Pack 247 Information and Parent Guide

The Purpose of Cub Scouting

Since 1930, the Boy Scouts of America has helped younger boys through Cub Scouting. For Pack 247 it is a school-year 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 Scout

Membership

Cub Scouting members join a Cub Scout pack.  Typically, the pack is split into dens of six to eight boys, but Pack 247 is run as a single multi-grade den.  The “ranks” in Cub Scouts are: Tiger Cubs (first-graders), Wolf Cub Scouts (second graders), Bear Cub Scouts (third graders), and Webelos Scouts (fourth and fifth graders).

You can find the Cub Scout Application here.

Structure

Like other phases of the Scouting program, a Cub Scout pack belongs to an organization with interests similar to those of the BSA. Temple Reyim is one such organization that 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.

Costs

Membership fees for Pack 247 is $85 payable to “Pack 247”.  This includes most, but not all regular activities, the cub scout book for each rank, the hat, handkerchief, and slider.  The Cub Scout will also receive a Boys Life subscription for the year. Some activities during the year will have an additional cost.

Advancement in Rank

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.  In Pack 247 we leave it up to the parent to determine whether their child has reached the requirements of each rank.  Typically the boys own belt loops and pins during the year and their final rank badge at the end of the year.  Badges, belt loops, and pins are awarded during the two Court of Honor ceremonies - one at the half-way point and the other at the end of the school year.

Bobcat - The Bobcat rank is for all boys who join Cub Scouting.

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 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.

Cub Scout Academics and Sports

The Cub Scout Academics and Sports program provides the opportunity for boys to increase scholarship skills, develop sportsmanship, and have fun. Participation in the program allows boys to be recognized for physical fitness and talent-building activities.  We encourage parents to choose between 2-5 to achieve before the half-way mark of the year and another 2-5 for the final Court of Honor.

Overnights

We typically have four overnights throughout the year.  The first one is in a cabin at one of the local Boy Scout camp grounds and the last one is tent camping at a different Scout camp ground.  The other two overnights can vary from the Paw Sox overnight (ball game and camping on the field), Museum of Science overnight (all scouts), or a Battle Ship overnight.

Safety

The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members. To maintain such an environment, the BSA developed numerous procedural and leadership selection policies and provides parents and leaders with resources for the Cub Scout program.  We ask that all parents involved with Pack 247 take the Youth Protection training at the MyScouting site.  We also ask that each parent fill out a CORI form.

Uniforms

In order to reinforce the ideal of Scouting and to separate the pack events from other activities, boys are asked to wear their uniform for all pack related events.  This includes:
  • Shirt (Blue for Tiger, Wolf, & Bear; Blue or Tan for Webelos)
    • Knox Trail Council Badge
    • 247 Number Badges (white lettering on red)
    • Boy Scouts Emblem
    • do not get den numbers
  • Hat (for your cub’s rank)
  • Handkerchief and Slider (for your cub’s rank)
  • Pants & Belt (optional - the uniform part - pants in general are still required)
The pack supplies the hat, handkershief and slide.  You can purchase the uniform (shirt and optional pants) and badges from a number of BSA stores.  The staff at these stores are generally very knowledgeable and can assist you with placement of patches (get the BadgeMagic instead of sewing) or you can following the instructions on the BSA Insignia Guide. The full list in MA can be found at this site, but we recommend one of the following:

New England Scout Shop (at BSA Camp Sayre)            New England Scout Shop
411 Unquity Road 23 Turnpike Road (Route 9)
Milton, MA 02186 Southborough, MA 01772
617-361-0315 508-229-2396


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.

Colors

The Cub Scout 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.

Bobcat Badge Requirements

Cub Scout Motto
Do Your Best

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.

The Meaning of Webelos
WE'll BE LOyal Scouts

Cub Scout Salute

The 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.

The Cub Scout Sign
(note it is a “peace” sign, not together)



 

Cub Scout Handshake

Child Protection Exercises
How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent ’s Guide (starting at pg 14)