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CUB SCOUT PACK 451
2008-2009 INFORMATION SUMMARY
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:
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.
Provide fun and exciting new things to do.
Show a boy how to be helpful and do his best.
Prepare him to be a Boy Scout.
WHAT ARE THE IDEALS OF CUB SCOUTING?
The Cub Scout ideals are expressed in the Cub Scout Promise, the Cub Scout Law of the Pack, and the Cub Scout Motto:
The Cub Scout Promise:
I, (name), promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack.
The Cub Scout Law of the Pack:
The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.
Cub Scout Motto:
Do Your Best.
HOW IS CUB SCOUTING ORGANIZED?
Cub Scouting uses terms and phrases taken from stories in The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling. The boys themselves are called Cubs, the boys and their leaders (Cub Scout leaders are called “Akela”) are organized into small units called Dens, and the Dens are part of a larger Pack. A Pack is chartered by an organization - Pack 451 has been chartered by Westminster Presbyterian Church since 1975. The Packs in Durham belong to the Mawat District (Mawat is an American Indian word, taken from the Lenni Lenape/Unami language, meaning “one” or “unity”), and Mawat District is one of 13 districts in the Occoneechee Council. Occoneechee Council stretches through most of central North Carolina, from the Virginia line down to Fayetteville, and west through Orange County. The Occoneechee Council is headquartered in Raleigh.
Some additional information on Cub Scouting can be found at the BSA National Website and at our District Website.
Cub Scouting is for boys currently in Kindergarten through 4th grade (rising 1st grade through rising 5th grade). Boys do not have to go to any particular school or live in any particular area to join Cub Scouts with Pack 451. 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, Westminster Presbyterian Church). Pack 451 is one of five packs that serve boys in the Southern Durham area of Mawat District. The other Southern Durham packs are Pack 437, chartered by Community Baptist Church; Pack 486, chartered by Christus Victor Lutheran Church; Pack 461, chartered by Epworth United Methodist Church; and Pack 495, chartered by Parkwood United Methodist Church. The rest of this document is devoted to Pack 451.
Contact information for other Durham Packs can be found at the Mawat District Website.
Information on Occoneechee Council can be found at the Occoneechee Council Website:
Dens are organized by Grade, with age-appropriate programs and activities for each grade:
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First Grade
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Tiger
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Second Grade
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Wolf
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Third Grade
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Bear
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Fourth and
Fifth Grade
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Webelos
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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 provided by Westminster Presbyterian Church. Dens can also meet at someone’s home, at a school, or at some other location and time determined by the den leaders and 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 451 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 Thursday of each month, starting around 7 PM at the Westminster Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. The Pack Meeting last 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 451 Pack Meeting/Family Night is led by Mr. John Chase, the Cubmaster of Pack 451.
About once every two months, the leaders of Pack 451 will meet for a meeting of the Pack Committee. The meeting of the Pack Committee is not restricted just to the leaders, but is open to any parents in the Pack. The basic purpose of the Pack Committee is to support the den and pack leaders. The meeting times of the Pack Committee will be announced and posted on the Pack Calendar Page.
BECOMING A DEN LEADER AND FORMING A DEN
Many willing boys each year are unable to join Cub Scouting because an adult doesn’t volunteer to be a den leader. Having a den leader for a den of Pack 451 Cub Scouts is absolutely critical, so let’s talk about what’s involved.
The Duties: A den leader meets weekly for about one hour with a den of Cub Scouts. A den can have anywhere from a minimum of four to a maximum of twelve boys. The den meeting is held at a meeting place assigned by Westminster Presbyterian Church, or at a place selected by the den leader. The time, place and frequency of den meetings is at the convenience of the den leader.
Support and Training: Pack 451 is committed to providing den leaders with the necessary training and support to carry out their duties. In addition to support from current leaders and online Fast Start Leader Training and online Youth Protection Training, there are district-wide Cub Scout training opportunities that we strongly encourage den leaders to attend. Check out the District Training Website or the Durham District Website for details. Pack 451 will also provide den leaders with the fabulous “How-To” book and the Cub Scout Leader Handbook.
It’s Fun for the Leader, Too! This is absolutely the best part of being a den leader. You’ll find that the den meeting time passes quickly, and that, if you let yourself, you’ll end up having as much fun as the boys.
The Excuses (NOT!):
I Don’t Have the Time - Time is, of course, scarce for everyone. However, Pack 451 believes in den leaders working as a team in the Pack, to share the load. The Cubmaster, Asst. Cubmaster and other den leaders will be there to help when you need it, and you’ll find help among the other den parents. In addition, Pack 451 has a very close relationship with Boy Scout Troop 451 (the program for boys ages 11 through 17), and the troop will provide assistance and expertise as needed.
I Don’t Know How - Unless you were a Cub Scout or Boy Scout, or have some other Scouting experience, it is entirely likely that you don’t know anything about how Scouting works. Don’t let this bother you. In addition to the support and training listed above, Scouting itself, and our District and Council, have all kinds of resources to help you succeed. All you need to bring to the table is a little time and a positive “I can do this” attitude.
JOINING REQUIREMENTS FOR PACK 451
Cub Scouts – To join Pack 451, a youth candidate must: (1) be a boy; (2) in the first through fifth grade and between 6 and 10 years old, (3) is part of a den with a den leader forming to receive him and other boys, or is joining an existing den which is willing to add him as a member and (4) pays the fees to Pack 451 which are set out in the next section.
Parents – Our basic rule is that if your son joins Pack 451, so do you. Except for den leaders, parents of youth members are not required to submit an application nor pay any annual fee to participate in troop activities with their sons. Without solid parental participation, dens cannot form, and Pack 451 cannot provide a quality program to the youth. It is in large part due to parental support and encouragement that our youth members advance in Scouting and realize their full potential.
Den Leaders and adult Scouters - Male and female adults over the age of 18 can join Pack 451 and the Boy Scouts of America as an adult Scouter provided that his or her application is accepted by the Pack Committee and approved by the Boy Scouts of America. There is a $10 registration fee for adults (prorated for our charter year depending on the date of registration). Adult leader candidates must provide their social security numbers and submit to background checks which include searches for criminal convictions. The Boy Scouts of America will deny membership to adults with criminal convictions involving drugs, sex crimes, or violence. Den Leaders and other Adult Scouters receive Scouting Magazine as part of their registration.
FORMS AND FEES
The required fees to join Pack 451 vary by Grade Level, as follows:
Tiger, Wolf and Bear $35 ($10 to BSA/Council, $25 for Pack dues)
Webelos $45 ($10 to BSA/Council, $35 for Pack dues)
In addition to the required fees, boys have the option to subscribe to Boys Life Magazine for an additional $12 per year, prorated to $8.00 for the balance of the charter year).
Since our Pack 451 charter year runs from May 1 through April 30, the actual dues and fees collected are prorated for our charter year depending on the date of registration. Although the fees listed above are paid directly to Pack 451, Pack 451 will in turn pay the $10 BSA/Council fee and any $12 Boys Life Magazine subscription fees to the Boy Scouts of America, Occoneechee Council. The remaining Pack dues are kept by the Pack Treasurer, and used to defray pack expenses, such as badges and pins for advancement recognitions.
Youth – For a boy to officially join Pack 451, we must first determine that the boy will be part of a den being formed to receive him and other boys, or that the boy is joining an existing den which is willing to add him as a member. If this initial den requirement is met, then the parents must (1) complete the official youth application form and (2) submit a check payable to Pack 451 for the fees listed above. The youth application form can be secured from the Cubmaster or Assistant Cubmaster (see Contact Page) or can be downloaded online at this link: Youth Application Form (print out and complete only page 5 of the downloaded form)
Den Leaders and Adult Scouters – For an adult to officially join Pack 451 as a den leader or other adult Scouter, he or she must: (1) complete the official adult application form; (2) provide his or her social security number (3) submit to a background check; and (4) submit a check payable to Pack 451 in the amount of $10 (prorated as noted above). The adult application form can be secured from the Cubmaster or Assistant Cubmaster (see Contact Page) or can be downloaded online at this link: Adult Application Form (print out and complete only page 3 of the downloaded form)
THINGS YOUR SON NEEDS RIGHT AWAY
Once your son is registered in the Pack and his den is formed, the den leader will get up with the den parents to work out the den meeting schedules. Once this is done, your son will need two things right away to get involved with Pack and Den activities: (1) a Handbook for his Grade Level (Tiger, Wolf, Bear or Webelos); and (2) a Cub Scout uniform. The only uniforming requirement for Pack 451 members is the official Cub Scout shirt and Cub Scout neckerchief for his Grade Level. The Cub Scout uniform is worn at den meetings and Pack meetings, and while traveling to and from camping trips. Check out the Virtual Cub Leaders Handbook Uniforming Guide for how to wear the uniform and put on all the patches and awards!
Uniform by Grade Level:
The Tiger Scout (First Grade) uniform is the dark blue official shirt with the official orange Tiger Cub neckerchief.
The Wolf Scout (Second Grade) uniform is the dark blue official shirt with the official yellow/gold Wolf Cub neckerchief.
The Bear Scout (Third Grade) uniform is the dark blue official shirt with the official light blue Bear Cub neckerchief.
The Webelos Scout (Fourth and Fifth Grade) uniform is a choice of the den. Webelos Den members can decide to either wear the dark blue official shirt, or the khaki colored official shirt, or a combination of either of them. In either uniform choice, the official plaid neckerchief for Webelos is required. The Webelos “colors” are strongly suggested for the activity pins.
Provided that the Pack has a sufficient supply, you can buy the Grade Level Handbook from the Cubmaster. The cost is $5.30 for the Tiger, Wolf or Bear Handbook, $6.50 for the Webelos Handbook. You can buy the uniform, handbook and other Scout supplies at the Council Scout Shop in Raleigh. The Scout Shop is located at the Occoneechee Council Service Center, 3231 Atlantic Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27604, Telephone: 850-0301. You can also buy all of these things online at the BSA Online Store. Be sure to get the correct Grade Level Handbook, and ALSO BE SURE THAT YOUR SON WRITES HIS NAME IN HIS HANDBOOK AS SOON AS HE GETS IT!
Uniform Patches
In addition to the uniform shirt, you will also need to purchase and sew on/affix to the uniform the following patches: (1) an Occoneechee Council patch; (2) the Pack numerals of 451 (these can be secured as a single patch from the pack, or as three individual numerals from the Scout Shop) and (3) the Den Number patch. The Den Number is the number of your son’s den, assigned by the Cubmaster. If the den number hasn’t yet been assigned or you don’t know what it is, you can wait on getting the den number patch until you’re sure about the den number. For placement of patches, get a uniform insignia sheet from the Scout Shop, or download one online here: Uniform Inspection Guide. Also check out the Virtual Cub Leaders Handbook Uniforming Guide for how to wear the uniform and put on all the patches and awards!
YOUTH PROTECTION
The Boy Scouts of America has adopted strict policies, known as the Guide to Safe Scouting, to provide safety and security of its youth members. These policies are primarily for the protection of our youth members; however, many of them also serve to protect our adult leaders from false accusations of abuse. Click here for the online version of the current Guide to Safe Scouting.
In the front of each Grade Level Handbook is a tear-out pamphlet entitled “How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse - A Parent’s Guide.” The reading of this tear-out pamphlet is a required part of your son’s advancement in the Cub Scouting program.
CUB SCOUT CAMPING
Visit the Pack 451 Campouts! Page for detailed information on Pack 451 camping.
OTHER FUN CUB SCOUT THINGS
There are so many fun things available for Cub Scouts, it's hard to list them all. Also, the Cub Scouting program is designed so that Cubs at each Grade Level can do activities suitable for that age. Den activities include crafts, telling jokes and stories, learning about our country, and playing games (ESPECIALLY playing games!). Here are some activities at the Pack level that all Cub Scouts seem to enjoy:
Pinewood Derby: From a rectangular piece of pine, Cubs work with parents to shape, sand, paint and decorate a race car. The Pack gathers in January for the Pinewood Derby, where all Cubs race their cars on a special track owned by the Pack. Winners get to race at the Mawat District Pinewood Derby.
The Blue and Gold Banquet: All the families in the Pack gather for Scouting's annual birthday party (usually in February) and celebration of Scouting. The Blue and Gold Banquet usually features good food and fellowship, topped off with skits by the Scouts themselves.
Cub Scout Day Camp: In June, our District puts on a fabulous Day Camp for Cub Scouts, right here in Durham. At Day Camp, Cub Scouts can do extended activities, all day long, including activities such as BB-gun shooting and Archery that can’t be done at den meetings.
The Cub Scout Religious Emblem program offers a partnership between the boy’s family, the family’s religious leaders, and Scouting, to explore age-appropriate faith issues. Scouting is strictly non-sectarian, so each faith partnering with Scouting has developed a curriculum and workbooks for its own Religious Emblem Award. Cub Scouts who complete their faith’s Religious Emblem program receive a Religious Emblem medal. As with the academic and sports loops, the choice of working on the Religious Emblem Award is completely optional with the Cub Scout. Click here for more information on the Religious Emblem programs
CONTROVERSIAL BSA MEMBERSHIP RULES
The National Office of the Boy Scouts of America, based in Irving, Texas, sets all of the overall policies of Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops in the United States, including such things as advancement requirements, uniforming, and joining requirements. In response to social activism and court challenges, the BSA has taken several controversial policy stands regarding exclusionary membership rules for its youth and adult membership. You should be aware of these national BSA positions. The BSALEGAL website has a lot of information about these subjects, especially on their Legal FAQ Page. Pack 451 does not necessarily agree with these national BSA rules, nor does Pack 451 ask preemptive joining questions actively seeking to exclude any Scout or adult leader because of these national BSA rules. In fact, Pack 451’s Cubmaster has gone on record as opposing the gay lifestyle prohibitions. However, all Pack adults and parents need to be aware that national BSA does have the ultimate right to revoke youth or adult membership or deny advancement to any Cub Scout or Boy Scout who does not comply with these BSA rules. These national BSA positions are:
(a) Belief in God. Virtually every religion is represented in Scouting. Each Cub Scout promises to live by the Cub Scout Promise (...do my duty to God...). BSA has interpreted this to mean that a Cub Scout or adult Scouter cannot be an avowed atheist or agnostic. The choice of religious preference by a Cub Scout or adult Scouter is of no consequence to the BSA or Pack 451, so long as that religious preference includes a belief in God. The Boy Scouts of America and Pack 451 do not define nor interpret the term, “God.” Interpretation of the term, “God,” is the role of the Cub Scout’s family and religious advisors.
(b) Gay, lesbian and/or homosexual lifestyles are prohibited. The national BSA has determined that a youth or adult holding a gay, lesbian and/or homosexual lifestyle may not be allowed to join Scouting. If such a lifestyle becomes declared or evident in a Cub Scout or Scouter after joining, the membership certificate of that Cub Scout or adult Scouter may be canceled by the BSA.
(c) No youth female members. This prohibition applies ONLY to youth under the age of 18 in Cub Scout packs. Female adult leaders are welcome at ALL levels of Scouting.
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Cub Scout Pack 451
