Vista-Lewisboro Cub Scouts Pack 101 Participate in Toys for Tots With Vista Fire Department, Invite Public to Watch Polar Bear Pumpkin-Chuck’in New Year’s Day Event

On Saturday, Dec. 8, Vista-Lewisboro Cub Scouts Pack 101 scouts came out to support the Vista Fire Department in its annual community service participation in the Toys For Tots program.  Each scout donated an unwrapped present as well as took in gifts from the public to put under the tree.

The all-volunteer firefighters and staff made cookies and served hot cider for the 15 scouts as well as gave a tour of the firehouse and fire trucks.  Even Santa made a cameo appearance during his busiest time of the year to support the scouts and firefighters.  

“We want to thank the all-volunteer Vista Fire Department not only for their unwavering service to our community but for hosting the program and the support it gives our Pack and local Troop 101 Boy Scouts each year as our Charter Organization sponsor.  Also, thank you to our scout families that made monetary donations to the Fire House. The scouts and their families had a quality, meaningful, time,” said Cubmaster Adam Wiles.

The Pack cleared the Onatru Hiking Trail last month as a Community Service and will be making a fire, serving hot chocolate and may even sing on New Year’s Day for residents hiking the Leon Levy Trail as part of Lewisboro’s First Day Celebration at the request of Lewisboro Land Trust’s Bobbe Stultz.  The local scouts are looking forward to working with the Trust and other local entities in the New Year.  The scouts have a long history of community service dating back to its founding in 1910.  To date, according to the most comprehensive book on the history of scouting, Four Percent, the number of scouts that make it to Eagle Scout, scouts have donated an astonishing 100 million hours of community service to their country since then.

A Baylor University study conducted in 2012 found that adult men that had experienced any amount of scouting showed better scores in almost every category than those with no scouting experience: Established greater life long connections to family, friends and neighbors; Exhibited a higher sense of responsibility to give back through volunteering and donating; Enjoyed a greater connection and concern for community; Exercised more self-discipline to plan ahead, set, and achieve goals;  Held higher expectations; Demonstrated greater appreciation and concern for the environment; Displayed increased respect for religion and religious diversity; and Enjoyed an increased variety of hobbies and interests.

The Cub Scouts have Invited the public to participate in their Polar Bear Pumpkin-Chuck’in New Year’s Day Event at Onatru at 12:30. They have built two giant sling shots and will be testing the bounds of physics by launching the pumpkins to see who can get theirs the farthest.  

Vista-Lewisboro Cub Scouts Pack 101 is part of the Muscoot District of the Westchester-Putnam Council. Its Charter Organization is the Vista Fire Department.

For more information, visit vista101.mypack.us.

Photo credit: John Buratti