Pack 997 packs up trees Saturday

Maricopa residents helped the Cub Scouts of Pack 997 pay for patches, awards and camping trips when they dropped off Christmas trees Saturday during the pack’s 5th annual fundraiser.

“It’s gone from about a dozen and half the first year to almost 60 trees this year,” Cubmaster Gerry Hahn said after the three-hour event. About 20 scouts and another 20 parents and siblings participated.

The average donation was $10 and the money will toward scouting activities, including the camping trip and sleigh ride the pack is going on later this winter.

Hahn said about 150-160 adults and boys will sleep in barracks at Camp Navajo near Flagstaff. The camp is a multi-service training site for all branches of the armed forces, active and reserve.

“The kids get to play in the snow, and for some it’s the first time they’ve ever seen snow,” Hahn said of the yearly trip.

The pack distributed fliers about the Christmas tree pick up throughout Maricopa during the holiday season, and Hahn said the fresh tree lots at Stagestop Marketplace, Bashas’ and Fry’s all handed out the pack’s flier with each tree sold.