Volunteer opportunities
Pack 283 needs your help! We are currently looking for volunteers to fill several important leadership positions of varying duration. Pack leadership is fun and rewarding. Spreading out the responsibilities across several parents makes it manageable for everyone. The success of our Scouting program depends on YOU!
Want to learn more, but not sure how to get involved? One of the best ways to learn more about what we do is to attend one of our monthly Pack Committee meetings. At each meeting, we review past activities and plan our future events. This is a great way to understand how our Pack works and to have input on how things are run! The schedule for these monthly meetings is on the Pack calendar. Come join us!
Want to learn more, but not sure how to get involved? One of the best ways to learn more about what we do is to attend one of our monthly Pack Committee meetings. At each meeting, we review past activities and plan our future events. This is a great way to understand how our Pack works and to have input on how things are run! The schedule for these monthly meetings is on the Pack calendar. Come join us!
Pack 283 leadership positions currently open:
Wreath Sale Fundraising Coordinator
Manage our Pack's primary annual fundraiser. Wreath sales provide the majority of our programming budget each year. We have a set vendor and products. The Coordinator is responsible for working with the Pack Treasurer and BSA Scout Troop 283 (which also sells wreaths) to set pricing and confirm products and timing. The Coordinator also works to ensure we have sales and promotional packets available for all Scouts in mid-September, answers questions from Scouts during the sale period, accepts all orders/money in mid-October and coordinates delivery/pick up of wreaths at WCC the week before Thanksgiving week. (The vendor delivers the product the week before Thanksgiving, Scout families pick up wreaths the Saturday before Thanksgiving for distribution.) The coordinator recruits parents to help take delivery of the wreaths at WCC. Webelos and BSA Scouts lead the wreath distribution to families.
Time Commitment: A few hours each week between early September and Thanksgiving. (3 months/year)
Spring Fundraising Coordinator
Manage our Pack's spring fundraiser. The Northern Star Council recently discontinued its spring fundraiser. We would like to develop a replacement fundraiser if a chairperson can be identified. We welcome your creativity in developing a new fundraiser for our Pack!
Time Commitment: A few hours each week between February-April.
Pack Apparel Sales Coordinator
We have a full stock of Pack t-shirts, hats, and hoodies and need a parent to staff the sales table at monthly Pack meetings. It doesn't have to happen every month, but preferably before our fall and spring campouts and before the holidays if possible. All apparel is stored onsite at WCC. The Coordinator may choose to get involved with a future apparel order if there is interest when the current stock of apparel is depleted.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours/month during the school year at Pack meetings.
Pinewood Derby Committee (we have a chairperson, we need committee members to help!)
Help run the pivotal Cub Scout event of the year! This group coordinates the set-up of the track & WCC gym for race day, makes sure all the Council rules are followed, coordinates the trophies and judging, makes sure the Pit Room is stocked with tools, and executes the races. Each Scout rank/den provides volunteers to assist in the running of the races, and this committee makes sure the day runs smoothly. We do coordinate the track set up and tear down with another local Pack who does their Derby on the same day after ours. This event is usually held in March in the gym at WCC. We have a very organized manual from the previous chair - this is a well-oiled machine that just needs execution!
Time Commitment for Chairperson: 2-3 hours/month in January, February and early March (identifying volunteers, ordering trophies, confirming logistics) and then a Friday afternoon-evening (2-8PM) prior to the race (setting up the track and race software) and then a Saturday race day (7AM-1PM)
Time Commitment for Committee Members: a Friday afternoon-evening (2-8PM) prior to the race (setting up the track and race software) and then a Saturday race day (7AM-1PM)
Certified Range Master (cool title, huh?? glad you scrolled this far!)
We typically offer archery and BB gun ranges to our Scouts at our annual fall campout. In order to do this, we must have BSA trained/certified adults to run each range (archery, BB guns). Training is offered by the Northern Star Council a few times each year at local BSA camps and certification is good for 2 years. All supplies are provided by the Scout camp. We do need to ensure children have waivers signed by parents. The boys and girls just love their time at the ranges, but we can only offer them if we have trained leaders - at least one for each range!
Time Commitment:
Attend a training session - most of one day at a Scout camp (~1 hour from Wayzata). Run one of the ranges at camp - either archery or bb guns, usually for ~3 hours on the Saturday afternoon of the October campout.
Membership Recruitment Chair
Organize Pack 283's recruitment efforts each Fall and Spring. This position is time intensive in September and May. Coordinate volunteers to staff Pack recruiting events at Gleason Lake and St. Barts (e.g., Back to School Open House Night, JJ Hill Day Coaster Cart Derby and Parade, School Night for Scouting, Lake Katrina Pack BBQ and the May Pack meeting). Ensure Pack 283's specific recruiting materials and information are updated and available to new Scouts throughout the year. Interface with District/Council personnel to access their standard Scout recruiting communications and promotional materials (e.g., applications, pencils, bracelets)
Time Commitment: Update Pack 283's specific marketing materials in the late summer-early fall (after the Pack calendar is set each May). Most intensive time is in September with multiple back to school and community events listed above. Quiet for most of the school year. Invite new Scouts to join the May Pack meeting to get involved in Scouting before the summer - a few hours in the spring. 40 hours over the course of the year - mostly in the fall.
Pack Trainer
Responsible for ensuring that all necessary training is complete for each leader and for the Pack. This includes understanding what training is required by the BSA/Council, communicating it to leaders and then tracking their completion online by relevant deadlines. The trainer promotes monthly District Roundtable meetings, twice yearly University of Scouting events and other in person and online training opportunities (e.g., Youth Protection) to make sure the Pack Leaders get the resources they need to be successful. Most of this work can be done remotely at home, via email, with occasional updates at a monthly Pack Committee meeting (dates on Pack calendar page of this website). The trainer isn't conducting training, but communicating training opportunities and tracking completion.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per month during the school year. Most intense in fall and spring.
Summer Activities Chair
Organize 1-2 monthly summer activities for the Pack. Historically, we have done things like fishing at Gleason Lake and Parkers Lake, bike ride along the Luce Line Trail, miniature golf at Big Stone Mini Golf, swimming at Bunker Beach, Lake Minnetonka Swimming Pond, and marching in the 4th of July parade on Broadway in Wayzata and other activities. We welcome your creativity in planning fun summer events for our Scouts!
Time Commitment: Generate and communicate ideas to the Pack in May. Plan and attend activities and ensure other leaders can attend.
Please e-mail [email protected] if you are interested or would like more information on any of these positions. Thanks!
Wreath Sale Fundraising Coordinator
Manage our Pack's primary annual fundraiser. Wreath sales provide the majority of our programming budget each year. We have a set vendor and products. The Coordinator is responsible for working with the Pack Treasurer and BSA Scout Troop 283 (which also sells wreaths) to set pricing and confirm products and timing. The Coordinator also works to ensure we have sales and promotional packets available for all Scouts in mid-September, answers questions from Scouts during the sale period, accepts all orders/money in mid-October and coordinates delivery/pick up of wreaths at WCC the week before Thanksgiving week. (The vendor delivers the product the week before Thanksgiving, Scout families pick up wreaths the Saturday before Thanksgiving for distribution.) The coordinator recruits parents to help take delivery of the wreaths at WCC. Webelos and BSA Scouts lead the wreath distribution to families.
Time Commitment: A few hours each week between early September and Thanksgiving. (3 months/year)
Spring Fundraising Coordinator
Manage our Pack's spring fundraiser. The Northern Star Council recently discontinued its spring fundraiser. We would like to develop a replacement fundraiser if a chairperson can be identified. We welcome your creativity in developing a new fundraiser for our Pack!
Time Commitment: A few hours each week between February-April.
Pack Apparel Sales Coordinator
We have a full stock of Pack t-shirts, hats, and hoodies and need a parent to staff the sales table at monthly Pack meetings. It doesn't have to happen every month, but preferably before our fall and spring campouts and before the holidays if possible. All apparel is stored onsite at WCC. The Coordinator may choose to get involved with a future apparel order if there is interest when the current stock of apparel is depleted.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours/month during the school year at Pack meetings.
Pinewood Derby Committee (we have a chairperson, we need committee members to help!)
Help run the pivotal Cub Scout event of the year! This group coordinates the set-up of the track & WCC gym for race day, makes sure all the Council rules are followed, coordinates the trophies and judging, makes sure the Pit Room is stocked with tools, and executes the races. Each Scout rank/den provides volunteers to assist in the running of the races, and this committee makes sure the day runs smoothly. We do coordinate the track set up and tear down with another local Pack who does their Derby on the same day after ours. This event is usually held in March in the gym at WCC. We have a very organized manual from the previous chair - this is a well-oiled machine that just needs execution!
Time Commitment for Chairperson: 2-3 hours/month in January, February and early March (identifying volunteers, ordering trophies, confirming logistics) and then a Friday afternoon-evening (2-8PM) prior to the race (setting up the track and race software) and then a Saturday race day (7AM-1PM)
Time Commitment for Committee Members: a Friday afternoon-evening (2-8PM) prior to the race (setting up the track and race software) and then a Saturday race day (7AM-1PM)
Certified Range Master (cool title, huh?? glad you scrolled this far!)
We typically offer archery and BB gun ranges to our Scouts at our annual fall campout. In order to do this, we must have BSA trained/certified adults to run each range (archery, BB guns). Training is offered by the Northern Star Council a few times each year at local BSA camps and certification is good for 2 years. All supplies are provided by the Scout camp. We do need to ensure children have waivers signed by parents. The boys and girls just love their time at the ranges, but we can only offer them if we have trained leaders - at least one for each range!
Time Commitment:
Attend a training session - most of one day at a Scout camp (~1 hour from Wayzata). Run one of the ranges at camp - either archery or bb guns, usually for ~3 hours on the Saturday afternoon of the October campout.
Membership Recruitment Chair
Organize Pack 283's recruitment efforts each Fall and Spring. This position is time intensive in September and May. Coordinate volunteers to staff Pack recruiting events at Gleason Lake and St. Barts (e.g., Back to School Open House Night, JJ Hill Day Coaster Cart Derby and Parade, School Night for Scouting, Lake Katrina Pack BBQ and the May Pack meeting). Ensure Pack 283's specific recruiting materials and information are updated and available to new Scouts throughout the year. Interface with District/Council personnel to access their standard Scout recruiting communications and promotional materials (e.g., applications, pencils, bracelets)
Time Commitment: Update Pack 283's specific marketing materials in the late summer-early fall (after the Pack calendar is set each May). Most intensive time is in September with multiple back to school and community events listed above. Quiet for most of the school year. Invite new Scouts to join the May Pack meeting to get involved in Scouting before the summer - a few hours in the spring. 40 hours over the course of the year - mostly in the fall.
Pack Trainer
Responsible for ensuring that all necessary training is complete for each leader and for the Pack. This includes understanding what training is required by the BSA/Council, communicating it to leaders and then tracking their completion online by relevant deadlines. The trainer promotes monthly District Roundtable meetings, twice yearly University of Scouting events and other in person and online training opportunities (e.g., Youth Protection) to make sure the Pack Leaders get the resources they need to be successful. Most of this work can be done remotely at home, via email, with occasional updates at a monthly Pack Committee meeting (dates on Pack calendar page of this website). The trainer isn't conducting training, but communicating training opportunities and tracking completion.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per month during the school year. Most intense in fall and spring.
Summer Activities Chair
Organize 1-2 monthly summer activities for the Pack. Historically, we have done things like fishing at Gleason Lake and Parkers Lake, bike ride along the Luce Line Trail, miniature golf at Big Stone Mini Golf, swimming at Bunker Beach, Lake Minnetonka Swimming Pond, and marching in the 4th of July parade on Broadway in Wayzata and other activities. We welcome your creativity in planning fun summer events for our Scouts!
Time Commitment: Generate and communicate ideas to the Pack in May. Plan and attend activities and ensure other leaders can attend.
Please e-mail [email protected] if you are interested or would like more information on any of these positions. Thanks!
