Here is a PDF version of the Parent Handbook.
Table of Contents
Welcome to Cub Scout Pack 77
We would like to welcome everyone to another exciting new year at Pack 77. We have a great year planned and look forward to having you and your son join us in this upcoming year. We have created this handbook in order to help your family get the most of your Scouting year.
Chartered Organization:
Covenant United Methodist Church
6824 Tuckaseegee Road
Charlotte, NC 28214
District: Hornet’s Nest
Web Site: www.hornetsnest.org
Council: Mecklenburg County Council
1410 East Seventh Street
704-333-5471
Web Site: www.mccscouting.org
Meeting Day & time: Tuesday night @ 7:00 pm
Pack Meetings: last Tuesday of month
As a parent you want your son to grow up to be a person of worth, who is a self reliant, dependable and caring individual. Scouting has these same goals in mind for him. Since 1910 scouting has been weaving lifetime values into fun and educational activities designed to assist parents in strengthening character, developing good citizenship, enhancing physical fitness, and building self-esteem and ethical values.
Imagine a program that can help your son learn, grow, and mature while he is having fun. There are activities in which you and he can participate together with the rest of the family and get to know each other even better. This is exactly what Scouting is. Every activity gives you and your son the chance to discover and share together.
What does your son learn in Scouting? Well, it is a lot more than crafts, games, and outdoor skills. All of the Cub Scout programs in which you and your son will participate are carefully designed to teach your son something he will use throughout his life. Every activity is specially designed for your son’s age, development, and personal needs. Here are just a few of the things your son will gain through Cub Scouting:
In a society where your son is often taught that winning is everything. Cub Scouting teaches him to “do his best” and be helpful to others as expressed in the Cub Scout Promise. These values help your son make good decisions throughout his lifetime and give him confidence as he becomes an adult leader of tomorrow.
With all the negative influences in today’s society, Scouting provides your son with a positive peer group and a program that is fun, adventurous and helps him to “be prepared” to shape his own future. And the best thing about it all is that you do, learn, and experience the program along with your son, making it all the more special and valuable through your involvement in Scouting with him!
Scouting is family values…but boys don’t join scouting just to get their character built – they join because it is fun.
SCOUTING IS FUN WITH A PURPOSE!
Cub Scouting uses the following seven specific methods to achieve Scouting’s aims:
Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, based Cub Scouting on one of the stories in Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book. It was called “Mowgli’s Brothers.” The black panther Bagheera is the mighty hunter who teaches the cubs the skills of the jungle. In cub Scouting we use the symbol of the Bobcat. The Bobcat rank is for all boys who join Cub Scouting.
Scouting is Family Oriented:
Activities are intended for the whole family.
You work with your son on his various award requirements. Many of the skills he will learn are family oriented.
The Cub Scout Pack:
Your boy is a member of a Cub Scout Pack. We are Pack 77.
A Pack is made up of dens (see next section).
Our Pack has a meeting of all the dens the last Tuesday of the month. All Cub Scout families attend.
The monthly Pack meeting is led by the Cub Master.
The Pack meeting is the climax of the month’s den meetings and activities.
Pack meetings have games, skits, songs, ceremonies and presentations of badges that the boys earned that month.
The Cub Scout Den:
Your boy is a member of a Cub Scout den.
The den meets once a week- (every Tuesday - except for the last Tuesday of the month-which is a pack meeting).
The den is led by a Den Leader. (In Tiger Cubs each family will help with meetings).
The Den Leader is usually assisted by an assistant den leader.
Den meetings have games, crafts, songs and lots of fun.
The Chartering Organization:
Our chartered organization is Covenant United Methodist Church.
They approve all leadership in the pack, provide a meeting place, provides use of vans, and gives the pack support.
Please inform the den leader of any special needs that your son may have. The Scout Leader should be aware of any complication that can occur due to a medical/physical condition. We will do all we can to accommodate any need. Please inform us if a Scout has any of the following conditions: diabetes, seizures, allergies, asthma, bleeding disorders, learning disabilities or ambulation difficulties. This information is vital to ensure optimum care should a medical/emergency situation arise.
Two Deep Leadership – Two registered adult leaders or one registered adult leader and a parent
of a participant, one of whom must be at least 21 years of age, are required on all meetings, trips and outings.
No One-on-One Contact – One-on-one contact between adults and youth members is not permitted
in any situation that requires a personal conference. The meeting should take place in view of other
adults and youths.
Respect of Privacy – Adult members must respect the privacy of youth members in situations
such as changing clothes or taking showers at camp. Adults should intrude only to the extent that health and
safety require. They should also protect their own privacy in similar situations.
Separate Accommodations – When camping NO youth is permitted to sleep in the tent of an
adult other than his own parent or guardian.
Proper Preparation for Activities – All activities should consider the capabilities of the
participating Cub Scouts. No activity should be undertaken without the proper preparation, equipment,
clothing, supervision, and safety measures.
No Secret Organizations – The B.S.A. does not recognize any secret organizations as part
of its program. All activities are open to observation by parents and leaders.
Appropriate Attire – Proper clothing for activities is required.
Constructive Discipline – discipline used in Cub Scouting should be constructive and
reflect Scouting’s values. Corporate punishment is never permitted.
Hazing Prohibited – Physical hazing and initiations are prohibited and may not be
included as part of any Scouting activity.
Parents are a critical element in the education of Cub Scouts and child abuse. The BSA publishes a booklet, “How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide,” that is inserted in the front of each Cub Scout handbook. The BSA also has an award-winning video, “It Happened to Me,” for use by Cub Scout Packs and Dens. This video about child sexual abuse is available from the Mecklenburg County Council Service center. Training for leaders is also available.
Scouting operates through volunteer leadership. Volunteer leaders are an example of Scouting’s principle of service to others. Naturally, parents are the primary source of leaders in the Scouting program. You volunteer not only to serve Scouting, but also to help your son and his friends, and to have the chance to be a positive influence on the youth in your community.
What do you receive in return?
Being a leader is fun, challenging and rewarding. Leaders find that their experience helps them to
become better parents. The following are some of the many dividends that will enrich your life as
you dedicate your time, talent and enthusiasm to Scouting.
Volunteer positions in the pack are held by adults like you, who work directly with the boys and organize the activities in which they participate.
Pinewood Derby
The Pinewood Derby is an exciting project where a parent helps the boy build a model race car made from
a block of wood. Your pack leader will give you more details, including when the big race will be held.
Scouting for Food
Food drive is held to benefit Loaves and Fishes here in Charlotte. It is part of a nation-wide
program with the Boy Scouts of America to help feed the hungry.
Scout Sunday
Pack attends Covenant United Methodist Church. This is a way for the Pack to show their appreciation
to the church for their support.
Blue and Gold Banquet
This party celebrates the birthday of Cub Scouting and is usually held in February. The banquet
is a covered dinner, with a dessert contest and includes awards and special program of entertainment.
Summer Camping Programs
Depending upon the age of your son, he can attend Cub Scout Day Camp, Cub Resident Camp or Webelos Resident Camp.
These programs are held at Council Camps or in the local area. All programs offer exciting summertime
activities that include swimming, crafts, games, nature, bb guns, archery, sports, songs and skits. During
Day Camp boys return home every day. But during Cub and Webelos Resident Camp, they camp overnight in tents.
District and Council Events
Our council is divided into districts (geographical areas). Each district conducts activities for
Cub Scouts, some are just day events and some overnight camping. Some events are sponsored by the
Council and are open to all districts.
Trails End Popcorn Sales
This is our major fundraiser. Sales usually start in October or November and popcorn is delivered in
time for Christmas.
Boys’ Life
This is a magazine for boys and adults. Boys’ Life has interesting features on Scouting, sports, hobbies, magic, science, and history. There are also Jokes, comics, and short stories. Subscription is $12.00 per year for 12 issues.
The climax of the den meetings should be the pack meeting. It is here that the dens get to show off what they have been working on and what they have learned. It is also our chance to recognize all the boys for their accomplishments within the dens and to hand out all advancement badges that were earned during the month.
It is important for our unit to maintain good attendance at the monthly pack meetings. By doing so, we are providing opportunity for the boys to broaden their world, and it goes without saying, that without monthly participation from the dens, we would not have a pack.
Your responsibilities at the pack meeting are quite simple…..
First and Foremost: BE THERE!!!
Secondly: Each month a den will be assigned certain duties. It may be room set-up,
clean up, helping to re-order the room when necessary, etc. Sharing the load in this manner will help
to lighten the load of the pack leaders.
While pack and den leaders focus on the big picture (character building, citizenship, personal fitness, etc.), the boys focus on something else – AWARDS.
Parents should assist the den leader in tracking their son’s advancement toward earning each rank. The den leader has the responsibility of reporting all awards to the pack advancement chair. It is the parent’s responsibility to report advancement credit to the Den Leader. Please make sure that your Scout receives all the awards that he has worked so hard to earn.
Cub Scouts may earn awards and recognition in several special areas. Several of these are: World Conservation Award, Crime Prevention, Summertime Award, etc.
The BSA Religious Award program may be completed as a den activity or individually. The award requires a special workbook (available at the Scout Shop) and a church mentor (usually a minister or priest) to monitor the Scout’s progress. The requirements are different for each religion, so please consult the workbook for your faith for more details. Upon completion the religious award can be presented either during a Pack meeting, or during a church service of the Scout’s faith.
The Cub Scouts Academics and Sports Program is one method of addressing the third aim of Scouting: the development of physical, mental and emotional fitness. Fitness includes the body (well-tuned healthy), the mind (able to think and solve problems), and the emotions (self-control, courage, and self-respect). As in most activities in Cub Scouting, this is not meant to be a highly competitive program, instead, the boys are encouraged to DO THEIR BEST.
The Academic and Sports Program is an Optional program for all Cub Scouts. It is not part of the normal requirements towards ranks, except where used in obtaining various Webelos activity badges and Wolf Elective #20 (Sports). Its purpose is to assist the Scouts in learning a new skill, or improving one he already possesses.
A variety of recognition items are available for the boys who participate in the program. (Adults are NOT awarded with belt loops or pins.)
Belt loops are awarded to boys who complete the three belt loop requirements in an academic subject or sport. Academic belt loops are gold, and Sports belt loops are silver (except for the Archery and BB-gun Shooting belt loops, which are brass colored).
For communication purposes, we collect phone numbers and email addresses from our families. This information and any other is used only for the pack. If phone numbers and/or email addresses come into your possession as a leader or parent in this pack, we ask that you respect the privacy of the families. This information is used only for communication regarding Scouting. Please do not use any pack information for commercial purposes.
On occasion, pictures of your Scout may be taken at pack or den meetings or activities as ways of preserving memories for our Scouts and their families. We will not use these pictures in promotional material about the pack, or on the pack’s web site without parental permission. No Scout will be identified by their full name in pack promotional material or on the web site. If you request it pictures of your Scout will be removed from pack communications.
Questions or concerns about pack operation or procedures should be presented to the pack committee.
Your Den Leader, the Cubmaster, or the Assistant Cubmaster can help you with questions about advancement and awards, uniforms and your role in your son’s Scouting experience. If he or she doesn’t know the answer, they know the proper resources to consult to help you.
Funds to operate the Mecklenburg County Council come from several sources:
With the funds, the council provides such things as:
When a boy signs up for Cub Scouts the fees are based on a yearly amount. This amount varies depending on the time of year a boy signs up.
Our pack pays for all boys to reregister yearly. But each family is responsible for payment of their Boys’ Life subscription.
The Cub Scout uniform gives your son, group identity and a place to display his award patches. One bit of advice: BUY BIG. Your son will be wearing his Scout shirt for at least two years (and will grow a lot!).
The uniform makes us all feel part of the group. It erases any differences between us – in uniform we are all Scouts and Scouters, regardless of financial situation, religious persuasion, age, gender or race.
The uniform shirt is the only place on which Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts may properly display rank advancement. As such, it constitutes the minimum necessary purchase for a Scout uniform.
Tiger, Wolves, and Bears wear a blue uniform. Webelos wear either the blue or khaki shirt and olive pants. Each group has a neckerchief and slide to keep it in place. Other optional items are belts and caps. Dark navy pants or blue jeans are an practical alternative to the official Scout pants. For the Webelos the alternative is dark green pants.
Insignia are the ‘patches’ affixed to a uniform that indicate membership, rank and advancement.
Membership insignia are purchased with the uniform and affixed by the Scout and his family. Rank and
advancement insignia are purchased by the pack and presented to the Scouts at pack meetings. These
are subsequently attached to the uniform to show the Scout’s advancement progress.
The following are needed for a new scout:
All of these items should be purchased when purchasing a uniform shirt. Rank and advancement insignia for these Scouts include a variety of badges, pins, belt loops and patches that hang on the right pocket button. All of these are supplied by the pack.
Scout uniforms and insignia may be purchased at:
The Scout Shop – Mecklenburg County Council
1410 East 7th Street
Charlotte, NC 28204
704-333-5471
(Corner of Independence & 7th St)
Or
Carolina Scout Shop
2121 Westinghouse Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28273
704-583-2627
(almost at the corner of Hwy. 49 & Westinghouse Blvd.)
“Experienced” uniforms can often be found at second- hand (thrift) stores and garage sales. You can also purchase them cheaper on eBay. Also the Pack keeps a used uniform closet that parents can turn in uniforms that no longer fit and sometimes find ones to purchase cheaply.
Cub Scouts
Tiger: 1st Grade Wolf: 2nd Grade Bear: 3rd Grade
Webelos
4th & 5th Grades
My Pack number is: 77.
My Scouting District is: Hornet’s Nest
My Council is: Mecklenburg County Council
My Pack meets on: Tuesday Nights @ 7:00 pm
My Pack meets at: Covenant United Methodist Church, 6824 Tuckaseegee Road
My Cubmaster’s Name is: Don Eaker My Cubmaster’s Phone Number is: 704-394-3772 My Assistant Cubmaster’s Name is: Susan Eaker My Assistant Cubmaster’s Phone Number is: 704-394-3772 My Den is:_______________ My Den Number is:_______________ My Den Leader’s Name is:_______________ My Den Leader’s Phone Number is:_______________ My Assistant Den Leader’s Name is:_______________ My Assistant Den Leader’s Phone Number is:_______________
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