The Spirit of Scouting is alive...

Three of Cub Scouting's primary goals are Character Development, Spiritual Growth, and Good Citizenship. The parents and leaders of Pack 230 believe that an active community service program is a requisite for achieving those goals. Additionally, they believe that involving Scouts now in age appropriate community service activities increases the likelihood that they will continue to serve their communities throughout their lives. Service should be an ageless endeavor!

If you would like additional information about our program, or would like to suggest an age appropriate (1st to 4th grade) community service activity, please contact our Community Service Coordinator.

What Can Scouts Learn From Community Service

• A sense of responsibility
  Through volunteerism, Scouts learn about making commitments and the importance of keeping them. They learn how to be on time for a job and why it's important to do their best. They also learn that, ultimately, we are responsible for the well-being of our community.
• The knowledge that one person can make a difference
  A wonderful and empowering message for a Scout is that he is old enough to make a positive impact on his community.
• The benefit of sacrifice
  Giving away something of value (like a toy) to one who's less fortunate teaches that there's virtue in sacrifice. Spending one's recreation time in the service of others teaches Scouts that there are things equally important (sometimes more important) than ourselves and our immediate needs. Voluntarily serving others teaches Scouts that monetary rewards are not the measure of a job's importance, and that there's a spiritual satisfaction that comes from serving others.
• Tolerance
  Community service work creates opportunities for Scouts to interact with diverse groups of people.  Scouts learn that, despite their differences, those in a community are generally united by common values.

Some Pack 230 Service Projects

Adopt-a-Family Holiday Program Sponsor (2003)
Although Adopt-a-Family provides urgently needed assistance to Delaware families year round, most of this organization's support is made available during the holiday season when needs are particularly acute and emotions run high. Adopt-a-Family's holiday program distributes gift certificates to families meeting its need requirements.  This type of assistance, versus a traditional toy giveaway, is aimed at preserving the dignity of disadvantaged persons by enabling them to shop for gifts for their loved ones.  Another advantage of the program is that those in disadvantaged families receive gifts they're hoping for, rather than those that are simply available.

For more information about Adopt-a-Family click here.

Arden Courts Alzheimer's Assisted Living Center - Spring Flower Planting (2003, 2004)
We're learning about being thoughtful citizens, we're helping the planet, and we're brightening the lives of some wonderful new friends!  Pack 230 Scouts planted an assortment of flowers to add the colors and aromas of Spring to the Arden Courts Assisted Living Center.

Arden Courts Alzheimer's Assisted Living Center - Holiday Caroling Cheer (2003, 2004, 2005)
The holidays can be a difficult time for assisted living patients, but the Cub Scouts of Pack 230 brought the spirit of the season into the center!  Over 35 Cubs sang with the Arden Courts residents in December of 2005, and we plan to be back in 2006!

In addition to sharing the joy of the season through song, we also adopted several of the patients who are without family or friends in the immediate area. Each Cub Den made holiday decorations and went shopping for presents for its adopted aunt or uncle.  I am certain that we managed to brighten our new friends' holiday season!

For more information about the Arden Courts Alzheimer program click here.

eBay for Tots - Charity Fundraising (2004, 2005)
This project is one I have not seen done by Scouts previously, and it supports several Scouting ideals.  Scouts and their parents were first asked to find a 'saleable' item in their homes.  The Pack then helped them to create eBay seller accounts and offer their items for auction. The proceeds from those auctions were used to buy toys for the United States Marine Corps Reserves' Toys for Tots program. In 2005, our Pack donated $650 worth of toys to the program!

We liked this program for several reasons. First, we discovered a new and safe fundraising program in which the whole family can participate from home.   There's also environmental value in the program, as it encourages 'recycling' things that might otherwise end up in a landfill  There was an organization incentive in the fundraiser since our Scouts were encouraged to inventory their possessions and cull the no-longer-used video games, and other outgrown former treasures, taking up space on their shelves. Our Scouts learned a few things about digital photography, composing and formatting text on a computer, and uploading files to a server. Their new skills helped them to earn their Computer Belt loops.  And, perhaps, we've inspired some of our Scouts towards entrepreneurism.  Most importantly, we showed our Scouts an interesting and fun way to help the needy in our community.