Your Son, Scouting, and You
As a parent, you want your son to grow up to be a person of worth, self-reliant, dependable, and caring individual. Scouting has there same goals in mind for him. Since 1910, we have been weaving lifetime values into fun and educational activities designed to assist parents in strengthening character, good citizenship, and physical fitness in youth.
Scouting IS family values. However, Cub Scout age boys do not join just to build character. Boys join Cub Scouting because IT IS FUN!!
Statistics show that over the long term, boys and young men who have experienced Scouting’s programs are more likely to have success in school, career, and family, as well as stronger ethics and better relationships with others. For example:
- Boys with 5 or more years in Scouting (98%) are more likely to graduate from high school than those who never were a Scouts (83%).
- Former Scouts (40%) are also more likely to be college graduates than non-Scouts (16%).
- 33% of men who were Scouts for five years or more have household incomes of $50,000 or more, compared to 17% of non-scouts.
(SOURCE: 1995 Harris and Associates study)
Scouting is Family Oriented
Activities are intended for the whole family
You will work with your son on his advancement award requirements
Many skills he will learn are family oriented
The Cub Scout Den
Your son is a member of a Cub Scout Den
The den meets 1-2 times per month
The den is led by a Den Leader (usually a parent)
The Den Leader usually has an Assistant Den Leader and may have a den Chief (a Boy Scout helper) and a denner (a Cub Scout elected by den members)
Den meetings may include games, crafts, songs, ceremonies, but always lots of FUN!
The Cub Scout Pack
Your son is a member of a Cub Scout Pack
The pack meets once per month – all Cub Scout families attend
The pack meeting is led by the Cubmaster
The pack meeting is the highlight of the month’s den meetings and activities
Pack meetings may have games, songs, skits, ceremonies, and presentations of badges that the boys earned during the month.
The Pack Meeting
The pack is run by a committee of volunteer parents
The pack committee is made up of all den leaders, the Cubmaster, and parents
The pack committee is led by a committee chairperson
The committee plans den and pack meetings around a monthly theme
The committee selects leaders, performs record keeping, manages finances, funds meeting places, orders, badges, maintains pack equipment, helps train leaders, and recognizes leaders.
The Chartered Organization
The pack is sponsored by a chartered partner. Our pack is Chartered to the Willard School PTO, but can be any school, religious organization, service club, or other organization interested in helping youth
The chartered partner approves leaders, provides a meeting place, and operates the pack within their own guidelines and the guidelines of the Boy Scouts of America
The chartered organization selects a representative to serve as a liaison between the pack and the organization
The responsibility for a boy’s advancement in Cub Scouting lies with the family and not with the pack. Some advancement requirements are done at den meetings, but most are completed at home with the family.
Bobcat
All boys, regardless of age, earn the Bobcat Badge first, by learning the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout Motto, handshake, salute, sign, and meaning of “WEBELOS.” After receiving the Bobcat Badge, the boys work on requirements based on their grade level.
Tiger
Boys in 1st grade are part of a Tiger Den. They work closely with an adult partner to accomplish activities in the handbook. Achievement beads are presented and worn on a Totem on the Uniform. After completing 6 core adventures and two electives, the Tiger is presented with the Tiger Badge.
Wolf
A Cub Scout who has completed the 1st grade (or is 8) works on 6 core adventures and two electives to earn the Wolf Badge. After he earns his Wolf Badge, a boy may work on electives in different interest areas until he graduates from the 2nd grade.
Bear
A Cub Scout who has completed the 2nd grade (or is 9) works to complete 6 core adventures and two electives to earn the Bear Badge. After he earns the Bear Badge, a boy may work on electives in different interest areas until he graduates the 3rd grade.
Webelos
When a Cub Scout has completed the third grade (or is 10) he joins a Webelos den. The boy works on 5 core adventures and 2 electives to earn his way to an Arrow of Light Scout.
Arrow of Light
The Arrow of Light Award is the highest award in Cub Scouting! Camping and outdoor programs are an important part of the two year Webelos program. In March of the Webelos Scout’s 5th grade year at the Blue and Gold ceremony, he graduates from Cub Scouting into the adventures of Boy Scouting at an impressive graduation ceremony. Every boy deserves an opportunity to be a Boy Scout.
Pinewood Derby
Parent and son work together to build a gravity powered miniature race care from a special kit.
Blue & Gold Banquet
This is the birthday party for Cub Scouting held by the pack, usually in March. Dinner and a special program is customary.
As evening approaches, a solemn graduation ceremony begins. The Arrow of Light scouts become Boy Scouts as members of the Scout Troop welcome them to their ranks.
Pack Family Camping
Each year Pack 5 schedules local camping in the spring and fall to Sage Park, Timberlin Park or YMCA Camp Sloper. The Pack cooks family style for all meals. Camping is local to allow integration to other community activities such as baseball or soccer.
Cub Scout Day Camp
An exciting summertime activity that includes crafts, games, nature, sports, BB guns, archery, and LOTS of FUN! Camps are held at local Scout Reserves.
Cub Scout Resident Camp
Another exciting summertime activity that includes crafts, games, nature, sports, BB guns, archery, water activities, campfire programs, and MORE FUN!
Overnight Excursion
Each year boys have the opportunity to attend an overnight excursion. Trips have included sleeping at Battleship Cove, sleeping with the fish at Mystic Aquarium, and an overnight in the Boston Science Museum.
Annual Crossover
Each June the pack holds a special bridging party at Sage or Timberlin Park. As the boys advance in grade they move up to their next advancement challenge.
Scouting operates through volunteer leadership. Volunteer leaders are an example of Scouting principle of service to others. Naturally, parents are the primary source of leaders in the Scouting program. You volunteer not only to serve Scouting, but also to serve your son and his friends, and to have the chance to be a positive influence on the youth in your community.
What does is it take to be a volunteer? A long, rich background of Scouting involvement is NOT required! What is needed is a desire to work with and help young people, a willingness to make time in your weekly schedule and the rest is easy! Lots of resources and training are available and many people will support your efforts.
What Do You Receive in Return?
Being a leader is fun, challenging, and rewarding. Leaders find that their experiences help them to become better parents. The following are some of the many dividends that will enrich your life as you dedicate your time, talent, and enthusiasm to Scouting:
- Fun and fellowship with other families, sharing your pride in the boys’ accomplishments.
- The privilege of helping to enrich and strengthen families.
- A chance to help boys learn good citizenship and to help shape them into men who have strength of character and are sensitive to the need of others.
- The opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of boys as they grow strong in mind and body.
- A code to live by which will set a worthwhile example for both boys and adults.
- The satisfaction of being a member of a worldwide movement, and pride in being publicly identified as a part of this organization – wearing the Scouting uniform is a visible means of showing you believe in and stand up for the ideals and objectives of the Boy Scouts of America.
Den Leader(s)
Leads the den at weekly den meetings and monthly pack meetings
Attends the leaders’ meetings throughout the year
Cubmaster
Helps plan and carry out the pack program with the help of the pack committee
Emcees the monthly pack meeting and attends the leaders’ meetings
Pack Committee
Pack committee members (positions listed below) perform administrative functions of the pack
Committee Chair
Presides at all pack committee/leaders’ meetings
Helps recruit adult leaders and committee members
Treasurer
Keeps records for the pack, including pack bank account, Scout Store, etc.
Attends monthly pack meetings and leaders’ meetings
Advancement Chair
Maintains advancement records for the pack
Orders and obtains all badges and awards for the boys
Attends monthly pack meetings and leaders’ meetings
Parent helpers
Each year the pack will undertake many short term projects. Parents are needed for activities such as pack fund-raisers (popcorn sale, can drives, etc.), Pine Wood Derby, Blue & Gold Banquet, Friends of Scouting, Pack Graduation/Picnic, Day Camp, Resident Camp, etc. These jobs are short duration and still enable all families to assist with the pack responsibilities.