FAQ
Following are the answers to common questions parents have about Cub Scouting.
Joining Cub Scouting
- How old (or young) can a child be to join Cub Scouting?
Cub Scouting is for children in kindergarten through fifth grades, or 6 to 11 years of age. Children who are older than 10, or who have completed the fifth grade, can no longer join Cub Scouting, but they may be eligible to join the Scouts BSA or Venturing program.
- What is the cost?
The membership fees for all Pack 99 Cub Scouts is covered on our dues page. Note that all pack and den leaders are volunteers that give their time and energy to the pack and the facilities are generously provided by Weddington Methodist Church. These fees go to cover the Boy Scout Council and National Dues, insurance, includes a kit for Pinewood Derby and a Class B t-shirt (or other souvenir item), and covers most achievement/advancement items during the year (e.g., patches and awards). - PLEASE NOTE: As a Pack, we've decided not to conduct Popcorn sales to offset the dues, which is why this amount may be higher than other Packs.
- How can I become an adult volunteer in Cub Scouting?
We are always looking for extra hands! Express your interest to the pack leaders. Even outside of den leadership there are plenty of roles in which you can contribute and we (and the scouts) appreciate it!
- Must I be a U.S. citizen to join Cub Scouting?
Citizenship is not required of youth or adult members.
The Cub Scout Program
- Are Cub Scouts the same as Scouts BSA?
Cub Scouting is a program of Boy Scouts of America—so in that sense, Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA are both members of the same organization. However, they are entirely different programs: Cub Scouting is a family-oriented program designed specifically to address the needs of younger boys.
- How often do Cub Scouts meet?
Cub Scouts meet twice monthly on Tuesday or Thursday evenings. Also, a den may hold a special activity, such as a service project or visit to a local museum in place of one of the weekly meetings or in addition to the weekly meetings. Likewise, Pack 99 may conduct a special event such as a weekend campout in addition to the Den meetings.
- May parents attend den meetings?
Cub Scout den meetings are intended to be an activity for the individual boys. They are not a family activity. The presence of parents should be only to aid the Scout in participation and attention. Parental involvement is not forbidden and all meetings are open to your participation.
Uniform and Supplies
- What supplies and equipment are needed to participate in Cub Scouting?
At minimum, each boy 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 the first three years. When a boy enters a Webelos den, he will need to change to the khaki-and-olive uniform. Detailed information on the rank uniforms can be found here: https://www.scouting.org/programs/cub-scouts/cub-scout-uniform/
Additional supplies and equipment may be needed for certain activities such as camping trips. Families may use whatever gear or equipment they'd like - it doesn't need to be official Boy Scout gear
Advancement and Awards
- If a Scout joins a Bear den, may they go back and earn the Tiger and Wolf badges?
No. In the Cub Scout program, all Scouts in a den work toward the same badge. If a child joins Cub Scouting as a 9-year-old, they must earn the Bobcat badge (everyone in Cub Scouting earns this badge), before beginning to work on the Bear badge with fellow Cub Scouts. They are not required to have earned the Tiger Cub or Wolf badges. Since those badges are for younger Scouts (7- and 8-year-olds), the requirements for those badges are below a 9-year-old's current level of ability, so "going back" to pick up those badges is not permitted.
- If a Scout completes the Wolf badge early, may they begin working on the Bear badge?
No. In the Cub Scout program, all Scouts in a den work toward a badge that is geared to their level of development. If the Wolf badge is completed before the end of the program year, the child may work on electives to earn Arrow Points, but they may not begin working on the requirements for the Bear badge. Work on the Bear badge will begin the next program year, when the child graduates into a Bear den.
