Pack 321 Webelos Cross Over...

On My Honor...

... with a little help from their friends in Troop 321 and Boy Scouts' honor society, Order of the Arrow.

Families, Scouts, and leaders all attended this significant and solemn event, and many of the boys from Troop 321 participated.

These former Cubs will now choose a Troop to join, and we expect many of them will choose ours.

Additional event photos may be found in our album page.

Cub Winter Games

They're working - see the clipboard?

Cub Winter Games? We've been there, done that, and brought home the ribbons as Cubs. As Scouts, we’ve got the Klondike Derby to look forward to in a couple of weeks, so what have we to do with Cub Winter Games anymore now that we’re a lot older?

The answer is easy: we help run the games! From set up to take down and all points in between, Troop 321’s Scouts were on hand to lend a hand.

In addition, we helped raise nearly $200 for Nelson William's family, and we've got a whole album of fun uploaded and ready to view, too. Great job guys!

UP 200

Troop 321 on station

When the days are short, the nights are long, and the thermometer threatens to crash through zero - what's a Troop to do on a Friday night?

Well, we'll stay up, head out, and help the mushers racing in the UP 200 safely cross the street. Why? Because we're short of little old ladies, that's why.

OK, we're doing it because it's a long race that crosses many roads and the organizers need all the help they can get. And frankly, it's a thrill to witness a page out of Jack London's Call of the Wild right here in the U.P. You're just not going to see that sort of race in Atlanta any time soon - though maybe next year...

And there's a McDonald's with hot chocolate just a few minutes down the road on our way home.

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser

Scouts: Learning to Serve

Troop 321 held its first annual spaghetti dinner and bakesale fundraiser this evening. We should be very proud of our boys for all the work they put into this event.

A couple of weeks ago, a half dozen Scouts braved the cold to sell tickets from door to door in Ishpeming. They also took turns standing vigilant at the Holiday gas station and at Jubilee inviting patrons to purchase tickets. Other boys sold tickets to family, friends, and neighbors. Severe cold hampered their efforts somewhat the following week, but it did nothing to dampen their spirits.

Our Scouts sold many tickets to people on the promise we would donate them to the Salvation Army, and Darryl dropped them off in time for distribution. As a result, Troop 321's fundraiser also served to help feed our local needy.

More boys volunteered to help out with the dinner. They rolled up their sleeves and took on all tasks: ticket taking, food preparation, serving, table bussing, and cleanup. However, this was truly a family event with Dave, a professional chef, keeping the boys in the kitchen organized, Darryl who handled the shopping and a lot of the food preparation, and, of course, our sweeties Grace, Carolyn, and Robert who brought baked goods. We've also uploaded a photo album - here.

A few of the adults put their heads together and agreed we should try this again next year. With the boys a year older, they can take on even more responsibilities. We should also be able to incorporate this event into several different merit badges, too: Salesmanship and Cooking come to mind!

Cardboard Classic

Troop 321 blasting through the crash barrier

Sometimes the weather doesn't hold up for the Scouts' outdoor activities, but the Cardboard Classic event never fails. After all, we only need freezing weather in the middle of the winter in the U.P.!

Troop 321 entered two sleds this year, both with experienced teams. They fielded some super fast sleds, but they just weren't fast enough. But no matter, everyone had a blast!

You can find more action photos here, and news coverage here!

A few of the boys arrived early to the event so they could help the Cubs lug their sleds up the hill - a favor the smaller boys sure appreciated! It's great when the older boys show the younger boys both kindness and leadership.

Gearing up for the Cardboard Classic

Scoutmaster Carl Chilling Out

Now that the snow crunches under foot, our breath comes out in steamy wisps, and the days are starting to lengthen, it must be time to gear up for the Cardboard Classic!

Of course, the first order of business is to fashion sleds out of duct tape and cardboard. Classic! I've heard that in warmer climes, they make watercraft out of these materials, and, I suppose, snow is just another form of water...

We'll race on February 1st, but today was all about ingenuity, engineering, and hot chocolate (thank you Amy!).

We've got at least two racers read to rip!

Scout Day at Marquette Mountain

Gary grabs some air

It's winter here in Yooperland, and that means fun for Scouts! Marquette Mountain hosted "Scout Day", and Scouts from all around flocked to the slopes.

Marquette Mountain has offered Scouts a special discount on Scout Day for the last several years. This year our "zone" (Marquette and Alger counties) representatives put together a belt loop and merit badge opportunity for the boys.

Eric Creel, a student at NMU and ski instructor, organized Snow Sports merit badge work. Over a dozen Scouts earned their merit badges including Gary and Jackson. The food was good, too. Chuck helped the kids, including many Cubs, assemble and cook silver turtles outdoors on the grill.

The event, with registration first open to our zone and then to the district was a big success. There's talk about opening it up next year to the Bay-Lakes Council and show them how much fun we have up here!