Scouting Anniversary Week Ideas by Chris Sears

November/December is the time to plan...  Scouting Week!

Some Anniversary Week Ideas

1. If possible, have the Blue and Gold Banquet during Anniversary Week, the week of BSA’s birthday: Feb 8.
2. In Den Meeting that week have a birthday cake and talk about the history of Cub Scouting.
3. Consider having an annual Parent Meeting during that week. It is an excellent time to both honor the parents who support the pack and to inform them of how Scouting works. Perhaps give a little thank you gift to the parents.
4. Have the boys wear their uniforms to school that week, or particularly on February 8th.
5. Offer to the local City Council for the boys to perform the flag ceremony at the city council meeting that week. Then bring a “Scout Birthday” birthday cake to share with the Council as a thank you for their service.
6. Suggest to the pastor of your church that for the Sunday of Anniversary Week the scouts offer the opening and closing prayers and be a youth speaker.  The scout leaders could be the main speakers.
7. Prepare a photo spread on posterboard of your pack or troop, and have the pictures on display as members enter the church so that they can see what the Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts have done during the year. Then take that same poster to the local grocery store and request that it be put on display there.  If possible, coordinate with other units in the area to do the same and create a larger effect.
8. Conduct a service project work day that week.

1. There are often many projects that need help at a church, library, club, school, or other meeting place for your unit, and Anniversary Week Saturday morning may be a great time to do some of these as a thank you.
2. There may be a service project that could benefit the city or the community.
3. Consider the Cub Scouts and/or Boy Scouts clean the church that week.

9. Consider using BSA clipart on your Sunday Service program cover that week, and quote from a religious leader regarding Scouting.
10. Look into creating a store window display of Cub Scouting, or at school, or in a leader’s front window.

Silly Cub Carols with Optional Santa Cub-style Songs Insert

Here is a tri-fold with songs about Cubbing, set to familiar Christmas carol tunes.  Print pages 1 and 2 back to back, then fold into a tri-fold brochure.

Also included is an optional insert. This is the reverse: Songs about Santa, put to tunes familiar in Cub Scouts.  Print pages 3 and 4 back to back, then cut into 3 strips and insert a strip into the tri-fold.

I have updated these Silly Cub Carols to fit the new Scouting USA program as of November 2018.

Musical Instruments for Wolf and Bear Adventures

To complete an optional adventure, Wolves are to make a homemade wind instrument and Bears are to make a drum, sistrum (Egyptian rattle), mbira (African thumb piano), and rain stick. Here are instructions to make all of them.

The total price will depend on what you
already have on hand and what you need to
purchase. I have many of the purchase
prices listed with the materials needed for
each type of instrument. After the title of
each instrument I have put in parenthesis
the actual individual price for making that
instrument for one cub.

I am  not big into arts and crafts.  When I need to do them with cubs, I teach, guide, and assist as needed, but I would rather move on to the next project for them to earn more awards than give them time to decorate in our meeting.  However, in preparation for teaching this class to other cub scout leaders, I took different colored electrical tape and wrapped them around my paper towel tube rain stick then added a leather lacing with a feather hanging on the end.  Surprise!! I now see the value in decorating! My heart wasn’t into it … I didn’t even make sure it looked perfect, but I am so proud of it! Even more proud than the other instruments that I didn’t decorate. When I am finished with them, the other instruments will be no problem to disassemble, but I admit that I will have a difficult time letting go of my decorated cardboard tube with foil and beans, and I am a lot more likely to pick it up to play with it for fun or to show to somebody. The moral: Let them decorate! They’ll take ownership and are more likely to actually get use from it after they get home!

A Well-Trained Leader

Several years ago I was asked to provide a list of steps and a timeline for cub scout leaders to become well-trained. Recently at Roundtable somebody asked just such a question, so I am bringing this forward again. I did my best to put together a list as requested.  Get excited for knowing where to get training, not overwhelmed for the list. Just start at the top and work your way down, like a checklist.

Akela's Council is only offered in the Utah National Parks Council, and I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest attending, no matter how new or how seasoned you are in Cub Scouting, as well as no matter what District, Council, or state you live!!! Akela's Council would be described as a Woodbadge specifically focusing on actually presenting Cub Scouts.  (It is being considered by National BSA as official, but is still in the process of being watched similar to a pilot program.)

When One Pack is One Combined Den

Is your pack small enough that you need to combine all dens (Wolf/Bear/Webelos) into one combined den?  I was in such a pack October 2017. To boot, we only had one set of den leaders, who would do a Wolf activity one week, Bear the next, Webelos the next, and then we had pack meeting and nobody has completed a full adventure.  I happen to know that with the old Cub Scout program books, BSA provided a very not well-known alternate program combining all 3 dens every week, Plan A and Plan B, for alternating years.  Now we have all new programs and no new alternate c9mbined den program, yet.

Rather than just sit back, knowing what I know, and watching these boys earn one adventure award every 3 or 4 months, and watching these leaders working as hard as they knew how to in order to keep everyone happy, I went to work assembling this admittedly unpolished but very functional lesson plan.

I took a look at the Wolf, Bear, and Webelos required adventures for similar subjects being learned, and I put them together, because as long as you are aware of age appropriate safety guidelines, there's no problem with these cub scouts dabbling in others' activities.

If you choose to use this plan, it will take a little more work on your part to prepare and plan your den meeting.  You will need all 3 books, and I suggest the Den Meeting Planning Book as well.  But, I did the work in letting you know what adventures naturally work together.  You're welcome. ;D Here it is!

Paper Rocket Launcher, Compressed or Stomp: Wolf 10b, Bear 10b, Webelos Craftsman 4

 This image is from madlaboratory.wordpress.com, mentioned below.

You think water rockets are fun?  My favorite are paper rockets! They go WAY higher and faster and give me a huge thrill!  Last summer my husband made a water rocket launcher for our family to use in the summertime, and we're excited about that.  After having experienced air compressed paper rockets at Akela's Council in Sept, he is even more excited about making a paper rocket launcher.  Thus, the reason for this post. This can be done all year round without getting wet! 

An compressed air paper rocket launcher is DEFINITELY the one I'd use for a pack meeting!



At a den meeting the boys can make a stomp launcher for their rocket fun at home with things they probably have around the home:

plastic bottle

bicycle innertube or vacuum hose

2 ft (1/2-3/4” diameter) PVC tube or metal pipe

duct and masking tape or scotch tape

file folder or cardstock (for rocket)

A stomp launcher is where the force of air comes from stomping on a plastic soda pop bottle, sending the air through a tube, sending the rocket off the launcher. 

This would pass off several requirements or electives, but just taking a look at requirements:  Wolf 10b (Family Fun), Bear 10b (Family Fun), Webelos Craftsman 4 (Build something useful out of material besides wood)

Here is a paper rocket instruction sheet, but you can see one made with real pictures (much easier to understand, I think) if you just go to the original site: http://madlaboratory.wordpress.com/tag/paper/

Beautiful Routered Pinewood Derby Trophies, Wolf 5, Bear 21, Webelos Craftsman

In "This Old House"-style, our own Grove Rasmusson (a Cubmaster) teaches us and shows us exactly how he makes 30 impressive Pinewood Derby trophies, each costing just over $1.50, depending on your available resources. In his own words:

     "Each year I make the awards for the Pinewood derby. The top piece is 5"x 1-1/4". The Middle piece is 5-3/4" high and the Bottom piece is 8" long. The whole thing costs about $50 depending on what you have around the house. 15 minutes long? I know, but I was pretty thorough! :)" Yes, the video is 15 minutes long, and it certainly is thorough. It makes it easy to craft a trophy worthy of displaying the cubs hard work for a lifetime. Click on the Cubmaster's name in the first paragraph to watch this video. If you live within the Saratoga Springs/Eagle Mountain area, Grove has generously offered the use of his tools to you of you would like to borrow them to make these trophies. If so, contact him at garasmusson@yahoo.com

If you involve your den in making these, it can pass off:
Wolf 5 TOOLS FOR FIXING AND BUILDING
Bear 21 BUILD A MODEL  b. build a display for one of your models.
Webelos CRAFTSMAN  (technology) 1. Safe handling of tools. 2. Construct 2 different wooden objects. 3. Make a display stand to be used to display a model.

Turn Back the Clock Blue & Gold 2012

 

The Blue & Gold Banquet is a Cub Scout pack's birthday celebration for the BSA.

It is also a time for receiving ranks and other awards.

Traditionally the Blue & Gold Banquet is held in February.

The Core Value for February is ALWAYS Resourcefulness.

The optional theme for 2012's Blue & Gold Banquet is "Turn Back the Clock"

Your Blue & Gold might be a Banquet or might be a party, depending on your ... RESOURCES.

    Communities and families are all about combining our talents, resources, and effort. We've lived in an unusually booming economy for 30 years. We've gotten so far away from that, on one side we don't want to bother anybody, and on the other side we feel a useless resource. Before the 1980's it was normal, expected, and appreciated to use leftovers and ask for help. Our economy is no longer booming, and it's time to harness and practice the skill of Resourcefulness. Talk about Turning Back The Clock!

    Not wanting to “require” people to donate anything, last year for our Blue & Gold we bought several pounds of rice and divided them among those who offered to make it. Turns out all of them had plenty of rice they would have gladly donated. We ended up wasting our budget resource and went over budget simply because we didn't ask or give opportunity. 

    For one Bear Den meeting we bought birdseed and had a ton left over. Turns out one of the other dens (Wolf or Webelos) had just bought seed for their den the month before and would have loved to give away their extra birdseed. This is one of the purposes of Monthly Pack Planning Meeting: to tell what we are doing in our dens for the next month to take advantage of our resources, be it material for building, be it local expertise that would love to teach the boys, or whatever.

    USE YOUR RESOURCES so that you don't waste committee budget resources. Find leftovers, talent, knowledge, experience, whatever. You don't know what all of your resources are until you ask. The boys will be blessed for it. Everyone will be blessed for it. People will start to regain their self-worth again.

Turn Back the Clock - 2012 Blue & Gold Banquet - Theme Ideas
Snoopy (dog houses, Peanut’s characters, stuffed dogs, dog biscuits/bowls)
Monopoly (chance cards, jail, play money, house/hotels, properties, pawns)
Baseball (Positions, ball/bats, bases, diamond, stadium, scoreboard, pennants)
Olympics (Medals, trophies, theme music, 3x5’ flags, award stands, torch, events, countries)
Indian Lore (Teepees, bows/arrows, artifacts, buffaloes, dream catchers, animal hides, drums, totem poles, horses, camp fires)
Trains (Station, models, luggage, tickets, conductor, sound effects, tracks)
Patriotic (Flags, eagles, bunting, campaigns, town crier, 1776, scroll)
Presidents (silhouettes, flags, buttons, slogans, band music, donkeys, elephants, quill pens)
Country Store (dry goods, candy jars, sacks, counter, prices, crates, lanterns)
Medieval (banners, armor, knights, castles, jousting, dragons)
Pirates (ships, treasure chests, skull/crossbones, eye patch, gold, maps, parrots, cannons)
School (Chalkboards, report cards, apples, rulers, alphabet, globes, houses, playground, bell)
Western (cattle, brands, irons, campfires, chuck wagons, rail, fence, hay bales, wood wheel)
Farms (barns, tractors, implements, hay bales, silos, fences, animals, pies)
Boys Club (club houses, “boys only” signs,make baking contest)
Noah’s Ark (Ark, animals, rainbow, dove, water, raindrops)
Library (books, stands, shelves, carts, titles, magazines, card catalog, Dewey Decimals)
It's About Time (Clocks, Minute to Win It, Families, Skit in a Minute)
Roots of Scouting (There are at least 3 actors who portrait Lord Baden-Powell.  I only have contact info for one in our area:)  David Nielsen 801-756-9265(h), 801-787-6583(c), dbnielsen1@gmail.com
New Testament, Book of Mormon, or Mormon Pioneers
Choose any time or event in History (Gold Rush, Wright Bros., Renaissance, Cavemen & Dinosaurs, The Great Depression,1950s)
Back to the Future / Enchantment Under the Sea
The Time Machine / Steam Punk

Scary Campout Skit

At Roundtable a cub den brought scenery of a woodland they had painted, masks they had made, scenery they had built, and put on a skit for us -- all of which gave them credit for their rank.  We could hear them clearly, and they did an awesome job.  It was funny; it was entertaining; it was appropriate. Wish we had pictures!  The funny skit can be found on the Home Page, if you click the Skits tab at the top.

Spontaneous Turkeys

This hilarious audience participation game was presented at Roundtable last night.  I wish I had taken pictures, but hopefully my description will suffice.  All of my measurements are only a guess to help you visualize, and the colors can be any you choose, so do what actually works.

Make 4 turkey tails, one of each color: brown, red, yellow, orange (or pink, blue, black, green ... whatever you already have around):

1.  Cut a 6" circle out of stiff paper for the following colors:  brown, red, yellow, orange,

2.  From the same paper cut out feathers.  The feathers we saw last night were just 6"x1.5" rectangles. 

3.  Attach the feathers to the top circumference of the circle.

4.  Get material 6" wide by 6' long to fit around someone's bottom and hips and tied in the front.  Sew the feathered circles to the middle of the material.

Make 4 turkey masks.  Here's a picture of a simple one that I would probably make, but with paper.

THE GAME:

Teach the audience the following words to the tune "Have You Ever Seen A Lassie" or "Here We Are Together":
    Have you ever seen a turkey, a turkey, a turkey
    Have you ever seen a turkey with feathers like that.
    There's brown ones and red ones and yellow ones and orange ones.
    Have you ever seen a turkey with feathers like that.

Get 4 volunteers who wear the turkey masks and tail throughout pack meeting.  Whenever a certain word is said, let's just pick "thank" for an example, the turkeys get up and start strutting around like a turkey would and the audience sings the above song.  When the color of their tail is sung, the turkeys wag their tails to the audience.

UNPC 2010 Pow Wow Book & 2011 Supplement

Emphasis on Pack Meeting Ideas, Den Meeting Ideas, and Core Value Ideas

In August of 2010, Utah National Parks Council put out their 2010-2011 Pow Wow book.  It is a 414 page PDF document.  There are many pages with Core Value Info and ideas for Dens and Packs.

In August of 2011, Utah National Parks Council put out a supplemental CD to their 2010 Pow Wow book.  There are many pages with Core Value Info, and pages with forms to be able to keep hard copies for each of the boys so you do not have to rely on the boys books.

The Akela's Council just added a copy to their blog of both the Pow Wow book and that supplement in PDF form, clear and ready to be printed.  Check it out.  There's good and helpful stuff there!  http://akelascouncil.blogspot.com/2012/09/utah-national-parks-council-pow-wow.html

(It is a 414 page document, so be patient as it opens up)

Table of Contents for the Pow Wow Book:
Core Values and Assigned Months

Section 1 - Parts of a Meeting
Gathering Activities
Opening Ceremonies
Recognition Ceremonies
Games and Activities
Audience Participation
Skits
Crafts
Cubmaster Minutes
Closing Ceremonies
Derbies
Blue & Gold (Songs, Cheers, and Menu & Recipe Ideas)
Character Connections
Academics & Sports Program (Belt Loops & Pins)
Tiger Cubs
Webelos Scouts
Advice from Akela

• New Leaders
• Den Leaders
• Den Discipline
• Den Chiefs
• Pack Committee
• Cubmasters
• Pack Communication and Online Resources for Packs
• Parents and Families
• $$$ and Budgets
• Pack Trainers
• Cub Scout Leader Training
• Unit Commissioners (Charter Presentation Ceremonies too)
• Scouting with Disabilities (Includes games

Patches and Awards
Where can I find Scout Stuff?
Index (by core value)

Table of Contents for the Supplement:
                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Advancement & Core Values (All Ranks) .............. 4
     Tiger .................................................. 45
     Wolf ................................................... 51
     Bear ................................................... 59
     Wolf & Bear .......................................... 69
     Webelos .............................................. 87
Character Connection Activities & Worksheets ........ 93
     Practical Examples .................................. 126
     Quotes and Answers ................................. 129
     Where to find Ideas? ................................ 130
Record Keeping Tips & Forms .......................... 131
     Wolf Den Records .................................... 137
     Bear Den Records .................................... 141
     Webelos Den Records ............................... 145
     Belt Loops & Pins Records .......................... 147
     Den Chief Records ................................... 149
     Cub Scout Parents Records ......................... 150
     Cub Scout Leaders Records ......................... 162
Webelos Activity Badges. ............................... 172
     Belt Loop Glue-ins (for Webelos)................... 193

More Great Stuff.......................................... 202

     Useful Websites and Links ........................... 203

     Red Ribbon Week Patch..............................205

     Camp Jeremiah Johnson Flier ...................... 206

     Resource Guide Tips.................................. 207

                              Outdoor Activities (Tour Plan, LNT etc.) .......... 210

New Combined Den Leader Training Award 2012

Den Leader Training Award

from usscouts.org

This award has replaced the Tiger Cub Den Leader Award,

the Cub Scout Den Leader Award, and the Webelos Den Leader Award

Scouters already working on one of the older awards may continue with the previous requirements until December 31,2012. Those starting work should use the new requirements.

Links to the old requirements may be found at http://scoutleaderknots.com/denleader.asp

Note: This award can be earned as a Tiger Cub Den Leader, Wolf Cub Scout Den Leader, Bear Cub Scout Den Leader,and Webelos Den Leader. It can be earned in each position, but tenure may be used only for one award. A tiny device pin is attached to indicate whether the award was earned as a Tiger Den Leader, Cub Den Leader or a Webelos DenLeader.

Tenure

Complete one year as a registered den leader in the position selected. Tiger Cub den leader’s tenure can be the programyear as long as it is greater than eight months.

Training

1. Complete the basic training for the selected den leader position.

2. Complete This Is Scouting training.

3. Attend a pow wow or university of Scouting (or equivalent), or attend at least four roundtables (or equivalent) during the tenure used for this award.

Performance

Do five of the following during the tenure used for this award:

1. Have an assistant den leader who meets regularly with your den.

2. Have a den chief who meets regularly with your den.

3. Graduate at least 70 percent of your den to the next level.

4. Take leade3rship in planning and conducting a den service project.

5. Have a published den meeting/activity schedule for the den's parents.

6. participate with your den in a Cub Scout day camp or resident camp.

7. Complete Basic Adult leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO).

8. Complete Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos leaders.

9. Participate with your den in at least one family camp; if your den is a Webelos den, participate with your den in at least two overnight camps.

10. take leadership in planning two den outdoor activities.

11. Hold monthly den meeting and den activity planning sessions with your assistant den leaders. 

For a fillable form PDF progress record for this award, go to http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-052_WB.pdf

(2012 printing)

Easy Car Derby Slide

Go to AkelasCouncil.blogspot.com for instructions to this easy neckerchief slide that your cubs can make themselves.  Other neckerchief slide instructions available at the same blogspot, as well.

Cub Clipart

Cub Scout clipart that's new to me.  6 pages of them!  Color and Black-and-White clipart.  Find them at   http://akelascouncil.blogspot.com/

Another Ringutter Regatta Idea

NOODLE BOATS

Made from a pool noodle, shiskabob skewers, and parchment paper. 

Decorate THAT!

(Thank you, Yvonne Russell from Orem)

November - Citizenship Slide and Poem

This Uncle Sam Pin was found at familyfun.com.  Rather than a pin, glue a ring on the back for a neckerchief slide!         -thank you, GSLC District 28 RT for both of these ideas

Uncle Sam Pin (or Neckerchief Slide)

Total Time 1 Hour Ages All Ages
Pin on a patriotic face that's sure to stand out in any Fourth of July crowd.

What you'll need

• White craft foam
• Scissors
• Markers
• Wooden craft spoon
• Googly eyes
• Cotton balls
• Glue
• Self-adhesive pinback
  

How to make it

1. To make one, cut out a basic Uncle Sam-style hat (about 2 inches tall and 1 inch wide) from white craft foam.
   
2. Use markers to color the brim blue and to draw red stripes on the top.
   
3. Glue the hat to the handle of a wooden craft spoon (if necessary, first use scissors to trim the wooden handle so that it's shorter than the hat).
   
4. Glue on googly eyes and a cotton ball beard, then draw on a small L-shaped nose.
   
5. Attach a self-adhesive pinback (sold at many craft and bead stores), and your Uncle Sam pin is ready to wear.
   

Leader's Minute
One song can spark a moment,
one flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
one bird can herald spring.
One vote can change a nation,
one sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness,
one laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey,
one word must start a prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
one touch can show we care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
one heart can know what’s true.
One life can make a difference,
that difference starts with you.

Pow Wow

 Saturday August 25th

Utah National Parks Council

Annual Pow Wow

It was another successful Pow Wow.

Cubscout Leadership Training

 Your district's Roundtable Staff put on the best Blue and Gold Banquet ever.

And if your a member of the Pony Express District you know what we mean.

 It's a Jungle out there.  The Theme for Pow Wow.

Look at the amazing decorations

The amazing staff.

with Special appearance from the Wonder Twins

Evaluating Your Program

At our last Round Table, our Intermediate Den Leader Class discussed the importance of evaluating your program. While it's important to evaluate from a leaders' point of view, doing so from the boys' view is critical. We are all there to make sure the boys enjoy themselves and learn. If our programs are not interesting and engaging for them, what do we expect the results to be?

The question that affected me the most was "Is the Cub Scout Promise a part of the boys' way of life? Do they know what it means and try to live by it?"

What are we doing in our dens and packs if the answer to this is "No"? How can we be good leaders and affect change in our communities if we are not helping the boys to do their best and to do their duty?

Meet with your fellow leaders. Meet with them often. Evaluate your programs and leadership. The questions to start with are found in the Cub Scout Leader Book on pages 24-12 and 24-13.

Akela's Council Sept 2012

It's official -- AC 29 is ON!!! If you are planning on going to Akela's Council at Tifie Scout Camp at Mountain Dell (near Mount Pleasant) on September 11-15, 2012, you need to sign up now.   There is room for 7 more applicants.

Changes in Akela's Council Sponsorship:

The time has run out for applying for the Pony Express District Sponsorship for Akela's Council.  It is no longer available. 

GREAT NEWS:  Many of the stakes (zones) in our district are willing to sponsor some or all of your Akela's Council training.  If yours is offering one, take advantage of it .... by asking for it, because they might not have made a general announcement!

Happy Cubbing!

Soil Erosion Bears Elective 15b

                                                               soil erosion picture from www.environmedia.com
 
Bears Elective 15b Explore three kinds of earth by conducting a soil experiment.

As a Bear leader years ago, I saw a soil erosion experiment that combined the following two soil experiments. It had 5 soil sections: the four from the first experiment, then a fifth section which was soil with grass. I was very, very impressed and even though I "knew" these things from reading it in books, watching the effects grass had on erosion had a huge impact on me.

Soil Types

• Experiment with different soils to determine which types will best resist erosion. Place two pounds each of potting soil, sand, clay, and soil from your yard into four separate pans. Prop one end of the potting soil pan on a board. Place the other end in an empty dish. Pour three cups of water into a watering can and sprinkle the water over the soil from the top edge of the pan. Observe what happens. Measure and dump the water gathered in the dish into a clear jar. The darker this water is, the more soil has run off. Repeat this experiment for each soil type. Compare the amount of water collected and the soil present in each dish to draw your conclusions about which soil type withstands erosion best.

Read more: Soil Erosion Experiments | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8219640_soil-erosion-experiments.html#ixzz22sKtXT1I



http://library.thinkquest.org/J003195F/newpage6.htm

---

Materials:
    1. a few books
    2. two shallow pans
    3. a deeper pan
    4. soil
    5. soil with grass growing in it
    6. water in a container

Step 1: Gather all your materials listed above. Then prop up the end of the shallow pan on the books. Put the other end of the shallow pan in the deeper pan. Fill the shallow pan with soil up to the rim.
Step 2: Carefully pour the water from the top end of the pan, and let it flow down.
      Did you notice anything? The soil should have been carried from the shallow pan down to the deeper pan. That is how erosion works. The water carries away
       the soil and soon it settles in the water.
Step 3: Take your other shallow pan. Put the soil with plants in it and put it where your other shallow pan was.
Step 4: Pour the water from the top of the pan, as you did before.
       Did you notice anything? The plants and grass helped keep the soil in place.
           thinkquest back                              thinkquest continue...