a family pack serving parker, co

Cub Scouting with Pack 396 is a year-round, family-oriented program designed for all children who are in kindergarten through fifth grade, or are between 5 and 10 years of age. We are located in Parker, CO but we meet anywhere from Centennial to Castle Rock for hikes and activities.

We primarily recruit from Pine Lane Elementary, but our Scouts come from many schools in the Parker area. We are also very happy to welcome local homeschooling families to our pack!

Siblings are welcome to attend meetings and outings (though there may be cases where this isn’t possible) and parents are encouraged to be as involved as they can.

Parents, adult leaders, and chartered organizations work together to achieve The Aims of Scouting:

The methods of Scouting support the mission of Scouting. These practices support youth in developing into people of character, good citizens, and leaders.

Cub Scouts are encouraged to live the ideals embedded in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, and the Cub Scout motto. The Cub Scout sign, handshake, and salute are practices that help to establish and reinforce these values for the Scouts and the leaders who guide them.

A Cub Scout den is a group of six to eight children, who are the same age or grade level and the same gender, who work together on the same rank requirements. The den is the basic unit of Cub Scouting, and it’s the group your Scout spends most of their time with.

Advancement in Cub Scouting helps Scouts learn to set goals and work towards them. It also helps them earn recognition in front of their den and the whole pack. The awards on a Scout’s uniform tell the story of their Scouting journey.

Whatever a Scout’s family looks like, the family is an important part of Cub Scouting. Whether a Scout  lives with parents, grandparents, step parents, foster parents, or someone else, all provide leadership and support for Cub Scouting.

Cub Scouts play games, build projects, perform skits, sing songs, get outdoors, take trips, and serve their communities through the Scouting program. These activities are fun, but they also offer opportunities for growth, achievement, and family involvement.

The Cub Scouting program provides Scouts with the opportunity to serve their families and communities as part of their advancement. Scouts learn what it takes to help those who need it, and working in service of others establishes good character that lasts a lifetime.

Cub Scouts wear uniforms to their meetings, and these uniforms serve two purposes. They show that the Scout is part of a team, and also display the Scout’s individual achievements in the awards they wear. The uniform also encourages a neat appearance and good behavior.

The Scout Oath and Scout Law are essential to understanding Scouting. Scouts are required to learn them in order to earn their Bobcat rank, and they are repeated at every pack and den meeting. 

“On my honor I will do my best

to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;

to help other people at all times;

to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”

Trustworthy

Loyal

Helpful

Friendly

Courteous

Kind

Obedient

Cheerful

Thrifty

Brave

Clean

Reverent

Kids can join the pack at any age from 5 to 11, and begin their Scouting journey. The den they are assigned to will depend upon their age or grade, and they will begin working on the appropriate rank. Our youngest Scouts start in kindergarten at the Lion rank, and our 5th grade Scouts are working on the Arrow of Light rank, the highest award in Cub Scouting.

Each rank has some different uniform elements to help identify which Scouts are working on which rank. There is some commonality between uniforms as well, to show that we’re all on the same team. Adult leaders also wear uniforms, to show that they are on the same team as the kids.

Cub Scouts wear uniforms that display their current rank and their individual achievements. The uniform demonstrates that a Scout is part of a den, part of the pack, and part of Boy Scouts of America as a whole. When Scouts are wearing their uniform, they are representing Scouting to the public.

Parents are responsible for providing a Class A uniform for their Scout by the end of September for any Scouts joining in the summer or early fall, and as soon as possible for Scouts joining later in the year. The components of a Class A uniform for each rank are explained at the site linked below. Pack 396 doesn’t require official uniform pants or socks, but a uniform shirt, hat, belt, and neckerchief are expected.

Pack 396 provides each Scout with a Class B uniform t-shirt that the Scout can wear for any activities where they are likely to get messy, like slime-making, cooking, or camping. This is covered by pack dues paid when you join, or when you register each year.

Scout Uniforms can be purchased online or at the local Scout Shop. The closest Scout Shop for our pack is in Lakewood, CO. They have everything your Scout needs to get started, including uniforms, Scout handbooks, even camping and hiking equipment. They can also sew on your uniform patches for a small fee.

If there is any reason that any Scouting-related expenses would be a burden for your family, please reach out to your den leader or to pack leadership. We have programs in place to help. Finances should never be a reason for a child to miss out on the experience of Scouting.

Cub Scout meetings are where the fun happens! There are several types of meetings: pack meetings, den meetings, and special activities or events. On average, you can expect to spend 1-2 hours per week in Scout meetings.

There is one pack meeting per month, usually held the first Monday or Saturday of the month, depending on the event. Pack meetings often consist of a special event like the Pinewood Derby or the Blue & Gold Banquet. A pack meeting is where pack announcements are made and awards are handed out.

Den meetings are held 2-3 times per month in addition to pack meetings. Den meetings are where Scouts do most of the work towards their rank advancement requirements, and are led by den leaders and assistant den leaders, with assistance from parents. Each den schedules their own meetings, but Pack 396 has traditionally held den meetings on Monday evenings, with indoor meetings being held at the Parker United Methodist Church.

There may also be other events available to everyone in the pack, especially during months where the weather is suitable for outdoor activities. These might be hikes, fishing trips, camping trips, etc.

These events will be run in addition to pack meetings, and won’t generally have advancement or award ceremonies.

People who are interested in becoming involved with Scouting often ask what it costs to join. Since we prorate our dues, the exact amount will change based on the time of year your son or daughter joins. As a general guideline we charge $150 for a full program year in pack dues, and national dues paid during online registration can be anywhere from $30-97, also prorated based on when you join.

If there is any reason that any Scouting-related expenses would be a burden for your family, please reach out to your den leader or to pack leadership. We have programs in place to help. Finances should never be a reason for a child to miss out on the experience of Scouting.