WELCOME TO CUB SCOUT PACK 828

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.

Purposes of Cub Scouting

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)

How Cub Scouting Works

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 Rancho Romero.

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 Cub Scout Advancement Plan

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 four to eight 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.

Special Cub Scout Activities

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.

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 tends to have a cake and ice cream social in conjunction with their Webelos Bridging Ceremony.

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.

Publications

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.

The Basics – The Bobcat Badge

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.

Cub Scouting is a Volunteer-run Organization

How Can You Help?

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!

What Do You Receive In Return?

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.

How Do You Do It?

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.

Pack 800 Policies

Attendance

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.

Uniform

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.

Dues

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.

Permission Slips/Medical Forms

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.

Den Responsibility for Pack Meeting

Each den will be responsible for one pack meeting each year. The den will perform the opening and closing flag ceremonies and a skit for the pack. The families are asked 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.

Pack Volunteer Leadership

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.

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