Get involved, your Cub Scout will get the most from scouting if you are involved as a parent.
Parent Information Guide
TRAINING
Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader
If you had a magic wand, would you use it to make the Scouting program better and more fun for youth so they stayed in Scouting longer, so it had a larger impact on their lives? What if the same magic wand made leadership roles easier, more rewarding, and led to better retention among adult leaders? Would using that magic wand be a top priority?
Well, such a magic wand does exist—in the form of the learning programs for leaders in the Boy Scouts of America.
Common sense tells us that training is important, and research shows the importance of trained leaders. A trained leader is knowledgeable and more confident in the role being performed. Trained leaders exhibit a knowledge and confidence that is picked up by people around them. Trained leaders impact the quality of programs, leader tenure, youth tenure, safety, and a whole lot more. A trained leader is better prepared to make the Scouting program all it can be!
ATTEND DEN MEETINGS
The Den Meeting is the most important part of Cub Scouting. It is where Cub Scouts build friendships, work together to learn new things, and progress towards earning their common badge of rank. Serving as a Den Leader is providing an opportunity to make a positive life long impact on your child and others in the den.
GET INVOLVED
All adult leaders are first required to take Youth Protection Training. When that is completed, training for each position in Cub Scouting is available on-line. There are additional training courses available in your local area. Visit www.scouting.org/training/ for more details.
STEP ONE: SET UP A MY.SCOUTING ACCOUNT
Visit My.Scouting and create an account. Once you have an account you can access online training.
STEP TWO: TAKE YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING
The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members.
STEP THREE: POSITION SPECIFIC TRAINING
The BSA Learning Center is at My.Scouting. Select your position and a learning plan will be created for you. The plan includes modules that are designed to allow you to complete them at your own pace.
POSITION TRAINING
Leaders who complete Youth Protection Training and Position Specific Training earn the right to wear the trained patch on the left sleeve of their uniform, beneath the patch representing the position for which they are trained.
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
BASIC ADULT LEADER OUTDOOR ORIENTATION – BALOO
This one-and-a-half day course is designed as an introduction to the Cub Scout outdoor program for leaders interested in adding a camping component to their Pack activities. BALOO training consists of an online prerequisite component in addition to an overnight outdoor camping experience. Completion of this course is mandatory for a MINIMUM OF ONE adult on a Pack overnight.
WOOD BADGE
Wood Badge is known as the premier training course in the BSA. Offered by a local council, it is held over a period of a week or two full weekends. It includes an outdoor camping experience.
Those who complete Wood Badge are presented iconic wooden beads as a symbol of their commitment to provide a quality Scouting program.
CONTINUAL TRAINING
ROUND-TABLE
Once a month Scouting volunteers in a local community come together to provide information about local Scouting events, activities, and programs. Round-tables play a significant role in providing continuous supplemental training for unit leaders. This monthly event provides program topic guidance and structure suggestions for unit leaders.
A fun environment creates excitement around the coming month of activities and program for unit leaders to carry back for implementation in their units.
As an alternative or in addition to in-person Round-tables you can participate in virtual Round-tables. Resources for virtual Round-tables can be found by clicking here.
Round-tables provide unit leaders with the skill to do and the will to do what is needed to ensure that every member of every unit has a great Scouting experience. They build upon the foundation provided by position-specific basic training and each leader’s commitment to serving youth through Scouting.
Round-tables exist to:
- Provide information
- Capture information
- Offer current program training
- Provide networking opportunities
Round-tables are a collaborative effort coordinated by Unit Service (commissioners) and supported by commissioned professionals and district operations (Program, Membership, and Finance).
Active participation by all round-table participants increases the value of attendance for everyone.
UNIVERSITY OF SCOUTING / POW WOW
These two opportunities may be available through your local council. Typically these are a series of courses that take place one day.
Often these provide the opportunity to take several sessions on various topics that help you provide a great program.
DEN LEADER TRAINING
The Den Leader Position-Specific Training course provides Cub Scout den leaders with the basic information they need to conduct successful den meetings. Den leaders who complete this course and Youth Protection training are considered “trained” as Tiger, Wolf, and Bear den leaders or as Webelos den leaders.
Den Leader Position-Specific Training
COMMITTEE PLANNING
You can volunteer to be a Den Leader, Assistant Den Leader, or join the Pack Committee. Our den leaders and assistant den leaders plan and carry out the den meetings, with help from other parents and leaders. Our Pack committee runs the show behind the scenes with positions such as treasurer, advancement, secretary, committee chair, etc. There are many resources to help new den leaders and committee members.
PARENT PLANNING MEETINGS – LEAD ADVENTURES
Attending the monthly Parent Planning meeting will keep you informed about upcoming Pack activities, and give you an opportunity to be a bigger part of the success of our Pack. There are many ways to help out, and most jobs are both easy to do and rewarding. Don’t let us fool you, we can always use help.
DISTRICT ROUND TABLES
Each month our local district hosts a meeting called “Round-table”. This idea sharing forum is a great place to meet other adult leaders, learn about upcoming events, hear about training opportunities, and get helpful suggestions.
Round tables exist to provide information, capture information, offer current program training, and provide networking opportunities.
Round-tables are a collaborative effort coordinated by Unit Service (commissioners) and supported by commissioned professionals and district operations (Program, Membership, and Finance). Active participation by all round-table participants increases the value of attendance for everyone.
