Welcome Letter

Dear Parents,

Hi and welcome to Pack 457. Thank you for your interest in scouting.

My name is Mike Shampanier, together with Rob Karpowicz, we run Cub Scout Pack 457. Cub Scout Pack 457 covers grades Kindergarten through 5th grade.  Pack 457 celebrated 50 years of Scouting in 2022-2023. Below is a photo of the Pack from our Family Movie Night in December.

Most of our Scouts are from the Half Hollow Hills school district, although we do cover Commack, East Northport, Deer Park, South Huntington and Melville. Currently, we have over 30 Scouts and we are continuing to grow; up from 18 Scouts the previous year.

The Pack usually meets once a month on a Friday. Dens (grade level) may meet once a month as well. Some months, we may have additional activities, which are open to anyone who is interested in attending.

Pack meetings tend to be at the HHH library on Vanderbilt, although we may meet at Caledonia Park if it is nice out. Our favorite kind of Pack meetings are when we combine an activity with a Pack meeting, such as when we went to The Gravity Vault indoor rock climbing, had a Pack meeting, pizza party, and then the Scouts rock climbed for a couple of hours.

In addition to Pack meetings, the Pack hosts some pretty remarkable activities. The entire Pack, including families marched in the 2023 Huntington Village Memorial Day Parade, it was exhilarating for all, and quite an honor. In June, the Pack attended a WWII tank and armored car reenactment at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. A couple of weeks later, we visited the Suffolk Police Dept's K-9 unit at police headquarters in Yaphank.

We tend to have more activities in the warmer months, but we have fun in the Winter months too, like skiing and snowboarding. We try and plan events so they do not conflict with sports, as we have a very active group. Activities are set up with the Scouts interests in mind. Attendance is not mandatory and people may attend whichever event interests them.  We would like everyone to attend Pack meetings, but we understand that everyone has different interests, and obligations. During baseball season we try to plan events later so they do not conflict with game times.

A lot of fun and adventure awaits...we would love for you to join us!

-Mike and Rob

PS: You may attend any of our meetings or events, without obligation

Questions? Please Contact Us

HOW TO SIGN UP

1) Fill out Youth Application

2) Pay dues

3) Uniform

YOUTH APPLICATION

1) Click the link for the Youth Application. Please fill it out. You may email the PDF, photograph the print out and email it back or bring a print out to the meeting: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/524-406.pdf

DUES

2) You may pay using Venmo @DixHillsPack457 or by check payable to "Pack 457".

NEW Applications: $220

Returning Scouts: $170

with Scout Life magazine + $15

DUES - for new Scout's include:

● A $25 one-time registration fee with Scouting America (formerly BSA / Boy Scouts of America), which creates the Scout ID, good for their entire life in Scouting.

● A $15 subscription to "Scout Life" magazine

● Insurance for all Scout-related activities

● Access to our private Facebook Pack page photo albums and event announcements

● Pack, Den, District and Suffolk Council activities

Pack = all Scouts from Pack 457

Den = grade specific activities from Pack 457. Dens need leaders, we ask that all parents participate and volunteer to help.

District = We are part of the Matinecock district, which includes all Scout units in Smithtown and Huntington townships

Suffolk Council = Suffolk County Scouting America activities

UNIFORMS

Cub Scouts from Pack 457 are children in grades Kindergarten through fifth and their uniforms are blue. in Older Scouts in grades 6-12 are in Troops and wear khaki uniforms.

3) CLASS A UNIFORM - Is a formal Scout uniform consisting of a Scout collared shirt and Scout pants. Scouts are also encouraged to wear a neckerchief, but we are flexible if a Cub Scout does not want to wear this. Scouts may also wear a Scout hat, neckerchief slide, socks, belt, and more.

It is expected that Scout Class A Uniforms are worn at all Pack meetings for for public events, with exceptions. New Scouts may attend meetings before purchasing uniforms.

Each Scouting unit has different rules about uniforms. For Pack 457, we suggest Scouts wear the full Class A uniform, but for the younger children, a Class A Scout shirt is acceptable. We understand that some children are finicky with what they wear, and many of today's children are not used to wearing formal clothes. Also, uniforms tend to be on the pricier side, and children grow rapidly. We do have some donated uniforms for Scouts to borrow, but the smaller sizes are usually limited.

DONATED UNIFORMS

We may have donated Uniforms available, please reach contact us.

● Click here to see our Current Stock of Donated Uniforms

PURCHASING UNIFORMS

Uniforms may be purchased at:

● Suffolk Scout Shop in Brookhaven

● Campsite Sports Shop in Huntington Station

● Nassau Scout Shop in Massapequa

● Scoutshop - Online ordering

CLASS B UNIFORM

On less formal occasions, Scouts may also wear a Class B uniform, consisting of any Scouting related graphic tee shirt, long sleeve shirt, or sweatshirt.

Due to successful fundraising, Scouts in Pack 457 are provided with official Pack 457 Class B T-Shirts.

● Click here for unofficial Pack 457 Class B Uniform

● Click here for any Scout Class B Uniform