The Pinewood Derby is one of the most popular and successful family activities in Cub Scouting. Pinewood derby cars are small wooden models that Cub Scouts make with help from their families. Then they race the cars in a competition. The cars are powered by gravity and run down a track. Most packs have a pinewood derby event every year. It can be run indoors or outdoors. Every child can design and build their own “grand prix” car to enter in the race.
Pack 203 hold its Pinewood Derby in March of each year. Prizes are awarded for both design and speed at the pack level. The top placing cars for the pack in both of these categories will be eligible to compete in the District Pinewood Derby (usually held in April). We also award prizes to the top cars for speed in each den. And everyone who participates will receive something to commemorate their experience at the Pack 203 Pinewood Derby for that year.
We also encourage parents and siblings to make cars and join the race! All cars race together, although the scores are kept separate for Scout cars and parent/sibling cars. Only the Scout cars are eligible to advance to the District Pinewood Derby.
There are specific rules released by Scouting America about the size and weight of a Pinewood Derby car and Pack 203 leaders will help all Scouts ensure their car meets these requirements prior to race day. We also hold a "weigh in" event the evening before the race, where adult volunteers will weigh each car, help the Scout make any last minute adjustments and then the car will be officially checked in for the race. Your Scout will be leaving their car with our Cubmaster after the weigh-in to save time the following morning.
The Pinewood Derby is often the highlight of a Scout’s year and a great event to for extended family and close friends to attend.
In the Raingutter regatta, boats race down a narrow channel (10′ rain gutter) in a side-by-side race. The catamaran style boat is crafted by the Scout with the help of their adult partners and blown down the channel. Like the Pinewood Derby, we welcome sibling participation. Unlike the Pinewood Derby, there is no score keeping or prizes awarded.
This event is held at our Join Night meeting in early September and is all about having fun!
Another popular Pack activity is the model rocket launch. Pack 203 provides model rocket kits to the Scouts in May and the launch is held over the summer. The Pack provides the launch pads and engines, and many dens hold "rocket making" parties to help all the Scouts put together and decorate their rocket. Like the Raingutter Regatta, we welcome sibling participation and there is no score keeping or prizes - it's all about getting together during the summer and having fun!
The Pack 203 annual Blue and Gold Banquet is held in February and is a dinner event open to all Scouts and families. We encourage extended family members to attend this event as well. The Banquet is an opportunity for the Pack to thank all the families for supporting Scouting, celebrate the birthday of Scouting in America (the incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America was filed on February 8, 1910) and honor our Arrow of Light Scouts as they cross over into their new Scouting America Troops.
Pack 203 sponsors a Family Camping event over a weekend during the summer. We typically reserve one of the group campsites in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. This event is open to all Scouts and families. The schedule of activities usually includes a hike, fishing, a service project, a campfire (or two!) with songs, skits and a campfire program and plenty of time for the Scouts to play and enjoy spending a weekend in the mountains.
Pack 203 also encourages all families to attend the annual Alpine District Camporee event, which is held in September or October. This event has options for families to camp or attend for Saturday only. There are many scheduled activities, from educational presentations to craft stations to (age appropriate) shooting sports. The Scouts who attend this event will be able to complete some of their required rank advancement achievements.
Pack 203 schedules at least one pack activity each month during the summer. Any Scout who is able to attend all of these activities is eligible to earn the Summertime Activity Award. Depending on what the Activities Chair and Den Leaders are able to schedule, there might also be service project opportunities and other summertime activities planned that could vary from year to year.
The summer activities are a great opportunity for a new Scout to see what Pack 203 is all about! We welcome anyone who is considering Cub Scouts to join us for any of our activities over the summer (except the Family Camping trip - you must be a registered member of the pack to attend).
If you have a friend interested in Scouting, or are a new family yourself, please feel free to contact us for a list of upcoming summer activities your family can attend. This is a great opportunity to learn more information about Pack 203 and meet some of the other Scouts and leaders before the rush of recruitment and back to school happen in August.
Pack 203 plans a number of other fun activities throughout the year that promote youth development and an opportunity to be outdoors. These may include hikes, bike rides, kite flying, family picnics, sporting events, service projects and any number of other activities. These activities change from year to year depending on available District and community events, as well as what the current pack leaders are able to arrange. These events are optional and families are always invited.
All upcoming activities are shared with current Scout families via email, the ScoutBook calendar and through our Facebook page. If you are interested in finding out about upcoming events, and are not a member of Pack 203, please submit a request to us using the Contact Us form and we will let you know about our upcoming events.