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Parent Handbook |
Lord Baden-Powell began the Boy Scouting movement in 1908. The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated in 1910 to provide a program for boys age 12 and over. In 1930, the Boy Scouts of America launched Cub Scouts, a home- and neighborhood-centered program for boys 9 to 11 years of age. In 1986, the Cub Scout program was extended to include all boys in grades 1 through 5. And in 2001, we are again seeing change as the Tiger Cub program for first graders is incorporating more of the organizational and achievement aspects of the 2nd through 5th grade programs. A key element of the Cub Scout program is an emphasis on caring, nurturing relationships between boys and their parents, adult leaders, and friends. Currently, Cub Scouting is the largest of the BSA's three membership divisions (the others are Boy Scouting and Venturing). Cub Scouting now encompasses programs for boys from 1st through 5th grades.
Badges include Tiger Cubs, Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and the Arrow of Light, Cub Scouting's highest award.
Cub Scouting has nine purposes:
As of 2000, there were 2,114,420 boys enrolled in Cub Scouting, an increase of 0.2 percent over 1999.
Members join a Cub Scout pack and are assigned to a grade level den, usually a group of six to eight boys. Pack 454's members are primarily Talbot students, but we have several members from other schools across the county and welcome membership by any interested boys. First-grade boys (Tiger Cubs) meet twice a month, while Wolf Cub Scouts (second graders), Bear Cub Scouts (third graders), and Webelos Scouts (fourth and fifth graders) meet weekly. Meeting places and times are decided within each individual den.
Once a month, all of the dens and family members gather for a pack meeting under the direction of a Cubmaster and pack committee. The committee includes parents of boys in the pack and members of the chartered organization.
Thousands of volunteer leaders, both men and women, are involved in the Cub Scout program. They serve in a variety of positions, as everything from unit leaders to pack committee chairmen, committee members, den leaders, and chartered organization representatives.
Groups responsible for supporting Cub Scouting are the boys and their parents, the pack, the chartered organization, and the community. The boy is encouraged to pay his own way by contributing dues each week. Packs also obtain income by working on approved money-earning projects. The community, including parents, supports Cub Scouting through Friends of Scouting enrollment, bequests, and special contributions to the BSA local council. This financial support provides leadership training, outdoor programs, council service centers and other facilities, and professional service for units.
Recognition is important to young boys. The Cub Scout 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.
Bobcat:
The Bobcat rank is the first badge earned by all boys who join Cub Scouting. They earn it by learning the Cub Scout basics such as the Cub Scout Promise, the Cub Scout handshake, and the Cub Scout motto.
Tiger Cub:
The tiger cub program is for boys who are in the first grade (or are age 7). To earn the Tiger badge, a boy must complete five achievements in three areas: den activity, family activity, and a Go See It.
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 twelve 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 twenty-four Bear achievements in four different categories. The Cub Scout must complete twelve 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 Scout Book, 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, Cub Scouting's highest award.
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 weekly den meetings and the monthly pack meetings.
The Cub Scout Sports and Academics program provides the opportunity for boys to learn new techniques, develop sportsmanship, increase scholarship skills, and have fun. Participation in the program allows boys to be recognized for physical fitness and talent-building activities. Awards can be earned in a variety of areas from soccer to computers.
Age-appropriate camping programs are packed with theme-oriented action that brings Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts into the world of imagination. Summer Day Camp takes place for one week during the summer. Resident camping is at least a three-day experience in which Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts camp within a developed theme of adventure and excitement. Cub Scout pack members enjoy camping in local council camps and council-approved national, state, county, or city parks.
Camping programs combine fun and excitement with doing one's best, getting along with others, and developing an appreciation for ecology and the world of the outdoors. Pack 454 participates in camping with our local district and council and pack campouts. Unless specifically noted, Cub Scout camping is a family affair, and we require that at least one parent accompany their child. We encourage you to make it a family affair, with siblings welcome to participate. Nationally, in 2000, 41 percent of Cub Scouts participated in a camping event.
Volunteers are informed of national news and events through Scouting magazine. Boys find many informative and fun activities and articles in Boys' Life magazine. Both are published by the Boy Scouts of America. Also available are a number of Cub Scout and leader publications, with everything from activity planning to camp cooking.
Apart from the fun and excitement of Cub Scout activities, a number of ideals are expressed in the day-to-day life of the boy and his leaders.
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.
Do Your Best
The Cub Scout follows Akela. The Cub Scout helps the pack go. The pack helps the Cub Scout grow. The Cub Scout gives goodwill.