Long Beach Area
Council
Boy Scouts of America
401 E. 37th Street
PO Box 7338
Long Beach, CA 90807
562.427.0911
562.492.9437 fax
Membership YOUTH MEMBERSHIP Cub Scouts for boys who are in the first grade through fifth grade (or 7, 8, 9, and 10 years of age).
Cub Scouts do fun things with other kids! They get to wear a cool uniform, go places and see things. They play all kinds of sports and build things, like race cars and bird houses. Want to learn a secret code? Want to learn about wild animals? Go Cub Scouting!
What is Cub Scouting?
Cub Scouting is a year-round family program. Since 1930, the Boy Scouts of America has helped younger boys through Cub Scouting. Parents, leaders, and organizations work together to achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting. Currently, Cub Scouting is the largest of the BSA's three membership divisions.
The ten purposes of Cub Scouting are:
Character Development,
Spiritual Growth,
Good Citizenship,
Sportsmanship, Fitness,
Family, Understanding
Respectful Relationships,
Personal Achievement,
Friendly Service,
Fun and Adventure
Preparation for Boy Scouts.
Boy Scouts for boys who are 11 through 17 years old.
What is Boy Scouting?
Boy Scouting is available to Cub Scouts who have earned the Arrow of Light Award or boys who have completed the fifth grade. The program achieves the BSA's objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness qualities among youth by focusing on a vigorous program of outdoor activities.
Venturing is for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age.
Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women.
What is Venturing?
Venturing's purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.
Venturing is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth, adult leaders, and organizations in their communities. Local community organizations establish a Venturing crew by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of exciting and meaningful activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, to grow, to develop leadership skills, and to become good citizens.
Venturing crews can specialize in a variety of avocation or hobby interests.
ADULT VOLUNTEER SCOUT LEADERS
Thousands of volunteer leaders, both men and women, are involved in the Boy Scouting program. They serve in a variety of jobs in Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops or Venture Crews - everything from unit leaders to chairmen of troop committees, committee members, merit badge counselors, and chartered organization representatives.
Like other phases of the program, Boy Scouting is made available to community organizations having similar interests and goals. Chartered organizations include professional organizations; governmental bodies; and religious, educational, civic, fraternal, business, labor, and citizens' groups. Each organization appoints one of its members as the chartered organization representative. The organization is responsible for leadership, the meeting place, and support for troop activities.
Commissioners are district and council leaders who help Scout units succeed. They coach and consult with adult leaders of Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, and Venturing crews. Commissioners help maintain the standards of the Boy Scouts of America. They also oversee the unit charter renewal plan so that each unit reregisters on time with an optimum number of youth and adult members.
Unit Commissioners are appointed by the district commissioner with the approval of the Council Executive Board.
Unit commissioners should-
Have excellent people skills
Have a Scouting background or be fast-track learners
Know and practice Scouting ideals
Commissioners must not be registered simultaneously as unit leaders. Some commissioners may be registered on a unit committee because they have a son in the unit or because of previous personal history in the unit, but their principle Scouting obligation should be with commissioner responsibilities. Commissioners may be currently registered in only one commissioner position.
Merit Badge Counselors
One of the well-known aspects of the Boy Scout program is the more than 100 merit badges available for Scouts to earn. People who are knowledgeable about the various merit badge subjects are selected, approved, and trained by council and district advancement committees to serve as merit badge counselors. For example, a dentist might be asked to serve as a counselor for the Dentistry merit badge. A counselor must not only possess the necessary technical knowledge but have a solid understanding of the needs, interests, and abilities of Scouts. A counselor must also be a registered adult with the BSA.
