Cub Scout Program
What is Cub Scouting?
Cub Scouting is fun! No matter what grade you are in, first through fifth, it can be a blast. Do you like to learn by doing? This is just the place. You can learn to tie knots, set up a tent, or shoot a bow and arrow (archery). Have you ever cooked a meal on a campfire? Sent a secret code to a buddy? Built a birdhouse? Hiked? Earn rewards for doing these things in Cub Scouts.
Cub Scouts Belong to Packs and Dens
As a Cub Scout, you will be part of your own pack.
The pack is divided into smaller groups called dens. Each den has about six to eight Scouts. All of the Cub Scouts in your den are in the same grade and may even go to the same school.
The Cub Scout pack belongs to a church, a school, or some other group of people in your community or neighborhood. This group makes sure your pack has good adult leaders, a place to meet, and exciting things to do. The group gets help from the Boy Scouts of America, which is part of Scouting around the world.
Cub Scouts Do Things and Go Places
Have you been to the local police station and talked to the policemen on duty? Or visited the fire station and sat in the driver’s seat of the pumper truck? Or visited the local TV station and sat in the news anchor’s chair? These are some of the places you might go with your den or pack.
You might also build a pinewood derby car and race it on the track, build a sailboat or trimaran and race it in the raingutter regatta, or build a spaceship and race it to the stars in the pack space derby.
Cub Scouts Earn Awards
Each time you complete an accomplishment or learn a new skill, you will be rewarded. Sometimes the reward is a loop for your belt, a pin, or a patch. Sometimes it is a smile on your parents’ faces to see you grow and learn.
Day Camp Guidance
The new program is designed to be more fun for boys and simpler for unit leaders to execute. Attached is guidance on the specific topic of 2015 Cub Scout Day Camps. In a nutshell, if planned using the current Academics and Sports program (retiring as the new program transitions June 1), there is no need to change course.
Work with your local scout shop to make sure the needed insignia from the current program are still available and in their inventory. If there is a desire to use the new program, focus on elective adventures, rather than the required adventures and partials.
Belt Loop and Pin Recognition
New adventure insignia (belt loops and pins) will be available for purchase in Scout shops as immediate recognition devices. The attached statement outlines the National Service Center policy on this transaction—items are not restricted, and an advancement report is not required.
Transition in LDS Chartered Units - New Cub Scout Program
The attached document contains guidance on transitioning from the current to the new Cub Scout program in LDS units. Fundamentally, boys during the transition year will earn their badge of rank with some fraction of their requirements earned under the current program, and the remainder earned under the new program. Guidance is also provided on how to create new annual plans.
New Cub Scout Product Transition Program
As previously announced, the National Supply Group will be providing a program to assist councils in stocking new literature and program materials in time for the May 1 retail launch of the new Cub Scout program. This program will consist of issuing credit for all 266 SKU’s that are being discontinued. The credit is to be used for the purchase of the new Cub Scout program’s literature and program material. The credit will occur only after the official launch date, and will not incur any restocking fees.
For additional information, and the latest on the changes coming to Cub Scouting, please navigate to http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/programupdates.aspx. It contains the most recent FAQ’s, transition guidelines, presentations and other materials to support the new program launch. You can read the full announcement in the attached document.
