Everything in Cub Scouting is designed to be fun, but the real highlights of the program are activities like Cub Scout Day Camp and the Pinewood Derby. Each Pack offers its own calendar of events, but here are some highlights:

Pinewood Derby. You are your son work together to build a miniature gravity-powered race car. Usually held in the spring.

Blue and Gold Banquets. Often held in place of February pack meeting, this banquet is a special birthday party for Scouting. It may be a seated dinner or a potluck.

Cub Scout Day Camp. A week of outdoor fun for Cub Scouts from your area. Activities include archery, BB guns, nature hikes, sports, crafts, and much more.

Adventure Weekends. Held each Spring and Fall, these programs let your whole family enjoy a weekend of Scouting activities.

Scouting for Food. Each October Scouts from throughout our area join together to collect food for the needy.

Service Projects. Packs participate in keeping the environment beautiful throughout the year. The projects remind our Cub Scouts the importance of keeping the environment safe for others.

Resident Camp. Feinstein Youth Camp is a Disney World version of summer camp for your son and you.

Help Wanted: Apply Within

Cub Scouting is a family oriented program. With few exceptions, all the volunteer leaders in your pack have a vested interest in supporting the community. So what role should you take? That depends on your time, abilities and interests. There’s a job for everyone in Cub Scouting. First of all, you have some specific jobs as a parent. If your son is a Tiger Cub, you will probably be his adult partner and work with him on all his activities. If your son is a Wolf or Bear Cub Scout, you will work with him on advancement requirements and sign off on his advancements.

But you should plan to do more. Below is a partial list of other jobs you might want to take on. (By the way, either men or women can fill all these positions.)
Den Leader. Leads the weekly den meeting. Coordinates the den’s participation in monthly pack meeting. Attends monthly pack leaders’ meeting and roundtable meetings.

Assistant Den Leader. Assists Den Leaders and fills in as necessary.

Cubmaster. Helps plan and carry out the pack program. Emcees the monthly pack meeting. Attends monthly pack leaders’ meetings and roundtable meetings.

Assistant Cubmaster. Assists Cubmaster and fills in as necessary. Takes responsibility for specific area of program.

Committee Chair. Chairs monthly committee meeting. Ensures enough parents are recruited to do behind-the-scenes work.

Pack Committee. Meets monthly. Positions include secretary, treasurer, advancement chair, and outing coordinator.

Other Jobs. Throughout the year parents will be needed to chair one-time events like the Blue and Gold Banquet, Scouting for Food, or a money earning project.

The Dollars and Cents Of Cub Scouting

Compared to other youth programs, Cub Scouting is a bargain. But it’s not free. It takes a lot of money to run your son’s den and pack. Expenses include awards and recognition’s, outings, program materials, equipment, and leader training. These expenses are generally met in three ways: dues, money earning project and activity fees.

Dues. Most dens charge weekly dues to cover the cost of program materials and supplies. Paying dues teaches boys responsibility and the importance of paying their own way.

Money earning projects. The main source of money for your pack is money-earning projects. The Narragansett Council provides two of the best. The Trail’s End Popcorn in the fall and Bowl-a-Thin in the spring. These no risk fundraisers let boys earn prizes while supporting their pack.

Popcorn. Boys can earn prizes through the sale while commissions from the sale help support the unit directly by possibly paying for activities, registration, camping, and program which are elements of the “Ideal year of Scouting”.

Activity-Fees. Programs like Cub Scout Day Camp are designed to be self-supporting, so boys are charged an activity fee. Financial aid is available for some activities.