Joining Cub Scouting
How old (or young) can a boy be to join Cub Scouting?
Cub Scouting is for boys and girls in the kindergarten through fifth grades, or 6 to 110 years of age. Children who are older than 10, or who have completed the fifth grade, can no longer join Cub Scouting.
Why are some packs Co-Ed and others single gender?
While Cub Scouts is a family orientated program, before 2016 only boys could join the program. After 2016 girls were allowed to join packs that were able to accept girls into their programs by their charter organizations. Pack 700 is a COED pack which has great ties to a girl only troop (11-18 yr old unit) for them to join when they enter middle school.
How can I become an adult volunteer in Cub Scouting?
Express your interest to the pack leaders—the committee chair, Cubmaster, chartered organization representative, or members of the unit committee. While there’s no guarantee that a specific role or position will be available—and there may be a selection process among several candidates even if the position is currently vacant—there is usually some way in which you can contribute. Most units are glad for any offer of help. There are many single-instance volunteer opportunities such as popcorn chair or pinewood derby chair.
The Cub Scout Program
Are Cub Scouts the same as Scouts BSA or Boy Scouts?
No. Cub Scouting is a program of the Boy Scouts of America—so in that sense, Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA are both members of the same organization. However, they are entirely different programs: Cub Scouting is a family-oriented program designed specifically to address the needs of younger elementary aged children.
How often do Cub Scouts meet?
Cub Scouts meet in their dens once or twice a month, and a pack meeting is held for all Cub Scouts and their families once a month. Pack 700 meets on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Monday of each month. A den may hold a special activity, such as a service project or visit to a local museum, in place of one of the weekly meetings or in addition to the weekly meetings. Likewise, a pack may conduct a special event such as a blue and gold banquet as an additional event, rather than a substitute for its monthly pack meeting.
May parents attend den meetings?
Cub Scout den meetings are intended to be an activity for the individual boys without parental help. However, parent a involvement is encouraged, and all meetings are open to your participation so you can see what your son is doing.
Dues
What are the dues and membership fees?
Yearly national membership costs $119 to be a member of cub scouts. New members pay on their anniversary date thereafter.
Pack 700 does not get any portion of the national membership fee. The Pack has set yearly dues at $70 unless the unit committee feels unit dues are not needed. This covers the 7 mandatory adventure awards (loops or pins) plus 5 elective adventure awards, helps reduce cost of camping (trys covers reservation and wood, not food), and helps with pack operations in getting supplies for outings and meetings. This fee can be split between fall and spring with fall dues being paid by the first den meeting in September.
Popcorn: Selling popcorn is a great way to offset dues.
Uniform and Supplies
What supplies and equipment are needed to participate in Cub Scouting?
At minimum, each boy in Cub Scouting will need a uniform and a handbook. Each year, the handbook changes, as does the cap and neckerchief, but other uniform parts remain the same for at least the first three years. Total cost for all of this is between $90 to $115 and can be bought when you are ready. When a boy enters a Webelos den, he may need to obtain a new uniform if the parents in the den opt for the khaki-and-olive uniform. Additional supplies and equipment may be needed for certain activities such as camping trips or field days. Den and pack leaders should provide parents with information about any supplies that will be required at the beginning of each program year.