A Mother's Guide to Cub Scouts

So, your little boy is about to join Cub Scouts. You might be thinking to yourself that you're about to lose your little boy to a world of maleness. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are thousands of women working with Cub Scouts in every position available.

One of the biggest problems that many Cub Scout packs face is lack of leadership. One way to enjoy this experience with your child is to volunteer as a leader, assistant, or den aide. It is actually very rewarding for both you and your child for you to step up and help out. As a leader, you help shape the meetings and ideas that will impact not only your child, but all the boys in his den.

There are many ways you can volunteer with your child's Cub Scout pack. Apply to become the Cub Master or Assistant Cub Master. These positions are the top 2 places in the pack. The job of the Cub Master is to keep all den leaders on the right track with their boys, as well as help them in keeping parents updated on upcoming events. Once a month, you will hold a "Pack Meeting" where all boys, parents, and leaders get together and acknowledge the accomplishments of the boys, and to help in planning the months ahead.

If being a leader or Cub Master isn't your thing, try becoming of member the pack's committee. As a committee member, you have a say as to what events the boys will attend, what themes will be offered for each month, and which den will be in charge of which event. In this position, you have as much say as anyone else.

Creativity

With Cub Scouts, your child will be a member of the pack for some five years, from first grade through fifth grade. Throughout this time span, your son will need to complete several tasks in order to continue on to the next level. There are five different dens that your son will need to complete, one per year. They will need to do several things from carving a bar of soap to building their own pinewood derby car.

There are many other ideas that will need to be explored, and that's where your talents could be of use. First of all, if you do any craft projects at home, you might help your son's den earn their awards by showing the boys how to do said crafts. You might also have new ideas for activities that the boys could do as a group or team, also assisting in earning their awards.

One thing that all Cub Scout dens could use is people to help pay for materials or donating items they have lying around the house. If you've got craft items around your house that you don't use anymore, or an excess of something, donate it to your son's den, or to the pack itself. This could be helpful to other children, or even for children that aren't even in the pack yet.

Getting into Nature

Part of being in Cub Scouts involves outdoor activities. With younger Cub Scouts, a parent is required to attend outings for safety and legal issues. Besides, your son will have a deeper respect for you if he sees you out there walking through the woods and grasslands, and if he had any fears before, being with you will ease those fears relatively fast.

If your boys den is taking a trip to a museum or other educational destination, offer to drive some of them and their parents. This isn't something you need to do each time, but by making the offer, it will encourage other parents to do the same. Do you work in a large office building?
Look into getting a tour for the boys. Part of their experiences include understanding the way things work in the world.

Each summer, Cub Scouts offers a day camp for the younger boys, and an overnight camp for the oldest Scouts. Day camps offer several different activities for the boys. The oldest Scouts, or Webelos, get to enjoy the full experience of the big campfire, cooking their own meals, and making up a tent. Tagging along with your son may bring some new and exciting experiences of your own.

The Next Step

Once your son has reached the highest level of Cub Scouts, it's time to prepare him to continue on to Boy Scouts. At the end of their last year of Webelos, it's time for an age old tradition called the "Cross Over" ceremony. This is where your Cub Scout will cross into a new world of scouting. Many Cub Scout packs have an actual bridge that the boys walk across, with the Boy Scout troop waiting to accept them on the other side.

This is also a time for you to reflect on all you and your son have achieved together. You will get to watch your little boy grow into a young man. You will have the knowledge that you helped him conquer fears that you had yourself, but kept buried deep inside yourself, and that you helped teach him how to work as a team, how to have the confidence in himself to carry on, and how to face the future with a positive outlook.

Even as you watch your son cross over into the Boy Scout troop, know that one day he will look back on his childhood and reflect on the memories the two of you share. You will also know that no matter where his future takes him, you helped to install all the values you'd hoped your child would need in life. And you did this by being a Cub Scout Mom.