Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD – Cubs in Fort Fairfield are looking for a den.
According to Kevin Ricker, cubmaster of Fort Fairfield Cub Scout Pack 194, the pack is looking for a permanent home in the community.
“We’re reaching out to the community and we’re looking for a home,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Ricker
WITH 32 BOYS in grades 1 through 5 comprising Fort Fairfield Cub Scout Pack 194, the pack is looking for a permanent home in the community. The boys currently meet at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, but leaders say having their own home will enable them to post progress charts on the wall, display trophies, ribbons and pictures, and work on long-term projects without having to pick up and load everything into a car after each meeting. Here, the boys enjoy a campout during a recent summer outing. Anyone wishing to help the Cub Scouts can call Kevin Ricker at 472-1790.
“We’re not seeking any direct financial support; if a room needs paint and cleaning, we can do that … it’s not an issue. A good-sized room in a basement would be fine. If it’s already being heated … something that we could turn the thermostat up for a few minutes and turn it back down when we leave, would be ideal.
“We’re currently meeting at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church,” said Ricker, “and while it’s a nice facility, we have to set up and take down for every meeting. We meet for an hour to an hour and 15 minutes, but by the time you get in there, get the boys settled down, do the Pledge of Allegiance and get set up, a lot of the meeting time is gone. Once we get our activity done, it’s time to pick up and load everything back into the car.”
By not having their own place to call home, Ricker said it’s difficult to display important information and photographs.
“We can’t put progress charts up on the wall. Projects that take a few weeks you can’t just set off to the side and work on them a little at a time. Trophies, ribbons and awards we earn get brought to one meeting, we show it to the boys, I bring them home and they get put in a trunk and taken to a storage shed in town. The boys don’t get to see them again, which is unfortunate,” he said. “With our own place, we could display our awards and the kids could see what we did 10 years ago. We could have pictures of campouts … anything. Right now we can’t show them any history or what we do.”
There are presently 32 boys in grades 1 through 5 that comprise Cub Scout Pack 194.
“We’ve increased our recruiting and sign-ups dramatically,” Ricker said. “When I took over as cubmaster two years ago, we had eight to 10 kids. There are about 100 boys in grades 1 through 5 in Fort Fairfield, and I’m fairly confident that with a decent home, within a couple of years we could drive enrollment up to 50 to 60 boys. We’re outgrowing our current meeting place, as well.
“Depending on what we may find for a room, we could even stagger nights for the different age groups,” he said. “The younger boys could meet on one night and the older boys on a second night. We’re pretty flexible.”
The pack typically begins meeting in the fall and continues through early summer.
Anyone wishing to help the Cub Scouts can call Ricker at 472-1790.
