Pack 1280 is a family pack, which means that all children are welcome to participate.  Children participate in Scouting activities together. 

A parent or guardian must accompany the scouts to all events.  There is no drop off. 

BSA registration fee:  Currently the national fee is $85, and the district fee is $80.  These funds are paid by you, directly to BSA.  The national and district fees are paid annually.

Pack Dues: Dues run on a calendar year and are generally around $130 a year.  If you join midway through the calendar year, your dues will be prorated. 

Scout "Class A" Uniform: This can cost from $50-$150 depending on the options you choose. Pack 1280 requires a shirt, patches, neckerchief, and slide. The belt, pants, cap, and handbook are optional. These can be purchased online at: www.scoutshop.org or at the National Capital Scout Shop, located at 9190 Rockville Pike in Bethesda. We recommend going to the shop in person for your first uniform purchase. The folks in the store can assist you in selecting the right uniform, patches, and accoutrements for your Scout.  Optional "Class B" uniforms (Pack 1280 t-shirts) are sold directly by the pack in the fall and usually cost around $20.  Please note: Pack 1280 is a "waist up" unit - you do not need to buy Class A Scout shorts, skorts, or pants. 

Top Tip: Used uniforms can sometimes be found through Facebook groups and eBay.  Also, when purchasing a uniform, size it up so your Scout can wear the shirt for multiple years.  Pack 1280 also runs a "uniform closet" of free, gently used uniforms from past 1280 Scouts. When you join, check in with your leader about what's available in the closet. 

Special Event & Activity Fees: Special events such as camping, baseball games, museum visits, etc. are all extra and are not included in dues. Only the families participating will be asked to pay fees to cover those costs.  Fees associated with participating in our NOVA (STEAM) program are also additional. 

Offsetting the Costs of Scouting Through Fundraising: Scouts who participate in our annual popcorn fundraiser receive 16.5% on all sales in the form of Scout Dollars, which can be used to fund their personal Scouting experience including annual pack dues, uniforms, camping, etc.  

Financial Assistance: Pack 1280 is an inclusive Pack. If you would like to participate but are unable to due to financial constraints, please contact Pack 1280's Committee Chair at Pack1280CommitteeChair@gmail.com and ask for a financial assistance form. 

Great question!  

Dens are the smallest organizing unit in Cub Scouts. Dens are made up of a small group of Scouts who are in the same grade - usually no more than 10 Scouts.  Scouts stay in their den during their entire Cub Scout journey, advancing together through the ranks. 

Packs are made up of Dens.  There are typically at least six dens in each pack - one per grade.  Packs are the container group that organizes the dens and hosts monthly meetings, hikes, service activities, and special events in which everyone can participate.

A district is a small geographical area - typically part of a county.  Pack 1280 is in the Potomac District, which covers packs in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Garrett Park, Kensington, Potomac, Rockville and some parts of Wheaton and Silver Spring. Districts offer leadership opportunities to pack leaders and host special events for packs in their district.

A council is a larger geographical region - made up of several districts that cover multiple counties.  Our council is the National Capital Area Council, which includes 16 counties in Maryland and Virginia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and U.S. citizens abroad in North and South America.  The council helps coordinate the work of the districts and hosts special training and events. 

Youth safety is of paramount importance to Scouting. For that reason, the BSA continues to create barriers to abuse beyond what previously existed in Scouting (see below). Furthermore, in addition to the Scouts BSA guidelines, because Pack 1280's chartering organization is a Catholic Church, our adult leaders also undergo VIRTUS training and a criminal background check complete with fingerprinting. 

Youth Protection Training - All leaders are required to complete Youth Protection training and all parents are encouraged to take the training.  Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer’s Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of rechartering each year, the volunteer will not be registered. 

Two Deep Leadership - Two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities, including meetings. In situations requiring a personal conference, the meeting is to be conducted with the knowledge and in view of other adults and/or youth. Private online communications (texting, phone calls, chat, IM, etc.) must include another registered leader or parent and any communication via social media (e.g., Facebook, etc.) must include another registered leader or parent.

Female Leadership for Female Youth - There must be a registered female adult leader 21 years of age or over in every unit serving females. 

Discipline: Discipline must be constructive and it must reflect Scouting’s values. Corporal punishment is never permitted. Disciplinary activities involving isolation, humiliation, or ridicule are also prohibited.

For more information about Youth Protection, please see BSA’s Youth Protection website at https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/.