Scouting 101

The Cub Scout motto is "Do Your Best". Every activity in Cub Scouting is based on Scouts doing their best. Scouts learn that they should try hard and not be discouraged when their best isn't the same as someone else's best or the same as their best on a different day.

On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

The Scout Law has 12 points. Each is a goal for every Scout. A Scout tries to live up to the Law every day. It is not always easy to do, but a Scout always tries.

A Scout is:

TRUSTWORTHY. Tell the truth and keep promises. People can depend on you.

LOYAL. Show that you care about your family, friends, Scout leaders, school, and country.

HELPFUL. Volunteer to help others without expecting a reward.

FRIENDLY. Be a friend to everyone, even people who are very different from you.

COURTEOUS. Be polite to everyone and always use good manners.

KIND. Treat others as you want to be treated. Never harm or kill any living thing without good reason.

OBEDIENT. Follow the rules of your family, school, and pack. Obey the laws of your community and country.

CHEERFUL. Look for the bright side of life. Cheerfully do tasks that come your way. Try to help others be happy.

THRIFTY. Work to pay your own way. Try not to be wasteful. Use time, food, supplies, and natural resources wisely.

BRAVE. Face difficult situations even when you feel afraid. Do what you think is right despite what others might be doing or saying.

CLEAN. Keep your body and mind fit. Help keep your home and community clean.

REVERENT. Be reverent toward God. Be faithful in your religious duties. Respect the beliefs of others.

Like any other group, Scouting has its own language. Here are some of the more common terms that you may hear.

Advancement. The process of moving up through Scout ranks.

Adventure. An activity or series of activities that Scouts complete to learn new skills and advance in rank.

Arrow of Light. The highest rank in Cub Scouting.

Blue and Gold Banquet. The pack's annual commemoration of Scouting's anniversary. The whole pack gets together, shares dinner, and celebrates the Scouts' successes.

Bridging. A ceremony where Webelos transition to Scouts BSA.

Chartered Organization. The private organization chartered by Boy Scouts of America to operate the pack. Our chartered organization is Davidsonville Family Recreation Center.

Class "A". A Scout's regular uniform, worn to most meetings and events. Consists of a collared Cub Scout shirt with rank patches and other items. (Also known as the field uniform. See Uniforms for more.)

Class "B". A Scout's activity uniform. Consists of a Cub Scout t-shirt and other items. (See Uniforms for more.)

Council. The BSA-chartered organization that runs Scouting (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Sea Scouts, Venturing) in a given area. Our council is the Baltimore Area Council.

Cubmaster. The registered adult volunteer leader who runs the day-to-day operations of the pack.

Cyber Chip. A badge earned by first-grade and older Cub Scouts that teaches them internet safety.

Den. A small group of Scouts, ideally 6 to 8 of the same grade level, who meet together for adventures.

Den Leader. The registered adult volunteer leader who organizes and runs den meetings.

District. A sub-group of the council that provides support to Scouting at a more local level. Our district is The Capitol District.

Pack. The group of dens of all ages that meets for monthly meetings and special events.

Pack Committee. The registered adult volunteers who plan the pack's annual budget and acitivities. Includes the Chair, Chartered Organization Representative, Treasurer, Cubmaster, and others as needed.

Pinewood Derby. An annual event where Scouts build and race simple cars from a block of wood to explore their creativity, get some hands-on experience with STEM, and engage in friendly competition.

Raingutter Regatta. A light-hearted event where Scouts build simple sail boats and race them, under their own breath power, in a rain gutter.

Rank. A Scout's status in the pack. Scouts work on earning their rank with girls of the same age.

Scoutbook. The official website used to organize the pack's activities. It is used to track advancement, send e-mails to parents, and schedule events. (https://www.scoutbook.com)

Scouts BSA. The Scouting program for kids in grades 6 to 12.

Troop. The basic unit of Scouts BSA. A troop is to Scouts BSA what a den is to Cub Scouts.

Webelos. Short for "We'll Be Loyal Scouts", this is the second-highest rank in Cub Scouts.

Youth Protection. One of the programs we use to keep Scouts safe at all times. YPT is the associated training that all registered leaders (and many interested parents) take.