WINDHAM – The Webelos of Den 1, Cub Scout Pack 805 in Windham have had a busy year. Most of the eight Scouts have risen through the ranks of Tiger, Wolf and Bear Scouts to become Webelos 1 Scouts.

In February, most earned their Webelos badge rank advancement, and in May they will “cross over” to become Webelos 2, the leaders of the pack.

Den Leader Paul Preston has enjoyed the rewards of seeing his Scouts accomplish their goals. “I have been working with some of these boys since they were in first grade. They were eager new Scouts, and I was a green and inexperienced leader. I am so proud of how far we have all come and how much we’ve learned from each other,” he said.

To earn the Webelos badge the Scouts must earn their Citizen and Fitness badges among other challenging requirements.

Kevin Day, Assistant Leader of Den 1, is glad his son, Aiden Day, is committed to Scouting. “To me the best part of Scouting is seeing the boys being active, and responsible members of the community; In this day of instant gratification these boys are choosing the more challenging path, and it will pay off for all of us as they become leaders.”

Webelos stands for “WE’ll BE LOyal Scouts.”

Day can see why. “This year I have seen such a jump in the boys’ maturity. The boys have begun to lead their own meetings and they are doing it really well. At this level the boys are starting to really have to work, and it is great to see them showing up every week eager to participate,” he said.

This year, Den 1 completed a service project of writing letters to soldiers, and contributed to a Pack 805 food drive for the Windham Food Pantry. The den was also invited to join Windham’s Boy Scout Troops 805 to Camporee, a day of Scouting activities and traditions, and to hike the Freedom Trail in Boston. They also joined Windham’s Boy Scout Troop 51 for their regional Klondike Derby, a sled race testing the boys’ Scouting skills, and earned second place among Webelos dens.

Fourth-grader Dean Preston enjoys being a Webelos Scout. “As a Webelos, there are so many more things you can do. There are more campouts, and you get special privileges at Summer Camp like shooting pellet guns, sling shots, and you get to try different shooting stances with the BB guns. We are also much more involved with the Boy Scout events and get to do the same stuff as the older Scouts,” he explained.

The Webelos are working toward earning their Craftsman badge, which requires them to safely use power and hand tools to build multi-step projects such as their Pinewood Derby racecars, survival bracelets, birdhouses and sling shots. They are also fundraising to build motorized model rockets to work toward their Scientist badge.

The top three racers from the recent Pack 805 Pinewood Derby will be racing in the District Derby held at Gorham Middle School March 31.

Aiden Day will race at the District Derby with his fellow Webelos, Dean Preston. “The Pinewood Derby was awesome,” Day said. “It was so fun racing with Dean and we were rooting for each other the whole time. His car was the fastest, but I was excited to win second. The trophies were gigantic!”

Along with the pack, Den 1 will also march in the Memorial Day Parade in May, and the Windham Summerfest Parade in June.

In May, Den 1 will lead the pack at Spring Fling, a weekend outing for all Pack 805 dens at Camp Hinds in Raymond. The Webelos have chosen “Survivor” as the theme this year and some of the challenges will include building a shelter, an obstacle course and map and compass. Dinner will be cooked in Dutch ovens, and will be followed by a pack service project, and the Crossover awards ceremony. It is the Webelos’ “badge of honor” to have earned the seniority to camp out for the entire weekend. All Scouts will be able to camp out the second night.

Den 1 is seeking donations of new or used camping equipment for Cub Scout Pack 805 from members of the community who would like to support their local Scouts. Items needed include but are not limited to: Dutch ovens, gas powered camp stoves, cookware, shovels, tents, lanterns, tarps and rope. Contact Paul Preston at [email protected] or Kevin Day at 892-9791.

Kristen Day, of Windham, is a Den 1 parent.

Aiden Day, left, and Dean Preston, both fourth-graders at Manchester School in Windham and Webelos 2 in Cub Scout Pack 805, show off their trophies and cars at the recent Pack 805 Pinewood Derby. On March 31, the boys will represent the pack at the District Derby in Gorham. (Courtesy photo)