Den and Pack Meetings
Boys in Cub Scouting meet regularly. Weekly den meetings are like
stepping-stones: each week a boy progresses a little further toward
the next rank, learning skills as he goes. The monthly pack meetings
are like milestones that mark achievements along the Cub Scout trail
and celebrate accomplishments along the way.
Den Meetings
Each week, your son attends a den meeting with a small group of boys in
his grade level. The meeting is conducted by a den leader and an assistant.
The den may meet at the home of one of the leaders or at another suitable
location. Tiger Cubs attend their den meetings with their adult partners,
but Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts attend den meetings on
their own.
While the meetings include games and other activities that are fun for
the boys, program delivery is the main goal. Boys participate in activities
and work on projects that are related to a monthly theme and that help them
learn the skills they need to progress in rank. The boys also prepare to
do their part in the monthly pack meeting.
Pack Meetings
The monthly pack meeting brings together boys from every den, their leaders,
and their families for a large-scale event that showcases all that the boys
have learned and done in their individual den meetings. Such a gathering gives
the boys a larger experience beyond their own den. It also helps them see how
their individual activities fit into the bigger Cub Scout program.
A typical pack meeting begins with a formal opening ceremony. Next, in the
program section of the meeting, dens may give presentations and performances
that demonstrate what they learned during the month. The program section may
also include activities that involve the entire audience, or a featured
event.
Another important part of the pack meeting is the formal recognition given
to the Scouts who have earned badges, Arrow Points, beads, or other awards,
and to leaders who have earned training awards, religious emblems, or other
community awards. This is followed by some general announcements and a formal
closing ceremony to end the meeting.
Besides bringing together the boys in the pack, Cub Scout pack meetings are
family events. Parents or guardians, brothers, sisters, and other family members
attend. The pack meeting is a social event for the community, bringing together
the families of many boys.