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Parent Responsibilities and
Involvement
When joining Pack 35, each parent or adult
family member agrees to support their son in the following ways:
1. See that he has
the proper uniform;
2. Assist him in
attending weekly Den meeting and monthly Pack meetings;
3. Work with him to
complete achievements for his rank award;
4. Return information
forms and permission slips as asked;
5. Support his Den
Leader as a resource person or substitute as asked;
6. Agree to serve in some
leadership capacity as called upon;
7. Provide input to
the Den Leader or Pack leadership with regard to Pack or Den programming.
Parent Involvement
Scouting has three aims: Character Development,
Citizenship Training, and Moral and Physical Fitness. In Cub Scouting we
carry out these aims through these methods:
- The ideals of Scouting
- The den
- The Uniform
- Advancement
- Family involvement
- Activities
- A home and neighborhood centered focus
Kids join Scouting because they want to have
fun, they are looking for adventure, they want to do things they can’t
always do in the normal course of their lives. AND they rely on you, their
parents and leaders, to provide those opportunities and to make this
program we call “Scouting” work.
The Cub Scouting program is designed to include
parents. The purpose is to increase communication in your family, and to
give your Scout the valuable experience of spending one-on-one time with
you. As parents, you are Akela (Ah-kay-la), the good leader (from Kipling’s
The Jungle Book), and share this responsibility with his den leader. As
your son progresses from Tiger Cub to Boy Scouts, your involvement in his
Scouting career evolves just as he does.
As Tiger Cubs, parents attend all meetings with
their Scout, and participate in all activities. You sign the requirements
in his handbook. You and the Tiger Cub Den leader plan one month’s meetings
and outings. You and your Tiger Cub host the meetings (not necessarily in
your home) and direct the meetings you have planned – with the assistance of the den leader.
The parents of Scouts in Wolf and Bear dens are
also primarily responsible for assuring that their sons complete the
requirement for their rank, and sign the requirements in the Scouts’
handbooks. Parents are encouraged to attend den meetings and to assist den
leaders with activities, chaperoning field trips and arranging special
events.
The parents of Webelos Scouts become the support
system for the Webelos den leader. As Webelos Scouts work on individual
activity badges, parents serve as resources to help the den leader teach
the skills the Scout learns in order to earn the badge. For instance, a
parent who has construction experience would be the activity badge
counselor for the Craftsman badge.
In addition to assisting with den activities,
parents have a great
role to play in the success of the
pack. You will see other parents serving on the pack committee, as den
leaders, and on committees for special events and activities. None of these
functions would be a success without the participation of parents, who
after all, are the “owners” of the pack.
Your sons’ successful Scouting experience is
directly tied to the participation of parents in the life of the pack. While
not every parent feels he or she is patient enough to be a den leader or
organized enough to be the Treasurer, there is a role for every parent in
pack activities. Your son will appreciate the fact that you care enough
about him and his Scouting experience to become involved in a committee, or
pack position.
This year you may be asked to sign up to help
with:
- Pack Outings
- Fundraising
- Scouting for Food
- Pinewood Derby
- Blue and Gold Banquet (Scouting’s annual
birthday party)
- Camping
There are many resources available to help you
with your committee activities, including training, available from the pack
and from the council. You want your son to get as much out of Scouting as
is possible. A healthy pack is one which offers Scouts many opportunities.
Parents are the key to a successful pack.
The greatest legacy you could leave your
children is a strong set of values, a belief in God, and the character
traits and self-confidence to become a success in whatever they choose to
do in life. Scouting can help you leave this legacy. Millions of kids have
benefited from the Scouting program for over 92 years. This is the vision
and mission of Scouting: to prepare young people to make ethical choices
over their lifetime by instilling in them the VALUES of the Scout Oath and
Law.
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