The Cub Scouts are part of the Boy Scouts of America and have a long tradition of providing lots of fun activities for young boys. In October 2017, the Boy Scouts of America’s Board of Director’s announced they would be expanding their traditionally all-boy Cub Scouts to include girls. Although girls will now be active Cub Scouts, Dens will remain single-gender and girls will participate in all requirements listed for each rank. In Pack 69 we believe that Cub Scouting is fun but it's fun with a purpose. Here is some information to help you understand how Pack 69 practices Cub Scouting. We follow the rules and policies set by the national organization.

What is Scouting?

The Boy Scouts, founded in England in 1908, is a worldwide organization for character development and citizenship training. A Cub is defined as an awkward or inexperienced youth. Cub Scouting is a program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for parents, leaders, and chartered organizations to use with kindergarten through fifth-grade children. Scouting aims to build on four key points - citizenship, character development, personal fitness, and leadership. We strive to teach our Scouts life skills and social foundations that will help bring out the very best in our little leaders!

Purpose of Cub Scouting

Children, parents, leaders, and sponsoring organizations work together to achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting:

• • Positively influence character development and encourage spiritual growth

  • Help children develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship

  • Encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body Improve understanding within the family

  • Strengthen children’s ability to get along with others and respect other people

  • Show how to be helpful and do one’s best

  • Foster a sense of personal achievement by helping children develop new interests and skill

  • Show how to be helpful and do one’s best

  • Provide fun and adventure

  • Prepare children to further develop as Scout

Scout Parents

Parents play an important role in our Pack. The leaders will do their best to provide a quality program, but all the leaders are volunteers and have other obligations. We depend on parents to help maintain the excellent program we have established. In Pack 69, we believe that parents also play a key leadership role. We ask for every parent to help the Pack in some capacity. You should do your share in organizing Den meetings and working with the Den Leader of your Scout’s Den. In addition, you should help with at least one Pack activity a year (e.g. Pinewood Derby, Blue & Gold Dinner, or an outing). A parent should actively attend Den and Pack meetings together with their Cub Scout.

Scouting Lingo

The Den

A Scout is a member of a Den. A Den typically consists of four to ten Scouts, all in the same grade. The Den usually meets 2 to 4 times per month and is led by a parent (adult) called a Den Leader and one or more assistants (also parents). Den Meetings typically last one hour but can exceed the one hour depending on what is being presented. The Den allows Scouts to get to know each other better and engage in activities that would be difficult in Pack meetings. Den meeting activities are planned around monthly themes and include games, handicrafts, outdoor fun, and taking part in simple ceremonies, and songs. Work on advancement requirements is included, but parents are vital helpers in completing requirements for advancement. The Den Leaders will ask for special assistance occasionally from parents, such as helping with a meeting, sharing a special skill, or providing a snack for the Scouts.

Dens are organized by rank (Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos, Arrows of Light). Ranks are organized by grade and age. Keep in mind that grade is the primary determination for ranking and age is the backup. Note: A Cub that is held back a year in school generally continues on with the Scouting program with their original Den. Please note that you or an adult member of your family must attend the meeting with your Scout.

The Pack

A Pack is made up of all the Dens in our group. The Pack meets once every month for a Pack Meeting. These Pack Meetings, which all Cub families should attend, let the Scouts show off the skills they have learned at the Den meetings. At the Pack Meetings Scouts may receive badges and awards they have earned. The Cubmaster is responsible for the Pack program. Pack 69 usually communicates with families through meetings, e-mail, Facebook, this website, Remind app (via invitation only), and WhatsApp. If you do not have access to the members section of the website or Remind app and you are an active member, please reach out to us via email.

The Pack Committee

The Pack Committee is the “Board of Directors” of the Pack. This leadership is the group of parents that work to plan Pack meetings and other activities, manages the Pack’s money, orders badges and supplies, and take care of other behind-the-scenes tasks. The Pack Committee Chairman presides over the Committee. There are many positions in the Pack that you can be a part of! You can ask any leader if there are any openings. All Scout parents are invited to attend the Pack Committee meetings. We value your input!

The Chartered Organization

Scouting Units are “owned and operated” by a local community organization. Pack 69 is “chartered” by the Silver Palm United Methodist Church.