2019 Pack Planning Guide
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Table of Contents
Purposes and Methods of Cub Scouting....................................................................3Guide to Help Your Pack..............................................................................................5Pack Planning and Budget...........................................................................................7Membership.................................................................................................................14Pack Meeting Plans....................................................................................................16Pack Leadership Training..........................................................................................19Rechartering Tips.......................................................................................................22Tips for the Cub Master..............................................................................................24Additional Cub Scout Youth Awards........................................................................25Adult Cub Scout Awards............................................................................................32Council Services.........................................................................................................37
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The Cub Scouting program has 10 purposes related to the overall mission of the Boy Scouts of America: character development, leadership development, citizenship training, and personal fitness:
1. Character Development
2. Spiritual Growth
3. Good Citizenship
4. Sportsmanship and Fitness
5. Family Understanding
6. Respectful Relationships
7. Personal Achievement
8. Friendly Service
9. Fun and Adventure
10. Preparation for Scouts BSA
Every Cub Scouting activity should help fulfill one of these purposes. When considering a new activity, ask which purpose or purposes it supports. Not everything in Cub Scouting has to be serious – far from it! Silly songs, energetic games, and yummy snacks all have their place in the program.
The Methods of Cub ScoutingTo accomplish its purposes and achieve the overall goals of building character, learning citizenship, and developing personal fitness, Cub Scouting uses seven methods:
1. Living the Ideals Cub Scouting’s values are embedded in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the Cub Scout motto, and the Cub Scout sign, handshake, and salute. These practices help establish and reinforce the program’s values in the Scouts and the leaders who guide them.
2. Belonging to a Den The Den—a group of six to eight Scouts who are about the same age—is the place where Cub Scouting starts. In the Den, Cub Scouts develop new skills and interests, they practice sportsmanship and good citizenship, and they learn to do their best, not just for themselves but for the Den as well.
3. Using Advancement Recognition is important to the Scouts. The advancement plan provides fun for the Scouts, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and strengthens family understanding as adult family members and their Den leader work with the Scouts on advancement projects.
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Purposes and Methods of Cub Scouting
4. Involving Family and Home Whether a Cub Scout lives with two parents or one, a foster family, or other relatives, his family is an important part of Cub Scouting. Parents and adult family members provide leadership and support for Cub Scouting and help ensure that the Scouts have a good experience in the program.
5. Participating in Activities Cub Scouts participate in a huge array of activities, including games, projects, skits, stunts, songs, outdoor activities, trips and service projects. Besides being fun, these activities offer opportunities for growth, achievement, and family involvement.
6. Serving Home and Neighborhood Cub Scouting focuses on the home and neighborhood. It helps the Scout strengthen connections to their local communities, which in turn support the Scout’s growth and development.
7. Wearing the Uniform Cub Scout uniforms serve a dual purpose, demonstrating membership in the group (everyone is dressed alike) and individual achievement (the scouts wear the badges they’ve earned). Wearing the uniform to meetings and activities also encourages a neat appearance, a sense of belonging, and good behavior.
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The purpose of this document is to help each Pack with their yearly planning and operation. This document is framed around the Boy Scouts of America Journey to Excellence (JTE) criteria. If the Pack adult leadership follows the JTE model, they will help their youth achieve the Aims and Purposes of scouting.
What Journey to Excellence (JTE) Brings to Your Unit 1. A framework for planning the year.
The Journey to Excellence standards are based on what successful units do to continually improve.
If your unit plans to achieve gold or silver Journey to Excellence, you’ll have a strong and active program.
2. A method for evaluating your unit.
Journey to Excellence provides tangible measurements based on things you are likely already tracking, such as how many campouts you have, how many youth are advancing, etc., and uses simple ways to calculate your performance.
3. Guidance in areas where you might do better.
As you track your performance against the Journey to Excellence standards, you can easily see where you could do better.
4. Specific guidelines and standards of what is considered good performance.
Journey to Excellence has specific, simple measures to help you. You can easily compare what you are doing against the standards.
5. Early warning of potential problem areas.
You track any areas where your unit is not performing as you might like and have plenty of time to make corrections.
6. Recognition for good Scouting.
You can proudly receive your bronze, silver, or gold recognition for your Scouting unit for the year
By following JTE and aiming for the Gold criteria, you will help your unit grow, help the youth advance, retain more of your youth, and ultimately be a positive influence on their lives. The following is a link to the JTE website: http://www.scouting.org/Awards/JourneyToExcellence.aspx
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Guide to Help Your Pack
OTHER HELPS
Additional information to aid Cubmasters and Den Leaders on how to plan and run meetings can be found in the following books:
Cub Scout Leader How to Book
Tiger Den Leader Guide
Wolf Den Leader Guide
Bear Den Leader Guide
Webelos Den Leader Guide
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Let's talk about one of the key elements of all successful Packs and an indicator of a potentially successful year. Of course that would be the Pack's annual program plan and planning conference.A research project done by Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, Indiana, showed that a common element of strong Packs is they all have a good annual Pack program planned a year in advance that is then shared with all families in the form of a calendar. The important result of a shared annual program calendar is that your Pack will attract more families, and Cub Scouts will stay for a long time.Just as an aside, the other two key elements of successful Packs identified in that study were training and just having the right leader to start with.Here is how a Pack program planning conference works. A month or two before the scheduled face-to-face conference, the Committee Chair and Cubmaster gather the following information:
1. Key school dates2. Community event dates3. Your chartered organization's dates4. Personal dates that may affect your Pack's activities, such as the Cubmaster's
anniversary cruise5. District and council dates6. Collected Family Talent Survey sheets from all parents7. Last year's Pack annual plan if you have one
To maximize the efficiency of your planning, the following people should attend the conference:
1. All Pack Committee members2. All Den Leaders3. All Pack/Den aids and Den Chiefs (optional)4. Chartered Organization Representative5. Your Unit Commissioner (optional)6. Anyone else you think might be helpful, such as other parents
If you choose, you can use a new electronic program planning conference guide for a Pack to add some color to the process. This narrated PowerPoint presentation, which takes the Pack step-by-step through the planning process, can be found at: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/ProgramPlanningTools.aspxThe result is an annual calendar and plan that all parties agree upon.
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Pack Planning and Budget
Here's a quick rundown of the steps.
Before you start the planning process: Explain to the group the importance of annual program planning, why you are doing it, and the rules for the process during this meeting.
Step 1: This part is easy. Just take the dates you collected and put them into your Pack's master calendar—including Den meeting dates—either on a hard copy or by plugging the information into an electronic calendar on a computer. An electronic template can be found by clicking here.
Step 2: Before you begin rounding out the master calendar with things you want to do, review what the Pack did last year. You might even want to write what you come up with on a flip chart or dry erase board. Ask yourself questions like, what events went well, what events didn't go so well? Did we earn the National Summertime Pack Award? Did we earn The Journey to Excellence Award? How did we do with Den and Pack attendance? Did we participate in Cub Scout day camp or family camp? Did we sell popcorn?Feel free to ask as many questions as you want, but don't spend too much time on this, as the key issue is planning the upcoming year. Just use this research to help guide what you might want to keep, replace, or improve.
Step 3: Do some brainstorming on activities your Pack might want to do in addition to Den and Pack meetings. This could be things such as a Blue and Gold banquet, Pinewood Derby, family picnic, first-aid training, pet show, and so on. Remember the brainstorming rule, which is anybody can suggest anything without critique or criticism. Feedback and analysis come later, after all the ideas have been captured. Once you have a list of things your Dens and Pack might want to do, start prioritizing the list. Is a particular activity something for Dens or the Pack as a whole? Could the activity be incorporated into a Den or Pack meeting? And so on. Take a vote on which activities to include on the Den and Pack meeting schedule, then add the activities to your calendar.
Step 4: By now, the calendar should be taking shape. It should include school and community dates, holidays, some personal conflict dates, Den and Pack meetings, additional Den and Pack activities, and district and council dates. The next step is to assign the person who will be responsible for each event, as well as Den responsibilities at Pack meetings. This would include names, like "Bob Smith" will be the chair for the Blue and Gold banquet.
If you are really ambitious, you can even put in event details such as, "Bob will send invitation and assignments to each family by January 1," and, "By November 1, we will
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get confirmation from the school we can use the cafeteria." Remember that good planning and preparation will lead to family satisfaction. Some of this might have to come after your program planning conference, if you choose activities now and have to recruit chairs later. However, if you know you will be doing some activities again such as your Blue and Gold banquet, you might already have a commitment from "Bob" by the time the program planning conference happens.
Step 5: You're almost finished. The final step is to review your annual plan to ensure you have captured everything you and your families want to do in the upcoming year. Once you feel comfortable, publish or email your annual plan to each family. A reminder that not everyone has an email account, so be sure your distribution reaches all families. They will feel much more a part of your Pack and be able to plan their own family calendar with the Pack's calendar in hand. Sharing the annual plan with your families could be the most important step in retaining your Scouts and building tenure, so don't shortcut this one.
Step 6: Annual program planning is an ongoing process. Review the plan each month at your Pack leaders' meeting to make sure you are still on track, to recruit chairs and other help, you participate in important meetings, or to make assignments or changes as needed.
A great Pack program plan leads to a great Pack and Den program, which leads to Cub Scouts and their families staying and growing in Scouting.Good luck! You are taking a big step toward being a great Pack!
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Planning Your Pack’s Annual Program Budget
What is the unit budget plan? It is implementing the elements of a complete annual Cub Scouting program for youth, committing as a unit to incorporate these elements, and then providing adequate funding for them. Even more, it is committing to implementing the plan with the entire Pack: Cub Scouts, leaders, and families, by raising enough dollars to fund the program. The result is a well-managed, well-financed unit. The steps to planning your Pack’s annual budget are:
1. Plan the Pack’s complete annual program.
2. Develop a budget that includes enough income to achieve the program.
3. Identify all sources of income (Den dues and any traditional Pack activities), and then determine the amount of product sale and the sales goal per youth member that will be needed to reach the income goal.
4. Gain commitments from parents, leaders, and all Cub Scouts.
If you like to raise money every month, plan your program as you go, limit your activities based on the unit’s income, or not involve the youth members in the planning process, then this format might not be for you! Those leaders who want a meaningful, exciting, and comprehensive youth program that achieves the objectives of Cub Scouting will find this format the ideal way to go.
BASIC EXPENSES
1 Registration Fees. When a youth joins Catalina Council, there is an annual $57 national registration fee* to join scouting. $33 is sent to the national BSA office and $24 is to cover the Council’s Liability Insurance. This amount is prorated depending based on when the youth joins scouting throughout the year.
* The same rate applies for registered adult Scouters.
2 Unit Liability Insurance Fee. Packs are required to pay a national annual unit liability insurance fee of $40. This fee is submitted with the Pack’s annual charter application and helps to defray the expenses for their general liability insurance.
3 Boys’ Life. Boys’ Life magazine, the official publication of the Boy Scouts of America, is available to all members at $12, which is half the newsstand rate. (Prorated fees are available for youth who join a unit during the year.) Every youth should subscribe to Boys’ Life because of the quality reading and the articles related to your unit’s monthly program. It is part of a youth’s growth in Scouting, and research proves they will stay in longer and advance farther if they reads Boys’ Life.
4 Advancement and Recognition. Every Cub Scout should earn and advance a rank and receive the patch for that rank each year. Active Webelos Scouts will earn multiple
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activity badges in addition to their rank advancements. The Cub Scout advancement program has many elements that include Arrow Points, immediate recognition patches, outdoor awards, and Academics and Sports belt loops and pins.
5 Activities. Well-conceived and well-planned activities are critical to a successful annual program plan. Traditionally, such activities as Cub Scout pinewood derbies®, field trips, and district or council activities are financed by the boy and his family over and above the dues programs. It is suggested that the complete cost of these outings be built into the unit’s budget.
6 Cub Scout Day Camp, Cub Scout Resident Camp, Family Camping. Central to Cub Scouting is a summer camping experience. Local council opportunities abound for Cub Scouts and their families to have exciting, program-rich summer experiences.
7 Program Materials. Each Pack needs to provide certain program materials. Depending on the type of unit program, these could include Den meeting supplies, Den Meeting in a Box kits, craft tools and supplies, U.S. flag, Pack and Den flags, camping equipment, videos and books, or ceremonial props. (Note: Packs may not hold title to property. Only chartered organizations or the local council legally can own property.)
8 Training Expenses. Trained leaders are key to delivering a quality and safe program. Adult and youth leader training should be considered an integral annual Pack expense.
9 Full Uniforms. Traditionally, the individual pays for the uniform. We suggest that these expenses become part of the total cost of Scouting. The full Cub Scouting program includes the full uniform!
10 Reserve Fund. The reserve fund might be established by a gift or loan from the chartered organization, by members of the committee, or by a unit money-earning project. The reserve fund should be intended for unexpected expenses. A new member’s initial expenses may be met from the fund.
11 Other Expenses. These could include a gift to the World Friendship Fund, meeting refreshments, and/or contingency funds.
12 Average cost per youth. An average of $100/youth for what is essentially a 9 month program. To calculate this, divide the amount spent by the number of youth in the Pack. Some units pay for re-charter, Boy's Life, handbooks, all advancements and activity patches, AOL plaques, supplies and Blue and Gold. Some units subsidize the cost of a family camp outing and certain Pack-wide activities. Typically units do not provide uniforms except in special circumstances, day camp or overnight camp fees, or other discretionary spending. Overnight campouts can run $10-$15 per person, for youth and adult.
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SOURCES OF INCOME
Some units charge dues to be a member of a unit. These dues typically amount to $50 to $100 per year.
“One fund-raiser per year,” such as selling popcorn, will help prevent having to ask families for extra money every week. It is better to figure the total cost for the complete year up front. Ideally, all income would come from Den dues and one fund-raising program at the beginning of the program year each fall. A spring fund-raiser could be included.
Some Important Points:
Paying your own way. This is a fundamental principle of the Boy Scouts of America. It is one of the reasons why no solicitations (requests for contributions from individuals or the community) are permitted by Cub Scout Packs. Young people in Scouting are taught early on that if they want something in life, they need to earn it. This principle is among the reasons that adults who were Scouts are found to have higher incomes. The finance plan of any Pack should include participation by a Cub Scout in a regular dues plan. An annual Pack participation fee, too often completely contributed by parents, does little to teach a boy responsibility. The unit’s entire budget must be provided for by the families, either through fundraising or other means such as dues or fees. Except for council-sponsored product sales, all other money-earning projects require the submission of the Unit Money-Earning Application, No. 34427, to the local council. To ensure conformity with all Scouting standards on money earning, leaders should be familiar with the eight guides listed on the back of the application, on the last page of this planning guide, and in the financial record books.
The Pack Operating Budget Worksheet
To develop the Pack budget, complete the worksheet with the unit leader and committee at the Pack’s annual program planning conference, and then share it with the Cub Scouts’ parents. Be sure to keep parents involved and informed. The Pack’s program calendar and budget information needs to be communicated regularly to families, especially at the start of the program year. By sharing the Pack’s program plans and budgetary needs, you can help newly recruited Cub Scouts and their parents gain a greater understanding of just what fun is waiting for them during the Pack’s entire program year.
The Pack Operating Budget Worksheet may be found at the following link: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/xls/510-278.xls
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Membership Growth
The whole purpose of scouting is to get youth into the program so we can be a positive influence on their lives. This means we need to continually grow our units. We can not do this by waiting for them to come to us; we need to go out and get them even if they are already Cub Scouts. In addition, while recruiting new youth, we should be recuriting new adults to help share the work load. Below is a summary of the actions a Pack and Pack Committee can take to recruit new scouts.
• Appoint a Pack Committee member as recruitment chair
• Participate in multiple recruitment events (YEAR-ROUND)
• Make contact with local elementary schools
• Establish pin clinics, campouts, hikes, or other recruitment events
• Attend Pack open houses put on by the District
• Develop a Pack brochure, this should include the next year’s activity calendar
• Develop Den Chiefs in coordination with local Troop(s)
• Advertise your Pack’s service projects
• Use social media such as Facebook
• Make sure you follow up with phone calls
• Utilize “Be a Scout”
MOST IMPORTANT:YOU HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND RECRUIT
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Membership
Retention
Another import area to focus on to keep membership up is retaining the youth you have. Below are some of the main reasons scouts do not stay and how to help.
PROBLEM 1: Sports and other after-school activities get in the way.SOLUTION: Be accommodating, scouting can work with/around school and other activities. Scouting will still be there when season is over.
PROBLEM 2: Your unit’s program has gotten stale.SOLUTION: Don’t do the same thing year after year. A Pack requires a program that is dynamic with variety and challenges. Do not do the same thing all the time. If the program is interesting the youth will want to do it.PROBLEM 3: Lack of commitment from parents.SOLUTION: Get the parents invested from the start. The more involved the parents are, the better the scouts will do.PROBLEM 4: Poor fit between the Scout and his unit.SOLUTION: Help him find another Pack. PROBLEM 5: Scouting is too expensive.SOLUTION: Fill your year with money-earning projects and low-cost activities.PROBLEM 6: It’s hard to reach today’s kids.SOLUTION: Get your leaders trained for both Cubmasters and Committee Members. Don’t make training a one-time event. Keep getting more training.A Cub Scout Retention Toolbox is located at the following address: http://bsaseabase.org/filestore/cubscouts/ppt/Cub_Scout_Retention_Toolbox.ppt
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New Plans
The following link will take you to the Pack meeting plans for 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. http://www.scouting.org/Home/CubScouts/Leaders/CubmasterResources/PackMeetingPlans.aspxHere are a few thoughts to consider around these new Pack meeting plans. First, there is a plan for each month that corresponds with a point of the Scout Law. In addition, each plan has a theme to help make the Pack meeting even more fun! The plans do not have to be used in a specific order, but some do have reminders to include activities from the required adventures to help the Scouts earn their rank.
Tips for Utilizing the Plans
1. Pack meeting plans do not have to be done in any special order, but it is recommended that you include all of the points of the Scout Law each year. The Pack planning meeting would be a good time to determine the order.
2. There are Pack meeting plans for multiple years posted on the website. It is your Pack's choice of which one to select from each point of the Scout Law for each year.
3. Pack meetings should not last longer than an hour. Adjust the plan to make it fit within the time. Research and experience tells us that Cub Scouts have a hard time sitting still for that long. Keep the meetings fun, active, and engaging.
4. The following required adventures have a requirement that suggests or requires completion at a Pack meeting. Please plan accordingly as part of your annual program planning process. Work with your Den leaders to plan when these activities will take place.a. Tiger
i. Tigers in the Wild, requirement 5. Participate in an outdoor Pack meeting or Pack campout campfire. Sing a song and act out a skit with your Tiger Den as part of the program.
ii. Games Tigers Play, requirement 3. Make up a new game, and play it with your family or members of your Den or Pack.
b. Wolfi. Council Fire, requirement 6c. Create a Den project from recyclables for a Pack
meeting.c. Bear
i. Grin and Bear It, requirement 2. Working with the members of your Den, organize a Cub Scout carnival and lead it at a special event.
ii. Grin and Bear It, requirement 3. Help younger Cub Scouts take part in one of the events at the Cub Scout carnival.
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Pack Meeting Plans
d. Webelosi. Stronger, Faster, Higher, requirement 5. With adult guidance, lead younger
Scouts in a fitness game or games as a gathering activity for a Pack or Den meeting.
e. Arrow of Lighti. Building a Better World (if chosen), requirement 10b. Set up an exhibit at a
Pack meeting to share information about the World Friendship Fund.5. If you are comfortable with a costume to fit the theme of the meeting, go for it!6. Importantly, keep it simple and make it fun.
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Service ProjectsOne of the main duties in the Scout Oath is Duty to Others. Scouting was founded
on the premise of doing a Good Turn daily. Community service is very important in the character-building process and, as Scouts, we have made the commitment to give back to our communities. Service to others and good citizenship is learned through such outdoor activities as conservation projects, collecting food, building trails and shelters, and conducting community service projects that promote healthy living. Through helping other people, Scouts learn to appreciate how they can share themselves and their blessings to those in need. By giving service to others, Scouts gain a sense of personal satisfaction. While a Scout should do their best to help other people every day, a group service project is a bigger way to help people. While you're giving service, you're learning to work together with others to do something that's good for your community. Service projects may help the natural world, the community, or the Chartered Organization.
Here are some examples of service activities Scouts can do. Helping the natural world projects could include picking up litter around your neighborhood, cleaning up trash in and around washes, rivers, lakes and streams, or planting seedlings, flowers or trees. Helping the community projects could include conducting a flag ceremony for a school, collecting food for food banks, handing out voting reminders, handing out emergency procedure brochures, or conducting visiting or reading programs for seniors. Helping the chartered organization projects could include doing a cleanup project, planting and caring for trees, conducting a flag ceremony, helping to set up for a special event, or handing out programs or bulletins at a meeting of the organization.
You can log your service hours at the JTE service hour’s web-site at: https://servicehours.scouting.org/UI/Security/Login.aspx
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Cub Scout Adult Leader Training
Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader!
And…...Every Leader deserves training so they can successfully deliver the Scouting program!
Scouting is more fun for Scouts and for Leaders when the mystery of how it works is removed. It’s easy.
Leader Training begins with Youth Protection Training (YPT). All adults in the Pack MUST receive YPT before being able to register as a volunteer. Any adult accompanying units on activities who are present at the activity for 72 hours or more, must also take Youth Protection Training. The 72 hours need not be consecutive.
Training may be taken online at my.scouting.org.
How to take on-line training:
1. Create a scout account on my.scouting.org and log on2. Select the Youth Protection Icon in the upper right side of the3. Select Youth Protection training certification – Take course4. Select logo to launch YPT training5. Select Youth Protection Training - Mandatory6. Take all three modules and test
In addition, Catalina Council and its Districts offer training courses throughout the year at training events known as Super Saturdays. These events are advertised on both the Council Webpage and Calendar which may be found at www.catalinacouncil.org.
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Pack Leadership Training
What is the Cub Scout Leader Training Program
You can register for Wood Badge and BALOO training on-line through the Catalina Council website at www.catalinacouncil.org.
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On-line trainingActivity Training
Supplemental Training
Supplemental Training
Supplemental Training
Supplemental Training
Supplemental Training
Supplemental Training
Held at district meetings
One week campout plusExtra projects
Overnight CampoutTraining
On-line training
On-line training
Monthly TrainingHeld by district
Advanced LeadershipTraining
Round Table
Round Table
Round Table
Round Table
Round Table
Round Table
Round Table
Round Table
Round Table
Excellent trainingFor campouts
Leader specific TrainingEarned TrainedPatch
Required to be aregistered Adult
Pack CommitteeDen Leader
Asst Den LeaderCubmaster
Asst Cubmaster
Pack Committee Training
C60
Pack Committee Training
Youth Protection Training
Y01
Youth Protection Training
Wood BadgeA90
Wood BadgeA90
Basic Adult Leader Outdoor
OrientationBALOO
C32
Den Leader and Asst Den Leader Specific Training
C42
Den Leader and
Youth Protection Training
Y01
Youth Protection Training
Wood BadgeA90
Wood BadgeA90
Basic Adult Leader Outdoor
OrientationBALOO
C32
Cubmaster and Asst Cubmaster Specific Training
C40
Cubmaster and
Youth Protection Training
Y01
Youth Protection Training
Supplemental Training and Expiration Dates
There are various supplemental training available on-line that are activity specific. It is highly recommended that if Packs are participating in these activities that adult leadership take this on-line training.
In addition, some training are required to be retaken on a regular basis
Youth Protection—every two years
Safe Swim Defense—every two years
Paddle Craft Safety—every three years
BSA Lifeguard—every three years
Climbing Lead Instructor—every two years
Climbing Instructor—every two years
COPE/Climbing Inspector—every two years
Safety Afloat—every two years
Hazardous Weather—every two years
Climb On Safely—every two years
Trek Safely—every two years
For High Adventure, adults need to take Wilderness First Aid
In addition, Catalina Council and its Districts offer training courses throughout the year at training events known as Super Saturdays. These events are advertised on both the Council Webpage and Calendar which may be found at www.catalinacouncil.org.
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BSA issues a charter through the local Council to a Chartered Organization, like the Church or other organization that owns your unit, which allows it to use a BSA program to serve youth in its community. For example, a Cub Scout Pack uses Cub Scouting to serve boys in the first through fifth grades. BSA requires that the charter be renewed annually to continue using the program. We call that annual renewal “recharter”.
What else happens during recharter? In addition to renewing the unit charter, recharter time is when all youth and adult members (leaders) renew their membership in BSA. Member renewals are most of the work. If your unit collects all or part of its member dues or fees on an annual basis, that collection often takes place at recharter too. Your unit should also complete the application for the Journey To Excellence Award.
Recharter Facts
The recharter process starts Oct 1 of each year and ideally all paperwork and fees should be turned into council by Dec 31.
The recharter paperwork and fees must be turned into council office by the end of the year to allow the council staff time to process the charters.
On March 1 of each year, National automatically drops any unit that does not have a posted charter by their local council. This means that the unit cannot purchase awards the youth earn, are not covered by insurance, and are locked out of Scoutbook.
The unit is chartered for the calendar year, Jan 1 – Dec 31.
Recharter Process
In September each unit is given a charter packet which contains
1. Instructions2. Due dates3. An access code to get into the online recharter system
Starting Oct 1 the unit can access the on-line recharter system
They will be asked to delete any youth or adults that will not be rejoining the unit
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Rechartering Tips
The unit will also asked to add any new youth or adults who will be joining the unit.
Some people are dual registered with several units. They need to decide which unit will be their primary unit. This is the unit they will pay national dues through. Even if you belong to multiple units, you only pay recharter fees once.
Make sure those youth who want to receive Boys Life magazine are marked and required fees are collected.
Applications for the new youth and adults must collected.
All adult leaders are required to have taken Youth Protection Training in the previous two years or the unit’s recharter cannot be submitted.
The charter renewal report and annual charter agreement needs to be signed either on-line or on a printed copy by either the Institutional Head or the Chartered Organization Rep.
The charter and annual charter agreement then needs to be submitted on-line.
The on-line charter packet will show how much dues each unit owes.
The unit then submits the following paperwork to their local Council:
1. Charter Renewal Package2. Annual Charter Agreement3. New youth and adult applications4. Youth Protections Training certificates5. Fees6. JTE scoresheet
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Sign up for distribution of “The Frontiersman” go to www.catalinacouncil.org. There is a link at the bottom of the first page.
Get all registered adults trained
Use JTE to evaluate how your unit is doing
Attend Roundtable for your District, good source of training and information on
Council/District events.
Check out the Catalina Council Website and Council Calendar for events which
may be of interest to your Pack
Sign up for Catalina Council and District Social Media sites.
With the Pack committee, develop and execute a year-round recruitment plan for
recruiting youth into Cub Scouting
Work with the Pack committee on developing program ideas, selecting and
recruiting adult leaders, and establishing a budget plan
Help bring families together at joint activities for Webelos Dens (or Packs) and
Boy Scout troops
Maintain good relationships with parents and guardians. Seek their support and
include them in activities
See that Cub Scouts receive a quality, year-round program filled with fun and
activities that qualify the Dens and Pack for the National Summertime Pack Award
Be sure to fund raise
Help your Cubs join Scouts BSA by introducing them to various Troops
Most of all HAVE FUN!
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Tips for the Cubmaster
Additional Cub Scout Youth Awards
In addition to the Cub Scout Ranks and electives, Cub Scouts may earn dozens of additional awards that expand upon the basic rank requirements. In addition, Cub Scouts may earn Honor awards to recognize outstanding good deeds. Refer to the following website for more information: https://www.scouting.org/programs/cub-scouts/what-cub-scouts-earn/other-youth-awards
Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award
Tiger through Webelos Cub Scouts can earn the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award in each of the program years, as long as the requirements are completed each year. The first time the award is earned, the Cub Scout will receive the pocket flap award (shown to the left), which is to be worn on the right pocket flap of the uniform shirt.
Each successive time the award is earned, a Wolf Track pin may be added to the flap. Leaders should encourage Cub Scouts to build on skills and experiences from previous years when working on the award for a successive year.
Cub Scout Shooting Sports Award
Tigers to Webelos Scouts can earn awards for learning the safety rules and participating in three different disciplines of shooting sports: archery, BB gun, and slingshot. Shooting sports can only be conducted on a district or council level such as council-organized family camps, Cub Scout resident camp, or Cub Scout day camps.
These activities require BSA trained adult leaders who have learned the specific rules and regulations around shooting sports with Cub Scout–aged children. Individual dens or Packs may not conduct shooting sports activities even if they have an adult leader in their den or Pack that has the appropriate training.
Lions are not eligible to earn Cub Scout Shooting Sports Award
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World Conservation Award
Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts who have participated in either a den or Pack conservation project and have completed certain requirements can earn the World Conservation Award. The purpose of the award is to encourage all youth members to think globally and act locally to preserve and improve our environment.
Cyber CHIP Award
Earning the Cyber Chip is a requirement for Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos ranks. Cub Scouts complete the requirement by visiting www.netsmartz.org/scouting and completing the age-appropriate activities.
If a Cub Scout’s family does not have access to the internet, the Cyber Chip requirement for rank advancement can by waived by the parent or guardian.
Emergency Preparedness Award
This award can be earned by Tigers, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts in addition to adult leaders.
There are age-appropriate activities to earn the award for each rank. The award is a pin that can be worn on everyday clothes or on the uniform on the left pocket flap
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Interpreter Strip
Scouting is a worldwide organization, and encourages youth and adults to share their culture and heritage with others. The interpreter strip informs others that you can communicate in a foreign language, American Sign Language, or Morse code. Youth and adults may wear this strip if they show their knowledge of a foreign language or the sign language for the hearing impaired by:
• Carrying on a five-minute conversation in this language
• Translating a two-minute speech or address
• Writing a letter in the language (does not apply for sign language)
• Translating 200 words from the written word
Messengers of Peace
Today, Scouts in dozens of countries are working for peace by solving conflicts in their schools, building links between divided communities, teaching their peers about health and wellness, and repairing environmental damage. To recognize their efforts—and to inspire more young men and women to help Scouting create a better world—the World Scout Committee has launched the Messengers of Peace initiative.
To participate all Cub Scouts have to do is go online and register the Messengers of Peace related community service projects they undertake. Doing so adds pins to a global Messengers of Peace map, which Scouts from around the world can click on to learn how their fellow Scouts are making a difference.
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National Summer Time Pack Award
The Pack can qualify for the National Summertime Pack Award certificate and streamer by planning and conducting three Pack activities—one each in June, July, and August (or during other school vacations if your Pack is in a year-round school).
Dens with an average attendance of at least half their members at the three summer Pack events are eligible for a colorful den participation ribbon.
Cub Scouts who participate in all three Pack events are eligible to receive the National Summertime Pack Award pin, which they can wear on the right pocket flap of their uniform. This is an individual recognition for children, not adults.
Lions are not eligible.
NOVA and Super Nova
The Boy Scouts of America’s NOVA Awards program incorporates learning with cool activities and exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for Cub Scouts.
For their first Nova award, Scouts earn the distinctive Nova award patch. After that, a Scout can earn three more Nova awards, each one recognized with a separate pi (π) pin-on device that attaches to the patch.
The Supernova awards have more rigorous requirements than the Nova awards. For earning the Supernova award, Scouts receive a medal and certificate.
Recruiter Strip
When Scouts are having a great time they naturally want to invite friends who are not involved to join. To recognize those Cub Scouts who recruit a friend to join the Pack, there is the recruiter strip. This patch is worn on the bottom left pocket of the uniform. When a Cub Scout invites friends to join the Pack, once one of those friends has joined, they earn the patch
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Religious Emblem
Most of the major religious bodies in the United States have programs to recognize Cub Scouts who demonstrate faith, observe their creeds or principles, and give service.
The Religious Emblem, typically a medal, are not Scouting awards; however, they may be worn on the upper left pocket of the Cub Scout uniform.
Pictured above is a Religious Knot, for youth, worn centered above the left pocket of the uniform to represent that a religious emblem has been earned.
Scout Strong
To earn the SCOUTStrong Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge Award, you are required to meet a daily activity goal of 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 minutes a day for youth under 18 for at least five days a week, for six out of eight weeks. Stick with the program and you will earn an award in less than two months.
Scout Strong – Ultimate
USA Ultimate assists tens of thousands of players in getting involved with ultimate each year. USA Ultimate’s Learn to Play kits will provide BSA adult leaders with the tools they need to introduce ultimate to their Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing units. Each kit consists of 10 discs, a Learn to Play clinic guide, volcano cones, posters, and stickers.
Service Stars
Service stars are a great way to encourage and recognize Cub Scouts for staying in Scouting. After being in the Pack for one year, a Cub Scout is eligible to wear the one-
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year service star. There are stars for each year following. Service stars continue throughout the various programs and adult volunteer service. Special recognition pins are available for benchmark periods such as each five and 10 years.
Whitlin’ Chip
Beginning at the Bear rank (third grade), Cub Scouts may earn the Whittling Chip. This is a required training for Scouts in order to use and carry a pocketknife during Scouting activities. The Scout must demonstrate to their adult leader the safe way to use a knife as a tool. In addition to a pocket card, a patch may also be presented but is not to be worn on the uniform.
Cub Scout Conservation Good Turn Award
The Conservation Good Turn Award is an opportunity for Scout units to join with conservation or environmental organizations (federal, state, local, or private) to carry out a Conservation Good Turn in their home communities. Working together in the local community, the unit and the agency plan the details and establish the date, time and location for carrying out the project. It may be earned by all registered Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts .
Scout Sunday/Scout Sabbath/Scout Jumuah
Scout Sunday is held the Sunday before Feb 8 (Scouting Anniversary Date), Scout Sabbath is the Saturday after Scout Sunday, held in Feb, varies from year to year. Scout can earn this by attending a service in uniform on these dates. A new patch is issued each year for these events.
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National Den Award
The National Den Award recognizes Dens that conduct a quality, year-round program. Service projects, field trips, character development, and Cub Scout camping are areas that are emphasized. Dens earn the award as a team, not as individual Den members. The recognition is a ribbon for the Den flag or Den doodle. All Cub Scouts (Lions through Webelos) may earn this.
Hornaday Unit Award
The Hornaday Unit Award may be earned by a Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout troops, Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship that plans and carries out at least one conservation project. This award may be earned by all registered Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts.
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Den Leaders Award
Note: This award can be earned as a Tiger Cub Den Leader, Cub Scout Den Leader (either Wolf or Bear, and Webelos or AOL Den Leader. It can be earned in each position, but tenure may be used only for one award.
Tenure
Complete one year as a registered Den leader in the position selected. Tiger Cub Den leader’s tenure can be the program year as long as it is greater than eight months.
Training
1. Complete the basic training or the selected Den leader position (in person, instructor-led, or e-learning).
2. Attend a Pow Wow or University of Scouting (or equivalent), or attend at least four roundtables (or equivalent) during the tenure used for this award.
Performance
Do five of the following during the tenure used for this award:
1. Have an assistant Den leader who meets regularly with your Den.2. Have a Den chief who meets regularly with your Den.3. Graduate at least 70 percent of your Den to the next level.4. Take leadership in planning and conducting a Den service project.5. Have a published Den meeting/activity schedule for the Den’s parents.6. Participate with your Den in a Cub Scout day camp or resident camp.7. Complete Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO).8. Participate with your Den in at least one family camp; if your Den is a Webelos
Den, participate with your Den in at least two overnight camps.9. Take leadership in planning two Den outdoor activities.10. Hold monthly Den meeting and Den activity planning sessions with your assistant
Den leaders.
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Adult Leader Awards
Unit Leader Award of Merit
Requirements
The nominee must:
1. Be a currently registered Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, or Advisor who has served in that position at least 18 continuous months.
2. Meet the training requirements for the registered position.3. Distribute a printed or electronic annual unit program plan and calendar to each
family in the unit.4. Have a leader succession plan in place.5. Effectively use the advancement method so that at least 60 percent of the unit’s
youth have advanced at least once during the last 12 months.6. Cultivate a positive relationship with the chartered organization.7. Project a positive image of Scouting in the community.
Nomination Procedure
1. The unit committee chair completes the Unit Leader Award of Merit Nomination Form on behalf of the unit committee. For Scout BSA troops and Venture crews, the nomination must include endorsement by the senior patrol leader, team captain, or crew president, respectively.
2. The unit or district commissioner certifies that the form is complete.3. The unit submits the nomination form to the council for approval by the Scout
executive and council commissioner or president.
The Award
Upon receipt of the approved nomination form, the council may present the Unit Leader Award of Merit, which includes a certificate, square knot with the appropriate device, and a special unit leader emblem. Recognition of this achievement may be presented at appropriate district or council events, such as district or council leader recognition dinners, training events, and board meetings.
The award may be presented for each program, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity, and Venturing, if the individual meets the requirements in each program. Only one knot is worn with the devices of each program that the award was earned in.
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Scout Leader’s Training Award
Tenure
Complete at least two years of tenure as a registered adult leader in a Cub Scout Pack.
Training
1. Complete basic training for any Cub Scout leader position.2. Complete This Is Scouting training.3. Attend a Pow Wow or University of Scouting (or equivalent), or attend at least
four roundtables (or equivalent) during each year of the tenure used for this award.
Performance
Do the following during the tenure used for this award:
1. Participate in an annual Pack planning meeting in each year.2. Serve as an adult leader in a Pack that achieves at least the Bronze level of
Journey to Excellence in each year. The Quality Unit Award is acceptable if the tenure used is prior to 2011.
3. Give primary leadership in meeting at least one Pack Journey to Excellence objective in each year.
4. Participate in at least one additional supplemental or advanced training event at the council, area, region, or national level during the two years.
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Scouter’s Key Award
Tenure
Within a five-year period, complete at least three years of registered tenure as a Cubmaster or one year as a registered assistant Cubmaster plus two years as a registered Cubmaster. (This can include the tenure used to earn the Scouter’s Training Award.)
Training
1. Complete basic training for Cubmasters.2. Complete This Is Scouting training3. Attend a Pow Wow or university of Scouting (or equivalent), or attend at least
four roundtables (or equivalent) during each year of the tenure used for this award.
Performance
Do the following during the tenure used for this award:
1. Achieve at least the Silver level of Journey to Excellence for at least two years. The Quality Unit Award is acceptable if the tenure used is prior to 2011.
2. Earn the National Summertime Pack Award at least once.3. Conduct an annual Pack planning session and have a published Pack
meeting/activity schedule for the Pack’s parents in each year.4. Participate in at least one additional supplemental or advanced training event at
the council, area, region, or national level
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Adult Religious Service Award
Award Requirements
An adult religious recognition award is presented by nomination only. The recognition is presented to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth both through their religious institution and one of the national youth agencies. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated. They are nominated to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation, and resume. Please check eligibility requirements for specific awards. For a listing of resources for each of the religious faiths that participate in this program, see the following web site: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-879_web.pdf
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Council Contact InformationScout ExecutiveJeff Hotchkiss
Field DirectorRichie Benner
Development DirectorSusan Hicks
Cochise District ExecutiveSheila Foraker
Sky Islands District ExecutiveDan Rowland
Administrative AssistantJoanie Rivard
Registrar/Eagle CoordinatorAudrone Tarleton
Double V Care TakerTom Tracy
Camp Lawton Care TakerLonnie Johnson
STEM ExecutiveLaurene Huelsman
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Council Services
Council Office Hours
Council Service Center and Scout Shop2250 E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85719Phone: 520-750-0385
Fax: 520-585-5556 Center Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Scout Shop Phone: 520-750-9877M- F: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Sat: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Cochise Office
500 E. Fry Blvd. L15Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Phone: 520-458-1072
Council Social Media Sites
Council Website https://catalinacouncil.org
Facebook Boy Scouts of America Catalina Council
Papago Lodge 494
Camp Lawton History
Camp Lawton Staff Alumni-Tucson, AZ
Catalina Council Venturing
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Council Scholarships
Catalina council offers campership and scholarships each year. The camperships cover the costs of council summer camps and NYLT. The scholarships help with costs of registration, uniforms, patches, and hand books.
To apply for this call the council office and go online to this site to get the forms: https://catalinacouncil.org/resources/forms/
Council Camp
The Council operates two scout camps: To reserve the camps go to the Catalina Council web site, resources tab, council rentals
Camp Lawton has been leased from the US forest service since 1921 and has been continuously operated by the Boy Scouts of America, Catalina Council. It is located in the Santa Catalina Mountains between mile marker 19 and 20 on Organizational Ridge Road. It is an excellent First year’s summer camp and is excellent for summer and winter campouts.
Double V Scout Ranch is located on South Kinney Road six miles (10 km) southwest of Tucson, near Tucson Mountain Park‘s Cat Mountain. The 360-acre (146 ha) ranch was acquired on a long-term lease from the Bureau of Land Management in 1969. It is used for both Cub Scout and Boy Scout camping and events. Improvements include a large stone Ramada equipped with picnic tables, restrooms, and water misters for cooling. The ranch also has an Olympic-size swimming pool. A natural formation on the northwest side of adjacent Cat Mountain visible from the ranch is called the “Indian chief” because of its strong resemblance to an Indian’s profile. This is good winter campsite.
EquipmentThe Council has canoes/kayaks, ATV’s, and bikes that can be rented. To
reserve this equipment, call the council office.
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