Special to The Swellesley Report by Bo Yan.

The countdown began on a sunny afternoon at Kelly Field. Dozens of scouts and their invited guests clutched the rockets they had built, eyes fixed on the sky. “Three… two… one!” Our son’s face with pure excitement told me everything I needed to know about our family’s first day with Cub Scout Pack 185.

When our older son joined Cub Scout Pack 185 last fall, we honestly did not know what to expect, other than strong recommendations from my neighbors. Our older son had just started kindergarten and joined the Lion Den, while his younger brother, only three years old at the time, tagged along to many activities. Looking back now, as we just participated in the parade during the Wonderful Wellesley Weekend as a Pack, almost a full school year later, scouting turned out to be far more than an extracurricular activity for us. It became a way for our family to explore the outdoors, build friendships, and create memories together.

Camping was a major milestone for us. We attended both the fall and spring campouts, our very first camping trips with the kids. Going in, we were uncertain whether we could manage sleeping outdoors with young children, and we built detailed packing checklists just to make sure we did not forget anything important. Once we arrived, though, we discovered just how supportive the scouting community is. Experienced families helped newcomers, the kids played together nonstop, and evenings around the campfire with plenty of S'more became highlights of the weekend. The night hike was very adventures/scouty, and I feel the completion as a family is something that would surprise the grandparents.

The scouts quickly built real friendships. Scouts who first met at den meetings soon recognized each other at soccer games, school events, and around town. Over time, scouting helped create a stronger sense of connection, not just for the kids, but for parents as well.

cub scouts — The writer’s two boys at the camping site.

Of all the activities this year, fishing was our older son’s favorite. Before joining scouting, he had never really had the chance to fish. Pack 185 organized a fishing derby at Morses Pond and provided rods, instruction, and plenty of encouragement for beginners. What could have been intimidating for first-time families instead felt relaxed. Watching the kids “patiently” wait for a bite and simply enjoy being outdoors together made for a wonderful morning.

My most memorable adventure was the Battleship overnight visit. Our pack joined other packs with about 300 scouts from the Mayflower Council. I didn’t bring my younger son as I was not sure how well a four year old would behave during the night, but this trip became a great bonding event for me and my older son. I hope to bring both boys to the Battleship again.

A photo of the sunset taken on USS Massachusetts Battleship. cub scouts — Sunset from the USS Massachusetts Battleship (photo by Bo Yan)

I appreciate how naturally the Lion Den activities combined fun with practical life lessons guided by the Scout handbook. Den meetings included hikes, a beach cleanup at Morses Pond, a visit to the police station, and even a trip to the Davis Museum at Wellesley College. Along the way, the scouts learned outdoor essentials, hiking preparedness, and safety principles such as “Stay, Answer, Whistle,” as well as lessons about protecting themselves and others.

Service to the community turned out to be one of the most meaningful threads of the year. Our older son took part in the pack’s popcorn fundraiser, which supports both the national Scouting program and our local pack’s activities. My son’s grandma stopped by and bought two bags to show her support, along with many lovely neighbors.

I still remember walking the neighborhood with my boys on a quiet weekend morning, dropping off Roche Bros. bags on doorsteps for the Wellesley Food Pantry drive. A week later, we walked the same route to pick the bags up. From our small corner of the neighborhood alone, we collected about a dozen bags of donations; across the whole pack, scouts brought in hundreds of bags for the food pantry. We were grateful for living in such a generous and supportive community.

Our family found something refreshingly different in scouting: opportunities for children to explore, learn practical skills, gain confidence, give back, and simply enjoy being kids outdoors.

If you have a child entering grades K-5 and you have ever wondered what Cub Scouting in Wellesley looks like, I would warmly encourage you to come check out Cub Scout Wellesley Pack 185.