Parent Handbook

Cub Scout Pack 160

Oak Hill, VA

Powhatan District

National Capital Area Council

September 2005

Welcome to Cub Scouts and Pack 160.  Our pack is made up of approximately 90-100 boys and their families, mostly from Chantilly Highlands and Franklin Farm and attending Oak Hill Elementary School.

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 web site (www.boyscouts.org) has an introduction called “What is Cub Scouting?” that has some useful information on the Cub Scouting program.

Our goal is to provide a year round scouting program that will be fun for your son, as well as being a learning and growing experience.  Everything we do, at each level of the Cub Scout program, is to prepare you son for advancement to the next level of scouting. 

 In Pack 160 we believe that Cub Scouting is fun, but it is fun with a purpose.  Each month in addition to Pack and Den meetings, we sponsor a number of special activities that center around the family and build new skills for your son.  Each year we have hikes, family picnics, visits to historical sites or museums, service projects that help others in our school or community and fun outings, like Ice Skating and Snow Tubing.  We also sponsor traditional scouting events such as the Blue & Gold Banquet and Pinewood Derby.  All members of the pack are included in all Pack activities as appropriate for their age group.  Older scouts may also go on weekend camping trips and a one-week overnight camp in the summer.

 It is a lot of fun!  In addition, it is work too.  To keep a program as successful as Pack 160’s going, we depend on the support and participation of all families in the Pack.  Everyone who works on Pack activities does so strictly on a volunteer basis.  The Pack is run by uniformed leaders (Cubmaster and Den Leaders) and Committee members, who provide a variety of services.

 We ask that every family volunteer for the Pack.  Support can be in the form of organizing an event, assisting at a function, becoming a Den Leader or helping with the Committee.  A list of positions is available.

 Here is some information to help you understand how Pack 160 practices Cub Scouting.  We follow the rules and policies set by the national organization, Internet links to national sites can explain much of this.  There is also information provided below that is specific to our pack. (See www.pack160oakhill.com for more info)

 Organization

 Cub Scout Pack 160 is made up of first through fifth grade boys, mostly from Oak Hill Elementary School.  Boys meet in small groups (dens) of 5 – 10 boys.  Each den has an adult leader(s) and consists of boys in the same grade.  First graders are Tiger Cubs, second graders are Wolf Cubs, third graders are Bear Cubs, and fourth and fifth graders are Webelos. 

 Pack 160, together with about 60 other Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops in the greater Herndon/Reston area make up the Powhatan District.  The Powhatan District is one of 28 districts of the National Capital Area Council, the largest in the US.  (www.boyscouts-ncac.org)

 Each Cub Scout pack is sponsored by a “chartering” organization.  Our chartering organization is the Optimist Club of Reston. (www.restonoptimist.org).  The chartered organization provides a representative who is the liaison between the pack and the organization. 

 The pack is run by the Pack Committee, which is headed by the Committee Chairman.  In Pack 160, all adult leaders are committee members.  The 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 Pack Program and reports to the Committee.  The Cubmaster is not only the MC for the meetings, but plays a major organizational role.  The boys see the Cubmaster as an authority figure.

 The Den Leaders are the ones who do the majority of the work with the boys and who have the most fun.  Pack 160 expects all adult leaders be trained for the position they hold.  Den Leaders plan and organize den meetings, keep track of the boys’ advancements and attend leaders meetings (Committee meetings). 

 Parents play an important role in the pack.  The leaders will do their best to provide a quality program, but without parental involvement, the program would not happen.  We depend on parents to help provide the good program we have.  We ask every parent to help the pack in some capacity on both the den and pack level.  There are no secrets in Cub Scouts; parents are welcome in any organizational meetings of the pack, district or council.

 Meetings

 Den meetings:  Most dens meet at least twice a month (in addition to the pack meeting).  At least two adults are required to be present at the den meetings at all times.  In Pack 160, each den has at least one designated den leader, plus an assistant.  In some dens, the parents take turns in organizing the weekly den meetings.  Class A uniforms are required for most den meetings.

 Pack meetings:  Pack meetings are for all boys of Pack 160 and a parent.  These normally take place in the cafeteria at Oak Hill Elementary School at 7:00 pm.   We expect a parent or the whole family to attend the pack meeting with your scout.  Please arrive early so the meeting can start on time.  There are many pack activities throughout the course of the year:  family campouts, field trips, service projects, etc.  In January the boys will make small wooden racecars and compete in the Pinewood Derby.  We generally plan to have at least one “outing” per month.  Class A uniforms are required for most pack meetings.  Class B (Pack T-Shirt) uniforms are required for most outings.

 Leader meetings: (sometimes also called Committee Meetings)  Leaders of Pack 160 discuss organizational matters, future events and exchange ideas.  All parents are welcome.  These meetings are generally held the first Tuesday of the month in the Oak Hill Little Theater.

 Roundtables:  A forum for Cub Scout idea exchange and announcements for leaders of the whole district.  Leaders are encouraged to attend roundtables.  Parents are also welcome.  These meetings are held the second Thursday of the month at 8:00 pm at the LDS Church on Centreville Road.

 Ranks and Advancements

 Boys work their way through Cub Scouts doing activities that are fun and challenging.  The activities are carefully 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

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”.

 Boys enter Cub Scouts based on their grade level.  First grade boys enter the Tiger Cub Program.  Tiger Cubs introduce boys and their adult partners to the excitement of Cub Scouting as they learn together.  The Tiger Cub program is meant to be simple and fun.   Second grade begins Wolf scouts, third grade is Bear scouts and fourth and fifth grade is Webelos.  All scouts starting at the end of first grade must earn the Bobcat badge before earning the other ranks.  Wolf and Bear scouts can also earn Arrow Points for achievements earned beyond their rank.  Each level works toward preparing the scout to move on to Boy Scouts.  Webelo scouts finish their Cub Scouting advancement be earning the Arrow of Light.  The Arrow of Light is the highest rank in Cub Scouts and is the only Cub Scout badge that may be worn on a Boy Scout uniform.

 There are various other awards such as the Cub Scout World Conservation Award and religious awards for various faiths.  Contact your den leader if you would like to obtain more information on these awards.

 Paperwork, Fees, Uniforms

 Fees:

Fees cover Boy Scouts of America registration fees plus support of the Pack throughout the year (advancement, patches, activities, special events, etc.).  If payment is a problem for your family, please be aware that assistance is available.

• Each Tiger (rising 1^st grader), Wolf (rising 2^nd grade), Bear (rising 3^rd), or Webelo (rising 4^th or 5^th) registered with Pack 160 pays $50;

• For Tigers, the Pack provides the Tiger program book (other age levels purchase their own books)

• If additional scouts from the same family are registered, $5 is deducted from the registration fee of the scouts beyond the first

In addition, Boys Life magazine (with three age-range levels; they will send you the one appropriate for your boy’s age) is $12.00 for a yearly subscription.  Subscription is indicated on the scout’s registration form and should be included in the fees you pay to Pack 160 if you wish your son to receive this excellent magazine.  (note: your first issue should arrive by January)

Fundraisers:  Registration covers only a portion of the costs involved in running a Cub Scout Pack.  Pack 160 holds two fundraisers per year, White House Christmas Ornament Sales in the fall and Mulch Sales in the spring.  In addition, the Friends of Scouting Program on behalf of the National Capital Area Council raises funds to support council wide activities (training for leaders and scouts, the Goshen Scout Reservation, Camp Snyder, etc.)  When asked, please consider contributing to either the Friends of Scouting program or designating the Boy Scouts as a recipient during the United Way Campaign.

Uniforms:  Cub scouts have two uniforms – Class A and Class B.  Class A uniforms consist of the blue Cub Scout shirt for Tiger, Wolf and Bear and the tan Boy Scout shirt for Webelo scouts.  Each scout also wears the neckerchief that is specific for his level.  Neckerchief slides are provided by the pack to each new scout.  Patches needed to complete the uniform are the council shoulder patch, World Scouting emblem, red unit numeral (can be purchased from the pack) and appropriate den number (see den leader).  Caps are optional and are specific for each level.  The Class B uniform is the pack t-shirt worn on some outings and sold at Pack meetings.

Uniforms can be purchased at the scout store at the Marriott Scout Service Center in Bethesda, Ryder’s Hobby at the corner of Dranesville Road and Route 7, Sunny’s Surplus in Manassas and Casual Adventure in Arlington.  The pack does occasionally have used uniforms for exchange to those that need them.  Anyone having outgrown uniforms are welcome to donate them to this exchange.

The pack t-shirt (Class B) uniform is available for sale at registration and the first couple pack meetings.  Contact the Committee Chair or check the volunteer listing for further information.

Handbooks:  Each parent needs to purchase their son’s handbook except for Tigers. The pack provides the Tiger Handbook.  There are different handbooks for Wolf, Bear and Webelo.  We recommend that parents read the books for their child’s age group cover-to-cover and follow their boy’s progress carefully.  Every handbook has a parent guide at the beginning that is required reading to review with your scouts. 

Recruiting:  If your son has a friend interested in Cub Scouts, bring him to any pack or den meeting.  Don’t wait for the next year’s Join Scouting Night.  Any Cub who gets a friend to join earns a recruiter patch that is worn below the right pocket.

Other Notes

No Cub Scout is to be left at any Pack meeting or Pack event without parental supervision.

There must be at least two adults present at ALL meetings or outings.

Siblings are invited to attend Pack meetings and most Pack functions.

Den meetings are for Scouts (and parents) only; please do not bring siblings to Den meetings

Be prompt for meetings and outings.  Please be courteous to Den Leaders by picking scouts up on time after meetings.