Welcome to Scouting in Jayhawk Area Council
Programs
Grade K - 5
Cub Scouts
Cub Scouts is for boys and girls, kindergarten to 5th grade. It is a program where youth develop the foundations for leadership, citizenship, and personal fitness through fun activities involving parents and legal guardians.
Grade 6 - 12
Scouts BSA
Scouts BSA prepares youth to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Throughout their time in Scouting, Scouts learn the value of hard work and experience the thrill of seeing it pay off.
Ages 14 - 20
Venturing
Created for boys and girls ages 14-20, Venturing is a youth-led program where Scouts experience positive mentorship and develop leadership skills in a fun, supportive environment.
Ages 14 - 20
Sea Scouts
Sea Scouting is a maritime program for boys and girls ages 14-20 providing a fun, safe environment for Scouts to learn, build friendships, and develop character while earning advancement.
Ages 10 - 20
Exploring
The Exploring program connects boys and girls ages 10-20 with mentors, businesses, and agencies within their communities to help them discover future career paths.
"10 Essentials" To Adventure
As many Scouts BSA members learn, it is always important to have their Scouting "10 Essentials" for a camping trip or hike. Here are the 10 Essentials for getting starting with Scouting.
For Cub Scout Parents
Call, order, or shop for a uniform at the Jayhawk Area Council Scout Shop where we can help you find the right set of uniform items and handbook for your Scout. They can even help with sewing on your Scout's patches.
Learn more about the Cub Scout Uniform by visiting the National Scout Shop.
A Cub Scout Pack is every youth Scout in a group. The Pack is divided into smaller groups, called Dens, by grade level. Dens meet regularly to do activities and work on rank advancement and awards. Packs typically meet once a month.
Every Scout who enters Cub Scouts, regardless of age/grade earns their Bobcat Rank. The Bobcat teaches Scouts about the Scout Oath, Law, and Motto.
After earning their Bobcat, the Scouts go into the Den for their grade level.
- Lion - Kindergarten
- Tiger - 1st Grade
- Wolf - 2nd Grade
- Bear - 3rd Grade
- Webelos - 4th Grade
- Arrow of Light - 5th Grade
Learn more about the Cub Scout Adventure Trail at Scouting.org
To find a Cub Scout Pack near you, call the Council Office (785-354-8541) or visit beascout.scouting.org
This is required for all Scout leaders and highly recommended for all parents. It’s good to understand how everyone involved in the Boy Scouts of America works diligently to keep kids safe. Here’s how you get started:
- Go to my.scouting.org
- Create an account
- Click on “Menu” and go to “My Training”
- Go to “Youth Protection Training” (Recommended for all adults. Required for new leaders before volunteer service with youth begins.)
- Optional: find the training that corresponds with your child’s age and program or your area of responsibility.
Jayhawk Area Council has many events for Cub Scouts throughout the year. For information on our Summer Camps for Cub Scouts, check out the Camp Delaware page.
At Den meetings, Pack meetings, or other Scouting events, connecting with other parents and Scouters will help you learn more about what Scouting has to offer.
Download and fill out these medical forms and make appointment with your Scout’s doctor for an annual checkup. Your Scout will need these forms to attend various adventures.
While Scouting means life-long friendships, it’s always fun to start with someone you know. Ask your child who they’d want to have fun with and invite them to a meeting.
For Scouts BSA Parents
Call, order, or shop for a uniform at the Jayhawk Area Council Scout Shop where we can help you find the right set of uniform items and handbook for your Scout. They can even help with sewing on your Scout's patches.
Learn more about the Scouts BSA Uniform by visiting the National Scout Shop.
To find a Scouts BSA Troop for Boys or a Scouts BSA Troop for Girls, call the Council Office (785-354-8541) or visit beascout.scouting.org. Many troops also have open house nights each year for those who might be interested. If you know of a troop, ask to see if you can visit for a meeting to make sure the troop is right for you.
Each troop will have its own ways things are ran, but for the most part they all follow the same basic structure. Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, once said "The patrol system is not one method in which Scouting can be carried on. It is the only method."
A Scouts BSA Troop is divided into smaller groups called Patrols. These patrols are lead by the youth Patrol Leader who reports up to the Senior Patrol Leader. The Senior Patrol Leader, or SPL, is the Scout in charge of making sure the troop is running. The SPL does not necessarily run every part of every meeting, but makes sure that someone is responsible for for leading their part. The SPL is mentored by the adult Scoutmaster on how how to improve the troop.
This is required for all Scout leaders and highly recommended for all parents. It’s good to understand how everyone involved in the Boy Scouts of America works diligently to keep kids safe. Here’s how you get started:
- Go to my.scouting.org
- Create an account
- Click on “Menu” and go to “My Training”
- Go to “Youth Protection Training” (Recommended for all adults. Required for new leaders before volunteer service with youth begins.)
- Optional: find the training that corresponds with your child’s age and program or your area of responsibility.
During the summer months, Jayhawk Area Council operates multiples sessions of Week Long opportunities for all Scouts BSA members our very own Falley Scout Reservation. For information on week long opportunities, visit the Camp Jayhawk Summer Camps page.
During your Scouts time in a Troop, they will have many opportunities to fundraise to so support their adventures so you don't have to. Each troop does fundraising differently, so make sure to talk with the adult leaders of your troop to find out what they do to help. Common fundraisers include: Popcorn, Pancake Feeds, Chili Feeds, and Country Meats Meat Sticks
Download and fill out these medical forms and make appointment with your Scout’s doctor for an annual checkup. Your Scout will need these forms to attend various adventures.
Your Scout Handbook has lots of information on the proper gear, skills, and fun resources for your outings. Check out the camping lists from Scout Life Magazine for some ideas on what to pack.
Mission, Oath, and Law
Common Acronymns and Terms
Scouting has a lot of acronyms and terms used by Scouts and Scouters. Below is a list of some of the ones you will hear often.
- General Terms
- YPT - Youth Protection Training: Every adult registered with the Boy Scouts of America must take the Youth Protection Training from the National Boy Scouts of America Website.
- Cub Scouts Terms
- CM - Cub Master: This is the adult leader in charge of a Cub Scout Pack.
- DL - Den Leader: A Cub Scout Pack is divided into smaller groups by age called dens. The Den Leader is the adult leader in charge of leading the den meetings.
- Den Meeting: Smaller group meetings by grade level. For example, a den meeting for third graders would consist of only Bears.
- Pack Meeting: Larger group meetings. Often times Packs will only have these meetings once a month.
- Scouts BSA Terms
- SPL - Senior Patrol Leader: The Senior Patrol Leader is the youth Scout in charge of a Scouts BSA Troop.
- ASPL - Assistant Senior Patrol Leader: This youth Scout is the assistant to the Senior Patrol Leader
- PLC - Patrol Leaders' Council: The Patrol Leaders' Council is made up of the youth leaders of a Scouts BSA Troop. The PLC is in charge of planning the events and meetings of the Troop.
- SM - Scoutmaster: The Scoutmaster is the adult leader who mentors the Senior Patrol Leader to run a Scouts BSA Troop.
- OA - Order of the Arrow: The Order of the Arrow is the commonly refered to as the Honor Society of the Boy Scouts of America. For more information on the Order of the Arrow in Jayhawk Area Council, visit the Dzie-Hauk Tonga Lodge website.
- NYLT - National Youth Leadership Training: NYLT is the premier leadership training course offered at the council level to train Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouts how to be better leaders in their unit.
