JOIN US
For New Scouts
If your Scout is new to Scouting America (formerly known as BSA, Boy Scouts of America), you will need to complete the below steps (note for siblings, you will need to go through separately for each child):
Step 1 : Register your Scout with the BSA using this link and pay the national and council BSA Dues online. Select "Youth";
As part of this process, you will be creating a Scouting America account as a parent (on behalf of your child), which can be used to manage and track your Scout’s progression throughout his/her Scouting journey. When you register online, you will pay a US$180 (~HKD$1,400) annual membership fee, which goes to the Scouting America national organization and the Far East Council (covering Hong Kong). Also included will be an annual subscription to Scout Life magazine. None of those fees come to the Pack.
Step 2 : Pay your Pack Dues of HKD$1,800 via PayMe to the Pack Treasurer, Yiting Zhu +852 5165 4196 (Please reference your child’s full name);
For all Scouts, these Pack Dues will cover your Scout’s handbook, supplies for activities (i.e. Raingutter Regatta kit, Pinewood Derby kit), supplies for recognizing your Scout’s achievements throughout the year (i.e. badges, awards, pins, belt loops), entrance fees to certain pack events, pack T-shirt, administrative costs (i.e. Pack recharter, adult leader registrations), as well as your Scout’s seat at our end-of-year Blue & Gold Banquet, where your Scout will "graduate" and receive his/her next rank neckerchief and slide. The only additional fees for your Scout that we expect at the moment are those relating to camping, which will be determined at a later date (for reference, last year's camping fees were ~HKD2,250 which covered one Scout and one adult).
Step 3 : Fill out the final Pack roster registration Google survey;
Included in the survey will be information we would like to gather about the Scout and family, along with parents' volunteering elections. Again, it is our hope as a pack that each parent volunteers in some capacity throughout the scouting year. Please note this is a different and separate survey you may have filled out when indicating initial interest in Cub Scouting.
Step 4 : Fill out the Uniform order Google survey;
All New Scouts will require the full uniform set, which costs US$115 (~HKD$900). In case you are not sure which sizes will fit your child, you can complete this form after attending the first Pack Meeting, where you will have the opportunity to have a look at uniforms worn by returning scouts of various ages and sizes. Once orders are reviewed and finalized, the Pack Treasurer will reach out to you requesting payment via PayMe. New Scouts entering Webelos and Arrow of Light are advised to order the tan uniforms.
The Pack Committee will check each order and advise general recommended practice. Once orders are reviewed and finalized, the Pack Treasurer will reach out to you requesting payment via PayMe.
Step 5 : With your child, attend the first Pack Meeting on Monday evening, September 9th from 5:30-7pm at Church of All Nations (HKIS Lower Primary School). The pack will be welcoming both new and returning Scouts and most importantly, identify Den Leaders/Assistant Den Leaders and form Dens.
For Returning Scouts
Returning Scouts are those who already have a BSA Member ID, regardless of whether your Scout has been a member of Pack 1. You will need to complete the below steps (note for siblings, you will need to go through separately for each child):
Step 1 : Complete renewal and pay directly online with the BSA. Based on when you registered last year, you should have received (or will be receiving) an email from Boy Scouts of America titled "Your BSA Membership is up for renewal" with a reminder and link to the BSA website where you can renew your Scout's membership for the upcoming year;
When accessing the renewal link, you will pay a US$180 (~HKD$1,400) annual membership fee, which goes to the Scouting America national organization and the Far East Council (covering Hong Kong). Also included will be an annual subscription to Scout Life magazine. None of those fees come to the Pack. In case you did not receive an email or the renewal email link does not work, please login directly to https://my.scouting.org with your BSA login ID and click on "My Application" -> "My Renewals". Please note some Scouts have an August 31st deadline, so please renew before your deadline!
Step 2 : Pay your Pack Dues of HKD$1,800 via PayMe to the Pack Treasurer, Yiting Zhu +852 5165 4196 (Please reference your child’s full name);
For all Scouts, these Pack Dues will cover your Scout’s handbook, supplies for activities (i.e. Raingutter Regatta kit, Pinewood Derby kit), supplies for recognizing your Scout’s achievements throughout the year (i.e. badges, awards, pins, belt loops), entrance fees to certain pack events, pack T-shirt, administrative costs (i.e. Pack recharter, adult leader registrations), as well as your Scout’s seat at our end-of-year Blue & Gold Banquet, where your Scout will "graduate" and receive his/her next rank neckerchief and slide. The only additional fees for your Scout that we expect at the moment are those relating to camping, which will be determined at a later date (for reference, last year's camping fees were around HKD2,250 which covered one Scout and one adult).
Step 3 : Fill out the final Pack roster registration Google survey;
Included in the survey will be information we would like to gather about the Scout and family, along with parents' volunteering elections. Again, it is our hope as a pack that each parent volunteers in some capacity throughout the scouting year.
Step 4 : Fill out the Uniform order Google survey;
Most returning scouts will only need to order a new hat based on their new rank for this year. However, please feel free to order any replacement items in the form. Arrow of Light scouts should order new tan uniforms to replace their navy blue ones (if they have not done so already). Returning Scouts entering Webelos should continue to wear their navy blue uniforms as long as they still fit. However, if Scouts have outgrown their navy blue uniforms, you may order a new tan uniform. New Scouts entering Webelos are advised to order the tan uniforms.
The Pack Committee will check each order and advise general recommended practice. Once orders are reviewed and finalized, the Pack Treasurer will reach out to you requesting payment via PayMe.
Step 5 : With your child in uniform, attend the first Pack Meeting on Monday evening, September 9th from 5:30-7pm at Church of All Nations (HKIS Lower Primary School). The pack will be welcoming both new and returning Scouts and most importantly, identify Den Leaders/Assistant Den Leaders and form Dens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is the deadline to complete registration?
A: To ensure that our supplies for the year arrive on schedule, everyone must complete the above steps by September 15, 2024. For returning scouts, a reminder your renewal deadline may actually be before September 15, 2024, so please check for your renewal email or go online at my.scouting.org and complete your renewal.
Q: Can my daughter register for Cub Scouts?
A: Yes! Cub Scouts is open to both girls and boys. Hong Kong Pack 1 operates as a family pack with mixed dens. Scouting America currently serves more than 176,000 girls and young women across all programs, including over 6,000 who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
Q: My child does not attend Hong Kong International School. Is he/she still able to register and be a part of HK Pack 1?
A: Yes. Although Hong Kong International School is the chartered organization for HK Pack 1, the pack welcomes all primary school children who are residents in Hong Kong, regardless of which school they attend.
Q: What rank will my child be placed for the upcoming scouting year? How young can my child be to start as a Lion?
A: Scouting America rank and age groups are based on the U.S. academic school year system. You can reference the equivalent of the grading systems on the HKIS website HERE. Kindly note, birthday cutoff is typically August 31st (i.e. your child must be at least 5 years old by August 31st to join as a Lion). R2 = Lion, G1 = Tiger, G2 = Wolf, G3 = Bear, G4 = Webelos, G5 = Arrow of Light.
Q: I see references to Scouting America, BSA, Boy Scouts of America. Are they the same?
A: Yes. They all refer to the same organization. BSA (Boy Scouts of America) is undergoing a rebranding and changing its name to Scouting America.
Q: How can I find out more information?
A: Please feel free to contact any of the Pack 1 Committee members identified below or ask us at the September 9 Pack Meeting! You can also check out the HK Cub Scout Pack 1 website or the official BSA website to learn more about Cub Scouts.
Q: What if I was a member of a different Pack and Council previously and already have a BSA membership ID and uniform?
A: Please reach out to Will and Cherry so we can ensure your registration and uniform components are correct for our HK Pack 1 and Far East Council.
Q: What if my child is not a U.S. Citizen and does not have a U.S. Social Security number?
A: No problem. HK Pack 1 is open to all Hong Kong resident families and scouts, regardless of nationality or citizenship. Please use this specific link provided, which will direct families to registration to Pack 1 chartered by Hong Kong International School. There is no requirement to enter a U.S. Social Security number. However, if you continue to encounter difficulties with the online registration, please let us know via email to [email protected], and we will further assist.
Q: Will there be a refund if I decide to quit scouting after the registration deadline?
A: Unfortunately, there will not be a refund because the registration fee will have already been paid to Scouting America and most of the supplies will have been ordered by the Pack as a bulk order.
Q: Will there be a refund to the families if the Pack has a surplus of cash from the Pack Dues and various fundraising?
A: No, surplus and successful fundraising will go towards lowering overnight camping costs or adult participation costs of Blue & Gold Banquet.
Q: What should I do if I am still on the fence about joining?
A: Attend our first Pack Meeting on September 9 to learn more about Scouting, and meet the Pack 1 leadership as well as returning Scouts and their parents. By the end of that evening we are confident you will know whether Cub Scouts is right for your family or not. Feel free to also contact and email questions to any of the pack leadership via the contacts listed below.
Hong Kong Pack 1 ([email protected])
Will Seo, Committee Chair ([email protected])
Nicholas Fong, Cubmaster ([email protected])
Cherry Zhu, Treasurer ([email protected])
Sincerely Yours in Scouting,
HK Pack 1 Leadership
