Join Scouting

Interested in Scouting?

From Cub Scouts to Venturing, BSA offers scouting programs
for boys ages 7 to 20,
and for young women ages 14 to 20.

Now is a great time to join.

Learn more about BSA programs.

See our list of
Upcoming Recruiting Events
hosted by your local Pack, Troop or Crew

If you are new to scouting, please read below for helpful facts and tips.

Scouting Programs
Tips for Joining Scouting
Did You Know?

Then follow these links to find and contact a local Pack, Troop, or Crew that would fit your needs.

You can also locate a local Pack, Troop, Team, Crew, or Ship
by contacting your local school or parish
or visit www.BeAScout.org.

Find a Pack or Troop near your home street.

Cub Scout Recruiting Nights

Here's an easy to visit your local Cub Scout Pack! This August through November, Packs are holding special Cub Scout Recruiting Nights at locations all around Howard County.

See our list of Upcoming Recruiting Events

Scouting Programs

BSA offers scouting programs for Boys ages 7 through 20, and for young women ages 14 to 20.

Tiger Cubs, a part of Cub Scouts, is a year-round family- and home-centered program that encourages the ethical decision-making skills for first-grade (or 7-year-old) boys. These boys participate in the program with their adult partners. The program emphasizes shared leadership, learning about the community, and family understanding.
Cub Scouts is a year-round family- and home-centered program that develops ethical decision-making skills for boys in the second through fifth grade (or who are 8, 9, and 10 years old). Activities emphasize character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.
Webelos Scouts, a part of Cub Scouts, is a year-round family- and home-centered program that develops ethical decision-making skills for fourth- and fifth-grade (or 10-year-old) boys. Webelos Scouts participate in more advanced activities that begin to prepare them to become Boy Scouts.
Boy Scouting. A year-round program for boys 11 through 17 designed to achieve the aims of Scouting through a vigorous outdoor program and peer group leadership with the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster. (Boys also may become Boy Scouts if they have earned the Cub Scouting Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old or have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10 years old.)
Varsity Scouting. An active, exciting, year-round program for young men 14 through 17 built around five program fields of emphasis: advancement, high adventure, personal development, service, and special programs and events.
Venturing. A year-round program for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age to provide positive experiences through exciting and meaningful youth-run activities that help them pursue their special interests, grow by teaching others, and develop leadership skills.
Sea Scouts. The Sea Scouting program in the USA is currently a division of the BSA's Venturing division. This area of Scouting is for Senior Scouts (boys AND GIRLS) from age 14 through age 20. Camping, Hiking and backpacking, Canoeing and kayaking, Sailing and power boating, High adventure activities of all types. NPD features Ship 361 - SSS Columbia Ranger.

For more background on the above scouting programs, visit http://www.scouting.org.
Better yet, contact a local Pack, Troop, or Crew.

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Tips for Joining Scouting

Join at any time of year by contacting the local Pack, Troop, or Crew.
Most scouting programs are based on grade or age and do not require prior scouting experience.

Join any Pack, Troop, or Crew. You do not need to be a member of the school, parish, religion, or organization that provides the facilities used by a Pack, Troop, or Crew.

The National Pike District has over 100 active scouting units within Howard County's borders including Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Venture Crew, and a Sea Scout Ship. Choose a Pack, Troop, or Crew based on:
- Convenience. Make sure the location and meeting times are convenient, especially for units that meet weekly. Note that weekly meetings are often at a different location and time than the monthly meetings of the entire Pack, Troop, or Crew, which are listed on this website.
- Friends. Consider a Pack, Troop, or Crew whose members are friends or have compatible personalities.
- Interests. Learn about the Pack, Troop, or Crew you are considering. Many focus some of their activities on special interests, such as boating, computers, scuba, search and rescue, and more.
- Visitation. Visit with a Pack, Troop, or Crew you are considering. Attend one of their meetings, and speak to one of the leaders. Find the Pack, Troop, or Crew that is right for you.

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Did You Know?

For Cub Scouts, the typical annual investment for registration, publications, uniforms, and patches totals around $90 to $130/year.
Scouting progresses with the maturity of the scout, from strong parental involvement in early Cub Scout ranks, to independence and self-determination for Boy Scouts.
Overnight camping is not a required activity for Scouting ranks younger then Webelos. There are overnight camping opportunities for all scouting ranks. Day camps are also available.
Boy Scouts of America is not a religion; it is a nonsectarian association of persons who believe in God. Since its founding in the United States in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has had an ongoing commitment to encouraging moral, ethical and spiritual growth. Over 30 different religions are represented on BSA's Religious Relationships Committee, from Catholics and Protestants, to the Armenian Church of America and Zoroastrians. Religion is a very small but important part of scouting activities, and scouts are asked to learn about their own religion or personal beliefs through acitivites in their home or place of worship. There are BSA materials or activities specific to many of the 30 participating religions, and alternatives for other religions or personal exploration.

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