The
Pack Program
Scouting is an association of boys, young men and women, and of
volunteer leaders like yourself. The purpose of Scouting is to
help boys grow, by involvement in many experiences, to be
responsible, resourceful members of their communities, their
country, and the world. As a leader, you help them to achieve
this goal.
There may be any number of reasons why you decided to join
Scouting. Your son may be involved, and you offered to help with
a special project and became interested. Perhaps, because of some
hobby or talent, you were asked to work with the den for a short
period of time, found that you liked it, and wanted to continue.
You may have volunteered because you like boys, because you have
some reason that caused you to think seriously about becoming a
registered adult leader, we welcome you to Cub Scouting and urge
you to make use of all the resources available.
Like everything else of a volunteer nature, you can devote as
little or as much time as you wish, but being a Cub Scout leader
is not just an hour a week at den meetings or an hour a month at
pack meetings. The den and pack programs must be planned and
detailed preparations made so that they will run smoothly. The
amount of time you invest in Cub Scouting will depend on your
enthusiasm, dedication, and personal involvement. Usually the
more time spent, the better program the boys receive.
Throw yourself wholeheartedly into your Cub Scout
responsibilities. Go out and ring the bell; don’t give up
and wring your hands. Be optimistic. Think about how high your
kite will fly, not about how soon it will fall. PLAN YOUR WORK,
THEN WORK YOUR PLAN. As a leader you have made a commitment of
time, effort, and knowledge. It is a commitment to a way of life,
to being a living example for boys, and to lending a helping hand
to fellow Scouters.
Activities are the spark, that is something extra, that makes a
den and pack really special and the envy of all others. The extra
effort involved is well worth the investment as the group’s
enthusiasm grows. Recruiting becomes easier when a Cub Scout
tells his friends all the neat things his Cub Scout pack is doing.
Parents will want to be involved when the activities are planned
that are fun and exciting.
A successful activities program depends on all den and pack
leaders and families working together. The single most important
word for a smoothly-run program is PLANNING. Careful planning of
pack and den activities will generate enthusiasm for unit
leaders, parents and boys; an important factor for all the people
"who make the pack go".
The secret for Cub Scout den activities is the wise use of the
monthly theme. The theme is simply an idea or emphasis around
which den and pack leaders plan activities for the Cub Scout dens
to do from one pack meeting to the next.
The theme simplifies the planning den and pack meetings. It gives
each den a focus for its work and play during the month and
brings them all together at the monthly meeting with skit,
stunts, and handicrafts all related to a single theme. If the
dens are active during the month, an interesting and entertaining
pack meeting is the natural result.
Cub Scout families are eager to see what other dens have done
with the theme. A friendly rivalry usually results, and quite
often den spirit is developed, even among parents. Many packs
present a Parent Participation Ribbon to the den or dens who have
the most parents at the monthly pack meeting.
Webelos dens do not use the pack’s monthly them. Instead
their emphasis is on one of the activity badge areas. Often the
Cub Scout theme and activity badge area are compatible, such as
"Cub Scout Circus" and "Showman" or "Going
Places" and "Traveler".
Packs are not obligated to use the recommended themes, although
there are benefits to be gained by using them. These themes are
selected and planned to appeal to boys and to offer opportunities
to achieve the Purposes of Cub Scouting. They are subjects on
which the most program material will be available.
Remember the Cub Scout program is flexible, and if another theme
is better suited for you pack, you may wish to make an exception.
These things should be kept in mind:
It must have strong appeal for Cub Scout-age boys.
It should be a wide subject that provides variety so that each
boy can do the things he likes to do.
It should instill the deeper, more lasting values of Cub Scouting.
Cub Scouting has a nonsense word that expresses the idea very
neatly. This should be your watchword as you plan year-round fun
for your pack or den. The word is KIS-MIF. It stands for
"KEEP IT SIMPLE, MAKE IT FUN"
Scouting means doing. Everything in the Cub Scouting program is
designed to have the boys doing thins. CUB SCOUTING IS A YEAR-ROUND
PROGRAM. Remember to include the summer months in your activities.
This not only helps keep the pack together, but it also provides
opportunities for some of the easiest and funniest activities
that can happen during the year. A quality pack has two elements...fun
and exciting activities for the boys, and it achieves the
Purposes of Cub Scouting.