Our Beginnings

The roots of Pack 981 began on March 12, 1951 when a charter was issued for a new Cub pack at Des Peres Elementary School in the Kirkwood School District. At that time it was known as Pack 313 and was originally sponsored by the Des Peres School Mother’s Club. It remained in continuous existence through the 1975- 1976 school year when the school district elected to close Des Peres Elementary. The majority of the students were transferred to Westchester Elementary that year, so the leaders of Pack 313 engaged the Westchester PTO as a new sponsoring organization.

The first Cub Pack at Westchester Elementary School was started shortly after the school was first opened in 1956. This Pack was denoted 681 and was sponsored by the Westchester PTA. From 1975 until January 1980, Westchester Elementary supported both packs simultaneously. By that time, many Cub Scouts had shifted from 681 into 313, so on January 7, 1980 Cub Pack 681 was officially disbanded and Pack 313 became the only pack remaining at Westchester Elementary. At that time both packs had been part of the Pioneer District within the St. Louis Area Council. In 1984 the district reorganized and Pack 313 was placed in the newly named New Horizons District. One year later the Area Council elected to simplify its numbering system and have the Cub Packs and the Boy Scout Troops sponsored by the same schools to have the same numeric designation. The Boy Scout Troop at Westchester was denoted 981 so during the 1985-1986 school year Pack 313 officially became the current Pack 981.