Welcome to Pack 325

WHAT IS CUB SCOUTING?

Cub Scouting is the program established by the Boy Scouts of America for boys in Grades one through Five. In Cub Scouting, boys, families, and adult leaders work together to achieve these objectives:

• Influence a boy’s character development and spiritual growth. All religions are accepted in Cub Scouts.
• Develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship.
• Encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body.
• Improve understanding within the family.
• Strengthen a boy’s ability to get along with others.
• Foster a sense of personal achievement by developing new interests and skills.
• Provide fun and exciting new things to do.
• Show a boy how to be helpful and to do his best.
• Prepare him to be a Boy Scout.

HOW ARE CUBS ORGANIZED?

Cub Scouting uses terms and phrases taken from stories in The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling. The boys themselves are called Cubs, the boys and their leaders are organized into small units called Dens, and the Dens are part of a larger Pack. A Pack is chartered by an organization; Pack 325 has been chartered by Hayes-Barton Baptist Church. The Packs inside the beltline belong to the Baden Powell District, which is one of 15 districts in the Occoneechee Council. Occonneechee Council stretches through most of central North Carolina, from the Virginia line down to Fayetteville, and west through Orange County. Dens are organized by grade, with age-appropriate programs and activities for each grade:

1st Grade:	Tiger
2nd Grade:	Wolf
3rd Grade:	Bear
4th and 5th Grade:	Webelos

Each Den is a group of at least four, but no more than twelve, boys in the same grade. An adult called the Den Leader, who in turn is assisted by other den parents, leads each Den. Dens meet on Mondays at 7:00 for an hour. At den meetings the boys work of various program activities, play games, and have fun.

Once a month, Pack 325 has a meeting of all the dens in the Pack. These meetings, called, Pack Meetings, are not just for the boys, but for the parents and siblings as well. It could therefore easily be called a Family Night. The Pack Meeting usually takes place on the 3rd Monday of each month, starting at 7:00 PM at Hayes-Barton Baptist Church. The meeting lasts about an hour, and usually involves activities, games and fun, like the den meetings, but may also include songs and skits, ceremonies, and recognition awards for individual Cubs. The Pack Meeting is led by the Cubmaster.

WHAT OUTINGS ARE PLANNED FOR THE YEAR?

In addition to Den Meetings and Pack Meetings, the Pack has some form of outing once a month. Some examples of outings planned for this year and in years past are:

	Camping near Louisburg in tree houses
	Cub-O-Ree (a gathering of all Cubs in the area)
	Camp Flintlock (Revolutionary War camp)
	Service project
	Pinewood Derby
	Blue and Gold Banquet
	Camp on USS Yorktown
	Bike Rally
	Spring Camporee (a gathering of Cubs and Boy Scouts for scouting activities)

Camping in the Cub Scouts is by the Family Camping method. Family Camping means that the Cub Scout goes camping with his den, but must be accompanies on the trip by a parent or authorized adult partner/guardian. Siblings are also invited, but not required to attend.

HOW DO I BECOME A DEN LEADER?

Adult leaders are required to form and run a den. Two leaders are needed for each den, at a minimum.

The Duties: A den leader meets weekly for about one hour with a den of Cub Scouts. They plan an lead the activities with the boys. Support and Training: Pack 325 is committed to providing den leaders with the necessary training and support to carry out their duties. In addition to up-front counseling and Fast Start Training procedures, Council sponsored training is available at various times through-out the year. The calendar is available on the Council Calendar.

It’s fun for the Leader, too! This is absolutely the best part of being a den leader. You’ll find that the den meeting time passes quickly, and that, if you let yourself, you’ll end up having as much fun as the boys.

Unless you were a Cub Scout or Boy Scout, or have some other Scouting experience, it is entirely likely that you don’t know anything about how Scouting works. Don’t let this bother you. In addition to the support and training listed above, Scouting itself, and our District and Council, have all kinds of resources to help you succeed. All you need to bring to the table is a little time and a positive “I can do this” attitude.

HOW DO MY BOY AND I JOIN?

Cub Scouts: To join Pack 325, a youth candidate must: (1) be a boy; (2) in the 1st through 5th grade and between 6 and 10 years old, (3) is part of a den with a den leader forming to receive him and other boys, or is joining an existing den which is willing to add him as a member and (4) pays the registration fees.  In 2008, the fees were $23 with $11 for the Council and $12 for the Boys' Life magazine.  Fees can change from year to year depending upon fund raising.  A fee for the pack has been added at times.

Den Leaders and Adult Scouters: For an adult to officially join Pack 325 as a den leader or other adult Scouter, he or she must: (1) complete the official blue adult application form; (2) provide his or her social security number (3) and submit to a background check. Fees for adults are paid by Hayes-Barton Baptist Church.

WHAT DOES MY SON NEED TO GET STARTED?

Your son will need a uniform. Uniforms include a shirt, hat, belt, neckerchief, neckerchief slide, navy socks and pants. Pack 325 will provide the patches and a handbook when you join. Uniforms are available from the Occonneechee Council office at 3231 Atlantic Avenue in Raleigh (919-872-4884).

The Cub Scout uniform is required at all Den and Pack meetings as well as most outings.

CONTACTS

If you are interested in joining Pack 325, you may e-mail the Cubmaster, John Colvard, at cubmaster@hbbcpack325.org.