The Purposes of Cub Scouting
Since 1930, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) helps younger boys in grades 1-5 acheive the core values of scouting. Boys work together with their parents in all levels of Cub Scouting.
The twelve core values of Cub Scouting are:
- Citizenship
- Compassion
- Cooperation
- Courage
- Faith
- Health & Fitness
- Honesty
- Perseverance
- Positive Attitudes
- Resourcefulness
- Respect
- Responsiblity
Membership
Boys join a Cub Scout pack and are assigned to a den, usually a neighborhood group of six to eight boys. The ranks are:
- Tiger Cubs (first-graders),
- Wolf Cub Scouts (second graders),
- Bear Cub Scouts (third graders), and
- Webelos Scouts (fourth and fifth graders).
Pack 497 dens meet every Wednesday at JP Taravella HS's Cafeteria from 7-8 pm.
Once a month, all of the dens and family members gather for a pack meeting under the direction of a Cubmaster and parent committee.
Advancement Plan
Recognition is important to young boys. The Cub Scout advancement plan provides fun for the boys, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and strengthens family understanding as adult family members work with boys on advancement projects.
A 7 year old or boy in the first grade joins Cub Scouting with his parent or adult guardian. This is unique relative to other ranks in Cub Scouting. Tigers and their adult partners are just that, partners. They attend meetings together, go on adventures like field trips together, and complete requirements together. Like all other new Cub Scouts, a Tiger must first earn his Bobcat rank. After completing the requirements for Bobcat he may go on to complete the requirements for the Tiger rank and the many electives that are offered for his rank.
A boy who is 8 years old or is in the second grade is a Wolf, and his adventures are found in the Wolf Handbook. Like all other new Cub Scouts, a Wolf must first earn his Bobcat rank. After completing the requirements for Bobcat he may go on to complete the requirements for the Wolf rank and the many electives that are offered for his rank. Wolf Scouts work toward the Wolf rank. The Wolf rank is earned by completing seven adventures.
A boy who is 9 years old or is in the third grade is a Bear, and his adventures are found in the Bear Handbook. Like all other new Cub Scouts, a Bear must first earn his Bobcat rank. After completing the requirements for Bobcat he may go on to complete the requirements for the Wolf rank and the many electives that are offered for his rank. Bear Scouts work toward the Bear rank. The Bear rank is earned by completing seven adventures.
Webelos (We'll Be Loyal Scouts)
A boy who is 10 years old or is in the fourth grade is a Webelos Scout, and his adventures are found in the Webelos Handbook. Like all other new Cub Scouts, a Webelos must first earn his Bobcat rank. After completing the requirements for Bobcat he may go on to complete the requirements for the Wolf rank and the many electives that are offered for his rank. The Webelos rank is earned by being an active member of your Webelos den for three months and completing six Webelos required adventures with your den or family.
Once a boy has completed his Webelos rank requirements or a new boy joins Cub Scouting in the fifth grade, he may work on Arrow of Light requirements. Like all other new Cub Scouts, a Arrow of Life Scout must first earn his Bobcat rank. After completing the requirements for Bobcat he may go on to complete the requirements for the Arrow of Light rank and the many electives that are offered for his rank.
