Welcome to Cub Scouting!
A Guide for New Families

Welcome to the Adventure of Cub Scouts
Where Character Counts and the Adventure Begins!

For Boys in Grades 1 - 5

Why Join Cub Scouts?

• Your time is valuable. Today's families, more than ever, struggle to find time to spend together. Cub Scouting helps to support your family by providing ready-made opportunities for you and your son to do things together.
• Your son needs to belong to a group of boys his own age. Through this sense of belonging he builds his self esteem and learns to get along with others. As a parent, you want to be assured that the groups that your boy joins will teach values consistent with good citizenship, character development, and physical fitness. Boy Scouts of America has been weaving these lifetime values into fun and educational activities since 1910.
• In a society where your son is taught that winning is everything, Cub Scouting teaches him to "do his best" and to be helpful to others.
• Scouting teaches family values and works to strengthen your relationship with your son. Scouting activities can bring added value to the time you already have with your son.

But we know that boys do not join Cub Scouting just to get their character built. Boys join because it's FUN! Scouting is fun with a purpose!

How Does Cub Scouting Work?

One unique thing about Cub Scouting is that you, as his family, join in on the program with your son, and you will help him along the way. The family is the basis of Cub Scouting. Cub Scouts exist to support your family and help enrich your family time together. Boys have a different handbook at each grade level, with suggested activities that are age-appropriate for their developmental level. As your boy advances through these books by working on activities with you, he will earn badges and other recognition that he can wear on his uniform. Your son's success in Cub Scouting depends on you!

The Cub Scout program takes place at two levels. Your son will be a part of a den; a small group of boys in the same grade level who meet weekly. All dens, from grade one through five, make up a pack. Once a month, the dens, with their families, are together at the pack meeting, where boys show off the new skills they have learned during the month and are recognized for the badges they have earned.

Dens

The Tiger Cub Den (Grade 1): Parents are most involved at the Tiger Cub level. The boy and his parent or guardian join the den together and attend all meetings and activities together. The den is made up of three to eight of these parent-son teams. Each den also have a Tiger Cub den leader (usually one of the parents) who helps coordinate the meetings. The parent-son teams take turns running the activities and planning meetings with the Tiger Cub den leader. The den has two meetings a month, either at the homes of host parent-son teams or at a designated facility. one "Go See It" activity (the den, as a group, visits a community place of interest), and they attend the monthly pack meeting.

The Wolf Cub Scout (Grade 2) and Bear Cub Scout (Grade 3) Dens: Parents are vital to the Cub Scout dens both in the role of home support and to help the den leader, but their sons are beginning to be more independent, and not every boy needs a parent at every meeting. The den consists of four to eight boys, a den leader and assistant den leader (usually parents of some of the boys) and often a den chief (an older Boy Scout or Venturer who helps the den leader). They meet once a week at a regularly scheduled time and place, and they also attend the pack meeting with their families.

Webelos Scout Den (Grades 4 and 5): The Webelos den is much like the Cub Scout dens, but there is more emphasis on the boys learning to take leadership roles and on preparing to become Boy Scouts.

Pack Meetings

The Cub Scout pack is made up of all the dens, which meet monthly at the pack meeting, led by the Cubmaster. This is the climax of the monthly den meetings and activities. There are games, skits, songs, ceremonies, and presentations of badges that boys earned during that month. This is where families - not just parents, but siblings, too - can see the achievements of their Cub Scout.

The pack, including families, also participates in other special events throughout the year, including:

• Pinewood Derby - You can build and race a model car with your son.
• Blue and Gold Banquet - Cub Scouting's birthday party - for all pack members and their families - in February.
• Camping - Overnight and day camp opportunities introduce your family to the camping experience.
• Service Projects - Packs may participate in food drives, conservation projects, or other community activities.
• Field Trips and Special Outings - Great ways to learn more about the people and places in your community.

How Can You Help?

The most important help that you, as a parent, can give your boy is to work with him on his Cub Scouting activities. His handbook is full of age-appropriate activities that you will enjoy doing together at home. When he completes an activity or project, it is your responsibility to sign his book to verify that he has done his best. And then it is all-important for you to attend the monthly pack meeting with him, so that you can celebrate his achievement. Your role as a parent is the secret of success of the Cub Scouting program!

The den and the pack also rely on parent participation to run a successful program. Cub Scouting operates through volunteer leadership. Consider volunteering as a member of the pack leadership team or as a parent helper. Volunteer leaders are an example of Scouting's principle of service to others. By volunteering in Scouting, you are also giving your son the gift of your time. What could be more valuable? You will have an opportunity to be a positive influence in the life of him and his friends. Here are some of the ways you could volunteer:

Den Leader. Leads the den at weekly den and monthly pack meetings. Attends the monthly pack committee meeting.

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

The Pack Committee

Pack committee members (positions listed below) perform administrative functions of the pack. The committee meets monthly.

• Committee Chairman. Presides at all pack committee meetings. Helps recruit adult leaders and attends the monthly pack meeting and pack committee meeting.
• Advancement Chairman. Maintains advancement records for the pack. Orders and obtains all badges and insignia. Attends the monthly pack meeting and pack committee meeting.
• Secretary/Treasurer. Keeps all records for the pack, including pack bank account, financial records, etc. Attends monthly pack meeting and pack committee meeting.
• Pack Trainer. Coordinates Fast Start training for adults. Promotes leader training and roundtable meeting attendance. Attends the monthly pack meeting and pack committee meeting.

Parent Helpers

Parent Helpers assist with short-term projects in the den or pack. This might be coordinating pack money-earning projects, service projects, conservation projects, field trips or outings, Blue and Gold Banquet, day camp, Pinewood Derby, pack overnight camping, or field day events.

  Spending Time With Your Child: The Secret of Success!

Come join the fun of Cub Scouting as a family... it's fun! You'll make new friends, too, as you work with the parents of your son's new friends. No job is too difficult when you're having fun as part of a team of Cub Scout parents, reinforcing each others' efforts to help your boys to grow yup to be good citizens.

 Contact us today at the Moraine Trails Council
to get your son signed up for Cub Scouts!

Call 724-287-6791 or email boyscouts@morainetrails.org