About Pack 13
Our goal is to provide an opportunity for our scouts to experience the things in life that we might not otherwise experience on our own. Sometimes these activities may be something your child may continue throughout their lifetime. You are joining a Scout tradition that started by being incorporated on February 8, 1910 and was chartered by Congress in 1916. Your child is joining more than 2 million other children in the United States for a family-oriented program where parents, leaders and organizations work together to achieve the 10 purposes of Cub Scouting: character development, spiritual growth, good citizenship, sportsmanship and fitness, family understanding, respected relationships, personal achievement, friendly service, fun and adventure, and preparation for Boy Scouts. Pack 13 uses seven specific methods to achieve our aim of helping scouts to build character, train in the responsibilities of citizenship, and develop personal fitness. The seven methods are: the ideals, the Den, advancement, family involvement, activities, home and neighborhood centered, and the uniform. This may seem like a lot, but it becomes clear when you see how we implement our program.
The Pack is comprised of all the Cub Scouts in each Den and their parents. Packs are chartered by many types of charitable organizations. These organizations provide for meeting space and other support as requested by the Pack. Pack 13 was chartered on December 1, 1942 by the Orthodox Congregational Church which is located at 17 West Street here in Mansfield. The Pack is organized by the Pack Committee Members who are Den Leaders, and other Cub Scout parents or advisors. The Pack Committee and parents meet monthly before each Pack Meeting to review programs and plan new ones.
The Pack meets monthly in a Pack Meeting. Pack 13 meets on a Tuesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m at Robinson School Cafeteria. Each Den takes a turn opening and closing the Pack Meeting throughout the course of the year. Each Cub Scout, on arriving, is responsible for signing in and receiving a monthly newsletter (hopefully it finds its way to you-if not there are plenty). The Scouts are asked to sit with their respective Dens once the Pack meeting starts. The progression of the meeting generally goes as follows: an opening ceremony, announcements for upcoming events, advancement recognition, physical challenge, song or skit, guest visitors, and a closing ceremony. The Pack typically holds monthly Pack Events. Some of the events we have organized have been: Battleship Cove overnight, Providence Bruins games, PawSox games and overnight, Rocket Launches, Plimoth Plantation overnight, Summer Camp, Monster Trucks, Pinewood Derby, Scouting for Food for the Food Pantry, Mansfield Garden Club Clean up, Movies on the Common and Museum of Science sleepover. Uniforms are worn at all Pack functions. The Pack is supported by dues that cover Council and Pack expenses. Pack 13 is also supported by the sale of Popcorn, which you no doubt have had the pleasure of sampling. A percentage of the money earned from the Popcorn sale goes to the Pack for expenses (i.e., advancement awards, Pinewood Derby expenses, adult leader training fees, etc.), and into an “account” for the individual Scout which can be used towards the expense of Pack Activities. Some parents have employers who will donate to the organizations (such as Pack 13) with whom their employees volunteer time. The quality of the Pack is maintained by an active parent involvement. The more the volunteers, the further we go in making lasting memories for our children |
The Dens are comprised of children of the same grade working on the same advancements. The children move along together as Dens to the next advancement level at the end of the school year. Children do not have to complete previous advancements to join or move on to the next advancement level. Tiger Dens are for children in the first grade. Wolf Dens are for children in the second grade. Bear Dens are for children in the third grade. Webelos I Dens are for children in the fourth grade. Webelos II Dens are for children in the fifth grade.
Den meetings are held weekly and are lead by one or two volunteer adult leaders that have received leadership training. Dens function effectively when there is an active parent involvement which ensures a continued quality program. We parents are the primary role models for our boys. The Leaders may be assisted by Boy Scouts (called Den Chiefs) who will be at least 2 years older than the Cub Scouts in the Den. Den meetings focus on planned activities which allow the Scout to earn awards towards advancement. It would not be unusual for the Den to visit other locations during the Den meeting such as Town Hall, Police or Fire Departments, local Food Pantry, a pizza parlor, or an auto body shop to name a few. Uniforms are worn at every Den function. Adult Leaders are individuals who volunteer their time and care about promoting a quality program and experience for the boys. It is not necessary for the adult leader to have prior Scouting experience, since the collegial relationship with other leaders creates a fun and supportive environment. Each Leader is required to fill out an application form that allows for a CORI check to be performed through the Annawon Council before proceeding with available training programs. Adult Leaders find it essential for parental involvement to maintain the quality of memories for the boys.
The Council is the name of the organization that provides training and support for the local Packs within geographical locations called districts. There are many Councils in Massachusetts which oversee local Districts. The Councils in turn are supported by National Council. Pack 13 belongs to the Angle Tree District in the Narragansett Council. The Narragansett Council provides four levels of training for adult leaders (Basic Youth Protection, New Leader Essentials, Leader Specific and Baloo trainings). The Council is supported by dues that are assessed to each Pack. The Narragansett Council website is: www.narragansettbsa.org
The Scout uniform is worn at all Pack and Den events. Wearing the uniform encourages a neat appearance, a sense of belonging, and good behavior. There are a couple of different places to purchase uniforms, and some second hand ones available through the Pack: speak to a Den Leader, the Cubmaster, Pack Committee Chair, or any adult leader for more information.
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We welcome you and your child to Pack 13. We have had a wonderful tradition of caring about the future and the development of the Scouts who participate. The Pack enjoys a very productive relationship with our charter organization that has allowed us wonderful meeting space, participation with the Rocketry Club and assistance to Scouts working on their Religious Emblem award. The parents and Adult Leaders of Pack 13 are invested in providing a quality program for your child that has endured six decades. We welcome your assistance and we look forward to your participation in making your Cub Scout grow and giving goodwill back to others for many memorable years to come.