As with other youth programs, there is time involved with participating in Scouting. Scouting includes a mixture of required and optional activities and the times can vary based on how much you want to participate. The more involved your Scout and family are, the more ways that Scouts experience the fun, growth, enrichment, and bonding that develops from their involvement in the Scouting program.
To earn each rank annually, each Scout must complete a specified amount of required adventures (typically around 6), plus one required elective which is most often selected by the Den Leader. Some adventures can be completed in one Den Meeting whereas others may require more than one meeting to complete the necessary required activities per adventure. These adventure achievements are most often completed during weekly Den Meetings* (typically 1 hour weekly during the school year/excluding school holidays); however, Scouts can make-up missing requirements at home with their family.
*There is most often one Pack Meeting that takes the place of one Den Meeting per month where Scouts receive recognition for their completed adventures during the Pack Meetings. Also, some Den Leaders may deem it necessary for the Den to meet outside of the weekly meetings to complete some adventures, such as a hike.
Pack 529 strives to keep our dues low. The only way we can do this is by subsidizing costs to run the program by fundraising. With that in mind, Pack 529 requires each Scout to sign-up for a 2-hour show-n-sell/storefront shift for our Fall Popcorn Fundraiser and a 2-hour show-n-sell/storefront shift for our Spring Camp Card Fundraiser. This is a minimum expectation, however, Scouts can sign up for more shifts if they are available and/or complete direct-sale fundraising efforts. During these shifts, not only do Scouts learn and practice valuable skills while increasing their confidence, but they can also earn a portion of their sales in an Individual Scout Account (ISA) which is essentially a Scout savings account that can be used to pay for Scouting-related fees, such as uniforms, campouts, t-shirts, and more!
The BSA hosts an annual service project called "Scouting for Food." This initiative is an important part of our Duty to Others and practicing of our Scout Law, therefore Pack 529 expects all of its Scouts to participate. This project occurs each November. Scout Units blanket our assigned areas in an unified effort to collect donated food from local residents to benefit our local community food pantries. On the first Saturday in November, beginning at 9am, our Pack meets to get instructions and receive bags, then we split up by Dens to our assigned areas and place Scouting for Food bags at each home in our assigned areas. The following Saturday, beginning at 9am, we do the same thing except we are collecting the food which residents put into the bags for us to pick up. The bags are then delivered to a collection site where the food is counted, packed, and distributed to food pantries.
In addition to the fun and engaging activities that are completed for each rank adventure, our Pack and Council offer a variety of really fun activities. Check out our Featured Events page for more current information. Some examples of these optional activities may include:
Pinewood Derby
Raingutter Regatta
Holiday Bake-off
Weekend Campouts
Day Camps
Scout Nights for Local Events, and
More!