About Us and FAQs

Cub Scouts - "DO YOUR BEST"

Q.: What is Cub Scouts all about?

A.: Most people are familiar with the Boy Scout Motto: "Be Prepared". The Cub Scout Motto is different: "Do Your Best". As our Den and Pack leadership teach our Scouts new skills, and as Scouts explore activities that they may be unfamiliar with, we focus on perseverance, working hard, and giving it your all -- DO YOUR BEST! We also teach our Scouts to learn and live the Scout Oath and Scout Law, which you can find on our Home page.

Q.: My son goes to XYZ School. Can he join your Pack?

A.: In short, yes. Our Pack is chartered through First Lutheran Church & School, but our Pack draws Scouts from throughout Torrance and South Bay. Although many of our Scouts attend First Lutheran School and Seaside Elementary, we also have Scouts from Riviera Hall, Arnold Elementary, and Hickory Elementary, to name a few. Our leaders are often asked whether we are the Pack for their school. Well, you can participate in our Pack regardless of where you go to school! If you want to check us out, we encourage you to attend a Den or Pack meeting.

Q.: How do I register? Are there fees?

In order to register, you can contact any of the leaders listed on our Home page and ask for a registration packet. Scouts and participating adults must register, and participating adults must complete a 20-30 minute online training module called Youth Protection Training.

There is a yearly registration fee for each Scout and each participating adult. The registration fee covers awards, Pinewood Derby kits, Raingutter Regatta kits, and other Pack costs. Some Pack Events, such as our summer event overnight on the USS Midway or USS Iowa, are optional and are not covered by the Pack registration fees and budget. If you have any questions about registration and fees, please contact us!

Also, if you are new to Scouting, the only additional cost will be the cost of your Scout's uniform and handbook -- which total just over $100. For more information about the uniform, you can contact us or the Scout Shop in San Pedro, 3000 Shoshonean Road, San Pedro, CA 90731, Ph.: 310-832-7139.

Q.: Can parents participate?

A.: Of course! We encourage parent participation in Cub Scouts. Another specific question our leaders often receive is whether Moms can participate. The answer is, again, OF COURSE and we encourage it! Many of our leaders, including our Pack Committee members, are Scout Moms. Cub Scouting is a family activity, and we encourage parent participation at Den and Pack meetings. Our Pack also relies on volunteer parents as Den Leaders, Assistant Den Leaders, the Cubmaster, and Pack Committee Members (including Treasurer, Membership Chair, etc.). If you are interested in filling one of these positions, let us know!

Q.: Are Scouts grouped by age or grade?

A.: Scouts are grouped by grade as follows:

Lion den - Lions are Kindergarten boys being introduced to the fun of Cub Scouting.

Tiger den - Tigers have completed Kindergarten and work on theme of Search, Discover, Share

Wolf den – Wolves have completed 1st grade and receive their Wolf badge after completing 12 Wolf achievements

Bear den – Bears have completed 2nd grade and receive their Bear badge after completing 12 Bear achievements

Webelos den, 1st year – Webelos have completed 3rd grade and receive their Webelos badge after completing 20 activity pins

Webelos den, 2nd year – 2nd year Webelos have completed 4th grade and are working toward their Arrow of Light badge

Q.: Will I have to sell popcorn and do fundraising throughout the whole year?

A.: No. Our Pack limits our fundraising to a single event in December -- Operation Mistletoe. We obtain a cutting permit in Angeles National Forest (about 45-60 minutes from South Bay), and our Scouts cut mistletoe, wrap it in bunches, and sell it -- usually outside a local grocery store. By the way, did you know mistletoe is a parasitic plant that actually extracts water and nutrients from the host tree it attaches to? So our fundraiser also helps trees!

Miscellaneous Facts Regarding Our Pack and the Surrounding District and Council

All Cub Scouts must have an adult registered with Scouting.

Visit "My Scouting" at my.scouting.org to take Youth Protection Training in order to register – ~20 min. free online course

Our Cub Scout Pack 586 (www.pack586.com), chartered to First Lutheran Church ,Torrance, is part of Pacifica District (www.pacificabsa.org), which covers ~4,800 Cubs & Scouts in the South Bay, which is part of Boy Scouts of America (www.scouting.org), with ~3 million Cubs and Scouts in the US, and 30 million Cubs and Scouts in 161 countries worldwide (www.scout.org). Whew!