Cub Scout Legacy
Cub Scout Pack 266:
Celebrating a 55 Year Legacy of Fun and Adventure at St. Matthew!
By Ray Taix
What is Cub Scouts? Although the uniforms and insignias are the same, there are two separate groups of Scouts at St Matthew - Cub Scouts (Kindergarten through 5th Grade) and Scouts BSA (6th Grade through age 18). We share the same Scout Oath* and the Scout Law**, but we have different leadership. The Cub Scouts are a called a PACK and are learning the values and principles of Scouting for the first time. Older Scouts, known as a TROOP, already know these principles and operate as peers, planning and running their own activities. At the Cub Scout level, parents and volunteer leaders teach these core values while building experience and character that will serve them for life. More importantly to the kids, we do this by providing lots of opportunities for fun & adventure. Plus, almost everything we do can include Mom, Dad, siblings, grandparents…the whole family!
Our meetings and activities are fun and flexible, which is great for busy families. We plan big and small adventures, such as building little wooden race cars to race against our friends, going on weekend campouts, or spending the night on a real battleship! With their Den (small groups of up to a dozen kids), the Cub Scouts are learning new skills, refining their talents, exploring their community by visiting police or fire stations, and so much more. Parents use the Scout guide book to creatively plan engaging events and fun activities. All we ask of the kids is to “Do Your Best,” the Cub Scout Motto! All of this results in the kids earning Ranks & Awards that they can wear proudly on their uniforms.
All Scout Leaders are volunteers! We go through multiple levels of training both in the parish and through the Boy Scouts of America to ensure the safety of our youth. Leadership through service is the standard, and they do so with no expectation of praise or fanfare. All of them give freely to support the pack and the parish, lending their hearts and hands when needed. As leaders we “Do Our Best” to instill in children the Scout Oath* and the Scout Law**. As a Catholic Scout Leader, I find that these principles add something simple and tangible in our daily lives that refocuses our hearts and minds on Christ-like virtues. As Catholics we are called to evangelization, and Scouting as a Ministry provides a deeper connection through its membership and the bonds the Scouts build with each other and the broader community. Those who see our Scouts and their families in public instinctively know something about who we are as a parish, calling others to be a part of who and what we are. We even have the honor of having the Catholic Committee on Scouting representative, Mrs. Sue Guidry, as a teacher here at St Matthew. The Scout law says, “A Scout is Reverent”. In this, we teach all of them to respect their own faith and the faiths of others, and to act with the proper dignity when called upon to do so. You might be surprised to know that we have scouts and leaders in our parish who are not Catholic. We have a sprinkling of Protestant, Lutheran, Baptist and more, many of whom contribute immensely to what we do. All of them consciously choose to be a part of the St Matthew Scout Community and the nurturing environment we create. Our goal for our children is one that is shared. We strive to build men and women of strong character; spiritually, mentally and physically.
In 2019, Pack 266 celebrated 55 years of Cub Scouts at St Matthew, and the Troop has been here even longer! I’ve only been a Scout Leader for 6 years or so, but in that time I’ve learned a lot about what Scouts means to this parish. We have some amazing events that we put on that get the kids (and parents) brimming with excitement. We have an awesome aluminum racetrack that spans ¾ of the length of the MBC, wooden kid-powered race cars boldly painted with scout logos, and a giant rocket launch station that allows each kid to be a rocket scientist for the day. You might think every Scout has these opportunities but you would be sorely mistaken! In this respect, we humbly stand on the backs of parishioners and leaders who came before us. Over the years, they have built, purchased, and maintained all of these amazing things that help our Pack make their scouting experiences extraordinary.
Being a part of the Scouting program has been one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of my life. It allows me to do the things I love along with my two boys, and we have made some amazing friends along the way! Every time I put my uniform on and go out, someone stops me to talk. Former leaders, parents, or even former scouts with amazing stories to tell about what they did during their days in the Pack. I am continually impressed and humbled by the legacy of Scouting in our community, and with your support, it’s a legacy we hope to continue for the next 55 years!
Do you have a kid-friendly community service project? Please let us know about it! Our scouts love opportunities to serve, and have participated in everything from cleaning up trash around the school and neighborhood to planting trees in City Park!
*Scout Oath: 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.
**Scout Law: A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
