FORT RUCKER, Ala. (August 23, 2012) -- There is no shortage of activities for boys to be involved in on Fort Rucker, from youth sports to the EDGE! program, but Cub Scouts gives them an opportunity be a part of something that will grow with them as they get older, according to the post's Pack 50 Cubmaster.
Pack 50 Cub Scouts will be holding a membership drive Aug. 27 from 5-7 p.m. at the Commons Community Center located on 7th Avenue.
"We have the membership drive every year to recruit first graders that start out as Tigers," said CW3 Stuart Bennett, Cubmaster for Pack 50 on post. "Every year, the [Tigers] move up so we have to get a new group of boys."
The Cub Scouts is divided by ranks in different age groups, according to Bennett, with Tiger being first graders, Wolf as second graders, Bear as third graders, and Webelos as fourth and fifth graders.
The cost to sign up is $8, which will be good through Jan. 31, then $16 a year after that, said the Cubmaster. Parents can also pay an additional $5 for a subscription to "Boy's Life" magazine through Jan. 31, then $12 a year after.
"When the boys start out, it's very Family oriented," said Bennett. "The boy can't do anything without his Family member -- a parent or a chaperone. Cub Scouts is just a lot of fun and it teaches great values."
The Cub Scouts is a great opportunity for children to be rewarded in things that they excel in, whether it be academics or sports, said the Cubmaster.
"They can get badges for sports or academics," he said. "If you're doing something for school, we will reward that just as we will reward someone if they are doing well in sports."
The children involved in the Cub Scouts come from different backgrounds will be involved in activities ranging from a community service project and Akela Cub Campout in October, to the Blue Angels Weekend in November and the Cubmobile race in March, just to name a few, according to Bennett.
"We did our first [Cubmobile race] last year and we're really looking forward to doing it again this year," he said. "The Cubmobiles are these little go-karts made out of wood that the boys get to get in and drive. It's really a lot of fun."
Another activity that the Cub Scouts does is the Pinewood Derby Race in January, which Bennett said is a great Family activity because the participants get to spend time with their parents to build the small wooden cars for the race.
"We'll also go camping and they'll get to shoot BB guns, bows and arrows, and go fishing -- it gets them out," he said. "This is the age of video games and stuff like that, so it gets the boys out into the outdoors and they learn how to grow up. It's just a great experience."
An experience that parents can also be involve in, by not only helping out with different events, but becoming involved in the Cub Scout program as a den leader, assistant den leader or committee chair.
Parents that wish to be a den leader can do so by signing up with their child at the membership drive to start the process.
"A lot of parents might be deterred from signing up because they don't know what they are doing, but they won't just be thrown into a den and expected to lead the children," said Bennett. "They will be trained on what to do because we want to make sure that they understand what they are doing and how to deal with these kids."
Bennett said that potential den leaders need to enjoy being around children and enjoy teaching, but the main responsibility for a den leader is to make sure the kids are having fun.
"You're not there to be their babysitter, you're there to teach them skills that are going to help them grow," he said. "The parents will be there and they are involved with their kids. This is not the type of thing where they just drop their kids off and leave."
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