Info for Cub Scouts

Unit Structure

Cub Scouts

  • Adults plan and conduct meetings

  • Adults promote advancement

  • Scouts are in Dens, part of a Pack

  • Dens made of youth of the same rank

  • Packs are all-boy, all-girl, or a mix

  • Dens meet during the school year

  • Packs meet monthly

Boy Scouts

  • Youth plan and conduct meetings

  • Adults only step in when asked for help

  • Scouts are in Patrols, part of a Troop

  • Patrols are mixed-age

  • Troop meets nearly every Monday night

  • Patrols can meet on their own

Positions

In Cub Scouts, the adults take on all of the leadership positions. In BSA, youth occupy the leadership positions. Why is there no Cub Scout equivalent to Scoutmaster? Because Scoutmasters, unlike Cubmasters, are mentors who sit on the sidelines. Think of the Scoutmaster as the "chief adult guide" and the assistant Scoutmasters as "adult guides"

Cub Scouts

  • Cubmaster (Adult)

  • Den Leader (Adult)

  • Unit Committee (Adults, planning)

  • Unit committee (Adults, admin)

  • NO EQUIVALENT TO SCOUTMASTER

Boy Scouts

  • Senior Patrol Leader (Youth)

  • Patrol Leader (Youth)

  • Patrol Leaders Council (Youth)

  • Unit Committee (Adults)

  • Scoutmaster (Adult)


Parent Involvement

Cub Scouts

  • Expected to assist the Pack with planning or helping with at least one activity or event annually.

  • May also take a leadership role in the Pack or Den, usually required to accompany their youth on overnight campouts.

Boy Scouts

  • Expected to continuously assist the Troop by supporting the Scouts and actively participating

  • May include transportation, shopping, chaperoning a trip, assisting with fundraisers or coordinating special events.

  • Not typically required to camp, although parents are encouraged to do so.


Advancement

Cub Scouts

  • Rely on Den Leaders, Den Chiefs and parents to plan and assist with all advancement activities. requirements are signed by either the Den Leader or parent.

  • Ranks are based on age or grade. even if a Cub did not earn the rank for their age, the Scout moves to the next rank with the Den.

Boy Scouts

  • Parents can guide, but advancement is planned and assisted by youth leaders and adults

  • Advancement is individual

  • Scouts work at their own pace. A 13 year old in one Patrol might be a Life Scout, while a 14 year old in the same Patrol is a 1st Class Scout. A Scout cannot advance to the next rank until all requirements are completed.

Campouts

Cub Scouts

  • Limited to Scout and parent weekend or day trips. May have some camping in tents or cabins. Summer camp is usually limited to two or three nights. Campouts usually have a very structured schedule.

Boy Scouts

  • Month camping trips, opportunity for a week of camping each summer. Additional outdoor day activities. Not every minute of the outing is scheduled. Free time is important.

  • Much of Scouting involves activities that can only be done in the outdoors (nature, ecology, pioneering, orienteering conservation, etc)

Chain of Command

Cub Scouts

  • Cubs ask their parent, Den Leader or Cubmaster

Boy Scouts

  • Follow the "chain of command"

  • Scouts are taught to go to their Patrol Leaders, then their Senior Patrol Leaders, then finally the adults.

  • Where safety or health is an issues, Scouts may go straight to the adult.