Pack 400 Policies

Purpose

Pack 400 has at times had some unspoken, informally agreed-upon, or implied policies. In an effort to encourage engagement by more potential leaders, put existing leaders at ease, and clearly communicate the specific ways Pack 400 operates, the following are some policies to formally put in place.

Revision Log

7/26/24 - Initial Draft Version
8/01/24 - Finalized initial version approved at 7/31/24 Committee Meeting
8/21/24 - Approved adding “Photo Release” and “Handbooks” sections
11/13/24 - New “Registration Requirements” section

Leadership

The adult leaders of Pack 400 are expected to live up to Scout Oath and Scout Law and demonstrate these principles to the Scouts, leaders, and parents of Pack 400 with their actions. Leaders should always be approachable, encouraging, and constructive. As stated on the BSA Adult Application, “All adult leaders agree to comply with the Scouter Code of Conduct” (linked here:https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/guidelines-policies ). Concerns about a leader's conduct should be resolved by bringing them to the Pack Committee.

Campouts: Lions-Tigers (K-1st Grades)

Cub Scouts is a family-centric program. Per the BSA Guide for Safe Scouting: “Lion Cub Scouts and Tiger Cub Scouts must have their adult partner present to take part in overnight camping”.

Campouts: Wolves-AoL (2nd-5th grades)

Cub Scouts is a family-centric program. To ensure the safety of unaccompanied Scouts and building on the guidance listed in the Guide for Safe Scouting (“GSS”), Pack 400 limits the number of unaccompanied Scouts on in the following ways:

Council-coordinated Campouts (for example, the council-lead Fall and Spring Camporees held at Raven Knob):

Having a Scout attend a campout unattended is at the discretion of the Den Leader who will be responsible for the Scout.
The Den Leader is fully responsible for unaccompanied Scouts in their care, ensuring their safety and ensuring they are accounted for at all times.
The number of unaccompanied Scouts in the care of a given Den Leader should be based on their individual comfort level and should not exceed 4 unaccompanied Scouts. Den Leaders will not be required to take on the responsibility of unaccompanied Scouts.
Den Leaders are, however, encouraged to enable as many Scouts to participate in outdoor activities as possible.
Den Leaders are, however, encouraged to enable as many Scouts to participate in outdoor activities as possible.

Unit-coordinated Campouts (GSS is even more prescriptive in constraints for these):

Per GSS: “For all other ranks: only in exceptional circumstances, a Cub Scout whose parent or legal guardian cannot attend a unit overnight camping trip may participate under the supervision of another registered adult member in Scouting who is a parent of a Cub Scout who is also attending. The unit leader and a parent or legal guardian must agree to the arrangement, and all Youth Protection policies apply. At no time may another adult accept responsibility for more than one additional “nonfamily member” youth. “

Scout Advancement

Den Leaders are the primary contact for managing a Scout’s records, including advancement and attendance. Other leaders should include the Scout’s Den Leader in any relevant conversations pertaining to a Scout’s records and defer to the Den Leader’s discretion. Parents are encouraged to have an active and ongoing relationship with their Scout’s Den Leader. Den Leaders should work directly with parents and discuss concerns pertaining to advancement.

Disagreements, impasses, or other concerns should be resolved by bringing them to the Pack Committee.

Awards

Scouts who have completed an adventure or elective receive these awards at the monthly Pack Meeting. To facilitate procurement of awards ahead of a Pack Meeting, all advancement should be entered into Scoutbook by midnight on the Wednesday prior to the Pack Meeting. Advancement entered after this deadline may not be procured for the given Pack Meeting but will be awarded at the next opportunity.

For example, if there is a Pack Meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, all advancement should be entered by midnight on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.

Uniform

While Pack 400 encourages the wearing of the full uniform as outlined by the BSA, we understand this can come at a substantial financial cost. At a minimum, Pack 400 asks that Scouts utilize the following uniform standard:

Pack Meetings, travel to and from campouts, service projects like Scouting for Food, and other formal occasions calls for the Field Uniform (formerly “Class A”). Pack 400 considers the minimum Field Uniform to be the official uniform shirt (which differs by grade level), neckerchief with slide (provided by the Pack), and appropriately colored pants or shorts (e.g. Navy Blue for Lion-Bear, Olive Green for Webelos-AoL) . These pants/shorts are not required to be the “official” BSA bottoms. While BSA considers the hat, belt, and socks to be required, Pack 400 considers these to be optional.
Den Meetings, summer fun meetings, and other Scouting activities call for the Activity Uniform (formerly “Class B”). While BSA considers other elements to be required components of the Activity Uniform, Pack 400 considers the minimum Activity Uniform to be simply a Scouting-related t-shirt.

Pack 400 will provide a neckerchief for each Scout for their current rank. Discontinuing Scouts should return these neckerchiefs for re-use. Advancing Scouts will have their neckerchief replaced when moving to a new Den.

Pack 400 will aim to have uniform components (via a “uniform closet”) available to those who need them, though availability is not guaranteed. Uniforms borrowed from the “uniform closet” should be returned to the Pack when no longer needed due to advancement or discontinuation.

Photo Release

Pack 400 takes photos and videos of the Pack’s activities for sharing with parents/guardians and for promotional purposes (for example posting on the Pack’s social media accounts). Pack 400 will annually request, at the beginning of the program year, that each Scout’s parent/guardian fills out a Photo Release form (attached) and make an explicit choice about whether to share these rights. Photo Release is opt-in: a lack of a form on file will be considered as not having consent. However, we ask that parents please make a choice and provide a filled out Photo Release form.

If at any time during the program year a parent or guardian wishes to withdraw their photo release they will submit an updated photo release form to the Recordkeeping Chair and verbally notify the Cubmaster. The Recordkeeping Chair will be responsible for maintaining these records and ensuring all leaders are aware of the current set of those who have not given consent.

Handbooks

Pack 400 aims to provide each Scout with access to the latest version of the handbook for their current rank. Pack 400 will purchase and maintain a limited library of these handbooks (at least 2 for each rank) for access at regular meetings. Den Leaders will be responsible for managing access to these handbooks and may, at their discretion, allow Scouts to check-out the handbooks for a limited time (e.g. a week between meetings). These handbooks will remain Pack 400’s property; checking out a handbook means the family is fully responsible for returning or replacing the handbook. The Recordkeeping Chair will be responsible for maintaining appropriate records for the handbook library.

The latest program revision includes all requirement details online in an easily accessible format, with QR Codes / links available. Pack 400 Leadership will ensure Scouts have pointers to these resources (e.g. in the weekly Program Update emails).

Registration Requirements

Per direction from Old Hickory Council and for insurance purposes, all attendees at a Scouting event must have submitted an application to the unit. A fully registered Scout has submitted an application, paid the annual dues, been processed by the Council, and appears on the unit’s roster. Scouts with a submitted (to the unit) but unpaid/unprocessed application are considered Partially Registered Scouts and are welcome to visit a Den Meeting up to two times. After two visits, Partially Registered Scouts are required to fully complete their registration (and appear on the unit’s roster) before attending additional Scouting events.

Partially Registered Scouts are not permitted to attend non-weekly Scouting events (for example, campouts, service projects, etc.). Youths without a submitted application are not permitted to attend any Scouting event. Scout-aged siblings of registered Scouts are welcome to be present for family-oriented Scouting events under the care of their parents. Den Leaders will make a best effort to manually track advancement for Partially Registered Scouts, but no awards will be purchased or given until a Scout is fully registered.