elcome to Cub Scouting!  Here is some general information to help you get started.  

If you’re new to scouting, it can all be a bit bewildering.  Cub Scouting is a wonderful opportunity for your child to learn and grow and become a valued member of his/her community.  He/she will learn skills and pursuits that he/she can take with him into adulthood.  Scouting has something for everyone whether it is love of the outdoors: camping and fishing, sports, building things, learning to help others, or learning to be more self-sufficient, to name just a few.

Cub Scouting means "doing."  You 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 2x a 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 and 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 you enjoy, you'll have a chance to do it in Cub Scouting. There is a reason for everything kids do in Cub Scouting.  Apart from the fun and excitement, the aim of Cub Scouting is to help kids grow into good citizens who are strong in character and personally fit.  This is why we say that Cub Scouting is fun with a purpose.

While you're having fun, you'll also be earning badges and awards.  You'll work on projects with your parents or other adults in your family, and all of you will feel good about the things you accomplish.  When you have earned a badge, you and an adult member of your family take part in a ceremony.  The badge is given to the adult, and he or she then gives it to the scout in front of the whole pack.  This is a way of saying "thank you" to your family for their help in earning your award.

The most popular awards for Cub Scouts are the advancement awards.  Scouts do requirements to advance and earn their badges of rank: Bobcat, Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and the Arrow of Light Award.  The Arrow of Light is the highest award in Cub Scouting.  Webelos Scouts also earn activity badges.

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 you earn an award in Cub Scouting, you learn new skills.  You also get to use your new skills and your new knowledge in projects and demonstrations.  You show what you know.  People get to see what you've learned as a Cub Scout.

The Cub Scouting Program is multi-tiered.  Your child will be placed in a Den, which is part of our Pack, which belongs to a Council that is affiliated with the national organization—the BSA. 

But first things first!  Please consider joining.  We would love to have you in our pack.

Bobcat No matter what age or grade a child joins Cub Scouting, he/she must earn his/her Bobcat badge before he/she can advance to the rank of Tiger, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos. A Scout must complete the Bobcat requirements, which include: Learn and say the Cub Scout motto, the Scout Oath, and the Scout Law and tell what they mean; Show the Cub Scout sign, salute, and handshake and tell what they mean; and With your parent or guardian complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide.               Tiger Cubs are kids who are entering or in the first grade. Scouts in a Tiger Cub Den will be doing many things during the year but most importantly, they will have FUN!   The Tiger Cubs are led by a trained leader and the kid's adult partner. An adult partner can be a parent, relative or friend at least 18 years of age. The adult partner attends all den meetings, pack meetings, outings and activities with the Tiger Cub.    Please be sure that you spend the time needed with your Tiger Cub on the things he needs to do at home. This is quality time spent with your child as he/she learns and grows. The Family portion of the Tiger Cub program is very important.   The Tiger rank is for kids who are in first grade or are age 7. To earn the Tiger badge, a scout must complete six required adventures with his/her den or family and one elective adventure of his/her den or family’s choosing. As the scout completes each adventure, he/she will receive the adventure loop for that adventure, which he/she can wear on their belt. When the scout has completed the seven required adventures, they can receive the Tiger badge. The Tiger badge is given to the scout’s adult partner at a pack meeting. Then, during a grand ceremony, the adult gives the badge to the scout. After the scout has earned the Tiger badge, a Tiger Scout can work on the remaining 12 Tiger electives until he/she finishes first grade (or turn 8 years old). Scouts can choose elective adventures that may show them new hobbies and teach them skills that will be useful during his/her BSA Scout years. When he/she completes an elective adventure, he/she receives an additional adventure loop to wear on his/her belt.     Wolf Scouts are for kids who have finished first grade (or who are 8 years old).  Those who join the Wolf den without having been a Tiger Cub Scout must earn the Bobcat badge working with their parents.  They then start along the trail to Wolf rank. To earn the Wolf badge, a scout must complete six required adventures and one elective adventure. His/her parent or guardian and den leader approve each requirement by signing his/her book, and the scout receives an adventure loop for each adventure. When the scout has met all requirements, the Wolf badge is presented to his/her parent or guardian at the next pack meeting. During an impressive ceremony, the parent or guardian then presents the badge to the scout. After he/she has earned the Wolf badge, a Wolf Scout can work on the remaining 12 Wolf electives until he/she finishes second grade (or turns 9 years old). He/she can choose elective adventures that may show him new hobbies and teach him skills that will be useful during his/her BSA Scout years. When he/she completes an elective adventure, he/she receives an additional adventure loop to wear on his/her belt.     Bear Cub Scouts are for kids who have finished second grade (or who are 9 years old.)  Those who join the Bear den without having been a Wolf Cub Scout must earn the Bobcat badge. Then all the Cub Scouts in the den work their way along the trail to earn their Bear badge.   To earn the Bear badge, a scout must complete six required adventures and one elective adventure. His/her parent or guardian and den leader approve each requirement by signing his/her book, and the scout receives an adventure loop for each adventure. When the scout has met all requirements, the Bear badge is presented to his/her parent or guardian at the next pack meeting. During an impressive ceremony, the parent or guardian then presents the badge to the scout.   After he/she has earned the Bear badge, a Bear Scout can work on the remaining 12 Bear electives until he/she finishes third grade (or turn 10 years old). He/She can choose elective adventures that may show him/her new hobbies and teach him/her skills that will be useful during his BSA Scout years. When he/she completes an elective adventure, he/she receives an additional adventure loop to wear on his/her belt.     Webelos Scouts are typically for kids who have completed third grade (or reached age 10.) in the 4th & 5th grades. Webelos stands for "We'll BE Loyal Scouts."       Webelos Scouts get to work on the five required Webelos adventures and choose two of the 18 elective adventures that are shared by the Webelos and Arrow of Light ranks. When a scout has done the requirements for an adventure, the Webelos den leader, rather than a parent, approves most of the adventures. For each adventure a scout completes, he receives a pin to wear on the Webelos colors or on his/her hat. After completing seven adventures, including five required adventures and two elective adventures, a Scout can receive the Webelos badge.   After the scout has earned the Webelos badge, a Webelos Scout can work on the remaining 18 shared Webelos and Arrow of Light electives until he/she finishes fourth grade (or turns 11 years old). He/She can choose elective adventures that may show him/her new hobbies and teach him/her skills that will be useful during his/her BSA Scout years. When he/she completes an elective adventure, he/she receives an additional adventure loop to wear on his/her belt.     The highest rank in Cub Scouting is the Arrow of Light. Earning this rank prepares a Webelos Scout to become a BSA Scout. Scouts must complete four required adventures and three elective adventures to earn the Arrow of Light rank. For each adventure a scout completes, he/she receives a pin to wear on the Webelos colors or on his hat.   The Arrow of Light badge is the only Cub Scout badge that can be worn on the BSA Scout uniform when a scout graduates into a troop. Adult leaders who earned the Arrow of Light rank when they were young may also show their achievement by wearing a special square knot on their adult uniform.