WHAT IS CUB SCOUTING?
Cub Scouting is the program established by the Boy Scouts of America for boys in Grades One through Five.
In Cub Scouting, boys, families, and adult leaders work together to achieve these objectives:
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Influence a boy's character development and spiritual growth
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Develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship.
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Encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body.
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Improve understanding within the family.
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Strengthen a boy's ability to get along with others.
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Foster a sense of personal achievement by developing new interests and skills.
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Provide fun and exciting new things to do.
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Show a boy how to be helpful and do his best.
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Prepare him to be a Boy Scout.
HOW IS CUB SCOUTING ORGANIZED?
Cub Scouting uses terms and phrases taken from stories in The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling. Cub Scout leaders, parents and responsible adults with authority, are all called "Akela". The boys are called Cubs, and they and their leaders are organized into small units called Dens. Dens are part of a larger Pack. A Pack is chartered by an organization - Pack 1220 has been chartered by the Friends of Hedgcoxe since 1987. The Packs in the Plano area belong to the GreatPlains District, one of districts in the Circle 10 Council. The Circle 10 Council is headquartered in Dallas, TX.
Some additional information on Cub Scouting can be found at the BSA National, Circle 10 Council, and the GreatPlains District website.
Cub Scouting is for boys currently in First Grade through Fifth Grade, or rising in late spring to the First Grade through Fifth Grade. Boys do not have to go to any particular school or live in any particular area to join Cub Scouts with Pack 1220. The choice of a Cub Scout Pack is usually a matter of where friends are joining and/or the convenience of the meeting location (in our case, Hedgcoxe Elementary School). Pack 1220 is one of 66 packs that serve boys in the GreatPlains District.
Dens are organized by Grade, with age-appropriate programs and activities for each grade:
First Grade...Tiger Cub
Second Grade...Wolf Cub
Third Grade...Bear Cub
Fourth Grade...Jr. Webelos
Fifth Grade...Sr. Webelos
All Scouts earn Bobcat badge prior to earning other badges.
Each Den is a group of at least four, but no more than twelve, boys in the same grade. Each Den is led by an adult called the Den Leader (usually but not always a den parent), who in turn is assisted by other den parents. Dens meet at times and places that each den decides. Den meetings usually take place about 2-3 times per month, at meeting places determined by den leader(s) and den parents. Den meetings last about an hour, den parents usually rotate bringing snacks/drinks to the meeting, and the boys work on various program activities, play games, and have fun.
Once a month, Pack 1220 has a meeting of all the dens in the Pack. These Pack Meetings are not just for the boys, but for the parents and siblings as well. It could therefore easily be called a Family Night. The monthly Pack Meeting/ Family Night usually takes place on the second Tuesday of each month, starting at 7 PM at the Hedgcoxe gym. The Pack Meeting lasts about an hour, and usually involves activities, games and fun, like the den meetings, but may also include songs and skits, ceremonies, and recognition awards for individual Cubs. The Pack 1220 Pack Meeting/Family Night is led by Mr. Chris Matta, the Cubmaster of Pack 1220.
CUB SCOUT PARENT INFORMATION GUIDE
The Boy Scouts of America publishes a very helpful Cub Scout Parent Information Guide pamphlet. This pamphlet is available online at Cub Scout Parent Information Guide. Another great source of information for parents is the Parent Guide.
