Character Connections

Learn how to use these power-packed ideals to help your boys make responsible, ethical choices now and throughout their lives.

Why have Charcter Traits/Core Values?:

To help achieve the purpose of Cub Scouting which is: 1. Character Development 6. Respectful Relations 2. Spiritual Growth 7. Personal Achievement 3. Good Citizenship 8. Friendly Service 4. Sportmanship & Fitness 9. Fun & Adventure 5. Family Understanding 10. Prepare for Boy Scouts

A successful Cub Scout program will prepare each boy to be a successful boy scout and help him prepare to live a righteous, full, and meaningful life.

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” - Frederick Douglass

“If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Boy Scout Law Character Traits Trustworthy Honesty Telling the truth and being worthy of trust. Loyal Citizenship Contributing service and showing responsibility to local, state, and national communities. Helpful Cooperation Being helpful and working together with others toward a common goal. Friendly Perseverance Sticking with something and not giving up, even if it is difficult. Courteous Respect Showing regard for the worth of something or someone. Kind Compassion Being kind and considerate, and showing concern for the well-being of others Obedient Responsibility Fulfilling our duty to God, country, other people, and ourselves. Cheerful Positive Attitude Being cheerful and setting our minds to look for and find the best of situations. Thrifty Resourcefulness Using human and other resources to their fullest. Brave Courage Being brave and doing what is right regardless of our fears, the difficulties, or the consequences. Clean Health & Fitness Being personally committed to keeping our mind and bodies clean and fit. Reverent Faith Having inner strength and confidence based on our trust in God.

Where should we teach them:

Everywhere – on hikes, on field trips, in den meetings, chance meetings, pack meeting

Ways to teach:

Plan it – Do it – Review it

Know Character development includes developing moral Commit knowledge and moral reasoning. Children must understand Character development also includes attention to what honesty means, and they must understand and interpret moral motivation. Children must be committed to doing what what a situation calls for and decide how to apply the they feel is right. They must be able to take the perspective of principles of honesty. others, consider how others feel, and develop an active moral . Lecture - Cubmaster Minute conscience. . Discussion – asking questions, boys sharing what . You are guiding them to discover the reason to have they have learned, role play the character trait for themselves. When they say it . Example – YOU! themselves they are committed to it. It is their idea, not your idea, they own it. . Positive Reinforcement – Den Ten, Den Doodle, reflection Practice . Activities (tactile, doing, vision) - Role-Play, Games, Character development also includes attention to the service projects, songs, Den displays in Pack development of moral habits through guided practice. Meeting, hikes, anything and everything Children need opportunities to practice what is good, to do . Problem Solving (allow them to figure out a solutions what is right but difficult, and to experience the core values as with lots of direction) they live in the world. . Cooperative Grouping -

Core Values should be promoted through all phases of life and from different perspectives: . God . World/Country/Community . Family . Self

It’s easy to have “church behavior” around church people, but what about when there are no church people around?

Ways to Remember: . Poster . Coin . Song

From Cub Scout Leader Book Section 4

Make a Character Connection With Any Activity Leaders can emphasize more values and make more character connections as boys participate in the many activities they enjoy in Scouting. You can connect values while going on a hike, cooking an outdoor meal, or working on a project very easily, using this three-step method:

1. Plan it. 2. Do it. 3. Review it.

1. Plan it. Before the activity, gather the group and have a • What rules and consequences apply to these values in the short discussion. Planning the Character Connection only experience? takes a couple of minutes. Highlight one or two values that you would like the youth to learn by doing this activity. 2. Do it. As you conduct the activity, highlight both positive • Will they need to show respect? and negative experiences that are teachable moments during • Will they need to be honest? the activity. Some teachable moments must be done as they • Will they need to cooperate? happen because the impact is lost if discussed at a later time. • Will they need a positive attitude? Others can be emphasized effectively during the review at the end of the activity. For these, make mental or written notes Identify the ways that youth might encounter these values in from the experience that could be discussed after the activity. the activity. • Will there be challenges or difficulties in the experience? 3. Review it. After the activity, gather group together and • Will there be a need to cooperate? have a discussion involving all members. Celebrate positive • Will there be temptations? examples of where the values were demonstrated in the • Will they need to follow rules? activity and highlight areas for improvement. • What part of the value does the group need to practice? Explain leader expectations about learning the values in the • What did the group learn about using the value? activity. • Discuss the experience and determine ways the value could • Why will these values be important on this activity? be used at home, at school, etc • How can they use these values in this experience? . Ethics in Action 1. Reserve judgment—let them give their ideas 2. Open ended questions—require scouts to think and give personal ideas. 3. Feeling questions—what did they felt about the experience—that makes it personal to the scouts. 4. Judgment questions— about their feelings 5. Ask guiding questions and stay on track 6. Closing thoughts—Bring discussion to an end Cub Den Meetings Agenda

Date: Meeting Place: Time: Achiev Before the Meeting Starts: Materials Needed Core Value ements Character Traits Poster Timer (5 min warning) Gathering Activity Pencils, Honesty Core Value Cross-Word Cross-Word Compassion Cooperation Positive Attitude Perseverance Prayer Review Bobcat/Flag Ceremony Flag Citizenship Respect Den Doodle Doodle Totem, Responsibility Cub shirt, pencil, paper 12 colors of beads Resourcefulness Announcements Activity Handouts Respect  What did you hope to gain from this class. Citizenship (those  BSA Prep who participate)  Why Character  How to teach

Game/Craft Health & Fitness Courage Closing Prayer Reminders/Notes Home