|
|
The Purposes of Cub Scouting
Since 1930, the Boy Scouts of America has helped younger boys through Cub Scouting. It is a year-round family program designed for boys who are in the first grade through fifth grade (or 7, 8, 9, and 10 years of age). Parents, leaders, and organizations work together to achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting. Currently, Cub Scouting is the largest of the BSA’s three membership divisions. The other two are Boy Scouting and Venturing.
The ten purposes of Cub Scouting are:
* Character Development
|
* Spiritual Growth
|
* Good Citizenship
|
* Sportsmanship and Fitness
|
* Family Understanding
|
* Respectful Relationships
|
* Personal Achievement
|
* Friendly Service
|
* Fun and Adventure
|
* Preparation for Boy Scouts
|
Membership
Cub Scouting members join a Cub Scout pack and are assigned to a den, usually a neighborhood group of six to eight boys. Tiger Cubs (first-graders), Wolf Cub Scouts (second graders), Bear Cub Scouts (third graders), and Webelos Scouts (fourth and fifth graders) meet bi-weekly.
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 includes parents of boys in the pack and members of the chartered organization.
Volunteer Leadership
Thousands of volunteer leaders, both men and women, are involved in the Cub Scout program. They serve in a variety of positions, as everything from unit leaders to pack committee chairmen, committee members, den leaders, and chartered organization representatives.
Like other phases of the Scouting program, a Cub Scout pack belongs to an organization with interests similar to those of the BSA. This organization, which might be a church, school, community organization, or group of interested citizens, is chartered by the BSA to use the Scouting program. This chartered organization provides a suitable meeting place, adult leadership, supervision, and opportunities for a healthy Scouting life for the boys under its care. Each organization appoints one of its members as a chartered organization representative. The organization, through the pack committee, is responsible for providing leadership, the meeting place, and support materials for pack activities.
Who Pays For It?
Groups responsible for supporting Cub Scouting are the boys and their parents, the pack, the chartered organization, and the community. The boy is encouraged to pay his own way. Packs also obtain income by working on approved money-earning projects. The community, including parents, supports Cub Scouting through Friends of Scouting enrollment, bequests, and special contributions to the BSA local council. This financial support provides leadership training, outdoor programs, council service centers and other facilities, and professional service for units.
Activities
Cub Scouting means "doing." Everything in Cub Scouting is
designed to have the boys doing things. Activities are used to achieve
the aims of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and
personal fitness.
Many of the activities happen right in the den and pack. The most
important are the bi-weekly den meetings and the monthly pack meetings.
Cub Scout Academics and Sports
The Cub Scout Academics and Sports program provides the
opportunity for boys to learn new techniques, increase scholarship
skills, develop sportsmanship, and have fun. Participation in the
program allows boys to be recognized for physical fitness and
talent-building activities.
Camping Age-appropriate
camping programs are packed with theme-oriented action that brings
Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts into the world of
imagination. Day camping comes to the boy in neighborhoods across the
country; resident camping is at least a three-day experience in which
Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts camp within a developed theme of adventure
and excitement. "Cub Scout Worlds" are used by many councils to carry
the world of imagination into reality with actual theme structures of
castles, forts, ships, etc. Cub Scout pack members enjoy camping in
local council camps and other council-approved campsites.
Camping programs combine fun and excitement with doing one's best,
getting along with others, and developing an appreciation for ecology
and the world of the outdoors.
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. Also available are a number of Cub Scout and leader
publications, including the Tiger Cub Handbook, Wolf Cub Scout Book,
Bear Cub Scout Book, Webelos Scout Book, Cub Scout Leader Book, Cub
Scout Program Helps, and Webelos Leader Guide.
Cub Scouting Ideals Apart from
the fun and excitement of Cub Scout activities, the Cub Scout Promise,
the Law of the Pack, the Tiger Cub motto, and the Cub Scout sign,
handshake, motto, and salute all teach good citizenship and contribute
to a boy’s sense of belonging.
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.
Cub Scout Motto Do Your Best.
Tiger Cub Motto Search, Discover, Share.
Law of the Pack
The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.
Advancement Plan
Recognition is important to
young boys. The Cub Scout advancement plan provides fun for the boys,
gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and
strengthens family understanding as adult family members work with boys
on advancement projects.
|
|
Tiger Cub
The Tiger Cub
program is for first grade (or age 7) boys and their adult partners.
There are five Tiger Cub achievement areas. The Tiger Cub, working with
his adult partner, completes 15 requirements within these areas to earn
the Tiger Cub Badge. These requirements consist of an exciting series of
indoor and outdoor activities just right for a boy in the first grade. Please click here for more information about Tiger Cubs.
|
|
Bobcat
The Bobcat rank is for all boys who join Cub Scouting.
|
|
Wolf
The Wolf program is for boys who have completed first grade (or are age 8).
To earn the Wolf badge, a boy must pass twelve achievements involving simple
physical and mental skills.
|
|
Bear
The Bear rank is for boys who have
completed second grade (or are age 9). There are 24 Bear achievements in
four categories. The Cub Scout must complete 12 of these to earn the
Bear badge. These requirements are somewhat more difficult and
challenging than those for Wolf rank.
|
|
Webelos
This program is for boys who have completed third grade (or are age 10).
A boy may begin working on the Webelos badge as soon as he joins a
Webelos den. This is the first step in his transition from the Webelos
den to the Boy Scout troop. As he completes the requirements found in
the Webelos Scout Book, he will work on activity badges, attend camp. |
|
Colors
The
Cub Scout colors are blue and gold. They have special meaning, which
will help boys see beyond the fun of Cub Scouting to its ultimate goals.
The blue stands for truth and spirituality, steadfast loyalty, and the
sky above. The gold stands for warm sunlight, good cheer, and happiness. |
Any Questions?
Please see our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Section and/or contact our pack for additional information. You may also view the Great Lakes Council website for more info about joining Cub Scouts.
|
|
|