Cub Scout Pack 153 - Batavia, Illinois

Yearly Events Descriptions

Did you know that you can earn more than 65 awards as a Cub Scout? Whether it’s a rank advancement, Sports or Academics belt loop and pin, or one of the many other individual awards, there is plenty for you to set your sights on.

Cub Scout Pack 153 is sponsored by the J. B. Nelson School PTO and serves families that reside in the J. B. Nelson grade school district. We are designated a quality unit, and run a complete Cub Scouting program for first through fifth grade boys. In 2008 Pack 153 celebrated it's 50th year!

Pack Meetings
The monthly pack meeting brings together boys from every den, their leaders, and their families, to participate in a large-scale event that serves as a showcase for all that the boys have learned and done in their individual den meetings.

Den Meetings
A den is a group of six to eight boys that meets several times a month between pack meetings. The den structure allows boys to build relationships with leaders and other boys.


I __________ promise to do my best, to do my duty, to God and My Country, to help other people, and to obey the Law of the Pack.	The Cub Scout follows Akela. The Cub Scout helps the Pack go. The Pack helps the Cub Scout grow. The Cub Scout gives goodwill.


Do Your Best.	The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

BOBCAT
No matter what age or grade a boy joins Cub Scouting, he must earn his Bobcat badge before he can advance to the rank of Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos. A boy must complete the Bobcat requirements, which include:

Learn and say the Cub Scout motto, the Cub Scout Promise, and the Law of the Pack and tell what they mean;
Show the Cub Scout sign, salute, and handshake and tell what they mean; and
Show that you understand and believe that it is important to be honest and trustworthy.

TIGER CUB

To begin his path to the Tiger Cub rank, the Tiger Cub (age 7) must learn the Cub Scout promise, the Cub Scout sign, and the Cub Scout salute. When he has learned these, he gets his Tiger Cub emblem, which is a tiger paw with four strings for beads. He wears the emblem on his right pocket.

As a boy finishes each part of the five Tiger Cub achievements, he earns an orange bead (for den activities), a white bead (for family activities), or a black bead (for "Go See Its"). When the boy has earned five beads of each color, he can receive his Tiger Cub badge. The Tiger Cub badge is given to the boy's adult partner at a pack meeting. Then, during a grand ceremony, the adult gives the badge to the boy.

WOLF

The Wolf rank is for boys who have finished first grade (or who are 8 years old). To earn the Wolf badge, a boy must pass 12 achievements. His parent or guardian approves each achievement by signing his book. When the boy has met all requirements, the Wolf badge is presented to his parent or guardian at the next pack meeting. During an impressive ceremony, the parent or guardian then presents the badge to the boy.

After he has earned the Wolf badge, a Wolf Cub Scout can work on the 23 Wolf electives until he finishes second grade (or turns 9 years old). He can choose from more than 100 elective projects that may show him new hobbies and teach him skills that will be useful during his Boy Scout years. When he completes 10 elective projects, he earns a Gold Arrow Point to wear under the Wolf badge. For each 10 elective projects after that, he earns a Silver Arrow Point.

BEAR

The Bear rank is for boys who have finished second grade (or are 9 years old). There are 24 Bear achievements in four groups. A boy must complete 12 of the achievements to be a Bear Cub Scout. These requirements are harder and more challenging than those for the Wolf badge. When a boy has earned his Bear badge, he may work on electives to earn Arrow Points to wear under his Bear badge.

WEBELOS

Webelos dens are for boys who have completed third grade (or reached age 10). The Webelos den program is different from the Cub Scout den program. Everything in the Webelos Scout program is more challenging than what younger boys in the pack do. Webelos Scouts get to work on the 20 Webelos activity badges:

Physical Skills

Aquanaut
Athlete
Fitness
Sportsman

Community

Citizen
Communicator
Family Member
Readyman

Outdoor Activity

Forester
Geologist
Naturalist
Outdoorsman

Mental Skills

Artist
Scholar
Showman
Traveler

Technology

Craftsman
Engineer
Handyman
Scientist

Webelos Scouts work on requirements during their weekly den meetings. Once a boy learns a skill, he practices it at den meetings and at home on his own. His family helps him at home. Webelos Scouts bring the projects they do at home to the den meetings to show others, and to have the Webelos den leader approve their projects.

When a boy has done the requirements for an activity badge, the Webelos den leader or activity badge counselor, rather than a parent, approves most of the activity badges. It takes three activity badges, including Fitness and Citizen, to earn the Webelos badge.

Besides earning activity badges, Webelos Scouts can earn the compass points emblem. This emblem is awarded after a Webelos Scout has earned seven activity badges. For each four activity badges a Webelos Scout earns after that, he receives a compass point—east, west, north, and south.

ARROW OF LIGHT

The highest rank in Cub Scouting is the Arrow of Light Award. Earning this rank prepares a Webelos Scout to become a Boy Scout. Webelos Scouts who have earned the Arrow of Light Award have also completed all requirements for the Boy Scout badge.

This award is the only Cub Scout badge that can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform when a boy graduates into a troop. Adult leaders who earned the Arrow of Light Award when they were young may also show their achievement by wearing a special square knot on their adult uniform.

Many people ask about the time committment associated with being a Cub Scout, and the answer is that the time does vary. As a younger Cub Scouts the time committment is approximately a 1 hour a week. As the child advances to Webelos, the time committment does increase in order to meet the requirements for that badge.

Once a month the Pack (all of the Dens) meets as a group. Then each individual Den typically meets 2-3 times a month, but that does vary depending upon Den Leaders and Badge Level. Additionally there are events such as Camporama Weekend, The Pine Wood Derby, Fishing Derby, Blue and Gold Banquet, Summer Twilight Camp, and more.

Camp-o-rama: This is an event for scouts and their families (including siblings). The Pack camps overnight one weekend at a chosen location. For October 2009 it was Johnson's Mound in Elburn. Saturday is filled with crafts, fishing, skits, and various activities, followed by entertainment and campfire. Sunday everyone has breakfast together and then gradually disperses home by 10am. Staying overnight is not required.

Sunny Acres Farm: The Pack goes on a Fall evening for the Haunted Hayride.

Pine Wood Derby: Carve your cars!

Rush Copley Healthplex: Description needed

Blue and Gold Banquet: During the month of Scouting's anniversary, packs across the country hold blue and gold banquets. In nearly all packs, the banquet is a highlight of the program year. All cub scouts and their families may attend. The banquet features silent auctions, raffles, door prizes, dinner, entertainment, and of course, the Webelos crossover!

Fishing Derby: Description needed

Summer Twilight Camp: Takes place at Good Templar Park in Geneva. This is typically from 4:30-8:30PM, so it's not an overnight camp. Each year there is a different theme and crafts revolving around that theme. Additionally children take part in archery, BB Gun saftey and numberous other instructions.