Pack News and Upcoming Events

Click here for our full calendar of all upcoming events: Pack 296 Calendar 

Want to join the fun?  Prospective families, please fill out the information form here to indicate your interest in the pack

Scouting for Food Success!

I want to extend an incredible thank you to all our volunteers for this year's Scouting for Food drive! As a pack we collected a total of 650 items for donation, with nearly half the Scouts in the pack volunteering, and 100 hours of total volunteer time. It was a wonderful two days of service and will surely help families in need especially as the holidays approach.  

In addition to all the fun we have in meetings and activities, the aims and methods of Scouting include character, citizenship, and service to the neighborhood, and of course in the Scout Oath, "to help each other at all times," and we saw all of these over the Veterans Day weekend. 

Past News

Twilight Hike and Campfire Pack Meeting

During our October meeting we went on a short hike followed by a campfire, with plenty of marshmallows and hot chocolate, along with songs and a spooky story!  We made sure to be "clean in our outdoor manners" and left the picnic site cleaner than we arrived. Thanks to our AOL Scouts who led the opening flag ceremony and made a great fire!

Pack Campout + Range Day

We had a very fun and successful weekend for our fall campout! We went to Rancho Los Mochos Scout camp in Livermore, and had fun activities including a campfire, playing dungeons and dragons, and just generally having fun outdoors.

On Saturday September 30th, the district also held a special Target & Range Day, with Scouts participating in archery, bb guns, and slingshots. Special thanks to Mari Obledo who organized the range day, and Pack 296 parent Tim who ran the archery range. 

Den Meetings Starting

Our dens are beginning to meet! Please check your email for confirmation of where each den will meet. Den leaders work with their dens to determine a date and location for monthly den meetings. Want to know more about the adventures your Scout will work on this year? Look in your handbook or check out the Advancement part of our site for details on all adventures. 

First Pack Meeting - Egg Drop Challenge

For our first pack meeting we had a fun egg drop challenge! Returning and new Scouts joined us at Joaquin Miller Park, and did their best to protect an egg dropped from a tall ladder, and were obedient in following the rules of the challenge. 

While most of the poor eggs didn't survive the drop, all the Scouts had a great time!

Welcome Potluck Picnic and New Parent Info Session

We had a very fun Welcome Back Picnic where new families could meet our pack! We took advantage of the sun with potato sack races and an epic water balloon battle. 

Thanks to everyone who came! 

Summer Activities!

This past summer we didn't have any pack meetings, but we did have some fun events! Thanks to Cher for organizing and to all those that participated!

"Cubmobile" Go Karts

After a 5 year hiatus, we were able to resume the pack "go kart" program with the 2023 Pack 296 Cubmobile event! Despite a bit of rain, Scouts, families, and friends joined us in the all day event where we built Cubmobiles in the morning and then raced them that afternoon. Very special thanks to Jason and Adrian who organized this fun event! 

Pack Campout - April 28-30

We had an amazing pack camp out the weekend of April 28 - 30th at the Arroyo Flats camping area at Garin Regional Park in Hayward! Scouts played games outside, went on a hike around the park, and sang songs and ate s'mores at the campfire. 

Special thanks to parents Matt, Heather, and Cher who organized the campout, to Tony our grillmaster who prepared Saturday dinner, to Doug who helped transport the pack camping materials, and to all the adults who pitched in to help throughout the weekend!

Oakland A's Scout Day - April 15th

On April 15th, Pack 296 went to the Oakland Coliseum to see the Oakland A’s play the New York Mets! Scouts were able to line up and walk the field in a parade of fellow Scouts, as well as receive an exclusive patch for the 2023 Oakland A’s Scout Day.

Go A's!

Relay Race! Campcraft Skills Pack Meeting

At our April pack meeting we took advantage of the good weather with an outdoor Scout skills relay race! After reviewing campcraft skills including knots like the square knot, two half hitches, and bowline, Scouts had to race through a series of obstacles showing their stuff! 

Special thanks to Clay Stafford who organized and led the meeting!

Pinewood Derby success!

We had another great Pinewood Derby on January 28th at KaiserAir! Congratulations to all of the Scouts that participated, along with the adults, siblings, and friends who also made cars. We will be announcing and delivering awards and trophies at the March Blue & Gold Dinner pack meeting. 

Pack 296 Cub Scouts learning about safety outdoors

Safety Outdoors: Plants and Weather Pack Meeting

Happy New Year! At our January pack meeting, Cubmaster Jon quizzed the Scouts on whether they could identify the poison oak out of a group of plant samples ("leaves of 3, let it be!"), with Scouts showing a kind attitude even when their friends got an answer wrong. Next, Scouts got their hands on some leaves to practice their nature drawing skills and make leaf rubbings. Finally, Scouts learned the importance to plan ahead and prepare for any outdoor adventure by first checking the weather, and then got to build their own weathervanes using straws and leaves. 

Scout marshmallow challenge

"Marshmallow challenge" Pack Meeting

At our December meeting we challenged our Scouts to work together on the "marshmallow challenge." Dens competed to build the tallest structure out of spaghetti, string, and tape that could hold a marshmallow. Scouts had to be obedient and follow the rules of the challenge, and also avoid eating their marshmallow early! Our winning den built a 21-inch tower in 10 minutes! 

Pack Ice Skate and Toy Drive

On December 4th we had our annual Ice Skate and Toy Drive event at Claremont Hotel's Five Palms Ice holiday rink. Thanks to everyone who joined us and especially to those families that donated a gift!

Pack 296 Cub Scout playing ring toss

Pack Carnival + Toy Exchange

Our November Pack Meeting was a fun one!  On November 9th we had our annual Carnival hosted by the Bear Den. Scouts had a chance to participate in fun games and win tickets that were exchanged for upcycled prizes donated by our Pack families. We saw lots of cheerful faces playing games, getting prizes, and eating pizza and cupcakes. Thanks to Tony our Bear Den leader for organizing and for the Bear Den Scouts and families for helping.  

Scouting for Food

Our annual Scouting for Food drive was a success! On November 5th we distributed door hangers to area households in Oakland letting them know about the drive, and on November 12th we gathered donations of non-perishable foods, which have been distributed to local food banks and pantries. Our pack gathered more than 400 items, and the Peralta District gathered in total 3,723 pounds! Thanks to all the families and Scouts who came to help. 

Twilight Hike and Campfire Pack Meeting

We had a great October Pack meeting! We took advantage of the twilight hour and did a hike around Joaquin Miller Park before enjoying a campfire with snacks and hot chocolate. We made sure to be "clean in our outdoor manners" and pick up litter and clean up after ourselves.

Oakland Police Visit at First Pack Meeting

Our first Pack Meeting featured a visit by 4 uniformed officers from Oakland PD! The officers talked about how they are helpful in our community, showed the Scouts some of the gear they use, and answered questions. Special thanks to Officers Rodgers, Barrientos, Fiorino, and Triana for visiting!

During the meeting we also learned some new pack and den cheers, and Scouts found out about the fun adventures that await them this year. Great to see a new year of Scout Spirit!

For older news, check out our Pack News Archive