OT - Cub scouts

[dopeyluvsgrumpy]

DS8 has shown some interested in joining the cub scouts but I know nothing about them. Anyone have any kids in the scouts or have any information about them that you can share?

 

[Jedana]

We're down in Florida, but the basics of Scouting anywhere is pretty much the same. Cub Scouting is an offshoot of the Boy Scouts, like Brownies are the offshoot of Girl Scouts.

Cub Scouting starts in 1st grade (age 7)-- Tiger cub
2nd grade (8)-- Wolf
3rd (9)--Bear
4th (10) and 5th (11)-- Webelos

Tiger, Wolf and Bear all wear blue shirts and pants/shorts, different colored hats and neckerchiefs (depending on rank). Webelos are green/khaki.

To get rank, they must complete achievements. For example, Tiger cubs have to do 5 "go see its", 5 family activities and 5 activities in their den.

Dens are what the boys are in; lead by a den leader and assistant leader. Pack is a group of dens. Heading the pack will be a Cubmaster, Assistant CM, and a Committee (here, made up of committee chair, treasurer, secretary, advancement chair and den leaders). Tiger, Wolf and Bear are mostly family involved; Webelos are less so. Webelos can camp without their families, the other ranks cannot (here anyways).

Here, the Scouts are sponsered by a business, a school or a church. Our pack is run through our church. We have to not only follow the BSA rules, but the church rules as well.

To find a pack, contact your local council. Get several options from them, and check each one out. You do not have to go to the pack that "services" your area; we live in one council district, but are involved in another. Each pack is different, you will want to find one that meets when you need and does activities your son will enjoy. Our pack, we meet weekly and camp 4x a year. Other packs do more frequent campouts or meet biweekly or (in one case) meet 2x a week!

 

[2forMe]

Well here,in ottawa, you start as a beaver then cub etc. My son is in his third year as a beaver and is in grade two. He really enjoys beavers. We are lucky to belong to a great troup...not all troups are a like. I would suggest contacting the group closest to you. You can find out by going to the national web site

 

[highland3]

At the age of 8 your son wuld start directly in Cubs (until age 10). Then it's on to Scouts.

It's a great opportunity for kids... and the new uniforms are cool!

My son did three years as a Beaver, three as a Cub and is now in his first year of Scouts. There's been lots of activity and trips.

I even got involved as a leader for 6 years or so.

 

[dopeyluvsgrumpy]

Thanks for the info. I've haven't been able to talk to anyone directly but I've found out registration is tomorrow. One question someone may be able to answer is what are the costs of registration?

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

Our Cubs and Scouts in Hamilton have a registration fee of $175.00 for the year. They then have $1.00 per week dues. Both of my boys are involved in Scouts (one as a Scouter-in-training) and I am a Scout leader so I am probably a bit biased, but I think it is one of the best things a kid can do. The kids have a lot of fun at their weekly meetings and get to go camping numerous times during the year. There is info available on Cubs at www.scouts.ca/ca/programs/cub-scouts.

 

[dopeyluvsgrumpy]

Thank you everyone. I finally found a mom at our school thats involved in the cubs and she answered a lot of questions for me. I think my son will love the scout program!

 

[CdnCarrie]

We're down in Florida, but the basics of Scouting anywhere is pretty much the same. Cub Scouting is an offshoot of the Boy Scouts, like Brownies are the offshoot of Girl Scouts.

Cub Scouting starts in 1st grade (age 7)-- Tiger cub
2nd grade (8)-- Wolf
3rd (9)--Bear
4th (10) and 5th (11)-- Webelos

Tiger, Wolf and Bear all wear blue shirts and pants/shorts, different colored hats and neckerchiefs (depending on rank). Webelos are green/khaki.

To get rank, they must complete achievements. For example, Tiger cubs have to do 5 "go see its", 5 family activities and 5 activities in their den.

Dens are what the boys are in; lead by a den leader and assistant leader. Pack is a group of dens. Heading the pack will be a Cubmaster, Assistant CM, and a Committee (here, made up of committee chair, treasurer, secretary, advancement chair and den leaders). Tiger, Wolf and Bear are mostly family involved; Webelos are less so. Webelos can camp without their families, the other ranks cannot (here anyways).

Here, the Scouts are sponsered by a business, a school or a church. Our pack is run through our church. We have to not only follow the BSA rules, but the church rules as well.

To find a pack, contact your local council. Get several options from them, and check each one out. You do not have to go to the pack that "services" your area; we live in one council district, but are involved in another. Each pack is different, you will want to find one that meets when you need and does activities your son will enjoy. Our pack, we meet weekly and camp 4x a year. Other packs do more frequent campouts or meet biweekly or (in one case) meet 2x a week!

Scouts groups (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts) are not sponsered by any organization in Canada. At least not in my province.

 

[flygrl]

I am up in Barrie and my son is in cubs grade 4. Our registration is $235. Of course this does not include the cost of camping trips, uniform etc. Our pack does a lot of funraising to keep the cost down for all the extras and it seems to work. Our pack is very active, I just wish my daughter would be interested in the cub scouts....

 

[highland3]

Scouts groups (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts) are not sponsered by any organization in Canada. At least not in my province.

Here in Ontario, many groups are sponsored by churches or community groups. That sponsorship may exclusively be free use of the facilities, which is greatly appreciated.

 

[proud_canadian]

My DD"s are beavers.

Here in Canada Scouting is co-ed and both girls and boys can join.

Beavers is up until grade 2 and then grade 3 is cubs.

Last year there was about 1/3 girls in my daughter's colony, but the cub troop had maybe a quarter girls.

The cost here is $190 per year but you can lessen your costs by fundraising, like popcorn sales. We had no dues last year either.

They do lots of great themed meetings, parties, hikes, got to participate in parades, and such. My older DD loved it, this is my younger DD's first year.

They do crafts and games mostly, but they did some pretty neat things too. Last year they spent one meeting making a "car" out of an old box, and then the next week they did a "drive in" and watched a movie.

Highly recommend. Cubs do more camps which is great!