Editor’s Note: The members of Den 4, Cub Scout Pack 37, in South Portland spent a month recently on the theme of “Spread the News,” studying newspapers. The fourth-graders, with the help of Den Leader Amy Jones, looked at different newspapers, searching for various topics, pictures and people, and also chose their own topics on which to write stories, which they submitted to the Current.

Current Editor Jeff Inglis also spoke to the group about newspapers, telling them how newspaper reporters decide what stories to work on and go about researching and writing them.

The following are the Cubs’ stories:

The Indy Car Race

By Jacob Guay, age 8

On the last Friday in August me, my dad, my uncle and my grandfather (Pep) went to an Indy car race in Pennsylvania. My dad drove and it was a very long trip. It was a very hot and sunny day out. When we got to the hotel, we went to sign in. We went in our room and it was a mess so we had to call room service. While it was being cleaned we went to dinner and it was good. It was by an airport and we saw airplanes and helicopters. After that we went up into our room again got our bathing suits on, and went down to the pool for a swim. When we were done swimming we went back up to our room and went to bed. I had a bunk bed. I was on the top and Pep was on the bottom.

On Saturday we all went out for breakfast at a diner. I had chocolate chip pancakes. They were very good. We drove to the track and went into the garage and met some of the drivers and got lots of autographs. I went on bouncy slides, played games and won prizes. I won a poster and a flag, and they are in my room hanging on my wall. We all watched some qualifying races, which was fun to see. Then we all went back to the hotel and went swimming. After we were done swimming we all went back to our room, got dressed and went to dinner. After we were done eating our dinner we went back up to our room, got our pajamas on and went to bed.

On Sunday when all of us woke up we went to the diner for breakfast and then went right to the race. When we got there it was like 103 degrees out. When the race started we went inside and drank lots and lots of soda and Gatorade. The race was 225 laps around and it took about 2 hours. I was so hot. Dan Weldon won the race and after the race was done we went to go look at the stores that they had. The first store that we went to I bought a Tony Kanaan race car. It is cool. Then we went to some more stores and then we all went back and we saw race car games so we played those. Then sadly we had to go home.

Welcome home

By Andrew Jones, age 9, assisted by his Akela (adult mentor), Amy Jones

Last summer, my family welcomed into our home, our newest family members. I am the proud big brother of two Maltese puppies. We have a boy puppy named “Puffy” and a girl named “Fluffy.” They are boyfriend and girlfriend and someday they will get married and then have baby puppies. I can’t wait. I was trying to think of puppy names: Muffy, Buffy, Stuffy and Little Huffy. I think they are great.

It is so much fun when we put on their life jackets and take them on our boat. They seem to like boating. I thought that was cool. I liked it more when Puffy rode on our jet ski. My mom was so nervous, even though Puffy seemed to have liked it.

We once took a trip to the top of Mount Washington with my little friends. They didn’t seem to mind the cold temperature much. I had them wrapped up well. They got to warm up and run around in the museum. They seem to like adventures.

We like taking the puppies for car rides. They, too, like going for rides and sticking their little heads out the car window. People smile when they drive by.

When the weather is warm again, Fluffy and Puffy will come to school and be my after school greeter. I like it when I get to see my little friends, especially when friends from school ask to hold and pat them. I tell them to be very careful. They sure love the attention.

It was so much fun, when my friends from Coastal Community Church came for a cookout and played around and hugged the puppies. They thought that Puffy and Fluffy were adorable. I agree.

Our favorite time is playing in the backyard. They don’t usually play outside in the snow. They are too small and white and would get lost in it. When we didn’t have snow, it was fun to watch them chase each other and then sometimes they like to chase me and kiss me all over, YUCK, puppy germs. They don’t need much exercise so they get tired easily. Puffy likes to play fetch. Sometimes he doesn’t like to share. Right now, I am trying to teach them to hold a toy on their nose, but sometimes they get too distracted.

It’s nice to have the puppies with me when I watch television. It’s funny to watch them bark at the show, Animal Planet. They are so silly.

I am so glad and I thank God that we have Fluffy and Puffy, they bring a smile to my face whenever I think of them.

My Mom and Dad both wanted to wait in getting a family pet until I was old enough to help with its care. It feels good when my parents both say that I am very responsible. I have to be, they are my pets.

Sharks

By Michael Joys, age 8

There are almost 400 different types of sharks in the world. They come in all types of sizes, shapes and colors.

Some sharks have over 2000 teeth. Sharks do not chew their prey, they swallow it or they bite of chunks. A Great White can kill in one bite.

Sharks have very good hearing. They hear vibration. Sometimes they can hear fish swimming up to a half a mile away. Sharks move their heads from side to side so they can smell their victims. Sharks only see well if the other fish are close to them. Sharks see well in the dark.

Sharks have been around for 350 million years. They are older than dinosaurs.

Sharks live in warm water because they are cold blooded.

Sometimes a shark will attack a person. Less than 100 people are killed by sharks each year.

The Great White is the shark people are scared the most of. They can weigh up to 1400 pounds and be 15 feet long.

A Great White shark eats 11 tons of food in 1 year.

The Great White is considered an endangered species in some parts of the world.

Raising chicks

By Caleb Dyer, age 9

I am a 9-year-old student at Skillin School. When I was in second grade, the class and I received 12 eggs from a farm. My teacher, Mrs. King, told the class we have eggs to take care of; this was our new class project.

The first thing that happened was Mrs. King put the eggs in the incubator. In the afternoon we went in a dark room and shined a flashlight under the eggs, and got to see the chicks inside the egg. Several weeks went by before they hatched. But the day of the school fair our teacher told us the chicks hatched.

I got to hold a newborn chick. After caring for the chicks for two weeks, the class returned the chicks to the farm.

Foundation for life

By Amy Jones, den leader

A few years ago, my son was in search for a fun social group with boys his own age. We were invited to a Cub Scout meeting through an invitation shared by his school. We discovered that scouting would be a great year-round family program.

I accepted the role as a Tiger Cub den leader, not knowing what sort of bond I would discover with my cubs and their adult Akelas. Three years later, I am still an active part of scouting, now as Bear den leader, Den 4, Pack 37. I have learned that my role in Scouting is a blessing. I am able to provide my cubs with tools to help develop good character habits, positive attitudes and encourage them to be good citizens. I have had the privilege of seeing these boys grow in friendship, in adventure, in reaching out to the community and just doing their best.

The many badges that are recognized on uniforms worn by my scouts, shows honor and commitment to Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America and to themselves. Recognition of Cub Scouting has marked another anniversary, its 75th year. We enjoyed celebrating this special occasion at an evening gathering called the “Blue and Gold Banquet.” Every year we celebrate an anniversary with a cake bake. Our boys will bake different theme cakes and raffle them off, they will vote for a variety of styles and then receive awarded trophies.

I am grateful that in 1930, a vision to include the younger generation of boys became a reality.

I am looking forward to our next adventure in the spring. The event will be our “Crossover,” a time when our scouts say farewell to the year they had embarked and advance onto the next level of Scouting. This year, my den will advance into Webelos. “Webelos” means “We’ll Be Loyal Scouts.”

My favorite view on Scouting is the founding belief of serving God. I am an active member of Coastal Community Church in Scarborough. Through Coastal, I have learned, developed and discovered a foundation for life, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I feel that the many gifts, talents and tools gathered from my personal Christian walk has been a positive blessing in my active role as a Cub Scout den leader.

Den 4, Pack 37, South Portland