Guide

YOUR SON, SCOUTING, AND YOU

As a parent, you want your son to grow up to be a self-reliant, dependable and caring individual. Scouting has these 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 teaches family values … We know that boys do not join Scouting just to get their character built. Boys join because it is fun.

SCOUTING IS FUN WITH A PURPOSE!

TIGER CLUB PROGRAM

First Grade
I. Tiger Cubs is one-to-one program for boys and adults

II. Each boy/adult team is a member of a Tiger Cub Den which:
A. Has three to eight boy/adult teams
B. Meets 2—3 times each month.
C. Meetings focus around topics know as “Big Ideas.”

III. Each den has a Tiger Cub Den Leader.
A. A Tiger Cub Den Leader helps coordinate the Tiger Cub Den Meetings.
B. Each boy/adult team takes a turn running the activities and working with the Tiger Cub Den Leader.

CUB SCOUT PROGRAM

Second Through Fifth Grade

I. Your boy is a member of a Den which:
A. Has four to eight boys
B. Meets once a week. Regularly scheduled at the Leader’s convenience.
C. Is led by a Den leader (usually a parent)
D. The Den leader is assisted by an assistant den Leader, and often a den chief (an older Boy Scout), and a denner (a Cub Scout elected by Den members).
E. Den meetings include games, crafts, skits, Songs, ceremonies and periodic field trips.

THE CUB SCOUT PACK

First Through Fifth Grade

I. Your boy is a member of a Pack which:

A. Is made up of one or more dens

B. Meets once a month at the Pack meetings—all Tiger Cub and Cub Scout families are expected to Participate.

C. The Pack meeting is led by the Cubmaster

D. The Pack meeting is the climax of the month’s den Meetings and activities.

E. Pack meetings have games, skits, songs, ceremonies and presentation of badges that boys earned that month.

II. Our pack is run by the Pack Committee

A. Made up of den leaders, pack leaders, the pack trainer and all parents.

B. We meet once a month or more often if needed.

C. Led by a committee chairman.

D. The committee selects leadership, finds meeting places, performs record keeping, manages pack finances, orders badges, maintains pack equipment, helps train leaders, and recognizes leaders.

III. Our Pack is owned by a Chartered Organization

A. Charter Organizations include schools, parent-school organizations, religious organizations, service clubs and other organizations interested in youth.

B. Our Charter Organization approves leadership, helps secure a meeting place, keeps pack within sponsor’s and Boy Scout guidelines and policies.

C. Our Charter Organization selects a chartered organization representative (a liaison between our pack and our sponsor.)

TIGER CUB MOTTO

SEARCH, DISCOVER, SHARE

Tiger Cubs, BSA is a 1-year program for first-grade boys. Each boy participates with a parent (or another adult family member) in family oriented activities. These include things from family camping to preparing for emergencies. The time you and your son spend in Tiger Cubs is meant to be fun, a chance to get to know one another better, and do things with your family as well as other members of the Tiger Cub group whom you see at meetings.

CUB SCOUT MOTTO

DO YOUR BEST

In society where your son is often taught that winning is everything, Cub Scouting teaches him to “do his best” and be helpful to others as expressed in the Cub Scout Promise. Cub Scouting is a home and neighborhood-centered program designed to support family life for boys in second through fifth grades. Each Cub Scout learns to respect his home, Country, God and other people. The program also helps boys this age to:

• Learn new physical skills through sports, crafts, and games.

• Learn how to get along with others through group activities

• Reinforce mental skills such as writing and calculating.

• Develop personal independence.

A Cub Scout den provides your son with a group of boys his own age in which he can earn awards and recognition. In the den, he will also gain a sense of personal achievement for the new skills he learns.

THE ADVANCEMENT PLAN

The responsibility of 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 done at home with the family.

TIGER CUBS

The Tiger Cub badge is earned after completing five achievements grouped in three areas: den activity, family activity, and Go See It. After completing the Tiger Cub rank, boys may earn one Tiger Track bead when he completes 10 electives. There is no limit to the number of Tiger Cub beads a boy can earn. Advancements are displayed on a Tiger Cub Totem, which is worn on the Tiger Cub belt.

BOBCAT

All boys in 2nd thru 5th grade earn the Bobcat badge first, by learning the Cub Scout Promise, Law of the Pack, handshake, salute, sign, motto, and meaning of “Webelos.” After receiving the Bobcat badge, the boys work on requirements based on his grade level.

WOLF

A Cub Scout who has completed first grade (or is age 8), works on 12 achievements to earn the Wolf badge. After he earns his Wolf badge, a boy may work on electives in different interest areas until he is old enough to begin work on the next rank.

ARROW POINTS

For every 10 electives a boy completes, he earns an Arrow Point. A boy may earn as many Arrow Points as he can.

BEAR
A Cub Scout who has completed second grade (or is age 9), works to complete 12 of 24 achievements to earn the Bear badge. After he earns his Bear badge, a boy may work on electives in different interest areas until he is old enough to begin work on the next rank. For every 10 electives a boy completes, he earns an Arrow Point . A boy may earn as many Arrow Points as he can.

WEBELOS
When a Cub Scout has completed the third grade (or becomes 10 years old), he transfers to a Webelos den, led by an adult Webelos leader. The boy works on requirements for the Webelos badge, 20 activity badges, and the Arrow of Light Award (the highest award in Cub Scouting). Camping and outdoor programs are an important part of the 18 month Webelos program. In February of a Webelos Scout’s 5th grade year, he graduates from Cub Scouting into the adventure of Boy Scouting at an impressive graduation ceremony. Every boy deserves an opportunity to be a Boy Scout

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

SUMMERTIME CAMPING

Cub Scout Day Camp: An activity for all Cub Scouts that include crafts, games, nature, sports, songs and skits. Camps run 5 days in a local park.

Bear Camp: A 2 day overnight camping experience for 3rd graders and a parent at Scout Camp. Activities include sports, archery, swimming, crafts and campfires.

Webelos Camp: A 3 day and 2 night camping experience for 4th & 5th graders. Activities include swimming, climbing, sports, games, model rockets and more!

PINEWOOD DERBY

Parent/son project that builds a race car made from a block of wood. Boys will race their cars at the Pinewood Derby. Be there the night of the big race!

BLUE AND GOLD BANQUET

Our birthday party for Cub Scouting usually held in February

BOYS’ LIFE MAGAZINE

A magazine for boys and adults. Boys’ Life has interesting features on Scouting, sports, hobbies, magic, science, and U.S. history. There are also jokes, comics and short stories. Magazine is $12.00/year. There are special Tiger Cub and Cub Scouting editions.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Scouting operates through volunteer leadership. Volunteer leaders are an example of Scouting’s 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 help your son and his friends, and to have the chance to be a positive influence on the youth in your community.

WHAT DO YOU RECEIVE IN RETURN?

Being a leaders 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, talents 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 needs 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 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.

PACK VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP

DEN LEADER (S)

Leads the den at weekly den and monthly pack meetings. Attends the monthly pack leaders’ meeting.

CUBMASTER

Helps plan and carry out the pack program with the help of the pack committee. Emcees monthly pack meeting and attends the pack leaders’ meeting.

PACK COMMITTEE

Pack committee (positions listed below) members perform administrative functions of the pack

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

Presides at all pack committee meetings. Helps recruit adult leaders. Also attends pack meetings.

SECRETARY / TREASURER

Keeps all records for the pack, Including pack bank account, financial records, etc. Attends pack meetings and pack committee ADVANCEMENT CHAIRMAN meetings. Maintains advancement records for the pack. Orders and obtains all badges and insignia. Attends pack meetings and committee meetings.

PARENT HELPERS

Function chairman positions to perform “one shot” program jobs such as coordinating pack participation in sales events, Scouting for Food, Pinewood Derby, Blue and Gold Banquet, day camp, etc. These jobs are of short duration.

PACK TRAINER

Organizes the Tiger Cub dens and promotes leader training and Roundtable meeting attendance.