About Pack 163

Pack History

Ballard Pack 163 is a chartered Cub Scouting pack serving the communities of Slater, Huxley, Cambridge, and Kelley, Iowa. The pack is chartered through Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Slater, and participates in meetings and activities throughout the Ballard area. The pack is led by volunteers appointed by our charter organization, who are supported by the Mid-Iowa Council using both paid professional Scouters and volunteers. 

Pack 163, and the national Cub Scout program, are part of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The goal of the BSA is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. The traditional Scouting divisions are Cub Scouting for children in grades Kindergarten through 5th, Scouts BSA for youth ages 11 to 17, and Venturing and Sea Scouting for young men and women ages 14 to 20. 

For more information about the BSA in general, or one of the other Scouting programs offered through BSA, please visit www.scouting.org. 

Pack Operations

Pack 163 generally meets once per month as a large group and participates in various activities. Each Pack meeting typically includes a welcome section where Scouts participate in an opening flag ceremony and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, a review of recent or upcoming events and activities, an overview of the meeting's activity, and the presentation of patches or adventure loops to Scouts for recently completed Scouting activities or adventures. Scouts then participate in an activity as a Pack. These activities vary throughout the year and could include games, contests, camping, hiking, swimming, climbing, or any type of fun activity suited to a large group of youth. After the activities, the Pack comes together one more time for announcements and a closing flag ceremony. 

Scouts in the Pack are divided into Dens based on their age and grade. The Dens are small groups, typically 4 to 12 children, overseen by at least two volunteer Den leaders. Dens typically meet once per month to complete Adventures and learn age-appropriate skills based on the BSA scouting goals. Pack 163's dens are:

• Lion: Kindergarten 

• Tiger: 1st Grade

• Wolf: 2nd Grade

• Bear: 3rd Grade

• Webelos I: 4th Grade

• Webelos II or Arrow of Light: 5th Grade

Scouts in Pack 163 are invited to attend a camp during the summer each year, as well. The camps are provided at Camp Akela in Woodward, Iowa and vary in length based on the Scout's Den/grade. Camp Akela, on the Mitigua Scout Reservation, is a BSA camp owned and operated by the Mid-Iowa Council, of which Pack 163 is part. For more information on Camp Akela, click here. 

Pack Organization

Pack 163 is overseen by a Pack Committee made up of volunteers. Offices include:

• Pack Committee Chair

• Treasurer

• Secretary

• Cubmaster/Assistant Cubmaster

• Advancement Chair

• Quartermaster

• Pack Training Chair

• Service Hours Chair

• Hiking Chair

• Popcorn Committee Chair

• Den leaders

• Other committees chairs as suited to the needs of the pack.

Click here to see the Cub Scouting organizational chart.