What is Cub Scouting?

WHAT IS CUB SCOUTING?

THE PROGRAM
In 1930, the Boy Scouts of America created a new opportunity called Cub Scouting for boys younger than Boy Scout age. A year-round, home-centered program used by chartered organizations, Cub Scouting emphasizes involvement between boys and their parents, adult leaders, and friends.

In the multidimensional plan of the Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scouting is where it all begins. Currently, it is the largest of the organization's three membership divisions. (The others are Boy Scouting and Exploring.)

PURPOSES

Cub Scouting has the following purposes:

Influence a boy's character development and spiritual growth.

Develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship.

Encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body.

Improve understanding within the family.

Strengthen a boy's ability to get along with others.

Foster a sense of personal achievement by developing new interests and skills.

Provide fun and exciting new things to do.

Show a boy how to be helpful and do his best.

Prepare him to be a Boy Scout.

MEMBERSHIP

Cub Scouting, like its Boy Scouting and Exploring counterparts, follows a long-range plan to reach youth nationwide. As of March 31, 1996, Cub Scout membership is 1,613,389 in 50,381 Packs.

WHO CAN JOIN?

Any boy who subscribes to the Cub Promise and Law of the Pack, and is in the second through fifth grades (or age 8, 9, or 10), may join a Cub Scout pack and be assigned to a den, usually made up of boys in a neighborhood who form a natural play group. Den meetings are held each week, usually at one of the boys' homes under the supervision of a volunteer den leader-generally the mother or father of one of the boys. A den may also have an assistant den leader; a den chief-an older Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Explorer who helps the leader with activities; and a denner - a Cub Scout elected by his peers who assists the den leader and den chief.

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 can include parents of boys in the pack and members of the chartered organization.

WHO OPERATES A CUB SCOUT PACK?

Like other phases of the Scouting program, Cub Scouting is made available to groups having similar interests and goals, which include professional organizations, government bodies, and religious, educational, civic, fraternal, business, labor, and citizens' groups. These are called our chartered organizations. Each organization appoints one of its members as a chartered organization representative. The organization, through the committee, is responsible for leadership, the meeting place, and related materials for pack activities.

WHO PAYS?

Groups responsible for supporting Cub Scouting are the boys and their parents, the pack, the chartered organizations, and the community. The boy is encouraged to pay his own way by contributing dues each week. Packs also obtain income by working on approved money-earning projects.

The community, including parents, supports Cub Scouting through the United Way, sustaining membership enrollment, bequests, and special contributions to the local BSA council. This provides leadership training, outdoor programs, council service centers, and other facilities, as well as professional service for units.

ADVANCEMENT

Cub Scouting includes a plan of advancement for each boy that emphasizes learning by doing. The boy works on requirements based on his school grade or age.

BOBCAT

Upon joining a pack, the boy's parent teaches him his Bobcat requirements: learning the Cub Scout Promise, Law of the Pack, handshake, salute, sign, and motto.

WOLF

After a Cub Scout has completed the first grade (or is 8 years old) he may begin working on his Wolf achievements. There are 12: Feats of Skill, Your Flag, Keep Your Body Healthy, Know Your Home and Community, Tools for Fixing and Building, Start a Collection, Your Living World, Cooking and Eating, Be Safe at Home and On the Street, Family Fun, Duty to God, and Making Choices. Upon completion of the achievements, he is awarded the Wolf badge, and may continue to work on Wolf electives in 22 different areas.

When a boy completes 10 projects he receives a Gold Arrow Point. For each additional 10 projects he receives a Silver Arrow Point.

BEAR

When a Cub Scout has completed the second grade (or is 9 years old) he begins working on his Bear achievements. There are 24 achievements in four different groups: God, Country, Family, and Self. To achieve the Bear rank, the Cub Scout must earn his choice of 12: one from the first group, three from the second group, and four from each of the third and fourth groups. The achievements are: Ways We Worship; Emblems of Faith; What Makes America Special?; Tall Tales; Sharing Your World With Wildlife; Take Care of Your Planet; Law Enforcement Is a Big Job!; The Past Is Exciting and Important; What's Cooking?; Family Fun; Be Ready!; Family Outdoor Adventures; Saving Well, Spending Well; Ride Right; Games-Games-Games!; Building Muscles; Information, Please; Jot It Down; Shavings and Chips; Sawdust and Nails; Build a Model; Typing It All Up; Sports, Sports, Sports; and Be a Leader.

After achieving the Bear badge, a boy may concentrate on 24 Bear elective areas until he becomes a Webelos Scout. Gold and Silver Arrow Points are also awarded for these projects.

WEBELOS

After completing the third grade, a Cub Scout graduates with ceremony into a Webelos den. This is a special den for boys in the fourth or fifth grade (or who are 10 years old). The Webelos Scout program is more challenging to the older Cub Scout-in fact, he's now called a Webelos Scout and wears a different uniform signifying his new status.

Meetings are usually held in the early evening or on Saturday. His leader is a man or woman assisted by other den parents. The den chief is older and more experienced than those serving Cub Scouts. Also, the Webelos Scout's advancement is approved by his Webelos den leader rather than his parent.

He begins work immediately on the Webelos badge. In addition, he can earn 20 Webelos activity badges: Aquanaut, Artist, Athlete, Citizen, Communicator, Craftsman, Engineer, Family Member, Fitness, Forester, Geologist, Handyman, Naturalist, Outdoorsman, Readyman, Scholar, Scientist, Showman, Sportsman, and Traveler.

As a fifth-grader (or at age 10) he may earn Cub Scouting's highest award-the Arrow of Light Award. After receiving this award, he is eligible to become a Boy Scout, or he may join a troop at age 11 (or when he completes the fifth grade).

ACTIVITIES

At den meetings, a Cub Scout starts an activity. Perhaps it is a handicraft project or practicing a stunt for the next pack meeting. During the week, with his parents' help, he finishes the project or perfects the stunt. If it happens to be something required for his Wolf or Bear advancement, his parent signs his Cub Scout book. In this way, Cub Scouting helps to strengthen family ties.

Pack meetings, attended by boys and their families, give parents a chance to see their sons in action. Most pack meetings are divided into two parts. The first is informal-boys and parents may view exhibits or participate in gathering-time activities. The second half has a formal opening, followed by den skits, songs, games, or stunts related to a monthly theme, and the awarding of badges earned by the boys since the last pack meeting.

OUTDOOR PROGRAM

Adventuresome outdoor programs are encouraged for Cub Scouts. These include den field trips, picnics, outings, day camping, and backyard camping. Because Cub Scouting is home-centered, family camping is also emphasized. Webelos Scouts are encouraged to go on overnight experiences and to conduct occasional joint outdoor activities with a Boy Scout troop. Cub Scout day camps are conducted by nearly all Scouting councils, and many also provide resident camping experiences for Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts.

COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS

Team sports and other competitive events occur within the pack and on an interpack level. Among the activities that have become favorites are Cub Scout shows, pet shows, safe bicycle driving projects, pinewood derbies (miniature car racing on tracks), rocket derbies, regattas, kite-flying contests, Cub Scout field days, and Cubmobile racing. Cub Scouts are encouraged to be physically fit through the Cub Scout sports program, which offers up to 20 different sports.

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. There are also a number of Cub Scout and leader publications, including the Wolf Cub Scout Book, Bear Cub Scout Book, Webelos Scout Book, Cub Scout Leader Book, and Cub Scout and Webelos Scout Program Helps.

BASIC CONCEPTS

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.

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.

TIGER CUBS, BSA

Most Cub Scout packs have affiliated Tiger Cub groups of first-grade boys and their adult partners. Each group consists of 4 to 8 youth members. In addition to their own program, they meet as guests of the pack once or twice a year for special pack activities.

The pack selects a Tiger Cub group coach who then completes Fast Start training. This person conducts the organizational meeting of first graders and adult partners and keeps a monthly contact with the group.

The Tiger Cub program is conducted on two levels. First, the boy and adult meet in the home weekly to conduct activities for the whole family. Second, the boy and adult meet monthly with other Tiger Cubs and adults in the group, using the monthly ''big idea'' for the activity. Each monthly group meeting is hosted by a boy and adult team.

At the end of the school term, Tiger Cubs graduate into Cub Scouting.

Backto Pack 273 Home Page