Scouting has its own vocabulary and traditions, and it can feel like a lot at first. Here’s a plain-English introduction.
The structure
Cub Scouts is the program for kids in kindergarten through 5th grade. Older scouts move up to Scouts BSA (the program formerly called Boy Scouts) when they finish 5th grade.
A pack is the local Cub Scout group. Pack 12 is our pack. Within the pack, scouts are organized into dens by grade. Each den has a leader (usually a parent volunteer) and meets a couple of times a month. The whole pack also meets together once a month for bigger events.
The ranks
Each grade level corresponds to a rank, and each rank is named after an animal:
- Lion — Kindergarten
- Tiger — 1st grade
- Wolf — 2nd grade
- Bear — 3rd grade
- Webelos — 4th grade
- Arrow of Light — 5th grade (the highest Cub Scout rank, and the bridge to Scouts BSA)
Scouts earn their rank by completing adventures — small projects and activities designed for their age. Adventures cover everything from nature and outdoor skills to citizenship, fitness, and STEM.
How meetings work
Den meetings are smaller gatherings (just one den) where scouts work on adventures with their den leader. Most dens meet twice a month.
Pack meetings are when the whole pack gets together — all the dens, plus families. We do ceremonies, recognize scouts who’ve earned awards, and have a bigger activity. Pack meetings are usually monthly.
Beyond meetings, the pack does campouts, hikes, service projects, and signature events like the Pinewood Derby and Blue & Gold Banquet throughout the year.
What parents do
Cub Scouts is a family program, not a drop-off activity. Parents are expected to come to den and pack meetings with their scout, especially in the younger ranks. As scouts get older (Webelos and Arrow of Light), they start doing a bit more independently.
Pack 12 runs entirely on parent volunteers. Den leaders, the Cubmaster, the committee — every adult leader is a parent of a scout. We don’t ask families to take on big roles right away, but we do hope every family finds some way to pitch in over time. There’s a job for every skill set and time commitment.
The uniform
Cub Scouts wear a uniform shirt with patches and rank insignia. The basics:
- Lions (kindergarten) wear a Lion T-shirt
- Tigers through Arrow of Light wear the official blue Cub Scout uniform shirt
- Webelos and Arrow of Light scouts may also wear the tan Scouts BSA shirt, which they’ll continue to use after they cross over
We’ll give you a complete shopping list when you join. Uniforms are available at the local Scout Shop or online at ScoutShop.org. Buying slightly larger lets the shirt last a year or two.
Common terms in 30 seconds
- Cubmaster — the master of ceremonies for pack meetings
- Den Leader — runs den meetings for one grade
- Committee — the parents who handle the behind-the-scenes business of running the pack
- Charter Organization — the institution that hosts the pack. Ours is Lakewood Methodist Church.
- Scoutbook — the online tool that tracks rank advancement
- BeAScout — the official Scouting America registration site
- Pinewood Derby — the wooden car race held every January
- Blue & Gold — the pack’s birthday celebration in February
- Crossover — the ceremony where Arrow of Light scouts move up to Scouts BSA
Still curious?
Contact us — we’d rather you ask than guess. There’s no such thing as a dumb question about scouting.