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Whether you are new to Scouting or simply new to Pack 6, we prepared this short primer to help you gain a foothold in the new adventure of Cub Scouts. The first few weeks after joining Cub Scouts can seem a bit overwhelming. We are hopeful that this memo will help you through the process. Come Join us we have cool shirts!
In Cub Scouts, your child will be a member of a “Pack.” In Arizona, our organization is known as “Pack 6,” but our number is actually 006. Cub Scouts of all ages in our area will be part of Pack 6.
Cub Scouts’ ages range from kindergarten through fifth grade.
The Pack is led by the adult leader known as the “Cubmaster.” Our current Cubmaster is Jason Youn. Other adult leaders volunteering to operate the Pack serve on the Pack Committee. The Pack Committee Chairman is Dusty Trounce.
Our Pack is a community-based pack and our Chartered Organization is "The Parents of Pack 6," which is comprised of all the parents of our pack. Our Chartered Organization Representative is Dominic Kent.
The Pack (everyone) meets together once per month. The Pack meeting is typically on the third Wednesday night of the month from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Ingleside Middle School (cafeteria & gym), unless otherwise stated.
The Pack goes on campouts and has other joint projects from time to time during the year. The schedule of meetings is updated on Scoutbook under the Events tab.
Kindergarteners come to the Pack meetings that leaders feel are age-appropriate. Their attendance at pack meetings can be shortened based on the needs of the scouts in the den.
Within each Pack, there are several “Dens.” Dens are organized according to grade level, with 8-12 children per Den. Typically, children of the same grade level are also the same “rank” (i.e. level of achievement in Scouting). Within our Pack, there are typically 1-2 Dens per grade level.
Each Den has an assigned adult Den Leader. This person is responsible for coordinating the Den’s activities and making sure the Cub Scouts progress through their achievements to advance rank during the year. The Den Leader is a parent volunteer. In our Pack, although one parent is the Den Leader, we generally share responsibility for setting up activities that will enable the children to complete their achievements.
The Dens typically meet once per month at a time that is decided by the leadership in the Den. The Den meetings usually last between one to two hours and can be held at a school, church, park, public place, or family home. Usually, adults accompany the Scouts to Den meetings. For Lions and Tigers, parent attendance is mandatory per BSA regulations.
Lion Dens – Kindergarten
Tiger Dens – Grade 1
Den 1 – Erica Sietsma, Jason Youn
Wolf Dens – Grade 2
Den 8 - Shauna Marvin, Libby Walker
Bear Dens – Grade 3
Den 4 Boys – Brian Beutin (Assistant Leaders needed!)
Den 14 Girls – Jason Youn
Webelos I Dens – Grade 4
Den 2 Boys – Colin Tetrault, Jenny Tetrault, Chirag Kapadia, & Matt Keeler
Den 12 Girls -– Jason Youn
Webelos II AOL Dens – Grade 5 (move on to troop in February)
Den 6 Boys - Bill Scarbrough (Assistant Leaders needed!)
Den 16 Girls - Jess Trounce
In Wolf, Bear and Webelos Dens, children are given the chance to work on leadership skills through the Denner program, where each month different children are assigned "Denner" and "Assistant Denner" roles. Denners and Assistant Denners help leaders to run activities in the Den meetings and serve as models for the other cub scouts in the Den.
Once you register with Pack 6, you and your Cub Scout will be entered into a password-protected website the Pack uses for communication and advancement tracking. The website is called Scoutbook.com. You will receive an e-mail invitation to join the website once your information is entered.
Once you sign up with Scoutbook, please take time to sign in and explore the site. You can see how to enter achievements and accomplishments as your son or daughter completes activities. You will see that it corresponds to the activities in your scout’s Den Handbook (e.g. Tigers, Wolves, Bears, etc.). We ask that the parents keep track of these advancements in Scoutbook each month. Some activities will be done with the Den, and some on your own. You will find that a lot of activities you do as a family will go a long way toward certain awards and with a little extra effort, you can complete a “belt loop” or other awards (sports are a great example). Once you are registered, the vast majority of our communication with you, from both the Pack level and the Den level, will come through e-mail and calendar reminders sent through this system.
New Cub Scouts are asked to purchase a uniform, which will last for three years of their Cub Scout career if cared for and sized correctly. Uniforms change between the Bears and Webelos years but then carry forward to Scouts BSA. The uniform and other supplies can be purchased at the online Scout Shop.
Anticipate the total cost for the supplies listed above will be around $150. BE SURE TO CHECK OUR UNIFORM CLOSET FOR USED UNIFORMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
At the Scout Shop, you should purchase the following items:
Cub Scout Uniform (T-shirt for Lions, Blue Shirt for Grades 1-3, Tan Shirt for Grades 4 & 5).
Cub Scout Hat for appropriate rank.
Neckerchief to match hat (i.e. by rank)
Neckerchief slide (Woggle) by rank.
Socks (by rank: Tigers blue with an orange stripe, Lions, Wolves, and Bears blue with a yellow stripe, Webelos olive BSA socks.).
Cub Scout belt (size to last a couple of years).
Grand Canyon Council Patch
Pack 6 Patch (just the number “6” in red)
Den Patch
35-year Veteran bar (since our pack has been active for more than 35 years)
Handbook for your Cub Scout’s Rank (this contains all of the requirements for advancement and information on elective awards)
We recommend purchasing a sheet of “Badge Magic”. This is used to affix badges and awards to the uniform in lieu of sewing!
Official Cub Scout shorts are optional for our Pack. We ask that the Cub Scouts wear matching blue or tan shorts with their uniform at Pack Meetings. Please note proper closed-toed foot attire is also required at meetings. Sneakers work best. FLIP-FLOPS ARE NOT PERMITTED AT MEETINGS.
New scouts register online HERE.
For existing members of Pack 6 there is a $185 annual registration fee to cover the costs of expenses over the course of the year. This money is used to pay for the following items: (1) Boy Scouts of America Registration fees and insurance; (2) Meeting facility rental; (3) Campsite fees; (4) Supplies for Pack and Den meetings; (5) Subscription to Scout Life Magazine (6) Pinewood Derby car kit; and (7) Purchase of awards/badges/belt loops during the year.
An optional cost is the purchase of a Pack 6 T-Shirt (Class Bs) for the Cub Scout and/or the adult partner. We have unique Pack 6 shirts that many children and adults wear to outings when appropriate. These shirts plan to be available for purchase at every pack meeting.
Payments for Pack dues can be done in 2 ways:
Online Banking Zelle payment to pack6scouts@yahoo.com – BSA GRAND CANYON COUNCIL PACK 6.
Check made out to “BSA Grand Canyon Council Pack 6” mailed to Pack 6 c/o Brad Beebe, Treasurer, 5423 E Osborn Rd, Phoenix AZ 85018. If a check has been mailed please also email us at parentsofpack6@gmail.com so we can log it.
Camping is the heart of Scouting. Pack 6 goes on two campouts each year. One in the Fall and one in the Spring. These are typically weekend adventures with camping nights on Friday and Saturday. Many families of younger Cub Scouts will only camp on Saturday nights. Most campout weekends have Pack 6 returning by 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Given the age of the Cub Scouts, we try to select improved group campsites, where tents can be pitched within feet of the car and with running water or bathroom facilities.
For camping, you will need a tent, sleeping bags, air mattresses, lights, headlamps, and flashlights. You can work with the other members of your Den to determine how you will handle cooking and food preparation. Ideally, some members of the Den have camp stoves and cooking supplies as well.
Typically, meals on the campout are organized by Den. The Den families will get together to make assignments for food and food preparation.
Pocket Knives: Cub Scouts are not permitted to carry a pocket knife until they reach Bear rank and have passed knife training.
PLEASE NOTE: POCKETS KNIVES ARE NOT ALLOWED ON ANY SCHOOL CAMPUSES!
Participation in Pack 6 campouts is very important because a great deal of work on the Cub Scout’s achievements is accomplished during these two trips. For example, to advance from Bear to Webelos, the Cub Scout may need to “lead a hike.” The campout is the perfect place to accomplish this achievement. Den Leaders actively plan to have multiple achievements completed during campout weekends on Saturday and Sunday morning.
The Pack holds a fundraiser in the fall. We sell fresh holiday greenery in the form of wreaths and boughs. The Cub Scouts collect orders from friends, family, and neighbors in early October and then deliver their sales at the end of November. The Pack earns about half of its operating budget from this project.
Scouting is an active parenting activity. Families will get the most out of Scouting when their Cub Scout and at least one parent are actively engaged together. We strongly encourage you to read the materials and join in the activities. The Cub Scout program is merely a guide that will help you facilitate character development in your child. No advancement will occur without your participation.
Packs do not run without volunteers. 100% of our Pack leadership is parent-volunteer driven. We may look like we run a tight ship, but WE NEED YOUR HELP! Once you get your bearings, please identify how you can help and raise your hand to volunteer. The strength of our program is directly correlated to the effort put forth by our parent volunteers. We would love to incorporate what you have to offer to make our program richer and more fulfilling for our cub scouts.
