November 2021 Newsletter

Adult Training Academy

The Three Fires Council Training Academy is scheduled for November 13, 2021 at Sycamore High School in Sycamore, IL. This is a chance for leaders to gain additional resources for their dens and to complete position-specific training. It is also a great opportunity to network with other leaders!

Registration information is available at: https://scoutingevent.com/127-TrainingAcademy2021

Uniforming: Official Scout Uniform ("Class A")

Brookfield Zoo Tree Trimming

One of our annual traditions is to decorate a Christmas Tree at Brookfield Zoo. This tradition is quite fun for our Scouts, as they make decorations for the tree at a den meeting then we all gather at the zoo to put them on our tree. We will be trimming our tree on Sunday, November 14, 2021, beginning at 10:00am. All Scouts and their families should meet near the carousel upon your arrival. We will then move as a group to our tree (#190), which is located on the East Mall, to decorate. After we are done decorating, your family is free to enjoy the remainder of the day visiting the zoo animals!

If you have a current zoo membership, we ask that you use it for admission and parking for your family. Admission tickets and parking passes for families that do not have a current zoo membership were distributed at the den meetings on November 1st.

Parking: Main (North) Parking Lot
Meet-up: Sunday, November 14, 2021, 10:00am at the Carousel
Tree Trimming: #190, East Mall (between Roosevelt Fountain and BZ Red Hots Restaurant)
Uniforming: Activity Scout Shirt ("Class B")

Big Rock Forest Preserve Hike

We have added a hike to our November calendar at the Big Rock Forest Preserve in Big Rock, IL. This hike will be a bit longer than usual, as our Webelos Scouts will be using it to complete their long hike requirement for the Webelos Walkabout pin (this hike will be 4+ miles). We will meet in the South parking lot of the forest preserve (off of Jericho Road - - travel to the last parking lot). Check this map for specific meeting details.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Due to the number of families that typically travel during the week of Thanksgiving, we will not be holding any meetings on November 22, 2021. We hope that your Scout will use this time off to celebrate their loved ones and appreciate the blessings that life has brought this year.

Space Derby launches November 29th

The Space Derby is a racing event for unpowered, unmanned miniature space ships. Pack 317 provides an official Space Derby kit to each Cub Scout, which is built with the help of adults. The Scout begins with a block of balsa wood, three plastic wings, and four rubber bands. The finished rocket must meet all requirements, as set forth in the Pack 317 Official Space Derby Rules. Blocks can be sanded with sandpaper, sanding block, or a powered sander. Rockets vary from unfinished blocks to whimsical objects, to accurate replicas of actual space ships. The Pack 317 Space Derby Race is run on a four-line hand-crafted wood derby track. We use race officials at both ends of the track to administer and officiate the results of the race. The race is run in heats, by den, and overall pack winners.

This year's Space Derby will launch on November 29, 2021 at the First Baptist Church. The launch window opens shortly after 7:00pm, so don't be late! Kits were distributed to Scouts at the November 1, 2021 den meetings. More information is available on our Space Derby webpage.

Uniforming: Official Scout Uniform ("Class A")