Frequently Asked Questions

Cub Scouting is a program of Scouting America that serves youth from kindergarten through fifth grade. The program is designed to be fun for the whole family! It’s all about doing their best, being helpful, and exploring the world around them. Our activities focus on building character, learning practical skills, developing physical fitness, and practicing good citizenship.

Any boy or girl in kindergarten through fifth grade is welcome to join Cub Scouts! Our Pack is open to all families in and around Roane County.

Now is the perfect time! The Cub Scout program follows the school year, so most of our new members join during our "New Scout Night" in August or September. However, you can join at any time during the year! If you're ready, click here to register.

We have two types of meetings:

• Den Meetings: These are smaller meetings for Scouts in the same grade level (e.g., all the 2nd-grade "Wolf" Scouts). Dens typically meet weekly on Tuesdays from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Your Den Leader will provide the exact schedule and location.

• Pack Meetings: This is when all the dens in Pack 101 come together for a big meeting, usually monthly. We present awards, play games, and have special presentations. Pack meetings may be held in the evening after school or during the weekend. The time and place of Pack Meetings depends on the specific activity.

We do a little bit of everything! Some of our most popular annual activities include:

• The Pinewood Derby: Designing, building, and racing small wooden cars.

• Camping: We have family campouts where Scouts and their parents can learn outdoor skills.

• Hiking: Exploring local trails in beautiful East Tennessee.

• Community Service: Helping our community through projects like food drives or park clean-ups.

• Learning Skills: Earning awards for new skills like knot-tying, first aid, cooking, and more!

We strive to be the most accessible youth program in Roane County. To help families with busy schedules and varying budgets, we have moved to a No-Dues model.

1. National Registration (The Mandatory Part) All Scouts pay an annual fee directly to Scouting America during online registration. This covers your official membership, insurance, and national/council support. This is a hard requirement to participate in any activity.

2. Pack 101 Dues (The "No-Dues" Philosophy) Pack 101 does not charge annual Pack dues. We believe you shouldn't pay for meetings you can't attend. Instead, we are "Pay-to-Play"—you only pay for the specific events (like camping trips or field trips) that your Scout chooses to attend.

3. Uniforms & Awards

• Awards: The Pack provides official Award Cards to recognize every achievement. Families have the option to purchase the physical belt loops or pins at the Scout Shop if they wish to display them.

• Uniforms: New families should prioritize the official shirt and neckerchief. We also attempt to maintain a "Uniform Bank" of gently used items to help keep costs down.

4. "Earning Your Way" Through fundraisers like Popcorn and Camp Cards, Scouts can earn money for their Individual Scout Account. These funds can be used to cover national registration, uniforms, or activity fees—meaning a motivated Scout can effectively participate for free.

Financial assistance may be available through the Great Smoky Mountain Council so that every child has the opportunity to be a Scout. Please talk to our Cubmaster or Committee Chair confidentially if you need more information.

The official "Class A" uniform is worn to most meetings. The essential parts are:

• Blue or Tan Uniform Shirt: (Blue for K-4th grade, Tan for 5th grade)

• Neckerchief and Slide: Specific to your child's rank (grade level).

• Scout Belt: To display the adventure loops they earn.

• Patches: We can help you with the correct placement for the council patch, pack numbers (101), and den number.

We also have a more casual "Class B" Pack t-shirt, which is worn for more active events. You can request these to purchase from the Pack. Uniforms can be purchased at the Great Smoky Mountain Council Scout Shop in Knoxville or online at scoutshop.org.

Cub Scouting is a family activity! Your involvement is key to your child's success. We ask parents to help their Scout with their handbook activities at home, attend meetings with their child, and volunteer to help when they can. This is not a "drop-off" activity, but a chance to make memories with your child.

While it's not required, our Pack runs entirely on parent volunteers! We strongly encourage parents to get involved. There are many ways to help, from becoming a Den Leader to simply helping organize one event a year. Many hands make light work, and it's incredibly rewarding. The Family Talent Survey available in electronic format is available on this website, or you can request one from a member of Pack leadership. This form allows us to identify areas where your specific skills and resources may be of assistance to the Pack.

That's great! Here's how to get started:

1. Come to our next Pack meeting or recruitment event to meet us in person. Click "Request Information" at the bottom of this page to get time and location details.

2. Complete the official Scouting America youth application online. Click "Register" at the bottom of this page.

3. Get your Scout's uniform and handbook, and get ready for an adventure!