Interested in Joining Pack 148? Here is what you need to know!
Who can be a cub scout?
Any child between Senior Kindergarten (SK) and 5th grade can join. You don't have to start as a kindergartener, you can first join at any of these grades. Your child doesn't have to attend Wilson or WSTEM. We have had several home school or scouts from different schools.
How are cub scouts organized?
Cub Scouts are organized by grade in what is called a “Den” that is led by a minimum of two parents that serve as Den Leaders. To lighten the load, many Dens choose to have three or more Den Leaders. Dens get together for meetings and field trips once or twice a month at a time and location determined by the Den Leaders.
What are the Dens named?
- Senior Kindergarten - Lion
- 1st grade – Tiger
- 2nd grade – Wolf
- 3rd grade – Bear
- 4th grade – Webelo I
- 5th grade – Arrow of Light
Do all the cub scouts meet as an entire Pack?
Yes, the Pack meets once a month in the evening on the 3rd Thursday of the month (typically). Many meetings are held in the Wilson/WSTEM cafeteria. Pack meetings are led by the Cubmaster.
What kind of activities do Pack 148 Cub Scouts participate in?
Pack 148 is a very active Pack. The cub scouts have the opportunity to do a wide variety of activities. In the past we have enjoyed the following activities (This is just a partial list):
- Pinewood Derby
- Egg Drop Competition
- Pack Bonfire
- Blue & Gold Dinner (Celebration of 5th grades moving on to Scouts)
- Cave Camping
- Sporting Events (Brewers, Bucks, Admirals, or Wave games)
- Tubing, skiing or snowboarding
- Sledding
- Scouting for Food
- Scouting the Zoo
- Discovery World DesignIt Lab
- Ultimate Frisbee Clinic
- Fire Station Field Trip
- Police Station Field Trip
- Bicycle Shop Field Trip
- Recycling Center Field Trip
- Bowling
- Pettit Ice Skating
- Honey Creek Cleanup
- Hiking
- Spring and Fall Wilson/WSTEM outdoor cleanup
- Fishing Derby
- and more!
How does the Pack leadership communicate with Cub Scout families?
The Pack utilizes email for nearly all communications through an internet-based scouting website “TroopTrack.com”. New parents will be sent an invite to the website where they can set their username and password. Parents have access to the website to record achievements and electives completed at home. The website also features calendar listing activities, events, Pack meetings, etc. complete with times, locations, and activity descriptions. Pack leadership sets the calendar up so that it will send out newsletters to everyone in the Pack. Members will register and pay for Pack 148 events using this website (if there is a cost for the event).
Are Cub Scouts required to attend all activities, meetings, and events?
Pack 148 realizes that your scout may be involved in other extracurricular activities that may occasionally conflict with Cub Scout events. We encourage our Cub Scouts to explore other interests but ask that you try to attend as many Pack and Den meetings as possible. Inevitably there will be conflicts and the Pack Leadership understands that you will need to make hard decisions on what activity to attend. It is ok to not choose the scouting activity and we will absolutely not look down on you. The activities and events outside of Pack and Den meetings are all optional.
How much does it cost to be a cub scout?
The annual membership fee is $97 (+$3 processing fee) which covers 12 months of membership. This means all new scouts will pay a a full years fee if you join in the fall and will not need to pay again until next fall.
The uniform and handbook cost about $60 combined. The belt, which is handy to hold belt loop awards, is $15.
Optional: For only $15 for the year, Cub Scouts may subscribe to Scout Life magazine. This magazine is geared towards kids aged 6 to 12 years old and content is geared towards the age of your scout (i.e. Kindergartners receive a different magazine that 5th graders), that covers many subjects that get them excited to read. Topics include outdoor activities, crafts, hobbies, jokes, and much more.
Most events and items for the scouts are paid for by our pack’s yearly fundraiser (popcorn), that we do in the fall. Family is invited to participate in many of the events, but they must pay for these events.
How are activities paid for?
The Pack completes one fundraiser per year in the fall in which we sell popcorn. It includes selling popcorn to family, friends, and neighbors. During normal times, our Popcorn Kernel organizes “Show and Sells” at various grocery stores in our community to supplement our fundraising. The Popcorn sale raises enough funds to pay the costs for Cub Scouts to participate in the various fun activities listed above. The Pack also covers the cost of the Pack leadership to participate in activities as a thank you for their time and effort. A nice perk to encourage parents to take leadership positions in the Pack.
When signing up for events that cost money, we will collect payment for everyone attending. After your scout attends the event, the pack will reimburse you.
What do I need to purchase to begin Cub Scouts?
Lions need to purchase a Lion T-shirt and the Lion handbook.
All other dens will need to purchase a blue Cub Scout shirt, badges (numbers 148, Milwaukee Council badge, scout seal), belt for belt loop awards, and a scout handbook for the den level you are in.
These items can be purchased at the Scout Store located at 330 South 84th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53214. ***NOTE*** DO NOT PURCHASE A NECKERCHIEF AND SLIDE BECAUSE THE PACK WILL PURCHASE AND PRESENT THEM TO THE SCOUTS AT THE PACK BONFIRE. They will try to sell you pants and a hat. These items are optional.
How do I sign up my child for Cub Scouts?
You can click on this registration link. There is a meeting for new Cub Scouts families. This meeting is typically the second Thursday in September (See the Pack Meeting Schedule for actual date and time.) We recorded this meeting in 2020, and you can watch that video on YouTube.
How do I become a Den Leader and what does it involve?
Cub Scouts does not happen without parent leaders. We need you! All you need to do is complete an Adult Application and the Pack will reimburse you the registration fee. Boys Scouts of America also requires that all leaders complete “Youth Protection Training” online. It takes about 1.5 hrs to complete. There are many online guides to assist you with planning and holding den meetings. Leaders meet once a month on the evening of the first Tuesday of the month to share ideas and plan the upcoming pack events. There are also optional Roundtable meetings at the District headquarters to get additional ideas.