WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU JOIN US
Where do your dues go?
New Scout Fee: one-time initiation fee paid directly to Scouting America. The pack does not keep this fee.
National Fee: set by Scouting America. The pack keeps none of this money. This pays for a 12 month membership to the organization.
Council Fee: set by the Heart of New England Council. The pack keeps none of this money. This covers unit insurance, CORI checks for adult leaders, and council-level programs (i.e., Polar Derby)
Pack Fee: Covers ONLY the essentials such as advancements, Pinewood Derby cars, rocket engines, and charter fee. The amount varies by pack.
Hardship Cub Scout Scholarships:
The pack supports 5 scholarships a year for scouts who need financial assistance. These can be used to cover pack dues and Scouting America fees. If you feel you require assistance, please reach out to a Committee Member or Den Leader for more information.
Uniform Giving Shop:
We typically have a gently used bin with items for scouts. We will give you items if you need them and we have them. We always take donations.
Volunteering for Fundraisers:
Fundraising is necessary to provide materials and events during the year. All parents are required to volunteer throughout the year at at least 1 fundraising event and at least 1 pack wide event (Blue and Gold, Pinewood Derby, camping trips are examples.) Sign ups for events are emailed through the BAND APP sign up and can also be signed up for during weekly meetings. Please plan accordingly.
Schedule: Regular meetings are held every Monday at 6:30 pm. Please check in on arrival.
Where: We meet at the Leominster Sportsmen’s Club (LSA) from September to October and again from April to June. We meet at the United Methodist Church from October to April.
Yearly Membership Cost: (yearly unless noted)
New Scout Fee………………..………..$25.00 (once)
Youth registration fee ………………..$85.00
Youth Council Fee…………….………..$80.00
Online Service Fee………….……………$2.89
Local program fee (Pack dues)……..$50.00
Total: ($242.89 year 1) $ 217.89 yearly
Adult registration fee.(committee and den leaders only)………………………………………..$65 yearly
Scout Life magazine (optional)……$15 yearly
Uniform Costs (Required):
$15.00 Lion T-Shirt or class B uniform shirt
$32.99 Uniform Shirt (blue) (AOL tan)
$12.99 Neckerchief (see back for purchasing info)
$7.99 Neckerchief Slide
$14.99 BSA Belt (holds their adventure loops)
$28.99 BSA Pants (Blue)(or navy blue chino pant)
$97.95 Total
Optional:
$22.99 Cap (of current rank)
23.99 Cub Scout Rank Handbook
Health Forms:
Each Cub Scout must have an up-to-date health form filed with the Pack each year. Log on to the BSA website and search health form, fill it out, print and bring it on the first night. Health Form can be downloaded, filled out, and brought to the first meeting.
*Awards and patches as well as special rank badges are provided by the pack at no extra cost.
Activity Fees:
Except for activities that are required to earn advancements, all trips and events are optional. Families are welcome to choose to attend as many or as few as they like. Here is a look at typical fees you can expect for various events.
Scout Council Events: $10-$30 per cub. These are put on by Council around New England and include events like Polar Derby.
Campouts: Free – $25 per person to cover the cost of food and facilities. We try and camp 1-2 times per year as a pack. Dens may camp more often.
Day Trips: $10-30 per person. These may include hockey nights, ball parks, farm days ect.
***Event registration is required for these functions.
Special Overnights: $50 – $100 per person. We try and host 1 of these per year. Overnight museum outings and Battleship Cove are examples of these events.
Additional Information and Q & A
Who Can Join? Cub Scouting serves youth from kindergarten to fifth grade. There are five ranks the children move through in Cub Scouts, one each year. They are Lion (k), Tiger (1), Wolf (2), Bear (3), Webelos (4), and Arrow of Light (5).
Youth Protection (all leaders are trained): Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer’s Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be registered. For more information about Youth Protection, please see Scouting America’s Youth Protection website at scouting.org/training/youth-protection/. All Pack 16 Leaders are youth protection trained yearly.
Communication: The BAND APP & email to communicate about the Pack. Den leaders will use a text thread or email for weekly communication with their parents. Facebook will provide you updates and information on local events and cub events. https://band.us/n/ababAdqenfV0h
Fundraisers: Be prepared to participate in at least one fundraiser. Fundraisers are typically a 2-4 hour shift one of the days of the fundraiser. Your child must be with you at these events in a class A uniform. These events help us to provide scholarships, supplies to dens and materials as well as offset the cost of some trips. It takes approximately $4,000 – $6,000 to run a typical year for Pack 16. Our fundraisers include:
Coffee and Donuts- Columbus Day Weekend Fall/Winter Can Drive
Robotics Event Concession Stand Spring Can Drive
Spring Bake Sale Restaurant Nights
Where to get Your Uniform:
The uniform and its cost vary by program for both youth and adults. For cubs, you are required to have a class A and a class B (optional) for meeting nights and events. A class A uniform consists of a navy blue Scouting America shirt, a neckerchief of your rank, a slide and a pair of navy blue pants (no jeans). You can purchase a pair of navy blue chino pants at Target or Walmart to save on cost. Uniforms may also be purchased at your local Scout shop. See www.scoutshop.org for details and current prices. You can also visit the New England Scout Shop, Brickyard Square 23 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA. 01772. Phone: 508-229-2396. Additionally, Moore’s Lumber in Shirley has a selection of items as well. Also, ask about our Giving Shop to see if we have any pieces available for you.
Books:
Youth handbooks are the Lion Handbook (comes with the Lion Adult Partner Guide), Tiger Handbook (comes with the Tiger Adult Partner Guide), Wolf Handbook, Bear Handbook, Webelos Handbook, and Arrow of Light Handbook. Adult leaders use Scoutbook, the online tool found at scoutbook.scouting.org or at your local shop. Parents have a free app, “My Scouting” for Apple and Android, that allows them to connect with their child’s activities.
How Can You Help?
We are always looking for motivated individuals who want to participate. We run on volunteer grit and value, and skills you can offer. The most important help that you, as a parent, can give your child is to work with them on their Cub Scouting adventures as they work toward their badge of rank. The Cub Scout handbook is full of age-appropriate activities; some of them you do together at home. Den meetings are designed for Cub Scouts to complete Adventures that are required for them to earn their badge of rank. Your role as a parent is the secret to a successful Cub Scouting program!
Camping and Outing Supplies:
Camping: Family Tent, Sleeping Bag, Rain Gear, Water Bottle, Sun Block, Personal First Aid Kit, Flashlight, Folding Camp Chair.
Hiking: Appropriate Shoes, Rain Gear, Water Bottle, Sun Block, Bug Repellant, Personal First Aid Kit, Whistle, and a Snack.