Rocket Event - What you need to know

​When:  This Saturday, June 17 at 10:30 am at Ralston Park in Mendham, NJ.   Open to boys in grades K through 5 and current Pack 133 Scouts.  Scouts should come in their Class B uniforms (scout t-shirts).
Update:  
It's not too late to pick up a rocket or volunteer - we already have 52 boys registered for this event and most of them have picked up their free Giant Red Rockets.   We are really going to blast off this year!!   Brookside Engine Company will have a Fire Truck on site for the kids extra enjoyment.  Water & snacks will be provided.  This is going to be a stellar event with rocket prizes for the "closest to rocket (pin)":  When your son's rocket lands the closest to a prize rocket you may win it!  On the morning of the event, we will sign in the scouts (first come, first in line to launch).  So for the few scouts that want to leave early (the event ends around 1:00pm), make sure you arrive and sign in early (well before first rocket firing at 10:30am).
Volunteers Still Needed
I want to thank the 15 volunteers who already signed up to muster the stations (a special thanks to those Troop 1 Boy Scouts!).  We still need about 4 or more volunteers so please send an email to [email protected] or call 201.602.4938 if you are interested.   Volunteers should arrive at the event by 9:45am for a quick briefing.   We need a couple more people at the engine mounting station, repair table, and check in/ snack table.   We could also use a couple more canopy (tents), folding tables, chairs, and water jugs.   If anyone has these available please respond to the aforementioned email.  
Rocket Pick Up
For those of you that still need to pick up your rockets please come to the Stroup's house at 11 Knollwood Drive in Mendham Borough (cross street Dean Road) on Tuesday or Wednesday from 6pm-8:30pm.
Tips for Rocket Assembly
If you have not already assembled your rocket there are a few important tips:  1) follow the directions; 2) be sure to secure the shock cord per the directions so it doesn't break upon ejection/landing;  3) use the wadding (paper) to stuff (lightly) in your rocket before the parachute is inserted - we have provided 5 pieces in a zip-lock bag - sometimes 4 pieces may be a better fit so the things are nice and loose inside; 4) carefully roll & fold the parachute per the directions and loosely insert it into the tube; 5) make sure the nose cone is not too tight (or too loose);  and 6) most important - do not get any glue around the threads of the motor cap (the screw-on plastic cap on the bottom of the rocket).  If you get glue on it, it won't come off at the event when we need to take it off and insert a motor.  So remove the cap before apply glue to the fins.  Replace and unscrew the cap to make sure it goes on and comes off easily.
What to Expect the Day of the Event
Come early to check in your rocket as scouts will launch their rockets in the order received.  We recommend that you arrive by 10:30 or as early as 10:00am.   Once checked in, the rockets will be numbered sequentially and adult volunteers will load engines in the rockets and set them up on the launch pads while the boys wait in about four lines.  Again the boys will go in the order based on their check in number (sequentially -first come first to launch).   One or two bulls-eyes will be set up in the field with rocket prizes.   Prizes are won for the "closest to the pin" e.g. the scout that is closest to the prize wins that prize after all rockets are launched.   Similar to a golf event,  only the closest is marked with a flag and if someone else gets even closer the new leader is marked (and previous leader is bumped out).  This occurs until all rockets are launched and prizes are awarded at the end of the event (around 12:45).   Please explain to the boys that this event is made to be fun and winning a prize is mostly luck as the wind controls the landing and the boys will not be able to adjust (angle) the launch pads for this event. 
We have reserved a sunny day with little wind but if for any reason Mother Nature creates rain or wind (above 15-20mph) we may need to postpone the event.
Looking forward to blast off,
The Rocket Man - Jim Stroup
201.602.4938