Cub Scouting is for youth in Kindergarten through 5th grade, or 6 to 10 years of age. Children who are older than 10, or who have completed the fifth grade, can no longer join Cub Scouting, but they are eligible to join the Scouts, BSA.

Scouts, BSA is for youth 11 to 17 years of age. Scouts also may join Scouts, BSA, if they have earned the Cub Scouting Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old or have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10 years old.

At minimum, each Scout will need a uniform and a handbook. Additional supplies and equipment may be needed for certain activities such as camping trips or field days. We will provide you with information about any supplies that will be required as events are approaching, providing you plenty of time to get anything your Scout may need.

Scout Books and Uniforms can be purchased at a local Scout Shop, online at www.ScoutShop.org. Uniforms can often be found on eBay and at thrift stores for a lot less than buying new.

Scouting is a volunteer-led program and parents are encouraged to serve as registered leaders in our pack and troop. While meetings are intended as an activity for youth members, all meetings are open to your participation. We encourage interested parents to become registered leaders. Many parents find that serving as a Scout Leader strengthens their relationship with their child and is one of the most rewarding experiences in their lives.

Parents are also encouraged and welcome to attend pack and troop committee meetings.

**PLEASE NOTE: AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2023, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA REGULATIONS REQUIRE ANY ADULT AGE 18 AND OVER TO BE A PAID REGISTERED LEADER WITH THE B.S.A. IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE ON OVERNIGHTS. THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS CUB FAMILY CAMPOUTS WHERE A CHILDS LEGAL GUARDIANS MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE OVERNIGHT, HOWEVER, WILL NEED TO BE PARTNERED WITH A REGISTERED LEADER.**

Pack 440 meets once per month as a group for our monthly Pack Meetings at the Lexington United Methodist Church (1211 S. Business Hwy 13, Lexington, MO 64067). The Pack is split into dens based on the age of the Scout. Each Den Leader will determine the date, time and frequency of their respective den meetings.

Troop 318 (youth 11 to 17) meets weekly on Wednesday at 7 PM at the Scout Cabin located off the Lafayette Regional Parking lot across from the helipad and adjacent to the College Park basketball courts. For more information about Troop 318, please contact Scoutmaster Shawn Meyer

No. Citizenship is not required of youth or adult members.

Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, and Venturing are programs of the Boy Scouts of America — so in that sense, Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA members, and Venturers are all members of the same organization.

However, they are entirely different programs: Cub Scouting is a family-oriented program designed specifically to address the needs of younger boys and girls. Scouts BSA is designed to achieve the aims of Scouting through a vigorous outdoor program and peer group leadership with the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster.

Venturing provides positive experiences through exciting and meaningful youth-run activities that help members pursue their special interests, grow by teaching others, and develop leadership skills.

Being a good Scout leader requires more than knowing how to camp. However, the Scouting program does provide outdoor training classes for leaders with beginning, intermediate, and advanced outdoor skills. Individual skills such as carpentry, healthcare, automotive technology, woodworking, etc., could provide benefits to how the Scouting program is delivered to local youth.

Express your interest to the unit leaders—the Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, crew Advisor, chartered organization representative, or members of the unit committee. While there’s no guarantee that a specific role or position will be available—and there may be a selection process among several candidates even if the position is currently vacant—there is usually some way in which you can contribute, and most units are glad for any offer of help.