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Cub Scout Pack 21
(Romeoville, Illinois)		  
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What Is Cub Scouting?

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 others 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 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.

Den Meetings
Your son will meet weekly or bi-weekly with a group of other boys who are in his' grade. This provides him a chance to make new friends and do new activities with a close group of friends.

Pack Meetings
This is a meeting for all Cub Scouts and parents to get together to recognize thier sons for the achievements they have accomplished during each month. Skits, songs, and plays are just a few of the activities during a Pack meeting.

Pinewood Derby Races
Pack competition where the Cub Scout makes a race car for competition.

Day Camp
Weekday program during the summer. Action oriented. Involves games, crafts, nature, archery and BB gun instruction.

Resident Camp
Generally a 3-day camping program during the summer where Cub Scouts and Webelos are given opportunity to work on Service projects and acheive rank-specific projects.

Blue and Gold Banquet
Large pack meeting in February where families come together to celebrate the birthday of the Cub Scout Program. Most will hold a potluck, an ice cream a social or cater food for the event. Advancement program and skits are the main attraction of the night.

What does my son get from Cub Scouts?

  • Develops character and encourages spiritual growth
  • Develops habits of good citizinship
    • Encourages good sportsmanship and pride and growing strong in mind & body
  • Improves understanding within the family
  • Strengthens the ability to get along with others & respect for other people
  • Fosters a sense fo personal achievement by developing new interests & skills
  • Teaches boys to be helpful and to do one's best
  • Provides fun and exciting new activities
  • Prepares them to be Boy Scouts
  • Learns respect for nature and America's natural resources

What does it cost?

Registration is covered via fundraising. The Scouts are required to raise a specfied amount of fundraising program sales, or can choose an optional buy-out option. If the fundraising goals are met the funds raised allow the Pack to provide:

  • An annual subscription to Boys' Life magazine
  • Annual registration fees to BSA
  • All awards and acheivement patches
  • Special activities throughout the Scouting year
  • Funds the Blue and Gold banquet
  • Funds the Pinewood Derby
  • Funds the annual Picnic and Raingutter Regatta
  • Funds Adult volunteer training
  • Next rank's kerchief at the Bridging ceremony
    Some activities, such as Family Camp, Day Camp, and Council-led activities require additional fees based on the activity.

How Much Time Will This All Take?

Cub Scout Time Commitment
Time with one's son is the most important time we have. Cub Scouting is family centered and works well because parents get involved.

Tiger Cubs
1st grade boys will need a parent on all activities. Tiger Cubs meet weekly for group activities. These meetings involve both the Tiger Cub and his adult partner. Tiger Cub and partner will run one of the meetings following a shared leadership concept. This process will be facilitated with the help of a Tiger Cub Den Leader

Wolves, Bears & Webelos
2nd-5th grades, attend weekly meetings that are conducted by a Den Leader. Parents are not expected to attend the Den meetings unless thay have volunteered to be a leader.

Parents do attend all pack meetings, that take place once a month, and camping outings with their son.

Outside of the Den and Pack meetings, time is used to help your son advance through the rank on which he is currently working.

Additional time can be used by the Pack if you choose to be a volunteer as a Den Leader, Cubmaster, member of the Pack Committee or as an assistant to one of the current leaders.

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. Pack 21's charter organization is the Hermansen Elementry PTO chartered by the BSA to use the Scouting program.

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 boys are 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, 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.

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.

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 meetings led by adults, and become familiar with the Boy Scout requirements—all leading to the Arrow of Light Award.

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 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 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 IdealsApart 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.

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.

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.

What is Cub Scouting

The Advancement Trail

 

On the advancement trail, a Cub Scout progresses from rank to rank, learning new skills as he goes. Each of the ranks and awards in Cub Scouting has its own requirements. As you advance through the ranks, the requirements get more challenging, to match the new skills and abilities you learn as you get older.


Bobcat

No matter what age or grade a boy joins Cub Scouting, he must earn his Bobcat badge before he can advance to the rank of Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos. A boy must complete the Bobcat requirements, which include:

  • Learn and say the Cub Scout motto, the Cub Scout Promise, and the Law of the Pack and tell what they mean;
  • Show the Cub Scout sign, salute, and handshake and tell what they mean; and
  • Show that you understand and believe that it is important to be honest and trustworthy.

Tiger Cub

To begin his path to the Tiger Cub rank, the Tiger Cub (age 7) must learn the Cub Scout promise, the Cub Scout sign, and the Cub Scout salute. When he has learned these, he gets his Tiger Cub emblem, which is a tiger paw with four strings for beads. He wears the emblem on his right pocket.

As a boy finishes each part of the five Tiger Cub achievements, he earns an orange bead (for den activities), a white bead (for family activities), or a black bead (for "Go See Its"). When the boy has earned five beads of each color, he can receive his Tiger Cub badge. The Tiger Cub badge is given to the boy's adult partner at a pack meeting. Then, during a grand ceremony, the adult gives the badge to the boy.


Wolf

The Wolf rank is for boys who have finished first grade (or who are 8 years old). To earn the Wolf badge, a boy must pass 12 achievements. His parent or guardian approves each achievement by signing his book. When the boy has met all requirements, the Wolf badge is presented to his parent or guardian at the next pack meeting. During an impressive ceremony, the parent or guardian then presents the badge to the boy.

After he has earned the Wolf badge, a Wolf Cub Scout can work on the 23 Wolf electives until he finishes second grade (or turns 9 years old). He can choose from more than 100 elective projects that may show him new hobbies and teach him skills that will be useful during his Boy Scout years. When he completes 10 elective projects, he earns a Gold Arrow Point to wear under the Wolf badge. For each 10 elective projects after that, he earns a Silver Arrow Point.


Bear

The Bear rank is for boys who have finished second grade (or are 9 years old). There are 24 Bear achievements in four groups. A boy must complete 12 of the achievements to be a Bear Cub Scout. These requirements are harder and more challenging than those for the Wolf badge. When a boy has earned his Bear badge, he may work on electives to earn Arrow Points to wear under his Bear badge.


Webelos

Webelos dens are for boys who have completed third grade (or reached age 10). The Webelos den program is different from the Cub Scout den program. Everything in the Webelos Scout program is more challenging than what younger boys in the pack do. Webelos Scouts get to work on the 20 Webelos activity badges:

Physical Skills

  • Aquanaut
  • Athlete
  • Fitness
  • Sportsman

Mental Skills

  • Artist
  • Scholar
  • Showman
  • Traveler

Community

  • Citizen
  • Communicator
  • Family Member
  • Readyman

Technology

  • Craftsman
  • Engineer
  • Handyman
  • Scientist

Outdoor Activity

  • Forester
  • Geologist
  • Naturalist
  • Outdoorsman

Webelos Scouts work on requirements during their weekly den meetings. Once a boy learns a skill, he practices it at den meetings and at home on his own. His family helps him at home. Webelos Scouts bring the projects they do at home to the den meetings to show others, and to have the Webelos den leader approve their projects.

When a boy has done the requirements for an activity badge, the Webelos den leader or activity badge counselor, rather than a parent, approves most of the activity badges. It takes three activity badges, including Fitness and Citizen, to earn the Webelos badge.

Besides earning activity badges, Webelos Scouts can earn the compass points emblem. This emblem is awarded after a Webelos Scout has earned seven activity badges. For each four activity badges a Webelos Scout earns after that, he receives a compass point—east, west, north, and south.


Arrow of Light

The highest rank in Cub Scouting is the Arrow of Light Award. Earning this rank prepares a Webelos Scout to become a Boy Scout. Webelos Scouts who have earned the Arrow of Light Award have also completed all requirements for the Boy Scout badge.

This award is the only Cub Scout badge that can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform when a boy graduates into a troop. Adult leaders who earned the Arrow of Light Award when they were young may also show their achievement by wearing a special square knot on their adult uniform.



 

 

Cub Scout Motto
Do Your Best!
Cub Scout Promise

I, ................., promise to do my best,

To do my duty to my God and my country,

To help other people, and

To obey the Law of the Pack.

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.

Webelos

WE'll BE LOyal Scouts. Pronounced "Wee-buh-lows", whether referring to one or more Webelos scouts.

Character Development

Since its origin, the Scouting program has been an educational experience concerned with values. In 1910, the first activities for Scouts were designed to build character, physical fitness, practical skills, and service. These elements were part of the original Cub Scout program and continue to be part of Cub Scouting today

Character development should extend into every aspect of a boy's life. Character development should also extend into every aspect of Cub Scouting. Cub Scout leaders should strive to use Cub Scouting's 12 core values throughout all elements of the program—service projects, ceremonies, games, skits, songs, crafts, and all the other activities enjoyed at den and pack meetings

Cub Scouting's 12 Core Values

1. Citizenship:
Contributing service and showing responsibility to local, state, and national communities.
2. Compassion:
Being kind and considerate, and showing concern for the well-being of others.
3. Cooperation:
Being helpful and working together with others toward a common goal
4. Courage:
Being brave and doing what is right regardless of our fears, the difficulties, or the consequences.
5. Faith:
Having inner strength and confidence based on our trust in God.
6. Health and Fitness:
Being personally committed to keeping our minds and bodies clean and fit.
7. Honesty:
Telling the truth and being worthy of trust.
8. Perseverance:
Sticking with something and not giving up, even if it is difficult.
9. Positive Attitude:
Being cheerful and setting our minds to look for and find the best in all situations.
10. Resourcefulness:
Using human and other resources to their fullest.
11. Respect:
Showing regard for the worth of something or someone.
12. Responsibility:
Fulfilling our duty to God, country, other people, and ourselves.
12 Core Values and
the Scout Law

Boy Scouts learn and strive to live by the Scout Law:

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent

Many of the core values of Cub Scouting relate directly to the Scout Law:
Core Value Scout Law
Compassion Kind
Cooperation Helpful
Courage Brave
Health and Fitness Clean
Honesty Trustworthy
Postive Attitude Cheerful

Character can be defined as the collection of core values by an individual that leads to moral commitment and action.

Character development should challenge Cub Scouts to experience core values
in six general areas: God, world, country, community, family, and self.

Character is "values in action."

Character ConnectionsTM

The goals of the Cub Scout leader are

  • to seek out and maximize the many opportunities to incorporate character development
  • to convince the young Cub Scout that character is important to the individual, to his family, community, country, world, and God

Character development should not be viewed as something done occasionally as part of a separate program, or as part of only one area of life. For in reality, character development is a part of everything a Cub Scout does. Character development lessons can be found in every aspect of the Cub Scouting experience.

When it comes to developing character, the complete person must be considered. Character development involves at least three critical areas:

  1. Know (thought)
  2. Commit (feeling)
  3. Practice (behavior)

In Cub Scouting, addressing these three critical areas and relating them to values is referred to as Character Connections.

Character Connections asks the Cub Scout to:

Know

Character development includes moral knowledge—both awareness and reasoning. For example, children must understand what honesty means and they must be able to reason about and interpret each situation, and then decide how to apply the principles of honesty.

What do I think or know about the core value? How does the context of this situation affect this core value? What are some historical, literary, or religious examples representing the core value?

Commit

Character development includes attention to moral motivation. Children must be committed to doing what they know is right. They must be able to understand the perspectives of others, to consider how others feel, and to develop an active moral conscience.

Why is this core value important? What makes living out this core value different? What will it take to live out this core value?

Practice

Character development includes the development of moral habits through guided practice. Children need opportunities to practice the social and emotional skills necessary for doing what is right but difficult, and to experience the core values in their lives.

How can I act according to this core value? How do I live out this core value? How can I practice this value at school, at home, and with my friends?

To make Character Connections an integral part of Cub Scouting, the 12 core values are being integrated throughout the boys' handbooks and advancement program. Program support for character development can be found in Cub Scout Program Helps, in the Cub Scout Leader Book, and at your monthly roundtable meetings.

Remember:

  • Core values are the basis of good character development.
  • Character must be broadly defined to include thinking, feeling, and behavior.
  • Core values should be promoted throughout all phases of life.


   
 
 
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