The Raingutter Regatta is an event we put on in the spring at a Pack meeting.  The boys get a kit with which to make their boat.  They sand the pieces of Balsa wood to their desired shape, and put it together with the other parts from the kit.  Once decorated, it's race time!  At the Pack meeting, there are two raingutters set up, full of water.  The boys take turns racing their boats using only their own wind - no hands allowed!  This is always a highly anticipated meeting - the boys have SO much fun!

Summer brings with it a host of choices for our local Scouts.  There is Twilight Camp - all ranks (Tigers and up) can attend - camp is held one week in summer, Monday through Friday 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.  The boys can participate in Rock Wall climbing, Archery, BB gun shooting (all activities are HIGHLY supervised and the boys are not allowed on the range until they know the Range Rules).  This is a great way for boys who are brand new to Scouting to "try it out".  This year's camp will be in Penngrove in June.

There are also Resident Camp opportunities for Scouts that are Wolves (going into 2nd grade in the fall) and up.  The Scout (and an adult) go to Sonoma County's very own Boy Scout camping facility and spend a few days doing EVERYTHING Scouts!  These camps are held at various times throughout the summer, and different sessions are set up for different ranks (or ages of boys) so that they are getting rank specific experiences, which also work towards their badges.

If you are interested in learning about any of the possible Scout camping opportunities, contact sonomacubscouts@hotmail.com for more information.

Pack 16 now has Geocaching GPS units!  They can be utilized by individual dens as well as at Pack activities.  In the meantime, check out the website below for more information:

http://www.geocaching.com/

Here's a little information to get started:

Geocaching Rules and Etiquette for hiding and seeking caches
Rule #1: Safety
Boys are likely to be excited about finding the cache and may or may not use common sense to get to it, so take care that you don’t place a cache that in any way leads them into a dangerous situation. This includes the following obvious NO-NOs: Stay far away from road traffic and railroad crossings Don’t place a cache higher than 6 feet nor require any dangerous climbing to reach it Don’t require Scouts to swim to reach the cache Public caches are often magnetic containers stuck onto electrical switch boxes. Common sense says to avoid these as well! Always enforce the Buddy system
Rule #2: Respect the environment
NEVER bury a cache in the ground (you can place a pile of sticks or rocks over it however) Avoid sensitive ecosystems – remember that they will make a beeline for it, and trample vegetation in the vicinity. Place caches so that they can be reached by existing trail access. Don’t place caches in archeological or historic sites Don’t deface any object, natural or manmade Many geocachers hide small caches in light post bases, sprinkler heads, etc. These should be avoided so the boys don’t tear things apart looking for a “fake” one.
Rule#3: Respect private property
	GET PERMISSION from land managers to use parks, Scout camps, etc for your events
	Do not put caches on National Park land, National Wildlife refuges, etc. These are currently not allowed. Local laws vary so check with any relevant agency before placing caches
	Caches in or near military installations are not allowed
	Caches are not allowed on elementary and secondary school property
	Avoid sites that could be deemed potential or possible targets for terrorist attacks. These include but are not limited to highway bridges, dams, government buildings, and airports.
Rule#4: Be a positive ambassador for Scouting
	As with all else we do, cache using the Scout Oath and Law.