The new school year has been nothing but normal, and with the limitations of indoor/outdoor group gatherings, Pack 107 had to adapt to the times and have an adapted focus. With the relatively warm fall and winter this past season, Pack 107 have been successful in holding outdoor Pack and Den meetings at various locations in Grafton. We are most grateful to generosity of our chartered sponsor, The Grafton Congregrational Church, for the use of their parking lot, and to the Grafton Lion’s Club, for allowing us to hold meeting on their property.
Norcross Park Clean Ups
During the months of Summer months and September, October, November, the dens and pack participated in several Norcross Park clean ups. A Scout is clean, helpful and trustworthy. Pack 107 is keeping its commitment to monthly community service at Norcross Park after the Pack adoption of the park in 2017.
Pack Meetings and Caring for the Community
For the October Pack Meeting, we had a drive thru advancement ceremony, which was modified and postponed from the year June Advancement ceremony and campout. for the November Pack Meeting, the cub scouts and leaders were also invited to dress up in their Halloween costumes, and to bring canned foods for the Grafton Congregation Church Outdoor Food Pantry, in exchange for candy and a Pinewood Derby car kit. The cub scouts also received their new neckerchieves for their new rank, as well as walking sticks and awards for achievements earned in the last month. This event collected more than a big plastic bin full of canned food for the Food and Loaves Food Pantry, located outside the Congregational Church. The COVID pandemic has made economic hardships for many families. Any family in need in, are free to take some food, and anyone who wants to donate, can leave non-perishable foods in this pantry.
A Scout is helpful, friendly, and kind. Thank you Pack 107 families for your generous donations!
The December Pack Meeting was holiday themed and held at the Grafton Lion’s Club. Each den arrived in 30 minute intervals. Cub scouts received awards for hiking miles, and completed adventures, and they each received a holiday treat bag. They made holiday greeting cards for the veterans, and creative bead ornaments. Cub scouts and their families had the opportunity to take photos with our special guest, Santa Claus, followed by a hike along the trail behind the Lion’s Club field.Pack 107 also collected donations for Veterans, Inc, Project New Hope, and Toys for Tots. Cub scouts learn that a scout is helpful! Special thanks to Ms. Tabitha, our Cubmaster, for taking on the task of being our “special guest”, Mr. Rob Lane, for being the official elf, Mrs. Christine Gaspar for being the craft table elf and photographer, Mr. Chris Nichols for being the official photographer for this event! We thank the Lion’s Club for allowing us to use the field hold this event!.
Monthly Pack Hikes
Pack 107 hosted monthly hikes with the October hike at Upton State Forest, the November Pack hike at Mount Wachusett, and the December Pack hike at the Grafton Lion’s Club grounds and Gummere Woods, as part of the Pack meeting. In January, the pack organized a socially distanced family pack hike on any trail in Grafton during the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.
Den Adventures
Our dens have been able to work on various advancement adventures in groups outdoors as needed, and on Zoom when necessary. In October the Arrow of Light Scouts were able to work on their Camper Adventure at a campout with BSA Grafton Troop 107 at Treasure Valley Scout Reservation. Theyn also went on a den hike to Mount Monadnock.
The Bears worked on Baloo the Builder and Bear Necessities , and Fur, Feathers and Ferns adventures.
The Webelos worked on Cast Iron Chef, Stronger Faster, HIgher, First Responder, and, Webelos Walk About adventures.
The WolF den worked on various adventures including reveiwing the 7* essentials needed when going on outdoor adventures. In addition to the Cub Scout 6 Essentials, the wolves felt that a 7th should be added- a face mask. What a great idea since we have to wear them when meeting in-person! 
The Scouts worked on the “Call of the Wild” adventure, learning about animal tracks 
, weather scenarios 
, and practicing their knot tying.
Snowman Making Contest
Introducing Pack 107’s first snowman building competition! This fun competition will run from December 5th until the end of March. Each snowfall, Scouts can build a snowman. Scouts will get 1 entry per snowfall. Siblings may either work together to build a snowman or may submit their own individual snowmen (per snowfall). That means the chance for multiple entries over the course of winter! At the end of March, all entries will be judged based on the following categories with one winner per category chosen:
* Best Scout Theme
* Most Funny
* Best Snow Creature
* Best Snow Superhero
* Cubmaster’s Choice
Spark Plug Award
At the December Pack meeting this past Sunday, Pack 107 awarded the 2020 Mill Town District Spark Plug Award to our Bears Den Leader, Mr. John Bubriski. He was nominated by our Pack Committee for the outstanding contributions he made to advancing our Pack program. Besides being a den leader, Mr. Brubriski is also the Pack’s IT Chairperson. He helped create and design our Pack webpage. Congratulations Mr. Brubriski on this award, and we thank you for all that you do for Scouting!
Upcoming Events
One of the most anticipated events of the Scouting year is the Pinewood Derby. Here are the key dates we’ll be working around for the derby this year.
Build Day – Saturday, February 20th (alternate weather date, February 27th)
Weigh-in Day (Part 1): Friday, March 5 (6:30-7:30pm)
Weigh-in Day (Part 2): Saturday, March 6 (10am-12pm)
Build Day and both Weigh-In days will be held at the Lions Club (Dan – thanks for booking the venue!).
Race Day: Saturday, March 13 (alternate weather date, March 20)
Unfortunately, we will not be racing in person this year. We will be racing the cars with a bare-minimum skeleton crew to maintain safety for COVID spread, but we will be recording all of the heats and will do a broadcast of the race, and the results, a week or two after the race is held.
We can’t wait to see the Scouts’ finished cars.
Grafton Cub Scout Pack 107 