CUB SCOUT PACK 232 PARENTS’ HANDBOOK 2013 1
| CUB SCOUT PACK 232 PARENTS’ HANDBOOK 2013 1 |
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History Cub Scouts, a division of the Boy Scouts of America, is a program that has been teaching boys the importance of family, fitness and civic responsibility since 1932. Cub Scouts range from Tiger Cubs (1st Grade) through Webelos (5th grade). Cub Scout Pack 232 has been serving scouts in the Glenmont area since January 1, 1955. We are chartered by the Selkirk Fire Department No. 2, located in Glenmont. Pack 232 is a member of the Fort Orange District of the Twin Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Purpose of Cub Scouting First and foremost, our philosophy in Pack 232 is to ensure the boys have FUN and form friendships. We also strongly emphasize the Cub Scout’s motto to “Do Your Best”, and encourage the boys to live and uphold the Core Values of Cub Scouting, which are: Citizenship: Contributing service and showing responsibility to local, state, and national communities. 2
| History Cub Scouts, a division of the Boy Scouts of America, is a program that has been teaching boys the importance of family, fitness and civic responsibility since 1932. Cub Scouts range from Tiger Cubs (1st Grade) through Webelos (5th grade). Cub Scout Pack 232 has been serving scouts in the Glenmont area since January 1, 1955. We are chartered by the Selkirk Fire Department No. 2, located in Glenmont. Pack 232 is a member of the Fort Orange District of the Twin Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Purpose of Cub Scouting First and foremost, our philosophy in Pack 232 is to ensure the boys have FUN and form friendships. We also strongly emphasize the Cub Scout’s motto to “Do Your Best”, and encourage the boys to live and uphold the Core Values of Cub Scouting, which are: Citizenship: Contributing service and showing responsibility to local, state, and national communities. 2 |
Compassion: Being kind and considerate, and showing concern for the wellbeing of others. Cooperation: Being helpful and working together with others toward a common goal. Courage: Being brave and doing what is right regardless of our fears, the difficulties, or the consequences. Faith: Having inner strength and confidence based on our trust in God. Health and Fitness: Being personally committed to keeping our minds and bodies clean and fit. Honesty: Telling the truth and being worthy of trust. Perseverance: Sticking with something and not giving up, even if it is difficult. Positive Attitude: Being cheerful and setting our minds to look for and find the best in all situations. Resourcefulness: Using human and other resources to their fullest. Respect: Showing regard for the worth of something or someone. Responsibility: Fulfilling our duty to God, country, other people, and ourselves. Scouting provides a sense of purpose to the boys and, more importantly, the time it provides for bonding between the parents and their 3
| Compassion: Being kind and considerate, and showing concern for the wellbeing of others. Cooperation: Being helpful and working together with others toward a common goal. Courage: Being brave and doing what is right regardless of our fears, the difficulties, or the consequences. Faith: Having inner strength and confidence based on our trust in God. Health and Fitness: Being personally committed to keeping our minds and bodies clean and fit. Honesty: Telling the truth and being worthy of trust. Perseverance: Sticking with something and not giving up, even if it is difficult. Positive Attitude: Being cheerful and setting our minds to look for and find the best in all situations. Resourcefulness: Using human and other resources to their fullest. Respect: Showing regard for the worth of something or someone. Responsibility: Fulfilling our duty to God, country, other people, and ourselves. Scouting provides a sense of purpose to the boys and, more importantly, the time it provides for bonding between the parents and their 3 |
sons during Scouting activities. Scouts make numerous friends through Scouting. At the same time, they learn many important life skills. The parents also make friends through the Pack. It is amazing to see the boys go from young Tigers to Webelos and “graduate” on to Boy Scouts. Many of the great leaders in our country were Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts. The Structure of Cub Scouting All of our activities in some way relate back to these Core Values. Our Pack activities generally run from late September through early May. The structure of the Pack is broken down into “Pack” meetings/activities and “Den” meetings/activities. The boys are organized into Dens according to their grade level. The Dens are as follows: “Tigers” First Grade; “Wolfs” Second Grade; “Bears” Third Grade; “Webelos I” Fourth Grade; “Webelos II” Fifth Grade. All of the Dens together constitute the “Pack”. The boys generally meet once or twice a month with their Dens to work on and go over the skills and achievements necessary to obtain their ranks. Additionally, generally once a month we will have a Pack meeting, generally at Glenmont Elementary. The purpose of the Pack meetings is to have the boys report to the Pack regarding their activities for the last month, recognize the boys for their Scouting achievements (typically with patches, pins or other items), to have an informational or educational guest speaker, and to have the boys play games that relate back to our Core Values. Some of our past guest speakers/visitors have included: firemen from the local fire department, an instructor on Internet Safety, EMTs, staff from the Five Rivers Center, a policeman and his police dog, the “bug guy”, a Tae Kwon Do instructor, a video game maker, local government officials and a snowplow from the Town Highway Department. We also introduce the boys to careers, give demonstrations about camping and conduct other fun activities. 4
| sons during Scouting activities. Scouts make numerous friends through Scouting. At the same time, they learn many important life skills. The parents also make friends through the Pack. It is amazing to see the boys go from young Tigers to Webelos and “graduate” on to Boy Scouts. Many of the great leaders in our country were Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts. The Structure of Cub Scouting All of our activities in some way relate back to these Core Values. Our Pack activities generally run from late September through early May. The structure of the Pack is broken down into “Pack” meetings/activities and “Den” meetings/activities. The boys are organized into Dens according to their grade level. The Dens are as follows: “Tigers” First Grade; “Wolfs” Second Grade; “Bears” Third Grade; “Webelos I” Fourth Grade; “Webelos II” Fifth Grade. All of the Dens together constitute the “Pack”. The boys generally meet once or twice a month with their Dens to work on and go over the skills and achievements necessary to obtain their ranks. Additionally, generally once a month we will have a Pack meeting, generally at Glenmont Elementary. The purpose of the Pack meetings is to have the boys report to the Pack regarding their activities for the last month, recognize the boys for their Scouting achievements (typically with patches, pins or other items), to have an informational or educational guest speaker, and to have the boys play games that relate back to our Core Values. Some of our past guest speakers/visitors have included: firemen from the local fire department, an instructor on Internet Safety, EMTs, staff from the Five Rivers Center, a policeman and his police dog, the “bug guy”, a Tae Kwon Do instructor, a video game maker, local government officials and a snowplow from the Town Highway Department. We also introduce the boys to careers, give demonstrations about camping and conduct other fun activities. 4 |
Special Events The Pack also engages in several “special events” throughout the year. We kick off our year with a “Fall Back to Scouting” event at a local park which includes a rockclimbing wall, games, treats and other fun activities. Also, it wouldn’t be Scouting if there was not a camping event! Every winter, we go camping (in cabins) at local campsites, usually within an hour or so of the Albany area. The boys have a great time on this camping trip. Activities include hiking, sledding, skating, games and movies in the cabins. Other special events we have done in the past have included sleepovers on the USS Slater, at the Valley Cats and at the CMOST Museum, tours of the Times Union newspaper building, local TV stations and the State Capitol, visits to Saratoga Battlefield and Howe Caverns. We also usually do 2 hikes a year together as a Pack, and we try to make them easy enough for the whole family to do together. Further, Community Service is an integral part of Scouting. Every year, we conduct a “Scouting for Food” food drive, in which we collect nonperishable goods for the local food pantry just before Thanksgiving. We also engage in a number of service projects, such as the Big Backyard Cleanup, Toys for Tots and Memorial Day Flag laying at a local cemetery. 5
| Special Events The Pack also engages in several “special events” throughout the year. We kick off our year with a “Fall Back to Scouting” event at a local park which includes a rockclimbing wall, games, treats and other fun activities. Also, it wouldn’t be Scouting if there was not a camping event! Every winter, we go camping (in cabins) at local campsites, usually within an hour or so of the Albany area. The boys have a great time on this camping trip. Activities include hiking, sledding, skating, games and movies in the cabins. Other special events we have done in the past have included sleepovers on the USS Slater, at the Valley Cats and at the CMOST Museum, tours of the Times Union newspaper building, local TV stations and the State Capitol, visits to Saratoga Battlefield and Howe Caverns. We also usually do 2 hikes a year together as a Pack, and we try to make them easy enough for the whole family to do together. Further, Community Service is an integral part of Scouting. Every year, we conduct a “Scouting for Food” food drive, in which we collect nonperishable goods for the local food pantry just before Thanksgiving. We also engage in a number of service projects, such as the Big Backyard Cleanup, Toys for Tots and Memorial Day Flag laying at a local cemetery. 5 |
And of course, every year, we conduct the world famous Pinewood Derby, in which the boys make their own cars and compete in speed and style categories! The boys love the Derby! Finally, we end our year with a “Blue and Gold” picnic, in which the whole family is invited. Adult Leadership Adult leadership for the Pack is entirely made up of Parent volunteers. Each Parent Leader undergoes a thorough application and review process with the National Boy Scouts organization and our local governing council, the Twin Rivers Council. 6
| And of course, every year, we conduct the world famous Pinewood Derby, in which the boys make their own cars and compete in speed and style categories! The boys love the Derby! Finally, we end our year with a “Blue and Gold” picnic, in which the whole family is invited. Adult Leadership Adult leadership for the Pack is entirely made up of Parent volunteers. Each Parent Leader undergoes a thorough application and review process with the National Boy Scouts organization and our local governing council, the Twin Rivers Council. 6 |
The Pack is run by the Pack Committee consisting of a Pack Committee Chairperson; the Cub Master; the Pack Advancement Chair; the Pack Treasurer; Event Committee Chairs and Den Leaders. But Cub Scouts could not happen without the help of Parent Volunteers, and we ask all of our Parents to sit on a Committee or assist in some way throughout the year. Membership/Dues/Fundraising To become a member of our Pack, you will have to fill out a Boy Scouts of America membership application. Dues are $75.00 for new Scouts, and $60.00 for returning Scouts. Dues cover basic Pack expenses, such as space rentals at the schools, insurance coverage, and registration and operational fees with the National and Local Councils. Also, the dues cover the cost of a subscription to Boy’s Life, the Boy Scouts monthly magazine for kids. If your family can not afford the cost of our dues, the Pack will cover those expenses. We do not turn away any boy in our community who wants to join our Pack but can not because of financial hardship. In order to have the funds to do all the great events we do all year , however, we have to fundraise. The Pack’s major fundraiser each year is selling “Trail’s End” Popcorn (coming a variety of flavors), which is the traditional fundraiser for Scout Packs and Troops across the country. This 7
| The Pack is run by the Pack Committee consisting of a Pack Committee Chairperson; the Cub Master; the Pack Advancement Chair; the Pack Treasurer; Event Committee Chairs and Den Leaders. But Cub Scouts could not happen without the help of Parent Volunteers, and we ask all of our Parents to sit on a Committee or assist in some way throughout the year. Membership/Dues/Fundraising To become a member of our Pack, you will have to fill out a Boy Scouts of America membership application. Dues are $75.00 for new Scouts, and $60.00 for returning Scouts. Dues cover basic Pack expenses, such as space rentals at the schools, insurance coverage, and registration and operational fees with the National and Local Councils. Also, the dues cover the cost of a subscription to Boy’s Life, the Boy Scouts monthly magazine for kids. If your family can not afford the cost of our dues, the Pack will cover those expenses. We do not turn away any boy in our community who wants to join our Pack but can not because of financial hardship. In order to have the funds to do all the great events we do all year , however, we have to fundraise. The Pack’s major fundraiser each year is selling “Trail’s End” Popcorn (coming a variety of flavors), which is the traditional fundraiser for Scout Packs and Troops across the country. This 7 |
fundraiser runs from late August to the end of October. The boys are given prize incentives to get a higher levels of sales. We do expect every family to sell a certain level of popcorn (since we only get about ⅓ of the sales proceeds), or otherwise make a donation directly to the Pack. Uniforms/Advancement Books/Other Expenses Just like other “teams”, part of the Cub Scouting experience is the uniform. We expect the boys to wear the uniform at all official Scout events. The basic uniform for Tigers, Wolfs and Bears consists of a blue Cub Scout button up shirt, the Den hat (Tigers orange; Wolfs yellow; Bears light blue), the “neckerchief” and the Den slide for the neckerchief. The basic Webelos uniform consists of a tan shirt Cub Scout shirt, Webelos hat, neckerchief and slide. You also have to buy several patches to put on the shirt, including the Twin Rivers Council Patch, Boy Scouts world patch and our Pack and Den numbers. We do not require the boys to buy the official Scout pants. All of these items will cost approximately $75.00, and can be purchased at the Twin Rivers Scouting store on Washington Avenue Ext. in Albany or online at www.scoutstuff.org. Once you buy the shirts and patches, they will last for several years. The hats, neckerchiefs and slides change every year. Since we have many Alumni, sometimes shirts and other uniform items are available from older Scouts. 8
| fundraiser runs from late August to the end of October. The boys are given prize incentives to get a higher levels of sales. We do expect every family to sell a certain level of popcorn (since we only get about ⅓ of the sales proceeds), or otherwise make a donation directly to the Pack. Uniforms/Advancement Books/Other Expenses Just like other “teams”, part of the Cub Scouting experience is the uniform. We expect the boys to wear the uniform at all official Scout events. The basic uniform for Tigers, Wolfs and Bears consists of a blue Cub Scout button up shirt, the Den hat (Tigers orange; Wolfs yellow; Bears light blue), the “neckerchief” and the Den slide for the neckerchief. The basic Webelos uniform consists of a tan shirt Cub Scout shirt, Webelos hat, neckerchief and slide. You also have to buy several patches to put on the shirt, including the Twin Rivers Council Patch, Boy Scouts world patch and our Pack and Den numbers. We do not require the boys to buy the official Scout pants. All of these items will cost approximately $75.00, and can be purchased at the Twin Rivers Scouting store on Washington Avenue Ext. in Albany or online at www.scoutstuff.org. Once you buy the shirts and patches, they will last for several years. The hats, neckerchiefs and slides change every year. Since we have many Alumni, sometimes shirts and other uniform items are available from older Scouts. 8 |
You will also have to a Den handbook that sets forth the advancement requirements for each year of Scouts (Tigers, Wolfs etc.). These books are also available at the store and online, and cost between $7 and $9 dollars. Communications/Website Pack 232 does have a website, www.pack232.com. It is a members only site, so you have to join to gain access. However, you can see our homepage by going to the site. It is our website that provides our Pack with its primary form of communications. We list our Pack roster on the site, have a calendar of all upcoming events listed by Pack and by Den, and we have links to photos of our events. Once a week, the website sends out to all parents in our Pack an “EBlast” that reminds you of upcoming events and provides other helpful information. 9
| You will also have to a Den handbook that sets forth the advancement requirements for each year of Scouts (Tigers, Wolfs etc.). These books are also available at the store and online, and cost between $7 and $9 dollars. Communications/Website Pack 232 does have a website, www.pack232.com. It is a members only site, so you have to join to gain access. However, you can see our homepage by going to the site. It is our website that provides our Pack with its primary form of communications. We list our Pack roster on the site, have a calendar of all upcoming events listed by Pack and by Den, and we have links to photos of our events. Once a week, the website sends out to all parents in our Pack an “EBlast” that reminds you of upcoming events and provides other helpful information. 9 |
Other Information/Resources The Twin Rivers Council (the local Scouting governing organization) runs many other Scout activities and camps that any member of our Pack is welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.trcscouting.org. There are many other great Scouting resources and informational sites on the Internet: Boy Scouts of America website www.scouting.org www.beascout.org www.scoutstuff.org www.boyscouttrail.com Questions If you have any questions, please contact our Cub Master, Peter Lauricella, at (518) 3910569 or peter.lauricella@wilsonelser.com; or llaurice@nycap.rr.com. 10
| Other Information/Resources The Twin Rivers Council (the local Scouting governing organization) runs many other Scout activities and camps that any member of our Pack is welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.trcscouting.org. There are many other great Scouting resources and informational sites on the Internet: Boy Scouts of America website www.scouting.org www.beascout.org www.scoutstuff.org www.boyscouttrail.com Questions If you have any questions, please contact our Cub Master, Peter Lauricella, at (518) 3910569 or peter.lauricella@wilsonelser.com; or llaurice@nycap.rr.com. 10 |
Original PDF: Cubscoutparentshandbook.pdf