What your boy needs

Many of you have had questions about just what you need to do to get your boy into the pack. There are three basic things that are required:

• Youth Application and Registration Fee
• Cub Scout Handbook
• Uniform

Youth Application Form and Registration Fee

These are available at the Bluegrass Council office, or we will have them available at all Pack and Den meetings. This provides basic information on the boy and registers him as a member of the Pack. Fees are $23 for Tiger Cubs (1st grade) and $21 for all other Cubs. The fee covers National registration and insurance for the boy (the extra $2 for Tigers insures the Adult Partner).

Fees for this "year" are somewhat higher than the usual annual fee because we are registering through December 2010, and so must cover three additional months.

The form and money can be turned in at any Pack or Den meeting, or at any time at the Council Office.

Tiger/Wolf/Bear/Webelos Handbook

These are $10, and available at the Council office. They contain all of the requirements the boy will need for rank advancement, activity badges, and so on. Also included is a Parents section to help explain your role in the program. This is a very important part, and should probably be picked up in the first month or so. This is also an item that we may discuss having the Pack purchase (or subsidize) for the boys once we get some fundraising done.

There are different handbooks for each Den (grade level), so be sure you get the right one:

• First Grade: Tiger Cub
• Second Grade: Wolf Cub
• Third Grade: Bear Cub
• Fourth/Fifth Grade: Webelos

Uniform

The uniform is an important part of Scouting, as it fosters unity and pride of membership, provides a place for the boy to display his achievements (rank, etc.), and reminds the boy of his commitments to the Pack and the ideals of Scouting. I know that when I wear my uniform shirt, I tend to stand a little straighter and watch what I say, knowing that my actions reflect upon the Pack, my boys, and BSA in general. This is a good lesson for the boys to learn.

Unfortunately, it's rather expensive. The basic shirt and patches, purchased new, will run about $30. The full-kit uniform including cap, pants, socks, belt and all can run to $75 or more. Used shirts are often available at Goodwill and other places.

I'd recommend everyone try to have at least the shirt, neckerchief and slide for the boy by the first of the year, so that he can wear his shirt to the Blue and Gold banquet. In the meantime, a Navy blue shirt or Cub Scout T-shirt will suffice to provide the "team" spirit and the all-important color matching on group outings.

While the importance of a uniform is not to be underestimated, I think this is an area where the Cub Scout motto "Do your best" must be remembered. No boy will be excluded from the Pack for lack of a uniform if I have anything to say about it (nor do I believe BSA would argue with me on that point). There is some financial help available for those in need, but this is also an excellent place for the boy to learn some responsibility by earning money for his uniform, perhaps by doing some extra chores, helping a neighbor, or working extra hard on Pack fundraising activities. A uniform that is earned can be worn with an extra bit of pride in accomplishment.

Uniform Components

Now that I've mentioned the uniform and its importance, here is a list of its parts, in order of priority of need (as I see it), along with an estimated retail price from the Scout Shop:

• Shirt (short or long sleeved) ($25)
• Council Patch ($5)
• Pack Numerals ($1.20 each x4 = $4.80)
• World Scouting Crest Patch ($1.50)
• Neckerchief and Slide ($10 together)
• Cap ($13)
• Pants or Shorts ($17)
• Belt ($10)
• Socks ($6)

Prices may vary depending on exactly what you by. Webelos (4th or 5th grade) have the option of wearing either the Cub Scout Blue/Gold uniform or the Boy Scout Khaki/Olive uniform (with Webelos-specific badges). The decision of which color scheme to go with should probably be a Den decision, so everyone wears the same thing.

Uniforms are available from the Scout Shop (directions below), online at http://www.scoutstuff.org, or used from Goodwill and other places.

Directions to the Scout Shop / Council Office

All of the stuff above (application forms, handbooks and uniforms) are available in the Scout Shop, located at the Bluegrass Council office, 3473 Yorkshire Medical Park, Lexington KY

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