Cub Scouting 101

What New Scouts and Parents Need to Know

This summary highlights the key points a new scout and parent need to be aware of.

Note that this doesn’t take the place of all the information contained in the pack handbook or your child’s rank-specific handbook, so if you have a question, be sure to look there.  Even so, I apologize in advance for the length of this document.

Cub Scouts in a Nutshell

Cub Scouts is a family-oriented program for children to develop character, citizenship, family relationships, skills, fun, and reverence towards God.  It’s based upon several methods, including outdoor activities, achievement of awards, and uniforms to mention just a few.  Since 1930, millions of American children have participated in this program.

Children of the same age/grade level are organized in dens, and the collection of dens form a pack.

Meetings

Each den meets weekly (Lions meet 1-2 a month), unless otherwise noted. The third Tuesday of the month is the Pack Meeting, when all the dens meet together for awards and other fun. These meetings start at 6:30 PM, and go until 7:30 PM.

Leadership (Volunteers)

All of the adult leaders are VOLUNTEERS, i.e., parents just like you, who recognized that the quality of their child’s scouting experience depends on the quality and commitment of the leaders. There are roles in the den level (den leaders) and at the pack level (Cubmaster, assistant Cubmasters, and the Pack Committee).

The Pack Committee has several roles in support of the program (outings, budget, equipment, training coordinator, service projects, etc.)

Communication

A volunteer-run group this size in this fast-paced culture faces communication challenges.  As such, we have relied on the following primary communication methods:

  • Email distribution lists, maintained by Scoutbook. It is arranged by Dens and has the den leader info for each den available to you.
  • We will post most announcements to our Facebook closed group “Evans Pack 417” only current cub scout families have access to the group.
  • Announcements at our meetings

Uniform

Your child will need a Cub Scout uniform shirt and belt from the scout.  You are welcome to find “experienced” uniforms at garage sales, craigslist, etc. The scout shop sells uniform pants with zip-off pants legs and adjustable waistbands, and frankly they are probably one of the better pieces of merchandise there.  If a uniform purchase poses a hardship for your family, please let the Committee Chair or Cubmaster know; we have several used uniforms available to loan out, and such a need is kept in strict confidence.  It is the policy of this pack and the Georgia Carolina Council that money should not a barrier for a child to be involved in scouting.  The uniform (often referred to as the “Class A Uniform”) is worn to every Pack meeting.

The uniform can be purchased at the Georgia Carolina Scout Shop, 4316 Three J Road, Evans, GA 30809.

When you purchase a uniform from the Scout Shop it comes with most of the patches already sewn on, however you will need to purchase the pack numbers, 417 and sew them on. The Scout Shop will also sew them on for a small fee.

Advancement

Each year (rank) of Cub Scouts the children work on a specific rank badge and other awards.   All of this is called “advancement”.  This is explained in your child’s handbook, as well as the pack handbook.

Note that since advancement activities largely happens in the den, regular attendance is critical!

Also, the very first thing you and your child should work on is the Bobcat badge, as explained in your child’s handbook.

Camping

Camping is an integral part of the scouting experience.  Our pack camps a couple of times per year, with the activity open to the entire family.  It is always our goal to have a safe, fun, experience that the children will want to repeat.  As such, we are not here to slay dragons or bivouac like the Marines.  We are always aware that we have first-time campers and as such, we’ve taken great efforts to make it easy for families.  Please don’t feel like you need to run out and spend hundreds of dollars on camping gear; most everything you need is at Wal-Mart.  If that poses a funding challenge, please ask about borrowing equipment; many members of the pack have an abundance of tents and sleeping bags. See our Camping 101 page for more information. 

Behavior

Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell (BP, Baden-Powell), the founder of the scouting movement once said “a boy is not a sitting creature”.  Yet while recognizing this, he and others crafted a program that focuses on character.  This was no accident, and to this day, everyone has an expectation of how a scout should act.  It’s sufficient to say that we expect our scouts to act like scouts should act.  Their behavior should not reflect negatively upon themselves, their family, our Cub Scout pack, or scouting in general.    In keeping with this, we expect all adults to help keep tabs on behavior.  Scouts BSA is NOT “Babysitters of America”

Your Responsibility

  • Fill out and turn in all necessary paperwork and fees
  • Keep up with pack communications, and ensure everyone who needs to be on the email lists is subscribed
  • Completed the required paperwork
  • Get your child a uniform
  • Consider how you can volunteer to help the pack; everyone needs to do something
  • Bring your child to meetings and help him to participate

Key Thoughts and Encouragement

I can’t express enough how excited I am for your child, and really your whole family, on the adventure you are starting.  Lifelong memories and friendships are formed here, and I’m just excited for you to be a part of it.  My biggest suggestion is to have your child recruit a buddy, so that amidst all the faces here, they know one already as they make even more friends.