PACK 850

The “Pack”: all the kids in all the grades, led by the Pack Committee (parents) and the Cubmaster 

• We typically meet as a large group of all grades on the third Tuesday of the month at Brookside Elementary from 6:30-8pm  

• The Pack also usually has some other activity each month, often on a weekend (things like service projects, family campout, pinewood derby, etc.) 

• The Pack also coordinates a visit to summer camp and winter camp (those are overnight camps with a parent, and an added cost) 

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The “Den”: grade-based groups, led by a Den Leader, usually 3-12 kids 

• The Dens usually meet once per month for a den meeting, and then average about one other activity per month. The details are set by each den, so it varies. 

All meetings and activities are essentially optional, families can pick and choose or be flexible with schedules…but we encourage engagement! 

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Sign Up: The best way for new Scouts to sign up is online, through the www.BeAScout.org – use this 

Pack 850 link, or search for a Cub Scout Pack in your zip code and find Pack 850. Returning Scouts do not need to sign up again. 

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Dues: Total $150 per calendar year. National BSA charges about $100/year and our Pack charges about $50 to cover our local costs.  National BSA will prorate the dues for new Scouts when you sign up online, and will include a $25 new member fee. Later in the fall the Pack will collect annual dues for 2023 from all scouts (new and returning). The dues cover supplies, awards, neckerchiefs and slides, workbooks for the Lions (K) and handbooks for the Webelos (4 and 5), but does not include day/overnight camps or uniform shirt. 

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Scholarships: Available upon request for dues and camps, funded by our generous chartering organization (Rotary) and the local Friends of Scouting fund. 

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Uniforms: Lions will receive a t-shirt; Scouts in grades 1-3 will need to purchase a uniform shirt (the blue one) and usually a belt; Scouts in grades 4 and 5 can use the blue shirt, or can move on to the tan shirt that the older scouts use (see the online store or visit the shop in Everett or South Seattle). Other uniform pieces are optional in our Pack.

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Curriculum and advancement: Each Den has a set of content (activities and electives) organized by 

National BSA into a handbook. Most of that content is available online, and we track it via an online app (Scoutbook).  When scouts complete an activity, they will earn an award or patch. Kids love awards! At the end of the year, scouts who have completed the required activities earn the Rank Patch to add to their uniform. Scouts automatically advance to the next den each year – the dens are grade based. (E.g. Every second grader is a Wolf, regardless of whether they earned the Tiger badge.) 

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More Info: The National BSA website has lots of good info on how Cub Scouts is set up and why, including the aims and methods of scouting, parent resources, FAQs, and other details.  

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Religious Content: Pack 850 generally leaves this to families to do at home. Cub Scouts has aspects that are encouraging and inclusive of any religious practice, but does not focus on any one practice.  

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Boys & Girls: Pack 850 is a “Family Pack” and we are piloting the “Family Den” program – that means that we are co-ed at all levels.  If a den gets large, the Den Leader (in conjunction with the parents) may choose to divide into separate dens (either by gender, or otherwise) as it makes sense for that den. A note on the name: The main organization is still called “Boy Scouts of America” (or “BSA”), but all programs are now co-ed (Venturing, Exploring and Sea Scouts have been co-ed for decades).  

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Fundraising:  We have a fall Popcorn sale (info coming soon, including in-person sales in Sept/Oct) to raise money for the Pack, and a springtime drive to support “Friends of Scouting”. Please note: Cash donations to the Pack can be TRIPLE matched by a parent’s employer. 

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Leadership: We are a parent-led organization, so we need parents to help run the group and activities.   The Pack Committee (parent group) meets on the first Tuesday of the month, usually at LFP Town Center, but sometimes by Zoom… Our organization is sponsored by the Rotary of NE Seattle. Note, we often use the word “parent” but that is meant to cover any adult relationship with the scout: guardians, grandparents, etc. 

 

Pack Leadership: All Volunteer 

• Organized and “chartered” through the Rotary Club of Northeast Seattle (Lake City area), our Chartering Organization Representative is Dale Galvin. 

• Pack program is led by the Cubmaster: Tyler Dittman 

• The Pack is run by the Committee, which is interested parents/guardians who volunteer. The Committee Chair position is currently open.  The Committee is: the Chair, Cubmaster, Den Leaders, Treasurer and as other interested parents.  

• We have focused sub-committees to organize things like the Pinewood Derby, Family Camping trips, Summer/Winter camp, conservation projects, etc. 

• Dens are led by Den Leaders, who is typically a parent with a child in that den. You will get their contact info when you join. Dens also need Assistant Den Leaders! 

• All volunteers receive Youth Protection Training annually and are subject to background checks. 

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Adults – we need you too: Cub Scouts is a fun activity for parents and kids to do together. Please think of how you would like to be involved to make scouting rewarding for both you and your scout! There are many ways to participate, from helping at a meeting to being a Den Leader or on the Pack Committee. 

Scouts offers a lot of training and guidance for adults too!