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.

The September White Water Rafting trip is rapidly approaching.  We have a few open spaces due to some last minute scheduling conflicts for several Scouts and adults.  If anyone would like to join, please contact Matthew McQuinn as soon as possible to make arrangements to join the trip.

In addition to the standard Troop Permission Slip, we need signed Crab Apple Liability Waivers for everyone attending.  If you are attending and have not submitted a signed waiver yet, please complete one now.

For anyone who doesn't have a current BSA swim test from attending Wah-Tut-Ca, there will be a make-up swim test on Sunday, Sept 10th.  We will meet at 3 pm at the IBM parking lot (550 King St, Littleton - about a mile past Kimball Farm on the right) then carpool to Long Lake Beach in Littleton (there’s limited parking at the beach).

Rafting Trip Details:  We will be going on a white water rafting trip on the Kennebec River in Maine. We will be camping at Crab Apple Whitewater’s group campsite.  We will meet on Saturday afternoon at Crab Apple Whitewater, set up camp & take a short hike to see Moxie Falls (approx. 1 mile). Sunday morning we will have a breakfast buffet at Crab Apple before embarking on our white water rafting adventure!  The trip will entail rafting through Class III-IV rapids.  A guide from our outfitter, Crab Apple Whitewater, will lead each boat.  A grilled lunch will be provided after the rafting. Approximate time on the river will be 3-4 hours. The trip finishes at the outfitter’s facility where they have a pool and hot tub available.

Click Here -> Watch the video of our last trip on the Kenebec River!

Return Permission Slip & Waiver:  Matthew McQuinn, 7 Vineyard Rd, Westford, MA  01886 (or email a scanned copy)

For more information about the trip or the outfitter go to:  http://www.crabapplewhitewater.com/

Important Note:  All Scouts must pass the BSA swim test to attend.  Scouts who passed the test at camp are all set.

The September trip for Troop 437 will be an outdoor rock climbing expedition at Pawtuckaway State Park on Saturday, followed by a night of camping at Wah-Tut-Ca Scout Reservation.

We will meet at 8:30 am at the parking lot at 199 Round Pond Road, Nottingham, NH (directions on the permission slip) just outside Pawtuckaway State Park.  It is approximately a 1-mile hike into the climbing site, and Scouts should bring a backpack with lunch, plenty of water (2qt minimum), and any additional clothing.  Vertical Dreams will provide climbing equipment and instruction at the climbing site.  Following approx. 5 hours of instruction and climbing, we will hike back to the parking lot and go to Wah-Tut-Ca for the overnight camping. 

Signups are due by the September 8th troop meeting.  All scouts and adults attending also need to complete a Vertical Dreams Liability Waiver.  Access these documents by clicking on the buttons below.

September Trip
The Troop's September trip is a camping overnight at Gunstock Mountain where the scouts will get to experience Gunstock's Adventure Park which includes an awesome Zip Line, Multiple High Rope challenges, a mountain coaster and many more activities.  The permission slip for the trip is below.  We need sign-ups to be submitted by September 5th so we can secure our reservations at Gunstock.

Signups are due September 5th. 

Troop 437 Eagle Scout Jeremy Hemmingway will be running the bonfire at this weekend's East Boston Camp Gala to raise money for the new bathhouse.  Jeremy would like two or three scouts to help with the fire.  The event runs from 5:00pm - 10:00pm on Saturday.  This would qualify for service hours.  If you are able to help out with the event please contact the scoutmaster at scoutmaster@westfordtroop437.us.

The October trip for Troop 437 will be over the Columbus Day holiday weekend. This trip is a mountain day hiking trip! On Saturday the boys will setup camp at Osceola Vista Campground Site H with an opportunity for an afternoon hike. On Sunday the boys will tackle one (or more) of the infamous New Hampshire 4000 Footers! There are many different hikes within the valley for all ability levels.

We will be camping and cooking outdoors; the weather this time of year can range from cool to cold. As scouts we must be prepared to not only enjoy but to thrive in the elements. The minimal equipment needed: tent with a rain fly, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, mess kit, extra pairs of socks, sturdy shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, sunscreen, layered clothing, flashlight with good batteries, full water bottles (full), Boy Scout Handbook, and a pack to put all your items in. Additional optional survival items such as a small tarp and rope are suggested but not required. There may be an opportunity for a short hike on Saturday afternoon for those that are interested. On Sunday we will do a loop hike over Mt Oseola and East Osceola then down towards Greely Pond and back to the campground. The boys (and adults) attending should be prepared to be out on the trail all day on a strenuous yet rewarding hike. A separate shorter hike is also feasible as long as there are enough adults to support it.

The October trip for Troop 437 will be over the Columbus Day holiday weekend. This trip is a mountain day hiking trip! On Saturday the boys will setup camp at Wellington State Park at the Rocky Hill site with an opportunity for an afternoon hike. On Sunday the boys will tackle one (or more) of the infamous New Hampshire 4000 Footers! There are many different hikes within the valley for all ability levels.

We will be camping and cooking outdoors; the weather this time of year can range from cool to cold. As scouts we must be prepared to not only enjoy but to thrive in the elements. The minimal equipment needed: tent with a rain fly, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, mess kit, extra pairs of socks, sturdy shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, sunscreen, layered clothing, flashlight with good batteries, water bottles (full), Boy Scout Handbook, and a pack to put all your items in. Additional optional survival items such as a small tarp and rope are suggested but not required.

There may be an opportunity for a short hike on Saturday afternoon for those that are interested. On Sunday morning we will be taking a longer hike in the White Mountain National Forest.  The boys (and adults) attending should be prepared to be out on the trail all day on a strenuous yet rewarding hike. A separate shorter hike is also feasible as long as there are enough adults to support it.