Northeast Illinois Council

Boy Scouts of America

CUB SCOUT PARENT ORIENTATION GUIDE WELCOME TO THE ADVENTURE OF CUB SCOUTING!

Welcome to Cub Scouts The Northeast Illinois Council is excited to tell you about Cub Scouts! This book will help you understand more about the Boy Scouts of America and the Cub Scouting program. Cub Scouting is fun! No matter what grade your son is in, first through fifth, it will be a memorable experience. He can learn to tie knots, set up a tent, shoot archery, all while learning skills that will help him grow into a self-reliant, dependable, and caring individual. Since its beginning, the Cub Scout program has been an educational, family oriented, values-based experience of non stop FUN! In addition to providing a positive place where boys can enjoy safe, wholesome activities, Cub Scouting builds character, improves physical fitness, teaches practical skills, and develops a spirit of community service.

Spending time with your child is the secret to success!

The Core Values of Cub Scouts Since its origin, the Scouting program has been an educational experience concerned with values. In 1910, the first activities for Scouts were designed to build character, physical fitness, practical skills, and service. Character development should extend into every aspect of a boy's life. Character development should also extend into every aspect of Cub Scouting. Cub Scout leaders should strive to use the 12 points of the Scout Law throughout all elements of the program—service projects, ceremonies, games, skits, songs, crafts, and all the other activities enjoyed at den and pack meetings. 1. Trustworthy 2. Loyal 3. Helpful 4. Friendly 5. Courteous 6. Kind

7. Obedient 8. Cheerful 9. Thrifty 10. Brave 11. Clean 12. Reverent

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Purposes of Scouting

Methods of Scouting

The Cub Scouting program has 10 purposes related to the overall mission of the Boy Scouts of America. That mission is to build character, learn citizenship, and develop personal fitness through: 1. Character Development 2. Spiritual Growth 3. Good Citizenship 4. Sportsmanship and Fitness 5. Family Understanding 6. Respectful Relationships 7. Personal Achievement 8. Friendly Service 9. Fun and Adventure 10. Preparation for Boy Scouts

To accomplish these purposes, Cub Scouting uses these methods: 1. Living the Ideals 2. Belonging to a Den 3. Using Advancement 4. Involving Family and Home 5. Participating in Activities 6. Serving Home and Neighborhood 7. Wearing the Uniform 8. Making Character Connections

Cub Scouting Teaches Scout Oath

Scout Law

On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country And to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight

A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave. Clean, Reverent

Boy Scout Motto

Webelos

“Be Prepared.”

Akela Good Leader

WE’ll BE LOyal Scouts

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The Dens & Pack What is a Pack? The Pack consists of boys in 1st through 5th grade. The entire Pack meets once a month. Pack meetings include games, skits, songs, ceremonies, and the presentation of badges the boys have earned that month. Invite the whole family to come and participate! Each Den makes up part of the Pack. The Pack meeting is led by the Cubmaster.

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First Grade: Tiger Den   

Each boy is required to have an adult partner. The Den meets 2-3 times each month. Meetings are based upon adventures from the Tiger Cub handbook.

Second Grade: Wolf Den  

The Den meets 2-3 times each month. Den Meetings include games, crafts, skits, songs, ceremonies, and periodic field trips. The activities are based on the Wolf handbook.

Third Grade: Bear Den   

The Den meets 2-3 times a month. Den Meetings include games, crafts, skits, songs, ceremonies and periodic field trips, all based on the Bear handbook. Tasks get a little harder as they prepare the boys to be Webelos Scouts.

Fourth and Fifth Grade: Webelos Den  

The Den meets 2-3 times a month. Meetings consist of advancement, games, Scout skills, outdoor activities, and ceremonies, designed to prepare boys for the transition into Boy Scouting.

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The Advancement Program Bobcat All boys joining Cub Scouts for the first time, regardless of grade, earn the Bobcat badge by:    

Learning and saying the Scout Oath and Law, with help if needed. Showing the Cub Scout sign, handshake, and salute, and telling what each means. Saying the Boy Scout motto, and telling what it means. Completing, with their parents, age-appropriate exercises to make them aware of, and able to resist, attempts at abuse, including cyber abuse. Upon completion of the Bobcat rank, boys work on ranks based on their grade level.

Tiger (1st grade), Wolf (2nd grade), Bear (3rd grade), Webelos (4th grade), Arrow of Light (5th grade) For all ranks, the basic unit of advancement is the Adventure. An Adventure is an interdisciplinary, theme-based experience, designed to be completed in about 3 den meetings and tied to the desired outcomes of developing character, citizenship, personal fitness, outdoor skills, and leadership. Each rank requires completion of 7 Adventures. Six of the Adventures are based on Den activities. One Adventure, relating to the Scout doing his Duty to God, is to be completed in the family. Upon completion of each Adventure, an immediate recognition is awarded. The rank badge is awarded upon completion of the 7 Adventures. Additional recognition devices can be earned by completing further elective adventures, both in the den and in the family.

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The Pack Leadership  

Every leadership role in the Pack is held by a registered volunteer parnent that has completed a background check and youth protection training. The Pack is run by a Pack Committee:  Meetings are held once a month or more often if needed and led by a Committee Chairman.  The committee is made up of Den Leaders, program chairs, and parents.  The committee finds meeting places, performs record keeping, manages Pack finances, orders badges, maintains pack equipment, helps train leaders, etc.

Cubmaster: Leads the monthly Pack meeting and attends the Pack committee meeting. Helps plan and carry out the Pack program with the help of the Pack leadership.

Committee Chairman: Leads the Pack committee meetings. Helps recruit adult leaders and attends Pack meetings.

Advancement Chairman: Maintains advancement records for the Pack. Orders and obtains all badges and insignia. Attends Pack meetings and committee meetings.

Pack Trainer: Coordinates “Fast Start” training for adults, promotes leader training and Roundtable meeting attendance.

Secretary/ Treasurer: Keeps all records for the Pack, including Pack bank account, financial records, etc. Attends Pack meetings and Pack committee meetings.

Den Leader(s): Leads the Den at weekly Den and monthly Pack meetings. Attends the monthly Pack committee meeting.

Parent Helpers Perform “one shot” program jobs such as coordinating Pack participation in Popcorn sales, Scouting for Food, Pinewood Derby, Blue and Gold Banquet, Day Camps, etc. These jobs are short in duration.

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Other Support for the Pack Chartered Partner 

Each Pack is owned by a Chartered Organization. The Charter Organization approves leadership, helps secure a meeting place and operates the Pack within their procedures and BSA policies. The Charter Organization selects a Chartered Organization Representative who serves as a liaison between the Pack and the organization.

Council 

Each Council helps Chartered Organizations in its geographic area to effectively use the Scouting program and to expand the use of the program to other community groups.

District 

The District is part of the Council that puts on activities, roundtable meetings, fundraising, and recruitment events. The District has a District Executive who supports the Packs, Troops, Crews, Teams, and Posts in their area of service

Commissioners 

Commissioners are district and council leaders who help Scout units succeed. They coach and consult with adult leaders of each individual unit.

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How can you help? Scouting operates through volunteer leadership, and parents are the primary source of leaders in the Scouting program. Volunteering gives you the chance to be a positive influence on your son and the youth in your community.

What do you receive in return? Being a leader is fun, challenging, and rewarding. Leaders find that their experiences in Scouting help them to become better parents through:  Fun and fellowship with other families and sharing their pride in the boys’ accomplishments.  The privilege of helping to enrich and strengthen families.  A chance to help boys learn good citizenship and to help shape them into men who have strength of character and are sensitive to the needs of others.  The opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of boys as they grow strong in mind and body.  Chance to develop your own personal leadership skills.  An opportunity to spend quality time with your son.

You are not alone! Our staff at the Northeast Illinois Council Scout Service Center can help or get you in touch with someone who can: Main phone: 847-433-1813 Website: www.neic.org www.facebook.com/neicbsa      

Roundtable is a monthly leader’s meeting for all adult volunteers in your district. Program Helps, a planning booklet, contains meeting plans for Den and Pack meetings and shows you how to do crafts and games. Many Packs have a library that contains the leader books you need. Your district has a team of volunteers called the District Committee. They develop quality district-wide programs in which boys can participate. Your unit Commissioner is there to help along the way. Online training and resources are available at www.myscouting.org.

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Special Activities Pinewood Derby Parent/son project that builds a race car made from a block of wood based on the boy's design. Boys race their cars against others in their Den or Pack at the Pinewood Derby.

Blue and Gold Banquet Our birthday party for Cub Scouting usually held in February. This is often combined with the cross over ceremony for Webelos into Scouting.

Summer Time Camping The Northeast Illinois Council puts on several different types of camps for Cub Scouts. Check with your leaders to learn more about these opportunities such as Day Camp and Family Camp. Some of these activities often include crafts, nature, sports, BB-guns, archery, and skits.

Service Projects Scouting promotes giving back to the community. One way we do this is through service projects. Some projects are as simple as cleaning the local park. Others are more organized such as Scouting for Food, the yearly food drive to benefit local food pantries.

District and Council Activities The District and Council puts on several activities throughout the year that are fun for your Cub Scouts. Check the Council website for details at www.neic.org and at www.facebook.com/neicbsa

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Directions to Service Center & Scout Store Boy Scouts of America Northeast Illinois Council 2745 Skokie Valley Road Highland Park, IL 60035 Phone: 847-433-1813 Fax: 847-433-2036 www.neic.org www.facebook.com/neicbsa

From the North on Highway 41 Highway 41 South to Route 22 (Half Day Road). Exit Highway 41 on right side. At stop sign, turn left (East) on to Half Day Rd. Turn left (North) at stop light back on to Highway 41 (Skokie Valley Rd). The Service Center is just past Pauly Acura and we share a driveway with Warren Barr Northshore. Turn right into our parking lot. From the South Highway 41 North. Go past Route 22 (Half Day Road) about 2 blocks. The Service Center is just past Pauly Acura and we share a driveway with Warren Barr North Shore. Turn right into our parking lot.

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Locations to get Scouting items

Northeast Illinois Council Scout Store 2745 Skokie Valley Road Highland Park, IL 60035 847-748-9160 Leonard’s Men and Boys 1929 Cherry Ln Suite B Northbrook IL 847-272-5670 Ace Hardware 659 Railroad Ave Round Lake IL 847-546-4668 Jalensky’s Outdoors and Marine 5307 Green Bay Rd Kenosha WI 262-654-2260 Online at www.Scoutstuff.org

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

My Pack number is ___________________________________

My Den number is ____________________________________ My Scouting district is ______________________________ My Council is the ____Northeast Illinois Council_____________ My Den Leader’s name is _______________________________ My Den Leader’s phone number is ________________________ My Den Leader’s email is _______________________________ My Den meets on _____________________________________ My Den meets at _____________________________________ My Cubmaster’s name is _______________________________ My Cubmaster’s phone number is ________________________ My Cubmaster’s email is _______________________________ My Pack meets on ____________________________________ My Pack meets at _____________________________________ My Unit Commissioner’s name is __________________________

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