wordpress.com€¦ · web viewbear. cubs, and fourth and fifth graders are . webelos . a boy can...
TRANSCRIPT
Cub Scout Pack 505Root River District
Three Harbors Council
Parent Handbook2012-2013www.pack505.org
Welcome to Cub Scout Pack 505!
Our Pack is made up of approximately 30 to 40 boys and their families. While most of our scouts attend Canterbury elementary school, any boy currently in grade 1-5 is welcome. 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 website, www.scouting.org, has an introduction called “What is Cub Scouting?” that has some useful introductory information.
In Pack 505 we believe Cub Scouting is fun, but it is fun with a purpose. This handbook provides information to help you understand how the Pack practices Cub Scouting. While we try to keep this information up to date, some items may change from time to time. For the most current information and schedules, refer to the Pack website, www.pack505.org.
Pictures of what we have done can be seen at http://s1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb415/canterburypack505/
Our Pack calendar is at https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=canterburypack505%40gmail.com&ctz=America/Chicago
Organization
The organization of Pack 505 follows the standard format for Cub Scouting. Our Pack is made up of first through fifth grade boys. The boys meet in small groups called Dens, which consists of boys in the same grade, usually made up of 5-10 boys. Each den has an adult leader and parental help. First graders are Tiger Cubs, second graders are Wolf Cubs, third graders are Bear Cubs, and fourth and fifth graders are Webelos. A boy can start at any grade level.
Pack 505, along with other Packs from Greendale, Franklin, Greenfield, Hales Corners and Oak Creek as well as Boy Scout Troops and Venturing Crews from these communities make up the Root River District. The Root River District is one of eight districts that make up the Three Harbors Council which represents Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties.
Each Cub Scout Pack is sponsored by a Community-based organization. Our chartered organization is Greendale Middle School PTO. The chartered organization provides a representative who is the liaison between the Pack, the chartered organization and the Three Harbors Council.
The Pack is run by the Pack Leadership Committee, which is headed by the Committee Chair. In Pack 505, all adult leaders are committee members. The Leadership 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 Leadership Committee. In some Packs, the Cubmaster is only the MC for the Pack meetings. On 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 also have the most fun! All adult leaders are required to attend Youth Protection and Cub Scout Leader Basic Training. Den Leaders plan and organize the Den meetings, keep track of the boys’ advancement and attend the Leadership Committee meetings. Den Leaders try to engage the parents in the den meetings to the greatest extent possible, both the 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 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 505 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 the time to share in organizing den meetings and work with the den leader of your son’s den. In addition, you should help with at least one Pack activity a year (i.e. Pinewood Derby or a campout). A parent should attend Pack meetings together with the Cub Scout. There are no secrets in Cub Scouts and parents are welcome at any organizational meeting of the Pack, district or council.
MeetingsDen Meetings: Most dens meet one evening each month. According to BSA Youth Protection Guidelines, two adults must be present at all times. Each den has a designated leader, but he or she will require assistance from parents at meetings.
Pack Meetings: The entire Pack meets together once each month during the school year. These meetings are for the boys and their families. We would like at least one parent to attend the Pack meeting. Unless announced differently, Pack meetings are held in the Canterbury gym at 6:30 p.m. Due to scheduling conflicts the Pack meetings may occur on different evenings each month.
Special Events: In addition to the monthly Pack and Den meetings, Pack 505 holds many special events throughout the year, such as campouts, sledding, swimming, etc. In the winter, boys make small wooden boats and race them in rain gutters filled with water called the Raingutter Regatta. In the spring, boys craft model race cars and compete in the annual Pinewood Derby. In February, the Webelos II host the Blue & Gold banquet. This event marks the end of a boy’s participation in the Pack after which he is eligible to join a Boy Scout Troop. We plan to have at least one special event each month throughout the school year.
Pack Planning Committee Meetings: Leaders of Pack 505 discuss organizational matters, future events and exchange ideas. All parents are welcome. Consult the Pack calendar on the Pack 505 website for the schedule of meetings.
Roundtables: Idea exchange and announcements for leaders of the whole district. Leaders are encouraged to attend roundtables, and parents are welcome. These are held the second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 4330 S. 84th Street.
Ranks and AdvancementBoys work their way through Cub Scouts doing activities that are fun and challenging. The activities are chosen to be age-appropriate and emphasize learning by doing. They cover many aspects of life and are designed to:
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 Show a boy how to be helpful and do his best Provide fun and exciting new things to do.
In addition to the activities that contribute to advancement in rank, the boys can earn “belt loops” and pins in the optional Sports and Academic Program. The purpose of these awards is the 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”.
The first rank earned in Cub Scouting, no matter the age at which a boy first joins a Pack is the Bobcat. After earning their Bobcat badge, the boys proceed to work on advancement specific to their age level. As part of the Bobcat requirements, they must learn the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack and the Cub Scout Motto.
Cub Scouts joining as first grade boys enter the Tiger Cub Program. Dens meet at least once each month in addition to scheduled “go see its” (kind of like field trips).
In second grade, boys work toward the Wolf rank; in third grade they work toward the Bear rank and during fourth and fifth grades they work on earning the rank of Webelos. The highest award in Cub Scouting is the Arrow of Light, which is usually earned during the fifth grade year. After being awarded the Arrow of Light, a boy “graduates” from Cub Scouting and is eligible to join a Boy Scout Troop.
Registration, Fees and Uniform
The annual dues for each Scout in Pack 505 is $45.00. This includes a subscription to Boys Life magazine as well as many Pack activities throughout the year. Part of this fee is paid to the Council for annual “rechartering” of our Pack and a portion of the annual dues stays with the Pack to provide programming for the boys.
Cub Scouts buy their own uniform, including council patch, Pack and Den numerals. The Pack provides badges as the boys earn them. Tiger, Wolf and Bear cubs wear the blue Cub Scout uniform shirt and Webelos have the option of wearing their blue Cub Scout uniform, or the tan Boy Scout uniform shirt. This is referred to as the “Class A” uniform. Uniforms can be purchased at the scout store (inside the Three Harbors Council Milwaukee Scout Service Center, at 330 S. 84 th St., just north of State Fair Park) or Sherper’s (Hwy 100 & Forest Home).
What Scouting Costs per Boy
Registration fee to Three Harbors Council $15.00Registration fee to Boy Scouts of America $ .50Boys Life subscription $12.00Rank handbook $ 8.99Neckerchief (part of uniform) $ 6.00Slider (part of uniform) $ 4.00Raingutter Regatta kit $ 3.99Pinewood Derby kit $ 3.99Achievement awards, average (rank patches, belt loops, etc. $15.12
$70.59Minus annual registration fee per boy ($45.00)Annual net cost to Pack, per boy $25.59
While the cost of many of the “necessities” is covered by the annual registration fee, the Pack requires additional funds to operate a quality program. Most of our operating budget comes through fundraising. Our main fundraiser historically has been the annual Christmas wreath sale in the fall. We will need to do at least one additional fundraiser to allow the Pack to provide the level of opportunity for the boys that we have in the past. While participation in the fundraisers in not mandatory, please keep in mind that in order to pay for camping, swimming, Brewer’s games and other activities throughout the year, each family will need to contribute to the best of their ability.
Support is available from the Boy Scouts of America for families that cannot meet all of the financial requirements of Scouting. For more information, contact (414) 443-2863.
Each boy will have an “S-account” in which 5% of their fundraising profits will be deposited. This money can be used to pay for Scout activities or the purchase of Scouting-related equipment (i.e. sleeping bag, flashlight, uniform and related insignia, etc.) This account is held by the Pack until the parent authorizes reimbursement for scout-related expenses incurred.
Uniform Insignia Placement
Right Sleeve Left Sleeve
Left pocket
More information can be found at
Uniform Inspection Sheet (downloadable PDF)http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34282.pdf
The Cub Scout Uniform (link to BSA website)http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/cubscouts/parents/awards/parents.aspx
ContactsCommittee Chair Jason LaCoursier
Co-Committee Chair Rob [email protected]
Cubmaster Herb [email protected](414) 421-4261
Assistant Cubmaster Brenda [email protected](414) 423-1527
Treasurer Liz [email protected](414) 839-0021
Awards Coordinator Jessica [email protected]
Den Leaders:
Tigers (1st grade) VACANT
Wolves (2nd grade) Dan [email protected]
Bears (3rd grade) Pete [email protected]
Assistant Bear Den Leader Brenda [email protected]
Webelos I (4th grade) Darrell [email protected]
Webelos II (5th grade) Mike [email protected]