What Is Cub Scouting?

 

 

SCOUTING IS FUN WITH A PURPOSE!

As a parent, you want your son togrow up to be 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, good citizenship, and physical fitness in youth. Scouting teaches family values…However, we know that boys do not join Scouting to build their character. Boys join because it is fun.

 

Cub Scouting is fun! No matter what grade your son is in. Does he like to learn by doing? Well, than this is just the place. He can learn to tie knots, set up a tent, or shoot a bow and arrow. Has he ever wanted to cook a meal on a campfire? Send a secret code to a buddy? Built a birdhouse? Hike? Earn awards and recognition for achievements? He can do all of this and more. Cub Scouting is fun, but not just for your son.

Scouting is a family oriented activity and the success of the pack depends on the contribution of each boy and their parental partner. Cub Scouting is a volunteer activity and the Den leaders are usually parents of a boy in their den. As the boys advance and graduate to Boy Scouting, so to go the leaders, so it is important to build and maintain a strong bond of parental involvement. It is not difficult or time consuming though, and the rewards are evident as you watch your son grow and flourish in the program.

 

Pack and Den meetings

Pack Meetings are held once a month at the American Legion Post in Broad Channel, New York. Pack 282 meets at 6:30pm on the First Monday of every month unless otherwise noted. Pack meetings are a gathering of all the dens to showcase projects, be recognized for achievements and engage in group events.  Boys are expected to attend Pack Meetings in their complete uniform.

 

One den is selected each month to be the “Greeter Den” and they are to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting to assist with set up and greet the other scouts as they arrive. The schedule for this will be distributed and posted on the website.

 

Please accompany your son to the Pack meeting. The pack meetings are family events, and brothers, sisters, and grandparents are welcome, but we require you there, not only to help keep order (things can get a bit rowdy), but also because in Scouting many awards are presented to the parent who then presents it to the Scout.

 

Den meetings are held two or three times a month depending on the Den and what the boys are engaged in. each Den leader selects a location and a time that is convenient, and the different dens may not meet on the same day or in the same location. The schedule will be posted and distributed at the meeting.

 

Dues and Fees

Registration & Insurance fee                            $24.00/Year

Boy’s Life Magazine                                          $12.00/Year

Pack Dues                                                         $15.00/month

Den Specific Handbook                                    $13.00

 

Pack dues contribute to the operation of the pack and help to subsidize pack activities. Most trips and outings will have an additional associated cost.

 

Uniforms And Equipment

 

In addition to the handbook, you will be responsible for purchasing your son a Cub Scout uniform.  The uniform serves many purposes, recognition of achievement and a sense of group identity being just a few.

 

New Scouts will be expected to begin wearing their uniform in October but will begin earning badges and belt loops right away.

 

Proper uniform wear is part of each den handbook and it is posted on the Pack’s website. Also the sales clerks at the scout stores will help new scouts select the necessary uniform items.

 

Uniform items can be purchased on line from ScoutStuff.org

Or from the official scout stores in the area:

 

EMPIRE SCOUT SHOP

48 West 37 Street
New York, NY
Phone: 212-643-0316

 

 

STATEN ISLAND SCOUT SHOP

Pouch Scout Camp
1465 Manor Road
Staten Island, NY
Phone: 718-351-5654

 

NASSAU SCOUT SHOP

544 Broadway

Massapequa, NY 11758

Phone: (516) 797-7600

 

The uniform consists of shirt, pants, cap, neckerchief, neck slide, belt, council patch, pack number patches and world scout crest emblem. The cost of the uniform if purchased new is approximately $90.00. The pack has a “Pass it Down” collection where uniform items that scouts have out grown or leveled out of are held for any youngerscout who needs them. This decreases the overall cost and contributes to a key scouting ideal of reducing waste.

 

It is suggested that if you buy uniform items, buy big. Your son will be wearing the same color blue Cub Scout shirt for most of his time in cub scouts so room to grow is a good idea.

 

Uniforms will be worn at Pack meetings, most Den meetings, and outings. If alternate attire is called for, you will be notified by your den leader.

 

Pack 282 also has a Pack tee-shirt and sweatshirt that will be available for purchase. Guidelines for the wearing them as alternate class B uniform will be disseminated at the time of sale.

 

Advancement and Awards

 

As of June 2015, Cub Scouting looks a whole lot different. The principles and values are still the same, but the program got an update and some pretty wonderful improvements. Advancement has been streamlined to keep the boys engaged and make it easier for adult partners to stray connected.

As always, the first step for any new Cub Scout, regardless of age, is to earn their Bob Cat Badge. The Bobcat Badge is earned for completing the first set of requirements:

 

demonstrating understanding of Scouting’s core values, reciting the Scout Oath, the Scout Law and the Cub Scout Motto, demonstrating and explaining the Cub Scout sign, handshake and salute, explaining what WeBeLos means, and reviewing How to Protect Your Child from Child Abuse booklet with parents.

 

The dens are ordered by age and the very youngest den is our Tiger Den. Tigers are cub scouts who are in the first grade or who have turned seven years old. Tigers wear caps and neckerchiefs that are orange and blue and have to complete seven (7) Adventures to earn their Tiger Badge. These Adventures are detailed in the hand book and comprise a combination of at home activities, as well as den and pack activities. There are a number of intermediate achievements and extra awards that each boy may earn before the Tiger Badge, but there is a special pride in earning the den badge.

 

Tiger Cub parents must be present at all Tiger meetings, not only to participate and assist their son with projects but also because it is the rule of the Boy Scouts of America and is in keeping with the insurance policy extended by the organization. You need not have scouting experience, you are there to support your son as he builds his character.

 

Boys entering the second grade or who have turned eight years old are Wolf Scouts. If your son is new to scouting, he does not have to go through the Tiger program in order to enter the Wolf Den. He will have to earn his Bobcat Badge, but will be ordered in to a den according to his age and year in school.

 

Wolves wear blue and yellow caps and neckerchiefs and have their own seven adventures that they must complete in order to earn their wolf badge, the details of which are explained in the handbook. 

 

Third Graders or those who are nine years old are Bears. Their caps and neckerchiefs are light and dark blue, and they have their own set of adventures to complete.  Upon earning the den badge, there are several more adventures each scout will undertake while a part of the den. Achievement is rewarding, but Cub Scouting is about many things, mostly fun!

 

Boys Entering fourth or fifth grade or who have turned ten years old are Webelos, which is a scouting word which means “We’ll Be Loyal Scouts.” There is no plural form of the word, so where you are talking of one or the whole den, they are called Webelos.

 

Webelos wear a green and plaid cap and neckerchief, and may wear the dark blue uniform or, in preparation for bridging over to Boy Scouts, wear the khaki and olive uniform of the Boy Scouts. There are seven adventures each year for the Webelos, and during the second year boys prepare to move on to the Boy Scouts. The second year is focused on earning the Arrow of Light badge, which is the highest honor a Cub Scout can earn and is the only Cub Scout emblem that may be worn on his Boy Scout uniform.

 

 

Special Programs

 

Camping

Pack 282 schedules at least two camping trips a year. One happens over the summer and is a great way for the boys to keep in touch and engaged during the summer break. The second is a weekend or overnight in the fall, to get the boys into the swing of things.

 

Pinewood Derby

The Pinewood Derby is an annual parent-son project where you can design and build a race car from a block of wood. Cub Scouts learn the valuable lesson of sportsmanship by racing their cars on a gravity track against their fellow Scouts. Cub Scouts also have the opportunity to register and compete in local and regional competitions.

 

Gateway National Park

The Pack takes advantage of the fact that it is literally surrounded by a park, and organizes walks and tours in the bird sanctuary. Scouts learn a little about the wild life in our urban habitat while enjoying the wilderness feel of the hiking path.

 

Scouting for Food

Scouting for Food is an annual food collection drive that helps provide meals for families in need in our service area. Scouts go out on  an appointed day to hang door tags on residential homes and return the following weekend to pick up donations.

 

Cub World

Alpine Boy Scout Camp hosts two Cub Scout weekends, one in the fall and one in the spring. Pack 282 attends at least one a year. Among other activities, boys have the opportunity to learn archery skills, learn range safety how to fire a bb gun, watch entreating skits, and participate in treasure hunts.

 

Marshmallow Catapult Competition

Boys construct catapults and compete against each other for the highest honor, Catapult King. The competition is held in the spring as a part of our interest and recruitment effort. Boys are encouraged to bring a friend, and kindergarteners (who will be eligible for Tigers the following school year) are invited to participate.

 

Pack Volunteer Structure

 

Pack Committee: Pack committee members are responsible for the administrative functions of the Cub Scout pack.

Committee Chairman: Presides at all pack leader meetings. Helps recruit adult leaders. Also attends pack meetings and the District’s monthly roundtable meetings.

 

Secretary/Treasurer: Keeps all records for the pack, including pack bank account, financial records, etc. Attends pack meetings and pack committee meetings.

 

Advancement Chair: Maintains advancement records. Orders and obtains all badges and insignia. Attends pack meetings and pack committee meetings.

 

Pack Trainer: Meets with the Den Leaders monthly to plan pack program with the help of the Pack Committee. Insures that pack leaders are trained in their positions. Attends pack meetings and pack committee meetings.

Communications Coordinator: maintains the Packs social media presence, updates the website and manages email communication.

 

Cubmaster: Helps plan and carry out the pack program with the help of the Pack Committee. Emcees the monthly Pack Meeting and attends the pack leaders’ meeting and the District’s monthly roundtable meeting.

Tiger Cub Den Leader: Helps the Pack’s Tiger Cub den(s) stay active and participate in the pack. Since Tiger Cubs is very family-centered, the role of the Tiger Cub Den Leader is to coordinate what activities are done and to schedule parents to run meetings, according to their talents.

 

Den Leader: Leads the den at weekly den meetings and monthly pack meeting. Attends the monthly pack leaders’ meeting.

 

Parent Helpers: Parents act as a “function chairman”. These positions are auxiliary to the pack committee and are “one shot” performances or jobs such as coordinating pack participation in sales events, Scouting for Food, Pinewood Derby, Blue and Gold Banquet, pack graduation, and camping. These are jobs of short duration but are of incalculable importance to the good order of the pack. The Cubmaster and Den leaders cannot do it all, and we do not expect them to. All parents in Pack 282 contribute in some way, and it is the participation and of the parents and the dedication of the leaders that make ours a successful program.

 

If you decide to take on a position of leadership within the pack, first know that there will be a lot of help. The first step is to complete the Fast Start training, available at https://myscouting.scouting.org

 

You are required to complete the Youth Protection Certification as well as the position specific training provided. It is all available on line and can be completed at you convenience from the privacy of your own home. You will be required to sign up, and create a username and password, but there is no charge for the training.

The training will give you an explanation of how to function in the position, show you where to find ideas for meetings and ceremonies, direct you to additional training and resources, and prepare you for new role within the pack.

In addition to the on-line training, existing leaders are more than happy to help you learn about your new responsibilities. All volunteers, are just that, volunteers, and they know that it is the united effort put forth by all the parents that make the program what it is.

 

Forms

All the forms necessary for participation in Cub Scouting are available on our website, PACK282.com and as well as the BSA website. Just go to the “About Scouting” tab and click “Forms” for the link. You will only have to fill out the medical and consent forms if your son is participating in an overnight or other similar outing. Registering your son is required by our charter and is an important part of keeping track of his progress in the program.

 

The Pack meeting is held on the first Monday of each month at 209 Cross Bay Blvd. Den meetings are scheduled and held by each Den Leader.

 

• You will be asked to provide a phone number and email at pack orientation, and will receive monthly updates as to what we are doing and have planned to do, as well as schedule changes.

• It is suggested that you provide contact information to other scout parents so that you can communicate and facilitate events as needed.

• All meetings are subject to cancelation or rescheduling at the last minute, based on the schedules of the Den leaders. Remember this is an all-volunteer organization, which is why the parents who are leading Dens can use all the assistance they can get. The more involved the parents are and the more assistant den leaders we have, the less likely meetings will be canceled.

 

For more information call 516-900-CUB1, or e-mail us at BroadChannelScouts@gmail.com