www.Troop20sd.org Scouting in the Mission Hills Community of San Diego, California
Cub Pack 20	Chartered by Scouting America	Scout Troop 20
Short History Scout Troop 20 has been serving youth in Mission Hills since 1918.  The Troop’s long life is a result of the many dedicated volunteers from the schools and churches in Mission Hills.  Scout Troop 20 and Cub Pack 20 is a result of the merger of Scout Troops and Cub Packs from the Mission Hills Congregational Church (now the Mission Hills United Church of Christ), St. Vincent’s Parish, Grant School, and Francis Parker School.  Troop 20 and Pack 20 now meet at the Mission Hills United Methodist Church (MHUMC).  And what about the pelican?  The mascot Pelican was originally a Merit Badge project of one of the Scouts back in 1938 when Taxidermy was still a Merit Badge possibility. For a detailed history of the Troop click here. For more information about our Scouting program, keep reading below.
Eligibility Cub Scouts are kids in grades K through 5 (sorry, not for pre-K or TK).  Youth who are older than 10, or who have completed the 5^th grade, can no longer join Cub Scouting.  The kids are organized in Dens by grade level:  Lions for Kinders, Tigers for 1^st Graders, Wolf Scouts for 2^nd, Bears for 3^rd, and Weblos Scouts for 4^th and 5^th Graders.  Children may join at any time and join their appropriate grade level Den without having to complete the prior Cub levels. Senior Scouts.  Youth who have completed the 5^th grade (or who are older than 10) may join the Senior Scout Program and must complete the program by the time they reach age 18 (although there are other co-ed Scouting programs that continue past age 18 like Venturing and Sea Scouts).  Fees.  Pack 20 registration fees run just under $100 per year.  Troop 20 has a $100 yearly registration fee that goes to pay for the program and for outings and badges, etc.  In addition there are National and local Council annual dues. The national dues are waived for active military families. And Troop 20 reimburses the National and Council dues for the first year for new Scouts joining the Troop. All of the adults at the Pack, Troop and District level are unpaid volunteers … parents of Scouts … just like you.  Many of the adult volunteers are former Scouts who realize the value of the program and wish to give back to others.  In addition, there are costs for Summer Camp, usually about $500 per Scout which is optional, but Scouts are strongly encouraged to attend Summer Camp with the Troop.  Uniforms.  Lions wear T-Shirts.  Other Cub Scouts wear blue uniforms.  Weblos Scouts and Senior Scouts have tan uniforms.  Since the boys quickly outgrow their uniforms, please check with adult leaders for re-purposed uniforms from our “uniform box”.  Uniforms are never required, but we usually can piece together a uniform for a Scout who cannot afford one. Schools/Religion/Girls/Youth Protection.  Youth from any school, any faith, any sex may join.  Our Troop/Pack history details a combined history of all the schools and churches in Mission Hills.  Pack 20 and Troop 20 meet at a dedicated Scout Room at the Mission Hills United Methodist Church, but there is no religious requirement or training.  In 2018 girls were invited to join Cub Scouts.  This does not mean the program is co-ed.  Girls are in separate Cub Dens.  At the Senior Scout level (middle school and high school), girls, starting in 2019, were invited to join Scouting with the same outdoor skills, leadership, and standards, but with a separate female Scoutmaster.   Troop 20 has a separate Girls Troop 20-G. For a further discussion of Religion/Sex/Abuse issues click here. Parents.  Another request is having a parent willing to help the Pack or Troop.  Parents are also strongly encouraged to become a registered adult of Scouting, thus becoming a voting member of the Troop or Pack Committee, and taking two short on-line training courses.
The Program Scouting is a proven program to teach life lessons, outdoor skills, character development, self-assurance, respect for others, citizenship training, mental and physical fitness, and leadership.  The Cub Scout program is mostly fun and games and is led by the Cub’s parents using a format and resources provided by the Boy Scouts of America.  Advancement in Cub Scouting is automatic by grade level.  Kids joining in the 3^rd grade, for example, would automatically join their peers in the Bear Den all working together to earn the Bear patch.  Lions have fun and earn stickers and attend some age appropriate Pack Meetings.  The Bobcat Rank is an introductory step to be completed by all Cub Scouts (except Lions) when they join.  Cub Scouts learn skills and earn belt loop awards.  Webelos Scouts earn pins and can work toward the coveted Arrow of Light Award as they transition to Boy Scouting.  Scouting America is a youth led program and is designed to foster leadership skills and develop character.  Parent volunteers make the program possible, but the young men and women themselves are expected to provide the leadership with the senior Scouts teaching the newer Scouts.    There are specific national requirements for each rank:  Scout, Tenderfoot, 2^nd Class, 1^st Class, Star, Life, and Eagle Scout.  The Scouting program ends when the young man or woman turns 18.  But many Scouts continue in Scouting with Venturing, Explorer Scouts, Sea Scouts, or helping a Pack or Troop in an adult role.  Unlike Cub Scouts, advancement in Scouts is earned by demonstrating skills, performing community service, earning Merit Badges, and providing leadership.  The Merit Badge program in Scouts provides youth with a wide assortment of skills they may never have a chance to experience otherwise.  Adult Committees.  Both the Cub Pack and the Scout Troop are administered by Adult Committees consisting of the parent volunteers (called “Scouters”) and at least one parent from each family is expected (but not required) to participate.  A required hour of on-line training is required for registered parents. Parents should retain the certificate of completion of this course which emphasizes the requirement that at least two adults are required to be present at ALL Scout activities.  In order to encourage Adults to become registered volunteers, Troop 20 reimburses the registration fees for Adult Scouters who take on leadership positions.
Cub Scout Pack 20 A Cub Scout Pack is organized in Dens by grade level.  Dens are led by Adult Den Leaders.  Dens meet twice a month and they come together once a month for a General Pack Meeting (or hike or campout).  The kids learn new things and have fun with a purpose.  The Church’s Scout Room is available for Den Meetings but meetings may be held elsewhere.
Scout Troop 20 A Scout Troop is organized in Patrols led by Scout Patrol Leaders.  The entire Troop is led by a Scout called the Senior Patrol Leader, who is elected by the Scouts in the Troop.  The Scouts plan their own outings which may include hiking, camping, High Sierra trips, scuba diving, etc. subject to availability of adult supervision.  The Boys Troop 20 meets weekly on Tuesday evenings at 6:00pm to 7:30pm in the Scout Room.  The Troop 20 Girls meet on Wednesday evenings in the Scout Room. The Troops go to separate week long Scout Summer Camps. Scouting in Mission Hills Troop 20, as part of the Scouting America, has stood for character development, outdoor skills, and values-based leadership training for over 100 years.  We invite your family to join our time-tested program in Mission Hills.
How to Join Email one of the contacts below -or- go to www.BeAScout.org and enter zip code 92103
The following email addresses have spaces added before and after the “@” sign in order to prevent spam messages.  These spaces must be removed before using these emails. Cub Pack 20:  cubs @ Troop20sd.org (remove the spaces when using this email) Scout Troop 20 Boys:  boys @ Troop20sd.org (remove the spaces when using this email) Scout Troop 20 Girls: girls @ Troop20sd.org (remove the spaces when using this email) For Troop 20 “Scouts Own” Web Pages (lots of pictures) click here.
Cub Pack 20	Chartered by Scouting America	Scout Troop 20
This website is the property of the Troop 20 Committee in San Diego, California and is reflective only of our views, thoughts, and opinions. This site does not have the endorsement of Scouting of America, and it is not an official communication channel of Scouting America.