New Hampshire Cub Scouting

Debbie Dyer-Quinn (746.2480) or nh.pack77.cubmaster@gmail.com    or

Niall Campbell (219-6596) or niallcampbell@comcast.net

For 100 years Boy Scouts of America has been weaving lifetime values into fun and educational activities designed to help families teach their boys how to make good decisions throughout their lives and give them confidence as they become the adult leaders of tomorrow.

Scouting shares parents’ goals to help boys grow up to be self-reliant and dependable – people of worth, caring individuals.

More general information on scouting, and what it’s all about, can be found at www.scouting.org.

Boys entering grades 1 through 5 in the fall

1st grade Tiger Cubs

2nd grade Wolves

3rd grade Bears

4th & 5th grade Webelos 1 & 2

A cub scout unit is organized into “dens” and “packs”.

A Den is a group of boys (typically less than 10) in the same rank (school grades). Each den has a trained parent leader (potentially one of you) who plan and execute the den activities. Dens typically meet twice per month, at a place/time of the Den’s joint choosing. Den activities are used to help earn rank and elective awards. The Pack includes all of the Dens in Hopkinton,  thus boys in grades 1st through 5th. Pack meetings occur typically once per month and include ceremonies, accomplishment recognition, fun activities, and even field trips. Pack meetings are family events and siblings are welcome to attend.

Scouts typically attend two Den meetings per month, and one Pack meeting. Occasionally other special activities may be offered by the Pack or Den.   Family time, e.g. Parent/Scout time, will also be involved to complete certain achievements and elective requirements for the badges each scout is working towards.

Registration fees (called “dues”) for new scouts are $50. Thereafter, dues are payable at the beginning of each school year and are somewhat less (~$35 per year).

Pack dues are used for registration and insurance fees paid to the national Boy Scouts of America (BSA), a subscription to Boys Life magazine, and to help fund Pack activities like the Blue and Gold Banquet, Pinewood Derby, books and neckerchiefs for the boys, awards, etc. Each den may also assess a modest materials fee to cover materials used in Den meetings.

Scholarships are available, so if dues present a hardship for you, see the Cubmaster to discuss scholarship/financial aid options. The same policy applies to cost of uniforms, outings trips, camps, etc. We don’t want anyone to miss out on scouting opportunities due to finances!

At the “Pack” level there are “annual” events like a Halloween costume party, holiday party, sports pack meeting, Blue and Gold Banquet, Pinewood Derby, and Cub Olympics. We also typically offer at least one overnight parent/scout “camp-in” trip each year – these have included Montshire Museum, Battleship Cove, Charlestown NH Fort #4, and even sleeping over in the outfield after a Fisher Cats game in Manchester!

“Dens” do a wide variety of activities and trips, depending on the interests of the individual den members/parents/leaders. Den activities are in general guided by the various skills that the scouts need to learn to achieve the badges for their grade level. Parents must be present for all Den meetings with our youngest scouts (Tigers), but are often dropped off for the Den meetings of the older scouts.

Scout uniforms include a blue Cub Scout shirt (long or short sleeved), neckerchief, neckerchief slide, and belt. Hats and other components of a uniform are all optional. The neckerchief and official Scout Book for each rank are provided by the Pack, as are badges that scouts earn.

The uniform (shirt/belt/slide) can be purchased at the Scout Shop at Camp Carpenter in Manchester NH (300 Blondin Road, 603.622.5060), or by ordering online at www.scoutstuff.org.

** Remember to buy the shirt big, as your scout will be wearing them for a few years. Sales people at the scout shop can help you with the patches that go on your shirt, or you can order them online as well (The basic badges each shirt needs are: a Daniel Webster Council patch, World Scouting Patch, and “77” numbers to signify Pack 77).

The total cost for a complete uniform is in the range of $40-45.

Joining involves a simple registration form, and payment of the $50 registration fee (check payable to Cub Scout Pack 77). The pack typically has special “signup” oriented pack meetings each spring and fall.  If you are interested in joining, just call or email the cubmaster listed at the top of this information sheet!