Frequently Asked Questions

How old does my child need to be to join Cub Scouts?

Cub Scouting is for boys and girls in Kindergarten through fifth grades. Children who have completed the fifth grade can join our local Portola Valley Scouts BSA troop.

What supplies and equipment are needed for Cub Scouting?

Scouts will need a uniform and a handbook for their grade level. Here’s a shopping list. Additional supplies and equipment may be needed for certain activities such as camping trips but many families in the pack have extra items to lend if needed. The Pack supplies the various belt loops, pins and badges as our Cubs advance through the program.

Are girls able to join Cub Scouts?

Yes! Our Pack has one of the highest percentages of girls on the Peninsula. At least one of our grade-level Dens is more than 50% girls!

My child has friends in a different grade level. Can he/she join that Den instead?

No. Our Pack has a strict policy that our Cubs participate in Den activities with their grade-level age group. This is so they can bond over the years with their true peers. And not to worry… there’s a ton of Pack activities, including campouts and the Pinewood Derby, where all Dens participate and mix between grade levels.

Does my child need to be in the Portola Valley School District to join?

No. While we do have a portion of Cub Scouts from the Ormondale and Corte Madera schools, we also have kids from other area public and private schools — including Woodside Elementary, Las Lomitas, and beyond!

I would like to be a part of my Cub’s growth, how do I participate?

There are great opportunities for your involvement! Every family is asked to volunteer in some capacity during the year. You can be a Den Leader, serve on our Pack Committee, or help with a specific Pack event.

What makes Cub Scouting in Portola Valley Pack 163 unique?

We’re fortunate to live in a beautiful recreation wonderland, full of redwood trees and open spaces. Pack 163 has an outsized emphasis on camping and the outdoors — with three to four campouts in a given school year. Beyond that, our Pack has adopted a “Cubs Can Do” motto — adults won’t do anything that a Cub is capable of doing themselves! We also run the renowned multi-year Pack 163 High Adventure program, that’s guaranteed to test the hiking & camping mettle of even the most seasoned Cub.