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Frequently Asked Questions The list of questions below seem to be asked each time we encounter a new scout family. As with any collection of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) the list never seems to be complete, but this short list should provide the basics. If you think we have missed something obvious that should be added drop a note to: webmaster@cubscoutpack230.org If your question isn't answered by the list below feel free to contact any of the Pack leaders.

General Information	Are Cub Scouts the same as Boy Scouts? What's the difference? I have a daughter in "(1st to 4th)" grade . Can she join Cub Scouts? Where do you get Cub Scout leaders? I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to be a den leader. What would I do? Where would I start? I'm worried that my son can't meet the advancement requirements. I've heard that Scouting is a Father/Son activity. I'm a single mother can my son still join? When does he get to go camping?
Membership / Joining	Is there a certain time of the year when we have to join? Can I transfer from another Pack to Pack 230? Does my son need to attend Tatnall to become a member of Pack 230? My second - fourth grade son would like to join but he wasn't a Tiger, does he have to start as a Tiger before he can advance? My son is friends with a group of boys in the second grade. My son is only in the first grade, why can't my son be in the den with his friends?
Uniforms	Does my son have to get the whole uniform? Where can I get Cub Scout uniforms? I'm not sure what to buy for my son's uniform. Can my son wear his uniform to school?
Meetings	How often do the boys meet? When and where are the meetings held? My son is in first grade. Aren't weekly meetings a little too much for him? How early can I drop my boy off before the meeting? What if I'm busy What about spring break and other holidays? Do you still have Cub Scout meetings? We are involved with a lot of activities besides Cub Scouts - Is it ok if we miss events?
Pack 230	How much does it cost to join Pack 230? What to I get for my Pack 230 activity fee? Are there any expenses not covered by the Pack Activity fee?
Other Questions	I have more questions that aren't answered here. Who should I talk to?

Are Cub Scouts the same as Boy Scouts? What's the difference?  (top) Cub Scouting or Cub Scouts is the part of Boy Scouts specifically geared to boys in elementary school (grades 1-4). This is as much the Boy Scout program as Varsity Scouting or Venturing is for boys in junior high or high school. Cub Scouting was formed in 1930 as part of the Boy Scout program due to an overwhelming demand for younger boys to be a part of the Scouting movement. I have a daughter in "(1st to 4th)" grade . Can she join Cub Scouts?  (top) Sorry, this isn't possible. Cub Scouts is for boys. Tatnall also has a Brownie/Girl scout troop which is appropriate for Lower School Girls. We can get you information on Brownie and Girl Scout Troops in the area. How often do the boys meet?   (top) The boys are divided into "Dens" by grade: First graders are known as 'Tiger Cubs,' second graders are 'Wolves,' third graders are 'Bears,' and fourth and fifth graders are known as 'Webelos.' Tigers meet about twice a month in a home, plus the "Pack" meeting. Cub Scouts and Webelos meet on a weekly basis in "Den" meetings and once a month at a "Pack" meeting. There are two types of Cub Scout meetings. Each den will have one or two registered leaders and 6 to 12 boys, with 8 being the optimum number ("Eight is great!"). One meeting of the month, depending on the holiday schedule, all of the Dens meet together in a "Pack" meeting. This is where the boys show off to their parents, siblings, and to the other boys in the Pack what they have been doing during the month, and to receive any advancement or recognition awards they may have earned. The den meetings and pack meeting are based on a monthly "theme." The pack meeting is like a party with games, skits, and songs, combined with an awards ceremony. The Cubmaster is in charge of the Pack meetings. Some months, there may be an additional weekend meeting for a field trip or some other District or Council sponsored event. Also, in any month with five Wednesdays, the fifth Wednesday will be used for an adult leader planning meeting and the boys will not meet. When and where are the meetings held?  (top) Each Den schedules their own meetings. Schedules are usually coordinated between the families comprising the den to permit maximum attendance. Dens will meet at least twice a month and may even be weekly. The Den meetings last roughly an hour but give us about 15 minutes to clean up. Pack meetings are usually held the second Friday of each month from 6:00pm to 7:00pm in the Tatnall Lower School Gym. However, Pack meetings may last a little longer, depending on the event. My son is in first grade. Aren't weekly meetings a little too much for him?  (top) First graders start out in a program called Tiger Cubs that is structured a little differently than the bi-weekly/weekly meetings the Cub Scouts have. The Tiger Cubs meet with their adult "partner" (rather than a den leader) for two meetings a month on a rotating basis, in the homes of the families that comprise the Tiger Cub Dens. The Tiger Cub and Partner who are hosting the meeting are responsible for planning and running that meeting. Another meeting that month is a "field trip" type of meeting, known as a "Go See It," where the Tiger Cubs (with their Tiger Partners) go someplace or do something outside the home. Tiger Cub Dens also attend the monthly Pack meetings. The Tiger Cub uniform consists of an Orange Tiger Cub T-shirt, Tiger Cub Belt (to hold his Tiger award fob) and an optional cap. It is also recommended that the Tiger Cub Adult Partner also wear the orange T-shirt. How early can I drop my boy off before the meeting? What if I'm busy and can't pick him up exactly when the meeting ends?  (top) Scouting is a family program. You will be expected to sign up as a "den assistant" on a rotating basis with other parents. Some activities require the presence of a large number of parents. Pack meetings are for the whole family. IMPORTANT: We are forbidden by Boy Scouts of America policy to ever have a situation where one Scout is alone with one adult. If you cannot stay for a particular meeting, NEVER drop your son off outside the meeting place and leave without checking to see if at least two adults are present. This is for your child's, as well as for the adult leader's protection. We cannot hold a meeting if two adults are not present. Therefore you must wait until the den leader says it is OK to leave before "dropping off your boy." If a second adult is not available, the meeting will be canceled and you will have to take your son back home. By the same token, if the den leader says you don't need to stay for the meeting, make every effort to be prompt in picking your son up after the meeting. Does my son need to attend Tatnall to become a member of Pack 230?  (top) Absolutely not! Pack 230 recruites from the entire Greenville/Hockessen/Western Wilmington area, but even if your son is not from the immediate area he is welcome to join pack 230! What about spring break and other holidays? Do you still have Cub Scout meetings?  (top) Here is the Rule of Thumb: If the school is closed for the day due to holiday or weather, we don't meet. If school closes early for weather, we don't meet. There are one or two other days -- that we have learned from experience -- that it doesn't pay to hold a meeting, such as the day before Thanksgiving (everyone's out of town). You will be notified of those days as we get to them. Also, as stated above, if there aren't two adults available (either two registered leaders, or a registered leader and a parent) we will cancel that meeting on the spot and you will need to take your son back home. When does he get to go camping?  (top) As of 2001, the rules have been changed to allow Cub Scouts to camp as a pack. We are working on developing a camping program. "Family camping" is allowed for boys first through third grades at Boy Scout approved or "Council run" camps. Webelos may go camping as a den, but each boy must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. If it is impossible for a parent or guardian to accompany the Webelos scout, guardianship may be transferred in writing to another parent that is going on the camping trip. This parent, by Boy Scouts of America policy, may not be the den or pack leader responsible for the camping trip. Second year Webelos are also allowed to go camping with a Boy Scout troop. This is part of the Arrow of Light requirements. When accompanying Boy Scouts, they are still required to have a parent present on the camping trip. Does my son have to get the whole uniform?  (top) "Uniform" means just that -- uniform; everybody dressed alike. Since proper uniforming is spelled out in Boy Scouts of America guidelines as one of the means of achieving the goals of Scouting, We cannot ADVOCATE anything less than full uniform. We expect all boys to be uniformed. We would like all of the leaders to be uniformed. If you don't wish to purchase the entire uniform at this time, solid colored pants or shorts that match the uniform shirt may be worn. Many parents purchase the shirt, scarf and maybe the cap at the beginning of the school year, then add other items such as uniform pants, belt, etc. as Christmas or birthday presents. (This is a great idea for grandparents!) Note: Wearing a uniform is especially important for Pack meetings. We will not present an advancement award to a boy who is not in uniform! Where can I get Cub Scout uniforms?  (top) Uniforms may be purchased at a number of local merchants. The merchants with the largest selection of scouting merchandise appear to be: Mitchell's Fairfax Shopping Center 2303 Concord Pike Wilmington, DE 19803 (302) 652-3258 Del-Mar-Va Council Scout Shop 801 Washington Street Wilmington, DE 19801 (302) 622-3300 Of course there is always online. One of the largest sites is: http://www.scoutstuff.org Where do you get Cub Scout leaders?  (top) The leadership of this Cub Scout Pack is made up of volunteer parents (like YOU!) who want to be involved in their son's growth and formative years. We are not paid to do this. We think enough of our boys and their friends that we want to provide the best possible opportunity for them to become upstanding citizens of their community. Each Den should have two registered and trained leaders as well as a rotating parent assistant. Without den leadership, we cannot form new dens. I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to be a den leader. What would I do? Where would I start?  (top) Help books, leader manuals, and training sessions are available to help YOU step into the role of den leader as quickly as possible. There are monthly Roundtable meetings where leaders gather to share ideas. For more information about Roundtables, speak to the Cubmaster for details. WITHOUT YOUR HELP IN LEADERSHIP, THIS PACK WILL FOLD!!! One or two people can't do it all! Can I transfer from another Pack to Pack 230?  (top) Certainly. We have several boys that have transferred from other Packs. All you have to do is file a transfer form with the Council office. Let us know and we can help you out. Is there a certain time of the year when we have to join?   (top) No. You are welcome to join at any time. We have our annual recruiting drive usually during the first month of school, but there is no requirement that you join at that time. Contact any leader for more information. We are involved with a lot of activities besides Cub Scouts - Is it ok if we miss events?  (top) We all have many commitments in life and we understand this reality. Our goal is to provide a full schedule of events for you and your son to participate in. You are welcome and encouraged to attend as many or all of the activites scouting offers, but we do not expect you to participate in all of them. Two other thoughts on this subject. First, you son will be working hard to advance as a scout. Try hard to attend major events so that you don't miss award ceremonies and special scouting activities. Second, when balancing competing priorities in your childs life recall that scouting is unique among the many activities in which our children participate. To often we end up in a passive observer role, as we attend the normal collection of sporting events/practices etc. Scouting is one activity which permits us as parents to directly involved with our children in every facet of the program. My second - fourth grade son would like to join but he wasn't a Tiger, does he have to start as a Tiger before he can advance?  (top) No problem. Children from 1st through 4th grade are welcome to join Cub Scouts at any time. New scouts joining as 2nd - 4th graders will start as Bobcats then graduate immediately into the appropriate program - skipping any ranks as necessary; Wolf, Bear, Webelo. Starting as a Bobcat helps a boy learn about scouts and to understand to goals and values to be instilled by the program. I'm worried that my son can't meet the advancement requirements.  (top) The motto in Cub Scouting is "Do your best" and this is the yardstick used to determine if the boy has met the requirements. This doesn't mean that it will be easy! The Scout is expected to push for his best but we realize that there is considerable variation at this age level. The program is flexible for boys with learning disabilities or physical handicaps. The degree of adaptation varies from case to case and there is a wide range of choices. I've heard that Scouting is a Father/Son activity. I'm a single mother can my son still join?  (top) Definately! The scouting movement has many boys from single parent families. Scouting in Pack 230 is a family affair and all parents are encouraged to participate. Furthermore, while at the Tiger Cub level, an adult partner is necessary for joining, at the higher ranks the boy doesn't have to have a parent with them for all activities. Just remember our "two deep rule". See question above. How much does it cost to join Pack 230?  (top) Each Pack answers this question differently. This year (2004/5)each scout will be charged $100. Pack 230 has made two decisions that make the cost seem higher when compared to other Packs. First, we do not engage in any annual fund raising activity (Many packs hold fund raisers through out the year). Second, our pack tries to fund or subsidize most of the activities we engage around. The pack provides: Scout registration, Insurance for scouts and leaders, bandanas, pinewood cars, manuals, trophies, etc. This does not mean that there will be no other expenses through the year, but our objective is to minimize these costs. My son is friends with a group of boys in the second grade. My son is only in the first grade, why can't my son be in the den with his friends?  (top) Technically, he could. The intention of the scout program however, is to keep children of comparable maturity together. This is usually evaluated based on school grade or age. The joining requirements for a Wolf den are: "...must be in the Second grade or be 8 years old." Therefore, if the youth is an 8 year old first grader he could join with his friends - if he isn't 8, he belongs in the Tiger Cubs along with boys his own age. Hopefully he will make new friends there. And he will be around his older friends at Pack functions. Can my son wear his uniform to school?  (top> Pack 230 scouts are encouraged to wear their uniform to school on any day they will be attending a Pack/Den meeting or any other Pack activity. Scouts should only wear their "Class A" uniform to school!  Scouts should also remember that whenever they are wearing their uniform they represent Cub Scouts, Pack 230, and our Charter Organization; shirts must be tucked, collar/cuffs buttoned, and neckerchiefs worn correctly. Note: Tatnall students have received official permission to wear their uniforms as noted above. As our Charter Organization Tatnall wants scouts to wear their uniform with pride. What to I get for my Pack 230 activity fee?  (top) What is covered by the membership fee: Scout registration Leader registration * Scout insurance Subscription to Boys Life Donation to the "Friends of Scouts" Activity awards and pins Pinewood derby cars Raingutter regatta boats Equipment rental (as needed) Activity trophies Den activity expenses Pack Activity expenses * Cub Scout leaders are required to join the Cub Scouts as well as the boys. Pack 230 does not believe a volunteer should have to 'Pay' for the opportunity to be a scout leader so each boy subsidizes the cost. Note: A detailed itemization of Pack 230 expenses on a per child basis is available for those parents interested by contacting the pack treasurer. Are there any expenses not covered by the Pack Activity fee?  (top) What isn't covered by the membership fee. The fee does not cover uniform costs. A "Class A" Tiger uniform will cost approximately $30. A "Class A" Wolf/Bear/Webelo uniform will cost approximately $65. Specific Pack activities and events. Pack events. We will charge a nominal amount to pay for food at the Blue and Gold dinner and Pack Picnic. Specific pack event. Example: Pumpkin picking, Sleepouts, camping, museum visits etc. will be charged based on a per scout basis depending on the total event cost. I'm not sure what to buy for my son's uniform.  (top) Each year your son is a part of scouts the uniform will change somewhat to indicate his new rank.   A detailed description as well as pictures of each uniform element required by Pack 230 is available here. I have more questions that aren't answered here. Who should I talk to?  (top) Please contact your son's den leader or Click Here! to find a list of Pack 230's current leadership. Any one of these volunteers will be able to give you more information about the Cub Scouting program.