PACK 296 FAQS

Pack 296 welcomes all genders and orientations! Cub Scouts and the Scouting America program (formerly called "Boy Scouts of America") have been fully gender-inclusive since 2019. The program is equivalent for all Scouts. While some Cub Scout packs separate different genders into different dens, Pack 296 in particular is a "family den" pack, meaning that dens are mixed gender. 

Please note that Cub Scouts and Scouting America is a separate organization from "Girl Scouts", who do not accept boys at this time.

Lions and Tigers (Grades K-1) – Drop-off is not allowed

For Lions (Kindergarten) and Tigers (1st Grade), a parent or caring adult partner is required to attend all meetings and activities with the Scout. These meetings are designed as a shared experience between the Scout and their adult partner. During both den and pack meetings, each child should have an adult present to help supervise and actively participate in any activities where the Scout may need help.

Wolves through AOL (Grades 2-5) – Drop-off expected at most meetings. Drop-off not allowed at most weekend events.

As Scouts advance to Wolves (2nd Grade), Bears (3rd Grade), Webelos (4th Grade), and Arrow of Light (5th Grade), Scouts are expected to have developed appropriate "classroom etiquette", and the role of "Akela" (the Scout leader) is more important. In many instances, the presence of parents can be more of a distraction than a benefit. For these Scouts, pack and den meetings are most typically a drop-off activity, with the den leader and assistant den leader running den meetings, and all den leaders plus Cubmasters running the pack meeting. 

Parents are welcome to attend den and pack meetings only if they plan to actively participate in the activities, and if they coordinate with the den leader(s) in advance. Parents who attend will be given a specific role to play by the den leader to assist in the meeting. This ensures that their presence contributes positively to the experience for all Scouts, and doesn't become a distraction. If you would prefer to attend most or all meetings, we ask that you register as a leader so you can be included in the planning process. 

There will be specific pack and den meetings that we ask adults to attend. These include:

• Blue and Gold Potluck (typically February or March pack meeting) – This is a celebration of the anniversary of Scouting, and all families are invited to attend and enjoy

• Crossing Over (May pack meeting) – This is the final pack meeting of the year where we celebrate the accomplishments of all Scouts, as well as say goodbye to 5th grade Scouts who will be joining a Troop in the summer.

• “Challenging” Den Meetings (e.g., Knife safety) – Dens of Bear, Webelos, and AOL Scouts each have an elective adventure involving learning how to use pocketknives safely. This is the type of meeting your den leader will let you know that your attendance is needed.

Weekend events are rarely a drop-off activity, unless you coordinate directly with another adult who is attending and can be responsible for your Scout. This is because many weekend events like hikes tend to have less structure compared to pack and den meetings, and are focused more on shared fun instead of working on Scout adventures. 

For everyone: Courteous Behavior and the Scout Sign

All participants, including parents, are expected to demonstrate courteous behavior during meetings. This includes refraining from speaking while a leader or guest is talking. The Scout Sign, when raised, applies to everyone in the room, signaling that all conversations should immediately cease. During pack or den meetings, if an adult would like to have a side conversation, they should leave the room or area as to not be a distraction. This is especially important at JMCC where sound travels very easily. 

Special Situations

Parents of children who may need extra help (e.g., neurodivergent, disabled, ESL, etc.) are encouraged to discuss with the den leaders and pack leaders to make a plan to best support their Scout.

Drop-off and Two-deep Leadership

Please note that all Scout meetings and events require two registered leaders to be present. This policy helps keep all of our Scouts safe and ensures that there is no one-on-one contact between a Scout and a non-family adult. All registered leaders undergo background checks and take special training on safeguarding youth which must be repeated annually. 

The Pack Dues for 2025-26 are $200 per Scout. Pack dues cover the cost for all meetings and events, including pack and den meetings, pack campouts (food and reservation fees), Pinewood derby, ice skating, and more! Pack dues also cover facility rental and storage rental for pack gear. Best way to pay pack dues is via Venmo @pack296cubs (last 4 digits 5873). Please pay as a "Gift" so we do not get charged fees. For other ways to pay please see our Pack 296 Information Packet. 

Please note that this is a separate fee from the ~$175 of National and Council dues paid annually directly to the BSA to register and maintain membership. When you join you pay a registration fee and create an account with my.scouting.org. Registration lasts one calendar year (not Scout year), and in the month prior to registration ending you should receive a notice to renew. 

Financial aid is available. We do not want any family that wants to participate in the program be restricted based on financial challenges. Please reach out to our (new!) treasurer Renee at treasurer@pack296cubs.org to apply. Financial aid can be applied to both pack dues as well as BSA National and Council dues. 

We have two primary ways we send out information: email and WhatsApp, in addition to our website and calendar for passive updates. 

When you join, we will place you on a Google Group email mailing list for your child's den. Those mailing lists also get pack-wide emails. We use email to let you know about upcoming events like campouts, volunteering, and the Pinewood Derby. Den leaders use these mailing lists to send information about upcoming den meetings. We often send reminder emails about upcoming meetings, but not always. 

We also have a pack-wide WhatsApp group where we send out meeting and event reminders. To get added, ask any existing family or Scout leader to add you. Some dens and events also set up separate WhatsApp groups for coordination for their den or for that particular event. 

Finally, our pack website and calendar is updated regularly. Be sure to subscribe to the pack calendar by clicking on this calendar link and then the plus icon. Pack Google calendar

All positions at the pack level are led by volunteers: Parents and guardians just like you, who are taking time to put together an engaging program for their children and their community. Volunteering allows us to connect with our children in a fun way that we wouldn't otherwise experience, during a time in their lives which is unfortunately fleeting. Our expectation is that all families can experience this by helping at least once each year at the den level and at the pack level. For more information or to learn more about helping, please see Helping the pack, or reach out to cubmaster@pack296cubs.org  

Yes. Scouts are asked to attend all pack and den meetings they are able. However, if you have to miss a pack meeting, den meeting, or event due to a conflict that is ok! Most Scout requirements can be completed at home with an adult's signature. The den leader will provide information on how to make up any missing requirements.

Because Scouts is a year-round program, we are also aware that conflicts with seasonal sports may also be a challenge. If your team practice conflicts with pack meetings during a specific sports season, many parents choose to alternate Cub Scouts and sports practices during that season and then attending Cub Scouts more fully the rest of the year. 

Overall, if you have to miss a pack meeting, den meeting, or event due to a conflict (sports or otherwise), that is ok!

All Scouts participate in pack meetings and most events, so friends and siblings in different grades can participate together. Dens are different. Dens are first organized by grade level. Friends or siblings who are not in the same grade cannot be placed in the same den, as the rank requirements and program are designed based on specific ages. For Scouts whose age may not match traditional school year ages, please see the BSA policy here. 

For the 2025-26 year, the pack has one den for Kindergarteners (Lions), and one den for each of the grades 3rd through 5th. We have 3 Tiger dens (1st graders), and 2 Wolf dens (2nd graders).

The ideal den size is 6-8 Scouts. When a given rank/grade level requires multiple dens, we organize dens to group Scouts who go to the same school. There is a lot of flexibility to den assignments as long as your Scout stays in the same rank/grade, so please reach out to the Cubmaster or your den leader to request a switch. 

At this time our dens are mixed-gender ("family dens"). The Cub Scouts program is equivalent for and welcoming to all genders. 

The size of the pack varies from year to year but in recent years we've had between 60 and 80 Scouts in the pack across the 6 grades (K-5). We cover a large number of elementary schools (over 20!) in the Oakland hills area and beyond. For some more details about the neighborhoods we cover, please see here. We have not historically limited enrollment for Scouts who want to join, but instead have created new dens. 

We typically have between 10-20 female Scouts in the pack, between 1-3 in each den.

We welcome Scouts to join year-round. The "Scout year" matches the school year with many Scouts joining in August and September, but we accept Scouts to join us at any time. Scouts that join mid-year can still participate in all activities like pack campouts and Pinewood Derby, in addition to summer camp. 

If you join after September you may miss some of the Scout adventures that your den will have already completed. In that instance, you can complete those independently with your Scout in order to catch up and still help them earn their badge of rank by the May crossover meeting. Reach out to your den leader for details on what you may have missed. Scouts that join very late in the Scout year (e.g. in spring) can still attend meetings and enjoy the weekend events, though may find it more difficult to complete all the missed adventures.

We take all aspects of safety very seriously. Below are just some of the policies we follow as a pack to make sure we keep all our Scouts safe. To learn about these policies and more, see the Scouting America Safety Policy Page. 

• Two-Deep Leadership - Always at least two registered adults present; no one-on-one contact.

• Safeguarding Youth Training - All leaders complete required training and background checks.

• Buddy System - Scouts stay with a buddy during activities for added safety.

• SAFE Scouting - We plan activities with the BSA’s SAFE framework (Supervision, Assessment, Fitness, Equipment).

• Health Records - Each Scout has an Annual Health and Medical Record on file.

• Incident Reporting - Concerns are reported immediately through BSA’s Scouts First process.

No, participation in religious activities or adherence to a specific belief in God is not required. We do recite the Pledge of Allegiance (including the phrase "under God"), the Scout Oath (which mentions "duty to God"), and the Scout Law (which includes "A Scout is reverent") at each meeting as part of Scouting tradition. Scouts are also required to complete an adventure that explores themes of family, faith, and inclusivity. However, this is not done during pack or den meetings. Instead, we leave it to each family to work through these requirements at home in a way that reflects their own beliefs, values, and traditions.

Our pack welcomes families from a variety of religious backgrounds, including families who may not follow a particular religious or faith tradition. We respect all perspectives and take an inclusive approach to terms like "reverence" and "faith," allowing them to be interpreted broadly—whether that means appreciation for the natural world or commitment to community and kindness.