About Cub Scouting

If your child is in Kindergarten through fifth grade—or 7 to 10 years old—then Cub Scouting is for him/her. It’s for your family, too. This is the first and the biggest of the three Scouting programs (Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing) from the Boy Scouts of America. In Cub Scouting, children and their families have fun and adventure in a program that builds character and instills values. Cub Scouting embraces the values of citizenship, compassion, cooperation, courage, faith, health and fitness, honesty, perseverance, positive attitude, resourcefulness, respect, and responsibility. These values come to boys in all parts of the Cub Scout program – all while they’re having a great time with their friends and families.

Cub Scouts Belong to a Pack and Den

Every Cub Scout is a member of a Cub Scout pack. A pack is a large group of children. The pack is divided into smaller groups called dens. Each den has about six to eight Scouts. All of the Cub Scouts in a den are about the same age and live in the same neighborhood. The Cub Scout pack belongs to a church, a school, or some other group of people in your community or neighborhood. This group makes sure your pack has good adult leaders, a place to meet, and exciting things to do. The group gets help from the Boy Scouts of America, which is part of Scouting around the world.

Cub Scouts Do Things and Go Places

Cub Scouting means “doing.” Scouts have lots to do as a Cub Scout—crafts, games, sports, songs, stories, and puzzles, to name a few things. Much of the fun happens right in the den and pack. The den usually meets one to two times per month, and the pack meets once a month all year long. At den meetings and pack meetings, Cub Scouts do different things for fun and learning. Cub Scouts also go to events like the annual Blue & Gold Banquet, field contests, and derbies such as the pinewood derby. They go on field trips. They go camping and have other kinds of outdoor adventures. They take part in community events. Cub Scouts do all sorts of exciting stuff! Whatever it is that a Scout enjoys, they’ll have a chance to do it in Cub Scouting.

Cub Scouts Earn Awards

While having fun, Scouts will also be earning badges and awards. Scouts work on projects with parents or other adults in their family, and all will feel good about the things they accomplish. Scouts complete adventures to advance and earn their badges of rank: Tiger Cub, Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and the Arrow of Light Award. The Arrow of Light is the highest award in Cub Scouting. Cub Scouts can earn many other awards and medals too, sometimes by themselves and sometimes as members of their pack. They can earn or help their pack earn Quality Unit awards, religious emblems, the Emergency Preparedness Award, the Outdoor Activity Award, or the World Conservation Award. When scouts earn an award in Cub Scouting, they learn new skills. They also get to use their new skills and knowledge in projects and demonstrations. Scouts show what you know and people get to see what they’ve learned as a Cub Scout.

Cub Scouting Has a Purpose

There is a reason for everything Scouts do in Cub Scouting. Apart from the fun and excitement, the aim of Cub Scouting is to help children grow into good citizens who are strong in character and personally fit.  The Cub Scouting program has 10 purposes related to the overall mission of the Boy Scouts of America – to build character, learn citizenship, and develop personal fitness:

Every Cub Scouting activity should help fulfill one of these purposes. Not everything in Cub Scouting has to be serious – far from it! Silly songs, energetic games, and yummy snacks all have their place in the program.

The Methods of Cub Scouting

To accomplish its purposes and achieve the overall goals of building character, learning citizenship, and developing personal fitness, Cub Scouting uses seven methods:

1. Living the Ideals
   Cub Scouting’s values are embedded in the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Cub Scout motto, and Cub Scout sign, handshake, and salute.  These practices help establish and reinforce the program’s values in boys and the leaders who guide them.
2. Belonging to a Den
   The den—a group of six to eight Scouts who are about the same age — is the place where Cub Scouting starts.  In the den, Cub Scouts develop new skills and interests, they practice sportsmanship and good citizenship, and they learn to do their best, not just for themselves but for the den as well.
3. Using Advancement
   Recognition is important to Scouts.  The advancement plan provides fun for the boys, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and strengthens family understanding as adult family members and their den leader work with Scouts on advancement projects.
4. Involving Family and Home
   Whether a Cub Scout lives with two parents or one, a foster family, or other relatives, family is an important part of Cub Scouting.  Parents and adult family members provide leadership and support for Cub Scouting and help ensure that boys have a good experience in the program.
5. Participating in Activities
   Cub Scouts participate in a huge array of activities, including games, projects, skits, stunts, songs, outdoor activities, trips and service projects. Besides being fun, these activities offer opportunities for growth, achievement, and family involvement.
6. Serving Home and Neighborhood
   Cub Scouting focuses on the home and neighborhood. It helps Scouts strengthen connections to their local communities, which in turn support the Scouts’ growth and development.
7. Wearing the Uniform
   Cub Scout uniforms serve a dual purpose, demonstrating membership in the group (everyone is dressed alike) and individual achievement (Scouts wear the badges they’ve earned). Wearing the uniform to meetings and activities also encourages a neat appearance, a sense of belonging, and good behavior.

Information on this page provided by the Boy Scouts of America – www.scouting.org