FAQ
How old (or young) can a child be to join Cub Scouting?
Cub Scouting is for girls and boys in Kindergarten through fifth grades, or 5 to 10 years of age. Children who are older than 10, or who have completed the fifth grade, are eligible to join the Scouts BSA (formerly known as Boy Scouts) program depending on their age and grade level.
How much does it cost to join?
As of 2025, here are the annual costs for Cub Scouting, with a breakdown of where the money goes.
$85.00 paid to Scouting American National Headquarters for staffing, insurance and overhead costs, and facility upkeep.
$55 paid to the Dan Beard Council (Oversees Scouting in Southwest Ohio/Northern Kentucky) for camp facilities and staffing.
$40 goes to Pack to pay for pack supplies, awards, yellow activity shirt for each Scout, and activities.
Additional Scout expenses are for uniforms and extra activities a family may choose to do outside of normal meetings. See information below for uniform requirements and ways to save money.
Pack 405 makes a considerable effort to keep costs low for families. Fundraising through annual popcorn sales is used to offset costs for Summer Camp and other Pack expenses. If costs are a concern, please speak to Pack Leadership to discuss further scholarship opportunities. Scouting is for everyone, and we don't want money to be a barrier to participation!
What about uniforms? What do I need to buy?
Uniforms are one of the methods of Scouting, and is an important aspect of being part of the group. We ask that Scouts wear a Field uniform shirt and the appropriate neckerchief for their rank. Cub Scouts in K-4 wear a blue uniform shirt, while Cubs in 5th grade should wear a tan Scouts BSA shirt to prepare for joining a Troop. Cubs earn belt loops for rank adventures, so an official Cub Scout Belt is a great way to show off those achievements!
While official pants are available for purchase, Pack 405 only asks that Scouts wear either shorts/skorts, jeans, or appropriate pants with belt loops.
Scouts must wear closed-toed footwear to all events for safety. Crocs are discouraged, especially for high physical activity days.
For some outdoor events, we will wear an Activity Uniform, which consists of a Yellow Pack T-Shirt which is given to families upon joining the Pack. This shirt helps us find our Cubs at a larger event, and is perfect for activities where we might get dirty!
Beyond the field uniform top, there are also optional Pants, Hats and a variety of accessories available for purchase through the Scout Shop, both online and in person. The local Scout Shop is located at at 10078 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45241.
In addition, there are many local and online options for finding pre-owned uniform shirts which may be an attractive option for families with fast-growing kids and/or tight budgets. Thrift stores, ebay, mercari, and even local Scout families tend to have shirts their Scout has grown out of. Also consider buying a size or two larger than currently needed so your Cub can grow into their shirt. A Scout is Thrifty!
Ask a leader for guidance on what to buy and where to find it, or if a Cub has issues with fabrics, tags, buttons, etc.
Where/When do you meet?
Unless otherwise specified, all meetings take place at the Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church, located at 6474 Beechmont Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45230. Parking is in the rear, and we access the Fellowship Hall via the rear doors.
Den (grade specific groups) typically meet twice a month on Thursdays.
The Pack (all of the Cub Scouts) meetings are generally held on the third Thursday of the month.
All Pack events are shared via a Google Calendar and posted to Scoutbook with reminders emailed to parents periodically.
We aren't part of the Mt Washington Presbyterian Church. Are we able to join?
All Cub Scout Packs are chartered by a community organization in order to maintain strong ties to the local community. In our case, we are chartered by the Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church, and they are kind enough to provide us a meeting location. Families do not need to affiliated with the Church in order to participate. Everyone is welcome regardless of they school they attend or their religious affiliation.
Who is responsible for activities and meetings?
Pack 405 is run entirely by volunteers! Usually, these volunteers are the parents of current or past Cubs. Adult leaders (Cubmaster, Den Leaders) run our Pack and Den meetings, and we also have several behind the scenes committee positions (Committee Chair, Committee Members, Awards Chair, Treasurer, Chartered Organization Representative, and more!) who help keep things moving.
All leaders must be registered with the Scouting America organization, are subject to annual background checks, and receive both rank specific training as well as youth protection training.
"Many hands make light work." If you're interested in helping out, please speak with one of our leaders for more information. Cub Scouts is much more enjoyable as a family!
What if my child misses a Den meeting?
All of us are pulled in different directions! The key is to communicate your absence in advance to your Den Leader and work out a plan to catch up on missing material covered at den meetings. As always, the more meetings you can attend, the better your Cub Scout experience will be.
