Pack 165 was founded in 2008 as a neighborhood effort in the Cordera subdivision of Colorado Springs, with the Chinook Trail Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) as its Chartered Organization. This initial group of less than 10 Cubs and Webelos experienced 100% annual growth per year for two years, stabilizing in the 2011-2012 academic year with a pack total of 41 boys.
Pack 165 has enjoyed a core of strong parent participation, with Den Leaders almost always coming from the specific Den. Through 2012, Pack 165 had only had single Dens for each year group. However, in the fall of 2012, with the growth of the pack, two separate Tiger dens were created. This may continue in the future, if growth trends continue.
The original Cubmaster, John Rheinbolt, also served in the position of Committee Chair for two years, and served the pack in a leadership position for four years. Gerrit Slatter took over as cubmaster in February 2012, relieving Shane Deichman, who also served diligently as cubmaster for the prior two years. Bob Kita took over Committee Chair duties in July, 2012. In May of 2014, Gerrit Slatter handed over the Cubmaster duties to Joe Houk.
Finally, the original “Executive Officer” (the leader of the Chartered Organization), Mike Cleary, has maintained strong ties to the Pack even though his sons are Boy Scout age (one of whom served as “Den Chief” for Pack 165’s Webelos). As of February 2012, Mike became our Chartered Organization Representative with the Cordera Community Association.