Cub Scout Pack
457
Parental Support (very important!)
Pack 457 was founded in
1963 and has a tradition of providing a quality
Cub Scouting program. Our program will flourish with parental support, or
wither away without it. Scouting is, almost uniquely, a family
organization.
Leaders and volunteers are required for a pack or den to function.
Occasionally, parents will be asked to sign up to support various
activities. The key is, the more volunteers we have, the less any one
person will need to do. Usually we need you to volunteer your time for an
activity or field trip; sometimes you may be asked to provide snacks or
craft materials for a den meeting. Volunteers are needed because the
leadership cannot do everything. Lack of parental involvement will
result in subsequent cancellation of activities or even meetings.
Tiger Cubs
The Tiger Cub program is an introduction to Scouting, which consists of
1st grade boys teamed with their parents. Tiger Cubs are affiliated with
Pack 457 to transition the boys to the Cub Scouting program, which lasts 3
1/2 years. Tiger cubs meet two to three times per month and are invited to
all pack activities during the year.
Tiger Cub groups operate on a system called "shared
leadership." Each Tiger Cub joins with a parent partner and forms a
team. There are no more than 9 teams in a Tiger Cub group. A Tiger Cub
coordinator facilitates a group gathering twice per month. A parent is
required to attend the meeting (you are half of the team). Siblings are
not permitted to attend the meeting, since they become a distraction to
the team. Each boy/adult team takes their turn in providing leadership
with help from the coordinator for the group gathering, which takes a
theme from a 'Big Idea' of the month. In this way, each boy has the
opportunity to serve in a leadership role with an adult partner one or two
times during his Tiger Cub experience. In April, the Tiger Cubs are
inducted into the pack with a "cross-over" ceremony. By May,
they will earn their first achievement rank - Bobcat.
The Tiger Cub uniform consists of an orange T-shirt.
Den Formation
Our pack is made up of dens, which consist of 2 leaders and no more
than 9 boys each. Dens will meet three weeks out of the month and
generally not conduct den meetings on the pack meeting week. Den meetings
usually last about 1 hour. The den leader will decide the day, time and
place of the den meeting. Field trips are optional and typically occur
once a month in accordance with the monthly activity. The dens will be
formed by grade level:
 | 2nd Grade - Wolves
| | 3rd Grade - Bears
| | 4th Grade - 1st Yr. Webelos
| | 5th Grade - 2nd Yr. Webelos |
We attempt to group boys in a den with friends, by neighborhood or by
school track.
Parents are encouraged but not required to attend den meetings.
Siblings are not permitted to attend the den meeting.
Uniform
A neat, complete uniform is REQUIRED for most pack activities
and all pack and den meetings and the boys are encouraged to wear
their uniform to school on the meeting days (this gives our Pack
visibility). This fosters a sense of pride and
belonging in the boys. The uniform consists of:
| a clean Cub Scout shirt with proper insignia patches;
| | an official Cub Scout neckerchief with tie slide;
| | dark solid color pants and socks without holes (blue jeans are
acceptable). |
The Cub Scout hat and brag vest are optional. Baseball and other hats
are not considered part of the official uniform. The uniform is to be
supplied at the parent's expense, as well as the proper Cub Scout
handbook. Only achievement awards necessary for advancement, but also
including arrow points for electives, will be provided by the pack. Sports
and academic belt loops, pins, etc. may be purchased by the parent, if so
desired.
The uniform is to be worn for all Scout-sponsored activities. Uniforms
are not to be worn for activities not sponsored by the Cub Scouting
organization. Consult with your den or pack leader if you have a question.
Behavior
Boys are expected to behave properly and respectfully at den and pack
meetings. A boy disobeying den rules will be sent home at the discretion
of the den leader. If this happens 3 times in a 3 month period the problem
will be taken before the Den Leader Coach, Cubmaster, and/or Committee
Chair. If the problem cannot be resolved, a special meeting of the pack
committee may be called. Boys absent 3 consecutive times for den or pack
meetings without prior arrangements may be dismissed from the pack. An
appeal may be made in writing to the pack committee for reinstatement to
the pack.
Den Visits
A new boy may visit a den for 2 meetings with the approval of the den
leader. After receiving the new boy's application, and approval by the
Cubmaster and Den Leader, the boy will be placed when an opening occurs.
Pack Leadership
The pack committee is the governing body of the pack. It consists of
volunteer adults who are registered with the Boy Scouts of America by the
pack. A list of members of the pack committee is available upon request.
Pack and den leaders will be required to attend a one-day training seminar
for their respective rank, obtain a uniform and must be present at
activities as required.
Pack Meetings
All dens meet together in a pack meeting held monthly from September
through May in the gym at Greenwood Elementary School (except December).
Families should attend these meetings with their son to participate in
activities and witness awards. Pack meetings begin at 7:00 PM on Thursday evening and will be held according to a published schedule. We attempt to
limit pack meetings to 1 hour and 15 minutes, however, the actual time
depends upon the activities planned for that night. Special events will
start at 6:00 P.M. in order to vacate the school as required before 9:00
P.M. Pack meetings may be changed at the discretion of the Cubmaster or
the Committee Chair. This would only happen in the event of an emergency
or conflict with a major event. Transportation to and from all pack
activities is the responsibility of the parents.
We have been asked by the school, as their guests, to keep all
people in the school gym or cafeteria. Parents, please control your children and
escort them to the bathrooms. Food and beverages are not permitted
anywhere in the school except the cafeteria.
Advancement Awards
Parents or designated guardians must be present at the pack meetings to
stand with their son in order for their boy to receive his rank
advancement awards. Parents should also insure the following: Each
Scout must be wearing his complete and proper uniform at the pack meeting
to receive his awards. If a boy misses two opportunities to
claim his achievement at a pack meeting, the award will be given to the
den leader to pass to the boy.
When a boy receives an advancement award, a pin is also awarded to the
parent to recognize the parent's involvement with their son's success.
Parents are encouraged to wear these pins on a yellow and blue ribbon. Ask
a leader for more information.
Committee Meetings
The pack committee meeting is when many pack and den activities are
planned. The Committee Chair directs the committee meetings. They are
generally held on the first Sunday of each month following the first
Thursday of the month, which is the date of the district roundtable
meeting. The location will be at the Cubmaster's home starting at 7:00
PM. We attempt to limit the meeting to 1 1/2 hours. The committee meetings
allow information from the district to be shared as quickly as possible. Den leaders or a den
representative are REQUIRED and parents are
welcome and encouraged to attend these meetings too.
Program Feedback
All members and adults are welcome to provide suggestions for changes
in operation of the pack, meetings, or activities to any leader. If these
suggestions require a change in pack policy, they should be made in
writing for the pack committee to consider them. Any suggestions would be
welcomed in order to enhance the Scouting experience for all. Any one is
welcome to attend the committee meetings. Please remember we are all
volunteers.
Policy Changes
A change in pack policy may be considered at a committee meeting only.
Votes shall be by majority, each registered leader present casting one
vote.
Registration and Pack Fees
Cub Scout fees are collected in
January/February for the year. The fee is $25.00 for the calendar year. If
a boy should join later in the year, a reduced fee will be charged as
determined by the Cubmaster. If your family is experiencing financial difficulties, please contact
the Cubmaster for assistance. The pack will pay the registration fee for adult leaders. Fees for
leader training will be reimbursed by the Pack upon proof of attendance.
In General
Our most important pack policy is to have fun! The leadership of the
pack and each den plans activities based on a monthly district theme. The
Cubmaster and Committee Chair will conduct a planning meeting for the
coming year's activities in August. This doesn't mean the pack activities
are cast in stone. Many pack activities are planned on an ongoing basis
and this is why parents are encouraged to attend the monthly committee
meetings. Parents will be informed by their den leaders and via the pack
calendar, displayed at each pack meeting, as to upcoming events.
We encourage each parent and their Scout to join in on the fun,
adventure, and the experience of Cub Scouting!
Contact the
Cubmaster.
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