Any Other Cub Scout Den Leaders?

**jgibson2**[$] · #1 10-03-2003, 10:55 AM

I went pack shopping last week. The pack we're leaving is OK, but the 2 small Bear dens merged and meetings shifted to Sunday evenings - I'm not conscious on Sunday evenings and my hubby wasn't willing to give up the one weekend day we have for family activities. I found 2 excellent packs and ended up at the one which meets at my church. It's actually the furthest from my house, which is one of the major reasons we hadn't gone there in the first place.

Anyway. In the process of visiting, I found some interesting tips and thought I'd share.

The first I'd heard about, but hadn't seen anyone use - they use a candle for discipline. The candle is lit at the beginning of the meeting and blown out if the boys get out of line. If they can keep it lit for 5 meetings, they get a pizza party. I understand that they had 2 pizza parties last year, so apparently it's quite effective.

The other idea was something I'd seen at Cub Scout Day Camp, but hadn't thought of using at a den meeting. @doh - I'm a little dense some times. They had the boys make necklaces with gimp and a small wooden disk with 4 holes 1 at the top for hanging and 3 at the bottom for shorter pieces of gimp to attach beads. They handed out one bead for attendance and another for bringing the book to the meeting. There were others, but I got distracted and missed why those were given out. Funny how kids will do almost anything for very small rewards!

**Joubert**[$] · #2 10-03-2003, 06:55 PM

You need to PM Kalynda. She runs the local pack, not a den, but is always looking for someone to schmooze with about the little monst--,err, angels.

sleeper54 · #3 10-04-2003, 01:44 AM

Quote:

jgibson2 said

--snip--

Anyway. In the process of visiting, I found some interesting tips and thought I'd share.

--snip--

Funny how kids will do almost anything for very small rewards!

I have done the Cub Scout thing in the past (both Pack level and Den level) but not recently.

I have heard of the candle thing but have not seen it used. The bead thing we used very successfully at the Webelos level.

Funny what adults will do for very large rewards, including putting up with the monst--,err, parents.

...tom...

**jgibson2**[$] · #4 10-04-2003, 02:06 AM

My husband and I were Boy Scout leaders before we had kids. I got to be a Cub leader a long time ago with my big kids. The program hasn't changed a lot since then - small tweaks to make things run better.

I'll have to PM Kalynda. I'd love to hear any tips she might have.

**Kalynda**[$] · #5 10-15-2003, 04:25 PM

Hey, I finally got here! Congrats on being a leader in Scouts. It's a dirty job but is REALLY worthwhile. Joub will tell you I spent my last birthday holding a Pack meeting for 40 of my closest friends- all under the age of 12!! Our Pack has gone from 17 when I started to 57 this year!

I'll be glad to help in any way I can. Have you located any of the useful websites yet? What do you need to know?

Discipline is hard, especially when you get 57 boys, their parents, siblings, etc. in one room and try to hear over them. We have begun rewarding the quietest den with cookies at the meeting, in front of the whole pack!

The main thing is to have fun with the boys. I answered a parent who questioned the rowdiness of the Pack meeting we had last night this way:
" These are BOYS. This is not school. They need to have a chance to run around, make some noise, see their friends, show off. If Scouting isn't fun, they don't come back. Well, see all these boys? They came back."

We did audience participation stories, skits, a bakery raffle, kids who camped with us last week told about it, and then the fun part- we gave them pieces of Halloween costumes and a roll of toilet paper and had them mummify and decorate their leaders! Messy, loud, silly, just like them. They loved it, and so do I. Can you tell? :wink:

Let me know what I can do to help you!!

Joan

**jgibson2**[$] · #6 10-15-2003, 10:00 PM

Joan,
I have a Bear Den. The kids want knives and the whittling chip card is definitely a Bear level achievement. Any suggestions on how to teach that one? I don't remember doing that with my last Bear den. The son who was in that den is 22 now, though, so that was about 14 years ago.

Knives scare me -- maybe because I'm not so good with them. Knives and boys scare me more. Has something to do with my aversion to explaining bleeding wounds to parents.

Maybe I need to ask one of the dads or my assistant to teach that one!

sleeper54 · #7 10-16-2003, 02:06 AM

Quote:

jgibson2 said

Joan,
I have a Bear Den. The kids want knives and the whittling chip card is definitely a Bear level achievement. Any suggestions on how to teach that one? I don't remember doing that with my last Bear den. The son who was in that den is 22 now, though, so that was about 14 years ago.

Knives scare me -- maybe because I'm not so good with them. Knives and boys scare me more. Has something to do with my aversion to explaining bleeding wounds to parents.

Maybe I need to ask one of the dads or my assistant to teach that one!

The trick we used was to do all the training with bars of soap and plastic table knives. Much safer, parents can supply the soap to save $, and parents can opt out if they choose to do so.

Actual use of a knife and block of wood was done one-on-one with kids. I thought we did it when they were Webelos-age though. Bear seems kind of young...

...tom...

sleeper54 · #8 10-16-2003, 02:17 AM

..
One more resource for scouting stuff:

Scouts-L listserv group

I have not been reading it for over a year. But I assume it is still going strong.

Wait! Just found the archives here:

Scouts-L archives

Looks like it is indeed still going strong!

...tom...

**Kalynda**[$] · #9 10-21-2003, 10:01 AM

Great idea about the plastic knives and the soap. To make it more fun, have the boys carve boats from a bar of Ivory soap. Then stick a piece of wood for a mast and some paper on it. Voila, a boat that floats!

sleeper54 · #10 10-21-2003, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Kalynda said

Great idea about the plastic knives and the soap. To make it more fun, have the boys carve boats from a bar of Ivory soap. Then stick a piece of wood for a mast and some paper on it. Voila, a boat that floats!

You're a natural, Kalynda . . .or very experienced ...

...

...tom...
.

**jgibson2**[$] · #11 10-22-2003, 12:01 AM

I think she's very experienced -- AND a natural. I love the plastic knife idea and I have wooden skewers that would make great masts.

sleeper54 · #12 10-22-2003, 01:02 AM

Quote:

jgibson2 said

I think she's very experienced -- AND a natural. I love the plastic knife idea and I have wooden skewers that would make great masts.

... lol ...

I suspected both to be true, Judy.

Of course, the next step is to get a section of roof gutter and have boat races with them. Suspend it on some chairs. Boys walk, one on either side, and try to blow their boat across the finish line.

Just be careful and do not accidently dump the water like we did once...

...tom...

frazzledspice · #13 10-22-2003, 11:15 AM

I was very involved with Scouts in a number of different positions, including Den Leader, when my boys were younger.

I think it helps, if possible, to have an enthusiastic older Boy Scout working with the group on a regular or semi-regular basis.

So many boys leave Scouting after they finish their Webelo year, and it's a shame.

When Scouts are older, they have so many wonderful opportunities available to them. They can go to Philmont, scuba diving in the Bahamas, and even to Europe.

They learn leadership skills and the importance of community service.

By challenging themselves in the outdoors, they develop confidence and self-esteem.

We moved to Missouri when my boys were in 6th and 9th grade. They decided not to start over again with a new scout troop. I'm sorry they didn't.

But my daughter (14) belongs to the Venture Crew (the co-ed scouting group affiliated with BSA) and they are planning a camping trip in England next summer.

If an older Scout helps with your troop, he can be a role model who teaches them that when you get older Scouting can get better.

**Kalynda**[$] · #14 10-24-2003, 01:27 AM

They call the Boy Scout helpers Den Chiefs. The boys get experience toward their Scout rank and the Cubs get a fun guy to help them out!

We love doing the Raingutter Regatta. It's a springtime event for our pack.

Another highlight of the year is the Parent/Son Bakeoff. We encourage the father to help the Cub bake a goody ( but Mom's are welcome, too!) and they bring it to the Pack meeting where we judge the items and award ribbons. Then we make up huge platters to take to the local fire and police departments as a thank you for their hard work. The rest? We EAT it!

The boys adore trying new recipes, the firefighters and police appreciate our efforts, and a great time is had by all. Ask Joubert about the Cat Litter Cake he and our youngest made one year. ;D

**Joubert**[$] · #15 10-24-2003, 02:15 AM

I would rather discuss my secret BROWNIE BOMBS.

The Cat Litter Cake was one we stole off the web. But, man, it did look like a used litter box. Grossed out the kids really well.

The Brownie Bombs? Oy, they were something. I can't remember what was in them. I remember that we baked brownie mix in half a muffin tin. Then we added, um, karo syrup, butterscotch chips, peanut butter and something else. Then we poured brownie mix over the top.

By the time I got to the bakeoff, they were gone.

Eight year old kids on a sugar high at 9:00 p.m. What a sight. But the parents seemed to like 'em too.

What else did I put in there, Joan?