September 2026 Newsletter
For our 70th year, Pack 729 is pulling out all the stops, and we have a calendar full of outdoor activities we can’t wait to share with you. You can find our calendar for the school year at hayespack729.org/calendar, including Fall Camp at D-bar-A Scout Ranch! Our first Pack Meeting of the year is set for September 15th at 6:30pm, which will also be our Join Scouting Night so encourage your Scout to bring their friends. Our Mum Fundraiser has been going great but there is still time to get your orders in so let’s make this the biggest Mum Fundraiser ever!
Summer Roundup
Our Scouts were welcomed by a commandery of knights. They traveled across the state and got to camp out at the zoo. They handed out flags at the Wayne-Westland Veterans Memorial Day Parade, and lowered flags at the Veterans Memorial Garden during the Memorial Day Remembrance ceremony. They walked out on the field of Comerica Park for what is sure to be the last year it will be called that. They had a fantastic time shooting arrows at Detroit Archers and earning their Archery belt loops, which they followed up with burgers and a hike, and they returned to Turtle Cove at Lower Huron Metropark for a water park trip and hot dogs.
It was an unforgettable summer and a great way to kick off our 70th year!
Announcements & Signups
Pack Discord Server
We’re giving this Discord thing another shot. Our Pack Discord is for quick communication for Pack 729 parents, guardians, and leaders. Please download the app, join our server and after joining, introduce yourself in the General channel with your first and last name, your Scout's first name, and their Den.
You can download Discord at: discord.com/download
You can join our server using this link:
discord.gg/z3mMkGmyUH
Eastern Michigan University Football Scout Day
Get your tickets using the button below to be at the heart of the action as we celebrate EMU's annual Homecoming festivities on Saturday, October 17th. After the final whistle, all Scouts and Unit Leaders will have the opportunity to step directly onto the grey turf for an On-Field Post-Game Photo.
Please order your tickets by Tuesday, September 29.
Howell Nature Center Scouting Workshops
On October 3rd a few of our Dens are headed to Howell Nature Center for their Scout Workshops. This is a great opportunity to complete Adventures out in nature.
Registration ends on September 30th and you can sign up using the links below.
Religious Emblems Program
As a public school Pack we do not administer the Religious Emblems Program, however there are opportunities to earn the youth religious awards online. Annually, in partnership with Salem in Ballwin United Methodist Church the P.R.A.Y. Religious Emblems Program is offered remotely. Registration ends on September 30th and you can sign up using the link below.
This virtual program is Protestant, however the Religious Emblems Program is offered for a wide variety of denominations and religions. If you would like assistance in locating a Religious Emblem Program for your family’s faith please reach out to our Cubmaster.
Pack Volunteering
This time of year especially, we are looking for those interested in volunteering with the Pack. Maybe that means planning a game or activity. Maybe that means becoming a part of the Pack Committee to organize events throughout the year. Maybe that means serving a Den as a Den Leader or Asst. Den Leader. If you are interested in any of these roles or more reach out to our Cubmaster, Brandon Mullins at brandonmullins@hayespack729.org or (734) 644-1166.
Fall Camporee
We are headed back to D-bar-A Scout Ranch from October 23rd to October 25th for a spooky Halloween-themed Fall Camp. We managed to secure the famed Draper Cabin which includes lake access where we can fish, and the astronomy building where if the sky is clear we can look at the stars.
GPS coordinates to Draper Cabin are here. (https://share.google/aq9P1Mrmk4wU35f5c)
When using your GPS, select Draper Cabin as your destination and add the D-Bar-A Scout Ranch as a stop along the way so you hit the right entrance.
More details will come out as we get closer but please save the date and review the Cub Scout Packing list to give you an idea of what you need to bring. You can find that here: cub-packing-list.pdf (michiganscouting.org)
You can stay in the cabin or camp in a tent. Please get your tickets using the button below.
September Events
Mum Orders Due
September 11
If you have been taking orders by cash please get those orders to Megen by September 11th. If you have been directing people to hayespack729.org/trading-post/mums we will provide you with a list of everyone who has credited you with their purchases. And if you have chosen the buyout option please make your donation at hayespack729.org/donations.
If you have any questions you can reach out to Megen at megen@hayespack729.org.
Pack Meeting - Join Scouting Night
September 15 | 6:30pm
This is our first Pack Meeting of the year as well as our Join Scouting Night so please invite a friend who might be interested in joining and make sure your uniform is in tip-top shape as we’ll be showing them off to all the new Scouts.
For parents there is even a Facebook event where you can invite your friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/1044469504979057
Please also turn in your annual health forms at this meeting. They can be found at: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-001_AB.pdf
Mum Delivery Day
September 18 | TBD
We will meet at Megen’s to collect and begin delivering our chrysanthemum orders. More details will come in an email.
Den Meeting
September 22 | 6:30pm
This is our first Den Meeting of the year. Please come in full uniform with your book. For new Scouts we understand if you don’t have your uniform quite together yet. But consult our uniform guide to learn all about the Cub Scout uniform.
Den Meeting
September 29 | 6:30pm
This is our final Den Meeting for September. Hopefully everyone will have their full uniform by now and we’ll be off to the races for a great year of Cub Scouting.
A Committee Meeting is set to follow.
Cubmaster Minute
We have several new leaders this year and more in talks to step up so I’d really like to thank everyone who has taken on a new role, everyone who is sticking around for another year as well as everyone who is enjoying their retirement from Cub Scouts. You can find our new list of leaders at hayespack729.org/about and expect communication from each of your Den Leaders here shortly.
Speaking of retired Cub Scout Leaders, longtime Cub Scout Leader Michelle Fox visited England last week and brought a little Pack 729 to the United Kingdom.
We’re going to find some time soon for her to share her experiences with us, and let us know how Scouting is done across the pond.
And while it wasn’t a secret I didn’t exactly make an announcement about my kidney cancer diagnosis at Pack Meeting. Nonetheless I’d like to thank everyone who reached out, and I’m happy to share that my surgery went well and I am officially cancer free.
Unfortunately, that meant I missed several of our Summer activities but that doesn’t mean my summer was devoid of Scouting. I managed to help a bit with my eldest daughter's Eagle Scout Project to build a playground at His Church Anglican to the extent that I was able, got to visit my eldest son as he took part in the Mackinac Island Scout Service Program, and inducted the first class of Venturers for the new Venturing Crew 89, a crew filled with Pack 729 alumni.
We hope you all have a lovely Labor Day, and as the year continues, we’ll have coverage of Den activities and special events including our upcoming 70th Anniversary Gala in February so be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming issues!
