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Theme:
Pinewood Derby
Adventures
Snapshot of Pack Meeting and Pinewood Derby Race
The Pinewood Derby is the iconic Cub Scout event. This meeting plan is for a pack meeting that is a build day to allow Scouts to design and get started on building their car and then conducting a Pinewood Derby race as a seperate meeting.
Read this article about conducting a Pinewood Derby race:
Safety Moment
Prior to any activity, use the Scouting America SAFE Checklist to ensure the safety of all those involved.
All participants in official Scouting America activities should become familiar with the Guide to Safe Scouting and applicable program literature or manuals.
Be aware of state or local government regulations that supersede Scouting America practices, policies, and guidelines.
To assist in the safe delivery of the program you may find specific safety items that are related to requirements for the Adventure.
Before starting this Adventure complete the following:
- Review Age Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities before starting a project.
- Cub Scouts are allowed to use common craft tools, such as paintbrushes, scissors, hammers, and screw drivers.
- Know the proper use of the tools that will be used for the project, by any youth or adult.
During the Adventure:
- Give time for proper training on the use of the tools that will be used to complete the project to all youth and adults.
- Provide continuous, qualified adult supervision and discipline during the project.
- Following all manufacturer’s literature and age and skill restrictions shall supersede the recommendations in the publication. If there is a conflict, leaders shall follow the most restrictive guidelines.
Before the Meeting
The details of the Pinewood Derby race should be planned and completed before this pack meeting; this way, the Cub Scouts will have completed all their requirements for the Adventures by participating in the race, and the Adventures can be presented at the race.
Pinewood Derby Track
The pack will need to either build, purchase, or borrow a Pinewood Derby track. If the pack plans to build one, here are the plans to make one out of wood. Pinewood Derby® track plans.
It is recommended to purchase a digital finish line timer that will either give the place each car finished in the heat or give the speed of each car. These timers can be purchased from third-party vendors. This often includes software to keep track of the heats and allows you to project the results with a projector onto a large screen.
If you don’t have a digital timer, make sure that you have an objective judge at the finish line who will determine the winner of each race. In this case, it is best to race only two cars at a time to keep it simple and to have a winner for each heat.
Race Rules
Every Pinewood Derby car kit comes with printed rules for a car’s specifications and other restrictions. Determine any additional rules and how your race will be conducted, including how winners will be determined, write them down, and communicate them to all parents and Cub Scouts.
Pinewood Derby Track
Many Packs will conduct their Pinewood Derby race in January, and in December, they will gift Pinewood Derby Car Kits to their Scouts. This gives Cub Scouts and parents time to build their car over the holiday break. Although this may be tradition in some packs, you should feel free to conduct your race whenever it best meets the needs of your pack.
It is best to communicate details in a written form that is distributed to parents and legal guardians, and referred to often, as this will help ensure everyone is well informed and prepared.
- 30 days before the meeting, confirm access to the meeting location.
- 30 days before the walk, confirm date, time, and location.
- At the Pack Committee or Parents’ Meeting before the Pack Meeting, make assignments using the Pinewood Derby Build Day pack meeting planner.
- Purchase supplies, including Adventure loops and pins.
- 7 days before the meeting, send out a meeting reminder.
- 3 days before the meeting, send out a second meeting reminder.
- The morning of the meeting, send out a third meeting reminder.
- On the day of the meeting, set up the meeting location
- Set Up Den Meeting Breakouts.
- Set Up Activity Stations.
At Home Requirements
Inform parents that they may not be able to completely build their Pinewood Derby car at the pack meeting. They will need to decorate and assemble the car, and ensure it is the proper weight (no more than 5 oz.) before the race.
During The Meeting
Pack Meeting Gathering Activity
As Cub Scouts arrive, make sure everyone has a Pinewood Derby car kit.
Hand out the crossword puzzle and have them start to work on it.
Opening Ceremony and Remarks
Opening Remarks
“Our pack meeting is going to be hands-on as we design and get started on building our Pinewood Derby cars. We are going to spend as much time as we can getting cars cut out, and everyone can get to sanding and decorating. The big race is (give date, time, and location). We are looking forward to this as everyone is working on their Race Time elective Adventure.”
Activity Stations
Set up 2 activity stations, each station is led by an adult who has been given the resources ahead of time to prepare for the activity or activities. Cub Scouts rotate to each station either by den or mulit-rank dens. Each station has an activity for each Cub Scout rank.
Station 1
Pinewood Derby Rules, Good Sportsmanship
Activities and Requirements
Lion Den - Req. 2
Tiger Den - Req. 2
Wolf Den - Req. 2
Bear Den - Req. 2
Webelos Den - Req. 2
AOL Den - Req. 2
Lion Den - Req. 3
Tiger Den - Req. 3
Wolf Den - Req. 4
Bear Den - Req. 4
Webelos Den - Req.4
AOL Den - Req. 4
Station 2
The Physics of Pinewood Derby
Activities and Requirements
Lion Den
Tiger Den
Wolf Den - Req. 3
Bear Den - Req. 3
Webelos Den - Req. 3
AOL Den
Design and Build
Presentations and Ceremonies
Cub Scouts will earn their Race Time Adventure at the Pinewood Derby Race.
Cubmaster Minute and Closing Ceremony
Cubmasters Minute
“Just like in all sports competitions, there are some winners and some losers. In Cub Scouting, there are no losers as long as everyone follows the Cub Scout motto of “Do Your Best”.
Good sportsmanship involves the principles of winning humbly and not bragging. Good sportsmanship also involves losing gracefully. The most important thing is that every Cub Scout here participated, showed good sportsmanship, and most importantly live up to the Cub Scout motto.”
Give another reminder of the date/time/location of the Pinewood Derby race.
Closing Ceremony
Pinewood Derby Race
Before the Race
Review the Derby Race activity page.
If you have not already done so review these materials:
Read this article about conducting a Pinewood Derby race:
It is best to communicate details in a written form that is distributed to parents and legal guardians, and referred to often, as this will help ensure everyone is well-informed and prepared.
- 30 days before the meeting, confirm access to the meeting location.
- 30 days before the walk, confirm date, time, and location.
- At the Pack Committee or Parents’ Meeting before the Pack Meeting, make assignments using the Pinewood Derby Race Day pack meetnig planner.
- Purchase supplies, including Adventure loops and pins.
- 7 days before the meeting, send out a meeting reminder.
- 3 days before the meeting, send out a second meeting reminder.
- The morning of the meeting, send out a third meeting reminder.
- On the day of the race, set up the location, including setting up the Pinewood Derby track and check-in stations.
- Set up other activities for Cub Scouts to do during downtime.
Gathering Activity
Check-in Station
As Cub Scouts arrive, have a check-in station where each car is weighed, dimensions are checked, and each car is confirmed with a race number. Once a car is checked in, it may not be handled by the car owner unless the race official allows it.
After a car is checked in it is sent to the race coordinator to place the car into a heat or bracket or to enter it into the software program. The car is then staged in a location that only the race officials have access to.
Pit Stop Station
Near the check-in station, have an area where minor tweaks can be made to cars that do not meet the check-in standards. Common issues are cars weighing too much or too little. This station can also be used for Cub Scouts to make final adjustments to their car before they check them in.
Photo Station
Have a race-themed background for parents and Cub Scouts to take photos.
Refreshments
Have a station with snacks and drinks.
Opening Ceremony and Remarks
Opening Remarks
“Welcome, Cub Scouts, family members, and guests, to our race time pack meeting. The 8th point of the Scout Law is “A Scout is cheerful.” Being cheerful is always looking on the bright side of things. I am looking forward to cheering for each of you, and I know each of you will cheer each other on.
Being cheerful is easy when things are going the way we want. As Scouts, we do our best and we are cheerful even when things are not going the way we thought they would.”
Pinewood Derby Race
Once all the cars are checked in, the race begins.
For each race or heat, the race coordinator confirms which cars are racing in the heat, and the cars are brought to the start official by the car runners. The start official confirms with the race coordinator that the cars are the correct cars for the heat.
The master of ceremonies announces the cars that are racing in the heat. It is best to announce the names of the Cub Scouts who have cars racing in the heat. All the Cub Scouts who have cars in the heat are invited to sit in a special seating area for racers. This location is close to the end of the track and has a clear view.
Once the cars are confirmed and the Cub Scouts have been seated, the start official counts down and pulls the lever to release the cars.
After the heat, the race official confirms the results, and the master of ceremonies makes the announcement. The cars are removed from the track by the car runners and placed in the staging area. The car runners confirm with the race coordinator which cars are in the next heat and then take the cars to the start official.
Repeat for each heat until all heats have been completed.
Presentations and Ceremonies
Present the Race Time Adventures using the Race Time Adventure Presentation.
Cubmaster Minute and Closing Ceremony
Cubmasters Minute
“Cub Scouts, we had some fast cars and some great-looking cars. When you have followed the Cub Scout Motto to Do Your Best, you can always be proud of yourself. If you feel like you didn’t Do Your Best, there usually is another chance for you to do so.
Good sportsmanship involves the principles of winning humbly and not bragging. Good sportsmanship also involves losing gracefully. The most important thing is that every Cub Scout here participated, showed good sportsmanship, and, most importantly lives up to the Cub Scout motto.”
