What is Cub Scouting?
In 1930, the Boy Scouts of America created a new opportunity
called Cub Scouting for boys younger than Boy Scout age. A year-round,
home-centered program used by chartered organizations, Cub
Scouting emphasizes involvement between boys and their parents,
adult leaders, and friends.
PURPOSES
Cub Scouting has the following purposes:
Influence a boy's character development and spiritual growth.
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 a boy's ability to get along with others.
Foster a sense of personal achievement by developing new
interests and skills.
Provide fun and exciting new things to do.
Show a boy how to be helpful and do his best.
Prepare him to be a Boy Scout.
METHODS
We achieve the purposes using these methods:
Home and neighborhood centered
Parent Involvement
Advancement Plan
The den
Ideals
Uniform
Activity Program
MEMBERSHIP
Cub Scouting, like its Boy Scouting and Exploring counterparts,
follows a long-range plan to reach youth nationwide. As of March
31, 1996, Cub Scout membership is 1,613,389 in 50,381 Packs.
WHO CAN JOIN?
Any boy who subscribes to the Cub Promise and Law of the Pack,
and is in the second through fifth grades (or age 8, 9, or 10),
may join a Cub Scout pack and be assigned to a den, usually made
up of boys in a neighborhood who form a natural play group. Den
meetings are held each week, usually at one of the boys' homes
under the supervision of a volunteer den leader-generally the
mother or father of one of the boys. A den may also have an
assistant den leader; a den chief-an older Boy Scout, Varsity
Scout, or Explorer who helps the leader with activities; and a
denner-a Cub Scout elected by his peers who assists the den
leader and den chief.
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 can include parents of boys in the pack
and members of the chartered organization.
WHO OPERATES A CUB SCOUT PACK?
Like other phases of the Scouting program, Cub Scouting is made
available to groups having similar interests and goals, which
include professional organizations, government bodies, and
religious, educational, civic, fraternal, business, labor, and
citizens' groups. These are called our chartered organizations.
Each organization appoints one of its members as a chartered
organization representative. The organization, through the
committee, is responsible for leadership, the meeting place, and
related materials for pack activities.
WHO PAYS?
Groups responsible for supporting Cub Scouting are the boys and
their parents, the pack, the chartered organizations, 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
the United Way, sustaining membership enrollment, bequests, and
special contributions to the local BSA council. This provides
leadership training, outdoor programs, council service centers,
and other facilities, as well as professional service for units.
ACTIVITIES
At den meetings, a Cub Scout starts an activity. Perhaps it is a
handicraft project or practicing a stunt for the next pack
meeting. During the week, with his parents' help, he finishes the
project or perfects the stunt. If it happens to be something
required for his Wolf or Bear advancement, his parent signs his
Cub Scout book. In this way, Cub Scouting helps to strengthen
family ties.
Pack meetings, attended by boys and their families, give parents
a chance to see their sons in action. Most pack meetings are
divided into two parts. The first is informal-boys and parents
may view exhibits or participate in gathering-time activities.
The second half has a formal opening, followed by den skits,
songs, games, or stunts related to a monthly theme, and the
awarding of badges earned by the boys since the last pack meeting.
OUTDOOR PROGRAM
Adventuresome outdoor programs are encouraged for Cub Scouts.
These include den field trips, picnics, outings, day camping, and
backyard camping. Because Cub Scouting is home-centered, family
camping is also emphasized. Webelos Scouts are encouraged to go
on overnight experiences and to conduct occasional Cub Scout day
camps are activities with a Boy Scout troop. joint outdoor
conducted by nearly all Scouting councils, and many also provide
resident camping experiences for Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts.
COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS
Team sports and other competitive events occur within the pack
and on an interpack level. Among the activities that have become
favorites are Cub Scout shows, pet shows, safe bicycle driving
projects, pinewood derbies (miniature car racing on tracks),
rocket derbies, regattas, kite-flying contests, Cub Scout field
days, and Cubmobile racing. Cub Scouts are encouraged to be
physically fit through the Cub Scout sports program, which offers
up to 20 different sports.
PUBLICATIONS
Volunteers are informed of national news and events through
Scouting magazine. Boys may subscribe to Boy's Life magazine.
Both are published by the Scouts of America.
BASIC CONCEPTS
Apart from the fun and excitement of Cub Scout activities, there
are a number of ideals expressed in the day-to-day life of the
young boy and his leaders.
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
The 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.
The Cub Scout motto:
Do Your Best.
The Cub Scout colors are blue and gold. Blue signifies the sky,
truth, spirituality, and loyalty. Gold stands for warm sunlight,
good cheer, and happiness. Together they symbolize what Cub
Scouting is all about.
TIGER CUBS, BSA
Most Cub Scout packs have Tiger Cub dens of first-grade boys and
their adult partners. Each den consists of 4 to 8 youth members.
Tiger Cub dens meet twice a month and attendance at all pack
meetings is urged.
The pack selects a Tiger Cub group coach who then completes Fast
Start training. This person conducts the organizational meeting
of first graders and adult partners and keeps a monthly contact
with the group.
The Tiger Cub program is conducted on two levels. First, the boy
and adult meet in the home weekly to conduct activities for the
whole family. Second, the boy and adult meet twice monthly with
other Tiger Cubs and adults in the den, using a ''big idea'' for
the activity. Each den meeting is hosted by a boy and adult team.
At the end of the school term, Tiger Cubs graduate into Cub
Scouting.
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