Two years ago, no one would have thought that COVID would still be here. As we are learning more about this pandemic, Pack 107 has adapted to keeping our Scouting program safe and going strong. We’ve been active with various outdoor activities and resumed some indoor Den Meeting activities, and trying to reestablish some normalcy in our program.
October 2021 Pack Events
OCTOBER PACK MEETING
At the October Pack meeting on October 1, 2021, all the Cub Scouts and their families enjoyed designing paper airplanes, and launching them into hula-hoop landing targets. The Cub Scouts also decorated Halloween Trick-Or-Treat bags that they can use for the Scouts Spookerie event at Treasure Valley Scout Reservation (TVSR), the weekend before Halloween.
CLINTON DAM PACK HIKE
On October 16, Pack 107 had a great four mile hike today at the Clinton dam. Scouts reviewed leave no trace and the outdoor code. They climbed 184 stairs down and then up a bunch at the beginning and end of the hike. They talked about looking for animal tracks, the buddy system and took turns leading. They picked up a bunch of trash they go and littered along the way and took lots of snack breaks as well as time to enjoy the views. Thanks Mr. Matt for leading us on this awesome hike. What a beautiful day it was be outside.
GRAFTON SCOUT JAMBOREE WEEKEND AT TREASURE VALLEY
On the weekend of October 16, 2021, Troop 107 Grafton invited our Pack 107 AOL Den on a camp out with them at Treasure Vally Scout Reservation ( TVSR). This ended up being a big camping weekend at TVSR for all 5 of the BSA, Scouting groups from Grafton which also included Troop 106, Pack 106 and Troop 2019. It was a weekend of the AOL scouts from the Grafton Cub Scout Packs to get to know the Grafton Scouts, BSA Troops.
Troop 107 started their camping on Friday evening, and our AOL Den joined them the following morning. The Troop warmly welcomed the 5 AOL Scouts who attended and helped them to find a safe place to set up their tents, and to provide guidance as needed. The Troop 107 Scout Master, Mr. King, spent some time afterward going over knife safety and to review the requirements for the Whittling Chip for the Scouts that did not earn it yet.
It was fun to see the Troop Scouts in action preparing and serving lunch to everyone, and to our AOL Den Scouts and leaders, and to see how they set up for dishwashing clean up.
After lunch, the Troop worked on the Toten Chip requirement, for the Boy Scouts who needed it, and it was fascinating for the AOLs to see what will be in store for them after they cross over to the Troop level.
In the later afternoon, Pack 107 got to spend time with Troop 106 while Pack 106 got to spend time with Troop 107.
After dinner, Troops 107, Pack 107, Troop 2019 headed over to Troop 106/ Pack 106’s campsite for an amazing campfire program and cracker barrel. There were Dutch oven dump cakes of various flavors, and foil baked apples made from the apples that Troop 2019 had picked earlier in the day. There was laughing , singing, and skits being performed. It was the ultimate Grafton BSA Scouting spirit being experienced in that moment!
The night ended with a surprise sudden downpour as The Troops and Packs tried to find shelter and then find their way back to their respective campsites in the dark and rain.
By morning, the sun returned as the clouds cleared out, and everyone had a great time with memorable stories to tell!
CUB SCOUT SPOOKERIE CAMPOUT AT TREASURE VALLEY
When Halloween is on a weekend, what better way to get the celebration started than to have a campout, and join in some Spookerie fun at Treasure Valley Scout Reservation! Our Pack arrived at the campsite on Friday evening 10/29/2021, set up camp, and then our Scouts worked together to gather branches, and small logs to build a campfire to stay warm during this cold night, and to roast marshmallows to make S’mores for that evening’s cracker barrel. It was the perfect setting for telling Halloween stories, and do some Spookery planning! Rain was in the forecast but luckily it didn’t start until long after everyone was tucked away in their warm sleeping bags, fast asleep.
In the morning our Welebo Scouts, Lilly and Jazzy worked on their Cast Iron Chef adventured and treated the Pack with a warm hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon and sausage, hot chocolate and oatmeal, under the supervision of their dads.They even had coffee for the adults!.
After breakfast, our Pack decorated the campsite with the theme of “The Dead Zone”, and then everyone changed into their Halloween costume before the festivities began. Despite the wet drizzly weather, everyone had fun playing board games, chasing games, before the Spookerie festivities began. Our Pack split into 2 groups so some Scout got to spook and hand out treats to our visits, while the other group when to go trick or treating at all the Spookerie stations, and then traded groups.
After all the festivities, our Pack enjoyed a lunch of walking Tacos while our own Mr. Dan sang, “It’s Raining Tacos”!
It was a fun-filled event and lots of great memories were made!
November 2021 Pack Events
NOVEMBER PACK MEETING
Pack 107 held its November Pack meeting at the Grafton Lions Club on November 6, 2021. Our Scouts enjoyed a pre-meeting game of Red Light ,Green Light, then the meeting was opened with the Flag Ceremony lead by our AOL and Bear Dens. At this Pack Meeting, we welcomed a new Lion Scout, Ian G., and held a Bobcat Ceremony for 4 Scouts who achieved their Bobcat rank. Congratulations to Jacob H., Andrew N., Ian M. and Ellis M. Hiking awards were handed out, and the top 3 popcorn sellers were announced. Congratulations to Matthew L., Jazzy B., and Ollie N.. So far, our Cubmaster, Ms. Tabitha has 7 pies ready for her!!
For the main activity, our Pack split up into dens to prepare for an egg drop engineering challenge. The goal is for each den to design and build a contraption out of recyclable materials, to protect an egg to be dropped from 8-9 feet onto a cement ground, without the egg breaking. It was exciting to see all the different design ideas. In the end, 3 out of our 4 groups had success in saving their egg from demise. Everyone had fun and the weather was spectacular!
NOVEMBER PACK HIKE AT LITTLE PUGATORY
On November 6th, our Pack held this month’s hike at Little Purgatory.. It was a fun 2 and a half mile hike on a gorgeous warm November day.. The hike started with reciting the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace Principles. Our Cubmaster, Ms. Tabitha had the Cub Scouts buddy up, and each buddy group took turns leading the group on the trail. We took a snack break at the half way point near the waterfall and the cool fallen tree. When we finished we took some time to enjoy the rock slide for a few minutes before departure. It was a picture perfect day for enjoying the outdoors..
December 2021 Pack Events
DECEMBER HOLIDAY PACK MEETING
On Saturday, 12/3/2021, Pack 107 held their December Holiday Pack Meeting at the Grafton Lions Club. The Bear and Tiger Dens did a wonderful job opening the meeting performing the Color Guard ceremony. We welcomed our new Lion, Lucas M to the Pack! Hiking miles were awarded to Tennyson, Ollie D, Jazzy, Lukas, Jacob, and Ailsa who earned enough miles for a hiking stick!
Our Scouts learned about the special holidays that are celebrated in the month of December and did some crafts that correspond to those holidays. For Hanukkah, our Scouts created a menorah collage, for Christmas, they designed and colored their own Christmas tree, for Kwanza, the Arrow of Light Den performed a musical performance of “Jingle Bells” on their homemade thong-o-phones made of PVC pines cut to length representing the notes C, D, E , F and G. Each of these holidays include the tradition of gift giving, and each of our Scouts received a Scouting gift from the Pack! The Scouts learned that the December Solstice is the shortest daylight day of the year for the northern hemisphere and the longest daylight day for the southern hemisphere of the Earth.
For the Holidays, our Scouts and their families also did some community service by writing holiday greeting cards to the veterans, collected nonperishable goods for the food bank, toiletries for a homeless shelter, and toys for the Toys for Tots program. Thank you all for your great generosity!
DECEMBER PACK HIKE AT PELL FARM
For December’s Pack hike on Decmeber 12, the Pack did a 3.2 mile hike at Pell Farm in Grafton. Scouts started off with reciting the Scout Oath, Scout Law and the Cub Scout Moto, followed by the Leave No Trace Principles, and the Outdoor Code. The Scouts buddied up and took turns leading the hiking group. They went through the woods, past the old tree farm, around muddy areas, and over many different types of bridges. It was a beautiful mild December day to be outside, and a wonderful time together.
January 2022 Events
JANUARY PACK MEETING AND ICE FISHING
It’s finally happening after 5 long years of trying to plan this outdoor event , with the weather and date aligning- Pack 107 went ice fishing on Lake Ripple today, as part of the January Pack Meeting outdoor activity! It was the perfect way for Pack 107 to ring in the New Year with such a fun and exciting outdoor event!! Where else would families with kids in Kindergarten to Grade 5 experience this kind of winter outdoor fun?!?
The Pack Meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance, Scout Oath and Scout Law, followed by the welcoming of our new Tiger Scout, Luca, with the presentation of his new neckerchief and Pack T-shirt. There were also award presentations for hike miles earned, and Popcorn sales awards. Congratulations to all our Scouts!
We are thankful for Mr. Erik Coldwell, Assistant Scout Master of BSA Troop 107, and former Cubmaster of Pack 107, who was also recently became a BSA certified Angler Instructor, to spend his afternoon with the Pack, in sharing time and talent! He taught our Cub Scouts about the equipment needed for ice fishing, and how to set up a fishing station. He told us that he came out earlier in the day to measure the ice thickness was safe, and Lake Ripple had an ice thickness of 8-10″, strong enough for our whole Pack to be on the ice, and for a vehicle to be able to go on the ice safely. He set up a few fishing stations ahead of time as well. We also thank Nick C., Boy Scout in BSA Troop 107, for helping out, and teaching our Cub Scouts how to use an ice auger to manually drill out a fishing hole in the ice. He also manned a milk crate ice sledding station, which was a big hit with the Cub Scouts. He told us that this is an example of how Boy Scout have fun outdoors!
Some families brought ice skates to enjoy a little ice hockey and ice staking on the frozen lake. Despite temperatures in the mid 20s degree Fahrenheit, everyone had a great time and many Scouts did not want to leave, even after 3 hours in the outdoors! We can wait for a next Scout ice fishing event!!
It’s finally happening after 5 long years of trying to plan this outdoor event , with the weather and date aligning- Pack 107 went ice fishing on Lake Ripple today, as part of the January Pack Meeting outdoor activity! It was the perfect way for Pack 107 to ring in the New Year with such a fun and exciting outdoor event!! Where else would families with kids in Kindergarten to Grade 5 experience this kind of winter outdoor fun?!?
The Pack Meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance, Scout Oath and Scout Law, followed by the welcoming of our new Tiger Scout, Luca, with the presentation of his new neckerchief and Pack T-shirt. There were also award presentations for hike miles earned, and Popcorn sales awards. Congratulations to all our Scouts!
We are thankful for Mr. Erik Coldwell, Assistant Scout Master of BSA Troop 107, and former Cubmaster of Pack 107, who was also recently became a BSA certified Angler Instructor, to spend his afternoon with the Pack, in sharing time and talent! He taught our Cub Scouts about the equipment needed for ice fishing, and how to set up a fishing station. He told us that he came out earlier in the day to measure the ice thickness was safe, and Lake Ripple had an ice thickness of 8-10″, strong enough for our whole Pack to be on the ice, and for a vehicle to be able to go on the ice safely. He set up a few fishing stations ahead of time as well. We also thank Nick C., Boy Scout in BSA Troop 107, for helping out, and teaching our Cub Scouts how to use an ice auger to manually drill out a fishing hole in the ice. He also manned a milk crate ice sledding station, which was a big hit with the Cub Scouts. He told us that this is an example of how Boy Scout have fun outdoors!
Some families brought ice skates to enjoy a little ice hockey and ice staking on the frozen lake. Despite temperatures in the mid 20s degree Fahrenheit, everyone had a great time and many Scouts did not want to leave, even after 3 hours in the outdoors! We can wait for a next Scout ice fishing event!!
February 2022 Pack Events
FEBRUARY PACK MEETING AND PACK HIKE
This past Saturday, Cub Scout Pack 107 began their February break with a Pack Meeting and Pack Hike at the Riverbend Farm, in Uxbridge, along the Blackstone River. The Pack Meeting was opened by our Scouts who lead us with the Pledge of Allegiance, the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Popcorn Sales awards were then presented to Scouts who missed the last Pack Meeting. We reviewed the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace Principles and rules for a safe hike. We learned about the buddy system, that we always stay behind the leader but always in front of the caboose, to insure that no one is left behind. The Scouts were divided into 8 buddy groups, and each group was given the opportunity to be a leader for different parts of the hike.
Some Scouts spotted signs of animals in nature, such as a beaver chewed tree trunk, carpenter ants tunnels in a fallen tree trunk, and woodpecker holes. At the location of our snack break, Scouts were doing forensic investigation on how a picnic bench was damaged by a fallen tree trunk, by some windy storm, with the tree trunk already weakened by carpenter ant damage and woodpecker damage.
The Pack also came across a canal lock that was built in 1917. At the end of the trail, the Pack came across the Stanley Woolen Mill, which was originally named the Taft or Central Woolen Mill, built by Moses Taft in 1858. The mill was built after the Blackstone Canal was closed in 1848, and Moses Taft redirected a portion of the Blackstone Canal to power equipment used for dying, spinning, and weaving high-quality wool cloth. in 1905, this mill was renamed the Stanley Woolen Mill which finally closed in 1988.
Our Pack enjoyed the hike in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, and we learned that this is where the Industrial Revolution began, right in our backyard!
This past Saturday February 19, Cub Scout Pack 107 began their February break with a Pack Meeting and Pack Hike at the Riverbend Farm, in Uxbridge, along the Blackstone River. The Pack Meeting was opened by our Scouts who lead us with the Pledge of Allegiance, the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Popcorn Sales awards were then presented to Scouts who missed the last Pack Meeting. We reviewed the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace Principles and rules for a safe hike. We learned about the buddy system, that we always stay behind the leader but always in front of the caboose, to insure that no one is left behind. The Scouts were divided into 8 buddy groups, and each group was given the opportunity to be a leader for different parts of the hike.
Some Scouts spotted signs of animals in nature, such as a beaver chewed tree trunk, carpenter ants tunnels in a fallen tree trunk, and woodpecker holes. At the location of our snack break, Scouts were doing forensic investigation on how a picnic bench was damaged by a fallen tree trunk, by some windy storm, with the tree trunk already weakened by carpenter ant damage and woodpecker damage.
The Pack also came across a canal lock that was built in 1917. At the end of the trail, the Pack came across the Stanley Woolen Mill, which was originally named the Taft or Central Woolen Mill, built by Moses Taft in 1858. The mill was built after the Blackstone Canal was closed in 1848, and Moses Taft redirected a portion of the Blackstone Canal to power equipment used for dying, spinning, and weaving high-quality wool cloth. in 1905, this mill was renamed the Stanley Woolen Mill which finally closed in 1988.
Our Pack enjoyed the hike in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, and we learned that this is where the Industrial Revolution began, right in our backyard!
Pack 107 adopted Norcross Park in 2017, and has committed to monthly clean ups and maintenance of the park and Miner Field, during the non-snowy months of the year. The cub scouts and their families work together to help with picking up trash, weeding, spring and fall clean ups, and mulching of the playground area. Each month, an assigned den is responsible for this community service.
Cub Scout Pack 107 is trustworthy, helpful , friendly and clean, just like the Scout Law teaches, in committing to our monthly community service in Grafton!
Bimonthly Den Meetings
Twice a month, each of our Dens meet to work on various adventures that are required to achieve their rank badges. Activities include, physical fitness, learning healthy habits and healthy eating, meal planning and cooking, first aid, planning and preparing for outdoor hikes and camping, campout, field trips, engineering, art, magic, games, learning how to be a good sport and a good team mate, what it means to be a good citizen, meeting local government officials, meetings with Boy Scout Troop 107, knot tying, and so much more!
Scouting into the Spring and Summer to come
The Spring bring about a lot of Scouting activities. Pack 107 will be holding its much anticipated yearly Pinewood Derby on Saturday, March 5, 2022. In April, we will be holding our Blue and Gold Banquet which celebrates the birthday of Scouting, and the Arrow of Light Scouts will be crossing over into the BSA Scouting program at the Troop level. There will be more hikes, Den Level activities, Pack meeting working up to our Advancement ceremony in June that will mark the end of one Scouting year, and the beginning of the next. Pack 107 is a year round scouting program and we will have activities through the summer. If you are interested in finding out more or are interested in joining Cub Scout Pack 107, please feel free to contact us via Facebook ( Cubscout Pack 107 – Grafton) or via, email: graftonpack107@gmail.com
