The Purposes of Cub Scouting

Since 1930, the Boy Scouts of America has helped younger boys through Cub Scouting. Cub scouting is a year-round family program design for boys who are in the first through fifth grade (7, 8, 9 and 10 years of age). Parents, leaders, and organizations work together to achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting. Currently, Cub Scouting is the largest of the BSA's three membership divisions. The others are Boy Scouting and Venturing.

The ten purposes of Cub Scouting are:

1. Character Development
2. Spiritual Growth
3. Good Citizenship
4. Sportsmanship and Fitness
5. Family Understanding
6. Respectful Relationships
7. Personal Achievement
8. Friendly Service
9. Fun and Adventure
10. Preparation for Boy Scouts

Membership

Cub Scouting members join a Cub Scout Pack, our pack is #529, and they are assigned to a den. Tiger Cubs (first-graders) normally meet twice a month, once for a den meeting and once for a "Go See It" activity. These can be trips such as a visit to a museum, super market, the Police or Fire Departments. Wolf Cub Scouts (second-graders), Bear Cub Scouts (third-graders), and Webelos Scouts (fourth and fifth-graders) normally meet biweekly. Dates and meeting locations of each den is determined by the den leaders and parents.

Volunteer Leadership

Parents of boys in the Pack are involved in the Cub Scout program. They serve in a variety of positions: everything from unit leaders to Pack committee chairmen, committee members, den leaders, and chartered organization representatives. Other positions such as Pack Treasurer, organizing annual activities such as Blue and Gold, Pinewood Derby and the Family Campout are also available.

Who Pays For It?/What are the costs?

New Cub Scout members are asked to pay a one time fee of $40.00. This money covers the scouts annual subscription to Boys' Life and awards earned during the year. The Pack holds one annual fundraiser selling popcorn. Proceeds from the fundraiser helps the Pack pay for activities such as Blue and Gold Banquet and the Family Campout without asking for additional money from families. This of course is dependent on the Pack proceeds from the sale. Each den may set a per meeting or per month "den dues". This money is used to purchase craft supplies or pay for other expenses related to den activities. It is up to each den to decide how much and how often dues are collected. Other costs include uniform purchase.

Advancement Plan

Recognition is important to young boys. The Cub Scouting advancement plan provides fun for the boys, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and strengthens family understanding as adult family members work with boys on advancement projects.

• Tiger Cub. The Tiger Cub program is for first-grade (or age 7) boys and their adult partners. There are five Tiger Cub achievement areas. The Tiger Cub, working with his adult partner, completes 15 requirements within these areas to earn the Tiger Cub badge. These requirements consist of an exciting series of indoor and outdoor activities just right for a boy in the first grade. Adult partners are required to attend all meetings with their scout.
  
  
• Bobcat. The Bobcat rank is for all boys who join Cub Scouting. Bobcat must be earned before any other rank is earned.
  
  
• Wolf. The Wolf program is for boys who have completed first grade (or are age 8). To earn the Wolf badge, a boy must pass 12 achievements involving simple physical and mental skills.
  
  
• Bear. The Bear rank is for boys who have completed second grade (or are age 9). There are 24 Bear achievements in four categories. The Cub Scout must complete 12 of these to earn the Bear badge. These requirements are somewhat more difficult and challenging than those for Wolf rank.
  
  
• Webelos. This program is for boys who have completed third grade (or are age 10). A boy may begin working on the Webelos badge as soon as he joins a Webelos den. This is the first step in his transition from the Webelos den to the Boy Scout troop. As he completes the requirements found in the Webelos Handbook, he will work on activity badges, attend meetings led by adults, and become familiar with the Boy Scout requirements—all leading to the Arrow of Light Award.
  

Activities

Cub Scouting means "doing". Everything in Cub Scouting is designed to have the boys doing things. Activities are used to achieve the aims of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness.

Many of the activities happen right in the den and Pack. The most important are the den meetings and the monthly Pack meetings.

Pack activities include:

• Pinewood Derby
  Get ready to race! Let your imagination run wild with your car design. Some previous designs have been an acoustic guitar, a porcupine, US Spacshuttle and a farm truck.
  
  
• Blue and Gold Banquet
  The banquet is held every February to celebrate the birth of Scouting. Dinner and dessert is provided. Dens create annual theme based table decorations. We say goodbye to our Fifth-Grade Webelos as they cross over to Boy Scouts. We also take time to thank their leaders/parents for their contributions to the Pack over the years.
  
  
• A Night on the USS Slater
  Do an exciting overnight stay of the last remaining Destroyer Escort in the world. During World War II 563 Destroyer Escorts battled Nazi U-Boats on the North Atlantic protecting convoys of men and material. In the Pacific they stood in line to defend naval task forces from Japanese submarines and Kamikaze air attacks. Today, only one of these ships remains afloat in the United States, the USS Slater. Moored on the Hudson River in Albany, New York, the USS Slater has undergone an extensive ten-year restoration that has returned the ship to her former glory.
  
  
• Build a Rocket
  How high can you make a paper rocket fly? Make your own paper rocket and launch it into the sky using air.
  

Cub Scout Academics and Sports

The Cub Scout Academics and Sports program provides the opportunity for boys to learn new techniques, increase scholarship skills, develop sportsmanship, and have fun. Participation in the program allows boys to be recognized for physical fitness and talent-building activities.

Cub Scouting Ideals

Apart from the fun and excitement of Cub Scout activities, the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack, the Tiger Cub motto, and the Cub Scout sign, handshake, motto, and salute all teach good citizenship and contribute to a boy's sense of belonging.

• Cub Scout Promise: I, (name), promise to do my best To do my duty to God and my country, To help other people, and To obey the Law of the Pack.
  
• Cub Scout Motto: Do Your Best.
  
• Tiger Cub Motto: Search, Discover, Share.
  
• Law of the Pack: The Cub Scout follows Akela. The Cub Scout helps the Pack go. The Pack helps the Cub Scout grow. The Cub Scout gives goodwill.

Colors

The Cub Scout colors are blue and gold. They have special meaning, which will help boys see beyond the fun of Cub Scouting to its ultimate goals. The blue stands for truth and spirituality, steadfast loyalty, and the sky above. The gold stands for warm sunlight, good cheer, and happiness.

Publications

Volunteers are informed of national news and events through Scouting magazine (circulation 900,000). Boys may subscribe to Boys' Life magazine (circulation 1.3 million). Both are published by the Boy Scouts of America. Also available are a number of youth and leader publications, including the Tiger Cub Handbook, Wolf Handbook, Bear Handbook, Webelos Handbook, Cub Scout Leader Book, Cub Scout Program Helps, and Webelos Leader Guide.