/30: Adventure Day at Base Camp Milton

February 2021

Sunday 2/28: Pack Meeting (we will try to plan an outdoor, winter activity; details TBD).  

March 2021 

Sunday 3/28: Blue & Gold Ceremony (in person, outdoors for AOL scouts and families, streamed via Zoom to other Dens)

Scouting for Food (Dates TBA)  

April 2021 

Sunday 4/11: Pinewood Derby Clinic (in person, outdoors in small groups)

Town-Wide Clean-Up (Date TBA) 

May 2021 

Sunday 5/16: Pinewood Derby (in person, outdoors in small groups)

Memorial Day Flag Placements (Dates TBA)

Monday 5/31: Memorial Day Parade 

June 2021

Sunday 6/6: June Pack Meeting

 Popcorn Wrap-Up

That's a wrap on our 2020 Popcorn Fundraiser! Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who participated and helped us exceed our fundraising goal of $3,500 in such a challenging year! All scouts who participated in the fundraiser will receive a $25 gift card to Learning Express Needham! And as is tradition, we hope to be able to allow scouts who raised over $250 to pie an adult of their choice at a later date! 

November 2020 News?

Thanks to all of the Pack families who participated in one of our October hikes and to the Den leaders who organized the hikes! Click here to see more great photos!

November Pack Meeting 

When: Sunday, November 8th, 2:00 - approx 4:00PM

Where: Needham Town Forest. We will meet at Horsford Pond, located on Central Ave near the Needham RTS. There is a small parking lot at Horsford Pond, with additional parking available at Claxton Field. 

RSVP: Please click HERE to RSVP! 

The Needham Camporee is cancelled this year, so we are giving scouts the chance to experience some favorite Camporee activities at our November Pack Meeting! Because of the strong commitment to safety that Pack 4 families demonstrated at Rocket Day and the hikes, we feel confident that we can safely host this meeting outdoors, in-person.

We will meet at the Horsford Pond entrance to the forest at 2:00PM and hike to the Needham Scouters' Camp in socially distanced groups. At the Scout Camp, there will be several activity stations set up, including: 

• an obstacle course

• campfire building 

• knot tying

• tent set-up

• assembling a first aid kit 

Each Den will be assigned a specific rotation through the stations. All participants must wear a mask at all times, and please be mindful of social distancing. We ask that only one parent/guardian attend, and no siblings attend. The meeting will take place rain or shine, within reason. Keep an eye on your email for updates should the weather be questionable.

Scouts should wear their Class A uniform, appropriate outerwear and shoes for hiking, and bring a small backpack with the six essentials for a hike: Flashlight, Filled Water Bottle, Whistle, First Aid Kit, Sun Protection and Trail Food.

Fundraising Update

We are SO CLOSE to reaching our Pack fundraising goal! Thank you to everyone who has participated so far. Nearly 50% of our scouts have sold popcorn, and 30% have received a donation in their name! Click here for all of the Popcorn 2020 information, including a sample letter that you can send to family and friends. Trail's End has recently added new, limited edition products for the holidays, so this is a great time to encourage family and friends to place orders!

We are currently out of door tags, but we can place another order if there is interest. Please let Lauren know if you would like more! Our fundraiser will run through December, so there is still plenty of time to participate!

COVID Safety Updates from the Council 

A Note from the Council: 

With the continued rise of COVID cases in Massachusetts spiking above 500 for the last 10 days, The Spirit of Adventure Council is changing Council protocols affecting Gears 3 and 4, and how this will affect the local units as they visit our Council properties, and how they should function locally.

For now, as a whole, we remain in Gear 4.  However, the COVID status (Red, Yellow, or Green) of the hometown will be factored into what gear the unit will be allowed to participate.  Yellow and Green towns will be able to participate at our council facilities based on Gear 4 protocols.  Red towns will need to participate with the Gear 3 protocols.  More details about each gear can be found HERE.

Town color status levels are determined on a weekly basis and announced on Wednesdays.  The site to visit to check on your town’s status is: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/community-level-covid-19-data-reporting

The Spirit of Adventure Council continues to strive to meet or exceed the safety protocols for the safety of our Scouts.  Please pass along to your unit leaders and parents of Pack 4 as necessary. Thank you for doing your part to help protect our Scouts.

---------

Wishing you and your scouts a happy and safe Halloween! 🎃

June 2020 News 

This past Sunday, June 1, should have been our annual family picnic. While we are disappointed that we weren't able to celebrate the end of our scouting year and kick off summer together, we wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your continued support and involvement throughout the year, and especially during the last few months. Whether you participated in a Zoom Den meeting, made a sign for the Hearts for Healthcare heroes campaign, put out a stuffed animal for our driving safari, or worked on advancement requirements - we appreciate you and we are so thankful for our Pack 4 community.  A big congratulations to all of our Scouts who have completed adventures and earned advancements - please see the full list below! We completely understand that scouting may have taken a back seat to other priorities; we will spend some time in the Fall supporting scouts in "catching up" with any outstanding requirements. 

A special thanks to all of our Den Leaders and other members of our Pack leadership team who have continued to work behind the scenes to support the Pack and keep us moving forward. Although we don't yet know what September will look like, we are continuing to make plans for the 2020-2021 scouting year and we hope that your family will join us! Registration for 2020-2021  is now open - click here for the Pack registration form.

Wishing you a healthy and happy summer. 

🎊CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING SCOUTS FOR COMPLETING ADVANCEMENT REQUIREMENTS! GREAT WORK!!! 🎊

TIGERS

Vivienne C – Tiger Rank Emblem, Games Tigers Play, Duty to God Adventure, Tigers in the Wild, Cyber Chip Emblem, Family Stories Adventure 

BEARS

Joey B – Bear Rank Emblem, Bear Necessities Adventure, Fur, Feathers & Ferns Adventure, Paws for Action Adventure

Theodore C – Bear Rank Emblem, Paws for Action Adventure

Jeremy C – Bear Rank Emblem, Baloo the Builder Adventure, Paws for Action Adventure

Caleb G – Critter Care Adventure, Paws for Action Adventure

Rohan K – Bear Rank Emblem, Baloo the Builder Adventure, Critter Care Adventure, Paws for Action Adventure

Seth L – Bear Rank Emblem, Bear Claws Adventure, Bear Necessities Adventure, Critter Care Adventure, Paws for Action Adventure

Harvey P – Critter Care Adventure, Fur/Feathers/Ferns Adventure, Paws for Action Adventure, Bear Necessities Adventure

Omer S – Bear Rank Emblem, Fur/Feathers/Ferns Adventure, Baloo the Builder Adventure, Bear Necessities Adventure, Critter Care Adventure, Paws for Action Adventure

Anderson W – Bear Rank Emblem, Bear Claws, Fur/Feathers/Ferns Adventure, Paws for Action Adventure

Ian Z – Bear Rank Emblem, Baloo the Builder Adventure, Cyber Chip Emblem, Fur/Feathers/Ferns Adventure, Paws for Action Adventure

WEBELOS

Gavin B – Duty to God Adventure, Stronger/Faster/Higher Adventure

Ari I – Duty to God Adventure, Stronger/Faster/Higher Adventure 

Declan M – Stronger/Faster/Higher Adventure 

Jacob M – Webelos Rank Emblem, Maestro Adventure, Stronger/Faster/Higher Adventure 

Gabriel W – Webelos Rank Emblem, Stronger/Faster/Higher Adventure 

Oliver W – Stronger/Faster/Higher Adventure

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING SCOUTS WITH MAY, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST BIRTHDAYS! 🎂

Gavin B, Joey B, Kelvin B, Vivienne C, Marlin C, George D, Ari I, Seth L, Etan L, Isaac N, Luke R-S, Jacob S, Luca S, Isaac T, Gabe W, Emmett W, Anderson W, Oliver W 

February 2020 News 

Pinewood Derby Recap

Thank you for another GREAT race day, Pack 4! Did you know we raced 51 cars, including a record breaking 14 sibling cars?! We hope you and your Scouts had fun. Visit our Facebook page or website for race photos - more photos will be added throughout the week! 

We would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped make the Derby a fun and successful day - whether helping at the clinic, assisting with the weigh in, building the track, monitoring the races, or cleaning up afterwards, we couldn't do it without you! Special thanks to Dana Alexander for coordinating the Derby again this year, and to Jorge and Katherine Calzada for helping us find the beautiful new location.

Upcoming Events - Lots Going On! 

Sandwich Making for Generic Ministry: Click Here to RSVP Today! 

When: Sunday, February 9th, 2:30-4:00PM

Where: Dana and Lauren's home, 64 Mayflower Rd, Needham

We hope you will join us for our third (and final for this year) sandwich making event for Generic Ministry. Every week, the Needham-based volunteer organization delivers brown bag meals to homeless clients in Boston, and we will be preparing the 80 meals (consisting of a sandwich, fruit and snack) that they will deliver the week of February 9th. We'll have a special visit from the Generic Ministry van and volunteer/Pack parent, Emma Navales. 

Pack 4 at the Providence Bruins

Mark your calendars for a fun, NEW Pack 4 event - an afternoon at the Providence Bruins! 

When: Sunday, February 16th at 3:05PM.

Where: Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence RI

Register: Registration for this event has closed. If you are interested in attending and did not register, please reach out to Lauren. Additional families may be able to join if tickets are still available. 

Blue & Gold Banquet

When: Sunday, March 8 4:00-6:30pm 

Where: LOCATION TBD

The Blue & Gold Banquet is our annual celebration of the birthday of Scouting AND a special farewell to our Arrow of Light Scouts. Most of our AOL scouts and families have been with the Pack for many years - please help us congratulate them on their achievements and wish them well as they move on. We will have a Crossover ceremony, followed by dinner, dessert and entertainment by the amazing JoJo the Magician (check out his website here - you don't want to miss his awesome show!) We encourage all families to attend - we hope to see you there! 

Overnight at theFranklin Park Zoo!

When: Saturday March 14, 6:45pm (please note rescheduled date)

Where: Franklin Park Zoo, Boston

Please join us for an exciting, NEW sleepover on March 14th at the Franklin Park Zoo! During the overnight, our group will play games, enjoy special animal encounters, go behind-the-scenes, see zookeeper presentations and more! Keep an eye out for the registration form and more information, coming this week! 

Scouting for Food

The Scouting for Food Drive will once again take place in late March. Remember that we need tons of brown paper grocery bags for food collection - start saving yours now! 

December 2019 News

Wishing all of our families a very happy holiday season! This is a light month, with our December Pack meeting being the only full Pack event planned. Please see details below - note the time change to 12:00pm and the location change to Lower Parish Hall. 

December Pack Meeting

When: Sunday, December 15th at 12:00pm 

Where: Christ Episcopal Church, 1132 Highland Ave, Needham. We will meet in the Lower Parish Hall. Parking is available in the Memorial Field parking lot across the street. 

Details: Scouts should wear their Class A uniforms (uniform shirt, hat and neckerchief). 

Upcoming Events

Pinewood Derby Clinic and Movie

When: Saturday, January 4th, 3:00pm-7:30pm.

Where: Christ Episcopal Church (room location TBA)

Details: Our annual Pinewood Derby is just around the corner! Click here for more information about the Clinic and Derby. Pinewood Derby kits will be distributed at the December Pack meeting.

January Pack Meeting & Carnival (hosted by the Bear Den)

When: Sunday, January 12, 3:30pm

Where: Christ Episcopal Church, Upper Parish Hall

October 2019 News 

Welcome New Families!

We are very happy to welcome the 17 new families who joined Pack 4 in recent months! We are still actively recruiting new members, especially Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade families. Please spread the word among your friends, neighbors and school communities!

September Recap

We truly hit the ground running this year and packed SO many activities into September! Check out our website for pictures of some of the highlights. A special thank you to all of the families who were able to come to our sandwich making event on Sunday. We had about 30 scouts, siblings and parents attend, and they made 75 ham and cheese sandwiches, filled 75 brown bags with fruit and Goldfish, and prepared an additional 50 small snack bags with granola bars, gummies and applesauce...all in less than an hour! It was organized chaos and awesome teamwork. We loved seeing all of the kids working so well together and feeling so proud and excited to be helping out! 

 Popcorn Sales 

Our Popcorn Sales are in full swing, and we had a great first weekend of group sales! Have you downloaded the Trails End app and signed up for two group sale shifts yet? Group sales are a fun and easy way to work towards achieving the $250 in sales required to attend the Popcorn Celebration! 

There are still shifts available on the following days: 

Sunday, Oct 6 @ Dunkin Donuts, Highland Ave (3 open spots).

Saturday, Oct 12 @ Roche Bros (2 open spots)

Sunday, Oct 13 @ Trader Joe’s (4 open spots)

Saturday, Oct 19 @ Starbucks, Highland Ave (4 open spots)

Sunday, Oct 20 @ Volante Farms (6 open spots)

All Pack 4 Scouts who sell at least $250 in popcorn ($400 for siblings) will be invited to our Popcorn Celebration on Friday, November 22 at the awesome RockSpot Climbing in Norwood! More information to come. Questions about popcorn sales? Please contact Allison Coburn.  

Upcoming Events

PumpkinFest at Base Camp Milton 

When: Saturday, October 19, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Where: New England Base Camp, 411 Unquity Rd, Milton, MA 02186

Enjoy a day at Base Camp Milton and see how much fun you can have with pumpkins! Launch pumpkins with catapults, carve pumpkins, play pumpkin mini golf and pumpkin bowling, do a scavenger hunt, make pumpkin donuts and other pumpkin-based treats, experience live music and face painting, as well as the classic activities like archery and scout skills! Click here for more information and to register. 

Parent Planning Meeting 

When: Monday October 14 at 7:30pm

Where: 64 Mayflower Rd, Needham

Pack 4 leaders hold several planning meetings throughout the year, and we welcome all parents who are interested to join us. Our October meeting will be held at the Alexanders' home, and we will be discussing recruitment, the upcoming October and November Pack meetings, popcorn sales, and plans for our 2019-2020 overnights. Please respond to this email to let Lauren know if you plan to attend! 

October Pack Meeting

When: Sunday, October 20, 3:30 PM

Where: Christ Episcopal Church Needham, Upper Parish Hall

Scouts should wear their Class A uniforms (uniform shirt, hat and neckerchief)

Overnight at Battleship Cove 

When: Saturday, November 2 - Sunday, November 3

Where: 5 Water St, Fall River, MA

Join Pack 4 families for an unforgettable experience at Battleship Cove! In addition to spending the night in a battleship bunkroom, Scouts will explore a WWII submarine, a Vietnam War-era destroyer and PT Boats, take part in a scavenger hunt and other fun activities, and enjoy dinner and breakfast on board.  More information and registration coming soon. Visit Battleship Cove's website to learn more about the Nautical Nights program.

August 2019 News

WELCOME NEW FAMILIES! 

We hope everyone is enjoying a happy and relaxing summer! We are excited to have four new Scouts join the Pack so far this summer - a warm welcome to the Sherman, Gooch, Zemel and Wulf families! 

Current Pack 4 families - don't forget to re-register by completing the Pack Registration Form and submitting your dues. Click here to re-register today.

2019-2020 CALENDAR

While we are holding on tight to these final summer weeks, we're also busy planning for our upcoming Scouting year. Thanks to your feedback on our parent survey, we'll be continuing all of our Pack favorites like Camporee Weekend and Pinewood Derby, but also making some exciting changes & additions to the calendar, including: 

• More outdoor activities, and outdoor Pack Meetings in the nicer months

• More opportunities for community service

• Fun new sleepover locations and sleep-under opportunities

• More Pack participation in events at Base Camp Milton (stay tuned for information on PumpkinFest 2019!)

Mark your calendars for our first Pack Meeting and Popcorn Kick-Off on Sunday, September 9. You'll find the full 2019-2020 Calendar attached, as well as on our website. Please note that some dates/times/locations are subject to change.

THANK YOU! 

A big thanks to.... 

• the families who helped with float construction and participated in the 4th of July Parade on behalf of Pack 4. The Cub Scout float won the Spirit of America prize this year! Check out our website for pictures. 

• the families who attended our sandwich making event for Generic Ministry. We made 80 brown bag meals in an hour! Great teamwork, Scouts! Stay tuned for more volunteer opportunities with Generic Ministry this year. 

• Pack 4 parent Mitchell Leiman, who organized our Family Fishing Event at the Town Reservoir. The Scouts had a fun morning and caught tons of fish! 

• Pack 4 parent Allison Coburn, who has kindly stepped up as our new Popcorn Kernel. You'll be hearing more from Allison about our 2019 Popcorn Fundraiser in September! 

May 2019 News 

Hello Pack 4 families! We are in the home stretch now, with only one month to go until we wrap up our 2018-2019 scouting year! We still have lots of great activities planned between now and then, and it's never too early to start thinking about next year. Registration for 2019-2020 is now open! Current families who are re-registering for next year need to complete only the Pack Application and pay the $100 in yearly dues. The BSA application does NOT need to be completed again. 

2019-2020 RECRUITMENT

Pack 4 is recruiting new families and we need your help to spread the word! Here's what you can do: 

• Reach out to friends and neighbors! Invite them to your next Den meeting or to any of our upcoming events to learn more about the Pack.

• Do you live on a busy street? Host a yard sign for us! Signs will be available at our May Pack meeting. If you're still holding on to a sign from the Fall, this is a great time to put it back out!

• Updated recruitment flyers will also be available at the May meeting. Know a Needham business with a community news bulletin board? Are you involved in other volunteer organizations (ParentTalk, PTCs, etc)? Grab a few flyers and help us share them around town. If you'd like the flyer in a digital format instead, just let us know. 

• And last but not least, if you are active on Facebook, follow us @Pack4Needham and Like/Share our posts! The more followers, likes and shares we get, the more visibility our page receives! 

PACK LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEER NEEDS

Treasurer: We are sad to be saying good-bye to our Pack Treasurer, Joanna Cram, who has expertly overseen Pack finances this year. Joanna - we will miss you and we wish you all the best on your next adventure! We are looking for a new volunteer to serve as treasurer. This role can be done entirely "behind the scenes" and on your own time. If you have experience in accounting or finance and you'd like to get more involved, we would love to talk with you! 

Popcorn Kernel : We are still searching for our next Popcorn Kernel (or Kernels - this is a position that could be shared by a few families!) The Popcorn Kernel is one of our most important Pack positions, as without it there can be no popcorn sales. And without popcorn sales, our scouts will be losing the important skills they learn through selling, like setting goals and working to achieve them, how to present oneself and how to handle money. We would also see a significant increase in membership costs. Our popcorn sales allow us to keep our yearly dues low, to subsidize the cost of overnights, to provide handbooks, Pinewood Derby cars and rocket kits, etc. Please consider partnering with a Pack friend to help us fill this urgent need! 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 ROCKET DAY 2019!  

We are excited to once again be joining Packs 8 and 23 for this awesome event! Don't miss as scouts from all three Needham packs launch their homemade model rockets into the Needham skies! Special thanks to Pack 4 parent David Itzkovits for taking on Rocket Day planning for us.

When: Saturday, May 18, 8:00am-10:30am

Where: Claxton Field (across from the Needham RTS). Parking is in the Claxton Field lot. If full, please park in the Horsford Pond parking area. There is NO parking along Central Ave.

Details: Model rocket kits have been distributed to Den Leaders, who will be passing them out in the coming weeks. Scouts should assemble the rocket prior to Rocket Day - the rockets can take a bit of time to assemble, and the glue needs time to dry! If you have not yet received your rocket kit, please contact your Den Leader.

**For the safety of our scouts, this is not a drop-off event. All scouts must attend with an adult.**

Volunteers: We need a few parents to help out at Rocket Day to ensure that the event runs smoothly. Please email David Iztkovits at ditzkovits@gmail.com if you're able to volunteer!

 MAY PACK MEETING  

When: Sunday, May 19 at 3:30 pm

Where: Christ Episcopal Church, Needham

Details: Please join us for our final Pack Meeting of the year! Scouts will enjoy a presentation by iCode Wellesley, followed by our Advancement Ceremony, during which we'll recognize all scouts who have completed their advancement requirements for the year and are graduating to the next Den!

 FAMILY PICNIC

Save the Date for our annual Family Picnic, on Sunday, June 2 at 4:00pm at Claxton Field. More details to come! 

  PAWSOX OVERNIGHT  

Please join us for our final sleepover of the year on June 8, at the Pawtucket Red Sox Game at McCoy Stadium! This sleepover includes: Tickets to the PawSox game • Pre-game parade • Campout and movie on the field • $10 in ballpark credit • Scout sleepover patch AND Continental breakfast!

Families also have the option of attending the game only. Scouts who attend the game only will receive game tickets and a $10 ballpark credit, and will also be able to participate in the pre-game parade.

Registration closes on Friday, May 17. Please visit our website for more information and to sign up today! 

March 2019 News

BLUE & GOLD BANQUET RECAP

On March 3, we held our annual Blue & Gold banquet, which celebrated the birthday of scouting and the advancement of our  Arrow of Light Scouts! Congratulations AOL! This year's Blue & Gold featured a special advancement and crossing over ceremony by Mr. Peters, an Italian dinner and ice cream sundae bar, and a very cool presentation by a Rainforest Reptiles animal specialist! The Blue & Gold also marked the moving on of four of our dedicated volunteers: Huajun Liu, our AOL Den Leader; Rob Peters, our Cubmaster; Karen Peters, our Popcorn Kernel; and Kristin Collins, who did a bit of everything for the Pack for many years! Huajun, Rob, Karen and Kristin - thank you for all you've done, you will be missed greatly! 

SCOUTING FOR FOOD 

The 2019 Scouting for Food Drive, to benefit the Needham Community Council Food Pantry, begins next weekend! Den leaders have received all of the materials for each Den and will be passing them out to families in the coming week.

March 23/24: Drop off flyers to homes on your assigned route on Saturday or Sunday

• Please make sure your scout writes his/her FIRST NAME ONLY and the pick-up date of March 30 on the yellow flyers

• Staple a yellow flyer to a brown grocery bag for each house on your route (make sure you don't staple the bag shut!)

• Bags should be hung on door handles or tucked inside storm doors. Please make sure bags are visible and won't blow away and cause litter

• Scouts should wear their Class A uniforms (shirts, hats, neckerchief) for drop-off and pick-up. 

Saturday, March 30, 8am-12pm: Pick up donations and deliver donation bags to Norfolk Lodge, 1101 Highland Ave. 

• All donations must be dropped off by 12pm on March 30. 

• Please encourage Scouts to collect bags only from their assigned route. It may be tempting to "help" collect other bags you see, but please let other Scouts feel the accomplishment of picking up on their route! 

UPCOMING DATES

• March 23: Manchester Monarchs Game & Overnight  (registered families - stay tuned for an email with important  information in the next few days) 

• March 23/24 and March 30: Scouting for Food 

• Sunday, April 7, 3:30pm: April Pack Meeting & Bear Carnival 🎡 Don't miss one of our most fun Pack meetings of the year - the indoor Carnival planned by our Bear Den! This event is also an Open House for prospective Scout families - please spread the word among your friends and neighbors and invite them to join us! 

• Saturday, April 13, 8:30am - 12:00pm:  Needham Town Wide Clean-Up.🌳Sponsored by Needham Parks and Rec.  Come celebrate Earth Day with us, and join your neighbors to clean up the town from the harsh winter! Keep an eye out for a sign-up form, coming soon! 

• Saturday, May 18th, 8:00-10:30am: ROCKET DAY 2019! 🚀 More information to come!  

January 2019 News 

Happy 2019 Pack 4 families! We hope you all had a fun and relaxing break. Pack 4 is kicking off the new year with all things Pinewood Derby. We were happy to see so many of you at the Derby clinic, pizza & movie night yesterday! For those of you who were unable to attend, please e-mail your Den leader to arrange pick-up of your car kit (unless you are a Webelo - we will hand out cars at our Den meeting next week). 

A Few Important Derby Notes:

New this year: We are expanding our award categories to recognize creativity, in addition to speed! The fastest cars in each Den and Pack will still receive awards, but we'll also be giving awards and trophies for the following: 

• • Most Spirit: we'll be looking for Den spirit (i.e. a Wolf car!), Pack spirit (how many number 4s can you creatively paint on your car?), Needham spirit, USA , or sports' team spirit! 

  • Best Paint Job: we'll be looking at neatness, patterns, colors. 

  • Most Creative Design: what is your scout's favorite music, book, sport, movie, superhero, animal, etc? Can s/he represent that in a car? Go for it! 

Encourage your scouts' creativity and have fun! And a gentle reminder that Pinewood cars should be the work of our scouts, not our parents. Please review and respect the rules that were included in the Derby newsletter (available here) to ensure that this is a fun, friendly and fair event for all of our participants.

Cars for siblings/parents/friends are still available at $5/car. Please email Dana at dmalex@hotmail.com if you're interested!  

Upcoming Derby dates: (parent volunteers needed for all 3 events - stay tuned for the SignUp!)

Pinewood Derby Weigh-In: Thursday, 1/31/19, 7pm-8pm

Pinewood Derby Set-Up: Friday, 2/2/19 7:30pm-9:30pm 

PINEWOOD DERBY 2019: Saturday 2/2/19, 1pm-4pm (snow date: Saturday 2/9/19) 

January Pack Meeting

When: Sunday, January 13, 3:30pm

Where: Christ Episcopal Church Needham, Upper Parish Hall  

Scouts should wear their Class A uniforms (uniform shirt, hat and neckerchief).

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 December 2018 News

Wishing a Happy Hanukkah to our Pack 4 families who are celebrating this week! 

December Pack Meeting

When: Sunday, December 9, 3:30pm

Where: Christ Episcopal Church Needham, Upper Parish Hall  

Please join us for our final Pack meeting of 2018! We will have a special presentation by a Needham EMT, and scouts will work on making their own personal first aid kits. We'll also be making Thank You notes for our local first responders! Scouts should wear their Class A uniforms (uniform shirt, hat and neckerchief).

Upcoming Events 

Pinewood Derby Clinic and Movie

When: Saturday, January 5, 2:30pm-7:30pm. 

Where: Christ Episcopal Church, Fellowship Hall 

January Pack Meeting

When: Sunday, January 13, 3:30pm

Where: Christ Episcopal Church, Upper Parish Hall