What
Is Cub Scouting?
In 1930 the Boy Scouts of America launched
a home- and neighborhood-centered program for boys 9 to 11 years of age. A key
element of the program is an emphasis on caring, nurturing relationships
between boys and their parents, adult leaders, and friends. Currently, Cub
Scouting is the largest of the BSA's three membership divisions. (The others
are Boy Scouting and Venturing.)
|
Badges
of Cub Scouting
|
The Purposes of Cub Scouting
Cub Scouting has nine purposes: to
- Positively influence character development and encourage
spiritual growth
- Help boys 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 boys' ability to get along with other boys and respect
other people
- Foster a sense of personal achievement by helping boys develop
new interests and skills
- Show how to be helpful and do one's best
- Provide fun and exciting new things to do
- Prepare boys to become Boy Scouts
Membership
Cub Scouting has program components for
boys in the first through fifth grades (or ages 7, 8, 9, or 10). Members join a
Cub Scout pack and are assigned to a den, usually a neighborhood group of six
to eight boys. First-grade boys (Tiger Cubs) meet twice a month, while Wolf Cub
Scouts (second graders), Bear Cub Scouts (third graders), and Webelos Scouts
(fourth and fifth graders) meet weekly.
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 includes parents of boys in the pack and members of
the chartered organization.
Cub Scout membership* is:
|
1,006,489 |
Cub Scouts |
|
304,374 |
Tiger Cub Teams |
|
861,184 |
Webelos Scouts |
|
54,733 |
Packs |
|
584,464 |
Pack Leaders |
* As
of December 31, 1998
Volunteer Leadership
Thousands of volunteer leaders, both men
and women, are involved in the Cub Scout program. They serve in a variety of
positions, as everything from unit leaders to pack committee chairmen,
committee members, den leader coaches, and chartered organization
representatives.
Like other phases of the Scouting program,
Cub Scouting is made available to groups having similar interests and goals,
including professional organizations, government bodies, and religious,
educational, civic, fraternal, business, labor, and citizens' groups. These
"sponsors" are called chartered organizations. Each organization
appoints one of its members as a chartered organization representative. The
organization, through the pack committee, is responsible for providing
leadership, the meeting place, and support materials for pack activities.
Who Pays for It?
Groups responsible for supporting Cub
Scouting are the boys and their parents, the pack, the chartered organization,
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, Friends of Scouting enrollment, bequests, and special contributions
to the BSA local council. This financial support provides leadership training,
outdoor programs, council service centers and other facilities, and
professional service for units.
To learn more about Cub
Scouting, or to find out how to start, join, or support a pack, contact the BSA council in your area or email us at Pack802@Yahoo.COM If you wish to submit an online registration form for you or your child, click here.
|
The Boy Scouts of America |
|
|
|
BSA Simon Kenton Council |
|
|
