WELCOME
TO
CUB
SCOUT PACK 800
2008-2009
Where
Character Counts and
The Adventure
Begins...
WELCOME
TO
CUB
SCOUT PACK 800
2008-2009
Where
Character Counts and
The Adventure
Begins...
The Cub Scout Advancement Plan
Cub Scouting is a Volunteer-run Organization
What Do You Receive In Return?
Permission Slips/Medical Forms
Den Responsibility for Pack Meeting
The Boy Scouts of America,
founded in 1910, provides an effective educational program for boys and young
adults, designed to
v
Build moral strength
and character
v
Encourage fitness
v
Prepare boys for the
responsibilities of citizenship
Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the
founder of Boy Scouting, said that "Scouting is a game with a
purpose." The game is our fun and exciting program, but the purpose is to
prepare boys to become better adults.
As a parent you want your
son to grow up to be a person of worth, a self-reliant, dependable and caring
individual. Scouting has these same goals in mind for him. Since 1910, we
have been weaving lifetime values into fun and educational activities designed
to assist parents in strengthening character, developing good citizenship, and
enhancing physical fitness in youth.
Boys, families, and leaders,
work together to achieve:
v
Character development
v
Spiritual Growth
v
Good citizenship
v
Sportsmanship
v
Family understanding
v
Respectful
relationships
v
Personal achievement
v
Friendly service
v
Fun and adventure
v
Preparation for Boy
Scouts
These values help your son
make good decisions throughout his lifetime and give him confidence as he
becomes an adult leader of tomorrow. With all the negative influences in
today's society, Scouting provides your son with a positive peer group and a
program that is fun and adventurous and helps him to "be prepared" to
shape this own future.
Statistics show that over
the long term, boys and young men who have experienced Scouting's programs are
more likely to have success in school, career, and family, as well as stronger
ethics and better relationships with others.
For example,
v
Boys with 5 or more
years in Scouting are more likely to graduate from high school than those who
never were Scouts
v
Former Scouts (40%) are
also more likely to be college graduates than non-Scouts (16%)
v
39% of men who were
Scouts for five years or more have household incomes of $50,000 or more
(compared to 17% of non-Scouts).
v
Every astronaut who has
landed on the moon was an Eagle Scout.
(source:
1995 Harris and Associates)
Scouting is Family
Oriented
v
Activities are intended
for the whole family
v
You work with
your son on his advancement award requirements
v
Many skills he will
learn are family oriented
The Cub Scout Den
v
Your son is a member of
a Cub Scout den
v
The den meets 1 or more
times per month
v
The den is led by a den
leader (usually a parent)
v
The den leader usually
has an assistant leader, a den chief (a scout helper), and a Denner (a scout
elected by den members)
v
Den meetings have
games, crafts, songs, ceremonies, and lots of fun
The Cub Scout Pack
v
Your son is a member of
a Cub Scout pack
v
A pack meets once per
month -- all Cub Scout families attend
v
The pack meeting is led
by the Cubmaster
v
The pack meeting is the
highlight of the month's den meetings and activities
v
Pack meetings have
games, songs, skits, stunts, ceremonies, and presentations of badges that boys
earned during the month
The Pack Committee
v
The pack is run by a
committee of volunteer parents
v
The pack committee is
made up of all den leaders, the Cubmaster, and parents
v
The pack committee is
led by a chairperson
v
The pack committee
plans den and pack meetings around the monthly theme
v
The committee selects
leaders, performs record keeping, manages finances, finds meeting places,
orders badges, maintains pack equipment, helps train leaders, and recognizes
leaders
The Chartered Partner
v
The pack is
"owned" by the chartered partner, usually a school, parent
association, religious organization, service club, or other organization
interested in helping youth. Pack 800 is chartered by the Parents of Pack 800.
v
The chartered partner
approves leaders, provides a meeting place, and operates the pack within their
own guidelines and the guidelines of the Boy Scouts of America.
v
The chartered
organization selects a representative to serve as liaison between the pack and
the organization.
The responsibility for a
boy's advancement in Cub Scouting lies with the den leader and the family, and
not with the pack. Some advancement requirements are done at den
meetings, but a lot are completed at home with the family. Important
information on Advancements can be found in the Scout Handbook for each level
of Cub Scouting.
BOBCAT
All boys, regardless of age, earn the Bobcat badge by learning the Cub Scout
Promise, Law of the Pack, handshake, salute, sign, motto, and meaning of
"WeBeLoS." After receiving the Bobcat badge, the boys work on
requirements based on their grade level.
TIGER
Tiger Cubs, BSA -- is an
exciting program for first-grade boys and an adult partner. Tiger Cub dens meet one or two times a month
and follow the Tiger Cub motto "Search, Discover, Share." The Tiger Cub den has six to twelve families
as members, and each family takes turns hosting a meeting or outing. Tiger Cubs
will take part in the monthly pack meeting, where all of the dens and their
families come together for fun, recognition, and fellowship.
Tiger Cubs receive
recognition for their participation in the various activities of their den with
their adult partner. After learning the Tiger Cub Motto (Search, Discover,
Share), Cub Scout Sign and the Cub Scout Salute, Tigers earn the Tiger
Totem and begin working toward their Tiger badge. For each achievement
completed, beads are added to the Totem showing progress being made toward the
Tiger badge. Boys can also work on electives that will earn different colored
beads that are added to the Totem.
WOLF
A Cub Scout who has completed the first grade (or is 8 years old) works on
twelve achievements to earn the Wolf badge. After he earns his Wolf badge, a
boy may work on electives in different interest areas until he is old enough to
begin work on the next rank. For every ten electives he completes, the
boy earns an Arrow Point. The boy may earn as many Arrow Points as he
wishes.
BEAR
A Cub Scout who has completed the second grade (or is 9 years old) works to
complete twelve of twenty-four achievements to earn the Bear badge. After he
earns his Bear badge, a boy may work on electives in different interest areas
until he is old enough to begin work on the next rank. For every ten
electives he completes, the boy earns an Arrow Point. The boy may earn as many
Arrow Points as he wishes.
WEBELOS
When a Cub Scout has completed the third grade (or is 10 years old) he joins a
Webelos den, led by an adult Webelos leader. The boy works on requirements for
the Webelos badge, twenty activity badges, and the Arrow of Light Award. The
Arrow of Light Award is the highest award in Cub Scouting! Camping and
outdoor programs are an important part of the eighteen-month Webelos
program. In February of a Webelo Scout's fifth grade year, he graduates
from Cub Scouting into the adventure of Boy Scouting at an impressive
graduation ceremony. Every boy deserves an opportunity to be a Boy Scout.
Scouting For Food
Food drive held each year to benefit local food shelves. Part of a nation
wide program of the Boy Scouts of America to help feed the hungry.
Pinewood Derby
Parent and son work together to build a gravity powered miniature race car from
a special kit. All family members can
build cars too. The 2009 Pinewood Derby
is scheduled for January 30th, 2009.
Blue and Gold Banquet
This is a birthday party for Cub Scouting held by your pack, usually in
February. Most packs hold some type of dinner, and a special program or
entertainment is customary. Pack 800 plans
to host their 2009 event on February 20, 2009.
Scout Summer Camp
Several camping programs are offered by council: week long resident camp for
Webelos, four day resident camp for Cub Scouts, a week of day camp, Weekend
Adventures, and Cub Scout/Parent weekends.
Outdoor Program
Adventuresome outdoor programs are encouraged for Cub Scouts. These include den
field trips, picnics, outings, and day camping. Webelos Scouts are
encouraged to go on overnight experiences and to conduct occasional joint
outdoor activities with a Boy Scout troop.
v
Volunteers are informed
of national news and events through Scouting magazine.
v
Boys receive Boys' Life
magazine. Both are published by the Boy Scouts of America.
v
There are also a number
of Cub Scout and leader publications, including the Cub Scout Leader Book and
Scouting magazine.
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 (his leader).
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
It
means:
When you play a game, do your best to help your team.
When you study in school, do your best to learn from your teacher.
When you help at home, do your best to help your family.
Whatever you do, do your best!
The Meaning of
"Webelos"
Webelos (say WE-buh-lows) is a Cub Scout secret. Cub Scouts know the
secret. It is "We'll Be Loyal Scouts." Being loyal means
that you will keep the Cub Scout Promise. The Webelos Arrow of Light points the
right way to go every day of the week. That is why the sun on the Arrow of
Light has seven rays one for each day.
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.
Scouting operates through
volunteer leadership. Volunteer leaders are an example of Scouting's
principle of service to others. Naturally, parents are the primary source
of leaders in the Scouting program. You volunteer not only to serve
Scouting; but also to serve your son, and his friends, and to have the chance
to be a positive influence on the youth in your community.
What does it take to be a
volunteer? A long, rich background of Scouting involvement is NOT required!
Being a leader is fun,
challenging and rewarding. Leaders find that their experiences help them
to become better parents. The following are some of the many dividends
that will enrich your life as you dedicate your time, talent and enthusiasm to
Scouting:
v
Fun and fellowship with
other families, sharing your pride in the boys' accomplishments.
v
The privilege of
helping to enrich and strengthen families.
v
A chance to help boys
learn good citizenship and to help shape them into men who have strength of
character and are sensitive to the needs of others.
v
The opportunity to help
make a difference in the lives of boys as they grow strong in mind and body.
v
A code to live by which
will set a worthwhile example for both boys and adults.
v
The satisfaction of
being a member of a worldwide movement, and pride in being publicly identified
as a part of this organization - wearing the Scouting uniform is a visible
means of showing you believe in and stand up for the ideals and objectives of
the Boy Scouts of America.
The
great part about being part of a strong national organization is that training
and ideas are available to help you through every step. There is NO need to reinvent the wheel.
New
Leader Essentials training is offered in the fall and spring, as are position
specific classes. Each class is taught
by an experienced leader who has been through it and happy to pass along their
experiences. Classes take a morning to
complete, but provide a year’s worth of value!
Additional
information is available through “Program Helps” which provide a year’s worth
of programming ideas, monthly leader roundtables, and monthly den leader
meetings. The Internet also has
thousands of resources on Scouting.
Monthly Pack and Den
meetings are required. We will track
attendance at Pack meetings and have awards at the end of the year for boys who
have perfect attendance and dens that have the highest attendance percentage. Outings and activities are optional, except
when necessary to complete part of a rank advancement. Families are welcome at Pack meetings. Dens will determine their own sibling
policy. Parents are required at Tiger
meetings.
Do your best. We use the Cub Scout motto to describe our
attendance policy. We understand that
life does get in the way sometimes, but ask that you model respect for the
importance of a commitment and the time and effort others have put into
planning, by helping your son make his best effort to attend den and pack
meetings on time and in uniform.
Please let your den leader
know if you are unable to make a den meeting as soon as you know. Plans and supplies are usually purchased
based on the projected number of boys, and it can discouraging to run out of
materials, or not have enough boys to do a planned activity.
Pack 800 requires boys to
wear the following Class A uniform at all Pack functions:
·
Cub Scout shirt with
all appropriate insignia
o District Patch
o Pack 800 numerals
o Den number patch
o World Crest
o Rank badges and arrow points earned
o Webelos may wear Boy Scout Shirt
·
Rank Cap
·
Rank Neckerchief and
slide
·
Blue Cub Scout Belt
(optional, but fits beltloops earned)
Shorts/pants and shoe choice
is at the discretion of the family, but should be neat and respectful.
Class B uniform, to be worn
on hikes and other strenuous or messy out door activities is the Pack 800
t-shirt issued at registration.
We will conduct a Pack
uniform inspection at the October Pack meeting. Prizes will be awarded for perfect scores. Please see the uniform inspection sheet for
more details.
Pack 800 Dues are $75 per
boy. This covers the fiscal year Sept –
Sept. Dues include national BSA dues,
Boys Life Magazine, all awards, Pinewood Derby car and awards, Class B t-shirt
and pack meeting programming. Dens may
charge den dues to cover expenses.
Outings are priced to cover costs incurred.
We ask that you sign a
blanket permission slip covering basic Cub Scout functions as part of
registration. You will also need to
fill out a Class 1 medical form that we will keep on file.
Adults over 40 should fill
out a Class III medical form and have it signed by a doctor. These should be brought to all outdoor
functions, and given to the outing leader in a sealed envelope to be opened
only in case of emergency.
Each den will be responsible
for one pack meeting each year. The den
will perform the opening and closing flag ceremonies. The families are asked to arrive 15 minutes early to help with
room set-up and stay to clean-up. Dens
may also be asked to bring desserts to be used as raffle prizes.
As members of Pack 800, all returning
families are asked to hold at least one volunteer position. Positions are listed on the attached
position description pages and are filled during the month of September.