AMA District III - Ohio, Pennsylvania & West Virginia
Doylestown Scouts Fly High With Central Bucks’ Sky Pirates
By Kevin Milici
In mid-September, Cub Scouts from Doylestown’s Pack 169 were hosted by "pirates." These pirates, however, were not the seafaring kind—they operate far above sea level … very far above.
The Sky Pirates is a Central Bucks–based club for remote-controlled (RC) aircraft and aeromodelling enthusiasts. Its membership spans absolute beginners to highly experienced pilots. The club’s instructors welcome the opportunity to help newcomers select an aircraft and learn to fly.
Established in 1995, Cub Scout Pack 169 is chartered by the Cold Spring Elementary Home & School Association in Doylestown, PA, and serves boys and girls in grades K through 5.
Pack 169 welcomes scouts from several public schools across Doylestown and Buckingham, focusing on providing a safe, fun atmosphere while teaching the core values of Scouting. Through hands-on adventure and "fun with a purpose," the program helps youth build character, learn citizenship, and develop personal fitness and leadership. By exploring the outdoors, discovering practical life skills, and participating in community service, Scouts gain self-confidence, form lasting friendships, and learn the value of teamwork and doing their personal best.
The Sky Pirates hosted the Pack 169 scouts and their parents at the club's dedicated flying field, located on private farmland in Pipersville. The STEM-oriented event gave Sky Pirates members a chance to engage the scouts in the world of aviation. Scouts rotated in small groups through various stations to learn fundamental flight principles—such as what generates lift to get an aircraft off the ground. They got up-close, hands-on experience with propeller-driven planes, jets, and drones. Sky Pirates session leaders were impressed by the scouts' high level of engagement, thoughtful questions, and surprisingly deep knowledge.
“When Andrew, Cubmaster, reached out about having his Pack visit our Club for a fun, educational (STEM) day I thought it was a great idea. There were a lot of unknowns and subsequent planning involved, especially since I’ve not been involved with doing this kind of event with our club prior. But it all worked out well, the weather cooperated, and I think both Scouts and Sky Pirate members had an enjoyable, exciting, and enlightening day! ” said Sky Pirates President Tim Frank.
The scouts enjoyed ringside seats for live demonstrations of high-speed drones and planes performing thrilling aerobatics. Each scout also launched their own personal model rocket, watching it float safely back to Earth under a deployed parachute.
Reflecting on the event, Pack 169 Cubmaster Andrew Crouthamel shared, “I want to thank the Sky Pirates for an incredible experience. It was heartwarming to see such a large turnout from the club come together for our youth. Between the demonstrations and the rocket launches, the activities ran seamlessly, and our scouts and parents are still talking about it on our chats. I’ve already heard stories of scouts begging for their own RC planes and drones on the drive home—it was a wonderful start to our year!”
Parents interested in getting their children involved in scouting with Pack 169 can reach out via email at pack169cubscouts@gmail.com or by phone at (215) 353-2467. Registration details and meeting schedules for specific grade levels are available upon request.
To learn more about the Sky Pirates, membership options, or their flying field, visit skypirates.org or email SkyPiratesRCflyingclub@gmail.com. You can also arrange a guided visit to the flying field to meet members, ask questions, and watch live flights in progress.
Photo Credit: Andrew Crouthamel
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