We have a terrific year of cub scouting planned for the year! We continue to offer opportunities for new families to join Pack 380. The latest such opportunity was our first pack meeting of the year.
We had two new families join Pack 380 before the end of the meeting, with interest to join expressed by two or three other families.
We had many other families express interest during Woodside Information Day, but were not able to attend. For these families, the following is the information covered at the September 7 Pack meeting:
Why Join Cub Scouts?
Your time is valuable. Today’s families, more than ever, struggle to find time to spend together. Cub Scouting helps to support your family by providing ready-made opportunities for you and your son to do things together.
· Your son will get a sense of belonging as he builds his self-esteem and learns to get along with others. Cub Scouting will teach values consistent with good citizenship, character development and physical fitness using fun and educational activities.
· In a society where your son is taught that winning is everything, Cub Scouting teaches him to “do his best” and to be helpful to others.
But most of all boys join Cub Scouting because it’s fun!
How Does Cub Scouting Work?
One unique thing about Cub Scouting is that you, as his family, join in on the program with your son, and you will help him along the way. Boys have a different handbook at each grade level, with suggested activities that are age-appropriate for their developmental level. As your boy advances through these books by working on activities with you, he will earn badges and other recognition that he can wear on his uniform.
The Cub Scout program takes place at two levels. Your son will be part of a den; a small group of boys in the same grade level that meet either monthly or more. All dens, from grade 1 through 5, make up a pack. Once a month, the dens, with their families, are together at the pack meeting, where boys are recognized for the badges they have earned and participate in a fun activity with boys from the various grade levels.
Each den has a leader (usually one of the parents) who helps coordinate the meetings. Depending on your den, the parent-son teams may take turns running the activities and planning meetings with the den leader. Depending on the den, the den may have monthly or bi-weekly or weekly meetings.
The following are the den/cub scout levels:
Tiger Cub Scouts (grade 1)
Wolf Cub Scouts (grade 2)
Bear Cub Scouts (grade 3)
Webelos Scouts I (grade 4)
Webelos Scouts II (grade 5).
What Does the Pack Do?
The Cub Scout pack, which is made up of all the dens, meets monthly at the pack meetings, led by the Cubmaster. The pack meeting could include games, skits, songs, presentations from Boy Scout troops, ceremonies and/or a presentation of badges earned during the month. This is where families – not just parents, but siblings, too – can see the achievements of their Cub Scout.
The pack, including families, also participates in other special events throughout the year, including:
- Pinewood Derby – You can build and race a model car.
- Blue and Gold Banquet – It’s a Cub Scouting birthday party for all pack members and their families.
- Camping – Overnight and day camp opportunities to introduce your family to the camping experience.
- Service Projects – You can participate in a food drive, help with Woodside’s Fall Fest or other community activities.
- Field Trips and Special Outings – Great ways to learn more about the people and places in your community.
How Much Does Cub Scouting Cost?
The annual pack dues are $80 for each Cub Scout (checks payable to Pack 380 accompanied with boy scout application). This amount includes: BSA registration, Boys Life Magazine, Scout manuals, awards, trophies, advancement patches, pack materials, leader training costs and certain costs associated with special activities such as Pinewood Derby, Blue & Gold Banquet and Overnight Campout.
Your individual den may ask for a few dollars to cover den activity costs or ask for donations of materials or snack foods for the den meetings.
You will also be required to purchase a Cub Scout Uniform.
What is the Required Cub Scout Uniform?
The Required Cub Scout Uniform consists of:
1. Cap
2. Shirt
3. Neckerchief & Slide
4. Basic Pack Patches.
The cost for this is approximately $60. Items such as vests, belts, pants and socks are optional.
Uniform items can be purchased at The Scout Store at 800 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill (674-8500).
Is There Any Fundraising Involved?
The Cub Scout Pack does participate in an annual Fall sale of Boy Scout Popcorn. As a group the Cub Scouts sell popcorn at booths in various locations. Also, Cub Scouts can sell popcorn to family and friends and earn prizes for their individual sales orders. Each Cub Scout is not required to participate in individual popcorn sales. However, this popcorn fundraiser is a way to help keep individual annual pack dues down and enable our pack to provide special activities for our Cub Scouts.
How Can You Help?
The most important help that you, as a parent, can give your boy is to work with him on his Cub Scouting activities and attend the monthly pack meetings with him so that you can celebrate his achievement! Your role as a parent is the secret of success of the Cub Scouting program!
The den and the pack also rely on parent participation to run a successful program. Cub Scouting operates through volunteer leadership. Consider a role in helping our pack succeed by either helping as a den leader or co-leader or future cubmaster or on the pack committee (chairman, advancement chair, secretary, treasurer, trainer) that performs the administrative functions of the pack. You’ll have a great time and training and supportive materials are available.
Have More Questions?
Also, check out the Pack 380 blog at www. concordpack380.blogspot.com!
