Pack 39

Pack 39 is an energetic Cub Scout Pack located in Stow, Massachusetts.  Cub Scouts consist of Lions (Kindergarteners), Tigers (1st graders), Wolves (2nd graders), Bears (3rd graders), WEBELOS I (4th graders), and Arrow of Light AOL (5th graders).  We are chartered by Troop One Stow Alumni Inc. (TOSA).  Our Stow Pack is part of the Knox Trail Council, JP Becker District.

Cub Scout Pack meetings are held monthly at the Church of Saint Isidore at 429 Great Road in the basement activity room.   The Scouting year matches the school calendar, from September to May, with camp and camping options offered over the summer.  

We are a volunteer run organization.  Pack 39 Committee Leaders and Den Leaders consist of parents like you who want to help lead, organize, run, or participate in the many activities we promote over the course of the year.  We are always looking for more help at every level so please consider lending your time for Stow Cub Scout Pack 39!  Please call or see one of us if you are interested in helping.

Pack Meetings are meetings of our whole group – all Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, WEBELOS I, and AOL dens.  We meet typically once a month from about 6:30 – 7:45pm at St. Isidore Church right next to Center School.  Pack Meetings are opportunities for Scouts, Scout Leaders, and Families to come together to celebrate Rank Achievement Awards, spend time on some fun activities as a group, and to find out more about upcoming off-Pack events.

Den Meetings are smaller meetings of about 6-8 boys and girls and their Den Leaders, where advancement activities are coordinated and performed.  Boys and girls dens are required to be separate by the Cub Scout organization, but leaders may choose to run joint den meetings.  Den activities kick off every year starting in early September and go through April/May of the following year.  Den Meetings are typically scheduled once or twice a month.  The activities may be at St. Isidore Church, at Leader’s Houses, the Center School, the Randall Library, or sometimes at off-site venues. 

Pack 39 requires a minimum Class A uniform which is comprised of the blue Cub Scout shirt.  If your Scout is just beginning as a Tiger we suggest buying a slightly larger size than currently he wears so he can grow into his uniform.  Neckerchiefs and many patches are supplied by the Pack.  Hats, slides, and belts are also required but before you buy these please check with your son’s Den Leader.  We have a supply of many of these items and are willing to pass these to the scouts at no charge.  We try to collect and pass along these items at the end of each year to help defer costs.  

Also as part of Pack Dues, we supply each boy with a free T-shirt (Class B uniform) that can be worn during certain pack activities.  Please inquire for a T-shirt if you weren’t already provided one during registration.

Click here for more information about uniforms: http://pack39stow.org/resourceslinks/new-scouts/

Click here for more information about patch placement on uniforms: http://pack39stow.org/resourceslinks/uniform/

For boys and girls to make rank advancements, they will need to complete requirements in the rank handbooks and have each achievement signed off by their Den Leader.  Each Den Leader is responsible for reporting milestones to the Pack Advancement Chair so achievement awards can be handed out at the following Pack Meeting.  Handbook prices range from about $13.00 to $19.00 depending on rank.  Books can be obtained at any MA Scout Shop (click here for locations - http://www.ktc-bsa.org/unit-resources/new-england-scout-shops/), online at http://scoutstuff.org, or even at the Maynard Outdoor Store.

Pack dues are announced each year and can include a subscription to Boy’s Life magazine.  Pack dues cover purchases of awarded rank badges, patches, pins, belt loops, trophies, medals, and advancement cards that scouts will receive throughout the year.  Fees also go toward Pack 39 charter fees, insurance through Boy Scouts of America, drinks and snacks at Pack activities, general supplies for events, and other administration costs.  

Den dues are optional for each den and are typically established by Den Leaders to help cover costs of crafts or snacks used during den meetings.

At times we must also charge for some events and activities but we do our best to keep all fees as low as possible and will supplement costs with monies raised from Pack Fundraisers throughout the year.  Our Pack 39 budget is reviewed every month and is available to anyone that would like to inquire.

Training for leaders is important to provide consistent and quality leadership for our Scouts.  Adult Leadership Training helps to prepare Adult Leaders for what to expect in their Den and Pack.  Adult Leadership Training also advises leaders on how best to protect the boys and girls as well as themselves.  Note that all our Adult Leaders have completed Youth Protection Training made available by The Boy Scouts of America.  Details of this training can be found online at http://www.scouting.org/myscouting, in your Rank Handbook, or on the Pack 39 website at http://pack39stow.org/leadership/.   

Here’s just a sampling of the events planned for this upcoming year:  http://pack39stow.org/events/):

September/October – Pack Fundraiser

Whether it is door-to-door, to friends or family, or by manning our sales booth at the Shaw’s Supermarket, all scouts participate in selling popcorn.  Trails End allows 30% of all sales proceeds back to our local Pack which we use to support programming.  Past years funds have allowed almost all Scouts to participate in the February Pack Overnight for no charge.

December – Holiday Party and visit by Santa

Scouts and families enjoy the festive season with a holiday themed Pack Meeting.  Santa makes a special visit with a gift for each Scout.

January – Pinewood Derby

The Pinewood Derby is the most anticipated event held every year.  The basement of St. Isidore Church comes to life as scouts compete for the best-built, most original pinewood derby car designs while trying to outrace each other to be the fastest car in the pack.

February – Pack Overnight

Last year’s overnight had a Space & Astronomy theme and was held at the Worcester Ecotarium.  We’re still planning this year’s venue, but it promises to be a very fun night of activities and learning.

March – Spring Hike in the Town Forest

The weather cooperated this past year and the Scouts and families spent the morning enjoying a hike into the Town Forest to the Boy Scout Camp site where hot chocolate, juice, fresh fruit, and donuts were awaiting them.  Dens performed skits around a campfire and also enjoyed some acts from Troop 1 Boy Scouts.

April – Blue & Gold Banquet

This year we celebrated at Wedgewood Pines Country Club the advancement of all the scouts to their next rank.  The Arrow of Light Scouts also had a special ceremony to commemorate their advancement to Boy Scout Troop 1.

Summer

Here are a few regional Knox Trail Council events that your son is now eligible to participate in over the summer.  Click on each link below for more details:

Adventure Day Camp

Cub Overnight Week

Webelos Overnight Week