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Cub Scout Adventures > 
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Pinewood Derby® Race AOL
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Arrow of Light – 5th Grade
Race Time Arrow of Light
Elective
Requirement 5

Pinewood Derby® Race AOL

Arrow of Light – 5th Grade
Race Time Arrow of Light
Elective
Requirement 5

Pinewood Derby® Race AOL

Snapshot of Activity

Conduct a Pinewood Derby® car race.

Indoor
5
5
5
If you want to know more about The Adventure Activity Key click here.

This supply list is not all-inclusive. Your Cub Scout pack may include additional items such as food, drinks, special guests, special races, or a “pit stop” that has tools for Cub Scouts to make any last-minute repairs if their car breaks.

  • Pinewood Derby® car, one per Cub Scout
  • Pinewood Derby® track
  • Pinewood Derby® Rules
  • PA system
  • Display board for heat or division results: manual or digital
  • System to keep track of which cars belong to which Cub Scout
  • Scale to weigh cars
  • Pinewood Derby® car adjustment tool to measure car dimensions
  • System to keep track of race results
  • Chairs
  • Tables to place cars on when not racing
  • Two pieces of rope that is five feet longer than your Pinewood Derby® track

These directions are not all-inclusive. Some packs make their Pinewood Derby® race a stand-alone event with food and entertainment. Additional directions may be constructed by your pack based on how your pack conducts the race.

Before the meeting :

  • Meet with your Pack leadership to discuss the date, time, and location of your Pinewood Derby®.
  • Confirm location.
  • Have Cub Scouts complete requirement 1.
  • Make or purchase awards and recognition.
  • Secure a Pinewood Derby® track. Packs either build one, purchase one, or borrow one from another Pack.
  • Promote the date, time, and location of the race.
  • Conduct a weigh-in of Pinewood Derby® cars.
  • Communicate rules of race to Cub Scouts and parents or legal guardian.
  • Communicate how race heats or divisions will be conducted to Cub Scouts and parents or legal guardian.
  • Determine a method to display each heat winner during the race.
  • Set up the Pinewood Derby® track.
  • Place rope 2ft. from the track running parallel to the length of the track on both sides, this is to designate a space between the track and the audience so no one gets too close to the track.
  • Set up displays for tracking the heats and/or divisions.
  • Set up tables to place cars on when they are not racing.

During the meeting:

  • Cub Scouts check in to the event.
  • Review the rules with attendees.
  • Review heats and divisions.
  • Race the Pinewood Derby® cars.
  • Give out awards and recognition.

Additional Resources

Pinewood Derby® track plans

Scouting Magazine: 20 tips for planning and hosting the best Pinewood Derby®

Other Activities Options

You can choose other activities of your choice.

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Outdoor
5
5
5

Conduct a Raingutter Regatta™.

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Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.