Volunteering

You will soon find that the time you spend involved with your son’s Pack will give you the opportunity to be a “hero” in your son’s eyes, and will give you a way to teach volunteerism by example. More boys will go on to volunteer later in life when their parents have led by example.

 

Be assured that the time you spend as an active Scouting parent will be quality time with your son, creating memories to cherish for a lifetime!

 

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What do I get out of volunteering?

Being involved in Cub Scouting is fun, challenging, and rewarding. Leaders find that their experiences help them to become better parents. Following are some of the many dividends that will enrich your life as you dedicate your time, talents, and enthusiasm to Scouting:

• Fun and fellowship with other families, sharing your pride in the boys’ accomplishments.

• The privilege of helping to enrich and strengthen families.

• A chance to help boys learn good citizenship and to help shape them into men who have strength of character and are sensitive to the needs of others.

• The opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of boys as they grow strong in mind and body.

• A code to live by which will set a worthwhile example for both boys and adults.

• The satisfaction of being a member of a worldwide movement, and pride in being publicly identified as a part of this organization -- wearing the Scouting uniform is a visible means of showing you believe in and stand up for the ideals and objectives of the Boy Scouts of America.

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How can I help?

So, how can you help? We’re glad you asked, because we have many ways you can get involved, big and small, year-long or short-term. You are the best judge of the time you can commit. The pack cannot exist without your involvement on some level. Following are ways you can become involved. The descriptions are brief but if you are interested in a position we can give you a more complete job description.

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Large ongoing commitments

These positions are uniformed leadership positions that generally require some training. These people should attend the monthly pack planning meetings. More detailed information about these jobs is available here.

Job	Description	Estimated Hours
Cubmaster	The Cubmaster is the "face man" for the Cub Scouts and their families. Friendly and engaging, he sets an example for the Cub Scouts and helps them understand what it means to be a Cub Scout. The Cubmaster runs all pack meetings and provides guidance and direction to the den leaders in the pack. Please refer to the BSA's Cubmaster page for more details.
Assistant Cubmaster	Assists the Cubmaster and fills in when he is not available. We should have at least one Assistant Cubmaster, but two or three would allow the Cubmaster to divide responsibilities. Ideally the Assistant Cubmaster learns the role of the Cubmaster so he can eventually take over the position. Please refer to the BSA's Assistant Cubmaster page for more details.
Committee Member	The pack committee is responsible for planning all pack activities for the year and for managing the finances of the pack. The pack committee is responsible for the pack re-charter each year, and for maintaining the relationship between the pack and the chartering organization. The pack committee consists of a minimum of three adult members but ideally has at least five. Please refer to So You're a New Pack Committee Member? for more details.	3 hours per month
Committee Chair	The Committee Chair is responsible for the pack committee and for running the pack planning meetings. He or she is the behind-the-scenes leader of the pack. Please refer to the BSA's Pack Committee page for more details.
Assistant Committee Chair	Assists the Committee Chair and fills in when he or she is not available. Ideally the Assistant Committee Chair learns the role of the Committee Chair so he or she can eventually take over the position.
Treasurer	Keeps up-to-date financial records, checks all disbursements against budget allowances, pays bills by check, and periodically reports on the pack's financial condition at the monthly pack planning meeting. Please refer to the BSA's Pack Committee page for details.
Secretary	Keeps notes on business conducted at pack planning meetings, handles correspondence for the pack, etc. Please refer to the BSA's Pack Committee page for details.
Trainer	Please refer to the BSA's Pack Committee page for details.
Awards Chair	Coordinates the tracking of advancement and awards, generates all associated paperwork, helps the den awards volunteers, and purchases the awards. Please refer to the BSA's Pack Committee page for details.	4-5 hours per month
Den Leader	The den leader plans out and delivers all of the programming for the boys in their den, and is responsible for providing the boys with the opportunities they need to fulfill the requirements to earn their next rank. Typically this includes organizing den meetings and outings, plus planning activities or skits for the pack meeting each month. Please refer to the BSA's Tiger Cub Den Leaders, Cub Scout Den Leaders, and Webelos Den Leaders pages for more details.	4-5 hours per week
Assistant Den Leader	Assists the den leader and fills in when he or she is not available.	2 hours per week
Membership & Reregistration Chair	Prepares reregistration papers and an annual report to the chartered organization, secures signatures and registration fees for the coming year. Please refer to the BSA's Pack Committee page for details.

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Medium-small ongoing commitments

The people in these positions can choose to be uniformed or non-uniformed. Some of the positions may require training.

Job	Description	Estimated Hours
Popcorn "Kernel"	The Popcorn Kernel is responsible for the pack's popcorn fundraiser, which provides a large portion of the pack's funds. Please refer to the Popcorn Kernel page for more details.
Assistant Popcorn "Kernel"	Assists the Popcorn Kernel. Ideally the assistant learns the role of the Popcorn Kernel so he or she can eventually take over the position.
Den Awards	Tracks advancement and awards for a den's scouts in the PackMaster database. Is responsible for getting from the den leader a list of attendees for each meeting or outing and what advancement and award requirements were completed. Also, must communicate with parents about advancement and award requirements completed outside the den.	3 hours per month
Public Relations Coordinator	Make use of the news media in publicizing pack events, urge pack participation in appropriate programs of the chartered organization, etc. Please refer to the BSA's Pack Committee page for details.
Website Coordinator	Help people having problems using the pack's web site, Google Groups or documents. Does maintenance at the beginning of the season, when old dens are dissolved and new dens are created. Requires computer capabilities, but no complex skills.	2 hours per month
Recruitment	Responsible for ensuring the pack meets it recruitment targets. In particular, coordinates the annual recruiting nights. Also encourages scouts to recruit their friends, perhaps by reminding them of the Recruiter badge they can earn.	5 hours per year
Outings Chair	Helps the Cubmaster plan and arrange for outdoor activities, arranges for property, fire, and tour permits when required, plans first aid for emergencies, etc. Please refer to the BSA's Pack Committee page for details.
Pack Trainer	Keeps track of pack training records, encourages pack leaders to attend training, etc. Please refer to the BSA's Pack Trainer page for details.

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Short-term commitments

The people in these positions will only spend a couple months out of the year coordinating their responsibilities.

Job	Description	Estimated Hours
Blue & Gold Coordinator	Plans the annual Blue & Gold event (in February). Secures a venue, coordinates food, plans decorations, and arranges for setup and cleanup. See Running the Blue & Gold for more details.
Pinewood Derby Pit Crew Member	Several adults are needed to help run the Pinewood Derby races, usually held in January. Jobs include weighing cars at impoundment, helping with triage, shuttling cars to the starting line, and running the starting gate. See the Running the Pinewood Derby for more details on what is involved.	7 hours
Pinewood Derby Timer	Responsible for the DerbyMaster software used to time the Pinewood Derby races and log the results. Requires two or three hours of advance work to input data into the software, plus attendance at all of the races. See the Pinewood Derby notes for more details on what is involved.	9 hours
Outing Coordinator	Responsible for working with the Outings Chair in coordinating all aspects of a pack outing, whether it is an overnight or a day trip. Note that this does not necessarily entail actually going on the outing, though often that is the most fun for the coordinator. See the Pat's Peak Ski Outing for an example of what's involved with coordinating an outing.	2-7 hours (variable)
Parade Coordinator	Responsible for coordinating the pack's participation in parades, typically the Veteran's Day and Apple Blossom parades.
Service Coordinator	Coordinates the pack's service projects, such as Scouts for Food. Also, works with den leaders looking for ideas for a den service project.