Among the many rites of passage (and choices) for young boys returning to school next month: Joining your local Cub Scout Pack.

But it’s a significant point of change for their parents, too.

Most youth come into the program with the start of first-grade classes. Their initial experience after “Round-Up” — a special night hosted by each Pack to explain the program to newcomers — will most likely be a Pack Meeting, which is the monthly gathering of all Scouts in his Unit, through fifth-graders.

I remember my own son’s inaugural Pack Meeting like it was yesterday. I was just this side of clueless.

That’s probably how I ended up one month later on a World War II submarine, committed to adult chaperone for that very same group.

As I write here for AnnArbor.com, I’m well-aware that most of you reading this are more likely moms and dads, as opposed to 7-year-olds who’ll be encouraged to become “Tigers Cubs” next month.

So I thought it would be good to take this brief window between the time you’ve become aware of Cub Scout opportunities and the actual arrival of invitational fliers via backpack take-homes, to share the importance of your role in the program.

“Scouting is a game with a purpose,” said Robert Baden-Powell at some point after having started the Boy Scout movement — exactly 100 years old now here in the United States. Appropriate to age, for Cub Scouts we’re talking about the development of personal skills, learning to work cooperatively in teams, and safety.

Cub Scout Packs are led by adult volunteers, most of whom start out as doe-eyed parents of their own little Tigers. Next Tuesday, our local District Membership team will be working with those parents who already have a year-plus behind them in the respective packs they’ll be asking your son to join in September.

And one of the most important messages I hope they’ll take from that is how quickly you can become a contributing member of their adult team. How strongly our program parallels the elementary-school learning models. How our format and networking opportunities can spell a just-add-water means to drawing you closer to your son, helping you become an even better parent than you ever imagined.

Foremost among these truly unique attributes, I think, is a recognition the flows from our motto, “Be prepared.”

In this case, our preparation as an organization starts with the recognition that the new Cub Scout parent is not always — nor should they be expected to be — prepared. So we’ve designed a routine that carries on until you are. Meantime, we provide training to ramp you up quickly to a leadership role that connects in meaningful ways with your son.

Sure, we know the purpose behind this. But that doesn’t mean you can’t also have fun along the way. Thank structure for that. Like I said: Just add water.

Which, in your case, may well mean finding yourself on a World War II submarine before this Centennial Scouting year ends.

Dell Deaton is a local volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, Great Sauk Trails Council. He currently serves as District Vice-Chair for Membership and as Chaplain in his son's Troop. Former Cubmaster for Ann Arbor-based Pack. Wood Badge C-60-08, Beaver Patrol. Check out /scouting_dell to Follow me on Twitter.

Professionally, Dell Deaton is a Christian divorce (and alternatives) counselor based in Saline, Michigan. Personal life: Re-married, father of one, with three dogs. Other interests include Ian Fleming and James Bond wristwatches, on which he is an internationally-recognized expert.