Join Pack 3291
Any kid in grades K to 5 (boys and girls) can join Cub Scouts, any time of year. No experience needed, no tryouts, no waiting for fall. Here's everything a new family needs to know.
Most of our parents never scouted (same for plenty of our leaders when they started). So before the how-to, here's what you'd actually see and do.
Pack meetings Den meetings Parents Your leader
What a pack meeting is like
Once a month the whole pack, kids and grown-ups together, fills a room at Village Presbyterian Church. It's the first Monday of the month, and siblings are always welcome. The meeting has a shape: a gathering activity while families trickle in, a flag ceremony, each den's turn to show off what it worked on, awards for what scouts earned that month, a few announcements for the grown-ups, and a closing.
Wear the uniform if you have one (uniform basics are below); visitors come as you are. Some months the pack meeting is the big event, the Pinewood Derby or Blue and Gold, and the calendar says where. Dates and details live on the calendar.
What a den meeting is like
Your child's den is the handful of kids in their grade, led by a registered parent volunteer who has done Youth Protection Training. Den meetings are where the hands-on adventure work happens: a project on the table, a skill to practice, a game that sneaks the lesson in. Progress gets tracked in Scoutbook, and parents can see it anytime.
Your den leader sets the day, place, and cadence that fit the den's families. Den schedules live on the members calendar once you sign in. And what your scout will actually do this year, grade by grade, lives on What Scouts Do.
Everything is parent and child
Cub Scouting is a family program. A parent or guardian is part of every meeting and outing; your den leader will tell you how your den handles it.
Part of that is Scouting America's program, not a pack quirk: Lions and Tigers always have an adult partner at every meeting, and everything runs with two-deep leadership, so no adult is ever alone with a child. Honestly, it's also our favorite part. You see what your kid is proud of the moment they're proud of it, and sooner or later you'll help run a station and enjoy it. Campouts are family campouts too: a parent or guardian camps with their scout.
Who is your child's leader?
Six dens, one per grade, each led by a parent volunteer from that den's families. The colors show up on neckerchiefs and on our calendar badges.
| Grade | Den | Den color |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | Lion | gold |
| 1st grade | Tiger | orange |
| 2nd grade | Wolf | red |
| 3rd grade | Bear | light blue |
| 4th grade | Webelos | plaid |
| 5th grade | Arrow of Light | tan |
New here? The leaders page has a pack-owned email address for every den, so you can ask a potential future leader what that year is really like. You can also email cubmaster@pack3291.org if you are not sure where to start. Signed-in families see their den in My Family and on the member calendar.
Step 1: Come see a meeting (optional, but the best start)
Pack meetings are the first Monday of the month at Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Rd, Prairie Village. Grab the next date and time from the calendar. Meetings are open: bring your scout-to-be and just watch, or jump into the games. You can also send us a note first and we'll look out for you at the door.
Step 2: Apply online
Registration goes through Scouting America's official online registration (about ten minutes):
After you apply, two things happen: your den leader adds your scout in Scoutbook, where advancement lives, and the webmaster sends your invite to the members site.
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National registration | $85 / year | Paid to Scouting America when you apply. |
| Pack dues | $30 / year | Covers awards, supplies, and pack activities. |
| Uniform & handbook | varies | See uniform basics below; gently-used uniforms often circulate in the pack. Ask! |
Cost should never keep a kid out of Scouting. If registration or uniform costs are a stretch, talk to us, quietly and without fuss. There are always options.
Uniform basics
The uniform grows with the scout: Lions (K) just wear the official Lion t-shirt; Tiger through Webelos wear the navy Cub Scout shirt with their den's neckerchief (Tiger orange, Wolf red, Bear light blue, Webelos plaid); and Arrow of Light scouts switch to the tan Scouts BSA shirt. Pants are whatever works. Nobody's checking. You'll also want the handbook for your scout's grade.
The place to go is the Kansas City Scout Shop at the council service center (10210 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO, about 15 minutes from Prairie Village). Real humans will help you find the right size and exactly the right neckerchief. (scoutshop.org works too if you can't make the drive.) Before you buy anything, ask about hand-me-downs. Kids outgrow shirts faster than they wear them out.
Questions families always ask
How much time does Cub Scouts take?
Typically two get-togethers a month: a den meeting (your den leader sets the day and cadence) and the monthly pack meeting, plus optional campouts, hikes, and events through the year (the calendar has it all). You choose your level; families with busy seasons dip in and out all the time.
Do parents have to stay?
Cub Scouting is a family program. A parent or guardian is part of every meeting and outing; your den leader will tell you how your den handles it. There's more on how that works in the parent and child section above.
Can girls join?
Yes: Pack 3291 is fully co-ed and has been welcoming boys and girls together. Dens are organized by grade.
Can we join mid-year?
Absolutely. Scouts join year-round and catch up on adventures at their own pace. The program is built for it.
My kid is shy / has never camped / isn't "outdoorsy." Will they fit in?
Cub Scouts is where kids become comfortable with new things, not where they arrive already good at them. Dens are small, activities are scaffolded by grade, and nobody camps alone. Family campouts mean you're right there too.
What about younger or older siblings?
Younger siblings are a familiar sight at pack meetings and family campouts. Kids older than 5th grade can join a Scouts BSA troop. We're happy to point you to local troops our scouts cross over into.