Information for Parents of Cub Scouts in Pack 373!
As a parent, all levels of Cub Scouts requires you to be actively involved in your boys cub scouting experience. In Scouting, you are known as Akela and you are responsible for helping your son complete requirements, achievements and signing their book.
Each year your son will receive a new rank book. The Tiger Cub Book has some general information about Cubscouts and describes the advancement process and awards available. For those of you new to Scouting you will need to review the Bobcat Badge Section with your son. This is the first badge to be earned and a requirement for participating in Cubscouts. This is also your first opportunity to utilize Scouttrack to enter the achievements completed (see below).
The books also contain the description of the achievements to earn the rank badges. Some of these activities may be completed in Den meetings and some you will complete at home. The electives for each rank year are also listed in the book. Boys earn beads corresponding to a certain number of electives completed. In addition to actives you (or the Den) do with your Scout You can review the list of electives for activities you completed after June 1st of the current scout year and mark those as complete.
Other achievements scouts can earn are through the Cubscout Academic and Sports Program. The available awards are described in the link below and are entered through Scouttrack.
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/CubScouts/UniformsAndAwards/sanda.aspx
Additionally, Pack 373 participates in activities sponsored by the National Pike District. An e-mail with the details on signing up and the flyer describing the event will be distributed.
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
Pack 373 will utilize Howard County School System cancellation announcements . Any time school is canceled, closed early or after school activities are canceled the Pack will also cancel events that were planned for that day or evening. For outdoor events the Pack will send one message approximately 1 hour before the event confirming the status.
This does not apply to events that are run by the National Pike District. Pack 373 has no control over the cancellation of those events and many (like the Klondike Derby) are advertised in advance as rain or shine or snow, however the District has re-scheduled the Klondike Derby in years past due to snow because of transportation and parking issues.
ScoutTrack:
Pack 373 utilizes Scout Track which allows parents and scouts to track achievements for your scout's rank advancement, electives, and academic and sports program beltloops and pins. These achievements correspond to the activities in the rank book for each scout.
You will receive a log in when your registration is complete. The advancement coordinator utilizes the reporting feature in the software to determine which awards to procure for each pack meeting. The deadline for entering awards prior to a pack meeting is generally 10 days but may vary. The link below is to a Scouttrack users manual.
http://www.pack518.org/Media/Documents/ScoutTrack_User_Manual_04Sep07.pdf
Adult Volunteers for Den Meetings and Cubscout Outings:
Den Meetings:
CubScout leaders are required to complete the Youth Protection training offered by BSA as part of their application process. At each Den Meeting a minimum of two adults that have completed youth protection training must be present at all times (assuming that each scout is not with a parent/guardian). If the group splits up (i.e. uses two classrooms if space if available) then each group shall be supervised by a minimum of two adults that have completed youth protection training. If the meetings are at the church it is acceptable to conduct an activity where each Scout is supervised by their parent or guardian in the presence of one trained adult, as is the case for Tiger Den meetings.
Cub Scout Outings:
Family Outings: Family outings include Pack Meetings or Den Meeting where the parent or guardian for each Scout is responsible for providing transportation to the event and supervision of their scout during their event. Generally, these outings are conducted at public places (library, museum, park etc.) and the Scout Leader organizes the event or activity in advance and during the activity the Leaders are there to participate with their child as a parent.
Tour Permit Outings: A Tour Permit is required for outings that requires travel outside of Howard County or will include Scouts that will participate in the activity without direct supervision by a parent/guardian. A minimum of two adults that have completed youth protection training are required to participate in the event and the BSA rules for two deep leadership will apply. Any adults that will accompany a group on a Tour Permit Outing where Scouts without a parent/guardian will be attending must complete BSA youth protection training to participate as chaperons.
In some cases a Pack Leader may complete a Tour Permit for an event that is outside of Howard County as required to comply with the BSA charter requirements, and advertise the trip as a “Family Outing.” The requirement that all adults on the trip be youth protection trained will not apply in this case due to the fact that each Scout will have a responsible adult accompanying them. Tiger Den Outings would also fall under this category.
Camping Trips:
Camping trips for Tiger, Wolf or Bear Dens are not endorsed by Pack 373. Webelos Den leaders are required to complete a tour permit for camping trips with their den. Any camping trips that occur without a completed tour permit will not be endorsed by or associated with Pack 373.
The Pack will complete a Tour Permit for Family Camping and all Scouts and their families are welcome to participate. For this event each scout must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times and the requirements for “Family Events” indicated above will apply. Additionally, the BSA rule stating that Scouts may not share a tent with an adult other than their parent/guardian will also apply.
Scout Store Locations and Hours of Operation:
The Scout Shop in Anne Arundel County
Hours of Operation
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 9:00am — 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 9:00am — 7:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am — 3:00pm
Scout Shop in Baltimore City (Across the street from the Council Office)
Hours of Operation
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9:00am — 5:00pm
Thursday: 9:00am — 7:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am — 3:00pm