About Pack 535

Thank you for your interest in Pack 535!

Come meet us this September, no commitment required:

• Join Scouting Night 1: September 1st, 6:30–7:30 PM, Kiker Elementary
• Join Scouting Night 2: September 9th, 6:30–7:30 PM, Bear Creek Elementary

Both nights cover the same info, so come to whichever fits your schedule, or both.

Join Pack 535 Now →

Membership Dues

Dues for 2026–27 are $125 per scout ($85 national dues + $40 pack dues).

$40 Pack Dues cover:

• All patches and belt loops your Scout earns
• Pack t-shirt (Class B Uniform)
• Pinewood Derby kit
• A portion of pack expenses (trophies, website, storage)
• Membership fees for adult volunteers

$85 National Dues cover:

• Liability insurance for approved Scouting activities
• Leader training
• Upkeep of facilities

No child will be excluded from Scouting due to inability to pay. Please contact Treasurer Andy Kretschmar or Cubmaster Mark Gouldsmith about financial assistance.

Who We Are

For over 25 years, Pack 535 has served Kiker Elementary and, more recently, Bear Creek Elementary in southwest Austin. The pack welcomes girls and boys from Kindergarten through 5th grade. Our charter organization is The Exchange Club of Austin, which has given back to Austin for over 100 years and has hosted the Kite Festival since 1929. We're in the Thunderbird District of the Capitol Area Council.

Cub Scouting offers year-round activities for the whole family, including camping, the Pinewood Derby, community service, field trips, tours, and sports. Anyone interested in Scouting is welcome to reach out, we're happy to help you and your child enjoy the experience.

How Membership Works

Scouts join a den, usually a neighborhood group of six to ten kids the same age:

• Lion (Kindergarten)
• Tiger (1st grade)
• Wolf (2nd grade)
• Bear (3rd grade)
• Webelos (4th grade)
• Arrow of Light (5th grade)

Dens meet weekly. Once a month, the whole pack gathers for a pack meeting led by the Cubmaster and pack committee.

We Run on Volunteers

Pack 535 is entirely volunteer-led, and we always need more hands. Leaders serve in all kinds of roles, from Cubmaster to committee chair, committee members, den leaders, and more. Nothing is more rewarding than helping a kid enjoy Scouting, and no experience is required to start.

Like other Scouting units, Pack 535 belongs to a chartered organization (The Exchange Club of Austin), which provides a meeting place and support, while the pack committee handles day-to-day leadership and activities.

The Purpose of Cub Scouting

Since 1930, Cub Scouting has worked toward ten purposes:

1. Character Development
2. Spiritual Growth
3. Good Citizenship
4. Sportsmanship and Fitness
5. Family Understanding
6. Respectful Relationships
7. Personal Achievement
8. Friendly Service
9. Fun and Adventure
10. Preparation for Scouts BSA

Camping

Age-appropriate camping programs bring Scouts into the outdoors with theme-oriented adventure. Day camping happens in neighborhoods across the country; resident camping is at least a three-day experience, often built around a theme like castles, forts, or ships. Pack 535 families camp at local council camps and other council-approved sites, combining fun with doing one's best, getting along with others, and appreciating the outdoors.

Publications

Volunteers stay informed through Scouting magazine (circulation 900,000). Scouts can subscribe to Scout Life(formerly Boys' Life, circulation 1.3 million). Leader and youth handbooks are also available, including the Tiger Cub Handbook, Wolf Handbook, Bear Handbook, Webelos Handbook, Cub Scout Leader Book, Cub Scout Leader How-to Book, Cub Scout Program Helps, and Webelos Leader Guide.