The Tiger Cub Program

Tiger Cubs BSA offers an opportunity for boys to enter the Scouting family at an important age ... Research has shown that early involvement in values-based programs is vital to strong character development.

Each den meeting and den activity is led by a den leader and an adult partner of one of the Tiger Cubs, a shared leadership. An adult partner can be a parent, relative, or friend who is at least 18 years old and who cares about the boy. Each adult partner takes a turn working with the den leader to plan and lead a den meeting and/or activity.

Your Tiger Cub is also a member of a Cub Scout pack. Most packs are made up of several dens that gather monthly at a pack meeting. Pack meetings usually follow a suggested theme and are a time for boys to be recognized for their accomplishments during the month, to perform skits and songs they have learned in den meetings, and to have fun with the entire family.

Packs are led by a Cubmaster and a pack committee. Like the den leaders, the Cubmaster and assistants are volunteer leaders and are usually family members of boys in the pack. The pack committee makes plans for pack meetings and activities and takes care of the “business” items that are necessary for a pack to operate smoothly.

Most pack committees consist of family members and members of the pack's chartered organization. The chartered organization is the community organization that is granted a charter by the Boy Scouts of America to use the Scouting program. This chartered organization might be a school, service club, religious group, or other group interested in youth. The chartered organization approves the leadership of the pack, provides a meeting place, and operates the pack within the guidelines and policies of that organization and the BSA.

When Do Tiger Cubs Meet?
Tiger Cubs meet on average 4 times a month: 2 den meetings, 1 Go See It, and 1 pack meeting.

Two one-hour den meetings at host adult partner's home or other location. Leaders will try to hold the meetings at a time that is convenient for all adult partners and is appropriate for boys of Tiger Cub age. Some dens meet at a school, a place of worship, or the location of their chartered organization (school). But meetings can be held almost anywhere as long as it is safe for boys and families.

Take a field trip, or Go See It, with the entire den. The Go See It is a planned field trip to a place that is interesting to boys. It may be associated with the monthly theme or one of the advancement requirements.

Attend the Cub Scout pack meeting.

What Is Shared Leadership?
The success of a Tiger Cub den depends on active enthusiastic families and a knowledgeable, well-trained den leader. The den leader plans and carries out a year-round program of activities for the Tiger Cub den and gives continuity to the program. Each month, however, the den leader also works with a different boy-adult partner team to plan the two monthly den meetings, the Go See It, and the den's part in the pack meeting. (Some teams may serve more than one month, depending on how big the den is.) This is called shared leadership.

Shared leadership is a key part of Tiger Cubs because the direct involvement of you and other adults is important for boys at this age. Shared leadership also gives each boy and adult partner a chance to lead, often resulting in an interesting variety of activities as each boy-adult partner team shares its knowledge and resources.

There are den dues every month payable the first den meeting of the month, $5. Three dollars go to the pack to help with awards, pack functions, etc. Two dollars stay with the den to help with needed supplies that are not donated and anything else that is needed.