About Cub Scouts

What is Cub Scouting?

Cub Scouting is fun for the whole family.  In Scouting, boys and girls start with their best right now selves and grow into their very best future selves. It’s fun, hands-on learning and achievement that puts kids in the middle of the action and prepares them for today – and for life.

Cub Scouting is a year-round program uniquely designed to meet the needs of young scouts and their parents. The program offers fun and challenging activities that promote character development and physical fitness. Service projects, ceremonies, games, and other activities guide scouts through the core values and give them a sense of personal achievement. Through positive peer group interaction and parental guidance, scouts also learn honesty, bravery, and respect. Family involvement is an essential part of Cub Scouting and parents are encouraged to play an active role in the program. Through interaction between parents, leaders, and friends, scouts learn citizenship, compassion, and courage. This family-and community-centered approach to learning means that Cub Scouting is truly time well spent.

What are the requirements to join Cub Scouts?

Each rank in Cub Scouts is tied to your child’s elementary school grade level:

• Lions (Kindergarten)
• Tigers (1st grade)
• Wolves (2nd grade)
• Bears (3rd grade)
• Webelos Scouts (4th grade)
• Arrow of Light (5th grade)

What does Cub Scouting offer my son or daughter?

Cub Scouting offers fun and challenging activities that promote character development and physical fitness. Service projects, ceremonies, games, and other activities guide scouts through the core values and give them a sense of personal achievement. Through positive peer group interaction and parental guidance, scouts also learn honesty, bravery, and respect.

How does participation in Cub Scouting affect participation other activities?

The Cub Scout program is designed to compliment many other extracurricular activities. Typical time commitment is 2-3 Den meetings and one Pack meeting per month. Scouts who participate in organized sports like soccer, baseball, basketball, swimming, gymnastics, etc., or academic-based extracurricular activities like music, art, science, etc., can be recognized for these activities though Cub Scout belt loops and pins which are worn on their uniform.

What are the responsibilities of a parent?

• Provide help and support for the den and pack.
• Work with your scout on advancement projects and activities.
• Attend pack meetings with your scout and cheer them on as they receive awards.
• As they advance rank present them with these achievement during the ceremony. (The advancement ceremony may even include face paint for your scout!)
• Attend and assist with den outings.
• Attend Cub Scout Family campouts with your scout.

What is our level of commitment?

The level of commitment depends on the individual family. At a minimum you will want to attend the Den and Pack meetings on Mondays. The other activities are there to enhance the Scouting experience and are not specifically required.

Do Cub Scouts go camping?

Yes, but they ease into it. They may go camping with a parent, or even with the entire family. More on Cub Scout camping can be found here.

What other activities are available to Cub Scouts and their families?

Pack 608 is very active, providing a rich environment for scouts and their families. Our calendar events for the year typically include (in addition to den and pack meetings):

• Webelos Woods (Camping)
• Popcorn/Wreath (Fundraising)
• Pumpkin Patch
• Trunk or Treat (Hosted by Chinook PTSA)
• Costume Contest
• Veteran’s Day Parade (Service Project)
• Cake Auction (Fundraiser for Camp4All)
• Walk & Knock (Service Project)
• Evening with Santa (Hosted by Chinook PTSA)
• Wreaths Across America (Service Project)
• Christmas Tree Recycling (Service Project & Fundraiser)
• Winter Lodge / Snow Adventure Day
• Bowling
• Tree Planting (Service Project)
• Blue & Gold Banquet
• Pack Pinewood Derby
• Cub-o-ree (Day Camp)
• District Pinewood Derby
• Rain Gutter Regatta & School Yard Cleanup (Service Project)
• Bicycle Rodeo
• Memorial Day Flag Plant
• Family Camp
• Summer Camp (3 Nights)
• Summer Picnic
• Monthly Pack Hikes
• and more!

How much is it going to cost?

When joining or renewing with Scouts, the online registration/renewal process includes payment of the Scouting America (national) and Cascade Pacific Council annual membership fees. Families are encouraged to include Scout Life Magazine when registering or renewing. National, CPC, and Scout Life Magazine total fees for 2024-2025 are $120 and this payment is made directly to Scouting America.

Pack 608 funds are used to pay for meeting location rental fees, neckerchiefs for each Scout’s rank, rank advancement patches, achievement awards, activity segment patches, den meeting supplies, pack equipment, and lots more. Additionally, new scouts will receive a Pack 608 orange t-shirt and neckerchief/slide.

Each year after reviewing the annual budget, the Pack Committee sets the pack dues for the year based on estimating the upcoming pack expenses and projected pack fundraising. Pack 608 dues for the 2024-2025 program year:
$30 for Renewing Scouts
$50 for New Scouts

Other costs not included in Pack 608 dues or Scouting Membership Fees include; Handbook (each rank), Cub Scout Field Uniform, Optional Activities (Snow Lodge, Cub-o-ree, Webelos Woods, Summer Camp, and more).

Where can I buy uniforms, pack and den number patches?

The Nor’West Scout Shop. More information about the store including hours and directions can be found on their web site.

If you can’t make it to the store, you can order everything online from the BSA retail store at ScoutShop.org.

What are the uniform standards for the pack?

Pack 608 adheres to the Scouting America Uniform guidelines, we will frequently refer to two different type of uniform styles:

• Field Uniform (Formerly Class A) – This uniform type is used at Pack meetings and more formal public events. See this page for more details about what uniform items are required by rank.
• Activity Uniform (Formerly Class B) – For Pack events where the Field Uniform is not required. The Pack 608 activity uniform is the orange pack shirt.

How often are the meetings?

During the school year, Cub Scouts meet with their Dens two to three times each month and one Pack meeting each month. In Den meetings scouts work on achievements and rank advancement. During pack meetings the whole pack and families gather to acknowledge the achievements of your scouts and have some fun as pack.

Dens may have a special activity, such as a service project or visit to a local attraction in place of one of the weekly meetings (or in addition to the weekly meetings). The Pack has other activities every month, see the event’s list above.

Where and when are the meetings?

The pack meets at the Chinook Elementary School Cafeteria on Mondays at 6:30pm when school is in session. See our Calendar for more event details.

How can I learn more?

The best way to learn about Cub Scouts is to talk with a Cub Scout family that is engaged in the program. Additional, you can always learn more by emailing us at p608cubmaster@gmail.com.