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The Purposes of
Cub 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 10 purposes of Cub
Scouting are:
Character Development
Spiritual Growth
Good Citizenship
Sportsmanship and Fitness
Family Understanding
Respectful Relationships
Personal Achievement
Friendly Service
Fun and Adventure
Preparation for Boy Scouts
Membership
Cub Scouting members join a Cub Scout pack and are assigned to a
den, usually a neighborhood group of six to eight boys. Tiger Cubs
(first-graders), Wolf Cub Scouts (second-graders), Bear Cub Scouts
(third-graders), and Webelos Scouts (fourth- and fifth-graders) meet
weekly.
Once a month, all of the dens and family members gather for a pack
meeting under the direction of a Cub Master 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
local BSA council 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. The boy is encouraged to pay his own way by contributing
dues each week. 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.
Advancement Plan
Recognition is important to young boys. The Cub Scouting 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.
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 12 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
Handbook, 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 weekly 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 great out-of-doors. 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
Worlds" are used by many councils to carry the world of imagination
into reality with actual theme structures of castles, forts, ships,
etc. Cub Scout pack families 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 youth and leader
publications, including the Tiger Cub Handbook, Wolf Handbook, Bear
Handbook, Webelos Handbook, Cub Scout Leader Book, Cub Scout Leader
How-to Book, Cub Scout Program Helps, and Webelos Leader Guide.
Character Development
Since its origin, the Scouting program has been an educational
experience concerned with values. In 1910, the first activities for
Scouts were designed to build character, physical fitness, practical
skills, and service. These elements were part of the original Cub
Scout program and continue to be part of Cub Scouting today.
Character can be defined as the collection of core values possessed
by an individual that leads to moral commitment and action. Core
values are the basis of good character development. In helping boys
develop character, Cub Scouting promotes the following 12 core
values.
Cub Scouting 12 Core Values
Citizenship
Compassion
Cooperation
Courage
Faith
Health and fitness
Honesty
Perseverance
Positive attitude
Resourcefulness
Respect
Responsibility
Character is "values in action."
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.
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.
Cub Scout Motto
Do Your Best. Be Prepared.
Tiger Cub Motto
Search, Discover, Share.
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.
Colors
The Cub Scouting colors are blue and gold. They have special
meaning, which will help boys see beyond the fun of Cub Scouting to
its ultimate goals.
The blue stands for truth and spirituality, steadfast loyalty, and
the sky above.
The gold stands for warm sunlight, good cheer, and happiness.
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