This is one of the most popular events of the whole year!! You and your scout should be working on getting your rocket built.
A great resource is located by clicking here!
See the Band Calendar for Launch Day!
Here is a quick run down of what to expect:
You will need to purchase a rocket, engine, and wadding.
If it’s your first time, buy a BEGINNER LEVEL model rocket. Estes is the major brand, but others will work as well. You can find them on Amazon or at Hobby Lobby/Mark Twain hobby shop. The beginner ones typically take less than an hour to assemble and fly just as well as the higher levels. They are just easier to assemble. We recommend building it at least the day before because most have glue that will need to dry.
Each model rocket will tell you what engines are compatible with it on the box or you can check the description on Amazon. Stick with A level rockets for your first time. Each level rocket generally goes twice as high as the last, so a C level will go 4x as high as an A level (A slowest, B faster, C even faster). A level engines provide plenty of flight time and they are way easier to find afterward. The higher level engines tend to end up in the crop field and get lost.
However, if you get a larger rocket, it may need a larger class engine to accommodate for the weight. We recommend going with the lowest class recommended for your rocket, because they're easier to reclaim. We'll usually shoot off a few class C's just for fun, but sometimes we don't get them back. Engines usually come in multi-packs. One pack is usually enough, but if you have an eager Scout or just want to be safe, you can buy multiple.
Finally, you will need wadding. It’s universal to any rocket and one package should will be more than enough. It looks like sheets of paper/toilet paper and is stuffed into the rocket to make sure it doesn’t burn up the parachute. The wadding is biodegradable and gets ejected from the rocket during flight, but you only need 2-3 squares per launch. If you want to skip this part, the Pack usually has extra. If you have a younger Scout one package will likely last a few years worth of rocket launches.
The Pack provides the electronic launcher (not the starters, those are different and typically included with the engines), the launch pad. You will just need to assemble your rocket ahead of time and bring your accessories. You can probably get everything for under $30. If cost is an issue, let the Pack know.
Here are some good beginner rockets that are pretty easy to put together.
There are also some that you can buy that are preassembled, and that's perfectly fine. This is a no judgement zone.