Comments: Sep 15, 2015 - DMP ScouterWe recently instituted a Den Chief in my Bear Den. It is my first time working with a Den Chief and had one quick question. Who is responsible for getting the Den Chief the Den Chief cord for his uniform?
Sep 15, 2015 - melissa prattis there anything my son can do at the age of almost 5? he really wants to be in cub scouts? please let me know.
thank you
Sep 16, 2015 - Scouter Paul@Melissa - There is a Lion Cub pilot program running in 3 councils
for kindergarten boys. But, until that program gets rolled out
nationally, Cub Scouts starts for first graders.
Sep 16, 2015 - Scouter Paul@DMP - The Den Chief cord is typically paid for, and presented to
the Den Chief by, the Pack since they are the ones receiving value
from the position. There is no rule about it, and the cord is not
required.
Sep 22, 2015 - Julie QuinnOur Pack requests that the Troop supply the cord since it's a leadership award that he is earning.
Sep 22, 2015 - Scouter JoeThe Den Chief cord is normally supplied and kept by the Pack and re-used for all future Den Chiefs.
@Julie Quinn There is a difference between the Den Chief cords and the Den Chief Service Award (That would be supplied by the troop as an award for him to keep).
Dec 05, 2015 - Marcus bondsMy son is 4 and his sister is 6. She
is joining girl scouts this year and
he's seen some of my old scout
stuff. Is there anything he can do?
I feel bad he's not old enough
Dec 08, 2015 - Scouter Paul@Marcus - There is no Boy Scouts of America program for 4 year
olds.
Jan 12, 2016 - Swampfox Several churches in my area have formed programs for 4-5 year
boys and girls to capture the potential kids and eventually
introduce them to Scouting. Girls can join Girl Scouts at 5
years(Daisies), but presently boys need to wait till they
graduate from Kindergarten. We call our group "Koala Kids".
Jan 15, 2016 - AvelineThe BSA has a Learning for Life program that starts around
Kindergarten (perhaps earlier?) and can be adapted to offer a
scouting program for younger children, including girls. It's
really meant for volunteers or teachers to use in a classroom
setting, so it's developmentally appropriate by age. There is no
uniform or badges, pins, etc. for this program. It may be what the
churches are using in Swampfox's example. You can check with your
Council about it.
Jan 15, 2016 - Andrea L. WesleyI really needed to find information about 5-year-olds entering
scouting ( I knew that formally boys had to first grade, but
wanted to see if BSA had been informally developed for younger
boys). The information shared was very helpful.
Jan 18, 2016 - Scouter Joe@ Andrea - As it stands currently, there is no official program
for 5 year olds. The joining requirements are as you stated, First
grade or at the age of 7.
There are pilot programs in a few
select councils that are testing "Lion Cubs", a program for
Kindergarten/6 year olds but it is just being tested out and may
not go nationally.
Feb 17, 2016 - Dave Meyer@ Andrea- Pack 348 in Eden Prairie, MN runs a Lion program and
we have been very successful. If you would like info from us
please email me. If you are not in the area, I can give you
suggestions on how to start the Lion program at your local pack.
In our Pack, the Lions meet to conduct their own requirements
(which are very sparse) and they also shadow the Tigers for some
of the fun activities. Then they participate in all of our Pack
activities as well. Basically, for us- it's a way to ease into
scouting. And we are finding that both the boys are the parents
are very active, because we are getting them before they get
involved with other activities. Good luck!
May 31, 2016 - DebbieIn reply to parents looking for activities for boys/girls not
older enough for scouts. In our pack we had several
young siblings coming to meetings without anything to
do. So we decided to start a (den) class for them. One of
our older teen sibling and parent are over it. They are
called the cubetts They made their own shirts to wear
on outings. And they gave classes coving subjects like
the cub scouts do just on their level. ( friendship,
nutrition , weather, animals, importation of being a good
citizen ,ect. They take part in activities we do. It has
helped full a spot for the child and parents whom have
older cub scouts. Please gives them a leg up in being
prepared for scouts. ( girls or boys).
May 31, 2016 - DebbieForget to tell you. We also award them for their
achievements. At the blue and gold. Just like the other
scouts.
Jun 01, 2016 - Scouter Paul@Debbie - It's nice for siblings too young for cub scouts to have
something to do. Pretending they are part of the Boy Scouts of
America program isn't such a nice thing. That may set the
expectations of parents that their children are being supervised
by, and protected by, BSA volunteers - but they are not. All
responsibility for those children is being taken on by the
individual teen and parent - that is not allowed by BSA at the
Tiger level since every Tiger must have a parent with him.
Oct 12, 2016 - Megan SchmidtWhat all do packs or dens usually provide for their scouts? Would I have to buy all the uniforms, and items for badge achieving such as pocket knives and camping gear to be in the scouts?
Oct 13, 2016 - Chris OradatI can't speak for every pack, but in ours the Scout is responsible for their book, uniform, and camping equipment. If they don't have camping equipment, we can help find some for them to borrow, either from another pack member or the troop we associate with.
Awards/badges/pins/etc are paid by the pack dues, or fundraising, but ultimately it comes out of the pack's fund. We also provide the new neckerchief and slide when the boys age up to the next badge.
May 28, 2019 - ANDREW THOMPSONI'm interested in getting my daughter that
will be 5 in November into the cub scouts.
Because she wont be able to start
kindergarten until she is almost 6 due to the
September cut off for kindergarten
enrollment. Will she also be restricted from
joining a den and make rank with other 5 year
olds until she officially starts kindergarten
at 5 years 10 months old?
May 31, 2019 - Jane@Andrew - The Cub Scout program is primarily based on school grade. She will need to wait until August of her kindergarten year before she can join a Lion den.
Aug 28, 2019 - HeatherMy son turns 5 in early October, but will not start kindergarten
until the 2021-2022 school year. Can he join scouts when he turns
5, or do we have to wait for Kindergarten as well?
Aug 28, 2019 - Scouter Paul@Heather - The BSA Youth Application says "Lion—Kindergarten (year
before first grade)". So, he should wait until next year. That
way, he will be in Scouts with his classmates.
Oct 10, 2019 - Robin PadillaHi,
My son started kindergarten
but won't be 5 until 11/27/19. The
online application gives an error
saying he isn't old enough but it
doesn't seem fair for him not to
be able to join with his
classmates. Thanks!
Oct 11, 2019 - Scouter Paul@Robin - The official BSA Youth Application states only that Lions
are "Kindergarten (year before first grade)". You could talk to
the Lion Den Leader or Cubmaster of the pack you want to join and
get a paper application from them to fill out. See
filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/524-406.pdf
Feb 11, 2021 - Bradley ShafferDoes the cub scouts accept mildly autistic children
Age
9 into the cub scouts?
Feb 11, 2021 - Scouter Paul@Bradley - Yes, all youth kindergarten through fifth grade can join Cub
Scouts. The specific joining requirements are explained on the BSA Youth
Application linked to in the page content above.

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