Parent Orientation Guide

Your Son, Cub Scouting, and You
As a parent, you want your son to grow up to be a person of worth, who is a self-reliant, dependable, and caring individual. As your son moves from Tiger Cubs to Cub Scouting, you will find that Scouting has these same goals in mind for him. Since 1910, Cub Scouting has been waving lifetime values into fun and educational activities designed to assist parents in strengthening character, developing good citizenship, enhancing physical fitness, and building self-esteem and ethical values in youth.
Imagine a program that can helop your son learn, grown, and mature while he is having fun. These are activities in which you and he can participate together with the rest of the family and get to know each other even better. This is exactly what Scouting is. Every activity gives you and your son the chance to discover and share together.
What does your son learn in Scouting? Well, it is a lot more tha crafts, games, and outdoor skills. All of the Cub Scout programs in which you and your son will participate are carefully designed to teach your son something he will use throughout his life. Every activity is especially designed for your son's age, development, and personal needs. Here are just a few of the things your son will gain through Cub Scouting:
      A feeling of belonging to a positive and fun group of boys and caring adults
      New social skills that will help him get along with others
      New mental skills, from reading and writing to planning and organizing
      A greater understanding of other people and the world around him
      A system of values that will help him grow and make good decisions
      A concern and caring for people, and even opportunities to help others
      Self-confidence and stronger self-esteem
In a society where your son is often taught that winning is everything, Cub Scouting teaches him to "do his best" and be helpful to others, as expressed in the Cub Scout Promise. These values help your son make good decisions throughout his lifetime and give him confidence as he becomes an adult leader of tomorrow.
With all the negative influences in today's society, Scouting provides your son with a positive peer groups and a program that is fun and adventurous and helps him "be prepared" to shape his own future. And the best thing about it all is that you do, learn, and experience the program along with your son, making it all the more special and valuable through your involvement in Scouting with him!

How Cub Scouting Works
Scouting Is Family Oriented
      Activities are intended for the whole family.
      You work with your son on his various award requirements.
      Many skills he will learn are family oriented.
The Cub Scout Den
      Your boy is a member of a Cub Scout den.
      The den meets once a week, except for the first-grade Tiger Cubs, who may meet less frequently
      The den is led by a den leader (usually a parent). In Tiger Cubs, each family takes turns hosting the meetings.
      The den leader is usually assisted by an assistant den leader (usually another parent), a den chief (an older Boy Scout), and a denner (a Cub Scout from the den elected by other den members).
      Den meetings have games, crafts, songs, ceremonies, and lots of fun.
The Cub Scout Pack
      Your boy is a member of a Cub Scout Pack.
      The Pack meets once a month. All Cub Scout families attend.
      The monthly Pack meeting is led by the Cubmaster.
      The Pack meeting is the climax of the month's den meetings and activities.
      Pack meetings have games, skits, stunts, songs, ceremonies, and presentations of badges that the boys earned that month.
The Pack Committee
      The Pack is run by the Pack Committee of volunteer parents.
      The Pack Committee is made up of den leaders and assistants, Webelos leaders and assistants, and the Cubmaster and assistants, as well as two to five volunteer parent Committee members. Most of the leaders are parents of boys in the Pack.
      The Committee meets once a month.
      The Committee is led by the Committee Chair.
      The Committee plans den and Pack meetings around the monthly theme.
      The Committee selects leaders, performs recordkeeping, manages Pack finances, orders badges, maintains Pack equipment, helps train leaders, and recognizes leaders.
Your Chartering Organization
      The Pack is owned by a chartering organization.
      Chartered organizations include schools, parent associations, religious organizations, service clubs, and other groups interested in youth. Pack 71's chartered organization is Solomon's United Church of Christ, Macungie.
      The chartered organization approves leaders, provides a meeting place, and operates the Pack within the guidelines and policies of the chartered organization and the Boy Scouts of America.
      The chartered organization selects a chartered organization representative who serves as a liasion between the Pack and the organization.

The Advancement Plan
The responsibility for a boy's earning of awards in Cub Scouting lies with the family and not with the Pack. Some advancement requirements are done at den meetings, but most are completed with you. You can sign off his requirements when you and your son feel that he has done his best. As a result, the awards he earns raise his self-esteem and confidence.
You can be a part of it by participating in the Cub Scout program with him. The rank awards he earns are:
      Tiger (First Graders): Tiger Cubs is for first graders and their adult partners. Tigers work out of a handbook that will teach them to Search, Discover, and Share!
      Bobcat (Earned by all new Cub Scouts, regardless of grade): All boys, regardless of age, earn the Bobcat badge first by learning the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack, the handshake, the salute, the sign, the motto, and the meaning of Webelos. After receiving the Bobcat badge, the boy works on requirements based on his age or grade.
      Wolf (Second Graders): A Cub Scout who has completed first grade (or is age 8) works on 12 achievements to earn the Wolf badge. Each achievement is designed to teach simple skills and initiate family discussions on values, drug awareness, health, and so on.
      Bear (Third Graders): A Cub Scout who has completed second grade (or is age 9) completes 12 of 24 achievements to earn the Bear badge.
      Arrow Points: After he earns his Wolf or Bear badge, a boy may work on electives in different interest areas until he is old enough to begin work on the next rank. For every 10 electives a boy completes, he earns an Arrow Point. A boy may earn as many Arrow Points as he wishes. Parents help boys learn more complicated life skills and values.
      Webelos (Fourth and Fifth Graders): When a Cub Scout has completed the third grade (or becomes 10 years old), he tranfers to a Webelos den, led by an adult Webelos leader. The boy works on requirements for the Webelos badge, 20 activity badges, and the Arrow of Light award (the highest award in Cub Scouting), which prepares him for Boy Scouting.
      Boy Scouts: When a boy earns the Arrow of Light, reaches 11 years of age, or completes the fifth grade, he may graduate from Cub Scouting into Boy Scouting at an impressive graduation ceremony. We aim to graduate every Cub Scout into Boy Scouting. Generally, your son will be prepared to join a Boy Scout troop in February or March of his fifth grade year.

Cub Scout Special Activities
      Good Turn: This is a Pack service project to benefit the community, such as a park clean-up, food bank collection, or tree planting.
      Pinewood Derby: Parent and son work together to build a gravity-powered miniature race car from a special kit. Most Packs conduct the derby races annually. Pack 71 annually alternates the Pinewood Derby, a Space Derby, and a Raingutter Regatta.
      Blue and Gold Banquet: This is a birthday party for your Cub Scout Pack and is usually held in February. Most often, it is a pot-luck dinner. A special program or entertainment is customary.
      Cub Scout Day Camp: Day Camp is an exciting summertime activity that includes archery, BB guns, crafts, games, sports, songs, and skits. This week-long program is usually held at a local park. Cub Scout Day Camp is an excellent way to introduce youth to the outdoors and teach them new skills. It also helps strengthen the Pack's summer program.
      Cub Scout Resident Camp: This three-day, two-night program is held at Akelaland, Minsi Trail Council's Scout reservation. This is resident camp for Cub Scouts and accompanying parent or guardian. Program activities include swimming, outdoor cooking, nature, crafts, Scouting skills, and much more. Cubs will be placed in dens according to their age, participating in age-appropriate actvities that relate to their next rank.
      Boys' Life Magazine: This magazine for boys and adults has interesting feature on Scouting, sports, hobbies, magic, science, and U.S. history. There are also jokes, comics, and short stories. The price is one-half of the regular cover price per year for members.

What You Should Do Now to Get Started in Cub Scouting
      Carefully review this Parent Orientation Guide and the other information on this Web site so you know what Cub SCouting is all about and how you and your son can get the most out of it.
      Fill out a Parent Talent Survey form and turn it in to your den leader or Cubmaster so you can share your knowledge, your experience, and your skills with the boys in your son's den and with the Pack.
      Consider becoming a Cub Scout leader for your son's den. Your son's experience in Cub Scouting depends on your involvement. Details on volunteering are in the following sections of this page.
      Purchase a Cub Scout handbook for your son's rank now and begin doing the activities in it with your son, especially those related to the outdoors.
      Find out what activities our Pack is doing in the next few months, and put them on your calendar so you can participate. Check the Pack newsletter page for more information on what Pack 71 has planned!
      Scouting is more fun with friends! Every boy can join Cub Scouts at any time, not just during the summer or early fall. Talk to other parents and boys, and have them join your son's Cub Scout Pack to make Cub Scouting even more fun.
      Purchase a Cub Scout shirt for his rank. He'll be able to proudly display his badges and other achievements, and it is the basic element of the Cub Scout uniform. Be sure to get a size large enough to last several years as your son grows.

Helping Your Son's Pack
How Can You Help?
Scouting operates through volunteer leadership. Volunteer Cub Scout leaders are an example of Scouting's principle of service to others. Naturally, parents are a primary source of leaders in the Scouting program. You volunteer notonly to serve Scouting, but also to serve your son and his friends, and to have the chance to be a positive influence on the youth in your community.

What Do You Receive in Return?
Being a leader in fun, challenging, and rewarding. Leaders find that their experiences help them to become better parents. The following are some of the many dividends that will enrich your life as you dedicate your time, talent, and enthusiasm to Scouting:
      Fund and fellowship with other families, sharing your pride in the boys' accomplishments.
      The privilege of helping to enrich and strengthen families.
      A chance to help boys learn good citizenship and to help shape them into men who have strength of character and are sensitive to the needs of others.
      The opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of boys as they grow strong in mind and body.
      A code to live by that will set a worthwhile example for both boys and adults.
      The satisfaction of being a member of a worldwide movement, and pride in being publicly identified as a part of this organization—wearing the Scout uniform is a visible means of showing you believe in and stand up for the ideals and objectives of the Boy Scouts of America.

Volunteer positions in the Pack are held by adults like you, who work directly with the boys and organize the activities in which they participate.

Parent Volunteer Positions in the Pack
      Den Leader: Plans and leads the weekly den meetings and participates in monthly Pack meetings. Attends the monthly Pack leaders' meetings and Roundtable meetings.
      Cubmaster: Helps plan and carry out the Pack program with the help of the Pack Committee. Emcees monthly Pack meetings and attends monthly Pack leaders' meetings and Roundtable meetings.
      Committee Chair: Presides at all Pack leader meetings. Helps recruit adult leaders. Also attends monthly Pack meetings and Roundtable meetings.
      Secretary/Treasurer: Keeps all records for the Pack, including Pack bank account, financial records, and so on. Attends monthly Pack meetings and Pack Committee meetings.
      Advancement Coordinator: Maintains advancement records. Orders and obtains all badges and insignia. Attends monthly Pack meetings and Pack Committee meetings.
      Parent Helpers: Each year the Pack will undertake several short-term projects. Parents and other volunteers are needed for activities such as Pack fundraisers (popcorn sale, pancake breakfast, or similar events), Scouting for Food, Pack Good Turn, Pinewood Derby, Blue & Gold banquet, Friends of Scouting, Pack graduation, and day camp. These jobs are of short duration and still enable all families to assist with Pack responsibilities.

Parent Volunteers—You Are Not Alone
      Tiger Cub and Cub Scout Program Helps, along with the Webelos Leader Guide contain meeting plans for dens and Packs and show you how to do crafts and games. All leaders working with Tiger Cubs or Cubs Scouts receive Program Helps in Scouting magazine.
      Most Packs have a Pack library that contains the leader books you need and Fast Start training videotapes and viewer guides designed to help you do your job.
      Monthly Roundtable meetings for all adult Cub Scout volunteers are held. Participants receive help with crafts, games, skits, and songs for use at den and Pack meetings. It is a great place to ask questions and share ideas.
      Your District volunteer crew, called the District Committee, performs quality District-wide programs in which youth can participate.
      Your District has another volunteer crew, call the Commissioner staff. Individuals on the staff serve as the sales and service crew. They check on the health of your Pack and are a communications link between your Pack and the Scouting organization.
      Your District has basic leader training available. All leaders need training! The District will also help you with Fast Start training.
      East District is served by a full-time District Executive.
      Staff members at the local council service center can help or put you in touch with someone who can help you succeed.
      For those who connect to the Internet, you might enjoy visiting the national Boy Scouts of America Web site.

Training for the New Cub Scout Volunteer
      Cub Scout Leader Fast Start Training: Fast Start Training is a brief introduction to the Cub Scouting program that will equip you with the basic skills and information that you will need as a new Cub Scout leader. Fast Start Training is a VHS video tape with 20-minute segments for the Cubmaster, den leaders, Webelos den leader, basic Pack organization, and Tiger den leaders. Your Pack Committee has a copy of their own that you may borrow, or copies are available for check-out from the Scout Service Center. Fast Start Training sessions may be offered by your District. Check with your District Cub Scout Training Chair for dates and locations.
      Cub Scout Leader Basic Training (4-1/2 hours): The essential training course for all Cub Scout leaders. Basic Training covers the topics of den and Pack meeting planning, Pack finance and management, and special activity planning. The training includes special break-out sessions for each leader's position. All Cub Scout leaders should attend Basic Training to provide a quality program to Cub Scouts in your Pack.
      Webelos Leader Outdoor Training: This is a special supplemental training session for den leaders of 4th- and 5th-grade Webelos dens. It will give you the basic skills needed to conduct an outdoor program with your older Cub Scouts.
      Pow Wow: Pow Wow is an all-day training opportunity that covers items such as crafts, skits, puppets, workshops, displays, demonstrations, games, Blue & Gold banquets, Pack administration, Webelos Scout activities, Cub Scout sports, special Pack activities, and other Cub Scout resources. Pow Wows are often held in late fall or mid spring.
      Monthly Roundtables: Supplemental training offered each month for all Cub Scout leaders to provide additional den and Pack meeting ideas. New Cub Scout leaders will find a wealth of information and activities to use with the Cub Scouts in the Pack. This is a fun-filled evening!