New to Scouting? Thinking about Scouting?
We developed this section to answer some common questions…
What is scouts about?
Will scouts help my son grow?
Why should I sign my son up?
How is Boy Scouts organized?
What can I expect from scouts?
What is expected of me?
Building Tomorrows Leaders
Since 1910, Scouting has helped mold future leaders by combining educational activities 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.
Some Common Questions
What is the Mission of Boy Scouts?
…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 boys (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 boy 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 son. We provide other mentors to help your son grow but you are also an important part of his development in scouting. Your role decreases as your son gets older.
But your role in the troop can be passive. We don’t expect a parent to leap right in. But, be warned, Cub Scouting might touch you as it touches your son 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 Boy be to Join?
Cub Scouting is for boys in the first through fifth grades, or 7 to 10 years of age. Boys 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 Boy Scout 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 boy 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 boy enters a Webelos den, he may need to obtain a new uniform if the parents in the den opt for the khaki-and-olive uniform.
Getting Started
When is a good time to get started?
Like most Cub Scout Packs, we go year-round. 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 email us or fill out our website form at the bottom of this page. It only takes a minute and we will contact you shortly.
When do we meet?
Pack Meetings are normally held every other Monday. A Calendar and our Facebook page reminders are available to keep you on track, especially in case of cancellations from bad weather!
The meeting is normally led by the Cubmaster. Keep an eye on the calendar for the date. 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 normally held twice a month and when there are specific outings.
Our meetings are held in the same building as the Scouts: FUMC 102 N. 2nd Street, Temple, TX 76501 at the Youth Center Building around back and separate from the main church building.
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. Additionally, any Cub that actively helps year-round with fundraising efforts can get their Cub’s membership paid for. The person to see about assistance is the Committee Chair. This will be kept between you and them but you can tend to that later.
Second – 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 will be doing throughout the year. Don’t let the cost get in the way of your decision.
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