Aims of Scouting

1. Character

2. Citizenship

3. Personal Fitness

4. Leadership

Methods of Cub Scouting

1. Living the Ideals

2. Belonging to a Den

3. Advancements

4. Family Involvement

5. Activities

6. Serving the Neighborhood

7. Uniform

In Cub Scouting, you and your family join in on the program with your child, and you will help them along the way. Cub Scouts have a different handbook at each grade level, with Adventures that are age-appropriate for their developmental level. As your child advances through these books by working on Adventures, they will earn badges and other recognition that they wear on their uniform. As your child grows in Cub Scouting, your role will change with them, from hands-on involvement to guiding and coaching. Your child’s success in Cub Scouting depends on you! 

The Cub Scouting program takes place at two levels. Your child will be a part of a den, a small group of Cub Scouts in the same grade level. A den typically meets twice a month, although some may meet more often. All dens, from kindergarten through fifth grade, make up a pack. The dens, with their families, come together at the pack meeting, where they play games, work on Adventures, and receive positive reinforcement for their achievements. 

Important note: if there are girls in a den, there must be at least 1 female registered leader present. They can be a den leader, assistant den leader, or committee member. If your den has girls but does not have a female registered leader regularly attending, please consider stepping up and volunteering.

Akela is a term used to refer to Cub Scouts’ adults, whether that is their parent or guardian. Lions and Tigers must have an Akela with them at ALL meetings and events. Wolves, Bears, Webelos, and Arrow of Light scouts should have their Akela present, but they do not usually need to be as hands-on as Lions and Tigers.

A registered leader (aka Scouter) is an adult who is current on their National and pack dues and serves in a volunteer role for the pack. They are expected to be up to date on their Youth Protection Training as well as position-specific training and wear the uniform shirt. You can find out more about our leaders on the Pack Leaders page.

Trivia time: many Cub Scout terms are from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Kipling and Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, were good friends!

The most important help that you, as a parent, can give your child is to work with them on their Cub Scouting Adventures as they work toward their badge of rank. The Cub Scout handbook is full of age-appropriate activities; some of them you do together at home. Den meetings are designed for Cub Scouts to complete Adventures that are required for them to earn their badge of rank. When you have completed a requirement at home, make sure your den leader is informed so that they can properly record it and your child can be recognized for their achievements. 

Additionally, help your Scout and others be successful at den and pack meetings and events by actively monitoring and assisting with redirection as needed. Our behavior expectations for the pack can be found in this document as well as on the Important Documents page. Your role as a parent is the secret to a successful Cub Scouting program!