Where can I sign up? We strongly suggest you "check us out" before committing to Scouting. We welcome all guests and like the chance to check in with parents before a commitment is made. If you are ready to sign up, visit the Be A Scout tab.
Where do I get a uniform? We do not expect that Scouts will wear a uniform to the first few meetings. Uniforms are expensive and we would rather you show up and participate. A complete uniform explanation can be found on the Handbook & Uniform tab.
How much is this going to cost? Scouting is a year-round event and the average annual cost is below $100 a Scout. That is a great value!
My child plays sports, is that an issue? Scouting believes in having well-rounded youth. We understand that during sports season we might miss you. It is 100% ok to miss meetings for a while and then jump back in when the season has ended. Many of our Scouts play multiple sports and are still active in Scouting.
Why does the Pack meet at 2 different locations? Oxford Christian Church (OCC) is our Chartered Organization. They allow us to stay an active Unit and have supported us for over 60 years! When we meet in the gym at OCC, it works out great for Pack meetings. But the gym is not conducive for Den Meetings. Lemons Mill Elementary school allows us to use the cafeteria for our Den Meetings, where we break into different sections of the cafeteria and have time with our Den's. Neither location charges us, and a Scout is Thrifty, so we appreciate the option of meeting spaces.
The registration fee pays your Scout's membership with the Scouting America organization and is passed directly to the Blue Grass Council (our local council). Registration fees are paid for the year from when you initially sign up for Scouting.
Please note that Pack 215 does not retain any of the registration fees. All fees go straight to the Blue Grass Council.
Visit Scouting America to sign up today or visit the Be A Scout tab.
Scouting is inclusive to all and we do not want anyone to not participate because of financial reasons.
Scouts BSA Financial Aid
No income eligibility requirements. Simply complete the application, and if approved by the Blue Grass Council, $50 of the registration fee will be covered. The Scout is responsible for the remaining fee at the time of application.
Wellcare
If the Scout is insured through Wellcare, there is a program available through your coverage that will pay for the Registration Fee. You will need to contact your plan administrator for more information. Please note it can take a few weeks for the request to be processed. Upon approval, you will receive verification from Wellcare that will be submitted to the Council.
Military Family
Scouting America offers a Military Family Fee Waiver that completely waives the national youth registration fee for children of active-duty military, National Guard, and Reserve members. The waiver, which is available for both new and renewing members, aims to reduce the financial burden of frequent relocations and deployments.
Popcorn Fundraising Reimbursement
As a Pack we sell popcorn to fund our year. If your Scout hits certain benchmarks, a portion or even all the membership fee can be reimbursed to your family. Check out the Popcorn tab for more details.
You and your den leader will work together to track your Scout’s progress on ranks, adventures, electives, and other awards. By working together, parents and leaders ensure Scouts are progressing as needed through the program to earn necessary awards. Please talk to your leader about any specific questions you have about your Scout’s progress.
Scouts are encouraged to work on adventures, electives, and other awards outside regular den meetings and activities. In most cases you will not be able to earn rank unless you do some work outside regularly scheduled den meetings. If a requirement says to make something, (project, list, report, etc.), it can either be turned in to your leader, or take a picture of it, or bring it to the next Pack Meeting and put it on the achievement display table in the back of the room.
The requirements are different for each rank in Cub Scouts and a corresponding Handbook is needed to understand what these requirements are.
Advancement – The progression that moves the Cub Scouts from rank to rank.
Adventure – Adventures are “collections of themed, multidisciplinary activities representing approximately three den meetings’ worth of engaging content.”
Akela – Anyone who is a leader to the Cub Scout. Akela can be a parent, teacher, den leader, Cubmaster, or any other adult who help guide the Cub Scout.
Arrow of Light – The highest rank a Cub Scout can achieve. The Arrow of Light (AoL) badge is the only Cub Scout badge that can be worn on the Scouts BSA uniform.
Award Ceremony - Also referred to as “Awards”. This ceremony is typically conducted monthly, and Scouts are awarded all adventures they have earned up to then.
Belt Loops - Once an Adventure has been completed, Lion thru Bear Scouts earn a Belt Loop for said Adventure. The Belt Loops can be worn on the belt or kept at home.
Blue and Gold Banquet – A time for the Cub Scout to earn rank completed for the year and to move on to the next level of Scouting. This is a themed dinner and Scouts and adults are acknowledged for their hard work. This usually marks the end of the "normal" meeting schedule. Cub Scouts often bring their whole families including grandparents.
Blue Grass Council - Blue Grass Council, (commonly referred to as “the Council”), is our local service center, chartered by Scouting America, that is responsible for Scouting within our area. It is located at 2134 Nicholasville Rd. 3 & 4, Lexington 40503.
Buddy System – The buddy system is used to help Cub Scouts look out for each other. At Cub Scout events, especially outdoor activities, youth should always be with a partner.
Camp McKee - Located in Jeffersonville Kentucky (Montgomery County), Camp McKee is the local Scouts BSA camp. Council level campouts and events are held here throughout the year.
Chartered Organization – Community or faith-based organizations that own and operate Cub Scout Packs. They work under a “charter” from Scouting America. Pack 215’s Charter Organization is Oxford Christian Church.
Class A Uniform – This is the official uniform of Cub Scouts. Lion Cub Scouts wear a tee shirt. Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and Webelo's wear blue shirts, while AoLs wear the khaki Scouts BSA shirt. “Class A uniform” is not an official term, but it is widely used by Packs.
Class B – Class B's are Scouting-related tee shirts. They can be Pack tee shirts, day camp tee shirts, or any other Scouting shirt.
Colors - Webelos and AoL are given Colors to be work on the sleeve of the uniform. Adventure pins will be stuck onto the Colors.
Crossover or Bridging – A Special ceremony where an AoL Scout “crosses over” or “bridges” from Cub Scouts to the Troop level.
Cubmaster – A Cubmaster is the “face” of the pack. Cubmasters help plan and carry out the Cub Scout program in their pack. They support and motivate den leaders and parents.
Den – A den is a group of Scouts who are in the same grade. They work together to advance to the next level of Cub Scouts.
Elkhorn District – A smaller geographical area within the Bluegrass Council.
District Executive – The District Executive (DE) is a paid employee of the local council. His or her role is to support Scouting in the district.
Pack – A Cub Scout Pack is a collection of dens of all ranks. The Pack organizes the dens, holds monthly meetings, and conducts larger events such as the Pinewood Derby or Blue & Gold Banquet.
Pinewood Derby – A Cub Scout racing event. With help from their parents, Cub Scouts design and build a race car using a kit that contains a block of wood, plastic wheels, and axles made from nails. The Pack comes together to race all the cars on a specific date. We usually have a "theme" for the race and awards are handed out. See Pinewood Derby on the Events tab for more info.
Pins - Webelos and AoL earn Pins, instead of Belt Loops, once an Adventure has been completed. These Pins can either be worn on the Colors or the Scouting hat.
Raingutter Regatta – Cub Scout racing event. For this race, Scouts build sailboats made with recycled materials. See Raingutter Regatta on the Events tab for more info.
Rank – Cub Scouts are grouped by grade into specific ranks. The Scouts work toward their rank badge throughout the year.
Kindergarteners are Lions
First graders are Tigers
Second graders are Wolves
Third graders are Bears
Fourth graders are Webelos
Fifth graders are Arrows of Light (AoL).
Recharter - This is when a new year "rolls over". We start the recharter process in November so that by January 1st we are ready with all the necessary paperwork.
Scoutbook - This is the computer system used to keep track of each Scout's adventures. The den leader will mark adventures as they are completed. Parents have access to Scoutbook for their Scout only. Parents are able to also go into Scoutbook and update any adventures worked on away from meeting times. A leader will approve the Adventure so that a belt loop can be awarded.
Webelos – This rank's name has special meaning. It stands for WE'll BE LOyal Scouts.
Whittling Chip – The Whittling Chip is an award a Cub Scout can earn that gives them the privilege of carrying a pocketknife to specifically designated events. To earn the Whittling Chip, Cub Scouts must know how to safely use and care for a pocketknife, make a carving, and promise to abide by the knife safety guidelines and the pocketknife pledge. Only a Bear, Webelos, or Arrow of Light Scout can earn their whittling chip.