Field Trip Safety

This post has been updated with more current information.  Starting March 1, 2011, Tour permits were replaced with Tour Plans. 

As always, there is a little controversy surrounding field trips. In the Intermediate Den Leader class, we attempted to dispel some of the myths surrounding taking the boys out of our normal meeting places.

Myth #1--I don't need a tour permit unless I'm going way far away.

The National BSA now requires that you fill out a Tour Plan (replaces Tour Permits effective 3/1/11) for every activity that takes place outside of your regular meeting place. 
 You then need to keep a copy of your tour plan with your chartered organization. 
You do not need to submit the Tour Plan to your council for approval in most Cub Scouting outing scenarios. 

Times when a tour plan must be submitted for council review include:

• Trips of 500 miles or more

• Trips outside of council borders not to a council-owned property

• Trips to any national high-adventure base, national Scout jamboree, National Order of the Arrow Conference, or regionally sponsored event

• When conducting the following activities outside of council or district events:

Aquatics activities (swimming, boating, floating, scuba, etc.)

Climbing and rappelling

Orientation flights (process flying plan)

Shooting sports

Any activities involving motorized vehicles as part of the program (snowmobiles, boating, etc.)

• At a council’s request

Please complete and submit this plan at least 21 days in advance to ensure your council has enough time to review the plan and assist you in

updating the plan if it is found defective. When review is complete, the second half of the plan is returned to you to carry on your travels.

Myth #2-- I don't need that pesky Guide to Safe Scouting with me.

Well, that's another biggie. This must be in a car traveling with scouts. The official guide must be in at least one of the cars attending the field trip. Many with large vehicles who routinely drive cub scouts around have chosen to purchase their own guide and let it live in their car. A good idea would be to read it through, as a leader, and be aware of what it contains and the procedures for various events. An online version can be read here: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/toc.aspx

Myth #3-- As long as the leaders stay in eye sight of one another, they can drive the boys in 2 separate cars.

Two leaders per car is always better, but having only one leader per car is fine according to BSA policy.  The Guide to Safe Scouting states (Section I-Leadership Requirements for Trips and Outings): If you cannot provide two adults for each vehicle, the minimum required is one adult and two or more youth members (never one on one). The BSA also states in the Cub Scout Leader Book that when driving in more than one car, you should NOT try to caravan or convoy (2010 printing, page 126, under Tips For Outings).

However, the units sponsored by the LDS Church MAY have a different guideline. General Church policy does not specify the need for two leaders in a vehicle, but your stake and/or ward leadership may require that you have two leaders in each vehicle (or one leader and one parent).  Church guidelines can be found online at lds.org in the Church Handbook 2:  Administering the Church, sections 11.5.3, 11.8.1, 13.6.2, and 13.6.24.

Don't Forget--
Always remember to get Permission Slips (or this one)!! It is also good to make sure all boys have a current Annual Health & Medical Record on file (Parts A & B). 

I know, I know. I can hear you now. You're wondering why on earth this has to be so difficult. Why don't people just understand we want outings and not all this red tape. Well, due to the day and age we live in, it's easier to prepare a little more in advance and be safe rather than sorry.

I think the BSA puts it perfectly:

"The purpose of the Guide to Safe Scouting is to prepare adult leaders to conduct Scouting activities in a safe and prudent manner. The policies and guidelines have been established because of the real need to protect members from known hazards that have been identified through 90-plus years of experience. Limitations on certain activities should not be viewed as stumbling blocks; rather, policies and guidelines are best described as stepping-stones toward safe and enjoyable adventures."

Always think ahead of time what is needed to achieve the guidelines of both the BSA and your charter organization (in the Pony Express District that would be the LDS Church). These guidelines are not meant to make your life hard. They are only there to help you succeed in providing the best program you can for these great boys.

Song Videos

A few of my new friends from Akela's Council 26 (2010) got together and made videos of some of the songs we learned there. I have introduced a few of those songs at Roundtable, or am planning to introduce them in the near future.

I am ENTHUSIASTICALLY going to give a shout out for Akela's Council. Go! Really! Whether you are brand new as a leader in any capacity with Cub Scouting or have been involved with it for years you will learn something new -no, tons of things - to improve your program. It's AWESOME, fun, and in all honesty - invaluable! Really, it truly is! Go! Click HERE for more info.

The Pizza Hut Song

The Itsy-Bitsy Spider Chant


The Beaver Song (Chant) (Working on getting audio fixed)
Here's a link to the lyrics, in the meantime:  Beaver Song


The Bubble Gum Song

BSA Emergency Preparedness Award

Emergency Preparedness Award

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The Emergency Preparedness Award is part of a new BSA program of emphasis for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Leaders, in cooperation with the Federal Department of Homeland Security.

All emergency activities carried out by Scouting units must be appropriate for the ages and abilities of the young people involved. Units should participate only under the supervision of their own leaders, and plans for unit help must be coordinated with community agencies responsible for disaster preparedness.

Tiger Cub Requirements

1. Complete Tiger Cub Achievement 3—Keeping Myself Healthy and Safe. This achievement covers a family fire plan and drill and what to do if separated from the family.
2. Complete Tiger Cub Elective 27—Emergency! This elective helps a Tiger Cub be ready for emergencies and dangerous situations and has him discuss a family emergency plan with his family.
3. With your parent or guardian's help, complete one of these three activities.
   • Take the American Red Cross First Aid for Children Today (FACT) course.
   • Join a safe kids program such as McGruff Child Identification, Internet Safety, or Safety at Home.
   • Show and tell your family household what you have learned about preparing for emergencies.

Wolf Cub Scout Requirements

1. Complete Wolf Cub Scout Achievement 9*—Be Safe at Home and on the Street. This is a check of your home to keep it safe.
2. Complete Wolf Cub Scout Elective 16*—Family Alert. This elective is about designing a plan for your home and family in case an emergency takes place.
3. With your parent or guardian's help, complete one of the following activities that you have not already completed for this award as a Tiger Cub:
   • Take American Red Cross Basic Aid Training (BAT) to learn emergency skills and care for choking, wounds, nose bleeds, falls, and animal bites. This course includes responses for fire safety, poisoning, water accidents, substance abuse, and more.
   • Make a presentation to your family on what you have learned about preparing for emergencies.
   • Join a Safe Kids program such as McGruff Child Identification program. Put on a training program for your family or den on stranger awareness, Internet safety, or safety at home.

* Achievement and elective numbers could change; the achievement or elective title determines what the requirement is.

Bear Cub Scout Requirements

1. Complete Bear Cub Scout Achievement 11*—Be Ready. The focus of this achievement is the best way to handle emergencies.
2. Make a small display or give a presentation for your family or den on what you have learned about preparing for emergencies.
3. With your parent or guardian's help, complete one of the following activities that you have not already completed for this award as a Tiger Cub or Wolf Cub Scout:
   • Take American Red Cross Basic Aid Training (BAT) to learn emergency skills and care for choking, wounds, nose bleeds, falls, and animal bites. This course includes responses for fire safety, poisoning, water accidents, substance abuse, and more..
   • Put together a family emergency kit for use in the home.
   • Organize a safe kids program such as McGruff Child Identification program. Put on a training program for your family or den on stranger awareness, Internet safety, or safety at home.

* Achievement and elective numbers could change; the achievement or elective title determines what the requirement is.

Webelos Scout Requirements

1. Earn the Readyman activity badge from the community badge group.
2. Build a family emergency kit, with an adult family member participating in the project.
3. With your parent or guardian's help, complete one of the following that you have not already completed for this award as a Tiger Cub or Wolf or Bear Cub Scout:
   • Take a first aid course conducted by your local American Red Cross chapter.
   • Give a presentation to your den on preparing for emergencies.
   • Organize a training program for your Webelos den on stranger awareness, Internet safety, or safety at home.

When a member has fulfilled the requirements appropriate to his age/program segment, a completed application is submitted to the council. Upon approval, an Emergency Preparedness pin is awarded. The pin may be worn on civilian clothing or on the uniform, centered on the left pocket flap. The award may be earned more than once; for instance, as a young person advances through the ranks and is capable of more complex preparedness activities, but only one pin may be worn. You can download the application here. This information can also be found at: http://scoutleaderawards.com/advance/EmergPrep.asp

Den Doodles

I have been asked to provide the guide to the colored beads on Pack 1122's Bear Den Flag and Doodle. You can provide your own color scheme according to what beads you may already have on hand. The trick is to be consistent.

Blue--The boy wears his uniform to the meeting
Yellow--He brings his book
White--This is the over achiever bead. The Cub Scout has done something at home that needs to be signed off.
Red--This corresponds with the Instant Recognition Bead for Progress towards Rank. He should have 4 of these. If this is for a Wolf Den, you could swap red and yellow to keep it with the Wolf beads.
Clear--There is only one of these on the string. The boy receives it when he gets his rank advancement.
Orange--For participating in the meeting.
Green--Good behavior.
Pink--The cub brought his parents to Pack Meeting.
Purple--The cub came to Pack Meeting.

Training

Sometimes it can be a little confusing to find when and where training is when looking at the Utah National Parks Council website. I have subscribed to the rss feed and I always look amazing when I know when the upcoming trainings are. (At least I do in my own mind...)

Here's a quick guide to find it:

1. Go to http://utahscouts.org/openrosters/view_homepage.asp?orgkey=2195  This is on the Utah National Parks Council website.
2. About halfway down the page is a calendar icon that allows you to view upcoming trainings in calendar form.
3. Underneath the icon are the blue links for specific trainings being held around the Council.
4. The "subscribe to this feed" link allows you to stay up to date with training session information using Google/Reader, My Yahoo or your iphone.

You, too, can appear to have it all together like I do. It's easy. Just stay up to date using these quick and easy methods.

Field Trips

It's warming up out there. Really. It is. Or at least spring is getting closer. What are we to do with these Cub Scouts who have been cooped up all winter? Our last pack meeting was full of ideas to take these boys on field trips.

Outdoor trip ideas included:

• Living Planet Aquarium
• Bingham Copper Mine
• the Bean Museum at BYU
• Paleontology Dept. at BYU
• Cabella's 
• Hutchings Museum in Lehi
• Wheeler Farm in Salt Lake
• Petroglyphs in Eagle Mountain
• Tracy Aviary
• Hogle Zoo
• Parks
• Nature Trails
• Friends in Need Animal Shelter in Eagle Mountain

When all else fails, some things can be learned from books. Imagination is the key here.

The Intermediate Den Leader class had a discussion on field trips, also. Some successful field trips suggested were:

• Camp Williams
• Home Depot
• Lowes

When attending a Saturday morning class at Home Depot or Lowe's, call well in advance to place your den or pack on the list. These classes fill quickly. Often, when a class isn't full and leftover kits are available, they have been known to donate to the cub scout troops who take the time to ask.

We also discussed some not so successful trips leaders have taken with their boys. The consensus was taking rambunctious boys to the Library. When a Library trip is needed, a willingness to leave is necessary on the leaders' part. This way the librarians and patrons are not disturbed too terribly much by boys having loud fun amongst the quiet readers.

The point to field trips is to have fun. Enjoy each other and the many activities in our area. If you have other ideas to share, please email us or leave comments and we will add them to our lists.

Updated Information on Faith In God for Boys

Here is a link to the LDS Church's Website with clarification on how to address the changes recently made to the program now that Primary quarterly activities are no longer required, based on the new Primary handbook. http://lds.org/service/serving-in-the-church/primary/for-parents-and-primary-leaders?lang=eng To summarize the impact to Cub Scouts, in the Faith in God Booklet, page 9, bullet 7 is now the knot requirement, and Page 9, bullet 8 has been omitted.

Link to District and Council Documents

Utah National Parks Council Documents - The council has all sorts of useful documents on their website. Here you can find Utah National Parks Council Documents- Cub Scouts

Den Discipline

The BRAVO board

This idea came from my son's 4th grade teacher that uses it in her class so I adapted it to use for my children for good behavior. Then got thinking this would be great for den discipline. It's easy.. just create a grid with letters on the top and numbers on the bottom. Then laminate the board and use dry erasers. Then when you observe good behavior from a scout you let them put their name on the BRAVO board. Then when all the squares are filled (this could take a few weeks or so depending on how big your BRAVO board is) the you have a Bingo drawing where you but the square number on a piece of paper (such as B4 and so forth). Then just pick out a determined amount of squares (at my house we draw out 5) and then they get to pick out of the reward box, which is filled with items the scout would like (neckerchief slides, first aid kit, candy, etc). This has really worked personally in my household to change behavior and helps me focus on good behavior instead of the negative.

The "Magic Color Changing" Ceremony

I came across this ceremony that I thought was pretty cool. I used the idea on a ceremony for a boy receiving his Bear.

The kids were amazed and LOVED IT!