Joining
How do I join Pack 12? Fill out the form on our Join page. We’ll reach out within a day or two with everything you need to register.
Can my child join mid-year? Yes. We add scouts year-round. The earlier in the year, the more of the program your scout will experience, but joining in January is just fine.
Do I have to live in Tomball? No. Pack 12 welcomes families from across the area. Most of our scouts live in or near Tomball, but we have families from neighboring communities too.
Does my child have to attend a specific school? No. We have scouts from many local schools, including homeschool and charter school families. Pack membership is independent of school.
Can my daughter join? Yes. Cub Scouts has been open to girls since 2018. We welcome boys and girls equally.
Costs
What does it cost? The exact figure changes year to year, but Cub Scouts is one of the more affordable kids’ activities — significantly less than club sports. Annual costs cover Scouting America’s national membership and Pack 12’s year of activities.
We’ll give you the current year’s specific dues when you register.
Are there other costs beyond dues? Some, modest:
- Uniform (one-time, lasts multiple years)
- Handbook (one per rank, so once a year)
- Some events have small fees (e.g., campout food, banquet meals)
- Optional purchases like Pack 12 T-shirts
What if we can’t afford it? No scout is ever turned away from Pack 12 for financial reasons. If cost is a barrier, just tell the Cubmaster. We have ways to help, and we keep it private.
Does the popcorn fundraiser cover anything? Yes. Trail’s End popcorn sales help offset pack costs and individual scout accounts. Strong popcorn sales mean lower out-of-pocket costs for families during the year.
Time and commitment
How often does the pack meet? - Den meetings: typically twice a month for about an hour - Pack meetings: once a month, usually about an hour - Special events: Pinewood Derby, Blue & Gold, campouts, service projects sprinkled through the year
So most months involve 3–4 scouting events. It’s flexible — scouts who miss a meeting due to family or sports commitments aren’t penalized.
Do parents have to attend? For Lions and Tigers (K and 1st grade), yes — these ranks are designed as parent-and-child experiences. For Wolves through Arrow of Light, a parent should attend pack-wide events and outdoor activities, but scouts can attend den meetings on their own as they get older.
Do I have to volunteer to lead? No, but the pack runs on parent volunteers, and we hope every family finds some way to pitch in over time. There are many roles, big and small — talk to the Cubmaster about where you’d like to help.
The program
What does my scout actually do? Scouts in each rank work on adventures — small projects designed for their grade. Adventures cover outdoor skills, citizenship, fitness, STEM, and creative arts. Beyond adventures, scouts go on hikes, do service projects, build pinewood derby cars, attend campouts, and participate in pack ceremonies.
What if my scout misses meetings due to sports or other activities? Cub Scouts is built to flex around busy families. If your scout misses an adventure, they can usually make it up with their parent at home or catch the next time the den covers similar material. Talk to your den leader.
Will my scout earn rank if they only attend half the time? Probably yes, with some at-home work. Each rank has required adventures and elective adventures. Den meetings cover most of the requireds. If your scout misses some, they can complete them at home with you and sign off through Scoutbook.
Scoutbook
What is Scoutbook? Scoutbook is the official online tool that tracks your scout’s advancement — which adventures they’ve completed, what badges they’ve earned, and when. Your den leader updates it after each meeting, and you can view your scout’s progress anytime at scoutbook.scouting.org.
Do I need a Scoutbook account? Yes, but it’s free and your registration with BeAScout creates one automatically. Your den leader will help you log in for the first time.
Camping
Do we have to camp? Not for every campout, no. Camping is a big part of scouting, and we strongly encourage families to come — but we know not every weekend works for every family. Scouts who can’t make a campout aren’t penalized.
What if we don’t own camping gear? We can help. Several pack families have spare tents and gear they’re happy to lend, especially for first-time campers. Borrow your way through your first campout, then decide if you want to invest in your own gear.
Can I drop off my scout at a campout? No. Cub Scouts is a family camping program — every scout needs a parent or guardian present. Scouts BSA (the program for older kids) does drop-off camping, but Cub Scouts does not.
Communication
How does the pack communicate? Email and group text for day-to-day. The website for big-picture info and references. We try not to overwhelm anyone — a few messages a week, not a few a day.
What if I have a concern about something? Talk to the Cubmaster directly. Most issues are easy to resolve with a conversation. If something more serious comes up, the Committee Chair is also a resource.
Anything else
My question isn’t here. Contact us and we’ll answer it. We’d much rather you ask than guess. There’s no such thing as a dumb question about scouting.