Scouts Hold Welcome Back Meetings

They have camped in the mountains, collected toys for underpriviledged children, observed stars in a planetarium and cheered on minor league baseball players.

They are the Cub Scouts of Packs 9 and 6 and they are starting their new year with round-up meetings Friday night at 7:30. Pack 9 will meet at the gym, while Pack 6 will hold its first meeting after the summer break in the gym.

Pack 9's program will feature a presentation by a "Mad Scientist" and introductions of the different dens by the pack's leaders.

New boys are welcome and are invited to attend, even if they are not committed to joining. Registration forms also will be available at both meetings.

Cub scouting is open to boys in first through fifth grades. Though the Cub Scout Pack 9 program is held at Washington School, it is open to any boy in West Caldwell or Caldwell. Pack 6 meets at Trinity and is open to students from Trinity, Wilson, Jefferson and Lincoln Schools.

Both Packs march in the annual Memorial Day parade and go on numerous field trips. Several camping trips are held throughout the year at campgrounds around New Jersey.

The scouts are divided into dens according to grade level. Some boys have visited the local police department, ambulance squad and fire station. Others have toured airports and all of the boys are invited to participate in the annual spaghetti dinner and Pinewood Derby car race.

Many of the boys' activities are geared toward having the boys advance in scouting. After fifth-grade, the boys crossover into Boy Scouts.

For questions or further information about the Pack 9 cub scouts, contact Pack 9 Packmaster Jason Oesterle at jkoesterle@verizon.net. Pack 6 Cubmaster Stephen Brown can be reached at cubmaster6@gmail.com.