Summer is sliding into fall and with the change of seasons the packs begin to gather.

That's Cub Scout packs. September is recruiting month for the organization, said Raymond Tennent IV, Scout executive/CEO of Moraine Trails Council in Butler, the organization that oversees Scouting activities in Butler, Armstrong and Lawrence counties.

The 26 Cub Scout packs in Butler County will be holding recruiting meetings in the next three weeks.

“Our program year runs parallel with the school year,” said Tennent.

“Most of our packs meet at schools. There are fliers at schools. Churches get fliers. Members invite their friends,” said Tennent about getting the word out about Cub Scouts.

“Beascout.org is a website dedicated to recruiting,” he said. “You can go to it to find your local pack.”

Tennent emphasized the process was not like joining a youth sports team, where if an applicant misses the sign-up period, he misses the season.

“If they miss the sign-up night, they just need to contact us and we will get them to the next meeting,” said Tennent.

As an inducement to join, said Tennent, the Moraine Trails Council is offering a free day of camp for every boy that joins Cub Scouting during September.

It's part of Camp Agawam's open house Oct. 12, 13 and 14.

“Camp Agawam is a big drawing point. We give them a taste of the camp soon in October, not make them wait nine months for it,” said Tennent.

The camp is near New Castle, 25 minutes from Butler, he said. It has a full-size pirate ship, frontier fort, castle and an underground mine.

“It's a gem hardly anyone knows about unless you go there,” said Tennent.

He expects 600 to 700 people will attend the camp's open house this year.

“Any kid that joins gets to go to an open house for free for a day. It's a taste of the camp,” said Tennent.

Perhaps the best recruitment tool are the Cub Scouts themselves, said Jodie Stocks, a den mother for Pack 31 in West Sunbury.

“I think it is just being more present. They see us and it's 'Wow, I want to be a part of that,'” said Stocks.

Stocks said each pack is made up of dens, groups of boys in the same grade level that meet several times a month.

Dens, in turn, are part of packs, chartered by a church, synagogue, fire department or a service club.

“It's a positive peer group. The boys are together all through school, first graders with first graders, fifth graders with fifth graders,” she said.

Tennent said the packs usually get a second round of sign-ups in October as friends of Cub Scouts hear about Scouting and decide to join, too.

The charter organizations approve the leadership of the den.

“First, the charter group approves the leaders, then us,” said Tennent. “It works pretty good. Most of the groups know their local people. Most of the leaders come from parents of the kids and alumni.”

As pack membership expands, the need for adult volunteers grows, said Tennent, but the present day places demands on people's time.

Tennent said, “If there is any threat to the BSA it's time constraints. Many people are working two jobs in this economy. Others are working long hours to keep their job.”

Stocks said if an adult has an interest or skill he is passionate about, they can volunteer to demonstrate or teach that. For example, a wood carver could teach his craft without being tied to a year's commitment.

“It's just helping with a one-time project. It doesn't always have to be the den leader that organizes it every week,” she said.

Stocks said Cub Scouting is a great way for a boy to learn life skills and values that will serve him well in the future.

Stocks said “this is the start of my sixth year” of involvement with Cub Scouts.

“I got interested through my son who will cross over to Boy Scouts in February. Then I start over with my other son,” Stocks said.

The following is a list of Cub Scout packs in Butler County, by name, the pack’s chartering organization, sign-up time, date and location.The phone number for the Moraine Tails Council is 724-287-6791.• Cub Scout Pack 5, Trinity Lutheran Church, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, Trinity Lutheran Church• Cub Scout Pack 6, St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Butler Catholic School Auditorium• Cub Scout Pack 19, Meridian United Presbyterian Church, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 19, Meridian United Presbyterian Church• Cub Scout Pack 20, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Sept. 20, Northwest Elementary School• Cub Scout Pack 29, LDS-Butler Ward, contact Moraine Trails Council• Cub Scout Pack 30, St. Wendelin Catholic Church, 6 to 8 p.m., Sept. 18, St. Wendelin parking lot in East Butler• Cub Scout Pack 31, Concord Presbyterian Church, 6 to 7 p.m. today, Concord Presbyterian Church, West Sunbury• Cub Scout Pack 33, The Presbyterian Church of Prospect, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Oct. 1 and 3, Moraine Elementary School in Prospect• Cub Scout Pack 39, Herman Volunteer Fire Department, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Sept. 18, Summit Elementary School, Summit Township• Cub Scout Pack 46, Happy Hunters Club, Fenelton, contact Moraine Trails Council• Cub Scout Pack 51, VFW Post 7376, Saxonburg, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 26, Saxonburg VFW• Cub Scout Pack 53, Methodist Men of Nixon United Methodist Church, 7 p.m., Sept. 20, Nixon United Methodist Church• Cub Scout Pack 55, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Cabot, contact Moraine Trails Council• Cub Scout Pack 58, Glade Run United Presbyterian Church, 7 p.m., Tuesday and Sept. 18, Glade Run United Presbyterian Church in Valencia• Cub Scout Pack 200, St. Paul’s Community Church, Chicora, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, St. Paul’s Community Church in Chicora• Cub Scout Pack 217, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicora, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 18, Petrolia Valley Youth Center• Cub Scout Pack 310, United Methodist Church, Slippery Rock, contact Moraine Trails Council• Cub Scout Pack 360, Lancaster Township Friends of Scouting, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Lancaster Township Community Center• Cub Scout Pack 380, Harrisville United Methodist Church, contact Moraine Trails Council• Cub Scout Pack 399, St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church, 6:30 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday, Evans City Elementary’s cafeteria• Cub Scout Pack 403, Cranberry Township Friends of Scouting, contact Moraine Trails Council• Cub Scout Pack 406, Hope Lutheran Church, 1:30 to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Cranberry Municipal Center• Cub Scout Pack 413, Mars United Presbyterian Church, contact Moraine Trails Council• Cub Scout Pack 457, English Lutheran Church, Zelienople, contact Moraine Trails Council• Cub Scout Pack 482, Connoquenessing VFD, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 19, Connoquenessing Elementary gym• Cub Scout Pack 1606, LDS-Cranberry Ward, contact Moraine Trails Council