Pack 323 Annual Plan — 2026–2027¶
Baltimore Area Council | National Pike District | Charter Org: St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Catholic Church
Program year: September 2026 – August 2027
Plan coverage: August 2026 pre-season runway through July 2027. August opens each plan as the next year's launch runway rather than closing it — so August 2027's launch events live in the 2027-2028 plan, and the school-year program runs Sept–May with a June–July summer block.
Status: Current program year — began August 2026. The prior year is archived in the 2025-2026 annual plan.
Last updated: October 2026
Leadership Transition Year — New Cubmaster and Committee Chair stepping in after outgoing AOL-den leadership. Den leader assignments TBD. Priorities: stabilize structure, onboard new den leaders, maintain program quality, grow recruiting.
Event Type Legend¶
| Tag | Type |
|---|---|
| PACK | Pack Meeting (3rd Wednesday) |
| CAMP | Campout (weekend) |
| FIELD | Field Trip / Cultural Event |
| DISTRICT | District / Council Event |
| SERVICE | Community Service |
| RECRUIT | Recruiting / Membership Event |
| PLANNING | Parent Planning Meeting (4th Wednesday) |
| DEN | Den Meeting (suggested theme) |
Pre-Season — August 2026¶
Launch runway for the 2026-2027 program year. These district and recruiting events happen before the school-year program begins; they were moved here from the 2025-2026 plan because they serve the incoming year. Each year's trailing-August launch events hand forward to the next year's plan in the same way.
| Date | Event | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 10 (Mon) | National Pike Fall Kickoff (NPD Program Launch & Roundtable) | DISTRICT | Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 4795 Ilchester Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043; 7:15–9:15 PM; district season opener that introduces the 2026-2027 program year; critical for all den leaders |
| Aug 26 (Wed) | Parent Planning Meeting | PLANNING | Agenda: pre-season logistics — den leader assignments, September calendar, blacktop party staffing, Parent Info Night scheduling |
| Aug 28 (Fri) | Waverly Elementary Back-to-School Blacktop Party | RECRUIT | Final summer push before school year; welcoming, not sales-y; have flyers available. Pack table at the school's back-to-school event — uniform, canopy, display boards, QR-code cards, district materials; ask other leaders to cover a shift so the table is never unstaffed |
Fall Block — September through November¶
September 2026¶
| Date | Event | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep (TBD) | Parent Info Night | RECRUIT | For new and returning families; overview of Cub Scouting, pack structure, and annual plan; held at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Catholic Church; ⚠️ date TBD |
| Sep (TBD) | New Parent Virtual Q&A | RECRUIT | Online session to answer questions about joining Pack 323; via Zoom; link provided upon RSVP; ⚠️ date TBD |
| Sep 2 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Welcome-Back & Bobcat Orientation (All Dens) | DEN | Waverly Elementary cafeteria; all dens met as a "welcome back" and orientation for new joiners, working on initial requirements of the rank-specific Bobcat adventure |
| Sep 9 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Bobcat Wrap-Up & Den Flags (Lions–Bears) / Conservancy Hike (Webelos & AOL) | DEN | Webelos & AOL hike at Howard County Conservancy (Mt. Pleasant Farm). Lions, Tigers, Wolves, and Bears meet at Waverly cafeteria to complete remaining Bobcat requirements, establish Den codes of conduct, create Den flags, and review campout skit/song ideas |
| Sep 14 (Mon) | NPD Roundtable | DISTRICT | Hammond High School, 7:30 PM — first roundtable of the year; all den leaders should attend |
| Sep 16 (Wed) | Pack Meeting: Rockets & Camp Prep | PACK | Three segments: Active: pack-wide icebreaker (Cubmaster to select) / Learning: rocket kit assembly (rockets are built tonight, launched Oct 7) + camping orientation ahead of the Sep 25–27 campout — Scout worksheet plus the existing parent camping checklist; sample tent & sleeping bag on display; collect medical forms. Dues gate: new families may build a rocket tonight without having paid dues, but dues must be paid to launch in October — hand out the dues/registration one-pager |
| Sep 23 (Wed) | Parent Planning Meeting | PLANNING | 7:00 PM Virtual (Google Meet). Agenda: Fall campout final logistics, YPT status check, Broad Creek Fall Cub Family Weekend sign-ups (registration closes Oct 18 — before the October parent planning meeting); Maryland Science Center Camp-In sign-ups & headcount (RSVPs and Venmo due Sep 29 so Vanessa can register the unit before spaces fill) |
| Sep 24 (Thu) | Wood Badge 12-220-26-2 | DISTRICT | Schapiro Scout Service Center, Baltimore — optional adult leader training; first session of multi-weekend course; register at scoutingevent.com/220-wb262 |
| Sep 25–27 (Fri–Sun) | Fall Family Campout | CAMP | Patapsco Valley State Park, Hilton Area, Site Banneker (Youth Group); check-in Fri 3 PM, check-out Sun 1 PM; hiking, skills stations, campfire program; new leader orientation opportunity. Troop 944 plans to bring Scouts to work alongside Pack Scouts on their own requirements — coordinate numbers in advance. ⚠️ Requires a BALOO-trained adult present for the whole campout — see Outdoor Leadership Coverage below |
| Sep 30 (Wed) | (5th Wednesday — flex or skip) | Optional: campout debrief / rank catch-up at den leader discretion |
October 2026¶
| Date | Event | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 7 (Wed) | Pack Meeting: Rocket Launch! | PACK | 6:00 PM at St. Alphonsus. Active: Countdown, launches, field retrieval race / Learning: Newton's 3rd Law debrief. Held at the church (1st Wednesday is ours). A district representative plans to attend — good moment to have leaders and materials visible for prospective families. Dues gate applies: rockets built in September launch tonight once dues are paid. ⚠️ Moved from the 3rd Wednesday (Oct 21) due to leader availability; notify the district contact of the date change |
| Oct 9–11 (Fri–Sun) | Webelos-O-Ree | DISTRICT | Camp Saffran, Broad Creek, Whiteford, MD; Fri 5:00 PM – Sun 12:00 PM; register by Oct 5 at scoutingevent.com/220-2026npweboree. ⚠️ One registration per unit, and the unit must field two registered Scouters over 21 — plus a female registered adult if any female youth attend. Confirm adult coverage before committing |
| Oct 9 (Fri) | Wood Badge 12-220-26-2 | DISTRICT | Camp Spencer, Street, MD — optional adult leader training; second session; ⚠️ same weekend as Webelos-O-Ree |
| Oct 12 (Mon) | NPD Roundtable | DISTRICT | Columbia Academy, Columbia, MD, 7:30 PM |
| Oct 14 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Conservancy Hike (Lions–Bears) / First Aid & Safety (Webelos & AOL) | DEN | Lions, Tigers, Wolves, and Bears do a nature hike at Howard County Conservancy (Mt. Pleasant Farm; trail rules, plant & animal ID, Leave No Trace). Webelos & AOL meet for First Aid & Safety / outdoor skills (roleplay injuries, emergency response, buddy system) |
| Oct 21 (Wed) | Den Meetings cancelled | DEN | No Den meetings this evening. The planned Personal Safety & Emergency Preparedness meeting is cancelled; den leaders should communicate any later rescheduling or at-home follow-up directly to families. |
| Oct 28 (Wed) | Parent Planning Meeting | PLANNING | Agenda: Pinewood Derby car kit ordering, Blue & Gold venue/caterer brainstorm; book the school cafeteria for Dec–May — the current booking ends in November |
| Oct 31–Nov 1 (Sat–Sun) | Broad Creek Fall Cub Family Weekend | CAMP | Camp Saffran, Broad Creek Scout Reservation, 1929 Susquehanna Hall Rd, Whiteford, MD 21160; check-in Sat 10:00 AM, check-out Sun 10:30 AM; register by Oct 18 at scoutingevent.com/220-26fcfw; held rain or shine; requires Medical Forms A & B plus the Cub Scouts RATA Hold Harmless Form; $50 per youth, $35 per adult |
November 2026¶
| Date | Event | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Citizenship & Flag Etiquette | DEN | Prep for Veterans Day activities; practice flag folding |
| Nov 7 (Sat) | Wood Badge 12-220-26-2 | DISTRICT | Camp Spencer, Street, MD — optional adult leader training; third/final session; register at scoutingevent.com/220-wb262 |
| Nov 9 (Mon) | NPD Roundtable | DISTRICT | Columbia Academy, Columbia, MD, 7:30 PM |
| Nov 11 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Service Project Prep | DEN | ⚠️ Veterans Day (federal holiday) — confirm school schedule; make cards for veterans; prep food drive boxes |
| Nov 11 (Wed) | Veterans Day Parade | SERVICE | Full Class A uniform required; confirm parade route & assembly time — may conflict with den meeting; coordinate with den leaders |
| Nov 14 (Sat) | NPD Volunteer Training Summit | DISTRICT | Archbishop Curley High School, [7:30 PM] |
| Nov 18 (Wed) | Pack Meeting: Gratitude Night | PACK | Active: Gratitude scavenger hunt / Learning: Scout-led flag folding demo |
| Nov 20–21 (Fri–Sat) | NPD BALOO Training (Fall 2026) | DISTRICT | Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation — Scouting America-required for an adult to run Cub Scout pack campouts; Poplar Springs Community Association / Scout Hall, Mt. Airy; virtual pre-meeting Sun Nov 15, 7:00 PM; valuable for new den leaders this transition year; register at scoutingevent.com/220-fall26npdbaloo |
| Nov 21 (Sat) | Leaf Raking at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez | SERVICE | 10:00 AM; charter org; work clothes, gloves, closed-toe shoes; ~2 hours |
| Nov 23 (Mon) | Parent Planning Meeting | PLANNING | ⚠️ Day before Thanksgiving — expect low attendance; consider moving to 3rd Wednesday or holding a short virtual check-in instead. Agenda: Recharter prep, dues collection, Blue & Gold planning kickoff |
Winter Block — December through February¶
December 2026¶
| Date | Event | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Open | DEN | Den leader choice |
| Dec 9 (Wed) | Den Meeting: PWD Car Design Brainstorm & Tool Safety Intro | DEN | Sketch car designs; review tool safety rules |
| Dec 13 (Sun) | Holiday Caroling at ACTS Fairhaven | SERVICE | Afternoon; elderly residents; full uniform or festive attire; confirm time & logistics with venue; prepare 3–5 songs |
| Dec 14 (Mon) | NPD Roundtable | DISTRICT | Columbia Academy, Columbia, MD, 7:30 PM |
| Dec 16 (Wed) | Pack Meeting: Holiday Service & PWD Car Distribution | PACK | Active: Adopt-A-Family gift sorting / Learning: PWD physics — weight, wheels, aerodynamics; distribute PWD car kits |
| Dec 23 (Wed) | Parent Planning Meeting | PLANNING | ⚠️ 2 days before Christmas — expect very low attendance; strongly consider canceling or rescheduling to Dec 16 as a brief post-Pack-meeting huddle. Agenda: Recharter submission, spring recruiting strategy, PWD track setup plan |
| Dec 30 (Wed) | (5th Wednesday — skip) | Between Christmas and New Year's; no meeting |
January 2027¶
| Date | Event | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 6 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Build It / Physics | DEN | Paper airplanes, balloon rockets; connect to STEM Carnival Night |
| Jan 11 (Mon) | NPD Roundtable | DISTRICT | Columbia Academy, Columbia, MD, 7:30 PM |
| Jan 13 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Cold-Weather Safety & Klondike Prep | DEN | All dens — layering, hypothermia/frostbite awareness, winter buddy system; gear check for the Sat Jan 23 Klondike (no sneakers, full layers, gloves, hats). AOL/Webelos add Klondike station skills & map-reading; younger dens keep it to general winter safety. Last den meeting before the derby |
| Jan 20 (Wed) | Pack Meeting: STEM Carnival Night | PACK | Stations: Card tower engineering challenge, balloon rocket race, static electricity demo, polymer science, bridge load testing |
| Jan 23 (Sat) | NPD Klondike Derby | DISTRICT | McKeldin Area, Patapsco Valley State Park; Cubs start 8:30 AM; full layers required, no sneakers; carpooling: 4+ per vehicle. ⚠️ Penciled in — Klondike is normally January (2026 ran on a February make-up date); a tentative February make-up date is TBD and should avoid Feb 6 (Camp-In) and Feb 26–27 (Pinewood). Confirm when the 2026-2027 NPD calendar publishes. |
| Jan 27 (Wed) | Parent Planning Meeting | PLANNING | Agenda: Blue & Gold catering confirmed, advancement audit, Klondike Derby debrief, MSC Camp-In (Feb 6) headcount + chaperone ratio (1:5), Pinewood Derby (Sat Feb 27) track setup & timing |
February 2027¶
| Date | Event | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 3 (Wed) | Den Meeting: PWD Workshop | DEN | The single build session — cutting, sanding, painting; tool safety; bring car kits. Leaves 3+ weeks to finish at home before the Feb 27 race; final graphite/weight/wheel-truing happens at the Feb 26 weigh-in |
| Feb 6 (Sat) | Maryland Science Center Camp-In | FIELD | Overnight at the museum, Baltimore Inner Harbor; check-in Sat 5:15 PM, check-out Sun 9:00 AM. Hands-on workshops, IMAX & planetarium shows, museum exploration (MSC Camp-In Details). 2027 theme "STEM Carnival" (Physics & Chemistry) — extends the Jan 20 STEM Carnival Pack Meeting. Kids split K–3rd (our Lions–Bears) and 4th–5th (Webelos + AOL); all three AOL Scouts can still attend as a Pack since crossover isn't until March. $75/person ($150 per Scout/parent pair); each Scout must be accompanied by a parent. Snack, light breakfast, and patch included; eat dinner before or bring bag dinner; bring sleeping bag + toiletries; no refunds. Pack RSVP & payment deadline: Sep 29, 2026 via Venmo @Vanessa_Meeks (Vanessa coordinating unit registration). |
| Feb 8 (Mon) | NPD Roundtable | DISTRICT | Columbia Academy, Columbia, MD, 7:30 PM |
| Feb 10 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Catch-up / Rank Review | DEN | Handbooks out; leaders sign completions. Last den meeting before the Feb 26 weigh-in — help any Scout finish their car |
| Feb 17 (Wed) | (3rd Wednesday — no evening Pack Meeting) | February Pack Meeting date is the Saturday Pinewood Derby (Feb 27). Optional den final-tuning night, or skip | |
| Feb 24 (Wed) | Parent Planning Meeting | PLANNING | Agenda: Spring campout planning, Scouting for Food sign-up logistics, crossover planning start |
| Feb 26 (Fri) | Pinewood Derby Weigh-In | PACK | Evening before race day; final tuning station — graphite the axles, check weight (≤5 oz), true the wheels — then cars are checked in and impounded. |
| Feb 27 (Sat) | Pack Meeting: Pinewood Derby — Race Day | PACK | The February Pack Meeting is held on a Saturday rather than Wednesday. Racing heats + car gallery with Scout-voted design awards between heats. Weigh-in held the evening before (Fri Feb 26). |
Spring Block — March through May¶
March 2027¶
| Date | Event | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 3 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Electives (Performance) | DEN | Skit or song practice for Blue & Gold |
| Mar 6–7 (Sat–Sun, approx) | Scouting for Food — Doorhanger Distribution | SERVICE | Register via scoutingforfoodnpd@gmail.com; ⚠️ Exact dates TBD — confirm with NPD |
| Mar 8 (Mon) | NPD Roundtable | DISTRICT | Columbia Academy, Columbia, MD, 7:30 PM |
| Mar 10 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Electives (Science) | DEN | Seed planting or constellation study |
| Mar 13–14 (Sat–Sun, approx) | Scouting for Food — Collection | SERVICE | Return to collect donated food; ⚠️ Exact dates TBD |
| Mar 17 (Wed) | Pack Meeting: Blue & Gold Birthday Banquet | PACK | ⚠️ St. Patrick's Day — some families may have plans; den skits, mixer game opener, year-in-review highlights; catering confirmed by Jan parent planning meeting |
| Mar 24 (Wed) | Parent Planning Meeting | PLANNING | Agenda: Spring campout final logistics, crossover planning, Camden Yards ticket push |
| Mar 31 (Wed) | (5th Wednesday — flex or skip) | Optional: outdoor skills preview / rank catch-up | |
| Late March | Camden Yards Ticket Sales Deadline | FIELD | ⚠️ Confirm exact deadline when BAC publishes 2026-2027 Scout Day date — purchase via baltimorescouting.org |
April 2027¶
| Date | Event | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4–5 (Sat–Sun, approx) | Scout Day at Camden Yards | FIELD | Baltimore Orioles; full uniform; tickets via BAC; ⚠️ Exact date TBD — confirm when BAC publishes |
| Apr 7 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Coins & Codes | DEN | Coin values or invisible ink messages |
| Apr 12 (Mon) | NPD Roundtable | DISTRICT | Columbia Academy, Columbia, MD, 7:30 PM |
| Apr 14 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Outdoors Skills | DEN | Compass & map skills, scavenger hunt — prep for spring campout |
| Apr 14 (Wed) | Wood Badge 12-220-27-1 | DISTRICT | Spring 2027 course opens — optional adult leader training; further sessions Apr 30–May 2 and Jun 5–6; a spring alternative to the fall 26-2 course |
| Apr 21 (Wed) | Pack Meeting: Cub Olympics Field Day | PACK | Option A: Olympic station rotations + sportsmanship discussion / Option B: Raingutter Regatta |
| Apr 28 (Wed) | Parent Planning Meeting | PLANNING | Agenda: Crossover final run-of-show, advancement audit, summer camp registration deadline check |
| Apr 30–May 2 (Fri–Sun) | Spring Family Campout | CAMP | Patapsco Valley State Park, McKeldin Area, Site YG1 (Youth Group); check-in Fri 3 PM, check-out Sun 1 PM; capacity 40; hiking, outdoor cooking, campfire program — dens perform skits & songs |
May 2027¶
| Date | Event | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Catch-up & Retrospective | DEN | Low-key; handbooks out; leaders signing completions |
| May 10 (Mon) | NPD Roundtable | DISTRICT | Columbia Academy, Columbia, MD, 7:30 PM |
| May 12 (Wed) | Den Meeting: Catch-up & Retrospective | DEN | Same as above |
| May 19 (Wed) | Pack Meeting: [Spring theme — TBD] | PACK | Regular Pack meeting; ⚠️ theme TBD. End-of-year rank advancement is celebrated at the June 2 Ice Cream Social, not here. (AOL crossover to Scouts BSA already occurred at the March Blue & Gold Banquet.) |
| May 26 (Wed) | Parent Planning Meeting | PLANNING | Agenda: Year-end review, leader appreciation, summer activity planning, incoming family outreach |
| May 28–29 (Fri–Sat) | NPD "We Remember" — Flag Placement | SERVICE | Baltimore National Cemetery & Loudon Park National Cemetery; full uniform; solemn ceremony |
Summer Block — June through July¶
June 2027¶
| Date | Event | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2 (Wed) | Pack Meeting: End-of-Year Ice Cream Social, Neckerchief Toss & Rank Advancement | PACK | The Pack's end-of-year "graduation" — rank advancement awards presented here (moved from May); neckerchief ceremony & toss; Pack tradition; celebrate the year; incoming Lions and new families welcome. No den meetings in June. |
| Jun 21–25 (Mon–Fri) | Camp Linstead Cub Scout Day Camp — Theme: "Dinotopia" | DISTRICT | Full week; Scouts attend daily, go home each night. ⚠️ Camp classifies Scouts by their fall rank — see note below |
| Jun (TBD Sat) | Waverly Elementary Blacktop Party | RECRUIT | Welcoming, not sales-y; have flyers available; coordinate with school |
| Jun (TBD weekend) | Pack Hike #1 | FIELD | Casual family hike; open to prospective families |
Camp Linstead — rank & Tiger Days note: Camp Linstead classifies Cubs by the rank they'll hold in the fall after camp. Our rising Wolves, Bears, Webelos, and AOL attend the full Jun 21–25 week. Our youngest — graduating Lions (rising Tigers) — attend as Tigers, who are limited to Tiger Days (Wed/Thurs, Jun 23–24) and must have an adult partner (parent, aunt/uncle, grandparent, or other trusted adult) in camp all day. Details: camplinstead.com.
July 2027¶
| Date | Event | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10 (Sat) | NPD Fishing Derby 2027 | DISTRICT | Lake Elkhorn Park, Columbia — near the playground on Cradlerock Way, across from Owen Brown Village Center; 8:30 AM–1:00 PM (registration 8:30–9:00, rules 9:00, fishing 9:15–12:00, awards 12:30); $10 advance / $15 at the event; registration opens May 1 and closes Jul 9 at 6:00 PM at scoutingevent.com/220-2027npfishingderby; bring your own rod, bait, and bucket; anyone 16+ needs a Maryland fishing license; open to all youth in the community — a good invite-a-friend event |
| Jul (TBD Sat) | Waverly Elementary Blacktop Party | RECRUIT | Welcoming, not sales-y; have flyers available |
| Jul (TBD weekend) | Pack Hike #2 | FIELD | Casual family hike |
August 2027 is the pre-season runway for the 2027-2028 program year (NPD Program Launch & Roundtable, fall recruiting, Broad Creek summer camp, parent info nights). Those events will be generated into the Pre-Season — August 2027 section at the top of the 2027-2028 plan when that year is scaffolded.
Appendix: Optional & Occasional Events¶
Events the Pack has done before but are not annual commitments. Full logistics retained for when the Pack decides to include them.
| Event | Typical Timing | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEM Day at Aberdeen Proving Ground | Last Saturday of September | ~$10–15 | 30+ exhibits; check APG website for Scout days |
| BAC Fall Cub Family Weekend at Broad Creek | Late October / early November | ~$45/youth, $30/adult | Sells out fast; register as soon as it opens |
| River Hawk Spook-O-Ree | Mid-October | $50/unit minimum | Camp Saffran; Halloween theme; good for Tigers and up |
| Flag Retirement Ceremony | Near Veterans Day or June 14 | Free | Respectfully retire worn US flags; coordinate with charter org or NPD |
| Historic Ships Overnight | March / April | TBD | USS Constellation or USCGC Taney, Baltimore Inner Harbor; 6 PM–9 AM; book 3–6 months in advance |
| Scout Day at Baltimore Symphony Orchestra | Fall–Spring (varies) | Group discount | BAC coordinates; contact council for group booking |
| Scout Sunday at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez | February | Free | Scouts attend Mass in full uniform; coordinate with charter org |
| National Pike Bike Rodeo | May | Free | TBD |
| Zoo Snooze Overnights at Maryland Zoo | Various | $100 | https://www.marylandzoo.org/event_series/zoo-snooze-overnights/scout-group-overnights/ |
Parent Planning Meeting Agenda Topics Reference¶
| Month | Key Agenda Items |
|---|---|
| August (pre-season) | Den assignments finalized; new leader orientation; 2026-2027 program-year launch — hand new den leaders their playbooks; pre-season calendar confirmed |
| September | Fall campout final logistics; YPT + hazardous weather training status check; dues/registration one-pager to den leaders; Broad Creek Fall Cub Family Weekend sign-ups (registration closes Oct 18); confirm & register for the MSC Camp-In (online registration opened Sep 16; Pack pick Sat Feb 6) |
| October | PWD car kit ordering; Blue & Gold venue/caterer brainstorm; book school cafeteria for Dec–May |
| November | Recharter prep; dues collection; Blue & Gold planning kickoff; caroling confirmation; ⚠️ consider rescheduling (day before Thanksgiving) |
| December | Recharter submission; spring recruiting strategy; PWD track setup plan; ⚠️ consider canceling or rescheduling (near Christmas) |
| January | Blue & Gold catering confirmed; advancement audit; Klondike Derby logistics; gear reminder issued |
| February | Spring campout planning; Scouting for Food sign-up; crossover planning start |
| March | Spring campout final logistics; crossover planning; Camden Yards ticket push |
| April | Crossover final run-of-show; advancement audit; summer camp registration deadline check |
| May | Year-end review; leader appreciation; summer activity planning; incoming family outreach |
| June | Summer hike schedule; recruiting event logistics; incoming Lion/Tiger outreach; den leader check-in |
| July | Fall campout site reservation; next-year program theme kickoff; new leader recruitment |
Scheduling Notes & Flags¶
⚠️ Conflicts to Watch¶
| Month | Issue | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Fall camping | Both fall camping events fall before the Nov 20–21 BALOO course | Sep 25–27 and Oct 31–Nov 1 draw on the same two trained adults, so there is no bench if plans change; see Outdoor Leadership Coverage below |
| Dec onward | School cafeteria is booked only through November | Re-book Dec–May at the October parent planning meeting; church covers 1st and 3rd Wednesdays either way |
| Oct 31 | Broad Creek Fall Cub Family Weekend check-in is Halloween morning | Expect families to opt out or arrive late; flag at the September parent planning meeting so sign-ups are realistic |
| Oct 7 | Pack Meeting moved off the 3rd Wednesday to the 1st | Den meeting is scheduled for Oct 14; all Den meetings on Oct 21 are cancelled |
| Nov 25 | Parent Planning Meeting falls day before Thanksgiving | Move to 3rd Wednesday post-Pack-meeting huddle, or hold virtual |
| Nov 11 | Veterans Day parade may conflict with 2nd Wednesday den meeting | Coordinate with den leaders; treat parade as optional den substitute |
| Dec 23 | Parent Planning Meeting 2 days before Christmas | Cancel or fold into a brief Dec 16 post-meeting huddle |
| Mar 17 | Blue & Gold on St. Patrick's Day | Keep the date; flag to families early; expect modest attendance dip |
| Apr density | Camden Yards + Cub Olympics + Spring Campout all in April | Eased for 2027: the MSC Camp-In moved out of April to Sat Feb 6 (the two April Camp-In options, Apr 10 & 24, would have stacked onto this month). Keep Camden Yards and the Spring Campout on separate weekends |
| Jan–Feb weekend cadence | Klondike (Jan 23) → Camp-In (Feb 6) → Pinewood Derby (Feb 27) fall across Jan–Feb weekends | Comfortable spacing with open weekends between events (Jan 30, Feb 13, Feb 20). The Camp-In (Feb 6) extends the Jan 20 STEM Carnival theme and is indoor, so weather isn't a factor |
| Klondike make-up | If Jan 23 is snowed out, the make-up is a February Saturday (TBD) | Keep the make-up clear of Feb 6 (Camp-In) and Feb 26–27 (Pinewood weigh-in/race); those are the weekends to protect |
| Mar density | Scouting for Food (2 weekends) + Blue & Gold in same month | Manageable; Scouting for Food is early-March, Blue & Gold is mid-March |
⛺ Outdoor Leadership Coverage (BALOO) — Program Risk¶
The requirement: Scouting America requires one BALOO-trained adult present at all times during a Cub Scout pack campout. Having a second trained adult is a recommendation, not a rule — but it matters in practice: with only one trained adult on site, if that person has to leave for any reason, the campout has to end and everyone packs up rather than continue in violation of national policy.
Situation: The Pack has only two BALOO-trained adults in total. That is enough to run a campout, but it leaves no margin — if neither can make a given weekend, that campout cannot happen as an official Scouting event, and if only one attends, the trip is one emergency away from ending early. Both also carry other Pack roles and cannot be assumed available on every weekend.
Why it's urgent now: Both fall camping events — the Fall Family Campout (Sep 25–27) and the Broad Creek Fall Cub Family Weekend (Oct 31–Nov 1) — land before the next local BALOO course.
Training options
| Course | When | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NPD BALOO (Fall 2026) | Nov 20–21 | Poplar Springs Community Association / Scout Hall, Mt. Airy | Virtual pre-meeting Sun Nov 15, 7:00 PM; register at scoutingevent.com/220-fall26npdbaloo |
| Neighboring districts | Various | Anne Arundel, Baltimore County | Run their own sessions on different dates — a viable fallback if Nov 20–21 doesn't work |
Goal: Get at least two more adults BALOO-trained by the end of 2026 so the camping program isn't resting on two people and every trip can field a trained second. BALOO is a single overnight (roughly Friday evening to Saturday evening) — pitch it that way when recruiting. Webelos and AOL den leaders can also run den-level campouts once trained, which adds flexibility.
❓ Open Questions Against the District Calendar¶
Checked against the National Pike district calendar on Sep 23, 2026:
| Question | What we found | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Roundtable dates and venue | The live calendar now lists monthly Roundtables through Aug 2027 at Columbia Academy, Columbia, MD (not Hammond High School). Dates match the 2nd Monday pattern. | Future plan entries updated to the published venue; confirm time with NPD as needed. |
| Spring 2027 district events | The live calendar now lists the NPD Fishing Derby on Jul 10, 2027 and Camp Linstead Day Camp Jun 21–25, 2027; both are already reflected in the summer plan. Klondike Derby and Scouting for Food remain unpublished. | Keep the listed summer events; re-check for Klondike and Scouting for Food when dates are published. |
📌 Placeholder Dates (Confirm When NPD/BAC Publishes 2026-2027 Calendar)¶
- Klondike Derby date (penciled Sat Jan 23; normally January, 2026 ran on a February make-up) — confirm date, February make-up date, and registration deadline when NPD publishes
- Scouting for Food weekend dates
- BAC Cub Adventure Camp at Broad Creek dates
- Scout Day at Camden Yards date & ticket sales deadline
- ~~Maryland Science Center Camp-In date & registration~~ — resolved Sep 22, 2026: Date confirmed Sat Feb 6, 2027; $75/participant, 1:1 Scout/parent ratio ($150/pair). Pack RSVP and payment deadline set for Sep 29, 2026 via Vanessa Meeks (Venmo
@Vanessa_Meeks) for unit registration. - School cafeteria booking for Dec–May (current booking covers 1st and 2nd Wednesdays through November only)
- Candidate second campout at the Poplar Springs BALOO site — well sized for a pack our size, has bathrooms and indoor space, close to home. No date proposed; raise at a parent planning meeting if there's appetite for a second Pack campout
🔑 Leadership Transition Reminders¶
- Four of six den leader slots are open heading into September: Lions, Tigers, Wolves, and now Arrow of Light. Bears and Webelos are covered.
- The Arrow of Light den leader transferred out of the Pack over the summer, leaving three AOL Scouts without a leader in their crossover year — the year that most needs continuity.
- Every registered adult needs Youth Protection Training and Hazardous Weather Training — both are required, and the second is easy to overlook. Verify at the September parent planning meeting.
- September roundtable (Sep 14) is the first one — all den leaders should attend.
- Build extra support structure into Fall: buddy system between new and returning leaders.
Open structural decisions — resolve before or at the September parent planning meeting
| Question | Context | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Do Lions, Tigers, and Wolves meet as a combined den? | One Scout each at those three ranks and no leader for any of them. A joint meeting format run by the Cubmaster and Committee Chair may be the only workable structure until recruiting fills the ranks out. | ⚠️ Undecided — Cubmaster and Committee Chair to align. Playbooks are unchanged pending this decision. |
| Do the three AOL Scouts fold into Webelos meetings for now? | Their den leader transferred out. Webelos and AOL adventure requirements overlap enough that AOLs could attend Webelos meetings and pick up AOL-specific work separately, rather than lose their crossover year. | ⚠️ Undecided — needs a conversation with the three AOL families. The AOL playbook stays as written until decided. |
🚨 Recruiting Strategy — Critical Priority for 2026-2027¶
Situation (as of late August 2026): The Pack has roughly 22–23 Scouts, but they are stacked almost entirely at the top:
| Rank | Scouts |
|---|---|
| Lions (K) | 1 |
| Tigers (1st) | 1 |
| Wolves (2nd) | 1 |
| Bears (3rd) | 8 |
| Webelos (4th) | 9 |
| Arrow of Light (5th) | 3 |
Two new families joined over the summer (one Lion, one 4th-grader). The three junior dens have one Scout each and no den leader, and the Arrow of Light den lost its leader to a transfer. Bears and Webelos — 17 of the ~23 Scouts — cross out over the next two years, so the Pack is perilously close to not replenishing its roster. Recruiting is doubly critical: we need new Scouts and enough new families at the junior levels to produce a willing parent-leader in each den.
Goal: The original target — den leader candidates identified before September — was not met, and den meetings begin Sep 2 regardless. The revised goal is to run the junior dens in a combined format through the fall while recruiting hard, and to convert at least one new family per junior den into a den leader by the winter recharter. Every recruiting conversation this fall should carry the leader ask alongside the join ask.
Recruiting Channels to Activate
| Welcome-Back & Bobcat Orientation at Waverly | Sep 2 | All leaders | Orientation for new joiners at Waverly cafeteria; rank-specific Bobcat kickoff; welcoming vibe | | Webelos & AOL Conservancy Hike | Sep 9 | Den leaders | Mt. Pleasant Farm outdoor session; trail skills & nature exploration | | Junior Dens Conservancy Hike (Lions–Bears) | Oct 14 | Den leaders | Mt. Pleasant Farm nature hike; fall outdoor recruitment and trail exploration | | Waverly Elementary Blacktop Parties (x3) | Jun, Jul, Aug 28 | Recruitment Chair | Already on calendar; primary summer pipeline. The August one is the school's Back-to-School Blacktop Party — Pack table, canopy, display boards, QR-code cards | | Waverly Wire email newsletter | May–Sep | Recruitment Chair / Secretary | ⚠️ Still outstanding — email the principal with the Pack flyer and request a multi-week run through the start of the school year, not a single issue | | Flyers at Waverly Elementary | May, Aug | Recruitment Chair | Post at school entrance/pickup area; time around end-of-year and back-to-school | | St. Alphonsus bulletin & social | May–Aug | COR | Charter org can help promote; ask for a mention in weekly bulletin and parish Facebook | | Personal outreach | Ongoing | All leaders | Ask every current Scout family to think of one neighbor or classmate who might be a fit | | Nextdoor / neighborhood groups | May–Aug | Recruitment Chair | Post in Columbia/Ellicott City Nextdoor groups near Waverly feeder area | | Pack banners, tablecloth & display | Before Aug 28 | Cubmaster | District has partnered with vendors on Pack-branded feather flags and tablecloths — worth buying for the blacktop party and every event after |
Pitch Points Worth Leading With
- Military fee waiver (new this year): youth registration fees are waived for children of active duty, reserve, and National Guard families. Say this out loud at every recruiting event — it removes the cost objection entirely for those families.
- Dues and registration one-pager: a printable and digital one-pager covering dues, registration, and financial aid, with a QR code to the sign-up page, for den leaders to hand parents at the end of a den meeting. Pairs with the dues gate at the September and October Pack meetings.
- Financial aid exists for families who need it — mention it plainly rather than making people ask.
Recruiting Pitch for Den Leader Role To lower the barrier to entry, the Pack is developing per-rank Den Leader Playbooks (see Planning Initiatives section below) — a full Sep–May guide a new leader can follow with minimal prior experience. When recruiting, lead with: "You don't have to figure it out alone — we'll hand you a complete guide and support you every step of the way."
Planning Initiatives for 2026-2027¶
📋 Den Leader Playbooks — ✅ Complete¶
What: A rank-specific, full-year planning guide for each den level, covering every den meeting from September through May — adventure objectives, step-by-step activities, materials lists, and Pack-meeting tie-ins, so a new or first-time den leader can follow it as-is or adapt it to their style. A Scout who regularly attends meetings will reach rank by year-end.
Status (July 2026): All six playbooks are written and published:
- Lion Den Playbook
- Tiger Den Playbook
- Wolf Den Playbook
- Bear Den Playbook
- Webelos Den Playbook
- Arrow of Light Den Playbook
Each maps the rank's required adventures plus electives across ~18 meetings (Sep–May), sequenced around Pack events (Bobcat first, campout prep before campouts, PWD design before kit distribution), with a materials list and Pack tie-in note per meeting. The AOL playbook runs a compressed 14-meeting September–March arc ending at the Blue & Gold crossover. Playbook dates and shared reference sections stay synchronized with this plan.
Why this matters for 2026-2027: Four of our six den leader slots are open (Lions, Tigers, Wolves, and Arrow of Light after a mid-year transfer) and we're actively recruiting parents from new families. Handing a complete playbook to a new volunteer makes the role feel manageable rather than overwhelming — lead recruiting conversations with it.
Remaining: - [ ] August 2026 (after NPD Program Launch): fold any new program-year guidance from NPD/BAC into the playbooks - [ ] September 2026: walk each new den leader through their playbook at onboarding
Changelog¶
Substantive changes to this plan, newest first.
2026-10-10 (date updates: Leaf Raking time, Caroling date, Pinewood Derby date confirmed)¶
- Leaf Raking Service Project: Confirmed start time of 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church grounds.
- Pinewood Derby confirmed for Sat Feb 27, 2027: Race day confirmed for Saturday, February 27, 2027 (with weigh-in the evening before on Friday, February 26). Den playbooks and Jan–Feb cadence notes updated accordingly.
- Holiday Caroling at ACTS Fairhaven: Moved to Sunday afternoon, December 13, 2026 (from Dec 5).
2026-09-22 (MSC Camp-In RSVP & logistics, Oct 7 start time, virtual meeting link)¶
- Maryland Science Center Camp-In: Set Pack RSVP & Venmo payment deadline to Sep 29, 2026 ($75/person, 1:1 Scout/parent requirement, paid to @Vanessa_Meeks) for unit registration before spaces fill; linked official program page.
- Meeting logistics: Added Google Meet link for Sep 23 virtual Parent Planning Meeting (7:00 PM) and confirmed 6:00 PM start time for Oct 7 Rocket Launch Pack Meeting at St. Alphonsus.
2026-09-03 (rename committee meetings to parent planning meetings)¶
- Renamed all monthly Committee Meetings (tag COMMITTEE) to Parent Planning Meetings (tag PLANNING) to reflect our open, parent/volunteer-run approach welcoming all interested parents to join monthly planning sessions.
2026-09-03 (district event filtering)¶
- Removed all instances of NPD Committee/Commissioner Meeting (Sep 1, Oct 6, Nov 3, Dec 1). These are district-level administrative and commissioner staff meetings, not unit-facing program or leader roundtable events, and should not be tracked on the Pack annual plan.
2026-09-02 (winter schedule: Camp-In, Klondike, Pinewood)¶
- Maryland Science Center published the 2027 Camp-In dates and details. Theme is "STEM Carnival" (Physics & Chemistry); kids split K–3rd / 4th–5th (simpler than prior years); cost is $75/person for adults and children alike; registration opens online Sep 16 @ 9:00 AM (spaces reserved on payment — not the old "call in late September" process).
- Moved Camp-In out of its April placeholder to Sat Feb 6. Rationale: it extends the Jan 20 STEM Carnival Pack Meeting theme, keeps all three AOL Scouts eligible before the March crossover, and relieves the flagged April density (Camden Yards + Cub Olympics + Spring Campout). Feb 6 was chosen over Jan 30 to keep a buffer in case the penciled Jan 23 Klondike slips to Jan 30. The Friday options (Feb 26, Mar 12) give early release only to non-Howard counties; the other April/March options collide with Blue & Gold, Scouting for Food, or Pinewood season.
- Klondike Derby penciled for Sat Jan 23 (moved from the Feb 20 placeholder). Klondike is normally January — 2026 only ran on a February make-up date. A February make-up date is TBD and flagged to avoid Feb 6 and Feb 19–20. Cold-weather gear reminder moved up to the Jan 13 den meeting (last one before the derby); the old Feb 3 "Klondike Prep" den meeting is now "PWD Final Build & Tune."
- Pinewood Derby moved to Sat Feb 20 as a Saturday race (the Pack held it on a Wednesday in the plan draft, but it's run on a Saturday in practice), with weigh-in the evening before (Fri Feb 19, unchanged). The Feb 17 (3rd Wed) evening Pack Meeting slot is now empty — February's Pack Meeting is the Saturday Pinewood Derby.
- Reworked the Jan–Feb den-meeting cadence to match the moved events. Because Klondike jumped to Jan 23, Jan 13 is now an all-den Cold-Weather Safety & Klondike Prep meeting (was PWD Workshop). The single PWD Workshop moved to Feb 3 (was a redundant "Final Build & Tune"); with the race on Feb 20 that still leaves 2+ weeks to finish cars at home, and final graphite/weight/wheel-truing folds into the Feb 19 weigh-in. Jan 6 stays "Build It / Physics" as the STEM Carnival lead-in.
- Re-sequenced all six den playbooks to match (full Proposal-A alignment): the PWD build moved to Meeting 11 (Feb 3), Jan 13 (Meeting 10) became the cold-weather/Klondike-prep slot in each rank, and Jan 6 (Meeting 9) was freed for a STEM/elective lead-in. Bear and AOL used a rotation so their existing Klondike-prep content (Baloo Build Day / Estimations) lands on Jan 13. Cross-references, tie-ins, weigh-in dates (Fri Feb 19), and Year-at-a-Glance tables were reconciled;
sync-playbook-dates.pyconfirms no date drift. - Updated the Sep committee note and agenda (register when online registration opens, don't wait), the density/cadence flags, and the placeholder list. Also refreshed
reference/district-events.mdandreference/vendor-contacts.md.
2026-09-23 (district calendar reconciliation)¶
- Removed a Nov 7 Scouts BSA-only district activity and its Cub eligibility question; it is not a Cub Scout Pack event.
- Refreshed the district-calendar check against the live NPD calendar. Monthly Roundtables are listed through Aug 2027 at Columbia Academy; updated active plan venue references (Dec Roundtable is Dec 14).
- Confirmed Camp Linstead Day Camp (Jun 21–25) and NPD Fishing Derby (Jul 10) are already included with dates/logistics; no duplicate event rows needed. Klondike and Scouting for Food dates remain unpublished.
2026-08-26 (district calendar reconciliation)¶
Checked the plan against the National Pike district calendar. - NPD Fishing Derby is now firm: Sat Jul 10, 2027 (was "TBD, mid-July"). Added full logistics — Lake Elkhorn Park location detail, run-of-day, $10 advance / $15 at the event, registration window (opens May 1, closes Jul 9 at 6 PM), bring-your-own gear, and the Maryland fishing license requirement for anyone 16+. - Webelos-O-Ree: corrected a stale registration link and added the constraint that matters — one registration per unit, requiring two registered Scouters over 21, plus a female registered adult if any female youth attend. Register by Oct 5. - Added the NPD Committee/Commissioner Meeting (1st Tuesday monthly) to Sep–Dec, and the spring Wood Badge course 12-220-27-1 (Apr 14 opening, further sessions Apr 30–May 2 and Jun 5–6).
- New Open Questions Against the District Calendar section. The significant one: no roundtables appear on the district calendar after Aug 10, so our nine monthly "2nd Monday at Hammond High" entries are unconfirmed and should be checked at the Sep 14 roundtable.
- Confirmed unchanged: BALOO Nov 20–21 with the Nov 15 virtual pre-meeting, and Camp Linstead Jun 21–25, 2027.
2026-08-26 (parent planning meeting)¶
- Outdoor Leadership Coverage (BALOO) added as a flagged program risk. Only two adults are BALOO-trained in total; both fall camping events fall before the Nov 20–21 course, and neighboring districts are noted as fallback options. Goal: two more trained adults by end of 2026.
- Roster refreshed — ~22–23 Scouts, concentrated in Bears (8) and Webelos (9), with one Scout each at Lion, Tiger, and Wolf. The Recruiting Strategy "Situation" and "Goal" were rewritten; the pre-September den-leader target was missed and is replaced with a combined-junior-den plan plus a winter-recharter conversion target.
- The Arrow of Light den leader transferred out, so four of six den leader slots are now open (was three). Two open structural decisions are now tracked in Leadership Transition Reminders: whether Lions/Tigers/Wolves meet as a combined den, and whether the three AOL Scouts fold into Webelos meetings. Den playbooks are unchanged pending those decisions.
- Venue bookings: the school cafeteria is booked only through November — re-booking Dec–May is now an October committee agenda item.
- Dues gate recorded on the September and October Pack meetings: build a rocket in September, pay dues to launch it in October. Dues/registration one-pager added as a recruiting asset.
- Military fee waiver (active duty, reserve, National Guard) added as a recruiting pitch point.
- Aug 28 event renamed the Back-to-School Blacktop Party and merged with the duplicate "Back to School Night table" recruiting-channel row.
- Smaller additions: Troop 944 joining the fall campout, a district representative attending the Oct 7 rocket launch, Hazardous Weather Training alongside YPT, a candidate second campout at the Poplar Springs BALOO site, and Pack-branded display materials.
- Removed all references to the fall fundraising product sale — the Pack is not participating this year.
2026-08-26¶
- August pre-season trimmed and firmed up: deleted the Church Meeting (Aug 19), the Summer Pack Campout, and the August Pack Hike. Added a Committee Meeting Aug 26 (Wed). The Waverly Elementary Blacktop Party is confirmed for Fri Aug 28 (was TBD) and now closes out the month.
- Parent Info Night and New Parent Virtual Q&A moved to September, dates TBD.
- October Pack Meeting (Rocket Launch) moved from Oct 21 to Oct 7 due to scheduling conflicts; the Oct 7 den meeting (Nature & Hiking) moves to Oct 21. Den playbooks re-synced.
- Deleted the October Waverly Elementary Blacktop Party (the Aug 28 event is the final summer push).
- Added Broad Creek Fall Cub Family Weekend, Oct 31–Nov 1 at Camp Saffran — registration closes Oct 18, so sign-ups are an agenda item at the September committee meeting.
2026-07-12¶
- Added the Arrow of Light Den Playbook — a compressed 14-meeting (Sep–Mar) plan ending at the Blue & Gold crossover; all six dens now have published playbooks.
- Updated Planning Initiatives: the Den Leader Playbooks initiative is complete — all playbooks are published and linked; removed the stale inputs-to-gather and generation-workflow content.
2026-06-30¶
- Moved the end-of-year rank-advancement "graduation" from the May Pack meeting to the June 2 Ice Cream Social (matches 2025-2026 practice). May 19 is now a regular Pack meeting; AOL crossover remains at the March Blue & Gold. No den meetings in June.
- Added NPD BALOO Training (Fall 2026) (Nov 20–21; virtual pre-meeting Nov 15) — required outdoor training for adults to run Cub pack campouts.
- Confirmed Camp Linstead Cub Scout Day Camp dates (Jun 21–25, 2027) and theme ("Dinotopia"); removed the placeholder date.
- Added a Camp Linstead rank & Tiger Days note: camp classifies Scouts by their fall rank, so graduating Lions attend as rising Tigers, limited to Tiger Days (Wed/Thurs, Jun 23–24) with a required adult partner.