Members of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) are known across the nation for many things; Boy Scouts are easily recognized by their iconic uniforms, and most Americans have been visited by members of a local troop as they sell popcorn from door to door. Perhaps the most famous Boy Scout tradition of all is the pinewood derby, which gives young Scouts an opportunity to design and race their own wooden miniature racecars.

BSA Cub Scout Pack 37 will hold its annual pinewood derby at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 85 E. Brandt Blvd, Landisville. During the event, members of Pack 37 will compete in races against one another with custom-made wooden cars, and refreshments such as hot dogs and popcorn will be available to purchase. The young Scouts will also have a photo opportunity with a backdrop that has been custom-made by parent volunteers, which will include stoplights and a tire from a NASCAR vehicle.

Every year, participants receive their kits to build a derby car two months prior to the race. Each car must meet specific requirements such as maximum weight limits, and parent volunteers bring tools to a meeting to help the kids craft the body of the vehicle from a block of wood. The Scouts then take their racecars home to attach weights, sand the wood and paint a design.

"Personally, the pinewood derby is my favorite event other than our camping trips," said Eric Kelshaw, treasurer of Pack 37. "It's a lot of fun for the kids to do. We also have races for siblings and adult family members of Scouts, but they can't win anything besides bragging rights."

Each participant will vote on their favorite vehicle to determine the top three cars in the design category; the top three cars in the speed category will comprise racers with the fastest finishing times. The six top racers will compete against finalists from other Packs in the area at the Susquehanna District Pinewood Derby on Saturday, April 13. Pack 37 will host the event at the Hempfield Fire Department, 19 Main St., Landisville. Both pinewood derbies are open to the public.

In addition to the annual pinewood derby, Pack 37 offers a different activity for its members every spring, such as a visit to the Battleship New Jersey in 2022. The Cub Scouts also take various camping trips and participate in summer programs throughout the year, which are made possible by selling popcorn and other food items in local neighborhoods and during the pinewood derbies.

For more information, visit http://www.pack37.com.