We want you and your son to have an excellent Cub Scouting adventure here at Pack 519. In order to help your understanding of the pack and the Cub Scout program, we have created this guide to help explain things. If you have any further questions, please contact any adult leader. You can also find answers to many common questions on our website. The calendar section of our website is constantly updated with upcoming events and the “Resources” section also has many links that can assist you. 

Purposes of Cub Scouting 

Cub Scouting is a year-round, family-oriented part of the Boy Scouts of America program designed for boys who are in first through fifth grades (or are 7, 8, 9, and 10 years of age). Parents, leaders, and organizations work together to achieve the 10 purposes of Cub Scouting: 

• Character Development 

• Spiritual Growth 

• Good Citizenship 

• Sportsmanship and Fitness

• Family Understanding 

• Respectful Relationships 

• Personal Achievement 

• Friendly Service 

• Fun and Adventure 

• Preparation for Boy Scouts 

All the activities leaders plan and boys enjoy should relate to one or more of these purposes. 

Cub Scouting encourages closeness to family. The program will give you opportunities to take part in activities with your son that you normally couldn't do. It provides a positive way for parent and son to grow closer together, and encourages you to spend quality time together. In this way, Cub Scouting is a program for the entire family, and your involvement is vital to the program’s success.

Some specific things you can do to help your son in Cub Scouting are: 

• Work with your son on projects

• Help your Cub Scout along the advancement trail

• Participate in monthly pack meetings

• Attend parent-leader conferences

• Go on family camp outs with your son

• Provide support for your son’s den and pack

• Volunteer to be a leader

The Cub Scout years are developing years for young boys, falling between the dependence of early childhood and the relative independence of early adolescence. As he grows, your son will gain the ability to do more things “on his own,” but at this stage of his development, your help is critical.

All Cub Scout leaders have certain responsibilities to the boys in Cub Scouts. Each leader should: 

• Respect boys’ rights as individuals and treat them as such. In addition to common-sense approaches this means that all parents/guardians should have reviewed How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide located in the front of the handbook, and all youth leaders must have taken the BSA’s Youth Protection training. 

• See that boys find the excitement, fun, and adventure that they expected when they joined Cub Scouting.

• Provide enthusiasm, encouragement, and praise for boys’ efforts and achievements. 

• Develop among the boys a feeling of togetherness and team spirit that gives them security and pride. 

• Provide opportunities for boys to experience new dimensions in their world. 

• Your time is valuable. More than ever, today’s families struggle to find time to spend together. Cub Scouting helps to support your family by providing ready-made opportunities for you and your son to do things together. 

• Your son needs to belong to a group of boys his own age. Through this sense of belonging, he builds his self-esteem and learns to get along with others. As a parent, you want to be assured that the groups that your boy joins will teach values consistent with good citizenship, character development, and physical fitness. The Boy Scouts of America has been weaving these lifetime values into fun and educational activities since 1910. 

• In a society where your son is taught that winning is everything, Cub Scouting teaches him to “do his best” and to be helpful to others. 

• Scouting teaches family values and works to strengthen your relationship with your son. Scouting activities can bring added value to the time you already have with your son. But we know that boys do not join Cub Scouting just to get their character built. Boys join because it is fun.