What Is Cub Scouting?

Overview
Purposes of Cub Scouting
How Cub Scouting Works
The Cub Scout Advancement Plan
The Basics

Overview

What is Scouting all about? Simply put Scouting is a movement designed to help young people grow and reach their best potential using tried and true methods. Scouting has often been called "A Game with a Purpose" because it uses activities and outdoor programs that are fun and challenging to create growth opportunities and memories that can last a lifetime. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Perhaps the best place to start with the goals or aims of Scouting listed below.

AIMS OF SCOUTING

• To build moral strength and character
• To prepare youth for the responsibilities of Citizenship
• To encourage fitness

Purposes of Cub Scouting

As a parent you want your son or daughter to grow up to be a person of worth, a self-reliant, dependable and caring individual. Scouting has these same goals in mind.

Since 1930, we have been weaving lifetime values into fun and educational activities designed to assist parents in strengthening character, developing good citizenship, and enhancing physical fitness in youth.

Boys and girls, their families, and leaders work together to achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting.

The 10 purposes of Cub Scouting are:

1. Character Development
2. Spiritual Growth
3. Good Citizenship
4. Sportsmanship and Fitness
5. Family Understanding
6. Respectful Relationships
7. Personal Achievement
8. Friendly Service
9. Fun and Adventure
10. Preparation for Scouts BSA

How Cub Scouting Works

Scouting is Family oriented. Activities are intended for the whole family. You may work with your son on his advancement award requirements. Many skills he will learn are family oriented.

The Pack

Our Pack is a group made up of several dens. The Pack includes not only the scouts in those dens, but also their families, and their leaders. The Pack meets once a month with Cub Scouts, leaders, parents and other family members attending. The Pack meeting is the climax of the month's den meetings and activities. It gives the Dens something to look forward to and work toward. This is a chance to recognize the scouts, their parents, and their leaders.

In addition to its regular meetings, the Pack sponsors certain special projects. These include community projects (e.g., Scouting for Food Drive for the needy), outdoor activities (e.g., field trips, family campouts, etc.), fund raising activities, and fun competitions (e.g., Pinewood car Derby).

The Den

A Cub Scout Pack is divided into small groups of about 8-10 scouts called dens, who meet at least once a month under the direction of adult Den Leaders. The Den Leaders are trained parent volunteers.  The den allows scouts to get to know each other better and engage in activities that would be difficult in a larger group. The den also provides leadership opportunities for the scouts.

Dens are organized by rank. Ranks are organized by grade and age:

• Lion Cub Dens
• Tiger Cub Dens
• Bear Dens
• Wolf Dens
• Webelos Dens (I and II)

Den meeting activities are planned around the monthly theme and include games, handicrafts, hikes and other outdoor fun, practicing skits and stunts in preparation for the next Pack meeting and taking part in simple ceremonies and songs. Sometimes work on advancement requirements is included, but most of that work is accomplished by the scouts with their parents. The Den Leaders may ask for special help occasionally from parents (helping with a meeting, sharing a special skill, or just providing a snack for the scouts).

The Council & District

Pack 1776 is part of the Meridian District which covers Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville and San Ramon. The Meridian District is part of the Golden Gate Area Council.  The Council operates five camps - Camp Wolfeboro located in the high Sierra Nevada Mountains on the shores of the Stanislaus River, Camp Herms in the hills of El Cerrito, Rancho Los Mochos in Livermore, Camp Royaneh in Cazadero and the Wente Scout Reservation near Willits.  The Council and District are funded through a Council Program Fee and fundraisers such as Friends of Scouting.  The Council provides training for all leaders at various times & facilities as well as sponsors/operates Scout Day Camp, Shooting Sports Day, Webeloree, etc.  The District holds meetings once a month were all area Packs and Troops come together, called Roundtables or a Scouting Exchange.

Pack Committee

The Pack Committee overseas and operates Pack 1776.  It is made up of what Scouts BSA call the “Key 3” – Committee Chair Person, Chartered Organization Representative and Cubmaster as well as the Adult Leaders and Volunteers.  Our Pack Committee handles the administrative and support tasks for the pack and is made up of volunteers overseeing different tasks such Advancement, NOVA, Recruiting, Camping, Hiking, Outings, Friends of Scouting, Scouting for Food, Popcorn Kernel, etc.  The Cubmaster is the person who leads the Pack. The Cubmaster executes the monthly Pack Meeting which includes all scouts, leaders and parents from all dens as well as the activities and outings that the Pack Committee has planned.  Each den has a Den Leader and Assistant Den Leader.  These are adults.  A den may have a Den Chief which is a Boy Scout who assists the Den Leaders.

The Cub Scout Advancement Plan

Recognition is important to young scouts. The Cub Scout advancement plan provides fun for the scouts, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and strengthens family understanding as adult family members work with scouts on advancement projects.

To earn a rank, adventures are to be completed among other requirements.  Some Adventures are required and others are optional (electives) 

• Scouts advance to the next rank on June 1st.
• Adventure belt loops and Webelos pins provided by the Pack and are included in the Annual Registration Fee.
• Adventure belt loops and pins are typically awarded very close to the completion of the Adventure and are handed out to the Scout by the Den Leader.
• Rank Badges are provided by the Pack and are included in the Annual Registration Fee.
• With the exception of the Bobcat rank, all other rank badges are awarded by the Cubmaster at the May graduation.

Pack 1776 utilizes ScoutBook to track a Scout’s work toward advancement.  Den Leaders and parents can mark off completed adventures and ranks in ScoutBook.  Parents are encouraged to sign into their child’s ScoutBook account to monitor their progress.  Scouts and their parents can work on Adventures on their own. 

More information may be found here: https://www.scouting.org/programs/cub-scouts/what-cub-scouts-earn/cub-scouting-adventures/

Lion.

The Lion rank is an introduction to Cub Scouting for scouts starting Kindergarten.  To earn the Lion rank emblem, a scout must complete:

1. Lion's Honor adventure
2. Fun on the Run adventure
3. Animal Kingdom adventure
4. Mountain Lion adventure
5. King of the Jungle adventure

As a scout completes the requirements for each adventure he or she earns an adventure loop.  When a scout has completed all 5 adventures, he or she has earned the Lion rank emblem.

Bobcat.

The Bobcat rank is the beginning rank for all scouts who are new to Cub Scouts, regardless of grade or age.  The Bobcat requirements serve to orient a new Scout to the ideals and symbols of Scouting.  To earn the Bobcat rank emblem, a scout must:

1. Learn and say the Scout Oath, with help if needed
2. Learn and say the Scout Law, with help if needed
3. Show the Cub Scout sign. Tell what it means
4. Show the Cub Scout handshake.  Tell what it means 

Tiger Cub.

The Tiger rank is for scouts who have finished kindergarten (or who are 7 years old).  To earn the Tiger rank emblem, a scout must:

1. Complete each of the following Tiger required adventures with his/her den or family: 
   • My Tiger Jungle
   • Games Tigers Play
   • Tiger Circles: Duty to God
   • Team Tiger
   • Tiger Bites
   •  Tigers in the Wild
2. Complete one Tiger elective adventure of his/her den or family’s choosing.
3. With a parent or adult partner, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide, and earn the Cyber Chip award for their age.  As a scout completes the requirements for each adventure, he/she earns an adventure loop.  Adventure loops are designed to be worn on the Cub Scout belt.  When a scout has completed all 7 adventures, he/she has earned the Tiger rank emblem.  Scouts can continue to complete Tiger elective adventures to earn adventure loops until the end of the program year on May 31st.  Scouts advance to the next rank, Wolf, on June 1st.

Wolf. 

The Wolf rank is for scouts who have finished first grade (or who are 8 years old). To earn the Wolf rank emblem, a scout must:

1. Complete each of the following Wolf required adventures with his/her den or family:

• Call of the Wild
• Council Fire (Duty to Country)
• Duty to God Footsteps
• Howling at the Moon
• Paws on the Path
• Running With the Pack

2. Complete one Wolf elective adventure of his/her den or family’s choosing.

3. With his/her parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide, and earn the Cyber Chip award for his/her age.

As the requirements for each adventure are completed an adventure loop is earned.   When all 7 adventures are completed, the Wolf rank emblem has been earned.  Scouts can continue to complete Wolf elective adventures until May 31st. Scouts advance to the next rank on June 1st.

Bear.

The Bear rank is for scouts who have finished second grade (or who are 9 years old).  To earn the Bear rank emblem, a scout must:

1. Complete each of the following Bear required adventures with his/her den or family:

• Bear Claws
• Bear Necessities
• Fellowship and Duty to God
• Fur, Feathers, and Ferns
• Baloo the Builder
• Paws for Action (Duty to Country)

2. Complete one Bear elective adventure of his/her den or family’s choosing.

3. With his parent or adult partner, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide, and earn the Cyber Chip award for his age. As a scout completes the requirements for each adventure, he/she earns an adventure loop.  Adventure loops are designed to be worn on the Cub Scout belt.  When a scout has completed all 7 adventures, he/she has earned the Bear rank emblem.  Scouts can continue to complete Bear elective adventures to earn adventure loops until the end of the program year on May 31st.  Scouts advance to the next rank, Webelos, on June 1st.

Webelos.

Scouts are in a Webelos Scouts den for 14 months.  The first year they work on their Webelos rank requirements.  The second year they work on their Arrow of Light rank requirements and crossover to Scouts BSA (formerly Boy Scouts).

The Webelos rank is for scouts who have finished third grade (or who are 10 years old).  To earn the Webelos rank emblem, a scout must:

1. Be an active member of his/her Webelos den for three months. (Being active means having good attendance, paying his/her den dues, and working on den projects.)

2. Complete each of the following Webelos required adventures with his/her den or family: 

• Cast Iron Chef
• Duty to God and You
• First Responder
• Stronger, Faster, Higher
• Webelos Walkabout

3. Complete two Webelos and Arrow of Light elective adventures of his/her den or family’s choosing.

4. With his/her parent or adult partner, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide, and earn the Cyber Chip award for their age.

As a scout completes the requirements for each adventure, he/she earns an adventure pin.  Adventure pins are designed to be worn on the Webelos colors (a ribbon worn on the shoulder).  When a scout has completed all 7 adventures, he/she has earned the Webelos rank emblem.  Scouts can continue to complete Webelos and Arrow of Light elective adventures to earn adventure pins until the end of the program year on May 31st.  Scouts advance to the next rank on June 1st.

Arrow of Light

The Arrow of Light rank is for scouts who have finished fourth grade (or who are 11 years old).  To earn the Arrow of Light rank emblem, a scout must:

1. Be active in his Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade or for at least six months since becoming 10 years old. (Being active means having good attendance, paying his/her den dues, and working on den projects.)

2. Complete each of the following Arrow of Light required adventures with his/her den or family: 

• Building a Better World
• Outdoors Adventurer
• Duty to God in Action
• Scouting Adventure

3. Complete three Webelos and Arrow of Light elective adventures of his/her den or family’s choosing.

4. With his/her parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide, and earn the Cyber Chip award for their age.

As a scout completes the requirements for each adventure, he/she earns an adventure pin and an adventure pocket certificate.  Adventure pins are designed to be worn on the Webelos colors or on the front of the Webelos cap.  When a scout has completed all 7 adventures, he/she has earned their Arrow of Light rank emblem.  Scouts can continue to complete Webelos and Arrow of Light elective adventures to earn adventure pins until they crossover to Scouts BSA. Scouts typically crossover to a male or female Scout troop in February at the Blue and Gold Dinner.

The Basics

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 scout and his or her leaders.

Cub Scout Oath or Promise
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Scout Law
A Scout is:

• Trustworthy,
• Loyal,
• Helpful,
• Friendly,
• Courteous,
• Kind,
• Obedient,
• Cheerful,
• Thrifty,
• Brave,
• Clean,
• and Reverent

Cub Scout Motto
Do Your Best

The Cub Scout sign identifies the youth as a Cub Scout and is used when giving the Cub Scout Promise or the Law of the Pack. The Cub Scout salute is used when saluting the flag of the United States.