Joanne H. Osmond

Lds Guide to Scouting in the Primary Joanne H. Osmond

Scouting in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follows guidelines from Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City. The 2011 Scouting Handbook for Church Units in the United States describes the Church's relationship to Cub Scouting and how to use the program as the youth program for boys eight - ten years old. It also explains the Boy Scouting program for boys eleven - eighteen. The keys to a successful Scouting experience are: 1) understanding the value of Scouting in preparing boys to live the gospel principles, 2) parent involvement, and 3) a commitment to Scouting by ward and stake leadership. Unit leaders in Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity, and Venturing need training not only through the Boy Scout training programs but also by Church leaders with a firm foundation of the purpose and potential of Scouting in shaping the lives of boys and young men. Although the aims of BSA and the Church are essentially the same, there are differences in the implementation of the program. Boys enter and move through the ranks based on their birth date requiring a different approach to program planning than currently offered by the Boy Scouts of America. Many Cub Scout packs outside the LDS Church plan their program based on the school year with Cub Scouts moving from one rank to another depending on their grade in school. These units plan for the boys to advance together and graduate in February into Boy Scouts, while LDS boys advance to the next rank on their birthday. Cross over ceremonies occur throughout the year and happen when the boy turns eleven and joins the eleven-year-old Scout patrol. Packs chartered by wards in the Church do not participate in Tiger Cubs nor do they participate in over-night camping even for Webelos; an all-day hike will meet the requirement for Arrow of Light. Recruitment, funding, and basic procedures are tailored to the specific needs of our stakes and wards. The LDS program defined in this guide utilizes achievements and activities that focus on the monthly core values. Because many of the LDS packs are small, typically all of the Cub Scouts meet together to work on rank requirements. Wolf, Bear, and Webelos activities are grouped together and align with the core values and Faith in God. For example, in September all three ranks worked on Fitness and Sports. Starting with a firm foundation of LDS Scouting, the Academic and Sports Program Guide plus song, activity, ceremony, and other publications are useful resources to use in planning a meaningful Cub Scout program. Using a flexible calendar and planning the year based on the needs of the boys, LDS units provide an exceptional Scouting experience for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts with an excellent record of advancement and retention.