A group of parents have formed Cub Scout Pack 96 for children ages kindergarten through fifth grade. Both boys and girls are invited even though no girls have signed up, according to one of the coordinators, Paul White, commander at American Legion Post 800, the charter organization for the pack.
More than 20 boys have signed up, he said, but no girls so far.
White said Jimmie Hyland, the Camp Emerson ranger, contacted him to see if the legion would be interested in chartering the pack, “which we absolutely said yes to,” White said. Hyland is ranger of Boseker Scout Reservation, home of Camp Emerson and Camp Brown.
“Coincidentally enough, around that same time, folks were asking about Boy Scouts on the town Facebook pages,” said White.
“Due to the increased interest throughout the Idyllwild area, it only made sense to start a new pack,” said Hyland.
Pack number 96 was the original number from the pack in Idyllwild. The pack ended in about 2007. An attempt to revive it in November 2010 failed.
No den leader or pack master has been named. “There’s some folks interested that are checking their schedules …,” said White.
“The California Inland Empire Council of Scouting BSA is growing,” said Hyland. “We are in the process of making the program more accessible to smaller communities throughout the Inland Empire …
“Anyone interested in joining Pack 96 is welcome to come to any Thursday night meeting. We are very excited and are looking forward to watching the pack grow in the upcoming months. We would also like to say thank you to Post 800 of the American Legion for being our charter organization.”
To join, the cost is $33 per child annually. This does not include the required uniform. Parents/guardians need to come to a meeting and fill out the paperwork. We’re working on getting donations and a fundraiser during the holidays to help folks that can’t afford the uniforms right now.
The next den meetings are at 6 p.m. Thursdays of Nov. 29, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13, at Camp Emerson. A pack meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, at Idyllwild School.
