Dear Parent(s),

We are excited to have your son join Pack 314. When you turn in your application you will be added to our Packs website. You will be emailed a user ID and Password so that you can have access to the private portion of this site.  You may access the public site at any time. The public site contains information about scouting, our monthly calendar, scout forms, and lots of helpful information regarding our Pack and Cub Scouts.  The private site contains our packs full year event calendar with all information on trips/ activities, the Pack treasury report, and photo gallery.  All personal information (emergency contact info, den information, photos, etc.) is kept on the private portion of our site and is only accessible to Pack 314 members. No one else can access/change information except Pack 314 Leaders.  If for any reason you decide to leave our Pack your information will be removed.

Our Dens meet at First Christian Church (904 Alexander St.) on Mondays from 6pm – 7pm.  At these meetings the scouts will work on achievements and requirements for their particular den.  Once a month we have Pack Meetings that meets on a Monday from 6pm-8pm where all the Dens get together and play games, receive awards, and have a great time.  All families are welcome to attend and participate in the Pack Meetings and siblings are welcome to participate in the fun, too.

We also have a Pack Committee that meets once a month.  This is where we make the final plans for the next month’s activities and plan out the next Pack Meeting.  Parents are welcome to join or attend the Committee meetings and give their input and ideas for our Pack.  The meetings take less than an hour, so if you would be interested in joining please let me or your sons Leader know.

As with many organizations, Scouts relies on parent volunteers for their help. If there is anything you would like to help with please let your sons Den Leader know.  We are currently looking for Committee Members, Den Assistants, and Event Coordinators. 

Again we are excited to have your son join Pack 314 and look forward to an exciting year.  If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.

Sincerely,

Kira Endicott

kira_endicott@yahoo.com

620-441-8291                                                                                 

 

Dear Parents,

The Leaders are in need of parent volunteers / helpers for our pack. As Leaders and parents ourselves, we know and understand that all our families have busy schedules, but we can not do it alone. You won't need to do a lot, but what you can do will help our Pack and benefit your own scout.

Some of the things you may be asked to help with may be:

• Helping out at Den / Pack Meetings
• Coming early or staying later to prepare / clean up for an event
• Bringing snacks, drinks, or other items / materials that would be needed
• Preparing for a camping trip, day camp, hiking, or any other activities
• Volunteering to attend certain outings to maintain the "2 Deep Leadership" needed for all Scout Activities
• Carpooling if needed
• Participate / Volunteer in Fundraisers
• More importantly - Helping your son at home work on or complete achievements

If you can help, please do so. We would not ask if we did not need it. If you stay for the Den Meetings don't be afraid to jump in and help.

            Thank you to all Parents who have helped in the past and who are helping now!
                                                    You are greatly appreciated!

Meetings / Outings

It is crucial for your son to attend as many meeting as possible to maintain a good attendance and participate in his Den. Some Requirements / Achievements can only be completed at Den Meetings. Important information may be handed out at meetings so please be sure to keep in contact with the Den Leaders if you are unable to attend meetings.

If your son misses a meeting or does not complete any requirement or achievement done at the Den Meetings he will be responsible to complete them at home and he will not advance or receive the awards until they are completed and signed off.
 
Please be sure to let the Leaders know if you and / or your son are planning to attend or NOT attend any trips / outings.  This is to make sure we have an accurate headcount incase we need to purchase tickets or make reservations for any event.

Parents are responsible for paying their own admission fees and any other family members that attend any outings / events. Some payments may be need in advance.

In order for your son to go on certain outings he will be require to have good attendance at Den Meetings and participate in any fundraising the Pack may do. If your son does not participate he does not earn the money that would pay for his trip and you will be responsible for thier admission fees for those outings.

Scouts and Sports

The BSA encourages recreational sports and activities. As Leaders we know how important it is to keep kids active and healthy.  We understand that sports or other activities can clash at times with Cub Scout meetings and other scout activities. Attendance is very important. Your son will be working on many requirements / achievements that they may only be able to complete at the Scout Meetings and the Scout Activities.

If this is a problem with you and your son please talk with your sons Den Leader and work with them so arrangements can be made so your son can participate happily in both. Some Leaders are able to change meeting times and / or days for a short time to help with Scouts schedules. Please look at our Calender or Up Coming Events page to see all the dates for Pack Meetings and any outings / activities that are planned for this year.

Please Note:  As much as we try, we can not please everyone.  It may not be possible to change times or dates for certain Scout Meetings and Scout Events due to our own family schedules, the other Scout members schedules, or other events that are scheduled through the Council.

Please let your scout be involved in the decision making for these type of situations. Both sports and scouts are very important, but it is the boys themselves who participate in these functions; so please let them decide what they would like to do so they don't miss out on anything that they really would like to participate in.  Our main goal is for scouts to have fun, be happy, and enjoy what they want to do.

Fundraising

The Pack is only able to go on trips, purchase awards and other materials needed from doing fundraisers. We only ask that the Scouts try their best to help earn the money that will go into their Scout Accounts (more on the Individual Scout Accounts will come later) and / or participate in any volunteering that that is needed for certain fundraising events.

You could help your son greatly by volunteering / participating in the fundraising with them. This can be driving / walking with him around your neighborhood, taking him to friends and families homes, taking order forms to work, or help make deliveries. Please DO NOT let you son go out alone or after dark.

It is a good idea to NOT take any pre-orders or "good-faith"orders. The payment is due at the time the order is placed.  Please have order forms and payment to the Leaders by the due date for that fundraiser.

Parents, you and your scout will be responsible for any order forms and money payed for any fundraiser your scout participates in.  If money is lost or if you took any pre-orders that were made and not payed for, Parents will be held responsible for those losses and you will have to pay them back to the Pack yourself.

We are happy to have your Scout in our Pack and look forward to helping them advance in the Scout Program. Thank you all for what you have done for the Pack and for your own Scout.

Sincerely,
Leaders of Pack 314 

 

Cub Scouting encourages closeness to family. The program will give you opportunities to take part in activities with your son that you normally couldn't do. It provides a positive way for parent and son to grow closer together, and encourages you to spend quality time together. In this way, Cub Scouting is a program for the entire family, and your involvement is vital to the program's success.

Some specific things you can do to help your son in Cub Scouting are

1. Work with your son on projects
2. Help your Cub Scout along the advancement trail
3. Participate in monthly pack meetings
4. Attend parent-leader conferences
5. Go on family campouts with your son
6. Provide support for your son's den and pack

The Cub Scout years are developing years for young boys, falling between the dependence of early childhood and the relative independence of early adolescence. As he grows, your son will gain the ability to do more things "on his own," but at this stage of his development, your help is critical.

Work with your son on projects

Boys often start projects at den meetings and finish them at home with the help of a parent. Such projects become the catalyst for parents and boys—often joined by siblings and friends—to interact with each other in an informal, relaxed way.

Because the purpose of projects is to teach a boy new skills, a project will challenge a boy to do tasks that he hasn't currently mastered. It's not uncommon, therefore, for a boy to need help from his family to do some of his projects. In Cub Scouting, boys are not expected to do things entirely on their own. So long as a boy does his best to do as much as he's capable of, it's perfectly acceptable for a parent or sibling to help him with the tasks he's unable to do on his own.

Help your son along the advancement trail

The advancement plan is designed for parents to use to create a learning environment in their home. With the Cub Scout handbooks as a resource, parents and boys work together to do the achievements required for each badge. The 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.

While Cub Scouts will learn skills and begin work on projects in their weekly den meetings, the parent remains at the center of the advancement program. As each task is done or each skill is demonstrated, the parent signs the Cub Scout's handbook to record its completion. And when the boy has completed all the requirements to earn an award, the parent presents that award at the next monthly pack meeting.

Participate in monthly pack meetings

The weekly den meetings are for Cub Scouts and their adult leader. The pack meeting is for the entire family of every Cub Scout. At pack meetings, parents see their sons in action with their friends, meet other parents, and join with neighbors in caring and sharing. These types of opportunities are scarce, and pack meetings highlight how Cub Scouting teaches boys cooperation and collaboration.

The pack meeting is also a monthly showcase for all that the boys have worked on in their den meetings. Craft projects are on display, skills are demonstrated, and skits are performed to show the boys' command of the monthly theme. While boys at this age seem to be struggling toward independence, having the approval of their parents and other adults whom they admire remains important to them—so your presence at these meetings is critical to underscore the importance of the lessons your son has learned.

Attend parent-leader conferences

Held at various times throughout the year, parent-leader conferences provide opportunities for you to discuss your son's participation and expectations of den and pack meetings. Such conferences can help your son get the most from his Cub Scouting experience, and they give you the chance to communicate with pack leaders, to share knowledge and gain the awareness needed to work as a team to help your son succeed.

Go on family campouts with your son

Besides being fun, family camping is a chance for quality time together and an enriched family life. This program is a recreational opportunity—it's not on a tight time schedule. Family leadership rests with the adult member(s). This leadership might be yielded from time to time as the family chooses to take part in activities, such as swimming, where specific camp policies must be followed for safety and proper operation.

Provide support for your son's den and pack

It's important to remember that the adult leaders of your son's den and pack are volunteers who give their own time to provide a quality program for your son. While they have been carefully selected and extensively trained for their roles, there are always times when they could use help from parents in the pack.

Pack events such as the pinewood derby, blue and gold banquet, or field days take a lot of effort—more than the monthly meetings. The pack's leaders would likely welcome any help you can give. Likewise, den leaders will be grateful to parents who can lend a hand with field trips and outings. By pitching in as needed, you can show your son the importance of helping others. So be on the lookout for opportunities for you to help the den, the pack, and its leaders.