Cub Scouts Damian Z. (left) and Christian S. (right) placed 1st and 3rd respectively in the Lenape Trail District Pinewood Derby on April 13, 2024.

Cub Scouts from Caldwell Pack 846 competed in the Northern New Jersey Council Lenape Trail District Pinewood Derby in Livingston on April 13th. Eligible scouts had to have placed 1st or 2nd in their age group in the Pack 846 derby back in February in order to be eligible to compete at the District level.

Pack 846 was represented in the District competition by scouts Landon G., Lucas L., Ellery M., Horatio M., Liam M., Benny M., Matthew S., Christian S., and Damian Z.

After racing within their respective age groups, Lucas L. was the winner of the Lions group, Damian took 1st and Christian came in 2nd in the Webelos group, and Matthew took 3rd place in the Arrow of Light group.

Based on the average time of their best race heats, the overall winners were determined from among all of the entries, with Damian winning 1st place overall and Christian placing 3rd overall.  

The Lenape Trail District includes Cub Scout Packs and Scouts BSA Troops from 23 towns in the Essex area.

When we couldn't meet in person, we went virtual and kept Den meetings on the calendar. We turned to Zoom and Google Meet to stay connected and keep working on badges, belt loops, pins, and rank advancement. We met digitally to talk about animals, nature, first aid, and tell jokes like we have done before around a campfire. When so many youth activities were forced to stop entirely, Scouting continued.

This month, following guidance and best practices from the Boy Scouts of America and health officials, Caldwell Pack 846 is continuing to do their best to meet, explore, learn, grow, play and have fun together.

We are again turning to technology to help us organize and plan outings, meetings, and activities, but we are also getting back together in-person for hiking, rafting, fishing, and to learn new skills and have fun at Den meetings. We are even bringing on new scouts to join our ranks and experience Scouting themselves, something that the current limitations of a global health crisis has seemed to make that much more important.

What Scouting offers, an outdoor program based on building character and developing leadership skills while learning to be prepared for whatever life presents us with, is so much more important today. Scouting can help supplement the online learning that many kids are doing, with an outdoor education program that also incorporates physical fitness, personal challenges, and ample opportunities to escape the indoors.

It isn't exactly like Scouting the way it has ever been done before, but it is still Cub Scouts, and it is definitely still an adventure.

"Scouts are up for this challenge," says Den Leader Mike McDonald. "We teach kids to be resilient and to learn how to work outside of their comfort zones. Dealing with the challenges of carrying on a Scouting program while having to practice new health-related best practices, social distancing, and wearing masks isn't always easy, but we are confident that we can carry on with our program and stay safe. Our Scouts want to be outside, hiking, fishing, enjoying the fall weather. That's where we'll be, as much as we can be."

Scouting continues. Pack 846 is proud to offer local youth the opportunity to try something different, get outside, learn, grow, play, and find new adventures.

If you are interested in Scouting for your family, please visit cubscoutpack846.org to learn more. Or contact:

Mike McDonald
973-216-4387
caldwellpack846@gmail.com

Three Cub Scouts from Caldwell Pack 846 have qualified to participate in the Pinewood Derby World Championship taking place Saturday June 29th. The scouts are Bear Scout Cooper Owens, Wolf Scout Dean McDonald, and Lion Scout Owen Chirico. The three each participated in 2 previous derby events, one at the local Pack level and one at the regional District level, to reach the championship event. 

The event takes place in New York City and will see over 350 scouts from over 100 councils across numerous states meet to decide champions for each age/rank level and ultimately a world champion. 

The Pinewood Derby is an annual Cub Scout event in which scouts build wooden cars with plastic wheels, with the help of parents/guardians. The small cars are raced on an aluminum track, with rows of young scouts cheering on their homemade racers. This year marks the first time that any Caldwell scouts have qualified for the national event. 

CALDWELL, NJ - Cub Scout Pack 846 is celebrating 75 years with the Boy Scouts of America. Officially the Pack turned 75 in February 2018, however as part of an ongoing celebration Pack 846 has been rolling out plans to mark the occasion throughout the year. The celebration will culminate at the annual Blue & Gold Dinner in March, where scouts are recognized for their recent achievements and the older scouts cross over into a Boy Scout Troop.

Under the early leadership of Cubmaster Jerome V. Leary and committee members C.C. Bryant, D.R. Van Winkle, R.M. McGuinness, and John Curley, the Pack was established in 1943 as "Pack 6," a distinction that is still frequently used by members and alumni because of the long history with the shorter Pack number. The original charter was undertaken by Saint Aloysius Roman Catholic Church in Caldwell, which remains the current chartered organization of the Pack today and the home base for most of the organization's local meetings and activities.The charter document is signed by James E. West, the first Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America.

Cub Scout Pack 846 is a youth organization committed to sharing the values of character development, leadership, and adventure with local boys and girls in grades K through 5.

For media inquiries contact:
Mike McDonald
973-216-4387
caldwellpack846@gmail.com