WELCOME TO THE PACK

Overview of Cub Scouting

Spring Hill, Pack 91

 

We would like to welcome you and your son to our pack. We are hoping to have a great year, there are always lots of things going on and lots of fun to be had. All that we ask is that you are active in the pack. We all know that how much our boys get from scouting is directly related to how much all of us parents put into it.

 

Uniform Requirements:

The uniform and items Pack 91 requires is the Cub Scout Handbook and shirt, appropriate for the boys rank. This includes these required items attached in their proper place on the shirt:

Ø      Council Shoulder Patch (Middle Tennessee Council)

Ø      Pack Numerals (91)

Ø      Den number strip

Ø      American Flag (should come on shirt already)

Ø      Neckerchief with slide/holder appropriate for rank

 

We know a lot of boys also want a cap but from our experience they tend to get lost very easily and any awards attached to this hat are also lost. The awards can be replaced, however it would be at the parent's expense.  Any other uniform items you purchase are fine. You do not have to stick to the minimum requirements.  We know the uniforms are expensive, if you have difficulties meeting these uniform requirements there are resources available to help you out. Please contact one of the leaders for assistance. Please don’t let this prevent you from signing your son up for scouts. We will work something out and it will be kept confidential.

 

How To Wear The Uniform:

Remember boys and leaders are identified as members of the Boy Scouts of America by their uniform.  The uniform, when worn properly, also helps the boys develop a sense of pride.  The goal is look presentable.

Ø      Neckerchief - Roll or fold the long edge of the neckerchief until approximately 6" are left to the tip of the neckerchief.  Place the neckerchief around the neck under the shirt collar. Draw the neckerchief slide over the ends and adjust to fit snugly.  Let neckerchief ends hang loose.

Ø      Uniform shirt - Must be tucked-in.

Ø      Pants/Shorts - Jeans, dockers, khakis, dress slacks, etc.  If pants have belt loops, they need to wear a belt (does not have to be a cub scout belt).  Sweatpants are discouraged however will be accepted as long as they are dark in color (navy blue, black, or dark gray)

 

Fees and Den Dues:

There is a fee the night you join scouting and again when you renew your membership.  These fees go to the national office to cover insurance, processing fees, and district expenses. Depending on your Den, there may be den dues during the 9 major months of scouting. These dues tend to be between $1.00 and $2.00 for every meeting your son attends. This is not set in stone and every leader can adjust these dues as they see fit.  You may think, but I already paid when we joined why do I have to pay more? These den dues help support your Den. This money stays within your Den and pays for patches, activities, craft supplies, field trips, etc.

 

When do the meetings occur?

You will meet with your Den at least twice a month. Some Dens meet weekly and sometimes twice a week for a special occasion. The meeting times are set by each individual leader to better meet everyone’s schedules including theirs. Location of meetings vary, it depends what resources the leader has available. This is usually the hardest problem to solve.

 

There will be a Pack meeting once a month, usually the third Thursday of each month. This is when all the Cub Scouts gather together to show off what they recently accomplished.  Each Den will be responsible to present at least one opening and closing ceremony sometime during the next 9 Pack Meetings.  Cub Scout Dens are also welcome to perform skits and songs (in good taste), things boys love to do and parents usually don’t. We hold these Pack meetings at the UAW hall in Spring Hill, in the evenings. Check the Calendar for upcoming dates and times.

 

Spring Hill, Pack 91 Information

 

 

What can I do to help?

ALOT!!! The leaders are all volunteers. Most of the time they will need help from parents. You are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to stay at your sons meetings. Some leaders may require it others may not.  Remember this is NOT a child sitting service, please don’t treat it as such. Participate in your son's activities and help the leaders, it will make for a much better program for everyone. If the leader doesn’t ask for help, offer it, they almost always will have something you can do.

 

Additionally you can help out the Pack. Our Pack is the largest in Middle Tennessee. We have grown every year and with growth our needs increase and requires more organization and planning. So please volunteer to help, offer anything you can. The Pack operates on a very tight budget and we need all the free stuff we can get no matter how small it is. Even your time is a great commodity that we could utilize.

 

What about this camping thing?

The Middle Tennessee Council usually hosts one family campout in the fall.  Our Pack may plan a Pack Camp-out sometime during year and your Den may also plan a campout just for your Den family. There may be other opportunities to go camping in the summer but those are usually specialized for a boy's age therefore impractical for the whole pack to attend together. You are still more than welcome to go as dens or even smaller groups to these events if you so desire.

 

Who can go to the campout? Anyone in the family. Our campouts are for the whole family just like everything else the Pack does. Scouting is a family program not just for your son.

 

What do I need to go camping? Well not much really. There are some required basic items usually the pack puts out a list when the campout gets closer. You can get help if you do not have what you need. You can usually borrow from someone in the pack or other friends.  We would like to STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to come to the campout or at least let your son come if you can’t make it. This is usually the boy's favorite activity. Besides camping we do activities, play games, and just let the boys run around in the woods, which we all know they love to do.

 

What if I have a problem I want addressed?

You can always come to the leaders and get help. We will keep everything in confidence. If you don’t want to talk to a leader, you can talk to the Cubmaster or the Assistant Cubmaster. If you feel you need to go higher than that then you can contact  the district office in Nashville. 

 

Training - “Every Youth Deserves a Trained Leader”

 

Fast Start
Fast Start provides an immediate comfort level for new leaders and enables you to say, “I can do this!” Each program gives leaders information on planning and conducting their first meeting and even demonstrates a meeting you can use. Cub Scout Fast Start is offered by video in your district, or you can take it online (go back to the home page and follow the link).  The Boy Scout Fast Start video has been updated and each district has received it’s own video. Look for it to also be offered on line in the next few months. Venturing Fast Start provides information about training youth officers and is designed to orient new Crew Advisors.

 

Youth Protection Training
Youth Protection Training is required for every registered adult leader in the Middle Tennessee Council. You have 90 days from the submission of your adult registration to participate in Youth Protection Training, and then you will need to renew the training on a yearly basis.  You must have the 65 minute Youth Protection Training every two years and can take either the 65 minute or the 20 minute Training on the year in between.

 

Health and Safety Training
Health and Safety Training focuses on the Sweet 16 of Safety and the Sandwich Principle. You will also have the opportunity to view the “Safety Begins with Leadership” video during this training.

 

New Leader Essentials
New Leader Essentials is an introductory session that highlights the values, aims, history, funding, and methods of Scouting. It addresses how these aims and methods are reached in an age-appropriate style within Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing. Each registered leader will find this to be a valuable tool in understanding the basics of the Scouting program.

 

Leader Specific Training
Once you have a solid overview of the Boy Scout’s values-based program, you can begin training for a specific Scouting position through Leader Specific training.  The training provides the specialized knowledge a new leaders needs to assumbe a leadership role. Each course is designed for a specific leadership position and has been developed for the following positions and their assistants:

Ø      Tiger Cub Den Leaders

Ø      Cub Scout Den Leaders

Ø      Webelos Den Leaders

Ø      Cubmasters

 

BALOO (Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation)
This training will provide the necessary knowledge and skills for a pack to be able to go Family Camping in the Middle Tennessee Council.  Each pack is required to have a BALOO trained individual on any family campout.

 

Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills
Outdoor skills are critical to the success of the Scouting program, and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills will provide leaders with the basic outdoor skills information needed to start a program right. Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills is the required outdoor training for all Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters and Varsity Scout coaches. The skills taught are based on the outdoor skills found in the Boy Scout Handbook. 

 

Supplemental Training
WoodBadge for the 21st Century
POW WOW
WLOE (Webelos Leader Outdoor Experience)
Trainer Development Conference