RAINGUTTER REGATTA

The Raingutter Regatta is similar to the Pinewood Derby except that the models are miniature sail boats. Although the seas are only 10-foot lengths of raingutter filled with water, and the ships a mere 6 inches long, the race is a very exciting event. Each boy builds his own boat with supervision and help from parents or other family members. He also provides the wind for the sail with his own lung power. The regatta boat kit, available from the Scout Shop, has a pre-shaped balsa hull, metal keel and plastic sail. The hulls are sanded and shaped, and are colorfully painted. Hull and sail are then decorated with decal kits (also available at the Scout Shop). The boats race in pairs on raingutter courses propelled by the boys blowing into the sails.

Back to Top

CUBOREE

The Cuboree is the annual camping event for the Bogue Tuchenna District Cubscouts. It is held at the Avondale Scout Reservation. The reservation is located on LA Highway 10, three miles East of Clinton, Louisiana in beautiful East Feliciana Parish. The Reservation has over 1,665 acres of evergreen and hardwood forest, fields, lakes and abundant wildlife. Cuboree consists of a fun filled day of activities, a Saturday dinner, a campfire with entertainment, an overnight family camping and an optional Scouts Own Service Sunday morning. Activities will include chances for scouts to earn various Belt Loops (archery, bb, flag football, marbles, softball, and ultimate).

Back to Top

BLUE AND GOLD BANQUET

Most Cub Scouts celebrate Scouting Anniversary Week in February with a "birthday party" called the blue and gold banquet. In nearly all packs, the blue and gold banquet is the highlight of the year. It brings families together for an evening of fun and cheer. The purpose of the blue and gold banquet is to celebrate the pack's anniversary, thank pack leaders and other adults who have helped the pack, and inspire the leaders, Scouts, and parents. Packs often like to invite former members and other Scouting or community leaders to take part in their blue and gold banquet.

Back to Top

PINEWOOD DERBY

The Pinewood Derby is one of our most popular events Every year more than a million boys and parents across the United States team up to carve, decorate, weigh, adjust, fret over, and finally race a Pinewood Derby car. The first Pinewood Derby was held in 1953 by Cub Scout Pack 280 of Manhattan Beach, California, and as of 1991, more than 81 million Pinewood Derby model car kits have been sold. The purpose of the Pinewood Derby is to help the Cub Scout build a team relationship with their parent or helper, experience the sense of accomplishment and the excitement of competition, learn good sportsmanship, and to have fun. All cars must pass inspection to qualify for the race.

• The car must have been made during the current scout year.
• The body in the Official BSA Pinewood Derby Kit must be used. Available only thru the Council Office or BSA Distributor. The body may be shaped, hollowed out, or built up from the original block, as long as it meets all other specifications. Any additions to the original body, i.e. steering wheels, drivers, decals, paint, weights, etc., must be firmly attached.
• Axles, wheels and body wood shall be as provided in the official BSA Pinewood Derby kit. No straight, one piece axles.

Back to Top

SPRING PACK CAMPOUT

Camping takes you on exciting adventures into the natural world. You'll learn to live with others in the out-of-doors. You'll learn to be a good citizen of the outdoors. It helps you learn to rely on yourself—on your own skills and knowledge. When you go camping as a Cub Scout, you get skills you will learn and use more, later, as a Boy Scout. Our spring overnight campout is at the Five Lakes Campground in Bush, Louisiana. The overnighter is for scouts and their families (including brothers and sisters).

Back to Top

LIGHTS OUT WITH SCOUTS

An annual event for scouts across the metro area. Events include: Zephyrs baseball game, post game fireworks, camp out and sleepover on the baseball field, movie shown on the scoreboard, and breakfast the next morning. Scouts and their families can enjoy all of the events or just come for the game.

Back to Top

SUMMER DAYCAMP

Bogue Tuchenna District conducts an annual daycamp during the month of June. It is for scouts and their siblings. Day camps are held during the day (campers do not stay overnight). Our daycamp is held at the Five Lakes Campground in Bush, Louisiana.

Back to Top

USS ALABAMA/USS KIDD SLEEPOVER

Battleship sleevovers are an annual event for Pack 85. The USS Alabama trip is for scouts and their male parents.

The USS Alabama saw 37 months of active duty during World War II, earning nine Battle Stars. The “Mighty A” as she came to be known, safely carried her crew throughout the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean campaigns, and never suffered any casualties or significant damage due to enemy fire. For more information on the USS Alabama please visit their website http://www.ussalabama.com/>.

This year the pack is planning the annual battleship sleepover at the USS Kidd in Baton Rouge.>

Back to Top

FIELD TRIPS AND OUTINGS

Throughout the year dens take part in a variety of field trips and outdoor activities. These can be field trips, hikes, nature and conservation activities and outdoor games. Some field trips over the past year include fire stations, parks for hiking and picnicing, museums, athletic events, live performances, and so on. Outings are a big part of the Tiger Cub experience. Tiger Cubs and their adult partners go on a Go See It outing every month.

Some dens band together on their field trips. The Pack even takes a field trip. This past year we went to the Maritime Museum in Madisonville where scouts got to churn butter and oversee the lighthouse among many other activities.

Back to Top

NEW ORLEANS BOWL

Each year Pack 85 participates in the Opening Ceremony for the New Orleans Bowl in December. The scouts are allowed on the field of the Superdome for the National Anthem before the game and then get to stay for the game.

Back to Top

SERVICE PROJECTS

Doing service projects together is one way that Cub Scouts keep their promise "to help other people." While a Scout should do his best to help other people every day, a group service project is a bigger way to help people. While you're giving service, you're learning to work together with others to do something that's good for your community. Service projects may help the natural world, the community, or the chartered organization.

• Operation We Care Pack-Out occurs several times a year. The scouts work with the American Legion Post 16 to fill, decorate and load care boxes for our troops overseas.
  
• Flag Retirements are participated in as the American Legion performs them. The Legion's Honor Guard performs their duties in conjunction with the Cub Scout program.
  

Back to Top

FUND RAISERS

While the mention of fundraising is often met with a sigh from most people, it is a necessity to keep our Pack and the BSA going. Pack 85 makes fundraising as fun as possible!
Each year we participate in the Annual BSA Popcorn Sales in the fall. Our scouts can earn CASH from their popcorn sales! They have fun and can earn their own spending money by participating in Show-N-Sell as well as their individual sales.
We also do various other fundraisers throughout the year such as the Krispy Kreme donut sales and a Christmas Silent Auction & Raffle.
All of these are very important in providing operating funds to keep our membership and admission fees low as well as provide funds for service projects, camperships for day camp and other activities.

Back to Top