Parent Information

What is a Pack and a Den?

Every Cub Scout is a member of a Cub Scout pack. A pack is a large group of boys.

The pack is broken into smaller groups called dens. Each den has about six to eight boys. All of the Cub Scouts in a den are about the same age and live in the same neighborhood.

The Cub Scout pack belongs to a church, a school, or some other group of people in your community or neighborhood. This group makes sure your pack has good adult leaders, a place to meet, and exciting things to do. The group gets help from the Boy Scouts of America, which is part of Scouting around the world.

What are some of the things Cub Scouts do and places they go?

There are lots to do as a Cub Scout—crafts, games, sports, songs, stories, and puzzles, to name a few things. Much of the fun happens right in the den and pack. The den usually meets twice a month during the school year, and the pack meets once every month. At den meetings and pack meetings, Cub Scouts do different things for fun and learning.

Cub Scouts also go to events like the annual blue and gold banquet, field contests, and derbies such as the pinewood derby. They go on field trips. They go camping and have other kinds of outdoor adventures. They take part in community events. Whatever it is that you enjoy, you’ll have a chance to do it in Cub Scouting.

Why do Cub Scouts need to wear a uniform?

Scout uniforms are an important part of the Boy Scouts of America program and one of the methods of scouting. Each boy is part of a group demonstrated by their uniform and each group has a personal sense of identity. The scout uniform is also a display case for a scout’s individual accomplishments and recognition. We wear the uniform to associate ourselves with the principles to which we are committed – character development, citizenship training, and physical and mental fitness. The uniform is not intended to hide our individuality, but it is a way we give each other strength and support.

By wearing your uniform, you show others that you are a member of Cub Scouting. You also remind yourself to live up to Cub Scouting’s ideals and the promise you have made. The official uniform also gives you a place to display the awards and emblems that show your personal achievements and those of your den and pack.

How do the Cub Scouts earn awards?

While you’re having fun, you’ll also be earning badges and awards. You’ll work on projects with your parents or other adults in your family, and all of you will feel good about the things you accomplish. When you have earned a badge, you and an adult member of your family take part in a ceremony. The badge is given to the adult, and he or she then gives it to you in front of the pack. This is a way of saying “thank you” to your family for their help in earning your award.

The most popular awards for Cub Scouts are the advancement awards. Boys do requirements to advance and earn their badges of rank: Lion, Bobcat, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and the Arrow of Light Award. The Arrow of Light is the highest award in Cub Scouting. Webelos Scouts also earn activity badges.

Cub Scouts can earn many other awards and medals too, sometimes by themselves and sometimes as members of their pack. They can earn or help their pack earn Journey to Excellence awards, religious emblems, the Emergency Preparedness Award, the Outdoor Activity Award, or the World Conservation Award.

When you earn an award in Cub Scouting, you learn new skills. You also get to use your new skills and your new knowledge in projects and demonstrations. You show what you know. People get to see what you’ve learned as a Cub Scout.

What are the major advancement milestones for Cub Scout?

Recognition is important to young boys. The Cub Scouting advancement plan provides fun for the boys, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and strengthens family understanding as adult family members work with boys on advancement projects.

Each boy works on an age-appropriate rank badge by fulfilling different requirements that consist of new and fun learning experiences. Each scout earns the Bobcat badge, which involves the basics of being a Cub Scout. The following are the grades of Cub Scouts and the rank they work towards:

Kindergarten – Lion

First Grade – Tiger

Second Grade – Wolf

Third Grade – Bear

Fourth Grade – Webelos

Fifth Grade – work for the highest award in Cub Scouts, the Arrow of Light. This last year helps prepare the boys for a transition to Boy Scouts.