On Feb. 23, at St. Gregory the Great’s Ferrante Hall, Cub Scout Pack 91 will celebrate its 50th Anniversary, which is something that may have seemed improbable just five years ago.
When Covid-19 gripped the country, scouting appeared headed for extinction in Hamilton.
“Not on my watch!” 91 Cub Master Georgia Reed assured.
Reed, who began as a Den Master in 2014 and became Pack Leader in 2017, kept the interest high by thinking outside the box. She offered her scouts such virtual activities as museum tours, craft nights and trivia games, to name a few.
“We got as creative as we possibly could,” the Crockett Middle School music teacher andband director said.
When restrictions loosened the pack made sure to get outside and participate in hikes and bike rides while following social distancing guidelines. Reed and numerous other volunteers went above and beyond to make sure the program continued in the safest ways possible.
Pack 91 emerged stronger than ever; absorbing members of several other township packs that had their membership dwindle due to the pandemic. After graduating 20 fifth-graders in February, the pack will still have 50 scouts returning.
And for that, local charities are happy.
The scouts not only do fun things for themselves — the Pinewood Derby, march in Memorial Day Parade, the Raingutter Regatta Boat Race, day camp — they make it their mission to help others. In an era where many youngsters stay inside playing video games or browsing the internet, Pack 91 is out in the community aiding such organizations as Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Ginny’s Pantry and Shine and Inspire Closets. Each month they work on a service requirement to aid the charities.
TASK feeds the hungry and offers programs and services to encourage self-sufficiency and improve quality of life for people in the Greater Trenton Area. On a cold January night, Reed’s den of fifth-graders completed their service requirements for the scout year by making medicine bags, utensil packets and lunch bags for TASK.
Shine and Inspire Closets, which are featured at several area schools, looks to enhance the quality of life for Mercer residents through gifts of local businesses and members of the community. Hygiene items, school supplies and non-perishable food fill 25 school closets across the county.
Ginny’s Pantry is a monthly food pantry operated by Christ Presbyterian Church of Hamilton Township and First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton Square. It is open to Mercer County households enrolled in qualifying government programs or of a certain income.
“Pack 91 has been supporting Ginny’s Pantry for several years with donations of food they collect,” said Bill Hoppock, who runs the Pantry with wife Amy. “It’s a good relationship and we greatly value their support. They’re always very helpful. Local support from groups like Pack 91 means a lot to our pantry volunteers and clients.”
It also means a lot to the Cub Scouts themselves, as they learn the value of helping others while becoming better people.
That has been the mission since Cub Scouts were founded in 1916 for boys ages 9-11. That was the prelude to the Boy Scouts (now named Scouts BSA). Pack 91 was established for boys in second through fifth grade in 1975, first-grade rank of Tiger was later added and in 2017 Scouting America allowed females into Cub Scout dens and Boy Scout groups. One year later, a program was added for Kindergarteners.
Reed began as a den leader in 2014 when her oldest son, Jackson Balog, was in first grade. Her son, Cooper Balog, joined the following year and for a brief time she ran two dens (based on age groups). When the Cub Master left in 2017, Reed said with a chuckle, “The committee members had a super secret meeting I wasn’t invited to and they nominated me as the new Cub Master. I laughed it all off and it was fine.”
She embraced the position with vigor.
Reed’s daughter Reagan Balog, who grew up watching den meetings in her home, joined when girls were allowed and Reed now runs her den as well as the pack. After 12 years with Pack 91, she understands what the organization does for youngsters as well as anyone.
“The Cub Scouts are so important right now because it’s teaching life skills and community lessons that you don’t get anywhere else,” Reed said. “You’re learning valuable lessons about your community, your community leaders, about nature, how to appreciate it and care for it and identify it. You’re learning health and nutrition and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Not just you but your family. Everything in Cub Scouts is geared toward the family.”
Another lesson is to appreciate various religions. “I’ll have nine kids in a group and each one of them will practice religion completely differently,” Reed said. “It’s an opportunity to be open minded to things that are different within your own backyard.”
The veteran educator, who feels her teaching profession aids her scouting duties, noted that the experience aids in leadership skills as well. The older scouts who advance to Scouting BSA teach the younger Cub Scouts
“They’re learning different ways to approach different types of learners,” Reed said.
“It’s also teaching these kids self-esteem and independence. It starts at the roots and just builds each year. It doesn’t matter when you begin scouting; whether you come in at kindergarten or third grade you will cover all the basics and get what you need at an age-appropriate level.”
The scouts learn such things as cooking and medical training, which paid off recently when Reed’s son Jackson — a member of the Hamilton West swim team — was able to do a full concussion test on a teammate who hit her head on a wall.
“That was based on the skills he learned in Cub Scouts,” Reed said. “We’re teaching these kids self-esteem and independence. It’s such a wonderful thing and the kids are having fun. They keep coming back because they love it.”
That love will be celebrated at the end of this month with the Blue & Gold Banquet graduation ceremony. The departing fifth-graders will walk across a symbolic bridge that was built 50 years ago, as they cross over from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA. There will be a presentation of their new uniform and Reed will “be bawling like a baby,” when Reagan graduates to Scouts.
The observance coincides with the birthdate of the Cub Scouts, and this year it will double as Pack 91’s 50th anniversary celebration. To honor the landmark, Reed has gathered photo albums from the past 50 years and will present a slide show commemorating a half century of activities and service. There will also be an on-line trivia game everyone can play on their cell phones.
“Everything we do from here on out will have the advertisement of 50 years of our pack,” Reed said.
Pack 91 will begin their second 50 years without Reed, a hard-working single mom who is stepping down now that all her kids are in Scouts BSA. She will be replaced by Brad Carlton, a den leader for six years.
“Brad’s an Eagle Scout so he has a lot to offer the kids,” Reed said. “He’s awesome with outdoor adventuring. He finds our campsites and all that kind of stuff.”
The organization does not depend on just one person, of course.
Carlton’s wife, Keri, is the committee chairperson who makes sure everything behind the scenes runs smoothly. Another key position is held by Kara Kelleher, the membership chairman who provides all the information necessary for those interested in joining.
There is also a rotating group of volunteers to serve as den leaders, treasurer, secretary, fundraiser chairperson and outdoor chairperson.
Through their dedication, Pack 91 has survived and thrived. Reed knows she is leaving it in good hands, and will look back on her years with pride and great memories.
“I’ve known a lot of the kids their entire schooling career,” she said. “It’s so important to see them not only have the interaction socially but to know theyre getting something useful out of it and to know they’re having fun as their relationships build. It’s very important to me. It’s a value I look for when I’m planning activities for my own kids. To know that I can extend that to other kids in the community, it makes my heart happy.”
For further information on Pack 91, follow it on Facebook/Instagram at CubScoutPack91HamiltonNJ or email pack91.hamilton@gmail.com.
Arrow of Light Den members put together care packages for Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Members are Reagan Balog, Connor Kelleher, Strider Hicks, Cully Turley, Colin O’Mara, Gavin ClarkeArrow of Light Den members put together care packages for Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Members are Reagan Balog, Connor Kelleher, Strider Hicks, Cully Turley, Colin O’Mara, Gavin Clarke, Kaitlyn Hamilton and Aiden Rodriguez., Kaitlyn Hamilton and Aiden Rodriguez.,
