Join Pack 3097

Fun with a Purpose: 
Learning with Incentives

Cub Scouting means "doing." You will have lots to do as a Cub Scout in Pack 3097—crafts, games, sports, songs, stories, puzzles, hiking, camping and much more! A lot of the fun happens right in the den and pack.

Everything boys do in Cub Scouting has a purpose. Apart from the fun and excitement, the aim of Cub Scouting is to help boys grow into good citizens who are strong in character and personally fit. This is why we say that Cub Scouting is fun with a purpose.

The den, a group of Cub Scouts in your age and grade level, usually meets once  to twice a month.  This includes den meetings and field trips (hiking, "go see its", etc). 

The Pack, all of the Cub Scouts from first to fifth grade, meets once a month from September to May in the school year and during the summer at special activities.  Pack 3097 generally meets on Thursdays at Blue Valley Middle Commons.  The Pack meeting is where we acknowledge the accomplishments of our scouts from all the different dens.  We will have activities (and often guest speakers) lined up for all the pack meetings.  At both the den meetings and the pack meetings, Cub Scouts do different things for fun and learning.

While you're having fun, you'll also be earning badges and awards. You'll work on projects with your parents or other adults in your family, and all of you will feel good about the things you accomplish.

Cub Scouts in Pack 3097 have a lot to choose from. Traditional annual events include Pack Camping, the Pinewood Derby and the Blue and Gold banquet in February, and our bridging event in May.  And this is just a partial list.  We also do our summer Day Camp to keep scouting going all year long.  The fun just never stops.  

We practice citizenship by taking part in community events, marching in parades, volunteering with community projects, conservation projects, and helping out when asked or when a special need arises. Being chartered by the the Blue River Elementary PTO also means that we help them out when ever the need arises.  Bottom line, we teach the scouts what it means to support and give back to our local community.

Cub Scouts do all sorts of exciting stuff! Whatever it is that you enjoy, you'll probably have a chance to do it in Cub Scouting.

Do you want to join our Pack?

Each year when school starts, we provide information about how to join Pack 3097 at the BRE back to school night, community posters and yard signs around the area.  The pack is open to all that wish to join.  We then have a follow up Join Scouting Night a few weeks later.  

Boys can join any time during the year, not just in the fall or spring. You can also contact our pack representative using the "Contact our Pack" link at the top of the page, or click here.

But we do have one requirement for joining the pack....you have to want to have FUN!!!!!  Sound like you??  We hope so.

Parent involvement is key!

Parental involvement is critical to the experience of your son in Scouts. When a new scout joins our pack, the parent or guardian also joins, and guides the scout as his "Akela" or wise leader through his journey.

In Pack 3097 we require that at least one parent register with the Cub Scouts as an adult leader, and participates/leads at least one activity during the year. As they say, "many hands make light work"; when each parent contributes to the pack, we can provide a solid program for the boys without overburdening a small group of parents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions about our pack. 

What Does It Cost to Join? 
The annual Pack dues are $101. This is made up of $33 for the National Registration fee for both the scout and parent (each), and $35 for the Pack dues. Some of the items covered by the pack fees are Pinewood Derby cars and facility rental, Blue and Gold Banquet, awards, patches and more.  In addition, we encourage our scouts to order Boy's Life magazine as well which is $12 for the year. There are some great articles in this magazine.    

For families joining mid-year, the annual dues are pro-rated.

It is important to us that Pack fees and expenses not be a barrier for a boy to participate in Cub Scouts with our pack. If you are concerned about the cost of scouting, please contact us at the "Contact Our Pack" link above (or click here).

What about fundraising?
Cub Scouts participate in a popcorn sale fundraising event in September-October.  Local scouting keeps 70% of all popcorn sales.  35% goes to the council and our pack keeps the other 35%. We are always open to more ideas for fundraising! 

What are the Uniform Requirements?

We require our Cub Scouts to wear the official uniform to Pack meetings, when selling popcorn and and when completing non-dirty community services, such as walking in parades, flag raisings, Scouting for Food, and others. The official uniform is the following:

• Tiger Cubs, Wolf Cubs, and Bear Cubs must wear the official uniform blue shirt, neckerchief and slide.

• Webelos have the option to wear the khaki uniform shirt as well as the normal blue uniform shirt. The Webelos neckerchief and slide are worn with either uniform.

• Jeans are fine to wear with the Class-A uniform, but a belt must be purchased as the scout will be earning 'belt loops' as they progress through the year.

• Heart of America Council Shoulder Patch, Pack 3097 Numerals, WOSM Patch (purple circle), Den Numeral 

What other costs are there if I join the Pack? 
There may be some events during the year that require the scout to pay an event fee.  This depends on the activities planned for the pack and fund raiser results.  For instance, the pack typically pays for the entire Pinewood Derby and does not require the scout to pay any fees.  

What is a Pack? 
A pack is a group of Cub Scouts, adult leaders and parents who belong to the same Cub Scout unit (e.g., Pack 3097, Soaring EagleDistrict, Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America). A pack generally draws its membership primarily from an elementary school, church or community that is associated with the pack's Chartered Organization and Community. We are associated with Blue River Elementary.  Each pack is made up of one or more dens  Tiger Cub (grade 1), Wolf (grade 2), Bear (grade 3), Webelos I (grade 4) and Webelos II (grade 5).

What is a Chartered Organization? 
A Chartered Organization is the sponsoring organization for a Cub Scout pack, usually a church, PTO, homeowners' association or other community group. The primary responsibilities of the Chartered Organization are to select the leadership of the pack and provide a meeting place. Each year, the pack must renew its Charter with its local council. The Chartered Organization must approve the rechartering application in order for the Charter to be renewed. Pack 3097 is chartered to the Blue River Elementary PTO.

What is a Den? 
A den is a small group of boys (ideally 6-9) of the same grade level. Each den meets on a monthly basis to work on achievements and other activities. The den is led by adult Den Leaders and Assistant Den Leaders, who are responsible for planning and conducting each den meeting.

Where are Pack Meetings Held? 
Pack meetings are generally held monthly on a Thursday from 7 p.m. from September through May. Pack 3097 meets at Blue Valley Middle Commons (right next to the Elementary School) and when the weather allows, we meet at an outdoor facility. The Pack Calendar provides exact dates, places and times of all pack meetings. You must be a registered member to view this calendar, which is housed within Scoutlander.

Who Runs the Pack? 
The pack is run entirely by unpaid volunteers. We are always looking for people who would like to help out, and have large and small jobs for every family. Ideally, each family would have a job, which is what we are working towards in Pack 3097.

• The Pack Leadership, which consists of the Committee Chairman, Cubmaster, Treasurer, and Den Leaders, meet monthly to develop budgets, approves expenses, arranges for facilities and conduct overall planning.

• The Den Leaders and Assistant Den Leaders are most directly involved with the Cub Scouts. Dens generally meet monthly.

Where Can I Get More Information? 
Contact our Cubmaster or Committee Chairman for more information. You can also email a representative from the pack by clicking the "Contact Our Pack" link at the top of the page (or click here).