Welcome Parents

First and foremost - thank you for being here! While there are many activities available to your sons, and while we highly encourage his participation in several of those activities, they typically only provide a single aspect of what the Cub Scouting provides. A properly run Cub Scout program with active parents and families encourages quality time together, provides a positive way to grow closer with your sons, and enables everyone to experience new activities. In this way, Cub Scouting is a program for the entire family and your involvement is vital not only to the program's success, but your son's overall experience. Many career interests have been initiated through activities and electives found throughout Scouting. Our goal is to make this the best experience for you and your son(s), but a lot of that depends on you - how much you get involved, and how active you are in helping your Scout with his respective rank activities, as well as other Scouting events. On this page, as well as throughout the rest of this site we are striving to provide links and resources that will help you and your son participate in all that Scouting has to offer. If there is anything you feel we are missing, please feel free to e-mail our webmaster with your suggestions.

Some specific things you can do to help improve both you and your son's experiences in Cub Scouting are:

1. Help track and encourage your son's progress in Cub Scout core and elective adventures by working with the Den Leader and signing his book when he completes a requirement. In Webelos Scouts will start taking the responsibility to inform the Den Leader themselves with the requirements they've completed. It is very helpful if you can tab or place a sticky note on the page(s) where achievements and electives have been completed.

2. Assist Den and Pack leaders by volunteering to help with activities and where needed.

3. Attend monthly Pack meetings and take part in ceremonies when appropriate. One adult guardian should accompany each Scout to the Pack Meeting. Cub Scouting promotes family togetherness, each family should be actively involved in their son's Scouting program.

4. Please drop off and pick up your sons promptly for Den meetings, or better yet, stay and enjoy the experience - you never know, you just might find yourself having fun in ways you never thought possible.

5. Constructive suggestions are always welcome - feedback is a gift, however condescending undertones and negativity are not. Please ask if your help is needed, try to get involved and help make this program successful, exciting, and fun for your son and his peers. We are only as good as the volunteers that are involved.

The Purpose of Cub Scouting

 

1.    Character Development       2.    Spiritual Growth       3.    Good Citizenship       4.    Sportsmanship and Fitness       5.    Family Understanding

6.    Respectful Relationships       7.    Personal Achievements       8.    Friendly Service       9.    Fun and Adventure       10.    Preparation for Boy Scouts

The Purpose of Cub Scouting

Cub Scouting uses seven specific methods to achieve Scouting's aim of helping boys and young adults to build character, train in the responsibilities of citizenship, and develop personal fitness. These methods are incorporated into all aspects of the program. Through these methods, Cub Scouting happens in the lives of boys and their families.

1. The Ideals

The Boy Scout Oath, the Boy Scout Law, and the Cub Scout Sign, Handshake, Motto, and Salute all teach good citizenship and contribute to  boy's sense of belonging.

2. The Den

Boys like belonging to a group. The Den is the place where boys learn new skills and develop interests in new things. They have fun in Den meetings, during indoor and outdoor activities, and on fieldtrips. As part of a small group of six to eight boys, they are able to learn sportsmanship and good citizenship. They learn how to get along with others, do their best, which not only applies to just themselves, but to the Den as a whole.

3. Advancement

Recognition is important to young boys. The advancement plan built into the Cub Scouting program 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.

4. Family Involvement

Family involvement is an essential part of Cub Scouting. When we speak of parents or families, we are not referring to any particular family structure. Some boys live with two parents, some live with one parent, some with foster parents, and some with other relatives or guardians. Whomever a boy call his family is considered to be his family in the eyes of Cub Scouting.

5. Activities

In Cub Scouting, boys participate in a wide variety of Den and Pack activities, such as games, projects, skits, stunts, songs, outdoor activities, and field trips. These activities that encourage personal achievement and family involvement.

6. The Uniform

The Cub Scout and Webelos uniforms help build pride, loyalty, and self-respect. Wearing the uniform to all Den and Pack meetings, as well as on activities and fieldtrips encourages a neat appearance, sense of belonging, and good behavior. Have questions about the uniforms? In addition to asking your son's Den Leader, check out the interactive Boy Scouts of America Uniform page to find out how to wear the uniform properly. Also, please remember that Pack 179 allows jeans, or blue or khaki shorts to be worn instead of the official uniform pants. And one last item in regards to uniforms, Scouts have to wear close-toed shoes to all meetings, activities, camps, and fieldtrips - this means sneakers, hiking boots, or sandals such as Keen or Crocs (not to promote any particular brand, but rather to provide a frame of reference).

7. Character Connection

Since its origin, the Scouting program has been an educational experience concerned with values. In 1910, the first activities for Scouts were designed to build character, physical fitness, practical skills, and service. These elements were part of the original Cub Scout program, and continue to be part of Cub Scouting today. Character can be defined as the collection of core values possessed by an individual that leads to moral commitment and action.

General Cub Scout Links

The Official Boy Scouts of America Homepage (Cub Scout Section)

Cub Hub - Everything you ever wanted to know about Cub Scouting!

Tidewater Council's Homepage