Cubmaster’s Notes

Tempus Fugit – Time Flies

This month, we bid farewell to our AOLs as they make the transition out of the pack and into the next step of their young lives. For many, that next step is onto Scouts BSA, where they’ll continue their Scouting journey. For others, it’s time to turn the page and focus their energies on something new or more captivating.

Regardless of the path, this departure is a stark reminder of the Stoic truth: Tempus Fugit. Time flies, and it does so without regard for our desire to hold onto the days where we think of them as children who are in constant need of our support, direction, and redirection. One moment, you are tightening a neckerchief for a child; the next, you are standing aside as a young Scout shoulders their own pack. 

As parents, we must practice a quiet detachment, recognizing that, in time, our role will no longer be to carry their weight, but to remain a steady, unmoving pillar while they learn to navigate the wilderness of their own character. 

January Recognitions

This month, I want to recognize our outgoing AOLs and leaders for their dedication to the pack and the exceptional amount of work and commitment that it took to get to this juncture. 

This year, we have eight AOLs who will be crossing over. Since joining the pack in 2022, I have watched many of these scouts grow and mature, not only as Scouts, but as individuals, thanks in large part to the guidance of their den leader, Andrea Fisher.

For the scouts who have joined more recently, I want to recognize the amount of work they’ve done in such a short period of time to earn their AOL rank. They had to “cram for the exam”, so to speak, and they rose to the challenge.

This pack also owes a special recognition to the outgoing leaders who have not only helped their Scouts, but have also contributed large swaths of time to the pack. 

• Andrea Fisher has been the den leader for this group since they were Tigers. She has been the driving force in ensuring that all of these scouts have done the work and earned their rank. 
• Tom Quackenbush has been our Pinewood Derby Crew Chief for the last two years, but has done so much more for the pack that most people don’t see. Among other things, he has voluntarily taken on the role as our webmaster and IT administrator and is the reason our website looks so professional and functions so well.
• Winnie Cherubin has held many leadership positions in the Pack and has been our resident photographer for many years. 
• Ryan Hall has been a “behind the scenes” leader for the pack for many years. More recently, he has stepped up to be our coffee supplier and pancake and cobbler chef. If you’ve had a hot cup of coffee and some pancakes after a restful sleep on the church lawn, it’s because of him.

We also want to recognize Eric Tate, who has volunteered to succeed Tom Quackenbush as Pinewood Derby Crew Chief! 

January Den Activities

This month, we resumed den-focused activities, so our Scouts have been busy working on their Adventures. We had originally planned to have two den meetings in January, but we were forced to cancel one of them due to the poor weather.

Some of our older scouts were also able to take advantage of our Winter Cabin Camping trip by completing some additional Adventure requirements throughout the weekend.

Lions & Tigers

This month, the Lions and Tigers worked on their Citizenship advancements. They collected socks that were donated to Safe Harbor in Easton, and then they had a Q&A session with our Webelo den leader, Mr. Matt, to learn more about citizenship and being part of a community.

Wolves

The Wolf den worked on the Spirit of the Water adventure and continued working through the Paws on the Path adventures. They braved the cold and went on a hike where they learned about water conservation and pollution. They also discussed how water gets treated and how it ends up in your home!

Bears 

The Bears worked on their Fellowship and Let’s Camp Bear adventures. They made their own barometer to measure the air pressure at home, and then they learned about some basic rules for camping. They also discussed different types of religions and how they are practiced. 

The scouts were also given a take-home assignment to work on during the snowstorm last weekend!

Webelos

The Webelos worked on their Chef’s Knife adventure and reviewed their knife safety and whittling skills. For the Chef’s Knife adventure, they learned about different types of knives that can be found in the kitchen and at home and learned how to slide, dice, and chop fruits and vegetables. After that, we got a refresher on whittling by practicing with a butter knife on a bar of soap, and then they moved on to whittling a branch with their pocket knives.

AOLs

The AOLs reviewed their first aid skills and spent some time at camp working on tree identification. For the First Aid review, Mr. Q from Troop 29 visited the den and lent his expertise. They discussed the essential contents of a good First Aid kit and reviewed the methods used to treat different types of injuries, such as burns, cuts, and fractures. 

At Winter Cabin Camping, the scouts spent some time walking around the camp reviewing their tree-identification skills and discussing the impact that invasive species have on our native plants and trees.

January Pack Updates

Winter Cabin Camping Recap

In mid-January, Pack 29 ventured out into the cold for a winter camping trip at Camp Minsi. 18 scouts and 15 adults spent the weekend playing on the frozen lake, hiking, making s’mores, working on adventures, and engaging in an epic snowball battle. The adults retained their title as Snowball Battle Champions for another year, narrowly besting the scouts in a best-of-3 game of Capture the Flag! We also had our annual burping contest, and AOL, Greyson Fisher, crushed it again! 

We’ll be posting some more pictures on the website and Facebook page in the coming days, but here is a group picture of the scouts on a hike through the camp.

Fundraising

Meat Sticks

As a reminder, beginning in 2026, we will be collecting meat stick order forms monthly. Because of the den meeting cancellations in January, we’ll have two collection dates in February. The first date will be on Sunday, 2/8, at our den meeting. Our second collection date will be on 2/22 at the Blue & Gold ceremony.

Please reach out to Jen Schleig (sjmznschleig@gmail.com) if you have any questions!

Help Wanted!

Pinewood Derby Pit Crew Members

Pack 29 is looking for volunteers to help with our Pinewood Derby! We are looking for 2-3 adults to be on our Pinewood Derby Pit Crew. This position is responsible for helping with setup and teardown of the track, and serving as the helping hands for our Build Day, Test Night, and on Derby Day. This position requires 4-6 hours of your time during the month of March. 

Please contact Mike Ehret (pack29easton@gmail.com) if you have any questions or are interested in signing up.

Committee Members

We currently have openings for 2-3 Committee Member positions. In this role, you’ll provide support to the pack by attending the monthly Committee meetings, assisting pack leaders with event planning, and serve as a “sounding board” to new ideas and suggestions. The average time commitment to this position is 2-3 hours per month.

This is a great “entry-level” position to fill if you’re interested in getting involved with the pack but aren’t ready or able to commit to a leadership role.

Upcoming Events

Sunday, 2/8/2026, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM – Committee Meeting

• This meeting will take place in the fellowship hall at Arndt’s Lutheran Church.
• The agenda for this meeting will primarily focus on final planning for the Blue & Gold Ceremony.
• I encourage all AOL parents to attend, especially if you’re unfamiliar with this ceremony. 

Sunday, 2/8/2026, 2025, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Den Meetings

Attire: Class B T-Shirts

• Your den leaders will be sending out more details about their specific plans for their dens, so be on the lookout for that.
• We’ll also be collecting January meat stick orders since our 1/25 meeting was canceled.

Sunday, 2/22/2026, 2025, 4:00 PM-7:00 PM – Blue & Gold Ceremony

Attire: Class A Uniforms

• The Blue & Gold ceremony is our annual graduation event for the AOLs who will be moving on from the pack. 
• We’ll recognize all of our dens for the adventures they completed during January and February, and then we’ll have a special ceremony for the outgoing AOLs.
• Dinner will be provided, and the AOLs will be making desserts for all attendees!
• A Sign-Up Genius will be sent out in the coming days to help us get a headcount. Please make sure you RSVP if you plan to attend.
• This event will take place at Hope Lutheran Church in Tatamy.

Sunday, 3/1/2026, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM – Committee Meeting, Virtual

• We’ll start planning our Pinewood Derby event at this meeting. 

Sunday, 3/8/2026, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM – Pinewood Derby Build Day

• Families will have the opportunity to work on their pinewood derby cars with the help of our pit crew.
• Basic hand and power tools will be provided.
• More info to come!