Parents Guide

The Cub Scout program uses ranks and advancements to challenge the scouts to work on skills that match their ability and interest level.  The scouts are not supposed to be perfect, but are encouraged to “do their best”.  Unlike sports, Scouting is a program that all boys can advance in if they want to.

All scouts regardless of their starting age will earn the Bobcat award first.  They will then work toward the rank of appropriate for their age level.  When boys earn various achievements for their particular rank, they are awarded rank-specific belt loops which they can put on their official Cub Scout belt and wear with their uniform.

 Our youngest Cub Scouts are the Lion Cubs and Tiger Cubs; Lions are kindergarteners and Tigers are 1st graders.  Both Lions and Tigers work “as a team” with their parents or guardians.  They must have an adult partner present at all times i.e. at all Den/Pack activities, events & meetings.  They will spend the year working together towards their Tiger badge.

Our 2nd graders are called Wolves; 3rd graders are called Bears.

 Our 4th and 5th graders are called Webelos (“We Be Loyal Scouts”) 1 and 2 respectively.  Once they complete the Webelos requirements and requirements for the “Arrow of Light” (the highest achievement award in the Cub Scout program), they have the opportunity to “bridge” to Boy Scouts.  At the end of their second year as a Webelos they move to a Boy Scout Troop and start on the path towards being an Eagle Scout.  Pack 118 leadership will assist your Webelos with selecting the best Boy Scout Troop for his goals, personality, abilities etc.

Cubmaster: Responsible for the program, is the Pack “MC”, reports to the pack committee. Head of the ‘front office.’

Assistant Cubmaster: Works directly with the Cubmaster to develop the program and co-ordinate with the Pack Committee Chair.  Steps-in when the Cubmaster is unavailable.  Is the ‘bridge’ between the ‘front office’ and the ‘back office.’

Pack Committee Chair: Person in charge of the pack committee.  Helps with the planning of pack programs and runs the committee meetings. Head of the ‘back office.’

Pack Treasurer: Person in charge of the pack finances.  Helps with planning and balancing the budget for the pack.

Pack Committee: Supervises the pack and accomplishes administrative tasks.

Den Leader: An adult in charge of a den.

Assistant Den Leader: Helps the den leader.

Den Chief: An older Boy Scout from a local Troop who helps to lead a den.

Denner: One of the Cub Scouts elected by his den to help the Den Leader and Den Chief.

You: Parents are also needed to volunteer at den meetings, coordinate or help with outdoor activities or special events, and contribute their input to the Pack Committee.  Your involvement and support is critical to the success of the program for you child.  Bottom line: if you don’t contribute & volunteer your time, we don’t get much Scouting done, and the first Pack philosophy tenant of FUN starts to dwindle.

For a more detail list of volunteer positions and opportunities click here

An essential component of Cub Scouting is the uniform.  Cub Scouts are made to feel part of a unit and have a place to display their insignia and certain awards when they wear their uniforms.  Cub Scouts buy their own uniform (shirt, vest, neckerchief and neckerchief slide) including the council patch and pack numerals.  This is called their “Class A” uniform.   The pack also has a “Class B” uniform (an official Pack t-shirt, when available).

Class A uniforms are the formal dress of Scouting and are worn at Pack meetings and most Pack functions.  Tiger, Wolf, and Bear cubs use the blue Cub Scout uniform.  Webelos wear the blue uniform for their first year and change to the tan Boy Scout uniform shirt for their second year of Webelos (in preparation for becoming a Boy Scout the following year).

Uniforms are available at the council office Local Scout Shop or at www.scoutshop.org .  We don’t require the formal scout pants, but we encourage you not to wear camouflage pants with the uniform.  Since your Tiger or Wolf scout will be wearing this uniform for a few years, we recommend getting it a bit large.  Most scouts get the short sleeved uniform (we do live in Georgia after all).  They are more versatile that the long sleeved version (your scout can wear an extra shirt underneath in colder months).  The Council store and the scout shop site have diagrams for badge placement.

For our pack for a Class A uniform we require:

• Rank Neckerchief

• Slide

• World Crest Emblem

• Council Shoulder Patch

• Unit Numerals

• Shirt

• Rank Handbook

• Rank Cap

• Belt (for belt loops they will earn, Tigers through Bears)

For the most part we do not use den numbers; consult your Pack leaders if not sure.  Tell the folks at the local scout shop that you are with Pack 118 and they will make sure you get all of the correct patches, etc. We also have special unit numbers for purchase in our pack store.

Your scout will undoubtedly accumulate a bunch of cool patches during his Cub Scouting career, and will need a place to put them (they don’t permanently go on the Class A uniform!)- we recommend the purchase of a BSA Red “brag” Vest (to wear) or BSA red “brag” blanket (to be brought on camping trips) to accommodate the collection.

You can also make your own vest using red felt fabric ( a scout is trifty).

You can’t say Scouting without saying “outing”.  Pack 118 goes camping multiple times each year, and camping and its related skills are central to the FOCUS aspect of our unit’s philosophy.  Cub Scout camping is family camping and all scouts must have an adult responsible for them on overnight camping trips.  Pack 118 also participates in the Council day camps over the summer.

Flint River Council regularly hosts Council-wide events during the year. Day Camp provides a five day program of scouting activities such as bb guns, archery, crafts, wood working, and athletics.  Up at the Lawhorn outdoor center ( Camp Thunder), the Council hosts very popular bb-gun and archery shoots for Cub Scouts, as well as adult leader training seminars.

The Fayette District Roundtable is the second Thursday of every month all year round. The location is the All Saints Anglican Church, 149 Ebenezer Road, Fayetteville, Ga. 30215. The regular session starts at 7:00PM and runs until 8:30PM. Roundtable is open to all Pack parents.

The Pack leaders do our best to provide a quality program.  All the leaders in Pack 118 are parent volunteers and depend on other parents to help ensure a quality program.  We firmly ask every parent to help the Pack in some capacity.

The most important (and most fun) job is that of the Den Leader.  If, as a mother or father you are not sure what position is needed most in the Pack, we strongly encourage you to volunteer to become an Assistant Den Leader.  However, there are many other areas where your help in running the Pack is needed and very much appreciated.  Remember that when you volunteer your first task is to see to it that the core tenant of FUN is achieved!

For more information on official Pack leadership, please visit here.

Don’t be shy or reluctant to ask questions.  The leaders of our pack are all parents who believe in the value and benefits of the program and are committed to its success.  Our ongoing success is dependent on having a dedicated group of leaders and parents.  Each year, we must engage “new” parents.  Any leader in the Pack will be more than happy to spend time answering questions or sharing their program ideas, successes and lessons learned (the FACTS tenant of our philosophy).