Interested? Boys can join ANYTIME. Pack 209 holds 2 major sign-ups each year; one in June, usually held at a Fishing Derby in Littleton, and one in September, usually right around the time of area schools' "Back to School Nights." But your boy can join anytime. For more information, see the "New Scout Brochure" under our Newsletter Tab, or phone our Cubmaster, Jeff Gademsky, with questions, 444-0409.
Tiger Cubs is an exciting introduction to the scouting program for first grade boys (or 7 years old) excited to get going! Tiger Cubs do stuff - lots of stuff - with their adult partners. This program is intended to open up the world to inquisitive minds along with the caring guidance of adults. The first steps along the Boy Scout Trail are laid here and every rank advancement through the scouting program builds on the basic categories of activity done as tigers. Keep in mind that participation is the key goal of the Tiger Cub program. There is no level of competence or skill required to earn the rank badge. Don't push your scout to succeed, just participate and enjoy the time together.
The den leader does not organize and run every den meeting and outing, instead the actual running of the program is done through shared leadership with the adult partners. A Tiger Den relies on the support and enthusiasm of its families! Each adult partner should sign up to lead at least one month's meeting and Go See It outing. This shared leadership helps ensure participation by all, provides a sense of ownership to all, and gives each scout a chance to work on leadership skills - skills that he will work on all the way through Eagle Scout! More Tigers Information here.
Wolf Scouts (Grade 2): Much of the advancement for the Wolf rank is done by the scout with his family outside of the den. The parent signs off in the scout's handbook and the Den Leader records the advancements from the handbook to tracking chart or software program. As the Tiger program was completely family oriented, so the Wolf program relies heavily on family involvement. You will see this gradually change with the scout doing more with his den and more individual direction as he reaches Webelos and Boy Scouts. More Wolf Information here.
Bear Scouts (Grade 3): Much of the advancement for the Bear rank is done by the scout with his family outside of the den, similarl to the Wolf rank. The parent signs off in the scout's handbook and the Den Leader records the advancements from the handbook to tracking chart or software program. The Bear program relies heavily on family involvement, but you will see this gradually change with the scout doing more with his den and more individual direction as he reaches Webelos and Boy Scouts. In the Bear scouting program, there are 4 general achievement groups: God, Country, Family, and Self and a total of about 120 individual achievement tasks. In each group, a certain number of achievements are required to earn the Bear rank badge. After earning the Bear badge, the scout may earn arrow points by completing additional achievement tasks. The Bear badge must be earned first before any arrow points are awarded. A gold arrow point is awarded for the first 10 achievement tasks over the Bear requirements. A silver arrow point is awarded for each additional 10 tasks completed. It sounds complicated, but don't worry, it's not, and your Den Leader and other parents will help you. More Bear Info here.
Webelos (Grades 4 & 5): Webelos Scouts are Cub Scouts preparing to be Boy Scouts. Webelos learn about Boy Scouts and may participate in Boy Scout meetings and activities. Their den meetings are typically held on evenings. They do not follow the monthly theme of the Pack, but have their own program. They're the oldest Scouts in the Pack, and as such, carry the responsibility of being good role models for the younger Scouts. It falls upon the Webelos Scouts to help explain what exciting activities await the younger Cubs and to help them during Pack activities.
The emphasis shifts from home-centered activities to group-centered activities, similar to those they'll encounter in Boy Scouting. The major goal of Webelos Scouting is to give the Scouts a taste of what it is like to be a Boy Scout, and to get them use to how Boy Scouting is structured. They learn that it is their responsibility to earn their activity badges. They are helped by their Den Leaders and Activity Badge Counsellors (adults who volunteer to host an activity badge), and it is the Den Leaders who pass the Webelos Scout on requirements. Parents play a new, more supportive, and less directive role. More about Webelos here.