Shorecrest School

Cub Scout meeting with Officer Moody

Lower School News


Shorecrest Cub Scouts Pack 303, led by Brian O’Neill,  who is also an Assistant Troop Master with Boy Scout Troop 219 at St. Raphael's Catholic church, is a group of about 15 boys ranging from first grade to fifth grade, and of course their parents, who are always an integral part of Cub Scouting.

Brian is assisted by former Pack 303 Cub Master Catherine Russo Cobb and several "den chiefs" - also known as Boy Scouts who learn to work in leadership roles with younger scouts. The den chiefs on Wednesday, November 19, included Jack O'Neill, Lliam Cobb and Joshua Jacobs, all Shorecrest students and all of whom advanced through Shorecrest’s Cub Scouts program to earn their Arrow of Light, the ultimate Cub Scout achievement, and all advanced on to Boy Scouts.

Shorecrest Security Officer Moody and his associate, Officer Day, did a thorough job of educating the Cubs on their backgrounds, their training and also their current roles at Shorecrest. They also spent a great deal of time discussing the tools of their trade such as first aid equipment, foam pepper spray, handcuffs, and other tactical items and weapons, including a discussion of what the most important weapon (or tool) they have for their jobs: Officer Moody stressed that his brain is truly the most important tool of his trade!

The officers also emphasized the 999 phone number on their vehicles as being the number that students should call in case of an emergency on the Shorecrest campus. Officer Moody also discussed how the boys should keep their eyes and ears open all of the time and to be observant for things such as crimes and 'stranger danger', both on and off campus.

The boys participated in an exercise whereby one of their fellow scouts dressed up in 'disguise type clothing', including a mustache, sideburns, sunglasses and hat and he ran through the room screaming and then out the other door. The boys were then asked to recall the details of what the "stranger" was wearing.

Mr. O'Neill also discussed with the boys future endeavors such as the pinewood derby race coming up in January. The boys design and build their own wooden cars culminating in a race against each other. The Pine Wood Derby is a long-standing Cub Scout tradition.



This latest meeting is just an example of what the Cub Scouts do. There are many other facets including camping trips, lots of hands-on learning about topics such as science, technology, 'leave no trace' mentality (making sure to leave whatever environment they enter with no trace of their visit and hopefully cleaner than when they went inside), outdoor survivor skills, and the multiple aspects of living morally and ethically as well as learning respectful behaviors. The Cub Scouts will also be working occasionally with some local Boy Scout troops on various projects.

Scouting trivia question
When Neil Armstrong and his crew landed on the surface of the moon in July 1969, he radioed down to earth and said, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

This message in one way related to Armstrong's scoutings past, with at least one double entendre in the message. Who knows why?

There are always openings for Scouts to join Pack 303.
For more information please contact Brian O’Neill at 727–515-9253






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