Karen_216

Kep track of the weight and give them credit towards the acehievement if they need it. Have them keep pulling the tabs off and esitmate the weight of x many cans x number of weeks. Look at belt loops and electives for the Ronald McDonald house. i also see good trurns as ongoing- you can still log this for the pack. Or make a "Good Turn" chart and at end of year the person with "most" or highest leve l gets a pin as well?? Or have them reach a certain goal in this.

We have monthly committee meetings and each den is supposed to be represented. Anyone wo can't be thee is supposed to submit updates. We do an agenda which is emailed out to leaders and then the minutes are distributed by email afterwards. this way everyone is in the loop as to waht is and will be going on. Items on it; Den reports Next pack meeting- theme when awards deadline/ den duites pack meeting after that- brief theme discussion any upcoming activites- who/what/where/deadlines votes and discussion for any other activites Training reports council report treasurers report secretaty report Round table info- share items We give out lots of assignmnets for dens for pinewood- evetns/pack meetings. etc so the that is duscussed. Any other general pack stuff as well- depends on time of year. The details are left to individual committees to hammer out. We try to keep meeting to 1 1/2 hours tops- this is still too long!! I have found the newsletter this year works well. we have a website and use emails and brief discussion during pack meetings too. if we have lots of evetns coming up I send out a calender. Our wesite has a calander too. If you use a website you need it to be up to date or it is no good. Leaders need to communicate with their dens the info as well.

Are you referring to needing to earn the Outdoorsman or the AOL requirement of having either Webelos overnighter/ troop overnight/ troop day hike? If you need the above requirement that is not part of the outdoorsman- and actually states if you did as part of that you have to do again towards AOL - then I'd talk to Council about modifying it based on medical needs. He could probably do an overnighter that was indoors or spending the day with a troop with limits based on his activity level. I'd talk to council though.

They'd have to have a license through BSA to put BSA or Cub scout logo but you could still put you pack number on it. If you didn't want to spend as much as the mag lights you could do patches as well with the year and pack number, etc. I like the medal mugs. Do you have pack t-shirts already? If not you could do those gratis or do a redesign and have a contest for the kids to design them.- maybe hats too?? One thing to cautionas lots of these promo itmes look cook they sometimes are not very durable.

What we've done: Neighborhood history hike (a community event that we promoted to have scouts come participate) National Trails Hike in Phila (earned nice medals although price now has doubled)- we try to do a diff one each year Mini- golf night followed by popsicles Water Rockets launch (as part of Popcorn kick-off) Bowling Movie in the park night Owl watching (park of communuity event). We've tried to find evetns offered through local parks services. These are really good prgrams and very informative and fun for whole family. We also have an annual SPring campout in June before school lets out and go fishing. Also do a group sports night This year I want to see who would like to do amusements park tickets- if you get a scout group you get a discount- some don't require you to go same time.

One of the leaders who loves summer resident camp did a really cool power point and showed it at the beginning of the year. We're also going as a pack for a weekend and staying in one of the bunkhouses in off season and doing our own activites. We hope both of these will lead to a record turnout this year in resident camp. I think taking the unfamiliar away leads to more comfort on the part of parents and kids.

I think it's great that he's trying to arrange to get to some activites. Some parents don't realize the importance of attending functions outside of pack or den meetings. they don't even need to be major. Some may be palnned a year in advance and some come up out of the blue. Attending sporting events with the pack on scout nights is lots of fun if Dad is available. I agree that helping at home and taking an hour a week to go over items in the book towards his advancement is HUGE. It's so frustrating as a den (and pack) leader to have to feed the whole program and have nothing done or looked at at home. It really helps in a big way if a parent takes the time to mark the book adn advise the leader on prgress. The cub can then share with his den what he's done. As far as Major evetns ask your den leader or CM. BLue and GOld and Pack weekends/overnights/Pinewood I'd say should be things that are palnned well in advance and you get notice about. I'd also taek the time to see if you could attedn some pack sponsered council activites. Attedning all activites is not required. But I've found the scouts that get the most are thsoe that attend those outside activites.

It's usaully each year's annual banquest so is usually a big deal no matter what your pack does for it. Ask your CM and den leader about what to expect. Usually invitations are sent out of some sort- mostly relatives just come to ours when the boys move up to Boy scouts. Most packs have as theme- by default its a celebration or birthday or even awards theme. Some packs do all thier rank awardss and other awards. Some have outside entertainment. Reagrdelss it's usually a big pack event that everyone looks forward to and is very specail.

We give medals for the top 4 finshers in each den. Really nice trophies to top 5(this year) in the pack. Used to give out participation ribbons but the have been the same so we now have patches. you can buy the ribbons fromscout shop in packs of 10 (?). Not a huge investment. We also are doing drivers licences which I dowlnaded from a website and we write in the names. Plus we take a picture of each boy with his car in front of a NAscar background- don't know where this came from it's been around for years. if you have a digital printer you can print out then and paste to a background. We gives ours out at Blue and Gold. We also give out about 15 design certificates: Best Superhero Best Scout theme Most Futuristic Most Colorful Most likely built by a scout Best sports theme Most PAtriotic Most original design Best classic Most Aerodynamic you could keep going on with these. (best effort, shiniest, etc- so that there is enough to go around. Or even- 1st year derby participant, 2nd yr, etc. Our boys do wear their place medals on their uniform. They are advised to take off for a uniform inspection but they love wearing to pinewood derby each year all thier "bling". Funniest thing is seeing the littlest cub with a giant trophy. Ours are customized with rank and place and pack. There's a site that does this and the awards too and we don't pay an arm and a leg.

Why not just have a sign up sheet and let them pick?? That way they have the most control. Anytime anyone does not feel in control there are problems!! Just my suggestion. Best to do it as soon as they all become Webelos and everyone is on an even playing field.

As a CM if I had a parent concerned and come to me about lack of leadership/communication and meetigns and therefore ADVANCEMENT(which affects the whole pack as all these families would be bound to drop out) I'd call and get a meeting with the den leader.(along with the CC) If this leader could not take time to communicate with us or fulfill his part of leadership in the pack we'd replace him- especially seeing as there is a person willing to take over. Why "split" the den unless it is too large? Just replave him As a Tigre Leader I had stepped up at registration adn then found out at fiorst pack meeting another parent did too. I wasted valuable time waiting for him to get back to me and so did the scheduling and put together a prgream myslef. This "co=leader" would never commincate with me adn I had to make sure evryone was informed. As a wolf it got worse and he left me in the klurch more than once. Luckily I had alternate palns just in case - when he'd show up late or let me knwo the day before he would be away -so I forged ahead on my own adn just ran the den my way. If you dont' hear form someone you need to come up with your own plan. Great job to you for seeing a void and stepping up and making it your own rather than dropping out. If somewhere down the line he comes out of hiding be gracious to him and his son and hopefully he will do likewise. More than likely he and son will not continue on anyway.

maybe one of those audience participation sons. My pack always love them. You assign different groups parts and then they say them when that word is said. some are very corny and everyone "moans" atthe punch line. Look at Baloo's Bugle had some litle skits that CM could be the person that is who everyone laughs at.

We have a similar tradition now. Last year the ACM redid our bridge and that was the first group to add their names. Our boys have the names burned in by the den leader. I like the idea of maybe adding a eagle next to any boys names that become Eagles. Ours will be around about 20 years as long as it's taken care of

Things our pack has done or what's available in out area: *Work at Nature center trimming shrubs/cleanup ir building bird houses *Take hikes and bring gloves and trash bags and pick up trash during hike *Adopt garden at elem school and weed and plant throughout the year * weed or pick up trash where your den or pack meetings are held * hold a recycling drive (not sure if this is considered conservation but it is good for a Good turn) some local townships have Earth day projects of planting and weeding in parks in spring. also ours camps have trail balzing projects to help clear trails every year.(more on boy scouts level)

We hold ours at the middle school. It is 35.00 per hour and we must use their food service. Scouts are free, any others are 7.00 each.

I'm planner- I planned the whole pack year in July- except for things that cropped up. Our den meetings have a schedule but get alterned due to pack or other events- around Holidays is a tough time. I' d ask him for each parent to take a meeting. If you think you should step up then do it and talk to the other parents. Some people dont' knwo how to ask for help or go about it the wrong way. Tell him you'll make upa list of datesa dn each family will take a meeting- if he cnat' make it- oh well. You can just as easy do things around your schedule as well. Don't just sit by and let things fall apart- if you try you can say you tried- I'd talk to CC and CM as well so they can step in. If they dont care go to another pack.

I'm faced with this at my pack at the cub age so can imagine it gets worse as they move onto boy scouts. At that age it's not just once a week game/rehearsals, it's practicing every day, along with home work and games or evetns on both days of the weekend. I think think that they still continue to participate in scouts with everything else out there and peer pressure too should be aplauded. However- I emphasize that you need to fulfill your commitments so I guess this is the age the decision is made- can you do both and still give your best or do you need to make a decision? Now is when they need to do that balancing act or step to one side of the scale. That scouting continues to thrive with all that's out there I believe to be a good thing (or at least hope it's thriving).

It really depends. I am the primary one involved with both pack and taking to acivities mostly because of work schedules and I'm Cubmaster now so i feel I need to eb one goingt o an event I organized. Lots of evetns whole family goes but sometimes just on of us with our son if we can't afford all of us. Lots of overnights it seems Dad's go but we have a good mix of both.

We go to lots of scout events. That alone knocks out lots of achievemetns and electives.(he completed most in summer camps and summer activites before Sept anyway). Look through the book and take out things you may be doing already and do the rest of the items on there bit by bit. I'd say if you do one a week you'll have no problem. I ask my son questions and do some of the character connections as we're drving in the car or see something on TV. This presidential year has been wonderful in relating some of the character connections- such as the family one. Make it a family project to do the fmaily tree. He may have done it already so just review it. It's fun to talk to grandparents and aunts/ uncles and to find out the history of your home town - they may have tours or maybe you live near a historic place to visit. It's not homework it's all about having fun!!

We are busy planning our own weekend at the council camp we booked upper and lower floor of the biggest bunk house. We have booked the shooting range for the am and have a BSA trained and certified Range Master in the pack that is instructing the boys(requirement to book a range master if wanting to use shooting range) and renting equipment.They will earn a marksmanship patch. We are also going to have beltloops such as Geology, astronomy, art, and arrange a geo-caching course they have to find and stamp their papers. I also want to do a cmpass and orienteering course (very basic one) in groups with a leader. Then we are going to have them prepare their own meals and cook on the fire. We are going to play some silly games. We are having a committee do this with varouse peolpe in charge of each activity. Also dens are adding their input as to requirments they may need to do and teach over weekend. Some of these activites require going out to camp before hand to be ready for them to go and all mapped out. dont' forget the Colors in Am and Pm- chance to meet outdoor flag ceremony requirements.

I like this idea I think I'm going to suggest a similar event in my pack.- what about a grandad or uncle? I do think there are times when you need to make exceptions if there is no male that can fill in but als on the other end encourage your sons to have a male role model if ther is not one in the house(and visa-versa). I think it encourages the idea that men also need to be able to do for themselves in the kitchen. I would also suggest a mom-son time- maybe they need to build something or do a webelos requirement such as the car care- forget what badge that is.

Aske the pack if any parents are nurses or emergency workers. you may have some educators out there that can come teach your den. Also use that camp idea- our resident camp teaches this during the summer.

I'd add- Neckercheif slides or kits to make your own, deodorant, leather belts or kits, fishing gear if near a stream or lake, yo-yos, sewing kits, collectable mugs, sweatshirts, combs, small toothpast and toothbrush kits, soap. Depends if your have a whole room or just a table!!

last year we got our outgoing CM a campagin hat as he had mentioned at one point how he liked them. Also the Secretary we got a hiking staff and had all the boys burn their name into it. she cried.

I'd ask for a copy of the ceremony beforehand. i always send mine out to famialrize not just leaders but also the pack. We do have the boys come up front. What we do is recognize that they have learned all the items and do a repeat and say after or with me. This is more of a reminder to parents and all scouts of what has been learned. any questions are - are you ready now, etc. int the yes or no variety and should not be anything to make them nervous. At the same time I'm also asking the whole pack to join along with us. We also do the Law of the pack and sign an handshake- between the boys and cubmaster. Also learning is not the same as memorizing. It's funny that once they become Webelos they need that paper again as now they're thinking of the boy scout promise. We also add a parent part- again a repeat after me that they will continue to help the boys along their trail. It's a ceremonial thing not a test. tha't why if there is a single boy earning we bring the whole den up there to make him feel more comfortable.