Ok so you need to set up for the Pack meeting and you have one interruption are another. Boys are running around getting into mischief. What do you do. At the Pack Committee meeting before the Pack meeting assign a number of adults to run a gathering activity. Since January’s theme is amazing games give each boy a maze to complete before the meeting.
How do I create a maze I hear you ask? Isn’t the internet a fantastic resource for Scouting.
Try this online Maze Maker.
So the theme for January 2009 is A-mazing Games. Some how I got to thinking about songs for this theme, what could the boys sing? Just the first seven letters got me thinking about Amazing Grace. For me it is associated with Scotland, yet from a little bit of research it was written by an Englishman, John Newton.
You can find out more about the song by clicking here.
Having read the words, a Cub Master could use them as part of a Cub Master minute. Or on a family campout they could be read as part of a Scouts Own.
“Amazing Grace”
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.
John Newton, Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779)
One of the great things about Scouting is that there is so much material available. Blogs, articles, ideas, web sites, books, magazines and training courses just to name a few. Its enough to give a Cub Master a headache or panic attack.
To help leaders with planning meetings BSA suggests themes each month that can be used to develop a program for the pack.
Fortunately the BSA list is on line and can be found at Cub Scout Themes. At the time of writing the themes are listed through August 2011. Each month can a brief description and you can use that to brainstorm ideas your next Pack meeting. By the way if you don’t like a theme there is nothing to stop you using your own.
What a choice. The day after the big meal what do you do. Tackle the sales getting up at O dark hundred. Or have a family hike.
Here in the Valley of the Sun there is a great event for Cub Scouts and their families, The 10 Commandments Hike. Each year it is different. The hike is about 5 miles and is family friendly. Along the way there are stops at various places of worship where one Commandment is talked about.
What better way to encourage family involvement in Cub Scouting than encouraging members of your Pack to attend.
For more information visit The Ten Commandment hike.
This week in the US its Thanksgiving. How much time will be spent preparing for the big feast, eating and then sitting in front of the television. How much of this time is spent for ourselves.
This evening I had a parent come up to me and say thank you. My time as a Leader was appreciated and I felt good.
Take some time out to say thank you to your Leaders for all of their efforts in running the Pack. Say thank you to the volunteers who help with committees. Say thank you to the parents for wanting their boys to be part of the Pack because with out them the Pack would not be the same.
Saying thank you makes people feel good, gives them a warm and fuzzy, feel appreciated. With people feeling this way your Pack will be better of for it.
One of the responsibilities of being a Cub Scout Leader is encouraging boys to cross over to Boy Scouts.
Right now my focus is to assist my son with his Eagle project.
It occurred to me that Eagle service projects provide a n excellent opportunity for building bridges between Packs and Troops. Obviously some projects are not suitable for younger boys but those that are will provide Cub Scouts with a version of where they can be and what they can achieve. Hopefully they will want to join Boy Scouts.
Troops can use it as an opportunity to recruit.
For the Pack it is an opportunity to meet with Boy Scouts who could become Den Chiefs that can help with Den as well as Pack meetings.
Its a win - win situation.
So you have decided that it is a great idea to put the OUTING in Scouting and introduce your Cub Scouts to the great outdoors. Where do you go and what is there?
Fear not, the internet save you once again.
To find out about Federal campsites and to make reservations visit Recreation.gov, enter your criteria, reserve, go camp and have fun.
You can of course visit local government web sites to see what is available. Here in Maricopa visit Maricopa Parks and Recreation. From past experience the staff like to see scouts camping and if you ask nicely they may be able to provide a tour, a talk or wildlife presentation.
Go enjoy the great outdoors.
Ok so different parts of the country, and world, camp at different times depending on the weather. Here in the desert the Fall and Spring are great times to camp.
What could be better than introducing boys to the fun, excitement and wonder of the great outdoors.
When organizing a family camp try it can be difficult to meet everyone’s needs. Here are some considerations when planning a campout.
1. Distance to travel to the site.
2. Activities at the site, not only for the boys but also siblings and parents.
3. What are the restroom facilities like? Basic or home from home.
4. Is there potable water?
5. Does anyone need any special training such as Safety Afloat or Swim Safety.
The list can go on. Try and get as much input from your families and set there expectations and you will have a successful campout.
So I don’t like wimpy cheers. For me a cheer should be a way of thanking and making the recipient of the cheer feel great.
When I was a young Cub Scout our Pack only had one cheer, you don’t have to feel sorry for me. When a boy achieved a rank advancement or earned a proficiency badge then the “Duty” Sixer would lead the Pack in the Bravo cheer. Now as a Roundtable Commissioner, whenever an Eagle Scout is present at Roundtable I lead the Leaders in the Bravo cheer.
Well what is the Bravo cheer?
Make a fist with your right hand.
Now shout out the letters to Bravo, ie B R A V O the n shout out BRAVO!. Each time you shout out a letter the fist hits the palm of the left hand.
Ok, this is a bit of a soapbox for me. There are many different cheers for thanking people, congratulating people and those quite times between activies in meeting. For me some of them don’t cut it and don’t deserve to be cheers. One of them is the Betty Boop cheer. Fortunately at the moment I can’t remember it all, may be when I do get all the words I’ll publish it. Any way my point is make sure the cheer fits the moment.
