Parents are extremely important in Cub Scouts. The most important help that you, as a parent, can give your Scout is to work with him/her on their Cub Scouting activities. The handbook is full of age-appropriate activities that you will enjoy doing together at home. When your Scout completes an activity or project, it is your responsibility to sign the book to verify that he/she has done his/her best. And then it is all-important for you to attend the monthly pack meeting with him, so that you can celebrate his achievement. Your role as a parent is the secret to a successful Cub Scouting program!
Parents are not only important to the scout, but to the Pack. The den and the Pack rely on parent participation to run a successful program. Cub Scouting operates through volunteer leadership. Parent volunteers provide all of the leadership, plan and conduct activities, and help the leaders with meetings and activities. Accordingly, in order for your scout to participate in the pack, all parents must donate their time to a pack leadership position or to the planning and execution of a specific event.
In our current culture there are many demands on families that cause them to have to carefully choose how they are spending their time and resources. Those demands include, but are not limited to: sports and other extracurricular activities; work; academics; budgetary; and social interests. In order to attract and retain Cub Scouts, we must provide something of value to them.
Volunteer leaders are an example of Scouting’s principle of service to others. By volunteering in Scouting, you are also giving your scout the gift of your time. What could be more valuable? You will have an opportunity to be a positive influence in their lives.