Scouting 101

Scouting helps meet six essential needs of young people:

Mentoring

Scouting provides youth with good role models who can have a powerful impact on their lives. We have a process that screens, selects, and trains the leaders who can provide the attention all young people need to succeed in life.

Lifelong Learning

Scouting provides structured settings where kids can learn new skills and develop habits of continual learning that will help them succeed. Scouting offers a proven program of discovering, sharing, and applying knowledge and skills that last a lifetime.

Faith Traditions

One of the key tenets of Scouting is "duty to God." While Scouting does not define religious belief for its members, it does encourage each young person to begin a spiritual journey through the practice of his or her faith tradition.

Serving Others

Scouting is deeply rooted in the concept of doing for others. "Do a Good Turn Daily" is a core Scouting precept. Scouting encourages young people to recognize the needs of others and take action accordingly.

Healthy Living

Young people need to be well. To get the most from life, one must be both mentally and physically fit. A commitment to physical wellness has been reflected in Scouting's outdoor programs such as hiking, camping, swimming, climbing, and conservation. First aid, lifesaving, and safety programs are synonymous with Scouting. Our programs today include strong drug abuse awareness and prevention programs emphasizing the value of healthy living habits.

Building Character

Few will argue with the importance of teaching values and responsibility to our children - not only right from wrong, but specific, affirmative values such as fairness, courage, honor, and respect for others. Beginning with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, the Boy Scouts of America program is infused with character-building activities that allow youth to apply abstract principles to daily living situations

The Scout Motto

A Parent's Call to Action

The following is a little long. But it speaks to the heart of scouting and why you, as a parent, should consider it for your child...

"There is a battle of significant consequence taking place in the lives of boys in America today. In simple terms, it is the battle between doing what is right or wrong. A recent study conducted by Louis Harris & Associates indicates that the proportion of boys choosing to do what is wrong is alarmingly high. Even basic values such as not cheating on schoolwork and not stealing seem to be unstable.

Clearly, the results of this study indicate that our nation's youth are struggling with ethical and moral decisions, and that these difficulties can only increase with age. Therefore, the need for reinforcing and rewarding strong moral standards and providing positive role models at a young age is more important than ever before.

Cub Scouting creates a climate of cooperative and collaborative relationships between adults and children--a laboratory for adults and children to get to know one another. It provides opportunites for children to acquire the capacity for accomplishment. The program affirms to the child that the world really is an interesting place.

Cub Scouting is fun! But it is fun with a purpose. Woven though all the fun is an inspired program that really works. Tried and proven methods are used that transfer traditional values, build character, and develop leadership skills -- all in the context of fun and family togetherness."

(BSA: Operation Tiger Mania 1996)

Common Questions

What is the Mission of Boy Scouts?

...to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

What Do Scouts Do?

Some of the best things about Cub Scouting are the activities the boys (and sometimes you) get to do: camping, hiking, racing model cars, going on field trips, or doing projects that help our community and the people who live here. Cub Scouting means "doing." All our activities are designed to have the boys doing something and by "doing" they learn some very valuable life lessons.

Do the Parents Have a Role?

Yes. As a program for the entire family, Cub Scouting can teach your boy a wholesome system of values and beliefs while building and strengthening relationships among family members. Scouting gives you a pretty neat platform to equip your son. We provide other mentors to help your son grow but you are also an important part of his development in scouting. Your role decreases as your son gets older.

But your role in the troop can be passive. We don't expect a parent to leap right in. But, be warned, Cub Scouting might touch you as it touches your son and you might eventually get 'the fever' that many of our leaders got from Scouting. But you are encouraged to go at your own pace.

Getting Started

When is a good time to get started?

Like most Cub Scout Packs, we go year-round. You can become a scout at anytime. Just contact our Cubmaster or the Den Leader in your age group - or, just show up at one of our meetings.

If you have an interest in learning more about our Pack, if you have questions, or if you are ready to get started, please click here and fill out our website form. It only takes a minute and we will contact you shortly.

When do we meet?

Pack Meetings are normally held once per month and all of our scouts (1st-5th grade) get together in the same place. The meeting is normally led by the Cubmaster. Keep an eye on the calendar for the date. You are welcome to stop by if you are considering joining the pack. We gear the meeting towards the kids and the goal is to have fun and recognize them for their recent accomplishments (with awards, pins, loops, badges, and whatever else we dream up).

Den Meetings (when just one age group meets - with the Den Leader) are normally held twice a month and when there are specific outings.

To verify meeting times, you can check the calendar here.

What is the Cost of Joining?

First - don't let the cost scare you off. It's not that expensive and our Pack is able to assist if you need help. The person to see about assistance is the Committee Chair. This will be kept between you and them but you can tend to that later.

Second - The annual fee is under $15.00 and the appropriate handbook is under $10.00. A new uniform runs around $30.00 (depends) but the shirt is good for several years, so uniform costs do go down as you move through the ranks.

We are not worried about the fees being paid up front. We can work with you. Scouting is actually quite reasonable considering all that your son will be doing throughout the year. Don't let the cost get in the way of your decision.