FAQ
When are your meetings?
We meet Monday nights at the St Philips Church in Scotts Valley from 6:30 - 8:00. We also have one weekend meeting a month where we do an outdoor activity such as a hike, camp, or kayak trip.
St Philips Church is located at 5271 Scotts Valley Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
What do you do at meetings?
One meeting a month we have our Pack meetings, where the entire multi-grade pack gets together for an activity. We do skits, fun age-appropriate activities, service projects, or meet community heroes such as going on a fire station visit. One monthly meeting is our parent meeting, where we plan upcoming activities. The other meetings are den meetings, where the cubs meet in their single-grade dens and do fun activities that support the requirements for adventures.
How much does scouting cost?
Our pack charges an $80 annual fee, BSA National requires a $80 annual registration fee, and they charge a $25 one time joining fee, our council charges $16 annually for insurance. The total cost for joining our pack is currently $201 for the first year and $176 each year after the first. We keep our pack fees low by fundraising twice a year. Our big fundraiser is our fall popcorn fundraiser and in the spring we do a smaller Scout O Rama coupon card fundraiser.
Do the fees cover everything?
No. fees do not cover the cost of uniforms, handbook, fees for optional council activities such as shootouts or camps, or parking fees at activities. Our pack fees cover our yearly awards, with a small amount left over for supplies. To cover the cost of other activities such as camping and supplies for meetings, we ask that our cubs participate in fundraisers such as selling popcorn and camp cards. We are committed to fundraising and budgeting so that supplies and program fees can be completely covered by the pack and all of our families can participate equally regardless of financial background.
Is their financial assistance available?
Yes! Both the pack and the council can provide help with fees. There is also a pack and council uniform bank where we can help with uniforms. We are committed to not turning any family away because of finances. We will work with your family to meet your needs, whether that's a payment plan, financial assistance, or both.
The council's financial aid application is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tR-54OSgVUxHUJEVtppLpix2zJyghyGR/view?usp=drive_link Our district is Loma Prieta. Please return the form to the council using the mailing address, fax, or email on the form. Please do not send it to the pack, the information on that form is confidential and only needs to be reviewed by the council.
We welcome any family who is applying for assistance to join us at events while they are waiting for their application to be processed.
Please reach out to the pack via email regarding assistance with pack dues.
Can my cub’s sibling come to activities and meetings?
Yes! Scouting is a family activity and your entire family is welcome at all activities.
You are an all-girls pack; are dads welcome?
Absolutely! All family members are welcome at our meetings and we have many dads that are active in the pack.
Does your pack have a religious affiliation?
No. Our pack is chartered by the non-profit SCMG, which focuses on environmental education and does not have a religious affiliation. Families in our pack belong to many different religions or are not affiliated with any religion. All girls K-5th grade and their families are welcome in our pack regardless of religious affiliation.
Are LGBTQ+ families welcome?
Absolutely. Our pack welcomes all girls K-5th and their families. Our council is also committed to being a welcoming place for all scouts and their families. One of our pack leaders is on the Councils Diversity Equity and Inclusion sub committee on gender where we are always working to make sure we provide the best and most welcoming experience for the scouts in our council and their families. We welcome any family that feels that our pack is the best fit for their child's gender identity.
My child has special needs. Are they welcome?
Absolutely! We will work with your family to meet your cubs needs so they can have a fun and successful time in scouting. Our council has a committee on supporting scouts with special needs that can also help if we need advice on how best to support your cub.
This looks really fun but my scout is really afraid of . What if she doesn’t want to participate in an activity?
That is okay! Scouts is all about challenge by choice. We will provide your cub with the opportunity to challenge themselves and the support they need to be successful, however if a cub is simply not ready for a particular challenge, whether that is performing a skit in front of the whole pack or climbing to the top of the rock wall, we understand and we will support that choice as well.
My Family has never been camping before. What if we don’t know what to do or have the right supplies?
Camping with cubs is a great way to be introduced to camping! We are happy to answer questions, we have gear we can loan out, and since cooking and chores are shared you don’t need to be a camping expert to enjoy a pack campout.