 Tiger Scouts
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The Cub Scouting adventure begins with Tiger Cubs - a program of
exciting indoor and outdoor activities just right for a boy who is in
first grade and/or is 7 years old. A parent or adult partner (Akela) works with
him as his support and guide, but you don't do things for him. He will
learn by doing things himself. And as he learns and grows, your
relationship with him will grow, too.
The Tiger Cub program is for first-grade (or age 7) boys and their
adult partners. There are five Tiger Cub achievement areas. The Tiger
Cub, working with his Akela, completes 15 requirements within
these areas to earn the Tiger Cub badge.
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| Program
Your Tiger Cub will be a member of a den. Most dens have five to nine
boy-adult partner teams, meet twice a month in a den meeting, and have
one outing a month, called a Go See It. The den also takes part in the
monthly pack meetings. During den meetings, Go See It outings, and pack
meetings, boys learn new things and have fun.
Each den meeting and den activity is led by a den leader and an adult
partner of one of the Tiger Cubs. An adult partner can be a parent,
relative, or friend who is at least 18 years old and who cares about the
boy. Each adult partner takes a turn working with the den leader to plan
and lead a den meeting and/or activity.
The success of a Tiger Cub den depends on active, enthusiastic
families and a knowledgeable, well-trained den leader. The den leader
plans and carries out a year - round program of activities for the Tiger
Cub den and gives continuity to the program. Each month, however, the
den leader also works with a different boy-adult partner team to plan
the two monthly den meetings, the Go See It, and the den's part in the
pack meeting. (Some teams may serve more than one month, depending on
how big the den is.) This is called shared leadership.
Shared leadership is a key part of Tiger Cubs because the direct
involvement of you and other adults is important for boys at this age.
Shared leadership also gives each boy and adult partner a chance to
lead, often resulting in an interesting variety of activities as each
boy - adult partner team shares its knowledge and resources.
Your Tiger Cub is also a member of a Cub Scout pack. Most packs are
made up of several dens that gather monthly at a pack meeting. Pack
meetings usually follow a suggested theme and are a time for boys to be
recognized for their accomplishments during the month, to perform skits
and songs they have learned in den meetings, and to have fun with the
entire family.
Packs are led by a Cubmaster and pack committee. Like the den leaders,
the Cubmaster and assistants are volunteer leaders and are usually
family members of boys in the pack. The pack committee makes plans for
pack meetings and activities and takes care of the "business" items that
are necessary for a pack to operate smoothly.
Most pack committees consist of family members and members of the pack's
chartered organization. The chartered organization is the community
organization that is granted a charter by the Boy Scouts of America to
use the Scouting program. This chartered organization might be a school,
service club, religious group, or other group interested in youth. The
chartered organization approves the leadership of the pack, provides a
meeting place, and operates the pack within the guidelines and policies
of that organization and the BSA.
To experience the fun, excitement, and other benefits of Cub
Scouting, you and your Tiger Cub will do the following things each
month:
* Go to two one-hour den meetings at the host adult partner's home or
other location. Leaders will try to hold the meetings at a time that is
convenient for all adult partners and is appropriate for boys of Tiger
Cub age. Some dens meet at a school, a place of worship, or the location
of their chartered organization. But meetings can be held almost
anywhere-in a basement, recreation room, backyard, or park - as long as
the meeting location is safe for boys and their families.
* Take a field trip, or Go See It, with the entire den. The Go See It is
a planned field trip to a place that is interesting to boys. It may be
associated with the monthly theme
* Attend the Cub Scout pack meeting. |
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| Aims
The aims of the Cub Scout program are simple. The three aims of the
Cub Scouting program are Character Development, Citizenship Training,
and Mental and Physical Fitness.
Character encompasses a person's personal qualities, values and
outlook. The Scouting program strives to develop character in its youth
through the development of confidence, honesty, self-image and
self-reliance, respect for their religion and for others, and through
developing special skills and interests.
Participation in Scouting helps train youth to become good citizens
by instilling the values of service to others and respect for the
environment, learning about our national heritage and our social,
economic and governmental systems, and promoting knowledge of and
respect for cultural diversity.
Scouts learn to become and remain mentally and physically fit through
participation in outdoor activities, developing healthy habits, alcohol,
tobacco and drug avoidance, using good judgment and being resourceful in
solving problems.
There are ten purposes of Cub Scouting: Character Development,
Spiritual Growth, Good Citizenship, Sportsmanship and Fitness, Family
Understanding, Respectful Relationships, Personal Achievement, Friendly
Service, Fun and Adventure, and Preparation for Boy Scouts. |
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| Methods
Cub Scouting has several tried-and-true methods used to accomplish
our goals. These methods include ideals, the Den, advancement, family
involvement, activities, and the uniform. The Cub Scout program is
centered around the home and the neighborhood.
The Cub Scout Ideals include the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the
Pack and the Cub Scout Motto. For Tiger Cubs, the Tiger Cub Motto is
included.
Cub Scouts are divided into Dens according to the age and rank of the
boys. Having a peer group of like capabilities fosters cooperation and
teamwork, as well as establishing a sense of identity and purpose.
Tiger Cubs use an advancement system to provide challenges and
activities to spark their interest while remaining age-specific. As the
boys progress through the Cub Scout program, their advancement
requirements become more challenging. Accomplishments are rewarded
instantly so the boys receive recognition throughout the Scouting year
as they move through the Tiger Cub program.
Since Tiger Cubs are paired with an adult partner (parent, guardian
or other family member), each team works together at the family unit
level and participates together in Den and Pack activities. Tiger Cubs
actively participate in unit-level service projects, field trips, Pack
meetings and outings. |
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| Advancement
In Scouting, advancement is the process by which a member meets
certain requirements and earns recognition. Boys in Cub Scouting work on
advancement with their families. The Tiger Cub advancement program is a
blend of activities boys do in their home and activities they do in a
den setting with their adult partner. This is unique to Tiger Cubs.
A Tiger Cub may earn the Tiger Cub rank. This rank is for those boys who
are in first grade or are 7 years old. All the Cub Scout ranks (Tiger
Cub, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos) are tailored for a grade and the
corresponding age level. (A Tiger Cub must earn the Tiger Cub badge
first and then the Bobcat badge [rank] before all other ranks. See here
for the Bobcat badge requirements.)
To advance, Tiger Cubs work on achievements and electives, which are
described in the Tiger Cub handbook. The Tiger Cub advancement program
consists of five achievable requirements, each consisting of three
parts: a family component, done at the home, a Den component, done at a
meeting, and a Go-See-It, or field trip. The program also provides fifty
elective activities to further enrich the experience and to help keep
the boys enthused about participation. The Tiger Cub Handbook provides
helpful information to assist you in guiding your Tiger Cub through the
program at a comfortable pace. As a boy completes each requirement, you,
his adult partner, sign in this handbook where it says "Akela's OK."
Akela means "good leader" and is an important part of Cub Scouting.
Akela can be a den leader, a teacher, or other important adult. As your
boy's adult partner, you are Akela.
As boys advance, they receive recognition items to mark their
progress. These items will be given to them during a simple ceremony at
a pack or den meeting. It is important for boys to be recognized for the
good work they do. The Tiger Cub recognition items are the Tiger Cub
belt totem and totem beads, the Tiger Cub badge, and Tiger Track beads.
(Although participation with an adult partner is required for all Tiger
Cub awards, adult partners don't earn these awards. Recognition items
are for boys only.)
Official Boy Scout Tiger Advancement -
http://www.usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/tiger.asp |
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| Uniform
The uniform is an important part of the Scouting program. It identifies
the boys and adults with Tiger Cubs and gives them a sense of belonging
to the den, the pack, and the Boy Scouts of America. Most boys enjoy
wearing their Tiger Cub uniform. They should wear it to all den
meetings, pack meetings, and special pack activities.
The official Tiger Cub uniform is the complete blue Cub Scout uniform
with identifiable and appropriate Tiger Cub insignia. This is in line
with the program's continuing efforts to promote Tiger Cubs as an
integral part of a Cub Scout pack. The Tiger Cub den leader wears the
official Cub Scout leader uniform, the Tiger Cub cap, and the Tiger Cub
leader neckerchief.
Components of the Tiger Cub uniform include the following: Tiger Cub
Cap, Cub Scout Shirt, Tiger Cub Neckerchief, Tiger Cub Neckerchief
Slide, and Tiger Cub Belt.
The Boy Scouts of America has always been a uniformed body. There are
many reasons for this. One reason stands out above all the rest. We wear
the uniform because it is a means of identifying ourselves openly with
the principles to which we are committed-character development,
citizenship training, and physical and mental fitness.
The fact that youth and adult members of Scouting wear a uniform doesn't
mean that we're all alike. We come from different ethnic and racial
backgrounds. We have our own religious beliefs and political views. We
are each individuals with our own family traditions and loyalties. So
the uniform is not intended to hide our individuality. But it is a way
we give each other strength and support. It is a bond that ties us
together in spite of our differences. It is a way of making visible our
commitment to a belief in God, loyalty to country, and to helping other
people.
The Scouting movement is built on positive values. As we wear the
uniform, we are openly identifying ourselves with those values where
everyone can see us. We stand together, not alone, in encouraging others
to live by those same principles. Boys and adults alike should take
pride in belonging to such a movement and wear the uniform as it is
intended. |
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| Uniform FAQ
Q: Is a uniform required for my son to participate in Scouting?
A: Uniforms are not mandatory, but are strongly encouraged. Uniforms
provide the youth with a sense of belonging and bolsters their pride and
self-image.
Q. How much does a uniform cost?
A: The cost for a new uniform, complete with all the required
insignia, is approximately $90.00. Some uniform items may be supplied by
the unit. Many units maintain a clothing exchange where you can pick up
an "experienced" uniform at minimal cost.
Q: How much does it cost to sign up my son for Tiger Cubs?
A: The national registration fee is $10 per year. Boy' Life magazine
subscription is optional at about $14.00 per year. Boys' Life magazine
will enhance your young Scout's experience and provide him with reading
materials and entertainment that pertain to the program. Other costs may
come into play during the year (admission to events, camping fees,
etc.). Some units will collect an annual program fee from each Scout to
cover these costs up front.
When you sign up at school night, the national registration fee is
pro-rated to cover your registration through to the following December;
for example, if you sign up at School night in September 2005, your
registration fee will be pro-rated to cover your membership through
until December 2006. This puts everyone on the same schedule for
re-registration each year. |
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