Parent Handbook & Resources
Welcome to Cub Scout Pack 1640!!
Scouting has been around a long time (Cub Scouts came into being in 1930). Millions of boys participated in Scouting for the fun and excitement of it and it has expanded to include girls. Flowing underneath all this fun and excitement is a character-building program that encourages making good ethical choices, family strengthening, physical fitness, and citizenship skills in the lives of our children.
Scouting utilizes an advancement system that requires a child to “do their best” to complete the requirements towards their rank badge. There are many awards and recognition available in Scouting; Pack 1640 strives to make each award earned significant and meaningful to the scouts so it will be remembered for a long time.
The information in this Handbook is intended to answer many of your questions as you get started in Cub Scouting and will continue to be a handy reference packet for the future.
From a global perspective, you and your child(ren) are members of Pack 1640, which is in the Sunset District of the Michigan Crossroads Council of the Boys Scouts of America. We are in every sense a community pack, drawing most kids from Kennedy, Roosevelt, and Webster Elementary Schools. The Pack is run by registered BSA Adult Leader volunteers and the boys and girls are separated into rank which is generally determined by the grade of the child. The smaller grouping of children are referred to as a den. You will become part of a den where your child(ren) will have most of their Cub Scouting experiences.
During den meetings, the scouts will play games, build craft projects, go on field trips, etc. to meet the objectives of their rank. Scouts will be improving on various skills as they learn to get along with others, become more resourceful, and participate in new activities and venues. Pack 1640 is most active from October to May. The year culminates (near the end of the school term) with all the scouts ‘crossing over’ into the next rank at our Bridging ceremony. During the summer a few outings are planned but most Den and Pack meetings are suspended.
Thank you for taking the time to go over this handbook and supporting Pack 1640. We are excited to have you in the Pack and we look forward to a rewarding and exciting Cub Scout experience together. If you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Yours in Scouting,
Vince Finn, Cubmaster cubmaster@bsapack1640.org
Dawn Buerkle, Committee and Membership Chair
