Cub Scout Pack 118 Cub Events Information

Raingutter Regatta

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

The Raingutter Regatta is an exciting model sail boat event where lengths of rain-gutters are filled with water and the seven inch long ships sail from one end to the other under the power of each boy's straw-focused breath!

Prior to the regatta, each scout who is a member of the pack will receive a regatta boat kit.

The regatta boat kit has a pre-shaped balsa hull, metal keel and plastic sail. The hulls are sanded and shaped, and are colorfully painted. The keel and sail is glued into the boat. The entire process can be done in about 20 minutes--or it can take a few days if you like beautifully shaped, sanded and painted ships.

Hints for building your boat:

The boats are much easier to build than a Pinewood Derby Car. The scouts should be able to do it with very little help. Follow the instructions included with the kit.
An un-finished boat with the mast and sail stuck on doesn't look pretty, but works better than most boats that have been shaped to have a heavily curved bottom.
VERY IMPORTANT - Secure the sail to the mask so that it cannot rotate, such as with glue or using thread as guy wires. If the sail rotates during a race, it will slow down the boat.
The bottom edge of the sail needs to be about 1/2 inch above the deck of the boat. If the sail is too low the corners rub against the gutter or dips into the water. If the sail is too high the boat becomes top heavy and tends to tip over.
If you decide to paint the boat, sand with a medium and fine piece of sand paper. Then use two coats of sanding sealer, followed by two coats of lacquer. Please don't use poster paints, as they will dissolve in the water.
Some suggest that the boats sail best if the are balanced with more weight in the rear. To do this, don't follow the instructions in the kit for placing the keel. Instead, mount the keel about 3/4 inch behind the mast, so that it is touching the rudder. (Don't ruin your boat if you have already glued it on differently. It probably doesn't make that much difference.)
Decals are available at Scout Shops for decorating your boats. Or, use your imagination and what you have at home. A Lego person makes a good sailor.
You can use almost any kind of paint for the boats. Blow evenly with the straw about 1 inch from the bottom of the sail. Blowing the boat down one edge of the gutter, rather than letting it "tack" back and forth, seems to be the fastest.
If you've got a tub of water at home, you can practice before coming to the race.

Scouting for Food

Since 1910, the ideals of Scouting have guided young men to perform "service to others and to the community." Responding to the plight of America's poor and hungry is a traditional Scouting "good turn." During World War I, Boy Scouts planted vegetable gardens to provide food for the hungry. President Roosevelt called on Scouts to collect food for the needy during the Great Depression. Planting Victory Gardens were the Scouting "good turns" organized during World War II. Today, Boy Scouts continue their Good Turn efforts in community stewardship through Scouting for Food.

Pack 118 joins Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in Vallejo, Benicia and American Canyon to distribute door hangers advertising the pickup in neighborhoods in Vallejo and the surrounding areas on Saturday, November 10, 2007. Residents are asked to place food donations in recycled supermarket bags. The Scouts then return on Saturday, November 17 to collect the food, which is donated to the Solano County Food Bank.

Pack 118's collection area is bounded by I-80 in the west, Columbus Parkway in the east, Tennessee in the north and Georgia Street in the south (map).

Scouting for Food will be a little different this year, 2007. To begin with, the bags have gone away and in their place will be a Door Hanger asking each family to place the food in view of the street, in a recycled bag or box. This should help reduce the impact on the environment, and is a small part in helping fight Global Warming. Door Hangers should be placed at each residence on Saturday November 10th, and food should be picked up on Saturday November 17, 2007. All units are expected to participate in this activity. Last year we collected almost 250,000 pounds of food for the needy, and we hope to improve on that this year!

KTVU Chanel 2, and KGO Chanel 7 will help with Public Service Announcements on TV, and Clorox Co. will sponsor the door hangers. As this the first year with the Door Hangers it may be a good idea to knock at the doors where no food is in view, simply to serve as a reminder. Good luck, have fun, be safe and collect lots of food.