New Member FAQ
Welcome to Pack 312! Here are some answers to some questions we often get about our pack.
What is Cub Scouts about?
We work on youth K-5 character development using the Scout Oath and Scout Law as our guide (https://www.scouting.org/legal/mission) with a focus on having fun.
We also aim to foster a love of the outdoors and being physically active (put down the laptops, tablets, phones, etc and get outside).
This website has a great overview of the program: https://www.scouting.org/programs/cub-scouts/what-cub-scouts-earn
I'm interested in your pack, what is the next step I should take?
Send us a message on the Contact Us page so that we can meet you at our next meeting. If you're passing by Apex Jaycee Park and happen to see us, feel free to ask one of the leaders (in a brown uniform shirt) to get you in touch with the right person to answer your questions.
Where do you meet?
We meet at the scout huts (the buildings at the end of the parking lot, between the baseball and soccer fields) located at:
Apex Jaycee Park (https://www.apexnc.org/797/Apex-Jaycee-Park, not Jaycee Park in Raleigh!)
451 W Williams St, Apex, NC 27502
When do you meet?
During the program year (September to June) we meet as a pack (grades K-5) once a month. Dens meet separately (dens are by grade level) the other weeks of the month. During the summer we take a break (no meetings) aside from our Big Trip in August.
How much does scouting typically cost and what are dues?
Short answer: Read the long answer :) Seriously, we get asked this a lot taking unnecessary time to answer emails. It only takes a couple of minutes to read.
Long answer: There's a bit to unpack here, so bear with me.
There are yearly dues (both pack and BSA), and separate fees for events that are attended (e.g. camping trips, etc). Yearly dues are broken down into:
National - $80 as of 2023
Council - $54 + $12 insurance as of 2023
Pack - $15-75+ in yearly dues as well depending on the budget for that program year.
The national and council dues cover insurance for your scout while on scouting activities, registration as a scout, etc. The council publishes their budget and other transparency information here: https://ocscouts.org/about/transparency National provides details on where dues go here: https://scoutingwire.org/bsa-membership-fee-details-2022
The national membership fee helps cover the cost of essential services, including program resources, liability insurance for those participating in approved Scouting activities, criminal background checks, youth protection, and the development of intellectual property for national, council, and unit programs.
The pack dues cover awards, materials, leaders, training, campsites, Pinewood Derby kit, t-shirt, etc to keep our program going. We have an open budget and try to keep costs down where possible. The camping trips and other events are usually $10-$20 per person to cover food and camping supplies. Those are paid separately to allow for flexibility (parents don't need to pay for events that they aren't going to attend due to schedule, out of town, etc).
We do a popcorn fundraiser each fall which allows scouts to pay only their national/council dues (we usually collect those in Dec/Jan and directly pass them on to council and national). We have scouts that earn 100% of those dues with popcorn sales. The pack dues are collected in September when the program year starts.
That said, the prime directive here is that no scout should be prevented from participating due to cost of the program. The council has scholarships to cover dues, and we have pack scholarships as well, which can be confidentially requested and will be kept that way.
What activities do you typically do?
Check out our home page for a typical list of events that we do each program year. Our Facebook page shows our history of fun and our Calendar has upcoming events (Calendar requires Pack-registered email account to see detail).
How do I officially join Pack 312?
Click Apply Now and follow the process at https://beascout.scouting.org/list/?zip=27519&program%5B%5D=pack&unitID=259370
Please let us know on the Contact Us page if you have any technical issues.
After your application is processed (it can take a few days for you and your scout to show up in Scoutbook), our New Member Coordinator will reach out to you with contact information for your den and point you to our new parent guide.
Can I just drop off my scout at activities and leave?
Short answer is no. Long answer is that Cub Scouts is a family activity. Active parent/guardian participation in all events is vital to the experience, and required by Pack 312. Siblings, family, and friends are welcome to participate in the activities as well.
What do I need to buy for my scout (uniform)?
At first, nothing. Just come to a few meetings and get a feel for the program.
Afterwards you'll need a Class A uniform (formal, see link below) and a handbook. The handbook generally must be purchased at the Scout Store. The pack will provide you with a t-shirt as the Class B uniform (informal). Generally we wear Class A uniforms at monthly pack meetings and official events (like the Pinewood Derby, selling popcorn, etc) and Class B at campouts and pack hikes.
A scout is thrifty! We've had great luck getting Class A uniforms from Ebay, thrift stores, yard sales, etc instead of buying them brand new which is often a bit more expensive. We also have a bin at the scout hut with donated uniforms. If you'd like to buy a new uniform, that's great too!
In our pack, the uniform pants, shorts, and socks are not required. You'll need the belt to hold all of the belt loops your scout will earn.
https://www.scouting.org/programs/cub-scouts/cub-scout-uniform
Note on uniform compliance - the most important detail here is that your scout stays engaged. For example, if your scout really, I mean really, does not want to wear the hat (or loses it frequently) just forgo the hat for Class A. Participation and engagement is way more important. That said, the Class A shirt is a minimum.
What are the websites I need to be familiar with, and what are they for?
My.scouting.org: Initial account generated when you signup through beascout.org. Generally not used by parents, only leaders.
Scoutbook: Same login credentials as your my.scouting.org account. Used by parent and leaders to track your cub's progress. Allows parent to check-off adventures performed as catch-up or as extra interest. Also is the database we use to generate communications. Lastly, this is our official roster. There are lots of Youtube tutorials on Scoutbook (SB). Parents and leaders will help answer any questions at events!
Pack 312 website (you're here now): Used to see den and pack events. Signups will be linked within the calendar events.
I'd like to add a parent or guardian to also get pack communications, how do I do that?
To add an additional parent or guardians to a Scout, do the following:
Be signed in to scoutbook.scouting.org as a parent already associated with the Scout
Go to Home > My Dashboard
Click on the Scout in the My Family list
Click on the Scout’s connections
Click on the parent if they are already in the unit or click +ADD
Search for the parent or if they do not have a my.scouting or Scoutbook presence yet, type in their information
Select Parent / Guardian Role
Enter personal note to them
Click Invite
Accept the invite in the email for second parent
For more info and youtube tutorials scroll down in this guide: Getting a Unit Started in Scoutbook
I can't access the Calendar or Parent sites:
The pack uses Google for email-based authentication. Only registered parents/guardians to Pack 312 Scouts can access these pages.
You need to be signed in to your Google account that you applied to the pack with (the email that you receive pack emails from).
Issues will happen if signed in to your work Google account, for example
If you didn't give the pack a Gmail address, you can create a Google account with the same email (e.g. parent@yahoo.com) and you can use that address for access:
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27441?sjid=1069562066266173441-NA
Use an existing email address
Go to the Google Account Sign In page.
Click Create account.
Enter your name.
Click Use my current email address instead.
Enter your current email address.
Click Next.
Verify your email address with the code sent to your existing email.
Click Verify.
Email info@pack312.org if you need help with technical issues.
What camping gear will I need?
We only do "car camping" (sleep in tents not far from where our cars are parked), and strongly recommend NOT dumping a ton of money on retail camping gear to start out with.
All you need to start with is a simple tent, tarp, mess kit, sleeping pad, and a sleeping bag. Walmart, Craigslist, Ebay, etc are great for getting inexpensive gear. The gear you get is going to be abused!
What is recharter?
Our pack's charter is what allows our unit to exist. It is valid only for a year at a time and expires each year Dec 31st at midnight. The recharter process happens each Dec where the pack submits an application with an official roster of youth and leaders to our charter org (Apex Lions Club) for approval. It is an important oversight process.
At the same time, the pack must also submit national and council dues for each member for the following calendar year. This is also a time when our roster is pruned.