Cub Scout Leader How-To Book SUCCESSFUL IDEAS TO ADD FUN AND EXCITEMENT TO DEN AND PACK ACTIVITIES 33832A ISBN 0-8395-3832-4 © 2001 Boy Scouts of America 2007 Printing CONTENTS C Introduction 1. Accentuate the Positive How to celebrate achievements, special events, and boys’ good behavior. 2. Crafts How to make anything and everything. 3. Games How to choose and play games of every shape and kind. 4. Outdoors How to enjoy the outdoors, from hiking to campfires. 5. Razzle Dazzle How to jazz up any meeting. 6. Special Pack Activities How to organize and host everything from a blue and gold banquet to a pinewood derby. 7. Cub Scouts With Special Needs How to help Cub Scouts with special needs succeed. Resources Index Introduction • How do I plan a skit for next month’s pack meeting? • How do I find a new game—that can be played indoors? • How do I make papier-mâché? • How do I make a hike interesting to my den? • How do I plan the blue and gold banquet? • How do I help make my Cub Scout with spe- cial needs more successful? • How do I make pack meetings more upbeat? You’ll find the answers to these questions and countless others within the covers of this book. The Cub Scout Leader How-To Book has been written for den leaders and Cubmasters across the country. The tested suggestions you’ll find for games, crafts, skits, applauses, songs, and more will add fun and sparkle to all your Cub Scout meetings and adventures. Used with Cub Scout Program Helps, the Webelos Leader Guide, and the Cub Scout Leader Book, this book will enable you to plan den and pack programs that will be fun for everyone. And while boys are having fun, they will be learning, advancing in rank, and strengthening relationships with one another. That’s what Cub Scouting is all about. ACCENTUatE THE POSITIVE 1 The Purposes and Methods of Cub Scouting and Ideals of Scouting 1-1 Highlighting Advancement 1-2 Den Doodles and Flags 1-3 Special Awards 1-4 Capture the Memories 1-8 In the Public Eye 1-9 Boy Behavior 1-12 This chapter deals with everything that is positive in Cub Scouting: Cub Scout ideals, advancement, awards, and good behavior. The goal of the chapter is to suggest ways for you to recognize and reward these things. Rewarding the positive encourages boys and will ensure the success of the program for both boys and adults. THE PURPOSES OF CUB SCOUTING THE METHODS OF CUB SCOUTING Since 1930, the Boy Scouts of America has helped Cub Scouting uses seven specific methods to younger boys through Cub Scouting. Cub Scouting achieve Scouting’s purpose of helping boys and is a year-round family-oriented part of the BSA pro- young adults build character, train in the respon- gram designed for boys who are in first through fifth sibilities of citizenship, and develop personal grade (or are 7, 8, 9, and 10 years of age). Families, fitness. These methods are incorporated into all leaders, and organizations work together to achieve aspects of the program. Through these methods, the 10 purposes of Cub Scouting: Cub Scouting happens in the lives of boys and 1. Character Development their families. 2. Spiritual Growth 1. The Ideals 3. Good Citizenship 2. The Den 4. Sportsmanship and Fitness 3. Advancement 5. Family Understanding 4. Family Involvement 6. Respectful Relationships 5. Activities 7. Personal Achievement 6. Home and Neighborhood Centered 8. Friendly Service 7. The Uniform 9. Fun and Adventure 10. Preparation for Boy Scouts The Purposes and Cub Scout Program Helps and the Webelos Leader Guide have suggestions for closings that fit the month- Methods of Cub Scouting ly theme. Here are some additional suggestions: and Ideals of Scouting 1. Take one line from the Cub Scout Promise or Law of the Pack and ask one of the boys to explain what it means. Help him along as needed, and Every pack and den activity should reflect the 10 then ask another boy how that portion of the Cub purposes of Cub Scouting, which also reflect the ide- Scout Promise or Law of the Pack was used in the als and purpose of the overall Scouting movement. den meeting that day. Note that the fifth method of Cub Scouting used to 2. Talk about what it means to “Do Your Best.” achieve Scouting’s purpose is “Activities”—which is what this book is all about. 3. Talk about the fact that every day we have two choices: We can choose to do things that are To emphasize the purposes of Cub Scouting, use right and help other people; or we can choose them during the Cubmaster’s minute at the end of to do things that are selfish and serve only us. the monthly pack meeting or during the den leader’s Our character and what other people think of minute at the end of the den meeting. us are based on these choices. In the Cub Scout The den leader’s minute introduces the formal Promise, we promise to help other people. Ask closing of the meeting. To begin, ask the boys to boys whether they will keep that promise. arrange themselves in a formation, such as a circle or 4. Talk about one of our country’s heroes or what a horseshoe, that will signal to them that it is time to makes our country strong. Here’s an example: listen. Say something like, “It’s time for us to close “Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were two our meeting for today. But before we go, I’d like for of our country’s great leaders. In the early 1800s, us to think about something important.” This “min- they and their company, called the Corps of ute” is to be truly that—it should take only a minute Discovery, forged the path that linked the east or two. Then close the meeting with the Cub Scout and west coasts of this land. When they arrived Promise, the Law of the Pack, the Cub Scout motto, in what would become Washington State, deci- or another appropriate closing. sions had to be made about their return. Rather Accentuate the Positive 1–1 than just deciding themselves and telling their Materials: Ladder, badge shapes cut from wood companions what to do, Lewis and Clark let the or foam board, candleholders, candles members of the corps vote. It would be nearly You can use over and over a pack ceremony ladder 70 years before a black man could vote in the like the one shown. The ladder folds for easy storage. United States, and yet York, a black slave who You can make a ladder from pine and finish it with had made the difficult trip, cast his vote with the varnish or shellac, but any ladder will do. Cut badge others. The Constitution wouldn’t guarantee the shapes from wood or foam board and fasten them to right of women to vote until 1919, but Sacajawea, the rungs. Burn the badge designs into the wood or an American Indian woman, voted with the men use large Cub Scout insignia stickers adhered to foam that day. America has been blessed with many board. Fasten candleholders to each rung and light great leaders like Lewis and Clark. Who will be each candle as that particular badge is represented in next? Will it be you?” the ceremony. Be sure the candle flames will not be 5. Talk about incidents at school or in the com- under the rungs above them. munity that showed good citizenship or bravery, courage, or compassion. AKELA’S TOTEM 6. Pick out a familiar saying or song and tie the meaning into the purposes of Cub Scouting. For Materials: example, Johnny Mercer wrote in his song: “You Insignia posters got to accentuate the positive, and eliminate the Wood or foam board negative.” Another way to say this might be to 1-by-2-inch wood make the most of your blessings and make the Nails least of your troubles. Coffee can Plaster 7. Give the boys an opportunity to tell one good thing that happened to them that day or week. This totem can be either 8. As a group, talk about what it means to be a floor- or tabletop-sized. Use friend, respect others, or share. the Cub Scout Insignia Poster Set that may be purchased from your Scouting distributor or local council Highlighting Advancement service center. Mount them on the foam board and attach to the main post of the totem. Nail the crosspieces to CEREMONY LADDER the main post and hammer nails into them, one for each boy. Hang from these nails small Make ladder of pine and diamond-shaped posterboard pieces with each boy’s White candles finish in a natural color. name on it. A small coffee can filled with plaster can hold the totem if it is inserted into the plaster just before it sets. TWO-WAY CEREMONY BOARD Materials: 1-by-2-inch board Hardboard Cord Paint or chain Drill 1 ⁄4-inch plywood Glue This ceremony board is Ranks (bottom to top) easy to make and can be Tiger used in many ceremonies. Bobcat Cover the 1-by-2-inch board with hardboard. Paint Wolf it blue. Drill holes in the top for gold candles. The Bear front and back sides are identical, with storage space Webelos 1 inside. Cut the Arrow of Light from ⁄4-inch plywood, Arrow of Light paint it gold, and glue it to the board.