When you join the Boy Scouts of America, Scouting is like an extension of your family: It follows your values, it sees to the overall care and well-being of your scout, and it’s always there for you. It’s not an either/or choice you have to make for your scout. It works with you to let you manage your time and other activities and will always be there when you return.

Maturity. Youth experience dramatic physical and emotional growth. Scouting offers them opportunities to channel much of that change into productive endeavors. Through service projects and Good Turns, Scouts can discover their place in the community. Many Scouting activities allow youth to associate with others from different backgrounds. The religious emblems program offers pathways for Scouts to more deeply understand their duty to God. The unit provides each Scout with an opportunity to explore, to try out new ideas, and to embark on adventures that sometimes have no design other than to have a good time with good people.

Flexibility. The Scouting programs are flexible and accommodate the need to balance the work and life requirements of a busy family. It’s easy to plan for meetings and activities, and if something unexpected comes up, just let your leader know—it’s expected in the lives we live today.

Adaptability. Your scout can work on achievements at his or her own pace. For example, if your scout is in a spring soccer league and has to miss several meetings and activities, he or she still can complete and sign off on Scout activities to work toward the next level.

Transferability. The skills and values your scout learns through Scouting can be applied in any non-Scouting activity he or she participates in. As your scout builds character, this can be an especially valuable defense to the peer pressure all youth experience when growing up.

One of the biggest questions that new or perspective Cub Scout parents have after “what is required of my scout” is “what is required of me?” What is required of your scout is fairly straight forward, the requirements can be found here. What is required of you the parents isn’t quite as straight forward, but there isn’t a scary amount of time or effort involved.

Cub Scouts Needs Parents (or other family members/guardians)

First you should know that someone, a parent, adult family member or guardian, has to be present during Cub Scout activities. This is for the safety of your scout. Scout leaders and volunteers attend extensive training, but for everyone’s safety Cub Scout rules does not allow children to be dropped off at meetings or activities.

If that sounds like too much of a commitment you should visit Pack 3075 during one of the Pack meetings or at one of the public events like Pinewood Derby Day. You’ll find that parents are having fun with their children and parents are having fun meeting and getting to know the other parents.

What about the campouts?

The Pack campouts are fun, you’ll find a mix of parents and boys that range from experienced outdoors people to others who are unboxing their first tent that was purchased the day before. What you’ll also find are that everyone is eager to help. These types of events are very much a group effort and happily so.

What about the popcorn?

We understand, we totally do. It seems like our children are coming home from school with new fund raising things to sell nearly every week, it is all a bit much. However, Pack 3075, like other Cub Scout pack is able to function practically only due to good popcorn sales. Yes a significant amount of the money from the popcorn sales goes right back to the pack. That allows Pack 3075 to do things like reserve venues for camping or provide for fun activities for the boys. If you don’t sell a single box of popcorn no one will say anything to you. All Pack 3075 does is recognize the boys who sell a lot of popcorn, so no one will say a word to your son about not selling enough either.

How Many Days a Month?

Pack meetings are generally once a month. Den meetings are often held weekly on Tuesday evenings. If you can’t make a Den meeting that is ok, if you miss a Pack meeting that is ok too. However, Pack meetings are where the boys get recognized for different achievements and awards and Den meetings are where the boys get a chance to work on those achievements and awards. Other activities like pack hikes or campouts aren’t required, but Pack 3075 uses those activities to help the boys complete the requirements for different awards. Some of the awards and achievements take some work at home, but some of that work is probably stuff you would do anyways (riding a bicycle, bicycle safety, swimming, etc).

Any Homework, How Much?

Den meetings are where a lot of the work on advancements and awards happen, same with Pack hikes and Pack campouts, but there is still a little bit to be completed at home. How much? It depends on what your scout’s goals are and your motivation to help your scout earn advancement and awards. If you look at the requirements linked on this website you can find what the list of all advancements and awards for each Den (grade level), but also note that not everything has to be earned. In fact nothing at all has to be earned, but your scout will probably want to earn some awards and advancements when their friends do. The activities aren’t hard and an example of what you might work on at home if your scout is a new Tiger Cub (first grade) is learning the Scout Law.

There are some fun extra awards that can be earned with family activities, like the Hiking Mileage awards. Your scout can even earn those while walking with the family at the zoo or a museum.

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