Cub, Boy Scouts educates youth on life

The American Legion’s support for Boy Scouts began at the Legion’s first national convention in 1919. However, Cub Scouts have been having a lot of fun since 1910, and have created many friendships that have lasted for years.

Cub Scouting is for boys in the first through fifth grades, or seven to 10 years of age. As a Cub Scout, he will be part of his own Cub Scout pack. The pack is divided into smaller groups called dens. Each den has about six to eight boys and All of the Cub Scouts in the den are in the same grade and may even go to the same school. Dens meet weekly and a pack meeting is held for all Cub Scouts and their families once a month. Den meetings are intended to be an activity for the individual boys to give them information on how they can earn rewards for doing fun things in Cub Scouts. Each time they complete an accomplishment or learn a new skill, they will be rewarded. Sometimes the reward is a bead or a patch, or it could be a smile on their parent’s face that shows their pride in seeing how much their son has grown and how much he has learned.

Cub Scouts can learn to tie knots, set up a tent, shoot a bow and arrow, and even learn how to cook a meal on a campfire. Also, racing in a Cub Scout pine wood car derby is great fun. They get to design their racing vehicle, work with a parent to build it, and see it perform on race day. Doing projects together is one way that Cub Scouts keep their promise "to help other people." This comes from the Scout Promise "I promise to do my best, to do my duty to God and my Country, to help other people, and to obey the law of the pack."

Boy Scouts is available to boys who are at least 10 years old, or have completed the fifth grade, or those boys who are 11, but not yet 18 years old. The program helps the Boy Scouts achieve the objective of developing character, citizenship and personal fitness. Joining Boy Scouts can also give young men an understanding of how the natural world functions, and that they can have fun while enjoying outdoor experiences. It also helps to increase their self-confidence and give them the opportunities for learning more about nature while minimizing damage to the land.

One thing a Boy Scout will learn is the Scout Oath, "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."

Another phrase Boy Scouts will learn that will help mold their character is the Scout Law, "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent."

Today, Legion posts sponsor more than 2,500 scouting units across the country. The Legion also annually honors the Eagle Scout of the Year, the highest rank attainable in the program, at national convention. The winner of the competition receives a $10,000 scholarship and three runners-up are each awarded $2,500 scholarships. Since the award was first given in 1912, the rank of Eagle Scout has been earned by more than two million young men. The title of Eagle Scout is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle." Being a Scout will help you "Be Prepared for Life!"

Greg Price

Americanism