SHERBURNE – The Sherburne Cub Scouts of Pack 66 has been a long-standing tradition in the community and a source of growth and learning for numerous young boys and their families. The group has been around for approximately 59 years and is sponsored by the Sherburne Rotary Club. Boys from grades one to five participate, while Boy Scouts includes grade 6 and up.
“It's a program that basically incorporates learning with fun,” said Cub Master Paula Howard. “We also have a strong parenting skills section.”
Cub Scouts serves as a precursor to Boy Scouts. Per the Boy Scouts of America website, it provides “a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.”
Howard explained that Cub Scouts meetings cater to parent and child oriented fun that goes towards an elective. Meetings take place on Tuesday nights throughout the school year at 6 p.m., with the whole group meeting once a month.
Often different games are played, such as “minute to win it” and derby cars. The boys are also taught basic survival skills such as using a map and compass, geocaching, and other nature-centered skills.
There is a parent committee that meets regularly, Howard explained. “They (parent committee) usually decide where they're going and what direction.”
Beyond group activities at meetings, the pack also participates in larger projects and trips. Just recently, the group went on a cub adventure weekend in Tuscarora.
“There were over 320 scouts, family and staff there,” said Howard and explained that the scouts and their families had a great time.
There are some possible upcoming projects, such as a community service day. Previously, the pack has helped at Pratt Newtown Home and worked in the gardens.
“We'll go and repopulate them with plants,” said Howard when describing possibilities for the upcoming community project. “(Or) we may still go out to Rogers and maintain one of the paths there.”
Another event still in the planning stages is a Bike Night at Gilligan's in Sherburne for recruitment with Boy Scouts. This will take place this coming August or September.
“We have a joint group joining with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for recruiting (in September) with an ice cream social,” she said. “We're stepping outside of the box to see what we can do and how to involve the community as well.”
A trip will also take place this summer, the details of which are pending on a vote from the boys.
“Day camp is coming up,” Howard said. “They earn a lot of their upcoming electives and requirements for the upcoming year there. They seem to have a grand time there.”
When asked about the registration process, Howard explained that there is a one time registration fee to join. From then on, the group raises money so the boys don't have to continue to pay a fee.
“We'll pay up until they get to Boy Scouts,” said Howard. The group does not charge for patches that go on the uniforms, but the uniforms do need to be purchased for each boy.
“We're always looking for donations of uniforms,” she continued. Beyond a uniform, the badges, sashes, as well as a group book, are requirements.
Just as the games that are played at meetings count towards electives, there are also activities such as hiking, collecting leaves, or going to see a sporting event that go towards fulfilling a requirement.
Said Howard, “It's always our mission to have fun with a purpose to go towards an elective.”
Currently, there are 20 cub scouts in Pack 66. This group is one segment of a much larger whole. According to BSA, “The Scouting organization is composed of nearly 2.5 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 21 and approximately 960,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories.”