About Pack 624

History of Pack 624

About Pack 624

Pack 624 is a co-ed family pack that meets at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church (MIPC), on the north end of Mercer Island.

Most of our Cub Scouts attend nearby schools on Mercer Island including Northwood Elementary, West Mercer Elementary, Island Park Elementary, St. Monica’s, and the French American School of Puget Sound. Approximately 30% of our Scouts reside or attend school in Bellevue or Seattle.

We welcome any Cubs (youth in grades K-5) from throughout Mercer Island, Seattle, and the greater Eastside to join our pack!

Overview of Cub Scouting

Cub Scouting began in the United States in 1918 with the first official Cub Scout Packs being registered in 1930. Cub Scouts are organized geographically into Packs hosted by chartered organizations like schools and places of worship. As a BSA-chartered Cub Scout Pack, Pack 624 adheres to the BSA standards and processes which includes age-specific curriculum that is reviewed regularly for appropriateness and value. For more background on Cub Scouting please see the BSA Cub Scouts overview web page. 

Cub Scouts is a family activity. You are in Scouting with your Scout: parents attend all events and outings.

PACK STRUCTURE

Cub scouts can join at any point throughout elementary school. The pack is divided into “Dens” based on school grade level, each with an associated rank (see below). Each Den is led by one or more adult Den Leader. As of June 2024, Pack 624 has 60 registered Cub Scouts (Dens around ~10 scouts on average).

PROGRAM AND ADVANCEMENTS

Cub Scouts work to earn their rank badge during the course of the year by completed various required and elective “adventures” selected from an age-appropriate curriculum. As of 2024, this program includes 6 required adventures each year and 8-10 electives - of which Scouts must earn two. These “requirements” are to receive the badge of rank for that year; there is no minimal required activity to continue in Scouting for the next year.

Mid-way through 5th grade, Cub Scouts cross-over into Scouts BSA (for Youth 11-17) at the Blue and Gold Banquet held in February each year. Scouts BSA units are called “Troops”. There are four Troops based on Mercer Island: 457, 624, 647, 678.

Meetings AND ACTIVITIES

During the school year, each Den organizes 1-2 Den Meetings per month, in addition to the monthly Pack meeting. These meetings are focused on providing the opportunity for Scouts to earn their rank advancements for their year.

Meeting and activity attendance is optional, but absent Scouts may have to complete some activities on their own if they wish to earn their rank badge by the end of the year. Earning the rank badge each year is not required to continue in Scouting, but is usually each Scout’s goal.

Attending outings and campouts provides additional opportunity to earn advancements - but again are optional.

Safety

Scouting emphasizes Scout safety through standards and training. Pack 624, and all Scouting units, operate on a “Two-Deep” leadership system. Scouts are always accompanied by two adults. One-on-one contact in any form is strictly forbidden. Parents, Scouts, and volunteers are required to take training on youth protection including preventing and recognizing abuse, bullying, and Internet safety.

History of Pack 624 and the MIPC

The MIPC was founded by 10 families in 1951. The MIPC’s first chartered Scouting organization, Boy Scout Troop 437, was established in 1956 by Scoutmaster Bob Warner and Committee Chair Harold Petrick. 

Separately, a Cub Scout Pack (believed to be numbered in the 400’s) was chartered in approximately 1958 by the Shorewood Beach Club (today’s Mercerwood Shore Club). The Shorewood Beach Club subsequently lost its charter and, to avoid folding, MIPC took in Pack “4XX”. 

In 1963, a new Boy Scout Troop 624 was chartered by MIPC under Scoutmaster Bill Price. Subsequently, the number of Cub Scout Pack 4XX was changed to Pack 624 to be consistent with the number of the new Troop 624. So, Pack 624 boasts 5 years seniority over Troop 624 thanks to the number change. 

Pack 624 continues as the oldest active Cub Scout Pack on Mercer Island with a strong base of active Scouts. The MIPC is the only Chartered Organization on Mercer Island that sponsors both a Pack and a Troop.  

The MIPC and Pack 624 continue to make history by piloting new programs:

• In 2016, Pack 624 piloted the Lion Scout program for kindergarten students.

• In 2018, Pack 624 piloted Family Scouting introducing Dens for girls.

• In 2019, Troop 678G was chartered for junior high and high school aged girls in Scouting, creating an opportunity for girls to attain the rank of Eagle Scout.

We welcome you to join us in continuing to build the legacy of Pack 624. Join or volunteer today!