Based at Trinity Presbyterian Church in McKinney, TX, Pack 496 provides a quality year-round program.
Scouts wear a uniform to promote camaraderie and to show off their personal achievements. The uniform also teaches the value of being neat in appearance and encourages good behavior.
Our Scouts proudly display Adventure Loops, Patches and other Awards they have earned through their Scouting experience.
More details about patch placement and etiquette is all explained below, so keep scrolling!
The Class A uniform varies by grade level but always includes an official Scout shirt with appropriate patches, a neckerchief, a neckerchief slide, belt, and a rank specific cap. Pack 496 does have our own neckerchief so this piece of the Class A uniform is not something you need to buy separately. Lions wear an official T-shirt and will wear our Pack's customized neckerchief and slide over that.
Class A's are worn for all pack meetings and for special ceremony. Class A uniforms can be purchased in person at the Scout Shop. Tell a clerk your scout’s grade level and they will help you get the right items. The Scouting Center also has sewing services is that's something you need.
NOTE: Our pack does not require the official shorts, pants, skirt, or socks. Some scouts like how these items look and get them anyway, but any appropriate bottom and socks are okay. Also, be sure to size up for growing room!
The Pack 496 T-shirt is to worn at Scouting activities when the Class A uniform is not required, such as at den meetings and informal pack activities. The pack t-shirt can be purchased from the pack and picked up at our new members orientation. If you miss the orientation and need to contact someone about getting your Class B T-shirt and neckerchief just contact us.
Each scout will work to earn adventure loops (or adventure pins in the case of Webelos and Arrow of Light scouts). Adveture loops are displayed on a scout’s belt (sometimes we just refer to them as “belt loops”) and adventure pins are displayed on a Webelos “Colors” or hat.
Every year, each scout will work towards earning their grade-level rank: Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos or Arrow of Light. The rank patch is worn on the left uniform pocket in a special configuration. "Cub Scout Ideas" is a wonderful website is a wealth of information and has a blog entry regarding patch placement. Check it out: HERE.
There are several Awards Cub Scouts can earn as individuals. Summer camps, camporees, and special events might also include award or participation patches.
The best way to attach patches to the uniform shirt is the old-fashioned way: sewing them on by hand (with a needle, thread, and thimble) or with a sewing machine. Using “invisible” thread (available from JoAnn or Michaels) and a wide stitch pitch (5-7 stitches per inch) works best. If sewing is not your thing, you can have the local Scouting Center sew on badges for a small fee. Be sure to ask how long it will take because they send it out and sometimes it takes a while to get the completed shirt back.
Iron-on adhesives such as Badge Magic (and similar products) are sold in the Scouting Center and online as an easy way to attach patches without sewing. Many parents use this method, but like all shortcuts it comes with a tradeoff: After a while, the patches can start to lift at the edges and then additional work is then required to keep the shirt looking good. Also, if an ironed-on patch has to be removed (e.g., when the scout transitions from 5th grade to a Middle School-level BSA troop), the adhesive may leave a stain or permanent residue on the shirt where the patch used to be.
NOTE: Most patches in Scouting come with a plastic backing that is meant to provide structural rigidity. The plastic backing should not be mistaken as a built-in way to attach the patch to a shirt. If you try to melt the plastic backing using an iron, the patch might start to stick after a really long burn, but it will fall off in the next wash.
