Behind the Build: Pack 431’s New Website at seminolepack431.org
Behind the Build: Pack 431’s New Website at seminolepack431.org
I recently had the opportunity to develop a new website for our local Cub Scout unit, Pack 431, based in Seminole, Florida. This site serves as a central hub for our pack’s activities, resources, and outreach to new families. Here’s a quick look at how I built it—from the technology stack to the deployment strategy.
🚀 Tech Stack Overview
While many modern projects lean into static site generators and headless CMS platforms, this project called for a more traditional and content-manager-friendly approach:
- CMS: WordPress
- Hosting: Self-hosted on a virtual machine inside Proxmox VE
- Access: Exposed to the web using Cloudflare Tunnels
- Domain Management: Cloudflare DNS + HTTPS via Universal SSL
This stack was chosen to provide our volunteers with a familiar editing experience while still keeping hosting secure and cost-effective.
🛠️ Development & Deployment Approach
Internal Hosting via Proxmox
The site runs on a lightweight Ubuntu LXC container inside my Proxmox cluster. This gave me full control over the environment while keeping overhead low. Resources were optimized for WordPress, including caching, daily backups, and routine updates.
Secure External Access with Cloudflare Tunnel
Rather than opening ports on my home network, I used Cloudflare Tunnel to create a secure, encrypted path between my internal server and the internet. This approach provides:
- Encrypted, zero-trust access
- DDoS protection from Cloudflare
- Simplified HTTPS setup with no port forwarding
WordPress Customization
The site leverages a custom child theme based on the official WordPress Twenty Twenty-Four theme, with added support for:
- A Scouting-inspired color palette and imagery
- Program pages for Lions through AOL ranks
- Embedded forms for new family inquiries
- Responsive design to support mobile devices
Volunteer leaders can easily update content using the block editor, eliminating technical bottlenecks.
🌟 Key Features
- Homepage Highlights: Quick links to joining information, calendar, and rank-specific activities
- Leadership Directory: Role-based contact system with optional privacy
- Pack Calendar: Integrated with Google Calendar for real-time updates
- Resource Library: Documents, handbooks, and uniform guides for parents
- SEO and Performance Optimizations: Caching plugins, lazy loading, and optimized media handling
🔒 Keeping It Safe and Up to Date
Security is baked into the deployment pipeline:
- Auto-updates for WordPress core and plugins
- Daily off-site backups via rsync to local storage
- Fail2ban and UFW firewall configuration on the VM
- Secure admin access with strong passwords and 2FA
🧭 Final Thoughts
Building seminolepack431.org was a fun and rewarding project—not just technically, but because it directly supports the mission of Scouting in our community. By combining modern tools like Cloudflare Tunnels with trusted platforms like WordPress, we created a system that’s secure, user-friendly, and easy to maintain by our volunteer team.
If you’re considering a similar setup for your own organization, feel free to reach out or explore the tech stack I document here on dougjenkins.com.