Cub Scout Pack 486 Durham, North Carolina

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Welcome to Cub Scouting What is Cub Scouting? What are the ideals of Cub Scouting? How is Cub Scouting organized? What fun things do Cub Scouts do? Frequently Asked Questions:    When and where do dens meet?    When and where does the Pack meet?    How much does it cost?    What do we need to do to join?    How are new Scouts assigned to dens?    How can adults help Cub Scouting be a successful program?    How much camping will we do? Will we need to buy camping equipment? If you want to print this information, and if you have Adobe Acrobat Reader, then click here to view a PDF file.   What is Cub Scouting? Cub Scouting is the program established by the Boy Scouts of America for boys in the first through fifth grades. In Cub Scouting, boys, families, and adult leaders work together to achieve these objectives: Influence a boy's character development and spiritual growth. Develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship. Encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body. Improve understanding within the family. Strengthen a boy's ability to get along with others. Foster a sense of personal achievement by developing new interests and skills. Provide fun and exciting new things to do. Show a boy how to be helpful and do his best. Prepare him to be a Boy Scout.   What are the ideals of Cub Scouting? These ideals are expressed in the promise, law and motto which all Cub Scouts learn: Cub Scout Promise: I, (name), promise to do my best To do my duty to God and my country, To help other people, and To obey the Law of the Pack. Law of the Pack: The Cub Scout follows Akela. The Cub Scout helps the pack go. The pack helps the Cub Scout grow. The Cub Scout gives goodwill. Cub Scout Motto: Do Your Best.   How is Cub Scouting organized? The Den . . . Cub Scouts belong to a "Den," which is a group of five to eight boys in the same grade. First graders are called "Tigers," second graders are called "Wolves,", third graders are called "Bears," and fourth and fifth graders are called "Webelos." Each Den is led by an adult called the "Den Leader," and assisted by other Den parents. Dens usually meet two times per month, either in someone's home or at a pre-determined location, where the boys work on various activities, play games, and have fun. The Pack . . . Once a month, several Dens come together to meet as a "Pack." Packs are sponsored by a "chartering organization," usually a church, and generally meet in a fellowship hall or other facility which is part of that church. Pack meetings involve activities, games and fun, like Den meetings, but also include songs and skits, ceremonies, and recognition and awards for individual Cubs. Pack meetings are led by an adult called the "Cubmaster." Our Pack is Pack 486, and the chartering organization is the Christus Victor Lutheran Church on Highway 54 in Durham. The District and the Council . . . Cub Scout Packs in Durham County are part of the Mawat District. The Mawat District and other districts in central North Carolina are part of the Occoneechee Council. Both the District and the Council occasionally sponsor special, larger events for Cub Scouts to attend.   What fun things do Cub Scouts do? There are so many, it's hard to list them all. Also, the Cub Scouting program is designed so that Cubs at each level can do activities suitable for that age. Den activities include crafts, telling jokes and stories, learning about our country, and playing games. Here are some activities at the Pack level that all Cub Scouts seem to enjoy: Pinewood Derby: From a rectangular piece of pine, Cubs work with parents to shape, sand, paint and decorate a race car. The Pack gathers in January for the Pinewood Derby, where all Cubs race their cars on a special track owned by the Pack. Winners get to race at the Mawat District Pinewood Derby. Family Camping: Cubs, their parents, and their siblings are all welcome when the Pack goes to Jordan Lake or Kerr Lake in late September and early June. Swimming, games, and skits around the campfire are all big favorites of the boys. The Blue and Gold Banquet: All the families in the Pack gather for Scouting's annual birthday party and celebration of Scouting. Good food and fellowship, topped off with skits by the Scouts themselves.   Frequently Asked Questions When and where do dens meet? Den meeting times and locations are determined by the individual dens. Dens meet on average twice a month, and meetings usually last for an hour or a little longer. Den leaders set den meeting schedules at the beginning of the Pack year, in September. When and where does the Pack meet? The Pack meets on the second Thursday of each month. Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m., and usually end between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The Pinewood Derby is held on a Saturday morning. Meetings are usually held at Christus Victor Lutheran Church on Highway 54, near Highway 55 (across from the TrueValue Hardware). How much does it cost? Pack 486 has annual dues of $28.00. You may also purchase a subscription to the Scouting magazine, Boy's Life, for an additional $9.00. There are additional fees for special events: family camping costs $9 per person (this includes campsite rental, tents if needed, and all food), and the Blue & Gold banquet costs $6 per person. Uniforms (shirt, scarf and slide, and belt) and Cub Scout book must also be purchased. In addition to dues, the Pack has a cake auction fundraiser at its March meeting. What do we need to do to join? Complete an application for each boy, and submit it to a Pack 486 volunteer with a check made out to Pack 486 for $28.00 per boy, plus $9.00 for Boy's Life if desired. If you have more than one boy, remember to order just one subscription to Boy's Life.   Purchase a Cub Scout uniform from the Occoneechee Council Scout Shop on Atlantic Blvd in Raleigh. Tiger Cubs have a special T-shirt, which is all that is required for them. Wolves and Bears must have a blue Cub Scout shirt, a scarf, a slide for the scarf, and a belt. Webelos have the same requirements, except that they may wear a tan shirt instead of blue. Check out the Uniforms page for more details.   Purchase the appropriate Cub Scout book (Wolf, Bear or Webelos) fromthe Council Scout Shop at the same time. How are new Scouts assigned to dens? On Join Scouting Night, the Pack Committee will count the new scouts at each level (Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and Webelos) and assign Scouts to existing dens or form new dens. Dens can have a maximum of eight Scouts. If your boy would like to be in a particular den because, for example, he has a friend in that den, please note that when you complete the application and we'll place him in that den if possible. How can adults help Cub Scouting be a successful program? We're glad you asked! There are a number of ways adults can help Scouting be successful: First and foremost, support your son in his Scouting activities. Make sure he has his uniform and his book. Keep up with the calendar of Scout activities, and make sure that he attends his den meetings and events, and Pack meetings as well. Work with him on advancement activities throughout the Scouting year, so that he can earn his badge and other awards.   Help the den leader and other adults in your son's den in the planning and hosting of den meetings and activities. The den is the basic, and in many ways the most important, unit in Cub Scouting. Success and fun in Scouting begins with an active den that has meetings and activities that are fun for the boys.   Volunteer some of your time and talents at the Pack level. Pack meetings and activities are a lot of fun for the boys, and they welcome the chance to be in a group much larger than their den. Pack meetings also require more planning and preparation than den meetings, and help is always welcome. As in any volunteer-run organization, there are a number of positions with varying time commitments and levels of responsibility. Let the current Pack volunteers know that you're willing to help, and we'll help you find a job that you're comfortable with. If you're new to Scouting, don't let that stand in your way; no experience is necessary! How much camping will we do? Will we need to buy camping equipment? Pack 486 organizes two family camping weekends each year, one in late September and one in early June. The campsites are at Vista Point Campground in Jordan Lake S.R.A., approximately 25 minutes from south Durham, or at Satterwhite Point Campground in Kerr Lake S.R.A., about one hour from south Durham. The Pack has a trailer which contains cooking equipment, and also supplies all the food and plates, cups, utensils, etc. In addition, the Pack has tents which you can use if you don't have your own. You will need to have a sleeping bag, with a pad or air mattress to put underneath it. Since family camping is during relatively warm weather, an 'overnighter' sleeping bag should be sufficient. The other equipment you will need consists of everyday items, such as flashlights and folding chairs. The campgrounds have running water, restrooms with flush toilets, and showers. Webelos go on three or four overnighters each year in addition to family camping. The Pack trailer accompanies Webelos on their overnighters, so food and cooking and eating equipment, and tents, are still supplied by the Pack. Webelos may need to purchase sleeping bags which are rated to 20°, and should have a good sleeping pad as well.