What is cub scouting ?
The Boy Scouts, founded in England in 1908, is a worldwide
organization for character development and citizenship training. A cub
is defined as an awkward or inexperienced youth. Cub Scouting is a
program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for parents, leaders, and
chartered organizations to use with first- through fifth-grade boys.
Goals of cub scouting:
- Influencing character and spiritual growth
- Developing habits and attitudes of good citizenship
- Encouraging good sportsmanship, and pride in growing a strong mind
and body
- Improving understanding within the family
- Strengthening the ability to get along with other boys and to
respect other people
- Fostering self-esteem by developing new interests and skills
- Showing how to be helpful and to do one’s best
- Providing fun and exciting new things to do
- Preparing boys to become Boy Scouts
Levels of scouting:
Tiger Cubs
Tiger Cubs is a program for the first-grade boy and an adult member
of his family. It is built around programs themes, called Big Ideas,
with suggested activities for the individual families under each Big
Idea.
The Tiger Cub group is affiliated with the Cub Scout pack but
operates separately with its own program. The Tiger Cub group visits
exciting pack activities as quests of the pack. The Tiger Cubs graduate
into the pack at the end of the school term in May or June.
The Tiger Cub emblem above with the head of an adult tiger and tiger
cub is symbolic of the program’s stress on equal participation.
Each Tiger Cub group is made up of four to eight first-grade boys and
their adult partners. The boy and his partner (who may be a parent or
other adult family member, or even an adult friend) work together to do
family activities based on the month’s big idea in the Tiger Cub
Family Activity Book. Once a month the group –boys and adults-
come together for an activity built around the group suggestions for
that big idea in the Family Activity Book.
Leadership of the group gatherings is shared among the adult partners
on a rotating basis with the guidance and support of the Tiger Cub group
coach, so that each partner has an opportunity to develop leadership
experience.
Cubs Scouts
Cub Scouts is for boys in the 2nd and 3rd
grades (or 8 or 9 years old). New Wolves and
Bears must meet the Bobcat requirements for the Bobcat rank first. After
the Bobcat rank is obtained the scout may start work on the Wolf or Bear
requirements.
Wolf Rank
Second graders work on activities and requirements found in the Wolf
handbook in order to obtain a patch that displays the Wolf rank. The
Wolf uniform for Pack 277 consists of a blue Cub Scout shirt, Wolf
slide, a gold with blue trim neckerchief, Wolf hat, and dark shoes.
Bear Rank
Third graders work on activities and requirements found in the Bear
handbook in order to obtain a patch that displays the Bear rank. The
Bear uniform for Pack 277 consists of a blue Cub Scout shirt, Bear
slide, a light-blue with dark-blue trim neckerchief, Bear hat, and dark
shoes.
Webelos Rank (We’ll Be Loyal Scouts)
Webelos is a two-year program for boys in the 4th and 5th
grades and is an introduction to Boy Scouts. When a boy joins and
attends his first meeting, he will be placed in a patrol. Each patrol
decides on a patrol name, song and cheer.
The activities at each meeting are a little more challenging than
they are in the Wolf or Bear levels and could, therefore, take longer to
complete. There are 20 activity pins that a Webelos Scout can earn. They
will have the opportunity to earn every pin throughout their two-year
period. While earning these pins, there are awards that can be earned
such as the Webelos Badge and Compass Points.
A scout, during his first year as a Webelo, will work on attaining
the Webelos Badge. The requirements for the badge are listed in the Webelos
Handbook. During his second year he will work on the requirements of
the Arrow of Light, a Cub Scout's highest award.
Besides the weekly meetings that the boys attend, the scouts will
join in campouts (a parent or responsible adult is encouraged to go
along). Activities for each campout are planned to be learning as well
as fun experiences. As an example, past activities have included hikes
at Old Man’s Cave, fishing tournaments, hikes at the Wright Patterson
Memorial Trail that included a tour of the Air Force Museum, horseback
riding, sledding and cross-country skiing. A campout to learn outdoor
Scout skills such as First Aide, Knots & Lashings, Outdoor Cooking,
Map & Compass Reading, and Nature is also held annually.
One organized fund-raiser will be held by the Webelos to help offset
the cost of camping supplies and fees. Additionally, Webelos scouts
collect aluminum cans to raise funds for activities.
During their 2nd year, Webelos have the opportunity to
visit Boy Scout troops to see which one they would like to join.
Upon completing his second year, the Webelos Scout goes through a
graduation ceremony (also with the rest of the pack) that is held in May
or June.
The
Uniform
Patches and pins that must be included on the shirt include:
| Left
Sleeve |
Right
Sleeve |
On
Left
Breast Pocket
|
Above
Right
Breast Pocket
|
| Council
Patch |
American
Flag |
Bobcat/Wolf/
Bear/Weblos Patch**
|
World
Crest Emblem |
| Pack
Numerals |
Den
Number |
Arrow
Points** |
Service
Star** |
** When earned, these will be added to the uniform
Optional uniform items that may be worn include blue trousers,
blue web belt with cub belt buckle, blue with gold-trim socks and scout
shoes.
At den meetings, the den leader may have boys work on crafts,
requirements in their books, songs, games or skits. Tours may also be
scheduled. Boys will have the responsibility of paying dues at den
meetings.
Advancements
When a requirement is met, a parent or den leader should initial and
date the activity. When all requirements have been met, a badge is given
for that rank. If a scout is awarded a rank early in the year he may
work on additional electives. For each ten electives completed, the
scout will earn an arrow point, the first gold, silver thereafter.
Awards are given out at monthly Pack meeting (October through May and
one in July). Boys and their families are asked to attend.
Among other activities throughout the year, the boys are also likely
to participate in the annual Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival parade held in
September.
Wolves and Bears will graduate to the next level (either to a Bear
den or a Webelo patrol) at the end of the school term in May or June.
Awards
Religious Emblem Program
The religious emblem is one of the most important awards a scout can
earn. There are programs available for over 25 different religions. The
program is approved by the Boy Scouts of America; however it is run by
the independent religious organization. Most programs are divided into
two different grade groups: Tiger Cub/Cub Scout and Cub Scout/Webelos.
For further information on the religious award for your faith contact
your Scout Leader or Central Ohio Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Cub Scout Sports
There are Belt Loop, Sports Pin and Sports Letter awards for each of
these 20 different sports:
| Archery |
Badminton |
Baseball |
Basketball |
Bicycling |
| Bowling |
Fishing |
Gymnastics |
Golf |
Marbles |
| Physical
Fitness |
Skating |
Skiing |
Soccer |
Softball |
| Swimming |
Table
Tennis |
Tennis |
Ultimate |
Volleyball |
Belt Loop Awards
A Belt Loop award will be awarded to a Cub Scout that participates in
one of the above sports. Participation must occur during a den or patrol
meeting or through a community organized sports competition.
Sports Pin
A Cub Scout and his adult partner participate together within a
3-month period and earn 60 point in order to obtain the Sports Pin. The
Scout must keep an up-to-date log of points earned. For each 30 minutes
of practice or game time earns 1 point (maximum of 5 point per day).
Sports Letter
If a boy’s parent or guardian participates along with the scout in
obtaining the Sports Pin, the Cub Scout will earn a Sports Letter.
Academics
An award program similar in structure to the sports award program,
with a belt loop, a pin, and a letter is also available in Art,
Communications, Music, Science, Mathematics, Citizenship, Geography and
Heritages.
Summertime Activities Award
Boys who attend 3 summer Pack activities, one each June, July and
August, will be awarded a pin. Though only one pin may be earned, a
scout’s subsequent participation that would lead to another award,
will instead earn him a Certificate of Completion.
Participation Patches
Patch segments may be earned for the following special awards:
- World Conservation
- Salvation Army Good Turn
- Scout Week
Ask your Den or Patrol Leader for more information.
Pack Meetings
Pack meetings are typically held at 7:00 p.m., on the 2nd
Thursday of every month, October through May and July, at the
Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church, 1636 Graham Road. We meet in
Kirsch Hall, the round structure at the south end of the building. Enter
through the doors at the south side of the church, walk down the hall to
the stairs on your right and climb one level, then walk left and find a
short hall to the right that leads to Kirsch Hall.
Pack meetings are where the scouts: are given awards to recognize
their work in the den, patrol or home; demonstrate a project item made
in the den or patrol; perform skits and/or songs; receive announcements
of upcoming events; participate with other scouts and adults in games or
activities. Pack meetings are important for the following reasons:
- They give the den an objective to work toward.
- They build enthusiasm on the part of boys and families.
- They are the best means of developing family participation and
cooperation.
- They help the boys feel they belong to something larger than their
own dens or patrols.
- They provide a regular opportunity for advancement and
recognition.
Graduation
May or early June. Bear Scouts and Webelos typically attend a weekend
campout (Friday evening to Sunday noon). The remainder of the pack and
parents join these boys on the same weekend Saturday evening to have a
good time. Each family brings a picnic and we spend the evening together
in scouting fellowship.
Fund-raisers
Our pack has one scheduled fund-raiser this year. In November, we
will participate in selling Popcorn. Scouts across the country
participate in this effort. A portion of the proceeds is used by the
National Scouting Program to provide training and resource materials for
scout leader. A portion of the proceeds returns to the pack to help with
the purchase of awards, funding of pack activities, and training of
leaders.
It is our Pack policy that NO BOY WILL BE DENIED THE SCOUTING
EXPERIENCE FOR FINANCIAL REASONS. If the fees exceed your ability to
pay, notify your den leader, the Cubmaster, or the Committee Chairman.
Your situation will be held in the strictest of confidence.
Adult Volunteers
Volunteers are needed! Adults are what makes our Pack go forward.
If you enjoy working with boys, if you enjoy the camaraderie of adults
working with boy and you can donate some time, please let a leader know.
Your time can be put to use in as little or as much as you can afford.
Whether you can only afford as little as a few hours working on the Blue
and Gold Banquet or Pinewood Derby or as much as weekly with a den or
patrol of boys, we can use your help.
If you find that you can spend time as an adult leader, please know
that training classes, books and materials are provided as well as
support from present experienced adult leaders. You will not be thrust
into a group without the necessary tools to aide you in providing a good
program for the boys.
Whether you can volunteer or not, meetings are held on the 4th
Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in Room 103A of the United Methodist
Church. This is a meeting of parents and adult leaders to discuss and
plan pack activities and events. Everyone is encouraged and
welcome to attend.
