Why
join Scouting?
Ask the boys and they will tell you it's a lot of fun - and
they're right! But while they are having fun, a lot
of learning and growing occurs. Cub Scouts is a family (not
just boy) program designed to develop character, good
citizenship, good sportsmanship, life skills and strong
families. Cub Scouts helps boys learn to be helpful, to
respect other people and to strive to do one's best.
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Objectives of Cub Scouting
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Cub Scouting is for Families
As you can see, these are not tasks to be left to just any
adult. Most of these tasks are best accomplished by a boy's
parents. Thus, Cub Scouts is not just a program for boys. It
is a program for families with boys. Parents need to be
involved. We know that the family is an important
influence on the youth of our nation. Cub Scouting
provides opportunities for families to work and play
together, to have fun together, and to get to know each
other a little better.
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Cub
Scouting is for All Boys
Cub Scouting is for all boys, and each boy is different.
We realize there are no "average" boys, and that's
why Cub Scouting is easily adaptable to a boy with a
physical, mental, or emotional limitation. When a
youngster with a disability participates, there is little
doubt that Cub Scouting can be one of the most valuable
aids to his physical and mental development. And the boy
is a great teacher for the other boys.
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Cub
Scouting is Fun
Boys join Cub Scouting because they want to have fun.
However, for boys, "fun" is sort of a code word
for satisfaction from meeting challenges, having friends,
feeling safe, and feeling they are important to other
people. But Cub Scouting ca provide even more. While boys
are having fun, doing things they like to do, they are
also learning new things, discovering and mastering new
skills, gaining self-confidence, and developing strong
friendships. In the often confusing and troubling world
in which today's children live, Cub Scouting is even more
important as a haven - a place where a boy can find
acceptance and support from friends when he needs it.
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Cub
Scouting has Ideals
The Cub Scout Promise, which is a pledge of good
citizenship; the Law of the Pack, a simple formula for
good Cub Scouting; and the motto, "Do Your Best,"
are but a few. Such symbols as the Cub Scout sign, salute,
secret code and living circle all add a sense of mystery
and exclusiveness which most boys enjoy and add to the
appeal of belonging to a well-known and accepted
organization.
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Cub
Scouting Provides Adventure
Cub Scouting helps fulfill a boy's desire for adventure and allows him
to use his vivid imagination while taking part in skits, games, field
trips, service projects and outdoor activities among others. There is adventure in
exploring the outdoors, learning about nature, and
gaining a greater appreciation for our beautiful world.
Watching our boys come alive enjoying the freedom that
camping in a safe environment like Cub World provides is
truly proof that we are doing the right thing.
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Cub
Scouting Helps Develop Interests and Skills
Cub Scouts learn many useful things; they develop
abilities and dexterity, learn to use tools and follow
directions. Badges encourage them to qualify in subjects
such as conservation, safety, physical fitness, community
awareness, sports, religious activities, and other. These
interests may become a hobby or even a career later in
life.
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Cub
Scouting has an Advancement Plan
The advancement plan encourages the natural interests of
a boy in a natural way. It provides fun for the boys,
teaches them to do their best, and helps strengthen
family understanding as families work with boys on
advancement requirements. Badges are awarded to recognize
advancement. Boys like to receive and wear the badges,
but the real benefit comes from the worthwhile things
they learn while they are earning the badges.
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Cub
Scouts Belong
Belonging is important to boys. They like to be accepted
as part of a group. In Cub Scouting, boys belong to a
small group called a den where they take part in
interesting and meaningful activities with worthwhile
friends. In the den they learn sportsmanship, good
citizenship, and loyalty; they learn how to get along
with others and how to do their best for themselves and
their den. Cub Scouts also belong to a pack made up of
several dens.
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Cub
Scouting Teaches Boys to "Reach Out"
Cub Scouting provides opportunities for boys to "reach
out" into a wider community while still keeping a
link with more secure foundations such as the home,
religious organization and school. It helps boys to
become full members of their communities as they take
part in service projects and other community-related
activities. They get to know their community better and
recognize the importance of good citizenship.
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Cub
Scouting Teaches Duty to God and Country
The Boys Scouts of America believes that no member can
grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing
and obligation to God and encourages both youth and
adult leaders to be faithful to their religious duties.
The Scouting movement has long been known for service to
other. We believe that patriotism plays a significant
role in preparing our nation's youth to become useful and
participating citizens. A Cub Scout learns his duty to
God, country, others and self.
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In
Summary
Scouting, as a worldwide brotherhood, is unique and
different. It is based on the principles of loving and
serving God, human dignity and the rights of individuals,
and recognizing the obligation of all members to develop
and use their potential. It is a movement dedicated to
bringing out the best in people; one of the few left in
the world where the emphasis is not on winning as an end
result, but on the far more demanding task of "doing
one's best." All of the activities have an effect on
the growth and development of boys, and we must remember
that our ultimate objectives are citizenship training,
character development, and personal fitness.
Educators will tell us that an increasing number of
young people find they cannot make friends and feel
lonely, even in a crowd. They have had thousands of words
spoken at them by television, and they have never learned
to play, to laugh, to develop their imaginations, and to
express their feelings. If we can help nurture courage
and kindness, allow boys to play, to laugh, to develop
imaginations, and to express their feelings, then we will
have helped them grow. We want them to become useful and
stable individuals who are aware of their own worth.
Helping a boy learn the value of his own worth is the
greatest gift we can give him. Cub Scouting helps us to
do just that.
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Scout
Leaders
The Cub Scouting program is a volunteer intensive program.
It only works when parents are involved. The Pack
leadership is made up of a Committee Chairman, the Cubmaster and
Assistant Cubmaster, Den Leaders and Committee members. By far and
away, the den leaders are the most important leaders in
Cub Scouting.
Every den has at least one trained leader and normally
two. And when we say trained, we mean trained. Boy Scouts
of America realizes that trained leaders put on a better
program for the boys and a better program keeps boys in
Scouting. All den leaders attend Fast Start training to
help them get started with their first meetings. This is
followed by Basic Leader training and Youth Protection
training. Optional training opportunities include monthly
Roundtables, an annual PowWow and Outdoor Certification.
Webelos Outdoors Leaders training is available for all
leaders who go camping with the boys. Pack 26 pays for
all training costs and registration fees for its leaders.
Written materials are also available such as the Program
Helps and the How To book. And our experienced den
leaders are always willing to give advice and help.
Thus, anyone who has the desire can be a great den leader!
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The
Cub Scout Programs
The Tiger Cub program is for boys who are in the first
grade (or 7 years old) and an adult partner. The boy and
his adult partner form a Tiger Cub Team. 5 to 8 teams
make up a Tiger Cub den. Adult partners take turns
leading den meetings with the help of a Tiger Cub coach.
The Tiger Cub attends all meetings as a team with his
adult partner.
The Wolf Cub Scout program is for boys who have completed
first grade (or 8 years old), and the Bear Cub Scout
program is for boys who have completed second grade (or 9
years old). Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts meet as dens of 6 to
8 boys with two den leaders. Boys work on activities both
in their dens and with their families. After completing
12 achievements the boy earns his Wolf badge or Bear
badge and then is eligible to earn arrowheads by working
on electives.
The Webelos Scout program is for boys who have completed
third grade (or 10 years old). It is usually a two year
program, but the requirements can be completed in one
year for boys who join in the 5th grade. Webelos is a
bridge from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts Though families
still have an important role the emphasis shifts from the
home centered activities of Cub Scouts to group centered
activities similar to Boy Scouts. Webelos work on
activity badges as a den and can earn two major awards.
The first is the Webelos badge and the second, the
highest award in Cub Scouting, is the Arrow of Light.
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For
More Information on Joining Pack 26 Contact:
Bob Weaver, Cubmaster,
cubmaster@pack26.org
or
Michael Murphy, Assistant Cubmaster,
mike@pack26.org
or
Linda McAnnally Weaver, Committee Chairman,
chairman@pack26.org
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