The dates for the activities for the Summer Activity pin have not been finalized. There will be a movie outside at Hoover park in June (the schedule of movies has not been posted to select a movie), ice skating at the Pelham Civic Complex (probably in early July) and Day camp (July 23-27) or overnight camp (July 8-10 and July 11-13) as the third summertime activity.

Day camp will be July 23-27 8AM - 4PM at Oak Mountain State Park. $60, t-shirt, patch and water bottle included. The application is not available online yet.

This is the basic information for overnight camp - July 8-10 and July 11-13. Cub Resident Camp is a three-day and two-night adventure at Camp Sequoyah. Cost of Cub Resident Camp is $85.00 per camper. One leader is required for every four campers and one leader may attend free with every four campers.

See the link (http://www.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ShowPage.asp?33303332387L3637373030) for additional details and registration forms.

BIRMINGHAM BARONS SCOUT CAMP OUT - Start planning now for the largest one night campout of Cub and Boy Scout in the state of Alabama. The Birmingham Barons Scout Camp Out schedule for May 4 at the Hoover Met. Download the form and order your tickets to insure your spot for a great baseball game and your chance to camp on the outfield of the Hoover Met. Registration Form (http://www.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ShowPage.asp?32383639327L313335373531)

Catfish Rodeo and the Blue and Gold Banquet, Saturday, March 10th!

The sleep over on the USS Alabama was a great time. Now we can focus on our March meeting and the Blue and Gold Banquet. As in the past, we are making a full day of activities with the catfish rodeo in the morning and the Blue and Gold banquet and Arrow of Light ceremony for our Webelos II scouts that evening.

This year we have a change in location of the banquet, so please make sure you note the change to St Mark United Methodist Church on Columbiana Road.

Here are the details about Saturday at the Grant Street Catfish Pond in Bessemer off Exit #1 on I-459. Note that the cost per fish is $2.25 per pound (last year's big fish was nearly 8 pounds). Bring a fishing rod with at least 10-pound line and a 5-gallon bucket to hold all your fish as you catch them. You can donate the fillets to the Pack when you get them cleaned or take them home. They sell chicken livers, shrimp, and other bait (a little chicken liver goes a long way!)Here are the details below. We will see you there between 7:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. anytime your schedule allows and then come to St. Mark United Methodist Church on Columbiana Road by 6:00 p.m. in full uniform (families and everyone else is welcome). The cost of the meal is $3/person and we have a great meeting planned.

Pack 393 2007 Catfish Rodeo and Blue & Gold Banquet

What: All scouts of Pack 393 (including family members) are invited to participate in a fun day of fishing, followed by an evening fish fry and Blue & Gold Banquet @ St Mark U.M.C. (Please wear your Pack 393 blue t-shirt to the fishing event and Class A uniform to the dinner/banquet.)

When: Saturday, March 10, 2007. Fishing – From 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Feel free to come by anytime during this period and stay as your schedule permits. Dinner, awards, and Arrow of Light ceremony scheduled for 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Where: Fishing will take place at the Grant Street Catfish Farm and Pond. Their number is 205-481-9999. Directions: Go 459S towards Tuscaloosa and take exit #1. Go right at the exit for approximately 1.25 miles and take a left at Grant Street. The entrance will be on your left (#640). Our group will have their own (non-public) fenced pond for the day.

CHANGE IN MEETING LOCATION: Due to a scheduling conflict the dinner will take place at St Mark United Methodist Church (located on Columbiana Road just north of Hwy 31 in Hoover -2901 Columbiana Road – 822-5980).

Dinner Menu: Fried Catfish, side dishes, dessert, and drinks. (All beef hotdogs for those not eating fish).

Dinner Cost: The cost of the dinner above is $3.00 per person. Children under 6 eat for free. Please pay your den leader and let her/him know how many hotdogs and catfish dinners you will need.

How the Event Will Work: Each boy (and family member) is asked to participate by fishing at the Grant Street Catfish Pond in Bessemer. Per Grant Street rules, you are to keep and pay for all fish caught. The Grant Street Catfish staff will fillet your fish and charge you $2.25/lb on the whole fish weight.

Note: You are welcome to donate some (or all) of your catfish fillets if you do not have a use for them. This will help defer some of the Pack 393 meal expenses. Please let Jim Kent, Wyndell Dykes, or another volunteer know if you will be donating fillets. Thanks.

Prizes: In addition to the largest fish, several catfish will be tagged with a special identifier. Whoever catches one of these fish will be awarded a prize!

What Does It Cost: Grant Street Fish Farms will charge $2.00 per container of worms or $2.50 for chicken livers. However, you are welcome to bring your own bait. As mentioned earlier, you are to keep all fish caught and pay $2.25/lb. for fillets. So, depending upon the number and size of the fish you catch, it will determine your cost. The Grant Street folks accept cash, VISA, MasterCard, checks, etc.

What to Bring: Fishing pole(s) rigged with at least 10 – 30 lb. test line, cork, split shot sinker, and a medium hook. You may also want to bring the following – Chairs, fishing pliers, extra tackle, landing net, cooler w/ice, drinks, snacks, sunscreen (hopefully it will be sunny!), and a 5-gallon bucket or container to put the fish in after landed.

What If It Rains: The event is on rain or shine. If we cannot fish due to lightening or severe rain, we will notify everyone.

USS Alabama Trip

The USS Alabama trip is scheduled for this Saturday, March 3rd. Since they want us to arrive and check in together, we need to meet at DUMC at 11:30 am and leave by noon on Saturday.
We will try to meet at the USS Alabama at 4:00 pm to check in and stow our gear. We also have a "hold harmless agreement" that all of us must sign for each parent and child spending the night. Any females parents or siblings that participate must leave the ship by 8:00 pm NO EXCEPTIONS.

Your leaders will let you know about meal arrangements for either a meal on the ship or preparing one yourselves. Dinner is $4.95 and breakfast is $6.05 per person, but we have to order soon.

You should bring a bedroll or sleeping bag, ground pad (for overflow members), pillows, toiletries, change of clothes, towel, pajamas, duffle bag, flashlight and a camera. You should also plan to take any required medications as necessary.

Check out time is 8:30 am, so plan on getting up and at 'em early Sunday morning.

Our USS Alabama Overnight Adventure should be a lot of fun, so bring your flashlight and your good attitudes.

See you Saturday.

It was a great race day. I hope everyone had a wonderful time. There were some fast cars, some cool cars, and some unusual cars.

Here is the list of winners:

Akela:
Francisco Galvin
David Bodden
Hannah Farnlacher

Scott Tiger:
Jacob Bodden
Grant Pekarek
Evan Caufield

Smith Tiger:
Nicholas Smith
Connor Nelson
Brandon Carlson

Fehler Wolf:
Nathan Ng
Logan Rogers
Daniel Mazur

McCollum Wolf:
John Carter Simmons
Matthew McCollum
Timothy Hizny

Moses Bear:
Will Johnson
Davis Bryars
Nathaniel Farnlacher

Rosato Bear:
Chase Atkinson
Frankie Rosato
Avery Acton

Kent Webelos I:
Dillon Kent
Brandon Pekarek
Dean Lepianka

Eggers Webelos I:
Jason Walker
Isaac Eggers
Chase Heard

Beatty Webelos II:
James Peeler
Cody Holt
Preston Beatty

Bodden Webelos II:
Nicholas Bodden
Christopher Spivey
Nathan Saab

Pace Webelos II:
Chris Johnson
Reed Pace
Nick Netterville

Congratulations to all participants!

Pinewood Derby time again.

The Pack 393 Pinewood Derby is here again. We will run all races on Saturday, January 27th at DUMC.

The Check-in location has changed to South Shades Crest cafeteria. All cars should be checked in on Friday, January 26th from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at South Shades Crest.

The schedule for Saturday is as follows:

8:30 am Webelos II - Beatty/Tucker
8:50 am Webelos II - Bodden/Saab
9:10 am Webelos II - Pace/Callahan
9:30 am Webelos II - Rank Final
9:50 am Webelos I - Eggers
10:10 am Webelos I - Kent
10:30 am Webelos I - Rank Final
10:50 am Bear/Webelos Akela - Combined run (Parent/Sibling)
11:10 am Bear - Moses/Carlisle
11:30 am Bear - Rosato
11:50 am Bear - Rank Final
12:10 pm LUNCH BREAK
12:30 pm Wolf - Fehler
12:50 pm Wolf - McCollum
1:10 pm Wolf - Rank Final
1:30 pm Tiger/Wolf Akela - Combined run (Parent/Sibling)
1:50 pm Tiger - Scott/Elgin
2:10 pm Tiger - Smith
2:30 pm Tiger - Rank Final
3:00 pm PACK FINALS
3:30 pm AKELA FINALS
4:00 pm Volunteer Clean Up

Note: If we get ahead of schedule, we will continue to race cars, so come early to ensure that you see your car race.

See you Saturday!

Veteran's Day Parade is Saturday, November 11th

The Veteran's Day parade is on Saturday. We will meet at DUMC at 11:15 am to drive down to the staging area. We are in Division 8 and need to be in the assembly area on 18th street between 9th and 10th Ave by 12:30. Everything starts and ends near the BJCC, so park as close as possible.

Watch the forecast and dress accordingly. See you Saturday.

Regular Pack Meeting on Monday at 6:30 pm at DUMC.

October Updates

October leaves are starting to turn and we will soon have more of a chill in the air.

That does not mean Scouting gets cold during October and November. Here are some updates for you.

Registration for returning Scouts. If you have not already paid your returning dues, they are $55 without T-shirt and $60 with T-shirt. We will need to make another order of shirts, so please let your Den Leader know your size.

Popcorn money should have been turned in by now. If not, please contact Margaret Carlisle.

Cub Haunted Weekends are still going strong. Some are cold and some are wet, but all are a lot of fun. You can get more information at www.vulcandistrict.org or www.1bsa.org.

November Calendar:

Nov 2nd: Cub Leader Specific Training at Roundtable, 7:00 pm at Briarwood
Nov 6th: Leader meeting at DUMC 6:30 pm
Nov 9th: Popcorn pick up at DUMC - Leaders pick up and hand out to the dens
Nov 10th: Veteran's Day Parade - Downtown. Time and location tbd
Nov 13th: Pack Meeting at DUMC 6:30 pm


Have a safe and spooky Halloween!

New Parents Meeting!

We will host our meeting for new cub scout parents on Saturday, August 26th at 9:00 am at Discovery UMC on Stadium Trace near the Met.

This will be a great opportunity to meet some of the leaders and learn more about how Pack 393 works and what you will need to help your boy advance along the Cub Scout trail. We will talk about how the Pack and Den meetings work and what items you will need to get from the Scout shop.

If you did not turn in your registration form or your fees, please bring them on Saturday. While the boys are welcome, it is not necessary to bring them on Saturday. This meeting is more for the parents.

See you Saturday.

Recruiting Time Again! School Night For Scouts

It is that time of year again where we help start new cubs on their journey in Scouting and "help the Pack grow". Our School Night for Scouts is scheduled for Thursday, August 24th at 7:00 pm at the South Shades Crest Cafeteria. This will be the one location for both Deer Valley and South Shades Crest Elementary Schools. We will have a second recruiting night for Trace Crossings on August 31st at 7:00 pm in the multi-purpose room.

We have always done a great job in brining in new boys to the pack and look forward to another great year this year. You can help by telling friends and neighbors that have boys that might be interested in joining Scouts about Pack 393. There will be signs at the schools and the boys should also have take home flyers that announce the date and time of the meeting.

The recruiting night is for new scouts and new leaders, so returning scouts do not need to attend the meeting.

There will also be a New Parents meeting on August 26th at DUMC to help explain more about Pack 393 and scouting to the parents of the new cub scouts.

Thank you for all of your help in making Pack 393 the best Pack in the best District in the number 1 Council in Alabama!

Scouting is Cool!

Welcome back from a great summer! It is time to have our final summertime pack activity and get back in the swing of things for 2006-2007.

Our final activity is scheduled for Sunday, August 13th from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. We will be skating at the Pelham Civic Center located at 500 Ampitheater Road, Pelham, AL 35124.

The cost for the activity is a special discounted rate of $6.00 which includes skate rental. They have both regular and hockey skates available for use. Wear your blue Pack 393 T-shirts and escape from the summer heat.

This is also a great time to invite a friend that you think might enjoy scouting. Leaders will be on hand to answer questions that parents might have.

Join the fun on Sunday and get ready for regular updates on pack meetings, special activities, and more!

It is time for our first summertime activity. This Friday, June 23rd at Sertoma Park is the free Hoover movie, "Kicking and Screaming".

Bring your lawn chairs, bring your blanket, bring your family. This is one Scouting activity that everyone can enjoy.

Wear your blue t-shirts to show your Pack 393 pride!

The movie starts at 8:15 pm, so get there a little early to get the best spot. I look forward to seeing you all there.

It is time for Summer!

We have had a great year this year. So many achievements, in so little time. Now it is time to continue our scouting trail throughout the summer. Here is what we have planned so far for our Summertime Pack Award.

June 23rd. Hoover outdoor movie night. Sertoma Park behind Green Valley Elem. 8:15 pm. "Kicking and Screaming".
July 24 - 28th. Cub Scout Day Camp at Oak Mountain. Your leaders will have the forms or you can sign up on the district web site. www.vulcandistrict.org. We will need your help as adult leaders to make sure the boys have a 1:5 ratio during camp. Don't forget about the "tot lot".
August 13th. Scouting is Cool. Ice skating at the Pelham Civic Center. The Scouts have a discounted price of $6 which includes skates.

There are some other great opportunities to have fun this summer.

May 12th. Scout Night at the Birmingham Barons. More information at the Council website of www.1bsa.org, or contact the Hoover Met. Hurry, only a few camping spots are still left.
June 3rd. Scout day at Six Flags over Georgia. Discounted tickets available at the Council website.
June 3rd. Catfishing at the Elks Lodge Arson Benefit. Catch fish to benefit the Alabama churches that were victims of arson. Fish at the natural spring fed pool at Cascade Plunge. Bring your pole - they supply the bait. Fishing from 1:00 pm until dark.
6815 2nd Ave South. (68th Street S and 2nd Ave S). The rainout date is Sunday, June 4th. You catch 'em and they clean and prepare 'em for the benefit dinner scheduled for June 10th.
June 12th. Movies at the Hoover Library. National Treasure with Nicholas Cage.

Don't forget to check the website from time to time for updates. Your leaders will get updates and reminders during the summer that they can pass along to you. As your boys are out and about this summer, have them remind their friends of all the great things they get to do and learn in Scouts, to get them interested in Scouting for next school year.

Thanks for all your support to the Pack and have a great summer.

Monday, March 27, 2006

The Pack Overnighter at McWane Center is here.
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The Pack overnighter at the McWane Center is scheduled for Friday, March 31st. If you have signed up, but not paid, please make sure you pay your den leaders before Wednesday, March 29th. We need to try to make one payment to McWane for the entire Pack.

We will be staying on the second floor where the Inside Africa exhibit is located. The movie on the IMAX will be Wild Safari.

Here is some information you need to make the experience a fun one.

You can park for free in the parking deck next to the center. You can begin to check in as early as 5:00 pm, and Pizza dinner will be served at 6:00 pm. If you are going to be much later than 6:00 pm, please let me know so we can make sure you can get in (and get warm pizza). The building and parking deck will close at 7:30 pm. The IMAX film will begin around 7:00 pm and the the badge programs will begin around 8:00 pm. There is one program for the Tiger, Wolf and Bears, and one program for the Webelos. A final snack and lights out at Midnight. Breakfast begins at 7:30 am.

All children must have a completed Guardian Release form turned in Friday night. Your den leaders have a copy and extra copies will be available at the door if necessary.

What to Bring:

• Pillow, sleeping bag, and overnight bag labeled with the camper's name and pack affiliation. Cots or air mattresses are ok since the floor is hard.
• Tooth brush and other toiletries.
• Money for extra snacks or T-shirts ($10 for all sizes). Change or dollars for the vending machines.
• Change of clothes
• Excitement and eagerness to learn and have fun.

What NOT to Bring:

• No radios, walkmans, electronic games or devices.
• Non-essential items such as jewelry or stuffed animals are discouraged.
• No alcohol allowed.
• ALL food and drink in designated areas only.

We will be given rules at the door, but remember, we are guests of the McWane Center so we must:

• Clean up after ourselves, behave ourselves, stay with the assigned group, sleep in the assigned areas, no running or unnecessary screaming.

I look forward to seeing all of you there that can attend. This is a great opportunity for the Pack to have some fun together.

Farewell From Mr. Ed
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Folks,

I want to thank you for your kind show of support on Saturday night's Blue & Gold Banquet. I put in two years as Cubmaster and five years as Den Leader (with my two sons) and I want to encourage you to stay in Cub Scouting with your son. One aspect of the program is designed to build stronger families by having adults participate with their children. Everywhere I went with the "Cubmaster" and "393" patches on my sleeve I was proud to talk about our boys, our parents, and our leaders. I meant it and I believe it.

We need your input and involvement to have a Pack program that is fun and interesting to the boys. I know you will support Scott Beatty with your time and ideas. We are all volunteers and undertake this mission because we believe in its purpose and results.

I hope to see you all in Boy Scouts at some point in the near future!

Mr. Ed
Ed Dolensky
(Former) Cubmaster Pack 393

The Pack 393 Overnighter Is Coming Up At The End of March 2006
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Folks,

On Friday night March 31 we will be having our Pack 393 Overnighter at the McWane Center. If you recall, this event replaced the USS Alabama trip on our calendar. The cost is $30 per boy and $15 per adult (a responsible adult must be there with each boy) payable at the Pack Meeting on March 11 (Saturday night).

Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m. and the cost includes a pizza dinner + soda that night (plus salad for adults). The boys get to roam the exhibits at McWane and enjoy them, plus watch an IMAX movie, and get to earn the SCIENCE belt loop/award that night. After a restful (!) night of sleep, a light breakfast of cereal is provided and we will leave by 9 a.m.

You will want to bring an air mattress or cusion of some kind to sleep on, a sleeping bag and a pillow, and a toothbrush/paste for a really fun night. This event is just for Pack 393 so feel free to bring brothers/sisters/anyone else as long as the responsible adult is there as well. The costs above apply to all attendees.

This is a signature event for the Pack and is sure to be lots of fun. Don't be left out of the pictures from this great event. I hope you all sign up on Saturday!

Thanks,
Mr. Ed
Ed Dolensky
Cubmaster Pack 393

The 2006 Pack 393 Catfish Rodeo Is Just Around The Corner!
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Folks,

Here are the details about Saturday at the Grant Street Catfish Pond in Bessemer off Exit #1 on I-459. Note that the cost per fish is $2.25 per pound (last year's big fish was nearly 9 pounds). Bring a fishing rod with at least 10-pound line and a 5-gallon bucket to hold all your fish as you catch them. You can donate the filets to the Pack when you get them cleaned or take them home. They sell chicken livers, shrimp, and other bait (a little chicken liver goes a long way!)

Here are the details below. We will see you there between 7:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. anytime your schedule allows and then come to Discovery by 6:00 p.m. in full uniform (families and everyone else is welcome). The cost of the meal is $3/person and we have a great meeting planned.

Pack 393 2006 Catfish Rodeo and Blue & Gold Banquet

What: All scouts of Pack 393 (including family members) are invited to participate in a fun day of fishing, followed by an evening fish fry and Blue & Gold Banquet @ D.U.M.C. (Please wear your Pack 393 blue t-shirt to the fishing event and Class A uniform to the dinner/banquet.)

When: Saturday, March 11, 2006. Fishing – From 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Feel free to come by anytime during this period and stay as your schedule permits. Dinner, awards, and Arrow of Light ceremony scheduled for 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Where: Fishing will take place at the Grant Street Catfish Farm and Pond. Their number is 205-481-9999. Directions: Go 459S towards Tuscaloosa and take exit #1. Go right at the exit for approximately 1.25 miles and take a left at Grant Street. The entrance will be on your left (#640). Our group will have their own (non-public) fenced pond for the day. The dinner will take place at Discovery United Methodist Church (located by the Hoover Met soccer fields -5487 Stadium Trace Pkwy – 987-4000).

Dinner Menu: Fried Catfish, side dishes, dessert, and drinks. (All beef hotdogs for those not eating fish).

Dinner Cost: The cost of the dinner above is $3.00 per person. Children under 6 eat for free. Please pay your den leader and let her/him know how many hotdogs and catfish dinners you will need.
-Over-

How the Event Will Work: Each boy (and family member) is asked to participate by fishing at the Grant Street Catfish Pond in Bessemer. Per Grant Street rules, you are to keep and pay for all fish caught. The Grant Street Catfish staff will filet your fish and charge you $2.25/lb on the whole fish weight.

Note: You are welcome to donate some (or all) of your catfish filets if you do not have a use for them. This will help defer some of the Pack 393 meal expenses. Please let Terry Rogers or another volunteer know if you will be donating filets. Thanks.

Prizes: In addition to the largest fish, several catfish will be tagged with a special identifier. Whoever catches one of these fish will be awarded a prize!

What Does It Cost: The Grant Street Catfish Pond folks have graciously waived the fee to fish. They will charge $2.00 per container of worms or $2.50 for chicken livers. However, you are welcome to bring your own bait. As mentioned earlier, you are to keep all fish caught and pay $2.25/lb. for filets. So, depending upon the number and size of the fish you catch, it will determine your cost. The Grant Street folks accept cash, VISA, MasterCard, checks, etc.

What to Bring: Fishing pole(s) rigged with at least 10 – 30 lb. test line, cork, split shot sinker, and a medium hook. You may also want to bring the following – Chairs, fishing pliers, extra tackle, landing net, cooler w/ice, drinks, snacks, sunscreen (hopefully it will be sunny!), and a 5-gallon bucket or container to put the fish in after landed.

What If It Rains: The event is on rain or shine. If we cannot fish due to lightening or severe rain, we will notify everyone.

Questions: Please call or e-mail the Cubmaster Ed Dolensky @ HM-428-7146 E-mail: Dolensky@bellsouth.net.

BLUE & GOLD BANQUET and CATFISH RODEO on SATURDAY MARCH 11, 2006
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Folks,

We have a great meeting planned for you this month. Please note our Pack meeting will be on Saturday March 11 at 6 p.m. rather than on Monday March 13, our typical time. From 7:30 a.m. on that Saturday till 1:00 p.m. we will be at the Grant Street Catfish Pond in Bessemer (see following post) then we will have our Pack meeting that same night at 6:00 p.m. at Discovery. We will take this month to say good-bye to our departing Webelo II Cub Scouts (5th graders) who are joining Boy Scouts and have earned Cub Scouting highest award, the Arrow of Light. We will have a meal for everyone and anyone who wants to come Saturday night ($3/per person). We will have Catfish dinners or hot dogs depending on your preference. We will also have the Pinewood Derby creative awards from February's meeting and our usual fun.

Satuday night if any Pack members have goodies to hand out as door prizes please bring them. We like to have a big blow-out at our Blue & Gold Banquet!

We will also need any volunteers we can get to cook and set up Satuday afternoon at Discovery. Beginning about 2:00 we will be there to get ready for a great party. If you can spare a few hours we could use you of course.

I hope to see you all there Saturday!

Mr. Ed
Ed Dolensky
Cubmaster Pack 393