Olney Scouts Make A Splash At Boat Race

The newly formed Olney Cub Scout Pack made waves over Memorial Day weekend as local scouts traveled to Wichita Falls to participate in the Northwest Texas Council’s 2026 Scout Day at Castaway Cove, marking the pack’s first appearance in the annual cardboard boat race.

Held May 25 at Castaway Cove Waterpark, the event welcomed Cub Scout packs from across the Northwest Texas Council, headquartered in Wichita Falls. Scouts competed in a crowd-pleasing challenge that required teams to build boats using only cardboard and duct tape.

For Olney’s young pack, the day offered both competition and camaraderie.

Scout leader Chris Garcia said the local pack entered five boats in the race, an impressive showing for a group still in its early stages.

“This was Olney’s first time to enter as we are a newly formed Cub Scout Pack,” Mr. Garcia said.

Although none of Olney’s entries placed in the official standings, the scouts returned home with a memorable honor. Katherine and Charlotte Garcia’s boat, The Valkyrie, captured the event’s “Crowd Favorite” award.

The Memorial Day outing showcased Olney’s growing Cub Scout program and gave local families a chance to celebrate their scouting spirit — even when the boats did not quite sail to victory.