Parent Information Guide

Welcome to Cub Scout Pack 371

Your son is registered in the world's largest youth organization - Cub Scouting as a Division of Boy Scouts of America. Here are some facts you will want to know:

• A Scout is a member of a Den and a Pack.
• His Den will meet weekly with his Den Leader and Assistant Den Leader.
• The Pack consists of several Cub Scout and Webelos Dens.
• These Dens meet together once a month as a Pack Meeting under the direction of the Cubmaster.

The Pack is run by a Pack Committee consisting of leaders and interested citizen's of the area. The committee is registered with Boy Scouts of America. A Pack is chartered through a sponsor. St. Clare of Assisi Parish is our sponsor.

Our pack is part of the Greater St. Louis Area Council (GSLAC). It is actually a corporation made up of representatives of Unit sponsors, plus members-at-large. It is run by elected officers and an Executive Board. It employs a small professional and clerical staff who run the Council Service Center and who train Council and District officers, help organize new Units, and help them succeed. Our Council is one of over 500 Councils in America.  Our Pack is part of the New Horizons District. The Council is divided into districts and there are many district and council officers who work with the Pack. These people are "behind the Scenes" as far as your son is concerned, but without their work and effort, our Pack probably would not exist. The GSLAC is chartered by the National Council. Local Councils are coordinated by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. All badges, books, uniforms and training materials, etc., are prepared by the National Council. Staff members of the National Council make regular visits to our Council and help our local leaders.

Meetings

• Pack Meetings will normally be held the fourth Thursdays of each month at St. Clare of Assisi School at 7:00 P.M. They will be generally held in the Cafateritia  and will last about 1 hour.
• Den meetings will be scheduled by each Den Leader. Check with your Den Leader for weekly scheduling of time and place.
• Special trips will be allowed following parental consent on a general permission slip.
• Committee meetings will normally be held monthly at 7PM on the second (2nd) Tuesday of the month in the St. Clare Cafeteria.  The time and place of the meetings may be altered to the convenience of the Committee. Parents are invited to attend and observe and are encouraged to participate.
• District Round Table Parent/Leader Meetings will normally be held at 7:30 PM on the first Tuesday of the month at Manchester United Methodist Church 

Attendance

Pack Meetings

• Pack meetings will be an integral part of Scouting, and Families should attend all meetings.
• Parent(s) or designated adult should accompany a Scout the Pack meetings. Guests are welcome.
• Dens will be assigned responsiblity for the set-up and clean-up of meeting place, welcoming families to the pack meeting, opening and closing flag ceremonies, and various other duties on a rotating schedule.

Den Meetings

• Den meetings should be attended regularly to receive the full values of the program.
• It is important that absences be communicated to the Den Leader in advance to aid in planning and materials as well as to receive current program information.

General

• Scout functions will be scheduled to begin and end at specific times. Scouts and their parents are expected to be present when an activity begins and leave promptly upon completion.
• Scouts should wear uniforms at all times unless otherwise specified. For certain outdoor activities, a Pack/Scout T-shirt and Cub scout hat will be deemed acceptable.

Fees

• The Pack operates on a budget plan. The fees go towards awards, ribbons, supplies and registration fees to Boy Scouts of America. Fees are due in May.
• No boy will be penalized for financial hardship. In a case such as this, a fees earning plan can be established by the Pack Committee.
• The amount of fees will be decided by the Pack Committee at the Annual Planning Meeting.
• In addition to Pack/Registration Fees, each Den may also require fees for supplies and activities. These fees will be paid to the Den Leader. Records will be furnished to and audited by the Pack Treasurer
• All registered adults will pay their annual registration fees to Boy Scouts of America.

Advancement

• Advancement ceremonies will be held at monthly Pack Meetings.
• Requests for awards will be submitted to the Award Person no later than the Thursday prior to the Pack Meeting.
• Advancement Awards will not be presented to a Scout, unless one parent or designated adult is also in attendance.
• Parents are expected to work with their Scouts on advancements in conjunctions with Den Leaders.

Dens

Leadership

• When a leadership vacancy occurs within a den, a new leader from within that parent group will fill the vacancy.
• An Assistant Den Leader will also be required for each den.

Size

Dens will consist of no more than 6-8 boys. When a den approaches 8 members, It will be necessary to split into 2 smaller Dens.

Committees

Certain events during the year require efforts above and beyond the normal effort put forth by the adult leaders of your Pack. In order to make sure these activities are a success for the Cub Scouts, committees will be formed to spread the work involved. Each family will be expected to help on one of these committees during the year. Our Pack can not function successfully without this parent participation.

Closing Statement

Cub Scouting is a year-round, home-centered program involving boys and their parents, adult leaders and friends. The Pack can only function successfully with parent participation. Parents are expected to contribute time, energy and talent as needs arise within the Pack. (Cub Scouting Training Programs are available to benefit adult members.)

Parent/Pack Agreement

Boys can expect:

• help from parents with achievements in their books
• leadership from the Pack
• fun at all Scout functions
• membership in the Boy Scouts of America.

Parents can expect

• help with character building for your son
• specific tools to help with discipline and growth
• warm associations with your son
• programmed good times with your son
• a chance to see your son perform in public
• an opportunity to help your son receive public recognition
• pride in your son's accomplishments.

The Pack can expect

• participation by boys in weekly Den Meetings
• participation of boys and parents in monthly Pack Meetings
• help from parents in specific ways during year
• payment of fees
• information sent to parents to be read
• parents to help boys with achievements.