Cub Scout Pack 4686 in Port Angeles, Washington, is honored to be the oldest Cub Scout pack in the United States. Chartered in 1923, the pack’s legacy stretches back to the efforts of local businessman Sol Levy, who sought to create scouting opportunities for boys younger than 12. Inspired by the British and Canadian Wolf Cubs, Levy brought the concept to Port Angeles, founding the pack several years before Cub Scouting was formally adopted by the Boy Scouts of America in 1930.
Origins of Pack 4686
According to scout historian Rob Ketcherside, Levy and other Port Angeles leaders were inspired by the Wolf Cubs across the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Victoria, British Columbia. With the help of W.W. Parkes, a Cubmaster from Victoria, Levy established the Wolf Cubs in Port Angeles, giving boys in the community an early version of Cub Scouting. By the late 1920s, Pack 4686 had grown to 80 members and was participating in a variety of activities, including parades, performances, and summer camps, such as the now-legendary Camp DYB at the mouth of the Elwha River.
Pack 4686’s influence even reached the national level. In 1928, the pack performed at the Seattle Rotary Convention, impressing the Boy Scouts of America’s leadership, including Chief Scout Executive James E. West, who soon adopted Cub Scouting nationwide. This pivotal moment is why many credit Pack 4686 with inspiring the official creation of Cub Scouts in the U.S.
Intergenerational Impact
One of Pack 4686’s most remarkable aspects is its deep, intergenerational connection to the Port Angeles community. The current Cubmaster, Steve Phillips, is not only a former Cub Scout of the pack but also the great-great-grandson of one of its original leaders. Phillips’s great-grandfather was one of the original Cub Scouts under Levy’s and Parkes’ leadership in the 1920s alongside Leon Levy who is regarded as the first cub scout in the United States.
Steve Phillips has continued the family tradition, guiding the next generation of scouts through activities such as the Pinewood Derby, Rain Gutter Regatta, and family campouts. His leadership is a testament to the pack’s enduring impact on Port Angeles families, ensuring that the spirit of Scouting lives on through each generation.
Cub Scouts Welcomes Girls
Historically, Cub Scouts has served only boys, but that shifted in 2018 when Scouting America began accepting girls into the program. This broader initiative offered greater inclusivity as well as more opportunities for all children and their families.
Pack 4686 embraced this transition, becoming a co-ed pack where both boys and girls can participate in the same activities, including outdoor adventures, community service, and leadership development. This move has allowed the pack to serve a broader segment of the community while continuing its longstanding tradition of fostering teamwork and character building.
Continuing Legacy and Recent Recognition
As Pack 4686 celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023, it honored its past while looking forward to the future. The anniversary marked not just a century of Scouting but also a recognition of the pack’s impact on the development of Cub Scouting nationwide. Over the years, the pack has produced numerous Scouts who have gone on to lead and serve their communities, including heroes like Harry Stavers, a Pearl Harbor survivor and a lifelong Scout, whose roots can be traced back to Pack 4686.
Today, the pack is still chartered by the Port Angeles Lions Club after 80 years of unwavering support. It continues to be a vibrant part of the local community, fostering responsibility, outdoor skills, and camaraderie among youth on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The pack remains committed to the core values of Scouting and carries forward the mission that Sol Levy set in motion over a century ago.
Pack 4686 in Port Angeles is more than just the oldest Cub Scout pack in the United States—it symbolizes the long-lasting impact that Scouting can have on individuals, families, and communities.
From its early days as a pioneering Wolf Cub pack to its continued success today, Pack 4686 exemplifies the best of Scouting: fostering character, leadership, and a love for adventure. With its rich history and enduring legacy, the pack stands as a reminder of the power of community and the importance of passing on traditions from one generation to the next.
References + Press
Cub Scouts Began in Port Angeles
Forgotten Pearl Harbor Hero Was a Cub Scout from Port Angeles
Camp DYB (The Northwest’s First Cub Camp)
Local Cub Scout Programs May Have Option for Girls as Members
Sol Levy Archives (University of Washington)