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Spooky-Ree Update!

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Calendar: Pack 471
Event: Spooky-Ree Fall Family Camping (Date Change)
Where: Bert Adams Boy Scout Reservation
When: Oct 7, 2022 5pm to Oct 9, 2022 6:45pm (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Good Morning Pack 471 Families:

Who is ready to “Spooky-Ree”?? Note: There is a ton of information in this email, so please make sure to read thoroughly.

UPDATE: The Atlanta Area Council just let us know we have to pay by this Thursday. We need everyone planning on going to register by this THURSDAY Sept 22nd.

This year’s Fall Family Camping Event will be held October 7-9 at the Bert Adams Boy Scout Camp near Covington, GA. I know I am looking forward to spending a few days outdoors around a campfire, watching the kids run around, and having fun! This is a camping weekend run by the Atlanta Area Council not the district camping trip we have attended in previous years. Events will include Archery, BB’s, slingshots, hikes, pumpkins, nature, campfires, and yes, even a haunted trail and rumor of a terrifying “super haunted” trail. Some differences from the normal district camps are that activities are first come, first served. No specific activity tickets or individual start times will be given. Also, the dining hall is supposed to be open, but our Pack has chosen to cook our own meals for Saturday. Volunteers to help would be fantastic. We will send out a SignUp Genius so everyone can have the opportunity to contribute.

Fall Family Camping:
When: October 7 – 9
Where: Bert Adams Boy Scout Camp
218 Scout Rd, Covington, GA 30016
Who should attend: Cub Scouts and their families!
Registration is open: https://gmpack471.org (Go to Paypal Payments)
Cost:
$45.00 per Scout
$45.00 per sibling 5 and older (that participate in events)
$20.00 per adult (and older siblings, teenagers, that will not participate in events)

We need interested families to register as soon as possible; this week if you are able. Please register and pay on the website – https://gmpack471.org. Registration must include the name of your Scout(s), the parent(s), and the names and ages of any siblings that will be attending. This is so we can get an accurate count for meal and site planning. You MUST fill out a medical form for EACH attendee, not just the Scout. The form is available on the pack website and is also attached. A Med Form is REQUIRED by BSA to participate and we must turn these in earlier than the normal district camping trips.

If you have not been to Bert Adams, it is a wonderful place. However, leaving Friday after work to get there is an absolute traffic nightmare. The 70-80 mile trip should take about 1:40 minutes. It can frequently be much, much longer with Friday traffic. The earlier you can leave, the better. The gates are supposed to open at 5.

There is trick or treat option which is complex. We went a three years ago, and the line for the candy took over an hour. Our leadersh ip team determined it would be much better for each den to bring a table, decorate it, and bring candy for the kids. Please bring a candy container for your kids! Also, please work with your den leaders to bring Candy for the Scouts and siblings. In the past, the kids did bring their Halloween costumes and dressed up at some point in the afternoon. I would love for this tradition to continue, so please bring your costumes!

If anyone has not had any experience with camping, please work with your den leaders to make sure you know how to set up your tent. Other Packs have had stories of new families showing up late and trying to set up a tent for the first time in the dark. Between myself and the leadership team, we have set up tents hundreds of times. Please let me, or your den leader, know if you need any help setting up your tent.

If this is your first time attending BSA camping, please note there are several protections set up as part of Youth Protection. Kids are only allowed in their families’ tents. No friends are allowed in other families’ tents! The Webelos and AOLS sometimes bring an extra tent for the boys to stay in by themselves, but no kids are allowed in any tent belonging to a non-blood relative or guardian. In addition, there will be separate bathrooms for adults and kids. Adults are not allowed in kids bathrooms at all! These protections are in place to maintain a safe place for your children. I had a very hard time with this policy when my oldest was a Tiger, 1st grade, and my second child was in Pre-K. Everything worked out fine as we waited outside the restroom for him to return. For more information, please feel free to reach out to me or your den leader.

We will provide more details on this camping event as we get closer to the date, but we hope the entire family can join us. If you have any questions, please contact Richard Clayton at 678-860-2369 or rtclaytonjr@yahoo.com. We look forward to seeing everyone for a fun weekend!

-Pack 471 Leaders

Welcome back!

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Good Evening Pack 471 Families:

It’s that time of year again. School has started and so has Cub Scouting! We hope that 2021-2022 will be the best year yet in the 38 year history of Pack 471. We are going to have our kickoff meeting on Tuesday, August 17th at 6:45pm. Our meeting will be held outside at the Covered Play area of GM. Please bring a chair, your insurance card, and a method of payment you wish to use to pay for Scouting dues this year. We can accept cash, personal checks, or credit/debit payments through Paypal swipe.

There are several things scheduled this year that are very exciting. There are two camping trips planned for all Scouts and their families with two additional trips being offered for the Webelos and AOLs. We try to visit both Atlanta Area Council Campgrounds, Woodruff and Bert Adams, and that is this year’s current plan as well. For our big trip this year, we are trying to go to Yorktown and spend the night on an aircraft carrier. If COVID prevents this trip, we have some backup ideas to maintain our Big Trip tradition.

Consistent with past years, we are also interested in signing up new Scouts! Interest is super high as we have 20+ families who have reached out at this point. Please have the returning Scouts wear their red Class B uniforms both Tuesday, August 17th and Tuesday, August 24th to school to encourage their friends to ask about Scouts. If your Scout brings a friend to the August 17th kickoff night who signs up, they will get a recruiter patch. If you have any friends, neighbors, or acquaintances who want to join or would like more information, please have them email me, rtclaytonjr@yahoo.com or pack471leader@gmail.com.

Finally, we will discuss our largest fund raiser, delicious Scout Popcorn at this meeting. This fundraiser keeps our dues low, and we are looking for a Popcorn Chair if you are looking for a way to volunteer. We can never have enough volunteers! See everyone on the 17th!

If you cannot make it that evening, and want your child to continue in Cub Scouts, please reach out to our legendary treasurer Cindy Clayton at cindybear31005@yahoo.com.