FAQs

First and foremost, it’s about FUN. And we do a lot of fun stuff, like: family camping, fishing derby, pinewood derby, model rocket launches, Scouting for Food, summer camp, bike rides, nature hikes, games, skits, songs, and more.

But it’s Fun with a Purpose. And to that end, Scouting has these primary goals: to develop character, citizenship, and leadership, and to promote physical and mental health. It’s not an academic program; but it’s a good supplement to children’s academic lives.

We invite GIRLS & BOYS, K-5, to join Cub Scouts. Most of our Scouts attend South

Windsor’s Philip R Smith or Orchard Hill, and therefore are in Scouting with kids they know from school, helping them to foster great friendships. However, several of our scouts attend Eli Terry, Pleasant Valley, or other schools; and the only real geographical requirement is that you live close enough to attend regular Pack and Den meetings.

Cub Scouting isn’t a spectator sport! We invite (and encourage) parents to participate in all of our activities with their children. Many parents find it very rewarding to work on a project alongside their scout. It’s amazing to watch their progress as they develop new skills. And many parents enjoy the quality (screen-free) time with their child.

During the school year, scouts usually attend 3-4 activities per month. That’s comprised of:

• 1-2 grade-specific meetings per month; typically on a Tues or Wed, 6-7 p.m.

• 1 meeting per month for all grades combined (K-5); typically the 3rd Wednesday, 6-7 p.m.

• and 1 additional activity, usually on a weekend (like a hike or a campout, etc)

During the summer, vacation plans make meeting schedules a bit trickier. So we dial back the number of meetings and focus on 1-2 bigger (optional) activities per month, which are usually on a Saturday.

Our Pack—like all Cub Scout Packs—is locally-run by parent-volunteers. Some of them serve in defined roles as “Adult Leaders” and receive formal training on the Cub Scout program. Many others simply volunteer to help with a task, here or there, to make our activities special for the scouts.

More broadly, Pack 389 is chartered by the PRS PTO; they’re our sponsoring organization. And we are affiliated with the Connecticut Rivers Council of Scouting America, which is the organization that oversees all Cub Scouting in Connecticut.

Youth protection is central in everything that we do in Cub Scouting. Here are a handful of steps that we take to ensure that Cub Scouts are safe at all times:

• All of our Adult Leaders are trained in Youth Protection

• Every Adult Leader must pass a criminal background check

• There are a minimum of 2 Adult Leaders at every one of our activities

• Parents attend all of our Cub Scout activities