Welcome New Scouts! Pack 311 has prepared this page to help acclimate you to our pack very quickly so you can start having fun.
How do I join?
The Cub Scouting program is open to boys in first to fifth grade, or ages 7 through 10. Older boys may join Boy Scouting.
Most of our scouts live in Saco or Dayton, and attend Young School, Notre Dame, or Dayton Consolidated.
Pack 311 routinely holds a recruiting event in the spring, but boys can join our pack at any time throughout the year.
About your den
Similar-age boys are grouped together in dens. Our pack is made up of many dens. The boys in each den wear the same uniform, with a hat, neckerchief and neckerchief slide matching the rank they are working toward.
First grade-age boys are part of a Tiger Cub den. At the end of the school year, the den graduates to the next rank. A Tiger Cub den becomes a Wolf den, then Bear, Webelos, and Arrow of Light (aka Webelos 2).
Each den has a Den Leader who is responsible for tracking advancement, helping to ensure the safety of den activities, and activity planning.
Parents are encouraged to attend meetings and activities with their scout, to participate in our regular planning meetings, and to help out during events. In the case of Tiger Cubs, parental participation is not only encouraged, it is required -- each Tiger Cub must have a parent or Adult Partner with them at all meetings and events.
New Scout Checklist
These are things that a parent or adult partner will do
- Complete the Youth Application and pay your registration fee.
- Complete an Annual Health and Medical Record form.
- Complete a Pine Tree Council photo release.
- All completed forms should be turned in to our Pack Committee Chair.
- Once your scout has been assigned to a den, the Den Leader will be in touch to advise you of the schedule next den meeting and keep you posted on pack events.
- Purchase a uniform, or let us know if you are unable to afford one. The nearest place to buy a uniform is the PTC Scout Shop, located near the Portland Jetport. Pack 311 requests that all scouts have the following -- we've included approximate costs as of May 2010:
- Handbook matching the den's rank ($7 - $9)
- Uniform shirt (we recommend short sleeve, $23)
- Neckerchief matching the den's rank ($5.99)
- Neckerchief slide matching the den's rank ($3.99)
- Hat matching the den's rank ($12.99)
- Pine Tree Council shoulder emblem (<$5)
- American Flag (new uniforms come with this sewn on)
- Den numeral matching your den's number ($1.49)
- Pack numerals for "311" ($1.19 x 3)
- World Crest ($1.49)
- You may also want to consider purchasing an activity shirt from Pack 311, which can be worn to outdoor events instead of the uniform.
- Insignia items should be sewn on to the uniform per the appropriate uniform inspection sheet:
Leadership
Our pack depends largely on parents to help staff events and leadership roles within the pack. Parents are encouraged to help their scout with advancement on an ongoing basis, to regularly assist their den with activities, and to help out with a couple pack events each year.
We provide training, support and guidance throughout the year to help our leaders succeed. Please let our Pack Committee Chair or Cubmaster know if you are interested in becoming a leader.
Meetings and Events
Pack 311's scouts are given a lot of exciting activities. (To get an idea of a year of scouting fun, see what
Den 6 did in 2009-2010.)
Your den leader will provide you scheduling information about den meetings and Go See Its:
- Most dens meet two or three times per month for den meetings on Thursdays during the school year, at 6PM at Thornton Academy. Scouts pay dues at these meetings (typically $1 per meeting for younger scouts) to help offset the cost of materials and snacks. Den meetings are used to support advancement and provide learning opportunities and fun. Pack 311 opens with a pack meeting with all dens, and then breaks out to den meetings. Meetings typically last an hour.
- Many dens have a Go See It (the term used for field trips) once per month. Go See Its have included trips to the police and fire departments, area businesses, museums, hikes, and other outdoor activities. Go See Its vary in length depending on the activity.
Pack leaders will provide you scheduling information on
pack events, and
district and council events. Information on these events will also be available on the pack website:
- Parents are encouraged to join leaders at the United Baptist Church at 6PM on the second Monday of each month for our Parent/Leader meeting, used for planning. Notes from these meetings are posted to the pack website.
- Once per month, Pack 311 has a special pack event. Pack events include the Blue and Gold Banquet, mini golf, outdoor fun days, and awards ceremonies. We schedule most of our pack events a year in advance as part of our annual planning.
- Pack 311 is part of the York District of the Pine Tree Council. Both the district and council provide additional, typically larger, events throughout the year. The PTC also provides summer day camp opportunities.
Event information is typically read at pack meetings and is sent out by email. Please make sure we have your current email address on file.
Contacts
