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Other Membership Pages:
THE PROGRAM
In 1930, the Boy Scouts of
America created a new opportunity called Cub Scouting for boys younger than Boy Scout age.
A year-round, home-centered program used by chartered organizations, Cub Scouting
emphasizes involvement between boys and their parents, adult leaders, and friends.
In the multidimensional plan of the Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scouting is where it all
begins. Currently, it is the largest of the organization's four membership divisions. (The
others are Boy Scouting, Exploring, and Learning for Life.)
The Webelos program is a 18 month transition
program from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting, and there are plenty of resources to help you
make the Webelos-To-Scout Transition.
 Many Cub Scout Packs in
Rainbow Council have more details available on their specific programs. An example of one
Pack's program description is available
online. Other Packs are welcome to use this as a model if they so desire.
Cub Scouts have a special camping program all their own, which uses both camps. Check
out the new Rainbow
Council Cub Camping Page!
MEMBERSHIP
Over 5,000 youth are served in 60 Packs each year in Rainbow Council.
WHO CAN JOIN?
Any boy who subscribes to the Cub Promise and Law of the Pack, and is in the
first
through fifth grades (or age 6 thru 10), may join a Cub Scout pack and be assigned to a
den, usually made up of boys in a neighborhood who form a natural play group. Den meetings
are held each week, usually at the psonsoring organization or one of the boys' homes under
the supervision of a volunteer den leader -- generally the mother or father of one of the
boys. Some dens A den may also have an assistant den leader; a den chief -- an older Boy
Scout, Varsity Scout, or Explorer who helps the leader with activities; and a denner -- a
Cub Scout elected by his peers who assists the den leader and den chief.
Once a month, all of the dens and family members gather for a pack meeting under the
direction of a Cubmaster and pack committee. The committee can include parents of boys in
the pack and members of the chartered organization.
PURPOSES
Cub Scouting has the following purposes:
 | Influence a boy's character development and spiritual growth. |
| Develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship. |
| Encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body. |
| Improve understanding within the family. |
| Strengthen a boy's ability to get along with other boys and respect other people.. |
| Foster a sense of personal achievement by developing new interests and skills. |
| Provide fun and exciting new things to do. |
| Show a boy how to be helpful and do his best. |
| Prepare him to become a Boy Scout. |
METHODS OF CUB SCOUTING
- Home and Neighborhood Centered
- Cub Scouting happens in the community where boys live.
- Parent Involvement
- Family involvement is an essential part of Cub Scouting. Whomever is the adult partner
for the boy is the family we are talking about,
- Advancement Plan
- Advancement provides fun for the boys, gives them a sense of personal achievement,
teaches them to do their best, and strengthens family understanding as family members work
together on projects.
- The Den
- Asmall group of boys work together in den meetings, where they learn good sportsmanship,
good citizenship, geting along with others, new skills, and to do their best.
- The Ideals
- The Cub Scout Promise and the Law of the Pack, and the Cub Scout sign, handshake, motto,
and salute -- all teach good citizenship and contribute to a boy's sense of belong.
- The Uniform
- The uniform helps build pride, encourages good ebhavior, provides a place for the proper
display of badges, and identifies members as part of the worldwide organization of
Scouting.
- Activities
- Games, projects, skits, songs, trips, service projects, and other events let boys have
fun and learn new skills.
WHO OPERATES A CUB SCOUT PACK?
Like other phases of the Scouting program, Cub Scouting is made available to groups
having similar interests and goals, which include professional organizations, government
bodies, and religious, educational, civic, fraternal, business, labor, and citizens'
groups. These are called our chartered organizations. Each organization appoints one of
its members as a chartered organization representative. The organization, through the
committee, is responsible for leadership, the meeting place, and related materials for
pack activities. Parents of the Cub Scouts generally volunteer as Cubmaster, Pack
Committee Chairman, Den Leaders, and Assistant Den Leaders.
WHO PAYS?
Groups responsible for supporting Cub Scouting are the boys and their parents, the
pack, the chartered organizations, and the community. The boy is encouraged to pay his own
way by contributing dues each week. Packs also obtain income by working on approved
money-earning projects.
The community, including parents, supports Cub Scouting through the United Way,
sustaining membership enrollment, bequests, and special contributions to the local BSA
council. This provides leadership training, outdoor programs, council service centers, and
other facilities, as well as professional service for units.
ADVANCEMENT
Cub Scouting includes a plan of advancement for each boy that emphasizes learning by
doing. The boy works on requirements based on his school grade or age. All boys,
regardless of age, earn the Bobcat Badge first. Sometimes advancement requirements are
started in den meetings, then completed at home with the help of family members. Adult
involvement is a vital part of advancement!
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TIGER CUBS
is an exciting introduction to the scouting program for first grade boys (or
7 years old) excited to get going! Tiger Cubs do stuff - lots
of stuff - with their adult partners. This progrsam is intended to
open up the world to inquisitive minds along with the caring guidence of
adults. The first steps along the Boy Scout Trail are laid here and
every rank advancement through the scouting program builds on the basic
categories of activity done as tigers |
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BOBCAT
Upon joining a pack, the boy's parent teaches him his Bobcat requirements: learning the
Cub Scout Promise, Law of the Pack, handshake, salute, sign, and motto. |
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WOLF
If a Cub Scout has completed the first grade (or is 8 years old) he may begin working
on his Wolf achievements. There are 12: Feats of Skill, Your Flag, Keep Your Body Healthy,
Know Your Home and Community, Tools for Fixing and Building, Start a Collection, Your
Living World, Cooking and Eating, Be Safe at Home and On the Street, Family Fun, Duty to
God, and Making Choices. Upon completion of the achievements, he is awarded the Wolf
badge, and may continue to work on Wolf electives in 22 different areas.
When a boy completes 10 projects he receives a Gold Arrow Point. For each additional 10
projects he receives a Silver Arrow Point. |
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BEAR
When a Cub Scout has completed the second grade (or is 9 years old) he begins working
on his Bear achievements. There are 24 achievements in four different groups: God,
Country, Family, and Self. To achieve the Bear rank, the Cub Scout must earn his choice of
12: one from the first group, three from the second group, and four from each of the third
and fourth groups.
The achievements are: Ways We Worship; Emblems of Faith; What Makes America Special?;
Tall Tales; Sharing Your World With Wildlife; Take Care of Your Planet; Law Enforcement Is
a Big Job!; The Past Is Exciting and Important; What's Cooking?; Family Fun; Be Ready!;
Family Outdoor Adventures; Saving Well, Spending Well; Ride Right; Games-Games-Games!;
Building Muscles; Information, Please; Jot It Down; Shavings and Chips; Sawdust and Nails;
Build a Model; Typing It All Up; Sports, Sports, Sports; and Be a Leader.
After achieving the Bear badge, a boy may concentrate on 24 Bear elective areas until
he becomes a Webelos Scout. Gold and Silver Arrow Points are also awarded for these
projects. |
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WEBELOS
After completing the third grade, a Cub Scout graduates with ceremony into a Webelos den. This is a special den for boys in the
fourth or fifth grade (or who are 10 years old). The Webelos Scout program is more
challenging to the older Cub Scout-in fact, he's now called a Webelos Scout and wears a
different uniform signifying his new status.
Meetings are usually held in the early evening or on Saturday. His leader is a man or
woman assisted by other den parents. The den chief is older and more experienced than
those serving Cub Scouts. Also, the Webelos Scout's advancement is approved by his Webelos
den leader rather than his parent.
He begins work immediately on the Webelos badge. In addition, he can earn 20 Webelos
activity badges: Aquanaut, Artist, Athlete, Citizen, Communicator, Craftsman, Engineer,
Family Member, Fitness, Forester, Geologist, Handyman, Naturalist, Outdoorsman,
Readyman,
Scholar, Scientist, Showman, Sportsman, and Traveler. |
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As a fifth-grader (or at age 10) he may earn Cub Scouting's highest award, the Arrow
of Light Award. After receiving this award, he is eligible to become a Boy Scout, or he
may join a troop at age 11 (or when he completes the fifth grade). The Arrow of Light is
presented at a formal ceremony, the Blue and Gold Banquet, frequently involving a
presentation by the great Wolf Leader, Akela, as shown below. |
ACTIVITIES
At den meetings,
a Cub Scout starts an activity. Perhaps it is a handicraft project or practicing a stunt
for the next pack meeting. During the week, with his parents' help, he finishes the
project or perfects the stunt. If it happens to be something required for his Wolf or Bear
advancement, his parent signs his Cub Scout book. In this way, Cub Scouting helps to
strengthen family ties.
Pack meetings, attended by boys and their families, give parents a
chance to see their sons in action. Most pack meetings are divided into two parts. The
first is informal-boys and parents may view exhibits or participate in gathering-time
activities. The second half has a formal opening, followed by den skits, songs, games, or
stunts related to a monthly theme, and the awarding of badges earned by the boys since the
last pack meeting. Pack meetings are planned around a monthly theme as determined by the
pack committee at the beginning of the school year.
OUTDOOR PROGRAM
Adventuresome outdoor programs are encouraged for Cub Scouts. These include den field
trips, picnics, outings, day camping, and backyard camping. Because Cub Scouting is
home-centered, family camping is also emphasized. Webelos Scouts are encouraged to go on
overnight experiences and to conduct occasional joint outdoor activities with a Boy Scout
troop. Cub Scout day camps are conducted by nearly all Scouting councils, and many also
provide resident camping experiences for Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts.
COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS
Team sports and other competitive events occur within the pack and on an interpack
level. Among the activities that have become favorites are Cub Scout shows, pet shows,
safe bicycle driving projects, pinewood derbies (miniature car racing on tracks), rocket
derbies, regattas, kite-flying contests, Cub Scout field days, and Cubmobile racing. Cub
Scouts are encouraged to be physically fit through the Cub Scout sports program, which
offers up to 20 different sports.
PUBLICATIONS
Volunteers are informed of national news and events through Scouting magazine
(circulation 900,000). Boys may subscribe to Boys' Life magazine (circulation 1.3
million). Both are published by the Boy Scouts of America. There are also a number of Cub
Scout and leader publications, including the Wolf Cub Scout Book, Bear Cub Scout Book,
Webelos Scout Book, Cub Scout Leader Book, and Cub Scout and Webelos Scout Program Helps.
BASIC CONCEPTS
Apart from the fun and excitement of Cub Scout activities, there are a number of ideals
expressed in the day-to-day life of the young boy and his leaders.
Cub Scout Promise:
I, (name), promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack.
The Law of the Pack:
The Cub Scout follows Akela (his leader).
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The Pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.
The Cub Scout Motto:
Do Your Best.
The Cub Scout colors are blue and gold. Blue signifies the sky,
truth, spirituality, and loyalty. Gold stands for warm sunlight, good cheer, and
happiness. Together they symbolize what Cub Scouting is all about.
Much of the information on this page is reused from the official Boy
Scouts of America National Web Site, at http://www.bsa.scouting.org.
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