PACK 3794

CUB MANUAL

2003 Edition

Revised 3/2006

BY: Julia Kuslits

Wood Badge Course C-09-02

CUB SCOUT PROMISE

I, __________________, 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 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.

CUB SCOUT MOTTO

DO YOUR BEST!

Cub Scouting -- A Parent’s Call to Action

The Pack

The Pack is a group made up of several dens. The Pack includes not only the boys in those dens, but also their families, and their leaders. The Pack meets once a month with Cub Scouts, leaders, parents and other family members attending. The Pack meeting is the climax of the month's den meetings and activities. It gives the dens something to look forward to and work toward. This is a chance to recognize the boys, their parents, and their leaders.

In addition to its regular meetings, the Pack sponsors certain special projects. These include community projects (e.g., a Food Drive for the needy), outdoor activities (e.g., field trips, family campouts, etc.), fundraising activities, and fun competitions (e.g., Pinewood car Derby).

The Cubmaster is an adult volunteer who serves as master of ceremonies at all Pack meetings and leads Pack activities of all kinds. Pack leadership positions may be held by women or men.

The Pack Committee is a group of adult volunteers who plan the Pack program and individual activities as well as managing such things as record keeping, finance, leadership recruitment, and registration. The Pack Committee meets monthly and meetings are open to any interested parent.

The Den

A Cub Scout Pack is divided into small groups of about eight boys called dens, who meet weekly under the direction of adult Den Leaders and, in some cases, Boy Scout Den Chiefs. The Den Leaders are trained parent volunteers.

The den allows boys to get to know each other better and engage in activities that would be difficult in a larger group. The den also provides leadership opportunities for the boys as they elect "Denners" or help to teach each other.

Den meeting activities are planned around the monthly theme and include games, handicrafts, hikes and other outdoor fun, practicing skits and stunts in preparation for the next Pack meeting and taking part in simple ceremonies and songs. Sometimes work on advancement requirements is included, but the boys accomplish most of that work with their parents (see details on the Webelos rank for an exception). The Den Leaders may ask for special help occasionally from parents (helping with a meeting, sharing a special skill, or just providing a snack for the boys).

Dens are organized by rank. Ranks are organized by grade and age:

· Tiger Cub Dens

· Bear Dens

· Wolf Dens

· Webelos Dens, usually a first year Den and a second year Den

(The above was taken from Pack 1113 parents' manual, Washington, D.C.)

Grade and Age

Several years ago joining and advancement requirements for Cub Scouting were changed to a grade basis (with age as backup). Age is still used by some packs whose national organization has made that determination. As a refresher, here are some age/grade requirements. Keep in mind that grade is the primary determination and age is the backup (note the work "or"):

· TIGER CUBS -- In the first grade, (or 7 years old)

· CUB SCOUTS (Wolves and Bears) -- In the second and third grade, (or 8 or 9 years old)

· WEBELOS SCOUTS -- In the fourth and fifth grade, (or 10 years old)

· ARROW OF LIGHT -- Six months since completing the fourth grade, or six months since turning 10.

· BOY SCOUTS -- Completed the fifth grade, or age 11, or have earned the Arrow of Light.

The Pack Leadership

The pack leadership consists of the Chartered Organization Representative, Pack Committee Chairperson, Pack Committee, Cubmaster and den leaders. These are adult positions. Let's look at what each one accomplishes in a Pack.

Chartered Organization Representative

This person is the liaison between the Pack, the chartered organization, and the BSA. They make sure that the chartered organization is aware of what the Pack is doing, and coordinates activities between the chartered organization and the Pack. It is also the responsibility of the chartered organization representative to communicate any relevant policies that the charter organization has to the Pack committee.

A point that a new Scouter often misses is that the chartered organization 'owns' the Pack, not the Pack committee. The Pack committee is simply an administrative arm of the chartered organization.

The Chartered Organization Representative is a voting member of the local BSA Council and District committees. As such, they represent the Pack on these committees.