Frequently Asked Questions

What do Scouts do?

Some of the best things about Cub Scouting are the activities the Scouts (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 Scouts doing something and by "doing" they learn some very valuable life lessons.

How much does Cub Scouts cost?

A whole year of Cub Scouts costs less than a single season of most sports. But unlike sports and other after-school activities, there are ways to defray the costs of Scouting such as fundraising. Assistance is also available if you need help and is a private matter between the family and our Committee Chair.

How old does a child need to be to join Cub Scouts?

Cub Scouting is for boys and girls in kindergarten through fifth grade (5 to 10 years of age). Boys and girls 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 Scouts BSA Troop.

What is the mission of 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.

Do parents have a role?

Yes. As a program for the entire family, Cub Scouting can teach your child 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 child. We provide other mentors to help your child grow but you are always an important part of their development in scouting. Of course, as a volunteer-run organization, there are always opportunities (both large and small) for you to improve your child's Scouting experience.

How is Cub Scouting organized?

Scouts are grouped into dens (children of the same age), led by a volunteer den leader. Several dens of different ages come together to make up the pack, led by the volunteer Cubmaster and pack committee. Our pack is part of The River Hawk District, which is in turn part of the larger Baltimore Area Council. Our District and Council organize events for Scouting units across our area.

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 have outings and plenty of outdoor and indoor activities to help them achieve goals.

What supplies and equipment are needed?

At a minimum, each child 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 four years. When a child enters a Webelos den, they may need to obtain a new uniform if the den opts for the tan and green uniform.

When is a good time to get started?

Our Pack is active year-round. We encourage new Scouts to join us in the summer or early fall. Please email join.pack454@gmail.com any time for more information.

When do we meet?

Pack meetings (when all of our Scouts, all ages, get together in the same place with the Cubmaster) are normally once a month on Fridays.

Den Meetings (when just one age group meets with the Den Leader) are normally held once or twice a month and when there are specific outings.