FAQ

To help youth build character, confidence, citizenship, and life skills through hands-on activities, service, and outdoor adventures while having fun.

A pack is the whole Cub Scout group (all grades/levels together). Packs hold larger events like pack meetings, campouts, and service projects.

A den is a smaller group of Scouts in the same grade level who meet to do adventures/activities together (e.g., Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos/AOL).

Here’s the standard Cub Scouts den ↔ grade-level mapping (aka ranks):

• Kindergarten ↔ Lion den

• 1st grade ↔ Tiger den

• 2nd grade ↔ Wolf den

• 3rd grade ↔ Bear den

• 4th grade ↔ Webelos den

• 5th grade ↔ Arrow of Light (AOL) den

See the Cub Advancement Chart for an illustration of the different ranks

Friendly, family-centered, and practical: fun activities, clear communication, and a welcoming culture. We try to balance "organized enough to run well" with "relaxed enough to be enjoyable." We would like to build a 'Los Angeles' based pack with all the diversity and openmindedness our community has to offer. 

Examples include:

• Outdoor fun (hikes, nature walks, simple camping, campfires)

• Skills and hands-on projects (first aid basics, knots, simple tools, building/creating)

• Service projects (community cleanups, helping local orgs)

• Games, STEM-style activities, and "learn by doing" adventures

• Pack traditions (pinewood derby and other things you'll learn about!)

See the Cub Advancement Chart for examples of the "adventures" (aka activities) required for the different ranks.

Coed. Families of all genders and types are welcome. 

Cub Scouts is grade/age-based, so younger siblings can typically join when they reach the eligible grade/age for Cub Scouts.

Until then, younger siblings are welcome at certain *family* events (pack picnics, some outings), depending on the activity and safety rules.

Your child will not need to start from the beginning. New Scouts typically start at their current grade level (their current rank) and work on that year’s adventures. They don’t have to “make up” prior ranks.

It’s never too late to join. Contact us!

If you do join later in the year, your Scout will still have a great experience: they’ll jump into meetings and activities right away, and leaders can help prioritize the most important/fun adventures so the year still feels complete.

Most families can expect:

• 1 den meeting per week or every other week depending on Den leadership (about 60-75 minutes)

• 1 pack activity/meeting per month (3rd Wednesdays)

• Optional weekend activities once per month (hikes, campouts, service)

Time commitment can scale up or down depending on your family’s availability

There’s no perfect-attendance expectation. We ask families to:

• Communicate if you’ll miss meetings.

• Participate often enough to keep your Scout connected and progressing.

• Keep membership/registration current.

Some awards require completing specific adventures; leaders can help you plan around busy seasons.

See the Cub Advancement Chart for a description of "adventure" requirements for the different ranks.

Typical cost categories include:

• Annual registration/membership fee ($145 per scout and $77 per adult leader)

• Uniform pieces (often bought once, then reused as your Scout grows) and handbooks

• Pack dues (currently estimated to be $100 per year; covers patches, awards, supplies)

• Optional activity fees (camping, special events)

Depending on how many events you attend and what gear you already have, a reasonable ballpark for an active Scout is about $400–$600 per year.

A Cub Scout uniform helps create a sense of team, identity, and shared purpose. Specifically, it helps scouts:

• Feel like they belong to their den and pack.

• Build pride and confidence in being a scout.

• Show their achievements through patches, ranks, and awards.

• Create equality, allowing everyone to come together as a scout regardless of what they normally wear.

• Represent scouting at meetings, ceremonies, community events, and outings.

Since Pack 134 is new and we're easing everyone into the many scouting traditions, we do not require a "full uniform" to start.

We've put together this handy table to make our requirements easier to understand.

• Required

  1. Shirt (with patches)

  2. Belt

  3. Rank-specific neckerchief

  4. Rank-specific neckerchief slide

• Optional

  1. Rank-specific cap

  2. Bottoms

  3. Socks

See the Cub Advancement Chart for illustrations of the different uniforms.

You can also visit the Scout Shop online to see current prices.

Adults serving in leadership roles are highly encouraged to wear a uniform. For other parents and adults, uniforms are completely optional, but if you’d like to wear one and join in, we’d love that!

• Tan Scouts BSA-style shirt

• Bottoms

• Belt

• Neckerchief

• Neckerchief slide

You can view uniforms for leaders on the Scout Shop online. 

Yes, and we never want finances to be the reason a family decides not to join Scouting. A Scout is thrifty, after all, and there are often creative ways we can make it work. There are a number of opportunities to help with registration fees and, in some cases, uniform or activity costs. If cost is a concern, please reach out privately and we’ll work with you.

Usually, yes, but we try to keep fundraising reasonable and purposeful. Established packs often have reserves built up over time; as a new pack, fundraising will help us build that foundation, keep costs down, and give Scouts opportunities to learn teamwork, confidence, and responsibility. Participation is encouraged, but we’ll keep it flexible for different family schedules.

Packs can be small and still be fun. A smaller pack often feels more close-knit; a larger pack can offer more event energy and more volunteers to share the load. We’re happy to grow steadily and sustainably.

There’s flexibility. If a den is very small, we can still make it work by:

• Pairing up activities with another den for some meetings

• Running den meetings with parent support

• Having the Scout participate in pack-wide events while the den grows

The goal is to keep the experience positive and age-appropriate, even as we build.

Cub Scouts is designed to be family-friendly, and adult support matters. Options range from “help occasionally” to “lead a den.” We encourage people to be involved.

We strongly encourage parents to think of Cub Scouts as less of an activity for kids and more of an activity for families.

Note: All adult volunteers who work directly with youth complete required training and background checks per Scouting America policies. This is to protect both youth and adults and create a culture of responsibility.

Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts are different organizations with different programs and traditions. Cub Scouts (Scouting America) is typically more outdoors- and family-activity oriented and is organized around dens/packs, with a progression toward Scouts BSA. Girl Scouts is organized around troops and has its own badge/award system and programming. Both focus on leadership, character, and community.

How might a girl choose between the two?

• Choose Cub Scouts if they’re excited about outdoor activities and camping, a rank progression toward Scouts BSA, and a pack/den structure with frequent family participation.

• Choose Girl Scouts if they’re most excited about a troop-led experience with badges/awards, community + leadership projects, and the specific traditions/programming of Girl Scouts.

• Many families also decide based on the local unit: meeting time/location, leader vibe, and whether the group feels welcoming and well-run. Visiting a meeting of each is often the clearest way to decide.

Cub Scouts runs through elementary school. Many Scouts continue into Scouts BSA (middle school and high school ages), where they can take on bigger outdoor challenges, explore advanced skills, and pursue the rank of Eagle Scout.