About

Boy Scouts of America

Our pack and a guide to what to expect from Scouting

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations, providing programs for young people that build character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.

For more than 100 years, Boy Scouts of America has helped build future leaders by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun.

“HELPING YOUTH IS A KEY TO BUILDING A MORE CONSCIENTIOUS, RESPONSIBLE, AND PRODUCTIVE SOCIETY”

THE PACK

The monthly pack meeting brings together scouts from every den, their leaders, and their families, to participate in a large-scale event that serves as a showcase for everything the scouts have learned and done in their individual den meetings. The pack meeting gives the scouts a larger experience beyond their own den and helps them to connect their individual activities to the entire Cub Scouting program.

WHERE & WHEN

The pack meets monthly at Pewee Valley Presbyterian Church.

Typically, the meeting takes place on the 3rd Monday of the month, but for a full schedule and to see up-coming events, check out the schedule page.

The meeting starts at 6:30 PM and usually lasts about an hour.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Cub Scouting is a family program. Pack meetings are for families—parents or guardians, brothers, sisters, and other family members—as well as all the Cub Scouts, den leaders, and pack leaders.

We encourage everyone to participate in the pack activities.

WHAT GOES ON

We start with a brief ceremony which marks the beginning of the meeting. This includes the presenting of the flag and pledge of allegiance.

We then welcome new additions and make general announcements.

An important part of the pack meeting is formal recognition given to the Cub Scouts who have earned badges, adventure loops, pins or other awards, and the leaders who have earned training awards, religious emblems, or other community awards.

We then carry out that evening’s program which will have been organized in advance by the leaders. This could be:

Paper Airplane Contests
Pinewood Derby Racing
Visit from a local animal rescue
Egg Drop – STEM Project
First Aid Instruction and kit build
Outdoor Games and Marshmallow Roast
Rain Gutter Regatta
and many other activities

The closing ceremony ends the meeting.

THE DENS

A den is a group of six to eight scouts within the pack, that may meet once or several times between pack meetings. The scouts in a den are usually all at the same grade level. The den structure allows a scout to build relationships with leaders and other scouts. The den provides opportunities for activities that would be difficult with a large group. The den also provides leadership opportunities for the scouts.

WHERE & WHEN

The den leaders work with the parents to setup a schedule so that the entire den can meet together. This might be one evening a week or every other weekend.

As the Cubs Scouts advance through the den ranks, more time is required to complete certain achievements.

Often, the meeting takes place at a parents home, other times meetings may be arranged at the Police Station, Fire Station, Town Hall etc. depending on the goals of the achievements they are working on.

WHAT GOES ON

Before the Cub Scouts arrive, leaders gather to make preparations and handle last-minute details

As the Cub Scouts begin to arrive, they join in an informal activity or game, often conducted by the den chief to keep the boys interested and active until the entire group has arrived. Once everyone is in attendance, the opening marks the official start of the den meeting. It usually consists of a formal ceremony, such as a flag ceremony, and a group recital of the Cub Scout Promise

The Activities part of the meeting will vary by the age of the scouts (see below), and may be broken into two or more parts. Generally, most of the meeting consists of craft projects, games, and activities that are all based on the current adventure. There are two main areas that are focused on during these activities:

Required adventures. These adventures are required to advance from rank to rank.
Elective adventures. These add to the fun and adventure of Cub Scouting. One elective adventure is required to earn the Tiger, Wolf, and Bear ranks. Two are required to earn the Webelos rank, and three are required for boys to earn the Arrow of Light rank.

The Closing draws the meeting to an end. It’s usually serious and quiet. Den leaders could present a thought for the day or give reminders about coming events.

For more information about the den, its leader and what to expect from the years activities, click on the den below.

Lions

A Scouting program for kindergarten-age girls and boys is now available.

The Lion program weaves traditional Scouting concepts of character development, leadership skills, personal fitness and citizenship into activities that are age-appropriate and fun for the scouts and their parents.

The activities introduce the family to Cub Scouting and provide an exciting way for children to explore the world around them. The program will fuel their imagination, creativity, and fun as they experience the growth Scouting can provide. At the end of the Lion year, they “graduate” to Tiger and advance through Cub Scouting.

Tigers

Tiger Cubs is for first grade girls and boys (or those who are 7 years old) and their adult partners. In the Tiger Cub den, this team is introduced to the excitement of Cub Scouting as they tread the Tiger trail. The Tiger Cub den builds stronger families through involvement in a program that is flexible and fun for the boys and the adults. A shared leadership component, where a den leader works with the boy and adult partner teams, gives everyone input into the operation of the activities

Wolf

Wolf Cubs is for second grade boys and girls (or those who are 8 years old) and their adult partners. In the Tiger Cub den, this team is introduced to the excitement of Cub Scouting as they tread the Wolf trail. The Wolf Cub den builds stronger families through involvement in a program that is flexible and fun for the scouts and the adults. A shared leadership component, where a den leader works with the children and adult partner teams, gives everyone input into the operation of the activities

Bear

Bear Cubs is for third-grade girls and boys (or those who are 7 years old) and their adult partners. In the Bear Cub den, this team is introduced to the excitement of Cub Scouting as they tread the Bear trail. The Bear Cub den builds stronger families through involvement in a program that is flexible and fun for the scouts and the adults. A shared leadership component, where a den leader works with the scout and adult partner teams, gives everyone input into the operation of the activities

Webelos

A child who is in the fourth or fifth grade is a Webelos Scout, and their adventures are found in the Webelos Handbook.

If a child is a new Cub Scouts they first earn the Bobcat badge. After completing the requirements for Bobcat they go on to complete the requirements for the Webelos rank and then onto the Arrow of Light and the many electives that are offered. If a child joins in the fourth grade they earn the Webelos rank and then the Arrow of Light. If a child joins in the fifth grade they may start working on the Arrow of Light without earning the Webelos rank first.

The Webelos program is designed to prepare Cub Scouts to join a Scouts BSA Troop in February of their fifth-grade year.

Arrow of Light

Once a scout has completed their Webelos rank requirements or a new scout joins Cub Scouting in the fifth grade, they may work on Arrow of Light requirements Like all other new Cub Scouts, an Arrow of Light Scout must first earn their Bobcat rank. After completing the requirements for Bobcat they may go on to complete the requirements for the Arrow of Light rank and the many electives that are offered for their rank.

All Cub Scouts, except for those scouts who join Cub Scouting for the first time in fifth grade, must earn their Webelos rank prior to earning Arrow of Light. The requirements for Webelos and Arrow of Light may be worked on at the same time but the tenure requirements for each must be met and the awards must be earned and presented sequentially.

HOW IT'S PAID FOR

What do Pack Dues & Registration Fees cover?

Membership dues and registration fees are necessary so there is enough money to cover the expected costs of providing a quality program. Pack dues cover BSA Fees, insurance, monthly program costs, patches and advancement awards, belt loops, supplies for den activities and pack activities for the scout. Some special programs and outings or council events which are open to scouts but we are not attending as a Pack may have additional costs. There will also be additional costs for each adult and/or sibling attending events.

Dues and registration fees are subject to change each scouting year. Currently, our registration fees are $135 per Scout per year.

What Fees were paid at the Pack Orientation Meeting?

Most new scouts register and pay the BSA dues at the 1st pack meeting. Though this money is collected by the Pack Treasurer – these fees go directly to the local council and do not support any activities in our Pack.

Returning scouts will need to submit BSA dues to the Pack Treasurer for rechartering by the first Pack meeting.

Additional Pack Funding

To maintain a lower fee for dues, we will ask for assistance and participation in our only fundraising activity throughout the year called the Popcorn sale.

OUR COUNCIL AND DISTRICT

Council

We are in Lincoln Heritage Council, which covers Western Kentucky and some of Southern Indiana. Their office and Scout Shop are located in Sycamore Station, near Blankenbaker Parkway. They operate three camps - Tunnel Mill in Indiana (about 30 minutes away from us), Camp Crooked Creek (about 45 minutes away from us near Bernheim Arboretum), and a third camp by Land Between the Lakes.

District

The Council is additionally broken down into "Districts." We are in Seneca District, which covers Oldham, Trimble, Carroll and Northeast Jefferson County.