This page hopes to answer some questions that we are frequently asked by boys who are considering joining our Pack and by their Parents:

Do I have to be a Parishioner of OLMC to join?

It’s not necessary. You have to be a boy age 6-11 to join. Oh, and it helps if you enjoy making friends, having fun and developing skills in a wide variety of activities.

I’m not the “outdoors type”. Why should I join?

Scouting isn’t just about camping. Our Scouts are involved in a great many different activities. (Check out the “Information on what we do" and the "Top 10 reasons" pages) What’s more, if you join, you may find that your favorite interest very quickly becomes one of our’s. New ideas are more than welcome.

As for the “outdoors stuff”, we do encourage a lot of outdoor activity. But you might really be surprised at how much you’d enjoy a trip out “under the stars”. You’ll get the chance to hike woodland trails, camp out, try you hand at archery, fishing and many other activities. Then, too, we travel to some pretty interesting places (Check out our calendar of events page). You can help decide what adventures the Pack tackles next.

Do I get to participate right away?

Absolutely! Once you join, you’ll be assigned to a Den and in no time at all, being part of the team, you’ll be involved in all the Packs activities (Certain activities, of course, will take some time until you’ve received the proper training to do them safely). In a very short time, you’ll earn the rank of Bobcat, the first of 5 ranks towards the highest rank in Cub Scouting, that of the Arrow Of Light. We’re a busy bunch, so you’ll be right in the middle of things, right from the start.

How do I join?

We have weekly meetings every Tuesday at 7:00 pm during the school year (check our calendar elsewhere on this site). We meet in the Scout Room on the second floor of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Center located at 39 East 22nd Street, Bayonne, N.J. With your Parent/Guardian, come to a meeting and meet with our Cubmaster and other leaders. You’ll need to fill out an application. That’s all that’s required.

FROM THE PARENTS:

Why should my son join?

Well, besides the fun, making friends, and the great activities he can experience, here’s some other good reasons for your son to get involved:

- Along the way, he’ll pick up many useful skills that will come in handy any number of ways.

- He can become a part of deciding what direction the Pack takes, what adventures it tackles and what good it can do. In the process, he’ll develop leadership skills.

- He’ll help with service projects that he can take pride in and that benefit the community. He’ll be a part of an organization that’s dedicated to helping others.

- He’ll develop habits and an approach towards getting things accomplished that will serve him well the rest of his life.

- He’ll enjoy working as a team. But he’ll also find that he has developed the ability to handle things on his own.

- In Scouting, the values you are instilling in your son at home and the character you want him to develop will be reinforced by the examples set by our adult leaders and the other Scouts (there's nothing like learning from your peers).  BSA calls them "Timeless Values" and that's an apt description.

How much does it cost?

Yearly BSA registration is currently $32 and our Packs yearly dues are currently $100.

Soon thereafter, your son will need a Scout Uniform (there are ways to reduce that cost and we’d be happy to discuss that with you). We also supply several uniform items to you upon registration for your son.

Costs for the camping trips usually are $25-$30 including. Sometimes there are additional associated costs. But usually, the Pack tries to pick up some or all of those additional costs.

If your son wants to attend Summer Camp (that’s optional, but we highly recommend it), the cost has varied from year to year and depends upon several factors. Again, we’d be happy to discuss this with you.

How much are parents involved? 

Our Pack is geared towards teaching the boys to take charge and get things done by themselves, for themselves. They work as a group at meetings.  The Parents/Adult leaders support the program and guide it. Parents participate as much as they like and, we believe, as much as they’re able. Frankly, we believe there’s no better way to bond with you son.

Mom’s too?

Absolutely! Hard to imagine where we’d be without our Scout Moms’ help.

Do Parents go on the Camping trips?

This is a must for the Cub Scouts. Our Pack strictly follows the Boy Scouts of America’s “Youth Protection Program”, which requires that the Scouts be accompanied on every activity by an adult parent/guardian and an absolute minimum of two adult leaders for their safety. We’re lucky to have a seasoned group of adult volunteers that allow us to follow these “safety first” BSA guidelines.

However, as our Pack continues to grow, sufficient transportation is sometimes an issue. So, if you’re able to provide a ride for your son and another Scout or two, that would be a great help. And if you’d like to join us on a trip, as we’ve said, you’re more than welcome. You, too, might find yourself enjoying a trip out in the Great Outdoors or be interested in some of the places we've visited or that we plan on visiting. See the "Scrapbook" page for more details. 

What is the “Pack Committee”?

The Committee is made up of the Scouts’ Parents, and the Packs adult volunteer leaders (both past and present; we’re blessed with a lot of experience from which we draw upon). The Committee supports the Cubmaster and the Pack in making the Scouting program run. We raise funds, help make plans and arrangements and guide the Scouts in making their decisions and plans during the year. We usually meet the first Monday of the month at 7:00 pm upstairs in the Scout Room of the Parish Center (please check our calendar). We’re always looking for fresh ideas and extra helping hands. Please feel free to join us.

Any other questions you may feel free to email me at 3and8fan@optonline.net or call me direct at 201-970-1728. Thanks for looking Albert Faccioli

RETURN HOME