Scout Guidebook
Welcome to Cub Scouts!
A Guidebook for New Cub Scouts and their Parents
Welcome to Pack 345! You have chosen a GREAT Pack! We have planned an exciting and fun filled year. It will be up to you and your child to work together to accomplish as much as you want. This is a family oriented program. As a Cub your child will participate in field trips, pack meetings, den meetings, camping and so much more. We do our best to include the whole family in many of our events. Our goal is to help each scout to complete the requirements for his advancement and have a great time doing so. Cub Scouts is for boys and girls in kindergarten and grades 1-5 -- and their Akela (parent, or other guardian). It is important that the child participates with a caring, loving adult. Many activities are designed to involve the whole family, though some events will be only for the Cubs. Boys and girls are assigned to a Den based on their grade and age. The Den is part of a Cub Scout Pack. The den meets one to two times monthly. In addition the child attends a monthly Cub Scout pack meeting.
The Cub Scout Motto
The motto of Cub Scouting is “DO YOUR BEST.”
The program is full of excitement and fun. But underlying all of the fun and action are the goals of building self esteem and confidence.
The Scout Oath
"On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight."
Cub-age children are old enough to understand a promise and the responsibily it carries. But they may need your help and support when they feel unable or don’t want to live up to the promise.
The Scout Law
"A Scout is:
Trustworthy
Loyal
Helpful
Friendly
Courteous
Kind
Obedient
Cheerful
Thrifty
Brave
Clean
and Reverent"
Pack Communication
We use Scoutbook to send out emails to all pack parents. You will receive email at the email address you used when you created your my.scouting.org account. We generally put "[Pack 345]" in the subject line so that our emails are easier to spot.
Pack Calendar
The Pack Calendar includes the dates and locations for an entire year of scouting. Our year runs from August to July. These dates are not set in stone, however they do coordinate with the school schedules and pack activities.
The Cub Scout Pack
The Pack is made up of several Dens. Together, they form a Pack. The pack meets once per month with all dens and their families attending. The pack is led by the Cubmaster and a committee of den leaders and other parents.
Pack meetings have games, songs, skits, ceremonies and presentations of badges and beads earned by the Cubs during the past month.
The pack is “owned” by a chartered partner. The chartered partner is usually a school, parent association, religiousorganization, service club or other organizations interested in helping youth. Pack 345's chartered partner is Elk's Lodge #3 of San Francisco.
The Den
Each Cub and his parents are considered a team, and three to eight Cub teams form a Den. A Cub den leader works each month to plan the den meetings, assign goals each month, and will help plan and practice the den's part in the pack meeting.
The Cub den should be actively involved in the pack meeting. The den leader should coordinate with the Cubmaster to determine what part each den will play in the pack meeting. The den may prepare a simple song or skit, and Cubs should be awarded their advancement recognition at pack meetings.
Who’s Who in a Pack
Each Pack has several important positions, filled by volunteers that make the Pack go. The level of parent involvement will directly impact the success
of the program. Here are some of the terms and positions you should be familiar with as you begin your journey through scouting.
Akela: A name given for a parent, a teacher, a Cub Scout leader, or other role model. (In the "jungle-book" story, Akela is the leader of the pack).
Cubmaster: Leader of the entire Pack; responsible for the program; coordinates the Pack Committee and keeps everyone on track. Primary representative for the Pack.
Pack Committee: Supervises the Pack and accomplishes administrative tasks.
Pack Committee Chairman: Person in charge of the pack committee.
Chartered organization: Each Cub Scout pack is sponsored by an organization; ours is The San Francisco Elk Lodge #3.
Chartered organization representative: the liaison between the chartered organization and the Pack.
Annual Fees
The annual Cub Scout registration fees (dues) are $240 for new and returning Scouts, due no later than October 31 of each year. This amount covers the cost of badges, awards, and other supplies; annual registration fees to the BSA and Council; and the fees we pay for our unit's insurance.
Scouts will have the one-time cost to purchase a uniform; see the Uniform page for more information.
Each family is encouraged to contribute annually to the Friends of Scouting fundraiser, the campaign to raise the operating funds necessary to provide a quality Scouting program in the Golden Gate Area Council.
We believe every child should have the opportunity to be a Scout. If this money is a hardship for your family, let us know and we handle it with complete confidentiality.
Advancement
The responsibility for Cubs earning awards lies with the family, not with the pack. Some requirements are done at den meetings, but most are done with you! You can sign off on the requirements when you and your child feel that they have done their best. As a result, the awards your child earns raises their self-esteem and confidence.
Bobcat Badge
The first rank earned by all kids when they join Cub Scouts.
Tiger Cubs (1st grade)
Tigers work with an adult partner on achievements and electives in their handbook
Wolf Cubs (2nd grade)
Wolves work on 12 achievements to earn the Wolf Badge. Each requirement is designed to teach simple skills and initiate family discussions on values, citizenship, health, etc.
Arrow of Light
The highest rank in Cub Scouting. A Webelos must earn the Webelos Badge and complete several
additional requirements to attain the Arrow of Light.
Bear Cubs (3rd grade)
Bears must complete 12 out of 24 achievements to earn the Bear Badge.
Webelos Scouts (4th and 5th grade)
As a Webelos Scout, a Scout works to achieve the Webelos Badge, 20 activity badges, and the Arrow of Light. They are Webelos Scouts for two years.
PROGRAM
There are several highlight activities that your child will be able to take part in each year in Cub Scouting.
Pinewood Derby
The Pinewood Derby has been a Cub Scout tradition for nearly 60 years. Your child starts with a small block of wood
and some imagination. They ends with a car that they race against the other Cubs in his den and pack. He or she could even win
his district Pinewood Derby and earn a trophy!
Scouting for Food
Our Scout “good turn.” Every Cub pack and Scout troop in the 17 counties served by the SF Bay Area Council
collect canned good to benefit the food pantries all around our council.
Blue and Gold Banquet
To celebrate the anniversary of Scouting, every Cub Scout pack holds a Blue and Gold Banquet. You will have great
fun, great food, and entertainment with every family in your pack.
WELCOME!
Welcome to Cub Scouting. You and your child are beginning on a trail of fun and adventure that will challenge them and allow
you to share experiences that you probably would not otherwise have. You child may even become an Eagle Scout!
HOW CUB SCOUTING WORKS
Cub Scouting is designed to provide opportunities for families to work and play together, to have fun together and to get to
know each other a little better. Parents are an integral part of Cub Scouting!
THE DEN
As a Cub Scout, your child is a part of a group of kids their own age called a den. With his den, your child will build confidence and
self-esteem and earn recognition. He or she will also gain a sense of personal achievement from the new skills they learn. Dens are
usually between six and eight Cubs with one or two parents who are the Den Leaders. Most dens meet once a week. Den meetings
have games, crafts, songs, ceremonies and lot of FUN!
THE PACK
The pack is led by a Cubmaster and is made up of several dens. Your child’s den will meet once a month as part of the pack.
These meetings are a time for Cubs to be recognized for their accomplishments, and to have fun with the entire family. The pack
will also hold several special activities each year.
THE PACK COMMITTEE
The Pack Committee runs the pack. The committee is made up of other parents who want to help our the pack. The committee
should meet once a month to discuss and plan pack activities, fundraising, leader training and advancement.
WHY CUB SCOUTING?
Cub Scouting’s strength is that it is a well rounded program, positively affecting every area of a child's life.
Cub Scouting encourages children to achieve a deeper appreciation of others, including peers, parents and other adults. Early in
their Scouting experience, children learn the value of serving others.
Cub Scouting provides children with a sense that they are important as individuals. They learn that their Scouting family cares
about what happens to them.
Cub Scouting promotes activities that lead to personal responsibility and high self-esteem. As a result, when hard decisions
have to be made, a child can look in the mirror and be proud.
WHAT’S EXPECTED OF ME?
Cub Scouting is a program that adults and kids do together. Parents who volunteer spend an average of two to four hours
per week involved in Cub Scouting activities. This includes meetings with the Cubs and planning time. Your child’s pack is run
entirely by volunteer leaders who are parents just like you. Volunteering helps strengthen the bond between parent and child.
Training is provided.
HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD?
Become involved
Live by the Scout Oath and Law
Work with him on his achievements
Sell popcorn and help him raise money
Value him as an individual
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.
CUB SCOUTS TEACHES YOUR CHILD
Confidence through recognition by adults
Belonging by building relationships with other kids
Quality family time to strengthen the bond between parent and child
Social skills through interacting with other people
Moral and ethical choices by instilling essential values
Leadership skills through leading other kids
Citizenship to become responsible community member