North Trail District

CUB SCOUT Parent Information Guide

Welcome to the Adventure of Cub Scouts

Where Character Counts and the Adventures Begins!
For the Boys in Grades 1-5

Why join Cub Scouts?
How does Cub Scouting Work?
How are cub scouts organized?
What Happens at Pack Meetings?
How can you help?
Your Den and the Boy Scouts of America
How much does Scouting Cost?

Why Join Cub Scouts???

Time is valuable. Today's families more then ever, struggle to find time to spend together. Cub Scouting helps to support your family by providing readymade opportunities for you and your son to do things together.
There is a sense of belonging that will build your son's self esteem and teach him to get along with others. As a parent, you want to be assured that the groups that your boy joins will teach values consistent with good citizenship, character development, and physical fitness. Boy Scouts of America has been weaving these lifetime values in to fun and educational activities since 1910.
In a society where your son is taught that winning is everything, Cub Scouting teaches him to "do his best" and to be helpful to others.
Scouting teaches family values and works to strengthen your relationship with your son. Scouting activities can bring added value to the time you already have with your son.

But we know that boys do not join Cub Scouting just to get their character built. Boys join because it is fun.

Scouting is fun with a purpose!

How does Cub Scouting Work?

Family is the basis of Cub Scouting

You, as his family, join in on the program with your son, and you will help him along the way.
Cub Scouts exist to support your family and help enrich your family time together.

Reading Material

Boys have different handbook for each grade level, with suggested activities that are age-appropriate for their developmental level. As your boy advances through these books by working on activities with you, he will earn badges and other recognition that he can wear on his uniform. Your son's success in Cub Scouting Depends on you!

How are cub scouts organized?

The Cub Scout program takes place at two levels. Your son will be a part of a den; a small group of boys in the same grade level who meet weekly. All dens, from grade one through five, make up a pack. Once a month, the dens, with their families, are together at the pack meeting, where boys show off the new skills they have learned during the month and recognized for the badges they have earned.

Structure

The den is made up of three to eight boys on the same grade level.
Each den also has a Cub den leader and assistant den leader (usually both are parents of the boys in the den).
Dens form a Pack. Packs are facilitated by the adult Cub Master. Each pack in the district has a unique pack number.
Often a den chief is appointed as well (an older Boy Scout who helps the den leader).

Meetings

The den has two meetings a month, either at the homes of hose parent-son teams or at a designate facility
One "GO SEE IT" activity(the den, as a group, visits community place of interest)
Monthly pack meeting.

The Tiger Cub Den (1st grade)

Parents are most involved at the Tiger Cub level. The den is made up of three to eight of these parent-son teams.
The boy and his parent or guardian join the den together and attend all meetings and activities together.
The parent-son teams take turns running the activities and planning meetings with the Tiger Cub den leader.

The WOLF CUB SCOUT (2nd Grade) and BEAR CUB SCOUT (3rd Grade)

Parents are vital to the Cub Scout dens both in the role of home support and to help the den leader, but their sons are beginning to be more independent, and not every boy needs a parent at every meeting.

WEBELOS SCOUT Den (4th Grade and 5th Grade)

Webelos stands for "We be loyal scouts." The Webelos den is much like the Cub Scout dens, but there is more emphasis on the boys learning to take leadership roles and on preparing to become Boy Scouts.

What Happens at Pack Meetings?

The Cub Scout pack is made up of all the dens, which meet monthly at the pack meeting, led by the Cubmaster. This is the climax of the monthly den meetings and activities. There are games, skits, songs, ceremonies and presentations of badges that boys earned during that month. This is where families-not just parents, but siblings, too - can see the achievements of their Cub Scout.

Family Friendly Events

Pinewood Derby - You can build and race a model car with your son
Blue and Gold Banquet - Cub Scoutings birthday party - for all pack members and their families - in February
Camping - Overnight and day camp opportunities introduce your family to the camping experience
Service Projects - Packs may participate in food drives, conservation projects, or other community activities.
Field trips and special outings - Great ways to learn more about the people and place in your community Make memories with your son that will last a lifetime!

How can you Help?

The most important help that you, as a parent, can give your boy is to work with him on his Cub Scouting activities. His handbook is full of age-appropriate activities that you will enjoy doing together at home. When he completes an activity or project, it is your responsibility to sign his book to verify that he has done his best. And then it is all-important for you to attend the monthly pack meeting with him, so that you can celebrate his achievement. Your role as a parent is the secret of success of the Cub Scouting program!

The den and the pack also rely on parent participation to run a successful program. Cub Scouting operates through volunteer leadership. Consider volunteering as a member of the pack leadership team or as a parent helper. Volunteer leaders are an example of Scouting's principle of service to others. By volunteering in Scouting, you are also giving your son the gift of your time. What could be more valuable? You will have an opportunity to be a positive influence in the life of him and his friends. Here are some of the ways you could volunteer:

Den Leader - Leads the den at weekly den and monthly pack meetings. Attends the monthly pack committee meeting.
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 committee meeting.
Committee Member - Pack committee members perform administrative functions of the pack. The committee meets monthly
Committee Chairman - Presides at all pack committee meetings. Helps recruit adult leaders and attends the monthly pack meeting and pack committee meeting.
Advancement Chairman - Maintains advancement records for the pack. Orders and obtains all badges and insignia. Attends the monthly pack meeting and pack committee meeting.
Secretary/Treasurer - Keeps all records for the pack, including pack bank account, financial records, etc. Attends the monthly pack meeting and pack committee meeting.
Pack Trainer - Coordinates Fast Start training for adults. Promotes leader training and roundtable meeting attendance. Attends the monthly pack meeting and pack committee meeting.
Parent Helpers - Parent helpers assist with short-term projects in the den or pack. This might be coordinating pack money-earning projects, service projects, conservation projects, field trips or outings, blue and gold banquet, day camp, Pinewood Derby, pack overnight camping, or field day events.

Spending time with your child: The Secret of Success!

Come join the fun of Cub Scouting as a family . . . its fun! You'll make new friends. No job is too difficult when you're having fun as part of a team of Cub Scout parents, reinforcing each others' efforts to help your boys to grow up to be good citizens.

You're Den and the Boy Scouts of America Structure

You are not alone

Your den is in a pack that belongs to an organization chartered by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to operate a Scouting Unit (a chartered organization). The chartered organization approves leadership, helps secure a meeting place, and makes sure that the pack works within the guidelines and policies of the guidelines and policies of their organization as well as those of the BSA.

Your pack is a member of a district, a geographic area of the BSA local council that helps support the pack in providing a successful and high-quality program. An employee of the local council, a unit-serving executive (district executive), is assigned to assist the packs in your district.

Your district also has a volunteer team called the commissioner staff. They are a "service team" that checks on the program "health" of your pack, and they are a communication link between your pack and the local council. A commissioner is assigned specifically to assist your unit.

All leaders need training to be effective. Your district provides online or CDROM based training for adult volunteers in how to be a successful leader. Call your district training chairman for further training information. Your pack also has a pack trainer to oversee adult and youth training.

Your district is one of several in the BSA local council. The professional staff at your council service center can help or will get you in touch with someone who can.

Council website (see what's going on in all of North Texas Boy Scouts)
http://www.Circle10.org

Districts website (join the mailing list, and see what's going on in our community)
http://www.NorthTrail.org

Who is our Cubmaster, what is our pack #, where do we meet?
http://www.northtrail.org/data/cub_scout_units.php

Who is our Unit Commissioner?
http://www.northtrail.org/unit/commissioner.php

Our District Executive is Norberto Diaz and he can best be contacted by email: nodiaz@bsamail.org or reached by phone at: 214-902-6756.

How much does Scouting Cost?

Registration fee - annual fee for youth and leaders $15
Boys Life Magazine - HIGHLY Recommended $12.
Pack dues - The amount varies by pack, depending on money-earning projects conducted by the pack to decrease the amount needed to run the pack program.
Uniform - The uniform and its cost vary by program for both youth and adult. See www.ScoutStuff.org for details and current prices. Uniforms may also be purchased at your local scout shop. Here is a handy shopping list. Uniforms and supplies can be purchased at the Scoutfitter. There are two locations one in Allen and at the main service center 8605 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75235 MAP
Books - Youth handbooks are the Tiger, Wolf Bear, and Webelos Handbooks. Adult leaders use the Cub Scout Leader Book, Cub Scout Leader How-to Book, Cub Scout Program Helps, and Webelos Leader Guide. See www.ScoutStuff.org or your local Scout shop for prices and a wealth of other reasonably priced resources.