Den Meetings
New scouts can start any time and are grouped into Dens with their peers at the same grade levels. Dens usually meet two times a month to earn adventures that are specific to their rank. Adventures provide age-appropriate activities that promote personal growth and development. There are both required and elective activities that teach information and skills through indoor and outdoor craft and game formats. Scouts learn about teamwork, responsibility, communication, safety, the environment, science, their community, and more. The older Webelos cub scouts may also do den-level overnight camping. Den meeting schedules vary by den and are determined by the parents in the group. 
Pack Meetings
All the dens in the pack come together once a month for a pack meeting. This gathering is an opportunity to recognize the achievements of the scouts and communicate information about upcoming events, but it’s also a time for larger-scale activities suitable for all of the age groups. It’s often easier to have special visitors and events at a pack meeting with more scouts participating at the same time.
When possible, pack meeting activities are also designed to connect with specific den adventures and can then be used to fulfill some rank requirements. Pack 502 meets on the third Thursday of every month throughout the school year from 6:30pm to 7:45pm. Most meetings are held at Vineyard Ranch Elementary, either in the cafeteria or outside as needed.
Pack Events
Each year there are multiple special pack-level events. The two overnight campouts take place in the fall and spring. We host a fun-competitive Pinewood Derby race event every year and sometimes also run a Raingutter Regatta or Space Derby when time and space is available. The scouts are also active in various service projects throughout the year, such as Scouting for Food where we collect donations for the San Antonio Food Bank.
Pack 502’s Big Bang is a special highlight event intended to provide a rare experience for the Cub Scouts and their families. Past Big Bangs have been both overnight and day-only events including an after-hours tour of the San Antonio Zoo at night, exploring the caves at Natural Bridge Caverns, visits to the Houston Space Center and the USS Lexington, and a sleepover with sharks at Sea World.
Twice during the year we hold special rank-up ceremonies. The scouts build their crossover bridge made with the twelve principles of the Scout Law, and each walks across it as part of the recognition of their achievement. At the Blue and Gold event in February the Arrow of Light rank scouts who have completed their final stage of the Cub Scout program are able to transfer to the older Scouts BSA program and are welcomed by a representative of their future troop. We also recognize at the Blue and Gold all the new scouts completing their Bobcat. The second rank-up is in May at the end of the scouting year for all scouts who have completed their rank’s requirements and are ready to advancing to the next stage in the program.
Last Updated 8/25/2022
