| Cub Scouting is the first and largest of the Boy Scouts of America's three membership divisions. (The others are Boy Scouting and Venturing.) A key element of the Cub Scouting program is an emphasis on caring, nurturing relationships between boys and their parents or other adult
partners.
The Purposes of Cub Scouting
Cub Scouting has nine purposes. To:
- Positively influence character development and encourage spiritual growth
- Help boys develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship
- Encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body
- Improve understanding within the family
- Strengthen boys' ability to get along with other boys and respect other people
- Foster a sense of personal achievement by helping boys develop new interests and skills
- Show how to be helpful and do one's best
- Provide fun and exciting new things to do
- Prepare boys to become Boy Scouts
Membership and Meetings
Cub Scouting is for boys in the first through fifth grades. Members join a Cub Scout pack and are assigned to a den, usually a group of six to
ten boys in the same grade. Dens stay together from year to year. Dens in Pack 33 typically meet once a month for an hour or two. Since Cub Scouting emphasizes relationships between boys and their parents or other adult partners, a parent or other adult accompanies each cub scout at all meetings and other events, and activities are oriented to involve both the scouts and their adult partners.
Once a month, all of the dens and family members gather for a pack meeting under the direction of a Cubmaster and pack committee made up of den leaders and other parents. Pack meetings usually involve one or more activities and award ceremonies. Meetings for Pack 33 are typically
one Thursday a month at 7pm and go for an hour or so.
Although Pack 33 is sponsored by and meets at St. Augustine's (111 Larchmont Avenue in Larchmont), it and the entire BSA are strictly non-denominational and welcome all participants. Pack 33 primarily includes the Chatsworth and Central Elementary School Districts of Larchmont/Mamaroneck and is part of the Algonquin District within the Westchester-Putnam Council. Pack 33
is one of the largest packs in the District with approximately 70 active Cub Scouts and
20 active leaders.
Volunteer Leadership
Thousands of volunteer leaders, both men and women, are involved in the Cub Scout program. They serve in a variety of positions, as everything from unit leaders to pack committee chairmen, committee members, den leader coaches, and chartered organization representatives.
Parents are a vitally important part of the cub scout experience. Parents serve as pack and den leaders, but more importantly all cub scout activities involve both the scout and
his parent or other adult partner. Cub Scouting is not a "drop off" activity, but rather a chance for parents and boys to interact and develop their relationship in a setting different from the normal hustle and pressure of school, sports, and other extracurricular activities. Cub Scouting particularly focuses on community values, helping others, respect and sportsmanship, independent skills and working together as a team, and developing self-esteem and pride for doing
one's best.
Advancement Plan
Recognition is important to young boys. The Cub Scout advancement plan provides fun for the boys, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and strengthens family understanding as adult family members or partners work with boys on advancement projects. Each level comes with a comprehensive handbook that guides the Cub Scout through his year.
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