Scouting 101
New to Scouting? Thinking about Scouting?
We developed this section to answer some common questions...
What is Scouting about?
Will Scouting help my son or daughter grow?
Why should I sign my daughter or son up?
How is the BSA organized?
What can I expect from Scouts?
What is expected of me?
Building Tomorrows Leaders
Since 1910, Scouting has helped mole future leaders by combining educations actvities and lifelong values with fun.
Scouting helps meet six essential needs of young people:
Mentoring
Scouting provides youth with good role models who can have a powerful impact on their lives. We have a process that screens, selects, and trains the leaders who can provide the attention all young people need to succeed in life.
Lifelong Learning
Scouting provides structured settings where kids can learn new skills and develop habits of continual learning that will help them succeed. Scouting offers a proven program of discovering, sharing, and applying knowledge and skills that last a lifetime.
Faith Traditions
One of the key tenets of Scouting is "duty to God." While Scouting does not define religious belief for its members, it does encourage each young person to begin a spiritual journey through the practice of his or her faith tradition.
Serving Others
Scouting is deeply rooted in the concept of doing for others. "Do a Good Turn Daily" is a core Scouting precept. Scouting encourages young people to recognize the needs of others and take action accordingly.
Healthy Living
Young people need to be well. To get the most from life, one must be both mentally and physically fit. A commitment to physical wellness has been reflected in Scouting's outdoor programs such as hiking, camping, swimming, climbing, and conservation. First aid, lifesaving, and safety programs are synonymous with Scouting. Our programs today include strong drug abuse awareness and prevention programs emphasizing the value of healthy living habits.
Building Character
Few will argue with the importance of teaching values and responsibility to our children - not only right from wrong, but specific, affirmative values such as fairness, courage, honor, and respect for others. Beginning with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, the Boy Scouts of America program is infused with character-building activities that allow youth to apply abstract principles to daily living situations.
What is the first thing a Cub Scout Learns?
Scout Oath
On my honor,
I will do my best
To do my duty
to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
Scout Law
A Scout is:
Trustworthy,
Loyal,
Helpful,
Friendly,
Courteous,
Kind,
Obedient,
Cheerful,
Thrifty,
Brave,
Clean, and
Reverent
Cub Scout Motto
Do Your Best
What makes Scouting great?
It's that we only expect the youth to do their best. It's all you can really ask for and it's all you can really expect.
Why Did We Include the Following Video?
We have no idea. But it's not boring and it gives you an idea of the different ways Scouts have fun...
A Parent's Call to Action
The following is a little long. But it speaks to the heart of scouting and why you, as a parent, should consider it for your child...
"There is a battle of significant consequence taking place in the lives of boys in America today. In simple terms, it is the battle between doing what is right or wrong. A recent study conducted by Louis Harris & Associates indicates that the proportion of boys choosing to do what is wrong is alarmingly high. Even basic values such as not cheating on schoolwork and not stealing seem to be unstable.
Clearly, the results of this study indicate that our nation's youth are struggling with ethical and moral decisions, and that these difficulties can only increase with age. Therefore, the need for reinforcing and rewarding strong moral standards and providing positive role models at a young age is more important than ever before.
Cub Scouting creates a climate of cooperative and collaborative relationships between adults and children--a laboratory for adults and children to get to know one another. It provides opportunities for children to acquire the capacity for accomplishment. The program affirms to the child that the world really is an interesting place.
Cub Scouting is fun! But it is fun with a purpose. Woven though all the fun is an inspired program that really works. Tried and proven methods are used that transfer traditional values, build character, and develop leadership skills -- all in the context of fun and family togetherness."
(BSA: Operation Tiger Mania 1996)
Some Common Questions
What is the Mission of Scouts BSA?
...to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
What Do Scouts Do?
Some of the best things about Cub Scouting are the activities the youth (and sometimes you) get to do: camping, hiking, racing model cars, going on field trips, or doing projects that help our community and the people who live here. Cub Scouting means "doing." All our activities are designed to have the boys doing something and by "doing" they learn some very valuable life lessons.
Do the Parents Have a Role?
Yes. As a program for the entire family, Cub Scouting can teach your son or daughter a wholesome system of values and beliefs while building and strengthening relationships among family members. Scouting gives you a pretty neat platform to equip your daughter or son. We provide other mentors to help your son or daughter grow but you are also an important part of their development in scouting. Your role decreases as your daughter or son gets older.
But your role in the pack can be passive. We don't expect a parent to leap right in. But, be warned, Cub Scouting might be as fun for you as it is for your child and you might eventually get 'the fever' that many of our leaders got from Scouting. But you are encouraged to go at your own pace.
How Old (or young) Can a Youth be to Join?
Cub Scouting is for boys and girls in Kindergarten through fifth grades, or 5 to 10 years of age. Youth who are older than 10, or who have completed the fifth grade, can no longer join Cub Scouts, but they are eligible to join a Scouts BSA Troop.
How do our Scouts Achieve Their Goals?
Activities are used to achieve the aims of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness. Many of the activities happen in the den (with the children in their grade) or with the entire pack (with all the grade levels). Our Scouts always have Go-and-See's and plenty of outdoor and indoor activities to help them achieve goals.
What Supplies and Equipment are Needed?
At minimum, each youth in Cub Scouting will need a uniform and a handbook. Each year, the handbook changes, as does the cap and neckerchief, but other uniform parts remain the same for at least the first three years. When a youth enters a Lion Den, they have the choice of the Lion Den T-shirt or the blue uniform shirt they'll wear in the coming years. When a youth enters a Webelos den, they will need to obtain the khaki-and-olive uniform.
Getting Started
When is a good time to get started?
Like most Cub Scout Packs, we are most active during the school year and have some summer activities. You can become a scout at anytime. Just contact our Cubmaster or the Den Leader in your age group - or, just show up at one of our meetings.
If you have an interest in learning more about our Pack, if you have questions, or if you are ready to get started, please click here and fill out our website form. It only takes a minute and we will contact you shortly.
When do we meet?
Pack Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM at the Social Hall at Loyola Elementary at 1801 Ludlam Drive Miami Springs, FL 33166. The meeting is led by the Cubmaster. You are welcome to stop by if you are considering joining the pack. We gear the meeting towards the kids and the goal is to have fun and recognize them for their recent accomplishments (with awards, pins, loops, badges, and whatever else we dream up).
Den Meetings (when just one age group meets - with the Den Leader) are scheduled by the Den Leader to try to accommodate everyone's schedule.
What is the Cost of Joining?
First - don't let the cost scare you off. It's not that expensive and our Pack is able to assist if you need help. The person to see about assistance is the Committee Chair, Cub Master or a fox🦊. This will be kept between you and them but you can tend to that later. The membership fee for a child to join Scouting is $133 per year. ($85 National fee, $48 council fee). The membership fee for an adult leader in $110 per year.
Second - If spread over the course of a year, the annual dues would end up less than $20 per month. This covers the National Fees for the scout, program costs, and recognition for advancements and awards. A new uniform runs around $100.00 (plus extra for accessories and patches) but the shirt is good for several years, so uniform costs do go down as you move through the ranks. The appropriate handbook is under $20.
We are not worried about the fees being paid up front. We can work with you. Scouting is actually quite reasonable considering all that your son or daughter will be doing throughout the year. Don't let the cost get in the way of your decision.
We hope you enjoyed the tour
You are invited to contact any of our leaders (Akela) by visiting our "Contact Us" page. If you are interested in signing up or have questions or comments you can also take one minute to fill out our online form. Either way, we are readily available to help answer any questions.
On behalf of our Pack -and the leaders - we wish you and your family the very best. We also hope you will become the next scouting family in our Pack.