The place we were going to go for cross country skiing is closed down for the winter. This means we will be doing Plan B. We meet at the Depot Rd parking lot of East Boston Camps (Stony Brook Conservation Land) at 7pm and plan a loop that will return us to the parking lot by 8:30. The low for Thursday is looking to be 40 degrees. Remember to wear warm enough clothes. Also, wear boots with tread as we might be walking over snowy and icy bits. 

Troop 437 uses the remind.com system to help deliver timely announceents and reminders to Troop members.  This is the same system in use by the Westford school system.  With this system you can sign up to receive announcements via a smartphone app or text messages.  The intent is to suplement the current e-mail announcements that are currently sent.  

Three ways to sign-up:

• By text message: Send "@t437" to 81010
• On the web: Go to http://rmd.at/t437
• Install and run the Remind app from your phone's app store

The February Troop trip will be a ski/boarding trip to Mt Sunapee in New Hampshire.  This is a great opportunity for both new skiers and for experiences skiers!  Mt Sunapee has trails to satisfy all levels of ability.  In addition Sunapee is also offering discounts on equipment rentals and lessons if you are interested.  All the details are in the attached permisison slip.

Signups are due Janaury 31st. 

For our second year, Boy Scout Troop 437 is hosting a Pinewood Derby building workshop, where the Boy Scouts can assist the Cub Scouts of all ranks in the construction and tuning of their cars.

Last year, we helped over 20 Cub Scouts build a car of their design. We paired each Cub Scout up with a Boy Scout who worked directly with them, walking them through the process. It was particularly nice to see the young and older scouts working well together. Both seem to benefit from this experience.

Troop 437 has a regular troop meeting on Thursday nights at the American Legion hall on Dunstable road at 7pm. We will be using one of these evenings for the workshop. We will have all the tools and supplies necessary and can help with cutting and sanding the blocks of wood, polishing axles and wheels, adding weights, pressing axles straight and adding weight to bring the cars to the maximum allowable amount. We will not get into painting or advanced techniques. Cub Scouts will leave the event with a contender, but they may want to paint or decorate the car on their own. .

Each Pack does the PWD a little differently. Some use den meetings for car building and some leave it up to the scouts to do individually. In any case, Cub Scouts could attend individually, or as a den activity.

Each Scout will need to bring an adult helper, a kit, and some ideas. They should watch some videos and do a little research. They should make some sketches or prints of what they like.

The date is Thursday December 13th from 7:00 to 8:30. This event will be limited to 25 cub scouts, but we will have a waiting list and could hold a second event if there is enough interest.

This is an “almost winter” backpacking trip! The hut is a short 1.6 mile hike over moderate terrain (with potential for snow/ice). This is a chance to experience the beauty of the White Mountains without the crowds.The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) huts provide a unique experience -- we will likely be hiking in winter weather with the opportunity to carry a lighter load due to the hut’s amenities. No tents are needed, but a warm sleeping bag is suggested since the bunkrooms do not get too warm from the woodstove. We will be able to use the hut’s kitchen for meal preparation, so limited cooking equipment is required.

 Important Note: All participants must be prepared for cold weather!!! You must have sturdy, warm hiking footwear, and are strongly encouraged to have micro spikes. Many layers are a necessity as well as extra socks, hats/mittens, and standard backpacking equipment.

 A daypack is suggested if you want to explore the surrounding area. Opportunities in the hut include board/card games, campfire programs, other pre-planned activities.

Return Permission Slip by: Thursday, November 15th, 2018*