On Sunday, October 18, 2009, the Pack welcomed its existing scouts and new prospective scouts with a visit to Turtle Back Zoo.  At the zoo, Dr. Jeremy Goodman, a veterinarian,  the Director of the zoo, and a member of the shul, took the scouts on a behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo’s veterinary hospital.  At the hospital, the scouts learned how the cages of dangerous animals are cleaned (the animals are coaxed with food into an adjourning cage), learned how animals are weighed (on a large scale built into the floor), learned how shots are administered (some animals are trained to present their bottoms for shots while others are given shots with jab sticks), saw how dangerous animals are tranquilized (from a distance with darts), saw operating and x-ray rooms, saw the x-rays of several animals, including a snake (it took several x-ray sheets), and had their heart rate and oxygen level measured using a meter that attaches to any part of the body.  In addition, Gideon Fox tried out a squeeze cage (a small cage with a movable wall so that the inhabitant can be restrained sufficiently to prevent its movement to allow the administration of injections).

On Sunday, November 1, 2009, Dr. Moshe Roth, an optometrist and a member of the shul, made a presentation to the Cub Scouts about the eyes.  The scouts learned the difference between seeing and vision (seeing is what the eyes do; vision sifts out “interferences”).  This was illustrated by viewing a chart that read:

While several participants noticed the word “in” on both the second and third lines, many did not (their brains filtered out the extra “in”).   The Cub Scouts also learned that each eye presents a different picture to the brain.  When the picture from each eye is combined, they allow one to see depth.  Based upon this presentation, the Cub Scouts learned that there is definitely more to the eye than what meets the eye. 

On Sunday, November 15, 2009, Officer Jason Padilla, a bicycle patrol officer with the West Orange Police Department, made a bicycle safety presentation to the Cub Scouts.   Officer Padilla, who patrols14-16 miles a day on his bicycle (weather-permitting), talked about his bicycle (a Cannondale mountain bike), his equipment, and his special training.  While the law requires that bicyclers under the age of 17 years wear a helmet, he recommended that it be replaced if one is involved in an accident (the foam part of a helmet is made for one-time use).  He also recommended that the Cub Scouts perform a pre-bicycling ABC safety check (check the air, brakes, and chain).  In addition, bicycles must have a horn and bicyclers must ride in the direction of traffic near the curb, use hand signals, and stop at red traffic signals and stop signs. If bicycling at night, the bicycle should have a light and the bicyclist should wear reflective clothing.

On November 22, 2009, the Cub Scouts received gardening instruction from Debbie Druce and planted decorative cabbages (donated by Pleasantdale Nursery) and daffodil bulbs in the Children's Flower Garden in Verona Park.

The National Jewish Committee on Scouting developed the Maccabee (1^st through 3^rd grade scouts) and Aleph (3^rd grade through 5^th grade scouts) Emblems to help Cub Scouts  who are Jewish learn more about Judaism.  On December 6, after each Cub Scout talked to the group about a symbol of Judaism that they brought in to share, Joel Singerman lead them through a number of activities and exercises covering Jewish names, holidays, terms, symbols and objects, community helpers, the Torah, prayer, religious holidays, bible heroes, famous American Jews, the synagogue, the Jewish home, and the land of Israel.  In addition, the Cub Scouts had to research two topics at home. The emblems (depicted to the left and right), which are worn over the left pocket of the Cub Scouts’ uniform, will be presented to the Cub Scouts that earned them at a ceremony in the future.

Fire has its good side (cooking, light, and shalom byas) and it has its bad side (it is dangerous). On January 3, 2010, Stuart Rosenblum discussed fire safety and how to make a campfire.  He started out by handing out and discussing a brochure created by the New York City Fire Department entitled “Fire Safety for Jewish Observances” (see http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/events/2009/120409b2.pdf). According to the New York City Fire Department, 50 percent of all apartment fires and one-quarter of the fires in private homes start in the kitchen.  The number of fires (the dangerous kind) in Jewish households increases on Friday nights, Chanukah, and before Pesach (bedikas chometz and burning chometz).  The Cub Scouts learned about what to do if their clothing catches fire (stop, drop, and roll). They also learned that if there is a fire in ones home, they should not hide; they should try to get out of the house.  They learned that they should feel doors before opening them and try to find another way out if the door is hot.   The scouts also learned how to construct a box campfire and a teepee campfire (placing sticks in the shape of a box or teepee, respectively, so that sufficient oxygen can support the fire; see the picture, above).

On January 10, 2010, under the direction of Avi Laub, who brought his electric saw and his cutting skills, the Cub Scouts designed and prepared  Pinewood Derby race cars, which are crafted from a small block of pine (if General Motors had used the Cub Scouts’ designs, it is possible that they would have never had to declare bankruptcy).  The scouts subsequently painted, added wheels, and decorated their cars.

On March 14, 2009 and March 21, 2009, Boy Scout Troop 118 and Cub Scout Packs 118 and 446, in conjunction with volunteers from the community, conducted their annual "Scouting for Food" food drive to benefit the Bobrow Kosher Food Pantry at Oheb Shalom Congregation.  The Bobrow Kosher Food Pantry is the only kosher food pantry in Northern and Central New Jersey.  It provides supplemental food packages for approximately 160 needy families once a month.  Mike Schatzberg (Scoutmaster, Boy Scout Troop 118), Lisa Vernon (Cubmaster, Cub Scout Pack 118), and Doni Israeli and Danny Amster (Cong. AABJ&D) organized and coordinated this effort and  approximately 30 volunteers assisted in distributing and collecting approximately 500 bags (contributed by Kings Super Markets, Inc.) throughout West Orange, unpacking the bags, sorting the contents, and packaging approximately 5,000 pounds of food that filled 200 boxes. 

Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. On Sunday, April 18, the Cub Scouts got a head start on Earth Day by helping clear out streams in Eagle Rock Reservation.  Working with Jim Christiano from the Eagle Rock Conservancy, the Cub Scouts headed into the heart of the reservation with garbage bags and rakes. In addition to cleaning up all of the garbage they could find, the boys worked to clear leaves, fallen trees, and other debris from the many winding streams in the park. If the streams are not able to flow freely, they will overflow their banks during rain storms and wash out the hiking trails. The boys had a great time and our guide from the Conservancy noted that the Cub Scouts did a huge favor for everyone who wants to explore Eagle Rock Reservation.

On Sunday, May 16, 2010, Pack 446 competed against Cub Scout Pack 118 with Pinewood Derby race cars, which they crafted from a small block of pine earlier in the year.  Aytan Geschwind of Pack 118 placed first among all of the Cub Scouts. Michael Sorkin of Pack 118 won among the Tigers, Ryan Potechin of Pack 118 won among the Wolves, Aytan Geschwind of Pack 118 won among the Bears, and Wesley Gill of Pack 118 won among the Webelos.

Thanks to Boy Scout Troop 118 scouts Alex Brodsky and Warren Brodsky, Joe Gill (Pack 118),  Stuart Rosenblum (Cubmaster, Cub Scout Pack 446), Mike Schatzberg (Scoutmaster, Boy Scout Troop 118), Joel Singerman (Pack 446), and Lisa Vernon (Cubmaster, Cub Scout Pack 118) for setting up and running the race.

From June 4-6, 2010, Cub Scouts Avery Cantor, Max (and Katie) Dickman, Manny Ehrlich, Gideon Fox, and Mathew Plotsker, along with Jewish scouts from all over New Jersey, brought their dads to this year's New Jersey Kinus camping trip.  A cabin by the lake made a great shul, and there was so much wonderful food. They all had a great time together celebrating Shabbos in Hashem's great outdoors.

On June 13, 2010, the Cub Scouts and their families and prospective Cub Scouts Eitan Laub and Roey Novick participated in an end-of-season cookout.  We want to thank the Novick’s for obtaining the food and hosting the cookout and Geshmak Foods (Yosef Peikes) for donating pickles and salads.  At the cookout, advancement badges were awarded to the Cub Scouts.  The Cub Scouts advanced in rank as follows: Ethan Cantor, Ari Pineles and Eli Novick advanced to Tiger; Jacob Elstein advanced to Wolf, Avery Cantor, Max Dickman, Manny Ehrlich, Gideon Fox, Daniel Peikes, Mathew Plotsker, and J.J. Rosenblum advanced to Bear, and Menachem Singerman advanced to Webelos II. At the cookout, Ari Pineles received a Maccabee Emblem and Max Dickman, Manny Ehrlich, J.J. Rosenblum, and Menachem Singerman received Aleph Emblems.