Pack 141 Parents Manual

Den Leader Brian O'Coin was kind enough to create this document for both new and experienced scout parents alike. 

Click here to view the document in MS Word format.

1. What is Cub Scouting?

The Boy Scouts of America incorporated February 8, 1910, and was chartered by Congress in June 1916. The purpose of Boy Scouts is to provide for boys and young adults an effective educational program designed to build desirable qualities of character; to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship; and to develop personal fitness. Cub Scouting was developed to provide the same type of program for boys who are in first grade through fifth grade.

Parents, leaders, and organizations work together to achieve the following:

v   Influence the development of character and encourage spiritual growth.

v   Develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship.

v   Encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body.

v   Improve understanding within the family.

v   Strengthen the ability to get along with other boys and respect other people.

v   Foster a sense of personal achievement by developing new interests and skills.

v   Show how to be helpful and do one’s best.

v   Provide fun and exciting new things to do.

v   Prepare them to become Boy Scouts.

Cub Scouting is a home and neighborhood centered program. It needs family involvement to keep the Scout interested and the Pack productive. It provides recognition of each Scout’s accomplishments through advancements. It recognizes the effectiveness of small groups and uses a Den structure to bring the Scouting program to life. Although small groups are effective, Every Cub Scout across the United States uses the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack, and the Cub Scout sign, handshake, motto, and salute. This unifies us and is further enhanced by the Cub Scout uniforms that each Scout wears.

TIGER CUBS – Motto: Search, Discover, Share

Tiger Cubs, BSA, is especially designed for boys in First Grade or 7 years old. Each boy participates with a parent/adult partner(s) in family-oriented activities. This program allows the team (boy & partner) to explore the world of Scouting, and, gives them the opportunity to learn about each other and their world. Tiger Cubs start by earning their Bobcat Badge followed by Tiger Cub belt totem. The boys then work with their adult partner, and their Den on five Tiger Cub achievements. Each achievement has three parts. The boys earn beads for completing the various activities to place on their belt totem. Completing a “Family” activity earns a white bead, a “Den” activity earns an orange bead, and a “Go See It” activity earns a black bead. When the boys have completed the required achievements, they are presented their Tiger Cub Badge, which they attach to the back of their belt totem. Before the boys can wear their Tiger Cub Badge on their Cub Scout uniform, they must earn their Bobcat Badge. After earning their Tiger Cub Badge, the boys have an opportunity to work on electives to earn Tiger Track Beads (yellow), which he also adds to his belt totem. Parents sign off on these requirements.  

CUB SCOUTS – Motto: Do Your Best

BOBCAT

All boys, from First to Fifth grade, earn the Bobcat badge first by learning the Cub Scout Promise, Law of the Pack, handshake, salute, motto, and the meaning of “Webelos.” After receiving the Bobcat badge, the boy then works on requirements based on his grade or age.

WOLF

A Cub Scout who is in second grade or is 8 years old works on 12 achievements to earn the Wolf badge. Then he has the opportunity to work on electives to earn Arrow Points. When ten electives are completed the Scout has earned his Gold Arrow Point. After the Gold Arrow Point, every ten electives completed earn a Silver Arrow Point. Parents sign off on these requirements.

BEAR

A Cub Scout who is in third grade or is 9 years old completes 12 of 24 achievements to earn the Bear badge. Then he has the opportunity to work on electives to earn Arrow Points. At the Bear level, the Scout can use achievements not used for the Bear badge towards Arrow Points. When ten electives are completed the Scout has earned his Gold Arrow Point. After the Gold Arrow Point, every ten electives completed earn a Silver Arrow point. Parents sign off on these requirements.

WEBELOS SCOUTS

Webelos I

A Cub Scout, who is in fourth grade or is 10 years old, transfers to a Webelos Den. The Scout works on requirements for the Webelos Badge, and starts on the 20 activity pins. Leaders sign off on these requirements.

Webelos II

A Cub Scout, who is in fifth grade or is 11 years old, continues to work on the 20 activity pins, and the Arrow of Light Award. The Arrow of Light Award is the highest award in Cub Scouting. This year’s activities prepare him for Boy

Scouting. Leaders sign off on these requirements.

BOY SCOUTING

When a boy earns the Arrow of Light or reaches 11 years of age or completes the fifth grade, he may graduate from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting at our impressive graduation ceremony.

2. Who or What is Pack 141

Pack 141, chartered by Rutland Congregational Church, is part of the Quinsigamond District of the Mohegan Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Our goal is to present a quality program that encourages each Scout to continue on to Boy Scouting, and, motivates each parent to become a part of

Scouting. Although Rutland Congregational Church charters Pack 141, it is not required that you are a member of Rutland Congregational Church.

Registration & Dues:

All new scouts must be registered by their parents or guardian.  It is typical to start at the Tiger Level (1st Grade), but boys are welcome at any age from 1st through 5th grade.   After a parent has paid the first years registration fee of  $27 which includes Insurance and Boys Life Magazine, all subsequent years through 5th grade are paid annually by the Pack. 

Dues are $20 per year for Tigers and  $35 per year for all other age groups.  Dues are payable upon registration  

Other Expenses:

In addition to initial registration and Boys Life costs, there are other expenses to be expected during the course of the year.  The Pack pays many costs, but some must be passed on to the families. The money to run the Pack comes from dues and fund-raisers.  Dues of $20 or $35 per year cover only about 25% of the total.   This illustrates the importance of the dues and the fund-raisers.

You can expect the following additional costs during the year:

·       Uniforms:  The cost will vary depending on where the shirts are purchased. The first Cub or Webelos uniform will cost between  $40 and $50.  About $30 for the shirt and $10-$15 for accessories like belt, hat (optional) neckerchief slider and patches.  Neckerchiefs, award pins and badges are provided by the pack. It is not necessary to buy pants.  Solid color dark pants are OK.  There were some retired uniforms available at one time, but supplies have dwindled dramatically.  If you have any out-grown uniforms to donate to the Pack, it would be greatly appreciated.   Contact the Cubmaster, or Committee.

·       Trips: The Pack arranges for two major trips each year: One for Tigers and Wolves (1^st and 2nd Graders) and one for Bears and Webelos (Grades 3-5.) Costs vary.  An example Bear/Webelos trip might consist of an overnight on the Battleship Massachusetts.  The cost for that trip was $55 per person of which a significant portion could be earned via popcorn sales.  The intent of the Tiger/Wolf trip is to keep the cost as low as possible.

·       Food: You will be asked to donate food items for the Christmas boxes which are distributed to needy in Rutland.

·       Camping:  Camping expenses (Food, equipment) are the responsibility of the family.

Note: “Scout Bucks” are earned by participation in the Popcorn sale. This money can be used towards trips, dues or other Scouting related expenses.   Confidential assistance with trips and dues is also available to Scouts who participate in the fund-raisers.

Pack Meetings

Our Pack Meetings are generally held on the last Friday of the month at 7:00 PM in Naquag Elementary School Gymnasium. Exceptions to this rule are found on the Pack 141 Calendar. The Pack Meetings include openings, skits and closings presented by different Dens. The boys’ hard work will be recognized by our Cub Master’s Advancement ceremonies.  Parents are also informed on Scouting activities. The families of Pack 141 Scouts are encouraged to come to share in the excitement of advancements and hear Pack news.

Pack Committee Meetings

The Pack Committee meetings are generally the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00. All parents of Pack 141 Scouts are considered members of the Pack Committee and are urged to join the leadership of the Pack Committee in planning Pack activities.

Den Leader Meetings

The Den Leader meetings are generally the first Wednesday of the month at 7:30. All parents of Pack 141 Scouts are urged to join in planning Pack activities.

Pack Web Page

You can learn more about Cub Scouting and Pack 141 by visiting our web page.  The web site is located at: www.rutlandpack141.org

3. Den, Pack, Council Activities

DEN MEETINGS

Den meetings are generally held once a week. Den meetings are usually held at the home of the den leader or another designated area such as the firehouse or library. Den meeting dates, times, and locations are subject to the Den leaders program. Den leaders organize the Den meetings for the Cub Scouts. You will be meeting for approximately 4 hours a month; your Den leader will set the day and time for your meetings. You will be expected to arrive on time, in uniform, be ready to participate, and ready to have FUN! A Cub Scout Den can be organized in many ways, but all Dens must have TWO-DEEP Den leadership. This means that every Den has to have two adults/parents that serve as Den leaders, one of the leaders must be fully trained. If you are joining an existing Den this leadership is usually already set up, but leaders may still be needed as lives and situations change. If there is a need for a new Den, due to the number of boys joining a particular rank, the Pack will ask the new families to become leaders. Your Den leaders should hold a parent meeting to discuss the way that their Den works and let you know when the meetings will be. It is important for everyone in the Den to work together; Den leaders need the help of their Den families to keep the Den working smoothly as a group.

PACK ACTIVITIES

POPCORN FUNDRAISER (September/October)

This is a nation-wide Cub Scouting event. The traditional Trails End Popcorn

Sale promotion is held in the fall. Sales start at the end of September and continue for approximately four to six weeks. The popcorn is ready for distribution by the Scouts in late November/early December. The Scouts earn patches and prizes for themselves, as well as funds for the Pack and Council. The product is popular and well received, and many people just can’t say “No” to a neighborhood boy looking sharp in his Cub Scout Uniform.  

CAKE AUCTION (November) The cake auction is our second fundraising event. Each Scout is asked to bring a cake and lots of friends and relatives to the Pack Meeting. Once the auction begins be very careful of your body motions! Our auctioneer is a real professional who knows how to interpret every little twitch, err, bid. We encourage the Scouts and fathers, uncles, older brothers to do the baking as possible. All proceeds go to the Pack Campership fund and special Pack purchases. One past auction paid for a new Pinewood Derby track.  The Campership fund provides money for kids who wouldn’t be able to attend camp due to financial need.

GIFT BOX (December)

At our December Pack meeting every scout brings an item that would be part of a Christmas dinner. These go in a gift box for the local needy as well as a box for the veterans’ home.

BLUE AND GOLD BANQUET (February)

This event celebrates the birthday of Scouting in the United States. The Pack has a banquet instead of a regular February Pack meeting and it is scheduled on a weekend. The Banquet opens with a flag ceremony, and then we break to eat dinner. Once dinner is finished, the Cubmaster continues with more skits and rank ceremonies. It is a special night that our scouts and their families look forward to.

PINEWOOD DERBY (March)

In March, our Pack holds our version of a wonderful Scouting tradition the Pinewood Derby. Once we start racing, we don’t stop until we have a first, second, and third place winner for each rank. Then we hold a race for siblings and parents. The car kits are subsidized by the Pack, and sold to scouts for $1.00. Scout with some help from his family makes the cars.  The Pack sponsors 1 or 2 workshops for the building of Pinewood cars, usually in January and February. The Derby is scheduled for a weekend in March. The cars are a sight to see anything from a hot dog to a VW bug to a chili pepper to a flying committee member. So come out and have a day of fun.

ARROW OF LIGHT (April)

This is the night when second year Webelos receive the highest rank as a Cub Scout and cross over to Boy Scouting. After a solemn ceremony (In the past boys have been presented with an eagle feather or an Apache Tear), they are welcomed to boy scouting by representatives from both Troop 141 and 306. 

CROSS-OVER CEREMONY/FAMILY PICNIC (June)

At this Pack meeting, the Pack recognizes the adults that have helped out the Pack over the past year. After lunch, the Crossover ceremony begins. A symbolic bridge crossing ceremony is held to hand out awards that the boys have earned, handbooks, and neckerchiefs for their new rank, as they cross over to their new rank.

SUMMER EVENTS

SUMMER CAMP (July)

Cub Scouts are eligible to attend Council sponsored day camp or weekend overnight camping with an adult partner. Webelos are encouraged to attend Webelos resident camp.

FAMILY BASEBALL GAME  (August)

Cub Scouts and their families are invited to join the pack in a trip to Worcester to see the Worcester Tornados play.

4. Making the Scouting Commitment

First, you (Tiger, Cub, Webelos Scout) must be ready to make the commitment to yourself. You should be ready to earn your rank and other awards that are made available to each Scout. You, the Scout, are the one who decides how far you will go each year. You have the opportunity to earn a rank badge (Tiger Cub, Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, & Webelos), arrow points (Wolf & Bear), activity pins (Webelos I & II), special Pack and Council activity patches, religious emblems, and belt loops/pins in the Sports and Academics program. You must work with your parents and then with your Den leaders to learn about the opportunities in Cub

Scouting and then be ready to DO YOUR BEST!

Second, you must make your commitment to your Den. You want to be a Cub Scout and join a Den; the Den needs your help and cooperation to be successful. The boy/Scout should be ready to attend meetings, this means knowing what you are expected to bring and be prepared to participate. Cub Scouts can attend Den meetings without their parents, but parent attendance at a meeting may be necessary to help with an activity. Your Den leaders will discuss this with you.

Third, you must make your commitment to Pack 141. You should be willing to attend the monthly Pack meetings and bring your parents. There will be various Pack activities throughout the year to attend and to support your Pack, Den, other Scouts and yourself.

5. Uniforming your Cub Scout

Now that you have decided to join Pack 141 and try to DO YOUR BEST, it is time to get started. Pack 141 requires all members to wear the Official Cub Scout Uniform at all Pack or Den Meetings, unless otherwise specified. A Scout must be uniformed from the “belt up” including belt, shirt and cap. “Lace –up” shoes or sneakers and blue jeans or dark-blue pants or shorts are acceptable. The required elements of the uniform are:

TIGER CUB RANK (FIRST GRADE)

Cub Scout Tiger Cub Cap – Blue with orange front panel and Tiger Cub badge logo Orange

Blue Cub Scout Uniform shirt (long or short sleeve) including these patches Mohegan Council shoulder patch World Scouting patch Den number Pack 141 patch(es)

Neckerchief – Tiger rank is orange and blue

Tiger Cub Scout Neckerchief Slide

Blue Cub Scout woven belt with Tiger Cub buckle

Optional:

Blue Cub Scout Uniform shorts or pants

Blue & Orange Tiger Cub Scout socks

WOLF RANK (SECOND GRADE)

Cub Scout Wolf Cap – Blue with yellow front panel and Wolf badge logo

Blue Cub Scout Uniform shirt (long or short sleeve) including these patches Mohegan Council shoulder patch World Scouting patch Den number Pack 141 patch(es)

Neckerchief – Wolf rank is yellow and blue

Cub Scout Neckerchief Slide

Blue Cub Scout woven belt with Cub Scout buckle

Optional:

Blue Cub Scout Uniform shorts or pants

Blue & Gold/Yellow Cub Scout socks

BEAR RANK (THIRD GRADE)

Cub Scout Bear Cap – Blue with light blue front panel and Bear badge logo

Blue Cub Scout Uniform shirt including these patches

Mohegan Council shoulder patch, World Scouting patch

Den number, Pack 141 patch(es)

Neckerchief – Bear rank is light blue and dark blue

Cub Scout Neckerchief Slide

Blue Cub Scout woven belt with Cub Scout Buckle

Optional:

Blue Cub Scout Uniform shorts or pants

Blue & Gold/Yellow Cub Scout socks

WEBELOS RANK (FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE)

At this point they go to the Tan Boy Scout uniform.

Webelos Scout Cap – Olive with plaid front panel and oval Webelos badge logo

Tan Boy Scout Uniform shirt with BLUE shoulder loops and these patches Mohegan Council shoulder patch, World Scouting patch, Den number or patrol, Pack 141 patch(es)

Neckerchief –plaid Webelos neckerchief

Webelos Neckerchief Slide

Blue Cub Scout woven belt with a Webelos Scout Buckle

Optional:

Olive Boy Scout Uniform shorts or pants

Olive and red Boy Scout socks

Later, you may also choose to purchase a Red Patch Vest (these are sometimes made as a den project), as a place to show the activity patches that you have earned. These activity patches may be worn one at a time on the right pocket of the Official Cub Scout Uniform.

Den leaders need to purchase an Official Boy Scout Uniform.

6. Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program

The Cub Scout Academics and Sports program is a supplemental enrichment program that complements the Cub Scout program. The Academics subjects and

Sports activities allow boys to learn new techniques, increase scholarship skills, and develop sportsmanship and HAVE FUN. Each activity has two levels of involvement: first the belt loops; and second, the pin. The belt loop has three specific requirements that must be completed. The pin can be worked on after the belt loop requirements have been completed. The pin has a variety of activities that can be chosen. Once the Scout has completed the activities, their parent reports it to their Den Leader. The Den Leader then reports the achievement to the Advancement Chairperson. The Scout will be recognized at the Pack Meeting for his accomplishment.

Academics – Art, Chess, Citizenship, Communicating, Computers, Geography, Heritages, Mathematics, Music, Science, Weather, and Wildlife Conservation.

Sport – Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bicycling, Bowling, Fishing, Golf, Gymnastics, Marbles, Physical Fitness, Skating, Skiing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Ultimate, and Volleyball.

Pack Committee Members and Den leaders

Area scouting stores