A guide to scouting.

Starting this month BSA councils across the nation will be rolling out the Family Scouting to Cub Scout packs. Basically girls will be allowed in the Cub Scouts. So there will be a lot of content produced by the media about it. And while most people who read those articles and watch those reports won't notice, there are many of us who immediately dismiss the work when there are inaccuracies in basic facts Here is a brief nomenclature guide.

Cub Scouts - A program for children from kindergarten to fifth grade.

Boy Scouts - A program for boys ages 11-17.

Venturing - A coed program for young adults ages 14 (13 if completed 8th grade) through 20.

BSA (Boy Scouts of America) - The national governing body that oversees the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and several smaller co-ed programs for older children.

Chartered Organization - A local institution that sponsors scouting in their community. They “own” the Pack or Troop.

Girl Scouts - A non related organization that serves girls from Kindergarten to the end of high school. Often abbreviated as GSUSA.

Pack - The top tier of a localized Cub Scout group.

Den - The smaller groups of age/grade separated groups of Cub Scouts in a Pack.

Troop  - The top tier of a localized Boy Scout group.

Cubmaster - An adult (over 21) who is the overall leader of a Cub Scout pack.

Den Leader - An adult (Over 21) who is in charge of a Cub Scout Den. Formerly Den Mother but now both men and women serve in this capacity.

Scoutmaster - The adult leader of a Boy Scout Troop, must be over 21.

Assistant Scoutmaster - Additional Boy Scout adult leaders, they must be at least 18 years old.

Senior Patrol Leader - The top youth (ages 17 and under) leader of a Boy Scout troop. Boy Scout troops are run by their youth leaders.

Eagle - The highest rank a Boy Scout may earn. A scout must earn 21 merit badges, and lead a service project before his 18th birthday.

Boy Scout motto - Be Prepared

Cub Scout motto - Do your best

Scout Law - A twelve point pledge that all phases of scouting use. A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

Scout Oath - All phases of scouting say the same oath or promise. On my honor, I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

As of January 1st 2018, Cub Scout packs will have three membership options.
Option 1 - Boy only Packs
Option 2 - Co-ed Packs with single gendered Dens
Option 3 - Girl only Packs.

Boy Scout Troops are not accepting girls at this time, but will be announcing their plan by 2019.