Pack 866 is  local Cub Scout organization sponsored by the St. James Lutheran Church.  The majority of our members live in the local communities around Imperial Beach.  We are part of the San Diego Imperial Council of Boy Scouts of America (BSA). 

The pack is run 100% by parent volunteers.  The cubmaster runs the program, which is designed by the pack committee.  The pack has approximately 20 active scouts organized into 4-5 dens of 5-12 boys each.  Each den program by a parent den leader and assistant den leader.  From time to time we have had boy scout den chiefs help in the den programs.  Many pack parents participate in the program through a number of official leadership positions or informally in helping to plan and run pack and den meetings, overnights and other activities.  BSA provides leadership training and support for parents volunteers. Parents enjoy participating for a number of reasons including having an input in the program and making a difference in the lives of their and other scout’s lives.

Cub scouts is for boys entering 1st – 5th grades and boys can join as they enter 1st – 4th, typically ages 7-11. For boys in Kindergarten, we have a fledgling program designed to include the boy and his parents in all our pack activities. 

Our activities are concentrated between September and May, with several events during the summer.  We expect that a parent accompany boys to all events.  We hold a monthly pack meeting, typically the 3rd Tuesday, 6:00 @ St. James.  The smaller dens (typically 6-8 boys) also meet twice per month with the schedule set by the den leader and den parents (usually at St. James).  We also hold 4-5 overnight trips, 3 community service projects and several fundraisers (popcorn sale) during the Sept – May period.  The pack calendar can be found at our website.

Pack dues are $X annually per scout.  This covers BSA registration, Boy’s Life magazine, all pack and den meetings, kits (pine wood / rain gutter boats), awards and advancements (badges, pins, etc.). Also, the cost of uniform (one time expense) is about $80 at the Scout Shop.  Pack overnights are typically $10 per person for food and are charged at cost.  Pack 866 does not exclude boys on the basis of financial situation, so if this is an issue for your family, please talk to our Cubmaster, pack committee chair or email us regarding this.

The Boy Scouts of America has always been a uniformed body.  Primary reason we wear the uniform is as a means of identifying ourselves openly with the principles to which we are committed-character development, citizenship training, and physical and mental fitness.  Scouts must be in uniform during pack activities (ensures we are covered by BSA insurance).  We wear full uniform (Class A) for Pack and den meetings, community service.  Pack 866 has an optional “class B” uniform (t-shirt) that can be worn in lieu of full uniform for more informal pack activities. 

The “Class A” uniform includes the scout dress shirt, neckerchief, neckerchief slide, hat and belt as well as various patches.  Shorts and socks are optional in Pack 866.  The full cost of the uniform is ~$80.  The “class A” uniform can be purchased at the San Diego Scout Shop, 1207 Upas Street, San Diego, CA 92103.  Their hours can be found here: http://www.sdicbsa.org/ScoutShop/.  At this link you can also more information on which patches you need.  The staff in the council office trading post are very helpful in getting new scouts set up with uniforms.  The pack sells its “class B” t-shirts at cost to parents and siblings. The active cub scouts get the shirts for free.

No matter what age or grade a boy joins Cub Scouting, the Bobcat badge is the first advancement. These include 1) Learning and saying the Cub Scout motto, the Cub Scout Promise, and the Law of the Pack and tell what they mean, 2) Showing the Cub Scout sign, salute, and handshake and tell what they mean; and 3) Showing that you understand and believe that it is important to be honest and trustworthy.

To begin his path to the Tiger Cub rank, the Tiger Cub (age 7) will first earn their Bobcat (above). As a boy finishes each part of the five Tiger Cub achievements, he earns an orange bead (for den activities), a white bead (for family activities), or a black bead (for “Go See Its”) to attach to his Tiger paw. When the boy has earned five beads of each color, he can receive his Tiger Cub badge.

The Wolf rank is for boys who have finished first grade (or who are 8 years old). To earn the Wolf badge, a boy must pass 12 achievements. After he has earned the Wolf badge, a Wolf Cub Scout can work on the 23 Wolf electives until he finishes second grade (or turns 9 years old). He can choose from more than 100 elective projects that may show him new hobbies and teach him skills that will be useful during his Boy Scout years.

The Bear rank is for boys who have finished second grade (or are 9 years old). There are 24 Bear achievements in four groups. A boy must complete 12 of the achievements to be a Bear Cub Scout.  These requirements are more challenging than those for the Wolf badge. When a boy has earned his Bear badge, he may work on electives to earn Arrow Points to wear under his Bear badge.

Webelos dens are for boys who have completed third grade (or reached age 10). The Webelos den program is different from the Cub Scout den program. Webelos Scouts get to work on the 20 Webelos activity badges.  Webelos Scouts work on requirements during their den meetings. Once a boy learns a skill, he practices it at den meetings and at home on his own. When a boy has done the requirements for an activity badge, the Webelos den leader or activity badge counselor, rather than a parent, approves most of the activity badges. It takes three activity badges, including Fitness and Citizen, to earn the Webelos badge.  Besides earning activity badges, Webelos Scouts can earn the compass points emblem. This emblem is awarded after a Webelos Scout has earned seven activity badges. For each four activity badges a Webelos Scout earns after that, he receives a compass point—east, west, north, and south.

The highest rank in Cub Scouting is the Arrow of Light Award. Earning this rank prepares a Webelos Scout to become a Boy Scout. Webelos Scouts who have earned the Arrow of Light Award have also completed all requirements for the Boy Scout badge.  This award is the only Cub Scout badge that can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform when a boy graduates into a troop. Adult leaders who earned the Arrow of Light Award when they were young may also show their achievement by wearing a special square knot on their adult uniform.

More information can be found at the pack website and you can contact the pack leadership.  If you are interested in joining, please email us.  The next steps are to fill out an application for your son and give us a check for dues.  Also, please think about what skills you have to offer the pack and how you could volunteer to help us run the pack program.