Cub Scouts
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.
These goals are embodied in the Cub Scout Promise and Law of the Pack.
Who can join?Any boy who subscribes to the Cub Scout Promise and Law of the Pack, and is in the
first through fifth grades (or age 7, 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 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 Friends of
Scouting Campaign, the United Way, 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.
AdvancementCub Scouting includes a plan of advancement for each boy that emphasizes
learning by doing. The boy works on requirements based on his school grade
or age.
- Tiger. First-grade boys join a Tiger Cub den, where each boy works with an adult
partner on the requirements to earn his Tiger Cub badge.
- Bobcat. Before advancing above to the Wolf, Bear or Webelos ranks, the boy's parent teaches him his Bobcat requirements:
learning the Cub Scout Promise, Law of the Pack, handshake, salute, sign,
and motto.
- Wolf. Second-grade boys graduate into a Wolf den. They go to weekly
den meetings on their own, but their families still help them work on the
requirements for the Wolf badge.
- Bear. Boys in the third grade are members of a Bear den. They also work with their
families to do the requirements for the Bear badge, but boys this old have
enough knowledge and skill to take on more of the work by themselves.
- Webelos. Boys in the fourth and fifth grades become Webelos Scouts.
Webelos Scouts do more advanced activities to get ready to graduate into Boy
Scouting.
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 joint outdoor activities with a Boy Scout troop. Cub Scout day
camps are 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 (circulation 900,000). Boys may subscribe to Boys' Life magazine
(circulation 1.3 million). Both are published by the Boy Scouts of America.
There are also a number of Cub Scout and leader publications, including
the Wolf Cub Scout Book, Bear Cub Scout Book, Webelos Scout Book, Cub Scout
Leader Book, and Cub Scout and Webelos Scout Program Helps.
Basic ConceptsApart 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.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
