What Cub Scouts is About
Cub Scouts is an active program for children (both boys and girls) in kindergarten through fifth grade and their families that encourages learning, friendship—and most of all—getting out and having fun! Your child will join with others in the same grade in a “den” led by the parents and have a Handbook of adventures for their grade level. All of the Cub Scouts and families in the dens make up the “pack”, also led by parents. With an emphasis on outdoor events, small gatherings, and activities with family, Cub Scouts is a great way to let your kids safely socialize, learn, and have fun.
This Launch Kit Will Begin Your Journey to Fun, Family, and Cub Scout Adventures!
The Atlanta Area Council welcomes you and your family to Cub Scouts! After registration, every new Cub Scout who joins between August 1st and October 31st will receive a launch kit (while supplies last) via mail filled with OVER $40 of items to welcome them to a year of adventures and fun. Packed with a Cub Scout’s six essentials for a Scouting activity, including a first aid kit, water bottle, flashlight, trail food, sun protection, a whistle, all stowable within a Cub Scout daypack that is also included in the kit. Add a favorite trail snack, and a hat for sun protection, your Cub Scout is “prepared” for their first hike with their den or pack!
*Free Launch Kits are available to all new Cub Scouts who register between August 1st and October 31st, or until supplies last.
Flexible Experiences The Fit Your Family
From big overnight pack trips to small local den adventures, camping in a tent to building a pinewood derby car, trying new things and playing sports to learning STEM, there’s truly something for everyone to do and enjoy in Cub Scouts. Bring the whole family to participate in activities with you!
- Parents work together to establish the den schedule and program, doing both Cub Scout Advancement and fun activities.
- You can also use those resources at home with Scouting On Demand.
- Cub Scouts works around sports schedules and you participate as your time allows.
Cub Scouting Works!
Cub Scouts perform better in school, learn the value of volunteering in their community and build confidence to take on positions of leadership. Cub Scout families can serve the community through service projects done by the family, the den and/or the pack like the ones found through AtlantaBSA.org/ServiceProjects.
Family Activities and Adventures Awaits
When you join Cub Scouts there’s always something to do and learn for the whole family:
- Build and race Pinewood Derby cars
- Hike to waterfalls
- Try STEM activities
- Explore nature and learn outdoor skills
- Camp under the stars
- Learn life saving skills
In addition to national registration fees, your pack will address costs for awards, uniforms, events and other items. Talk with your pack leadership if any aspect of Scouting is beyond your financial means.
Build Character and Leadership Skills
Kids love Cub Scouts because it’s fun. But Scouting teaches values-based leadership and character strengths, too. It builds new confidence and social skills. It teaches the value of service and citizenship. In Cub Scouts, youth learn what it means to be a Scout today—and a leader for tomorrow, through our Scout Law. A Scout is:Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
Every New Cub Scout Gets a Free Handbook!
Every Cub Scout who registers to join in 2023 will receive a FREE handbook for their age determined rank. This handbook is a Scout's guide to their program and where they can find everything they need to complete requirements.
Scouting Safely
The health and safety of our Scouts is first and foremost. We provide volunteer parent leaders the tools for you to present safe social interaction and fun learning opportunities in small grade-specific groups right in your neighborhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are Two Types of Scouting Fees Due from Youth:
- BSA National Registration Fee (“BSA Fee”)
- Unit Local Program Fees (“Unit Fee”)
Most Units collect a “Combined Fee” in the fall – the Unit Fee plus the BSA Fee for “next year”
2023 Membership Fees
Different Payment Plans for New Youth and Returning Youth
- New Youth on or after 8/1/23 Pay in Two Parts:
- A one-time $25 joining fee
- BSA Fee ($80) for 12 months to BSA (online app) or AAC (paper app) (NEW!)
- Unit Fee separately on Unit Timetable
- Returning Youth (on Roster as of 7/31/23) pay a Combined Fee of Unit Fee plus BSA Fee for 2024 (No Change from Prior Years)
Question: What About Fundraising? We used Popcorn to Pay All or Most of our BSA Fees for the next year!
Answer: In 2023, while Unit Fundraising can still be applied to cover Unit Fees for all, Unit Fundraising can’t be directly applied to cover BSA Fees for “next year” for New Youth.
- If Unit Fundraising is high enough to cover all or part of BSA Fees, Units would need to rebate New Youth families directly.
Next Year (2024):
All Youth pay BSA Fee (@TBD) and Unit Fee separately
- All New Youth signing up any time Pay in Two Parts (same as 2023):
- BSA Fee for 12 months to BSA (online app) or AAC (paper app)
- Unit Fee separately on Unit Timetable
- All Returning Youth from 2023 now Pay in Two Parts (NEW!):
- BSA Fee for 12 months (calendar year), direct to BSA after email invoice
- Unit Fee separately on Unit Timetable
Concerns: Some families will be challenged by paying the BSA email invoice direct to BSA. Many Families would want Unit Fundraising to cover not only Unit Fees but at least part of BSA Fees.
Possible Solutions: For at least some families, many Units will collect the BSA Fee directly.
- Those Units can continue collecting a Combined Fee (Unit Fee plus BSA Fee for the next 12 months), from Unit Fundraising and/or payments from families.
- They would bundle payments and remit to the AAC at Charter Renewal (or earlier, when BSA Fees are due for those due prior to Charter Renewal).
Nothing is more important than the safety and protection of children.
- Over many years, the BSA has developed some of the strongest expert-informed youth protection policies found in any youth-serving organization including mandatory criminal background checks for all leaders, required training in youth protection, mandatory reporting, and two-deep leadership.
We take COVID Concerns Seriously
After 2020, we all have concerns over COVID-19, but we also know that youth still need social interaction and the values, character building and fun of Scouting. So we will Scout On Safely – by sharing updates about how to do in-person activities safely for small groups and as well as for families to do Scouting at home on your schedule. As a leadership organization, we want to do our best to assist against any potential spread of COVID-19 and keep our Scouting family and community healthy. We are following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Georgia State Department of Health, and our health committee, and sharing updates at AtlantaBSA.org/Safety-Health.
Cub Scouts is a family activity! All Packs are led by Youth Protection Trained volunteers from families just like yours! You will have the opportunity to take a role in helping with your child's experience and we hope you will consider applying to be a volunteer leader.
Every volunteer leader is required to go through a criminal background check and Youth Protection Training process that ensures your child will be in a safe and fun program. The Atlanta Area Council provides many training opportunities for our leaders to enhance the program they deliver and increase the skills they can pass onto our Scouts.
Lots of youth take part in Scouting along with a variety of other activities like sports, music, academic interests, and more. These programs all work together with Scouting to provide your child with a balance of adult role models and experiences! Since many youth want to do both sports and Scouting, some Dens will organize alongside sports programs, sometimes with Cub Scout activities (and snacks!) after some practices, and activity schedules coordinated to allow participation in both sports and Scouting.
Joining Cub Scouts is easy. To find a Pack near you, you can visit www.BeAScout.org, enter your zip code, select "Cub Scouts" and get immediate information about Packs near you. Click here for a list of schools with a Pack. You can also call us at 770-989-8820 to find out more about or click here to fill out a form and we'll contact you.
2023-2026 Atlanta Area Council Strategic Plan
Learn about how the Atlanta Area Council is advancing Scouting in Metro AtlantaParent Orientation Guide
| File Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Parent Orientation Guide | Download |