The
Purposes of Scouting
Since 1930, the Boy Scouts of America has helped
younger boys through Cub Scouting. It is a year-round family program designed
for boys who are in the first grade through fifth grade (or 7, 8, 9, and
10 years of age). Parents, leaders, and organizations work together to
achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting. Currently, Cub Scouting is the largest
of the BSA’s three membership divisions. (The others are Boy Scouting and
Venturing.)
The ten purposes of Cub Scouting are:
1. Character Development
2. Spiritual Growth
3. Good Citizenship
4. Sportsmanship and Fitness
5. Family Understanding
6. Respectful Relationships
7. Personal Achievement
8. Friendly Service
9. Fun and Adventure
10. Preparation for Boy Scouts
Membership
Cub Scouting members join a Cub Scout pack and are
assigned to a den, usually a group of six to ten boys. Tiger Cubs (first
graders), Wolf Cub Scouts (second graders), Bear Cub Scouts (third graders),
and Webelos Scouts (fourth and fifth graders) meet as a den to work towards
their next advancement. These meeting are typically weekly or bi-weekly.
Once a month, all of the dens and family members
gather for a pack meeting under the direction of a Cubmaster and pack committee.
The committee includes parents of boys in the pack and members of the chartered
organization.
Volunteer
Leadership
Thousands of volunteer leaders, both men and women,
are involved in the Cub Scout program. They serve in a variety of positions,
as everything from unit leaders to pack committee chairmen, committee members,
den leaders, and chartered organization representatives.
Like other phases of the Scouting program, a Cub
Scout pack belongs to an organization with interests similar to those of
the BSA. This organization, which might be a church, school, community
organization, or group of interested citizens, is chartered by the BSA
to use the Scouting program. This chartered organization provides a suitable
meeting place, adult leadership, supervision, and opportunities for a healthy
Scouting life for the boys under its care. Each organization appoints one
of its members as a chartered organization representative. The organization,
through the pack committee, is responsible for providing leadership, the
meeting place, and support materials for pack activities.
Who
Pays For It?
Groups responsible for supporting Cub Scouting are
the boys and their parents, the pack, the chartered organization, and the
community. Packs also obtain income by working on approved money-earning
projects. The community, including parents, supports Cub Scouting through
the United Way, Friends of Scouting enrollment, bequests, and special contributions
to the BSA local council. This financial support provides leadership training,
outdoor programs, council service centers and other facilities, and professional
service for units as well as funding our yearly activities.
Advancement
Plan
Recognition is important to young boys. The Cub Scout
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 work with boys on advancement projects.
Tiger Cub.
The Tiger Cub program is for first grade (or age
7) boys and their adult partners. There are five Tiger Cub achievement
areas. The Tiger Cub, working with his adult partner, completes 15 requirements
within these areas to earn the Tiger Cub Badge. These requirements consist
of an exciting series of indoor and outdoor activities just right for a
boy in the first grade.
Bobcat.
The Bobcat rank is for all boys who join Cub Scouting.
Wolf.
The Wolf program is for boys who have completed first
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 have completed second
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. 
This program is for boys who have completed third
grade (or are age 10). A boy may begin working on the Webelos badge as
soon as he joins a Webelos den. This is the first step in his transition
from the Webelos den to the Boy Scout troop. As he completes the requirements
found in the Webelos Scout Book, he will work on activity badges, attend
meetings led by adults, and become familiar with the Boy Scout requirements-all
leading to the Arrow of Light Award.
Activities
Cub Scouting means “doing.” Everything in Cub Scouting
is designed to have the boys doing things. Activities are used to achieve
the aims of Scouting-citizenship training, character development, and personal
fitness. Many of the activities happen right in the den and pack. The most
important are the den meetings and the monthly pack meetings.
Cub
Scout Academics and Sports
The Cub Scout Academics and Sports program provides
the opportunity for boys to learn new techniques, increase scholarship
skills, develop sportsmanship, and have fun. Participation in the program
allows boys to be recognized for physical fitness and talent-building activities.
Camping
Age-appropriate camping programs are packed with
theme-oriented action that brings Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts
into the world of imagination. Day camping comes to the boy in neighborhoods
across the country; resident camping is at least a three-day experience
in which Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts camp within a developed theme of
adventure and excitement. Cub Scout pack members enjoy camping in local
council camps and other council-approved campsites. Camping programs combine
fun and excitement with doing one's best, getting along with others, and
developing an appreciation for ecology and the world of the outdoors.
Publications
Volunteers are informed of national news and events
through Scouting magazine (circulation 900,000). Boys may subscribe to
Boys’ Life magazine (circulation 1.3 million). Both are published by the
Boy Scouts of America. Also available are a number of Cub Scout and leader
publications, including the Tiger Cub Handbook, Wolf Cub Scout Book, Bear
Cub Scout Book, Webelos Scout Book, Cub Scout Leader Book , Cub Scout Program
Helps, and Webelos Leader Guide.
Cub
Scouting Ideals
Apart from the fun and excitement of Cub Scout activities,
the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack, the Tiger Cub motto, and the
Cub Scout sign, handshake, motto, and salute all teach good citizenship
and contribute to a boy’s sense of belonging.
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Cub
Scout Pack 720
