About Cubscouts
Requirements for joining
- Meet age Requirements.
- Be a boy who has completed Kindergarten or is 6 years old, but under the age of 12.
- Complete a Youth registration form and Health History signed by your parent or guardian.
- Find a Cubscout Pack near your home.
That is all there is to it! When you have done these things, the Cubmaster will give you a certificate of membership, and you can proudly wear the badge and uniform that shows you are a member of the CubScouts.
If you don't know of a Pack in your area, look for the Boy Scouts of America in your telephone directory, or contact the national office at the following address and telephone number:
Boy Scout Division
Boy Scouts of America
1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 153079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
972-580-2000
You can also use the Internet to find your Boy Scouts of America (BSA) local council.
Find a pack near your home
Purpose of the BSA
The Cubscouts are a division of the Internationally known Boyscouts. The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated to provide a program for community organizations that offers effective character, citizenship, and personal fitness training for youth.
Specifically, the BSA endeavors to develop American citizens who are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit; have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage, and resourcefulness; have personal values based on religious concepts; have the desire and skills to help others; understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems; are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand our nation's role in the world; have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people; and are prepared to participate in and give leadership to American society.
Who Pays for It?
Several groups are responsible for supporting Boy Scouting: the boy and his parents, the troop, the chartered organization, and the community. Boys are encouraged to earn money whenever possible to pay their own expenses, and they also contribute dues to their troop treasuries to pay for budgeted items. Troops obtain additional income by working on approved money-earning projects. The community, including parents, supports Scouting through the United Way, Friends of Scouting campaigns, bequests, and special contributions to the BSA local council. This income provides leadership training, outdoor programs, council service centers and other facilities, and professional service for units.
Aims and Methods of the Scouting Program
The Scouting program has three specific objectives, commonly referred to as the "Aims of Scouting." They are character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.
The methods by which the aims are achieved are listed below in random order to emphasize the equal importance of each.
Ideals
The ideals of CubScouting are spelled out in the Cubscout Promise, the Law of the Pack, the Cubscout motto, and the 12 core values. The CubScout measures himself against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and as he reaches for them, he has some control over what and who he becomes.
Outdoor Programs
Much of Cubscouting takes place indoors, but there are numerous times as the boys grow in age that more and more of their time is spent outside learning about the world around them. Boys spend much of their time learning the twelve core values of Scouting and how they apply to their own lives. Many times being a steward of our natural environment comes into play requireing the boys to venture out into the forest or a local park to view nature in its own environment.Being close to nature helps all Scouts gain an appreciation for the beauty of the world around us. The outdoors is the laboratory in which Scouts learn ecology and practice conservation of nature's resources.
Advancement
Boy Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The CubScout and his parent partner work on their applicable rank book towards the completion of earning the badge of that rank. The Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.
Associations With Adults
Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the members of the Pack. In many cases a Cubmaster and his den leaders who are willing to listen to the boys, encourage them, and take a sincere interest in them can make a profound difference in their lives.
Uniform
The uniform makes the Cub Scout Pack visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Cub and Boy Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The uniform is practical attire for Scout activities and provides a way for Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished.
|
