Parent Information

Introduction

Thank you for choosing to invest in your child by becoming members of Cub Scout Pack 243. We are excited to
have your family join us for lots of fun and adventure. In this package you’re going to find useful information
that it’s going to help you go through the registration process.

You can start enjoying the pack activities while you work through your application. You have 30 days to complete
your applications, get your training and background checks required, and pay for the appropriate fees.

Payment can be done by check made to “Cub Scouts Pack 243”

INCLUDED YOU HAVE:

  • Youth Application and Adult Application — Every youth must have an Adult Partner included on their Youth Application. Any adult leader, or adult who has more than an occasional contact with youth, or 32 or more hours of contact with youth (not including family events, like Pack meetings) is required to be registered by BSA. Please let us know if you need or would like an Adult Application.
  • Required training information — Every Registered Adult, Adult Partner must complete the Youth Protection Training (YPT) and background checks. This process will take you about a couple of hours each; however, the background checks could take up to two weeks in some instances, so please don’t delay!
  • Fees Information — this is what your registration fee will cover and what it does not include.
    • Currently we do not have Pack Fees and rely on fund raising, like popcorn, or parents to pay a small fee for each event.
    • National Fees are:
      • $75 for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts participants ($3 increase)
      • $45 for Exploring participants (no change in cost)
      • $30 for council-paid memberships (no change in cost)
      • $45 for all adult volunteers (no change in cost, includes cost of background check) 
      • $100 for a unit charter/affiliation fee ($25 increase)
      • $25 one-time joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts (Not pro-rated, no change in cost) 
      • $15 for Scout Life magazine; this is the first price increase since 2005 ($3 increase)
  • Calendar of Events — Scouting is a year-round program with a small break in the summer. We understand you won’t be able to attend every event, but at least you can plan ahead.  Calendar is available on www.ScoutBook.com and www.NaplesPack243.com/events/month/
  • Family Talent Survey — Parental involvement and Volunteering is what’s going to make this pack successful. How can you Volunteer?
  • Contact information — you’re not alone, we’re all in this together! and there are plenty of resources to assist us as well
    • Please see our contact info page in the Pack Only Area
  • And so much more!

BASICS OF CUB SCOUTING

Since its beginning, the Cub Scout program has been a fun and educational experience concerned with values.
Besides providing a positive place where boys can enjoy safe, wholesome activities, Cub Scouting focuses on
building character, improving physical fitness, teaching practical skills, and developing a spirit of community
service.

PURPOSES OF CUB SCOUTING:

The Cub Scouting program has 10 purposes related to the overall mission of the Boy Scouts of America – to
build character, learn citizenship, and develop personal fitness:

  1. Character Development
  2. Spiritual Growth
  3. Good Citizenship
  4.  Sportsmanship and Fitness
  5.  Family Understanding
  6.  Respectful Relationships
  7.  Personal Achievement
  8.  Friendly Service
  9.  Fun and Adventure
  10.  Preparation for BSA Scouts

Every Cub Scouting activity should help fulfill one of these purposes. Not everything in Cub Scouting has to be
serious – far from it! Silly songs, energetic games, and yummy snacks all have their place in the program.

THE METHODS OF CUB SCOUTING:

To accomplish its purposes and achieve the overall goals of building character, learning citizenship,

and developing personal fitness, Cub Scouting uses seven methods:

Living the Ideals

Cub Scouting’s values are embedded in the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Cub Scout motto, and Cub Scout sign, handshake, and salute. These practices help establish and reinforce the program’s values in boys and the leaders who guide them.

Belonging to a Den

The den—a group of children who are about the same age—is the place where Cub Scouting starts. In the den, Cub Scouts develop new skills and interests, they practice sportsmanship and good citizenship, and they learn to do their best.

Using Advancement

Recognition is important to youth. The advancement plan provides fun for the scouts, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn awards, and strengthens family understanding through advancement projects.

Involving Family and Home

Whether a Cub Scout lives with two parents or one, a foster family, or other relatives, his family is an important part of Cub Scouting. Parents and adult family members provide leadership and support to youth in the program.

Participating in Activities

Cub Scouts participate in a huge array of activities, including games, projects, skits, stunts, songs, outdoor activities, trips and service projects. Besides being fun, these activities offer opportunities for growth, achievement, and family involvement.

Serving Home and Neighborhood

Cub Scouting focuses on the home and neighborhood. It helps boys strengthen connections to their local communities, which in turn support the boys’ growth and development.

Wearing the Uniform

Cub Scout uniforms serve a dual purpose, demonstrating membership in the group (everyone is dressed alike) and individual achievement (boys wear the badges they’ve earned). Wearing the uniform to meetings and activities also encourages a neat appearance, a sense of belonging, and good behavior.

About Our Pack

By now you have met your Den Leader, some of the other parents, and the Cubmaster, but a pack also has some other very important people involved. Crucial to the success of a pack is its Pack Committee and its Chartered Partner who provides a liaison to the pack known as the Chartered Organization Representative.

The Pack Committee

The Pack Committee is made up of the committee chairman, the treasurer, the Chartered Organization Representative, and other adults from the community. (Most of these leaders are parents of the youth in the pack.)

The committee meets once a month or more often if needed and are led by a committee chairman. The committee recruit leadership, performs record keeping, manages pack finances, orders badges, maintains pack equipment, helps train volunteer leadership, and helps to recognize our volunteers.

The Chartered Organization

The Pack is operated by a Chartered Organization, ours is Santa Sophia’s Parent-Teach Guild. The Chartered Organization approves leadership, helps secure a meeting place, keeps the pack within the sponsor’s and Boy Scout guidelines and policies.

They also select a chartered organization representative to be a liaison between our pack and our sponsor.

The Den

The Pack is divided into small groups called dens, who meet weekly under the direction of adults called den leaders. The den leaders are trained parent volunteers who plan the meetings and guide the dens in completing their achievements and advancements. The dens allow the children to engage with fellow scouts of the same age and to complete activities that would otherwise be difficult in a larger group.

Den meetings are planned and run by the Den Leader with the help of an Assistant Den Leader and parents. The meetings may include the following: games, songs, crafts, practicing skills, and ceremonies for the next Pack meeting. Most meeting activities involve working on advancement requirements. Lion and Tiger parents are required to attend every meeting and event with their Scout. Depending on the size of their Den and the planned activities, extra hands are often needed. While some advancements may be worked on at Den meetings, it is the parent’s’ responsibility to assist their sons in completing their advancement requirements.

BSA MEDICAL FORMS, PARTS A AND B

BSA requires that, for any and all Scouting activities, including in-person and virtual events, all participants must compete Part A and Part B (both pages). ‘All participants’ includes parents, guardians, siblings, youth, staff, and unit leaders, including those participating in Pack 243. A copy of each participant’s medical insurance card is to be attached to their forms.

This includes parents, guardians, siblings, youth, staff, and unit leaders. A copy of each participant’s medical insurance card is to be attached to their forms.

Current Fillable Forms: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-001_AB.pdf

Please bring a completed Med Form to all Overnight Activities

PRE-EVENT MEDICAL SCREENING CHECKLIST:

This checklist is only required for in-person events, and is not required for virtual events. The intent of this checklist is for each youth and adult participant to review their current health status at home before departure to an in-person Pack 243meeting or other Scouting event. They do not have to fill it out and hand it in, just state, upon arrival at the meeting or event, that they have reviewed these questions with the participating youth or adult, and that the participant is medically fit, based on this checklist, to participate.

Come Visit us This Weekend