| |
Historical Cub Scout Pack 6 | Real Pack 6 |
Version: November 24, 1999
Welcome to Cub Scouts and Pack 6! Our pack is made up of approximately 50 to 60 boys and their families, mostly from Palo Verde and Ohlone schools. 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 some useful introductory information.
In Pack 6 we believe that Cub Scouting is fun, but it is fun with a purpose. Here is some information to help you understand how Pack 6 practices Cub Scouting. We generally 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
Meetings
Ranks and Advancement
Paperwork, fees, uniforms
The Cub Scout Promise, Law of the Pack, and
Motto
Contacts
Cub Scout Pack 6 is made up of first grade through fifth grade boys, mostly from Palo Verde and Ohlone schools. The organization of the pack is standard. Boys meet in small groups (dens) of 5 to 9 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 6, together with 30 other Cub Scout packs and 30 Boy Scout troops make up the Stanford District. The Stanford District is one of 4 subdivisions of the Pacific Skyline Council. There are over 300 councils in the United States.
Each Cub Scout pack is sponsored by an organization. Our chartered organization is the Palo Alto Rotary club. The chartered 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 6, all adult leaders are committee members. The Committee meets once each month to plan pack meetings and other pack activities. Parents are always welcome at these meetings.
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 others the Cubmaster plays a major organizational role. In either case, the boys see the Cubmaster as the authority figure.
The Den Leaders are the ones who do the majority of the work, and who have the most fun. All adult leaders should 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, and attend leaders meetings (Committee meetings). Den Leaders should try to engage the parents in the den meetings to the greatest extent possible, both to make the Den Leader's job easier and to increase the boys' enjoyment. 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 Den Leader Coach 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 6 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.
Den meetings: Most dens meet weekly, (except when there is a pack meeting). At least two adults are required to be present at all times. In Pack 6, each den has a designated den leader, but the parents take turns in organizing the weekly den meetings.
Pack meetings: On the second Tuesday of the month. Pack meetings are for all the boys of Pack 6. We expect a parent or the whole family to attend the pack meeting. When not announced differently, pack meetings are at Palo Verde School at 7 PM. Please arrive early so the meeting can start on time. A "gathering game" starts at 6:45 to keep the boys occupied until the formal start of the meeting.
There are many special events: family campouts, field trips, etc. In the spring the boys make small wooden race cars and compete in the Pinewood Derby. There are also council events like camporees, Scout-O-Rama etc. We plan to have about one special event per month.
Leader meetings: (sometimes also called Committee Meetings) Leaders of Pack 6 discuss organizational matters, future events and exchange ideas. All parents are welcome. These meetings are generally held the Wednesday before the pack meeting.
Roundtables: Idea exchange and announcements for leaders of the whole district. Leaders are encouraged to attend roundtables. Parents are welcome. These are held the first Thursday evening of each month.
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:
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".
Cub Scouts joining as first grade boys enter the Tiger Cub Program. Tiger Cubs have no formal advancement or fixed requirements. Tiger Cub dens meet once or twice a month in addition to being welcome at all pack meetings. Tiger Cubs BSA 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. Pack 6 welcomes its Tiger Cubs to all pack activities, but council-organized activities may have different policies.
Cub Scouts in the second grade or above begin advancement by earning the Bobcat Badge. After earning the Bobcat Badge, they proceed to work on advancement specific to their age level. As part of the Bobcat Badge requirements, they must learn the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack, and the Cub Scout Motto.
In the second grade, Cub Scouts work toward the Wolf Badge, then toward a Gold Arrow Point and one or more Silver Arrow Points. The requirements for these badges are found in the Wolf Cub Scout Book. Boys working towards their Wolf Badge are called Wolf Cubs.
In the third grade, Cub Scouts are called Bear Cubs and work toward the Bear Badge, after which they work toward earning a Gold Arrow Point and Silver Arrow Points. The requirements for these badges are found in the Bear Cub Scout Book. Boys joining in the third grade must earn their Bobcat Badge before working towards the Bear Badge.
The Webelos Program is a two-year program for fourth and fifth grade boys. First, they earn their Bobcat Badge if they have not done so in a previous year. Then in both years, they work toward earning Webelos Activity Pins in twenty different areas, arranged in five groups, and toward one of two different cloth Badges. Fourth grade boys work toward the Webelos Badge. After earning the Webelos Badge, boys work toward Compass Point Emblem and Metal Compass Points by earning additional Activity Pins. Fifth graders, after earning the Webelos Badge, earn the Arrow of Light. The Arrow of Light is the highest rank in Cub Scouts, and its badge is the only Cub Scout Badge that may be worn on a Boy Scout uniform.
Any Wolf, Bear or Webelos Scout can earn the Cub Scout World Conservation Award.
Registration: The annual dues are $45 or $40 for a second boy. This includes a subscription to Boys Life per family. Pack 6 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 badges. Tiger cubs have an orange T-shirt. Wolf and Bear cubs use the blue Cub Scout uniform, while Webelos can choose whether to wear blue Cub Scout uniform or tan Boy Scout uniform shirt. The lady in the store can help you buy the right stuff including the right color for the neckerchief. Contrary to the official policy, Pack 6 accepts any dark blue pants with the blue Cub Scout uniform.
Uniforms can be bought at the scout store at the Lucie Stern Community center (approximately $45 without trousers). We have a small exchange for used uniforms. Consider giving outgrown uniforms to our exchange. The scout store also has a drawer with free used uniforms.
Handbooks: Pack 6 provides Bear, Wolf, Webelos books and Tiger packets. 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.
The Cub Scout Promise is :
"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 Law of the Pack is:
"The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill."
The Cub Scout Motto is:
"Do your best. "
Scout
store and district office
Lucie Stern Community Center.
1305 Middlefield Road.
Phone: (650) 327-5900
Cubmaster
Rich Swent
E-mail: Richard.Swent@Stanford.edu
Palo Verde
Elementary School
3450 Louis Road, Palo Alto
(650) 856-1672
Ohlone Elementary
School
950 Amarillo, Palo Alto
(650) 856-1726
World Wide Web home page of pack
http://www.scoutway.net/unit/pack6/pack6.html