Welcome

Hello, and welcome to Cub Scout Pack 1628! Please refer to this page as a handy reference for future information needs regarding Pack policy and uniform information.

To begin with, we are Pack 1628 in New Market, Maryland, which is in the Francis Scott Key District belonging to the National Capital Area Council. The Pack is made up of Dens, which is a group of boys usually in the same grade. Collectively, we are Cub Scouts, and are members of the National organization, the Boy Scouts of America.

All BSA units have a Chartering Organization which acts as sponsor, and ours is the New Market United Methodist Church.

The Pack is run by registered BSA Adult Leaders who make up the Pack Committee, The Committee includes a Committee Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership chair, Advancement (Awards) Chair, Cubmaster, Assistant Cubmaster, Event coordinators, and Den Leaders. All parents of a Cub Scout in Pack 1628 are welcomed and encouraged to become a Committee Member.  Scouting is a family organization and we encourage parents to be actively involved.

Den meetings are held at least 2 times per month during the school year as scheduled by the den leader.  Pack meetings are typically held one Monday per month at New Market Elementary School.


Den Meetings

Most of Cub Scouting happens in the den. Please remember that your son’s Den Leader is a volunteer, putting forth his or her time and effort to help your boy ‘do his best’ to complete "adventures", participate in the fun, and gain all the positive values that the Cub Scout program offers.

You can assist them in the following ways:

  • Please have your son to den meetings on time. Your den leaders have many activities planned, and it is important to have the whole group together to begin the evening’s fun and projects.
  • Ask your den leader if they could use an extra pair of hands at meetings. Not only will your help be appreciated, but also you can see what your son is working on. Tiger Cubs must have an Adult Partner with them at all meetings, trips, and events. Enjoy the time together!
  • Please make sure your son has his handbook and anything else he needs for the meeting.
  • Be an active parent. Everybody has some special abilities and ‘know how’ that can be a great help in matters relating to Cub Scouts. In addition to the boys learning new skills from you, I promise that you will have a good time helping them.

Pack Meetings

Once a month, all the dens meet together for a pack meeting. The monthly Pack meeting is where awards are presented to the scouts. This is an important part of the program, as it allows the boys to receive recognition in front of the group as a whole, inspires the younger Scouts to strive towards achieving future ranks, and brings everybody together for the big night!

At Pack meetings, each Den has a chance to display that special craft they made, perform a song or skit they learned, or tell about an interesting place they visited. In addition, there might be an advancement ceremony or other event planned for the evening.

Please observe the following guidelines in regards to the Pack meetings:

  • Please arrive to Pack meetings on time. If your son is helping out as a member of a flag ceremony, or assisting with other Pack meeting activities, he should arrive early to prepare. Others should arrive on time to be seated before opening.
  • Please accompany your son to his Pack meeting. Pack meetings are a family event – brothers, sisters, grandparents, but most of all, YOU! We need you there to help keep order at the meeting, but also because in Scouting some awards are presented to the parent who then presents it to the Scout. Cub Scouts is a family program.
  • Scouts should wear their class A uniform to all Pack meetings. This includes the uniform shirt, hat, neckerchief and belt. Class A – Shirts tucked in – looking sharp!

Our Pack meetings are typically held one Monday per month during the school year at New Market Elementary School, unless otherwise announced.

Most of all, we hope to make Pack meetings entertaining, enriching, and FUN!!!


Fees for New Scouts

Total pack dues and fees to join the pack your first year is $85 for returning scouts, and $95 for new scouts.

This amount includes:

  • Pack Dues – dues to pay for all pack activities, such as rank awards, Pinewood Derby, Blue & Gold, and family camping. A portion of the pack dues goes to the den leaders to pay for den activities.
  • BSA Registration – yearly registration fee for registration in Boy Scouts of America and BSA Insurance. All Scouts must pay a yearly BSA registration fee, which covers the calendar year of January to December. New scouts joining in September also pay partial year BSA registration.
  • Boys Life magazine
  • Class B T-shirt (for new scouts)

If you have any questions about these fees or our Pack’s finances, please do not hesitate to ask. If the fees are a hardship for your family, please contact us. We want to be sure that every boy has the opportunity to enjoy Scouting.


Uniform Requirements

Here are the necessary items. The patches are used throughout Cub Scouts.  Our pack has a uniform exchange box where you may be able to find some gently used pieces to lower the cost of the uniform. Also, gently used uniform pieces can be found on Frederick Freecycle and eBay.

Tigers, Wolves, and Bears wear the blue Cub Scout short-sleeved shirt. The blue uniform shirt is used from 1st through 3rd grade, so consider buying a shirt that is a little large to allow room to grow.

Webelos can wear the tan scout shirt.  This shirt can be worn into Boy Scouts, so consider buying with room to grow.  Webelos also need the “Colors” and the blue shoulder loops.

All Scouts need:

Optional Items:

  • Neckerchief Slide for his rank (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelo).  Boys may alternately choose to wear one he makes in his den.
  • Belt

You can buy uniforms at:

http://www.scoutstuff.org/

The National Capital Area Scout Shop
9190 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD
301-564-1091

Any other Scout shop – Hagerstown, Westminister, Hanover, or Baltimore