What is Cub Scouts?
The FYRE Foundation’s chartered Cub Scout program consists of all youth, boys and girls, in kindergarten through 5th grade, ages 5-10.5 years old. Cub Scouting is fun for the whole family. In Scouting, boys and girls start with their best right now selves and grow into their very best future selves. It’s fun, hands-on learning and achievement that puts kids in the middle of the action and prepares them for today – and for life. Cub Scouts are separated into “Dens” according to their grade and gender (e.g. boys in 2nd grade will be in a separate Den than girls in the 2nd grade or 3rd grade). Cub Scouts are very active. The program is less academic and more about energetic fun that focuses on character development; Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, AND Mathematics (STEAM); outdoor adventure; basic skills; and conservation. For more information, go to https://www.scouting.org/programs/cub-scouts/
2022-2023 Cub Scout Program Year Calendar
What does a Cub Scout and the Scouting Family Do? Have FUN, Make FRIENDS, & LEARN!
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics (STEAM)
We make learning fun and memorable. Cub Scouts make water bottle rockets, construct wild contraptions to launch pumpkins, and build and compete with small robots, just to name a few.
Additionally, Cub Scouts design their own wooden cars for the highest speeds or coolest artwork. Scouts make boats out of recycled materials to race their regattas.
Last but not least, Cub Scouts learn about chemical reactions through building fires, making Smores, and so much more!
Pinewood Derby & Rain-Gutter Regatta
“Drivers, start your engines!”
Have a need for speed? Some of the Cub Scouts’ cars reach upwards of 200 mph! There are several categories to compete, including: Fastest, Movie Themed, Military Themed, Scout Themed, etc. The greatest benefit is the time well-spent with family while they design, cut-out, decorate, and race the cars.
Mom or Dad want to add rockets or engines? No problem! You can compete with your own car or regatta in the Adult “Outlaw” races.
Cub Scout Pack 481 owns its own modern metal track, decorations, along with the speed controls and display technology. This makes it a special day for the Scouts, friends, and family.
Field Trips, Outings, & “Go-See-Its”
We like to go see things in our pack. We take lots of trips either as an individual Den or as a whole Pack collectively.
Past field trips include: MacDill Air Force Base (even flew on a USAF air refueling tanker KC-135 on a mission), U.S. Coast Guard Station St Petersburg (toured a USCG Cutter), Orlando’s Medieval Times and Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Resort, the Moscow Ballet in Lakeland, Scout Night local fire departments, local television and radio stations, backstage movie theater tours, National Weather Service, MOSI, working dairy farms, Tampa Zoo, Big Cat Rescue, Native American Pow-Wows, RVR Horse Rescue, Redhawk Ranch, TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center, and so much more!
Enjoy sports? We go to pro and semi-pro sports Scout Nights. We’ve been to: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (football), TB Rays (baseball), TB Rowdies (soccer), TB Lightning (Hockey), and the Monster Jam (monster truck show).
Christian Religious Emblem Award
The FYRE Foundation is a Judeo-Christian values based organization. All are welcome here! FYRE holds that you do not have to “believe” to “belong.” Annually we offer age-appropriate classes on what it means to be a Christian. The classes are similar to a summertime Vacation Bible School, but it is meant to be with the Scout and their parent.
FYRE uses curriculum certified by the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) found at Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.).
For example, the youth have a fun learning experience learning about the right order of things in life. To make a pizza, it takes all sorts of ingredients but they have to be put together in the right order to be something rewarding in life. We give the class outdoors and let them make their own pizzas on the campfire.
We offer “Scouts Own” worship services on campouts and encourage Scouts to pray in their own traditions during meetings.
Every year FYRE Scouting units participate in “Scout Sunday/Sabboth” with other units from across the nation. If a Scout or family does not have a “home church” we encourage them to join FYRE’s host, Redeemer Church in Riverview, Florida.
To be in Scouting, it is a BSA National requirement for membership that the registered adult or youth believe in a “higher power.” Scouting does not dictate which higher power that is, just that you believe. Scouting teaches there is a “Duty to God” and offers religious emblem awards sponsored by each faith and denomination.
FYRE welcomes all faiths to attend its Scouting events.
Weekend Campouts & Week-long Summer Day Camps
We have tons of fun! We like to explore, get dirty, get loud, and create adventures.
Don’t know how to camp? Never made ice cream with a Ziploc bag? Never baked a turkey in a trash can or a tinfoil dinner in campfire coals? No problem! We provide “Camping 101” seminars for adults away from the youth to learn the “ins and outs” of basic camping skills. Learn how to pitch a tent, setup a kitchen and cleaning area, build fires, cook, learn how to use knives and tools, first aid, identify poisonous plants and animals, and water and weather safety. We provide fun adult training away from the kids so you can learn and be their hero.
All Cub Scout campouts will be in pre-approved campsites that are safe, have running potable water, and restrooms. This gives the younger Scouts a taste of what they can look forward to when they graduate up into the troop.
The most important aspect is safety, but fun is the close second priority. Every event offers opportunities for learning, building friendships and memories, and spending time with family.
The Pack typically has a campout per quarter and a week-long summer day camp. There are camporees where all the packs from the BSA District and Council come together for fun and competition.
The 4th and 5th graders (Webelos and Arrow of Light Dens) join Scouts BSA Troop 482(Boy) and Troop 483(Girl) on an annual Webelos-Only campout. This fulfills a rank requirement and also facilitates the transition into the troops once they graduate.
We spell “love” T-I-M-E.
Swimming, Canoeing, Kayaking, and Fishing
We take advantage of Florida’s abundance of water features. Whether a day at the beach, fishing on a lake, exploring a creek, or canoeing or kayaking at one of BSA’s many camps – we do it all!
Campfire Songs, Skits, and Run-ons
Hiking and Geocaching
Shooting Sports
Climbing & Rapelling
Parades, Patriotism, and Projects
Awards, Recognition, and Blue & Gold Banquets
Key Information
- Meeting Location: Redeemer Church Resource Center, 12404 Boyette Rd, Riverview, FL 33569
- Meeting Night: Every Thursday evening during the public-school year. All Dens meet every week in the resource center. The last week of the month is the Pack meeting.
- Meeting Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm
- Cubmasters: Brian DiLorenzo, Dave Stitt, and Anthony Lawson. In charge of all the Dens and running the Pack Meeting typically once a month.
- Den Leaders: Parents run the Dens. Dens are comprised of either boys or girls in a single grade level.
- Den Chiefs: Den Chiefs are older youth Scouts typically in high school in either Scouts BSA Troop 482(Boy) or Scouts BSA Troop 483(Girl). They are assistants to the adult Den Leader. Den Chiefs are looked up to by the younger Cub Scouts and help transition the Cub Scouts into the Troop when they graduate the program.
- Committee Members: The committee is comprised of adults that oversee the Cub Scout Pack and Scouts BSA Troops. Positions include the Committee Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership, Advancement, Youth & Adult Training, Program & Outdoors, Service, Chaplain, Quartermaster & Logistics, Special Events, and Fundraising Chairs.
Pack History
Cub Scout Pack 481 (Family) has a decades-long lineage in Riverview, FL. The BSA unit was first chartered as Pack 606 in 1994 by the Riverview United Methodist Church and then the charter transferred to the American Legion Post 148. Later Pack 606 reflagged as Pack 1481 in 2016 and then transferred charters to American Legion Post 389 in 2017. The following year, the Pack furled its unit flag and then stood up as a new unit chartered by the FYRE Foundation where it officially became Cub Scout Pack 481 (Family), part of a larger integrated program linked to Scouts BSA Troop 482 (Boy) and Scouts BSA Troop 483 (Girl) programs. The integration of the programs keeps the focus truly on fortifying families.