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Basic Handbook
The Cub Scouts are part of the Boy Scouts of America, and have a long tradition of providing lots of fun activities for young boys. The BSA web site has an introduction called
"What is
Cub Scouting?" that has useful introductory information.
In Pack 657 we believe that Cub Scouting is fun, but it's fun with a purpose. Here is some information to help you understand how Pack 657 practices Cub Scouting. We follow the rules and policies set by the national organization, so
links to national sites can explain much of this. There is also information below that is specific to our pack.
Organization
Paperwork, fees, uniforms
Ranks and Advancement
Cub Scout Pack 657 is made up of first grade through fifth grade boys, mostly from
Hopkinson Elementary School. Boys meet in small groups (dens) of 5 to 10 boys. Each den has an adult leader, and consists of boys in the same grade. First graders are Tiger Cubs, second graders are Wolf Cubs, third graders are Bear Cubs, and fourth and fifth graders are Webelos. See Ranks and Advancement for more information about these.
Pack 657, together with other Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops make up the Orange Frontier District. The
Orange Frontier District is one of 11 subdivisions of the
Orange County Council. There are over 300 councils in the United States.
Each Cub Scout pack is sponsored by an organization. Our charter organization is the
City of Los Alamitos Rotary Club. The charter organization provides a representative who is the liaison between the pack and the organization.
The pack is run by the Pack Committee, which is headed by the Committee Chairman. In Pack 657, all adult leaders are committee members. The
Committee meets once each month to plan pack meetings and other pack activities. Parents are always welcome and encouraged to attend these meetings. The more input and ideas provided the better your pack will be.
The Cubmaster is in charge of the pack meetings and reports to the Committee. In some packs the Cubmaster is only the MC for the meetings, in our pack the Cubmaster plays a major organizational role. In either case, the boys see the Cubmaster as the authority figure or Akela (ah-KAY-La)
The Den Leaders are the most involved and who have the most fun. It is highly recommended that all adult leaders attend Youth Protection and Cub Scout Leader Basic Training, a one-day training course organized by the council. Den Leaders plan and organize
Den meetings, keep track of the boys' advancements, attend Committee meetings and should attend the
Roundtable Meetings. Den Leaders should try to engage the parents in the den meetings to the greatest extent possible. Cub Scouting is a family activity, and den meetings are a great place for family involvement. The Den Leader can go to the Cubmaster or the Committee for advice and assistance.
Parents play an important role in the pack. The leaders will do their best to provide a quality program, but all the leaders in Pack 657 are volunteers and have many other obligations. We depend on parents to help provide the good program we have. We ask every parent to help the pack in some capacity. You should take your share in organizing den meetings, working with the den leader of your son's den. In addition, you should help with at least one pack activity a year (e.g. Pinewood Derby or a campout). A parent should attend the pack meetings together with the Cub Scout. Every handbook for boys has a parent guide at the beginning. We also have a child protection videotape which you can watch together with your boy. There are no secrets in Cub Scouts; parents are welcome in any organizational meetings of the pack, district or council.
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Registration: The annual fee is $50. This includes a subscription to Boys Life. Pack 657 pays the registration fees for its adult leaders.
Uniforms: Cub scouts buy their own uniform, including council patch, pack and den numerals. {The pack provides awards} Tiger cubs have an orange T-shirt. Wolf and Bear cubs use the blue Cub Scout uniform, while Webelos wear
the tan Boy Scout uniform shirt. The store can help you buy the right items, including the right color for the neckerchief. Pack 657 accepts any dark blue pants with the blue Cub Scout uniform.
Uniforms can be bought at either of the Official Scout Shops located in Orange County. One is located in Costa Mesa at 3590 Harbor Gateway North - 714/979-4554. The other is located in Anaheim at 1501 Raymond Ave., Suite O - 714/774-3270.
Also, uniforms and supplies are available at JC Penny's or at Basics Clothing Store located at 11903 Valley View (Corner of Chapman and Valley View) -
(714) 891-0069. The Council has a small exchange for used uniforms. We ask that you consider giving outgrown uniforms to this exchange. The scout stores may also have used uniforms.
Handbooks: These are also available from the above listed stores. We recommend that parents read the books for their child's age group cover-to-cover and follow the boys progress carefully. Every handbook has a parent guide at the beginning.
Recruiting: If your boy has a friend who is interested in Cub Scouts, bring him to any pack or den meeting. Don't wait for the next year's membership night. Any Cub who gets a friend to join earns a recruiter patch that is worn below the right pocket.
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Boys work their way through Cub Scouts doing activities that are fun and challenging. The activities are carefully chosen to be age-appropriate and emphasize learning by doing. They cover many aspects of life, and are designed to:
- 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 others.
- Foster a sense of personal achievement by developing new interests and skills.
- Show a boy how to be helpful and do his best.
- Provide fun and exciting new things to do.
In addition to the activities that contribute to advancement in rank, the boys can earn belt loops, pins and letters in the optional
Sports and Academic Program. The purpose of these awards is to encourage Scouts to try new activities and learn new skills, or to improve those skills they already have. As in most activities in Cub Scouting, this is not meant to be a highly competitive program, instead the boys are encouraged to "do their best".
Tiger Cub. The Tiger Cub Program
is for 1st grade (or age 7) boys. Tiger Cubs introduces boys and their adult partners to the excitement of Cub Scouting as they "Search, Discover, and Share" together. The Tiger Cub program is meant to be simple and
fun.
Once a Tiger Cub has completed the Tiger Cub Program, he can begin advancement by earning the
Bobcat Badge. Bobcat.
The Bobcat Badge
is the first rank that every boy must earn when entering the Cub
Scouting Program. Wolf. The Wolf program is for boys who are in
2nd grade (or are age 8). To earn the Wolf
Badge, a boy must pass twelve achievements involving simple physical and
mental skills. Bear. The Bear rank is for boys who are in 3rd grade (or
are age 9). There are 24 Bear achievements in four categories. The Cub Scout
must complete 12 of these to earn the Bear
Badge. These requirements are somewhat more difficult and challenging than
those for Wolf rank.
Webelos. The Webelos
Badge is earned by boys who are 4th & 5th graders (or are age10).
Advancement in Webelos scouting means growing in knowledge and skills in lots of
subjects. Webelos do this through all the experiences they have while
earning activity badges and other awards.
The
Arrow of Light
Award is the highest rank in Cub Scouting. By the time a Webelos has earned
the Arrow of Light Award, he will know a lot about Boy Scouts and be ready to
graduate into a Boy Scout troop.
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