Welcome

Learning About Cub Scouts

Joining Cub Scouts

  • Same as the joining page.

  • You've probably already seen all of this information also, but we have a complete page about Joining Cub Scouts.

  • Scouting is more fun with friends, so don't forget to invite someone to come check out a few events or meetings.

Lions

Kindergarten or
6 Years Old

Tigers

Kids in First Grade
or 7 Years Old

Wolf

Kids in Second Grade
or 8 Years Old

Bear

Kids in Third Grade
or 9 Years Old

Webelos

Kids in Fourth Grade
or 10 Years Old




Arrow
of Light

Kids in Fifth Grade
or 11 Years Old

10 Steps to Cub Scouting Success with Pack 802

1. Get Added to GroupMe

  • The pack operates several GroupMe groups to coordinate and communicate. There is one for each den (Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, WEBELOS, Arrow of Light) as well as an overall Pack 802 and Pack 802 Committee one, so eight in total. Each year the den group will be automatically promoted in May, so no need to move around each year. If you're not currently added, fill out the form and we'll get you an invite.

  • IMPORTANT - It's best to install the application. If you don't have the application, it will text you initially, but then they usually stop and the texts are not as feature rich as the app. The app will include a calendar with automated reminders that come in through the app. You can mute each group that will just bold it but not "buzz" your phone when there are updates, in case you want to keep it on the down low.

  • To get added to the GroupMe, please fill out the form below or text the pack number (979-320-9802).

  • You can also access it through a browser - https://www.group.me

2. Add the Calendar

Review the calendar to find out what kind of activities Pack 802 has planned for the next few months.

  • Most importantly, you can add the vCalendar formats to your electronic devices. This will subscribe to the calendar feed and update your calendar automatically as updates are made in Scoutbook, where we track events and advancement. Be sure to set this up!

  • The online calendar is also printable as either an Agenda or Month view.

3. Attend New Cub Event

  • There are two events planned in October that are especially for new Cubs and parents.

  • Cub N Family - http://arrowmoon.shac.org/cub-n-family

    • Only 4 hours, usually the night after district rocket launch

    • Organized by Arrowmoon District

  • Fun with Family - https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/fun-with-son

    • Overnight like full on summer camp but one night, either overnight Friday or overnight Saturday

    • Organized by SHAC at Bovay Scout Ranch (Navasota)


Attend one of these if at all possible. They will help launch your Cub into their Bobcat rank.

4. Gather Uniform Pieces

  • First off, don't worry about not having it for your first few events. Come anyway! Your family and the memories that you'll create is more important than the uniform standard.

  • Purchase a Cub Scout Uniform for your child. Be sure to get a size large enough to last several years as your Scout grows. If there are financial constraints, reach out to the Assistant Cubmaster. There are options including a pack and district uniform bank.

5. Complete Medical Forms

  • Part of your dues includes several types of insurance through BSA to help keep us safe. Another part of being ready for an emergency is having the information for first responders. The standard form that BSA uses to convey this critical information is called the Informed Consent, Release Agreement, and Authorization form.

  • Bring a printout of Part A & B for each attendee of your party to any outing. The pack may collect these to keep on file, for logistics purposes.

6. Review the Handbook

  • Review the Handbook for your Scout’s rank, and begin doing the activities in it with your child, especially those related to the outdoors and Bobcat requirements.

7. Get Trained

  • Besides youth, adults can also learn a lot of life lessons through Scouting. Over time you'll hear more about position training, BALOO, and maybe even Wood Badge, but the primary one we want to focus on is what we refer to as YPT.

  • Youth Protection Training is not only required for all registered adults, but it is really designed for ALL parents. It is a simple online course that will take about an hour to complete and is good for two years. It covers guidelines to protecting yourself as an adult as well as recognizing situations with youth.

8. Get Involved

  • Get involved. The quality of your child’s Cub Scout experience is a product of the your involvement and that of other parents. The more parents are involved, the better the program.

  • Every Parent Helps. That is how a healthy pack continues.

9. Become a Leader

  • This is not expected immediately, but it is expected at some point. But we want you to start with getting settled in with your Den and getting to know your Den Leader. Learn to Lion walk, then we'll Tiger run. Our Pack runs off of volunteers and all of us were new at some point.

  • Consider being a Cub Scout leader for your child’s Cub Scout Den or a member of the Pack Committee. Your child’s experience in Cub Scouting is improved with your involvement.

  • Expectations by level:

    • Lion & Tiger Parents - Help in your dens and have fun getting started. Offer assistance as help with events (ie. setup/takedown, snacks, etc).

    • Wolf & Bear Parents - This is where we want the bulk of our committee member leadership to be held by. It gives us a window to serve for 1 - 3 years and then hand off the position before transitioning completely out of the pack.

    • Webelos & AOL Parents - Preferably only past chairs who offer guidance and specific event help. It's especially important that AOL parents hand off their roles as they will soon crossover out of the pack.

  • See Registering as an Adult to get started.

10. References: Scouting 101

As you're settled in and interested in venturing out to learn more about Scouting beyond just our Pack, here are some resources for you.

Where Does My Child Start?

Cub Scout rank is generally determined by grade but capped by age. Each grade level pursues a common rank, such as first graders working towards the Tiger Rank. With sufficient boys, or girls, in a grade level, those boys, or girls, will be formed in a Rank-Specific Den, such as the Tiger Den. If there are not sufficient boys, or girls, to form a Rank-Specific Den, a Mixed Rank Den is formed. Regardless of when a child joins Cub Scouts, he or she will first work toward earning the Bobcat Badge, showing basic knowledge of Scouting, such as the Boy Scout Oath and Law (this is a change from the historical norm). With the introduction of Lions, the Rank levels are:

  • Lions - Kindergarteners and an adult partner

  • Tigers - 1st graders and an adult partner

  • Wolf Scouts - 2nd graders

  • Bear Scouts - 3rd graders

  • Webelos - 4th graders

  • Arrow of Light – 5th graders

Scouts BSA - Have completed the fifth grade & be at least 10 years old, or have earned the Arrow of Light badge & be at least 10 years old, or be 11 years old and under 18 years of age.

Parent’s Corner

Parents are extremely important in Cub Scouts. The most important help that you, as a parent, can give your Scout is to work with him/her on their Cub Scouting activities. The handbook is full of age-appropriate activities that you will enjoy doing together at home. When your Scout completes an activity or project at home, it is your responsibility to sign the book to verify that he/she has done his/her best. And then it is all-important for you to attend the monthly pack meeting with him/her, so that you can celebrate his achievement. Your role as a parent is the secret to a successful Cub Scouting program!

Parents are not only important to the scout, but to the Pack. The den and the Pack rely on parent participation to run a successful program. Cub Scouting operates through volunteer leadership. Parent volunteers provide all of the leadership, plan and conduct activities, and help the leaders with meetings and activities. Accordingly, in order for your scout to participate in the pack, all parents must donate their time to a pack leadership position or to the planning and execution of a specific event.

In our current culture there are many demands on families that cause them to have to carefully choose how they are spending their time and resources. Those demands include, but are not limited to: sports and other extracurricular activities; work; academics; budgetary; and social interests. In order to attract and retain Cub Scouts, we must provide something of value to them.

Volunteer leaders are an example of Scouting’s principle of service to others. By volunteering in Scouting, you are also giving your scout the gift of your time. What could be more valuable? You will have an opportunity to be a positive influence in their lives.

Now is the time to make memories with your scout that will last a lifetime!


Add to GroupMe

The pack operates several GroupMe groups to coordinate and communicate. There is one for each den (Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, WEBELOS, Arrow of Light) as well as an overall Pack 802 and Pack 802 Committee one, so eight in total. Each year the den group will be automatically promoted in May, so no need to move around each year. If you're not currently added, fill out the form and we'll get you an invite.

IMPORTANT - It's best to install the application. If you don't have the application, it will text you initially, but then they usually stop and the texts are not as feature rich as the app. The app will include a calendar with automated reminders that come in through the app. You can mute each group that will just bold it but not "buzz" your phone when there are updates, in case you want to keep it on the down low.

Welcome to Cub Scouts! Parent Guide!.pdf