Lakewood’s Cub Scout Pack 68 Earns “Journey To Excellence” award for high quality program

Cub Scout Pack 68, sponsored by the Lakewood United Methodist Church, earned the prestigious Journey to Excellence Silver Award for 2015. The award recognizes Scout organizations that provide a high quality program for boys in the community. Pack leaders say they plan to earn the gold award in 2016.

“The Journey to Excellence Award is Scouting’s way to identify packs that provide an outstanding experience for boys throughout the Scouting year,” said Kevin Brown, Pack 68 Cubmaster. “It means that we have a great group of Scouts learning about character development, conservation, service, and citizenship from a dedicated group of adult volunteers.”

The Journey to Excellence Award evaluates 11 critical areas of a Cub Scout Pack, including volunteer leadership, program measures, planning, budgeting and membership. Packs earning the award have adult volunteers who are trained in Youth Protection and outdoor activities. Packs demonstrate that a high percentage of the Cub Scouts advance throughout the year and the Pack retains members while growing as new Cub Scouts join.

“We have a strong program – with Scouts able to participate in two camp-outs a year, a rain gutter regatta, hayrides, winter activities, field trips, and den meetings,” said Matt Markling, Tiger Den Leader. “Plus, the Scouts participate in service projects right here in Lakewood.”

Brown said he was particularly excited that the Tiger Den has 17 new Scouts. “Tigers are the youngest boys in the Pack – they are the first graders. It’s important for the pack to have a strong Tiger den because they can go through the program from year to year. They will keep the pack strong as the older boys move to the Boy Scouts,” Brown said.

Although Pack 68 is Lakewood’s oldest Cub Scout pack, Brown and Markling agreed the group is not resting on its  laurels and has an active Spring program – with wintertime sledding, a weekend Spring Camp-out, the Blue and Gold Banquet, and the popular Pinewood Derby on deck.

“We’ll sled in the Metroparks on February 20, if we have snow,” Brown said. “We will also start planning for the Pinewood Derby and see the cars the boys build. The new Star Wars movie should give the Scouts ideas.” 

New members are still welcome to join, Markling stressed. “We still have a lot of Scouting left before the end of the school year and plenty to do. We’d love to have a few more boys – and their parents – join us so we finish strong and earn the GOLD Journey to Excellence Award in 2016.”

Pack 68 meets Tuesdays at Lakewood United Methodist Church. The pack meets Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Boys in Lakewood in first through fifth grade are eligible to join Cub Scouts. Boys older than fifth grade are eligible for Boy Scouts. For more information, visit the Pack at a meeting.

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Volume 12, Issue 2, Posted 5:45 PM, 01.19.2016