Karen_216

The way you get them involved is to make a sign up sheet. you put the chapter down and then the pages in the book it covers. They each need to sign up for one. If you le them just sit there they will. Lots of people will if you put it in front of them. You tell them to pick what they want or you will pick for them. They dont have to be keen on shared leadership but you csn get them to do it without putting a name on it. Divide up what needs done. I had some that were there all the time and those that were therte occasionally. I did not let them "substitute" until after the go see it or other event. (one Dad said- we already went to a sporting event and I told him we are need to do it as a den or part of the pack and if there was a conflict I'd discuss it.) you also never know what type of conflicts they have at home so don't judge just let them know you want them to keep up and if they can't make it you need them to come show you their book and that they complted on their own. you've just started. Try kids showing up 1x every couple of months. These turn out to be the ones that drop out as well. Good luck and get them involved or you'll have years of doing it all yourself.

We have the military donations option on our popcorn forms. It is in incriments of 25.00. We round it to the nearest 25.00 and that is counted towards that and then any odd amount just gets put in the pack. We get same percentage as pack sale. If you have that option you could use that. (of course pack only gets percentage but we felt we wanted to do this since we told customers)

Pack pays for these and all awards but only get a loop/pin once from the pack. We also have a pay per event policy for all activities . Our dues are 30.00 per scout and includes BoysLife if you've already subscribed in the past. We earned about 3500.00 from popcorn last year. Have about 40-50 in the pack. We spend around 1500.00 year on awards. If you haven't sold popcorn in the past start doing it. you dont have to do the whole program just od the forms or just so the shown sells. We had 2000 at start of this year. Any money helps. we also do a vending booth at pinewood that subsidizes the pinewood awards and cars. Also a scout auction- each boy brings in an item they no longer want and bids start at 25 cents and go up to whatever parent allows. We use this money for charity but if we get it would add almost 400.00 to the pack. I also a new parenttold committee her old pack did a dessert "raffle" each meeting. Each boy who wanted a dessert paid for a tickt and then they selected the winners each meeitng . (I brought up raffles are frowned upon) but if each boy gets something it's not really a raffle- we're doing in the form of silent auction at December den meeting. Local packs all work differently. Ask your committe how they came up with this and to see the budget. Some packs only pay for 1st Belt loo/pin and then each parent bpyas for any others earned. by the time your son is Bears/ webelos he may be belt looped out- My son does not have many left and cant; fit his belt and he's only a Bear.

The main reason they do this so early is so those tigers dont' get left out of all the awards. I actaully moved our bobcat for Tigers back from OCTOBER which they did last year and to November. Yes they are to Learn and Say but they don't have to memorize.We do a repeat after me format- so they'll have maybe a couple of den meetings and a pack meeting in already? if Pack meeting is beginning of month then ask to have it pushed back to Decemeber, you tell Cm when they are ready not the other way around. They prob will be . Also the sooner tey do this the more they'll understand pack meetings. You say it every night at bed just like all the stuff my son had to learn for first communion. I also made little card for them . Make a game and they'll learn it in one meeting. They boys pick up fastr than you think. It really is not that much to do and can be done in one meeting. Two suggestions-- Make lines of the Promise in big briong on poster board all taped together- and have them say it after you. Then pull part each line and line boys up to each say again. then mix up the cards and hand out and they have to get in correct order themselves.The parents can help them out by helping them to read what is on their pieces for the Law - do motions- Follows akela - fingers pointing to adult pack go-- they run in place, help scout Grow- crouch down and then slowly stand up Gives good will- put arms out it's not as difficlut as it seems.

if you have pack tshirts you could give him one of those. Or a patch of some sort. How about a hand made card? If your pack does carols at the holiday stop by his house first!!

My son has peanut allergies so this is what we use and we love it!! Teddy grahams mini preztels Mixed dried tropical fruits raisins and craisins dried bananas Chex cereal We did it as a den meeting and set all ingredients on a table. Gave them each a plastic spoon and bag and allowed them two scoops of each (more of cereal). you can also do a scvenger hunt on the way- find a twisted small twig, dried leaf, acorn, etc. also if you can ge them to stop on the way and be completely quiet and listen - identofy the sounds they hear. Couldn't get my wolves to be quiet long enough!!

You know everyone said how much fun they had at my den meetings and I asked if we needed to imporve on the den level.Everone said no. I gave kids time to run around, parents resoirces -spent hours working on parent inof and a schedule to keep them on track. We registered 8 new last year and only kept 3. Every fmaily sited outside problems- could not make meetings, and/or pack evetns and pack meeitnfs.One the boy just wasn't into it even though he seemed like he was.Maybe Mom was asking for him to jump up and down I never had a probelm with him enjoying himslef. They need to go to meetings and other pack and council acitivties. If the family does not make it a priority then the boys do not continue. I think most is in family attitude. I've thought long and hard on this and feel that it's not always the dena dn pack but the familyu need to commit. They sign up and expect us to entertain and delight and dont' do anything to encourage it will not work. It taeks two just like a marriage.

Just a comment that these type of relationships are not unique to scouting. If the individuals would not have met through scouting likely either (or both) would have met someone elsewhere and behaved the same way. The Home and school, at work, shopping. The fact remains that either (or both) may not have been happy in their marraige and open to this type of thing. Either that or just promiscous. Do I condone it? Absolutely not. However you have to also be careful of an ex-spouse spreading rumors. Unless you are they you do not know the whole story. What type of inappropriate realtionship exists? Are they hangig onto each other and kissing or going off together?? Then something should be said. The fact that a child was asked to keep a secret is bad parently adn a poor example. How will that child trust in the furture? Will he bring this into his fututre realtionships? Very likely. unfortunitely I had a family member involved in a similar situation. The SM and she developed a strong friendship - there were huge problems in the SM marriage(which everyone knew about).No one outside herself and spouse new about her apparent issues in her marriage. Both were looking for someone to realte. SM fell in love with her ( a female leader in his troop) and his wife found out due to many phone calls and emails.Secrets were also kept by his sons. The sympathetic friendship developed into an inappropriate relationship.(they claim nothing inappropriate happened but feelings were involved - still cheating in my mind). The aggrieved wife wrote letters to every member of the troop and to executive officers in the Council. She pretty much went off the deep end to the point of harrassment towards the female leader- calls at all times of the day and night. SM resigned his position and female leader went to another troop(along with her son). Both marriages ended in divorce and the "scouting" couple is still together but now in different troops from whence they were and different from each other as well. The former SM sons are both Eagles. I'd say you can't judge all of scouting by the actions of these individuals because the fact is it happens every where. Teachers do it as well. All my grade school talked about the married gym teacher and the single 5th grade teacher. Kids aren't blind or dumb. It shouldn't happen but it does.

there is a good "skit" in the Sept 2008 baloo's bugle. Cubmaster is given carton of 1 dozen raw eggs to represent the kids in his charge. A helper reads off all the responsiblities it entails. The cubmaster is then given hats or items to represnt all the other tasks he must fulfill if no one else does them. When he is overlaoded the helper then says- if he doesn't get help he'll drop those eggs. Her then hands out all the items to adults and tells them how much easier it is when everything is shared. you can read the exact skit on Baloo. i'm doign that one at pack meeting and the tape at recruting night this week. Good Luck. i knwo how it feels- we have lts of open positions and Webes leader and advancement chair drop out of positions due to work.

I agree that you need to look at the whole level and not just one event. You did something right to have all those tigers. Now that we can't publicize in schools we are lucky to have Tiger dens of 6. I'm stressing now as to what next week will bring. yes we have had some interest. I drive around putting up signs and my kids say - Lokk that sign is still there". I put 3 adds in community section local papers- one advertised the wrong date and the othersd have yet to appear!! Our whole yeqr is recruiting--always tryingt o talke to interested families. It's also not just the kids- I;'d be happy with the 3 if you also got 3 parents as leaders from it too(better yet 6)!!

Our pack rotates which den does the colors each month. The same den retires the colors. I'm adding to their task to have an inspirational saying of some sort first and then bring up the colors. Anther den will be greeters and hand out the preopening activity which I am bringing each month and then that den will alos have some sort of skit or den presentation to do. Karen

At the start of a scouting year you're bound to get more boys joining. CM and CC is taking the easy way out!! It's you who will be stuck planning for 3x the itmes and keep all boys active and on track. I had 14 last year but at no time did I get more than 11 at a meeting. We had the parents there and they helped but you dont' get time to sign a book or look at achievements. There jsut isn't time. Even with assistants. it'd the CC and CM job to get more leaders for that den. you can offer to help share your ideas but other than that it looks like you'd soon be 18 or more. How do you find room for all those?? Then you need all parents and it becomes family meeitngs. you're right to say No and not feel guilty!!

I suppose same question could be asked about using wine corks to make hot pads. We could buy items new but don't we also try to teach recycling?? i like the shoe box idea. Found some old wooden (and very nice) cigar boxes in father-in'laws stuff after he passed. he used them for various things- he was the original recycler- dont' throw something out if it has a use!! I couldn't imagine turning them into banjos- however the shoe box is another thing- my kids out grow shoes like they're weeds. (the kids not the shoes!!)also diaramma anyone??

Can't they purchase their own kits??

We had a really good roundup last year and went form 6 to 14 in our den. Wow what a big den!! Not so much. First meeting when a parent did not show I called. He saw a group of scouts (Boy scouts) in the main church and went there instead of the classroom behind- and yes I gave very specific instructions that the rooms were behind the church and you go up stairs and it's end of the hall.... etc.When he sat and figured out these were not 2nd graders he just left. Well needless to say this rather clueless Dad did not make many meetings. Boy was in my sons class and said how much he loved it but Dad wasn't all into it or supporting him. I asked at Pinewood if he'd done anything at home and he said no. We also had another fmaily drop out because of parents work schedules- they were all very sad this boy was great and loved it.so it's not always the prgram. Many times as stated it's the parents not making time- heck I even offer to pick up!! i understand homework or tests but every meeting this does not happen. So now we are back down to 8 in the den. i concurr that you need to out your best efforts forth if you are going to do something. Yes I give choices but the scouts is not one. i think boys who lose interest don't have it from the parents- Scouts is so all-encompassing with acedemics and sports aspects- also once we take the boys camping (even if parents dont' like it) I have yet to have a boy say he did not like it. (actaully LOVE IT) so when I hear- "we're not campers" i laugh. I'm not either but what are you willing to do for your kids?? My son said after an event- "Mom why do you always sign me up for these evetns i don't want to go to?" Afterwards I said- "are you glad you went?" and the answer was YES. Same for resident camp- did not want to go. on day 2 was asking about next year.

I agree that I'd not take my son out of school to go to a scout event. I'd also not go to something that requires a full days travel and only was for the weekend. Maybe you have year round schooling?? That's the only reason I could see the pack scheduling this. Maybe suggest something closer or go to another pack. you don't have to attedn these events if they are not convenient. I'd definatly question the organizer of these events. Does everyone in the pack miss a Monday or Friday or can you leave really early on a Sat to get there and 5pm on Sunday and get home?? I'm thinking they stay Friday night too? How long does it take?? Are the passes not safew to travel at night or close? Any weekday non summer evetns are only on holidays and I have never scheduled one then either as I work and would have to take off too. Plus the Home and School sometimes does trips then. I also don't schedule things during winter break or spring break as lots of families are way then . (maybe a den event if families agreed but not a pack event).

We hardly ever have parents not go along. If we do it may be only one or two and it's Webelos. They're lettitgn son go with alnother family because families are good friends. We also usually have siblings too. Exception is resident camp as siblings can't go except to family camp. Wish our overnight on USS NJ was only 16.00pp. Ours was 45.00 pp. Just my son and Husband went. Almost everythign else we do as a whole family- as does everyone else in the pack.

Well, I talked about resident camp and day camps and told everyone how much fun it was and had speakers come in. Still only had 4 cubs (from my own den) and 5 webelos (out of 20 possible). So your numbers are pretty good. I find in the fall and spring sports conflict with lots of council events. I personlly will take my son out of 1 game to attend a great evetn but lots of families won't. So try as you might- we had a Dad dress up in revoluntionary gear to prmote and evetn (only 10 families went)- you may not always get great attendance at counicl evetns. Some families also just aren't available weekends. Our pack overnighteres are always very succesful. We get more that 50% attendance. I think our spring campout is close to 80-90%. Very few dont go on this. We're trying to have scouts who went talk it up this year too. Maybe if the scout really wants to go....

Here are evetns we do as a pack: --Local college Scout football game - 2.00 pp- sometimes the timing is off and this year it's really early but every year at least a few families go. If we have a group we tailgate before hand (BYO food and sodas only) and get to march the field in uniform and w/ the pack -flag- kids love that sort of thing. --Some sort if overnighter at a musem, battle ship, zoo, this year it's at a historic fort-- we get at least 50 peopl for these every year- even when 2 were offered and they were 50.00 pp. --Parades-- another opportunity to display our colors and dress up and be out in the community - at Christmas kids wear their santa hats or elf ears. This year a Dad is making a float. -- any den schedules events that are opend up to the pack, corn maze, hay rides, pumpkin and apple picking (you pay if you want something but the tractor ride to the field is free and it's lots of fun to wonder the fields!!! -- look at community events - local historic walks, star gazing events, fall pumpkin days, fire works and community days in the summer. Most of these are free. I found out this summer about a local communty history hike and movie at the park and free concerts n the park. Easy way to do summer events that are already arranged!! -- this year we are going to the cub camp in the winter for the weekend. We haveto bring all our own food but get a centrally heated bunk house w/ full kitche and fridge and one of our parents is a rnage master so we can use the bb range. We do have to rent the building and bb guns but the price will only be about 5.00 pp. You can't make everything free but sometimes you can get good discounts. We chose to have a very low registration and pack dues and sell popcorn as our main funding. Families pay their own way for special events we make available that are offered through council and sports teams. We all pick and chose what we can do. Minor league teams are a great deal less than major league/NFL teams. There are so many options- that person complaining can arrange something too. There are always complainers. Tell them to put up or shut up (but not in those terms!!

We do a variety of things. We have at least one pack overnighter in the fall- the price varies by venue. This year it's 25.00 pp but last year they were 50.00. We do different things so the kids get a variety. You still offer events. I don't think someone will drop out becasue of 1 event being too expensive, If every evetn is pricey that may be a different story. You have to look at the demographic of your pack- if it's an economically depressed area then do events that are low cost. I find many places give a good scout discount. I'd arrange something and see the response. Not doing fundraising because you don't know anyone is just an excuse. That's what popcorn show-n-sells are for. Also I go with my son door to door to sell for his take order. I work and my husband does too and lets face it- being a cubmaster takes a lot of time. If you can do it then anyoine who is committed can find time to ask a few people. If they are one day things then maybe they can't make the 1 day but if it's over a number of days or weeks that excuse does not pan out. You can do car washes too. If someone is given the opportunity and chooses not to and then complains about the cost of the evetns i have to wonder how involved they are anyway. Offer events in advance and the option to make payments- I did that for camp. You need pack events for the kids to get to know each other and it also help them with advancements. If someone can't go then they don't.

First-- my district has a group that is trained to specifically do this and they know all the ins and outs. Ask your district exec if there is a similar program. Second- kids love songs and skits- pull a few kids out and give them parts- tell some jokes- show some magic tricks to break up your presentation. You don't have long so keep it simple. If you can get ahold of video equipment to show your pack in action that goes a long way. In trainig we are taught to use all the senses. engage them they only have attention spans of 2 mins(if that) so you need to keep moving- have them repeat after you for certain things- do a cub socut cheer so they are chanting as they go away. Give them something simple to take home. Maybe a tangram or instructions to make something. Have fun.

In my council resident camp was 204.00 for early registers(before april 1st) up to 239.00 after 5/15. Leaders started at 103.00 and went up from there. There were free leaders (up to 3) for every so many scouts going. I ended up paying about 75.00 for myself with the discount applied. They did run a good prgram but I think still make out pretty good. I understand they have maintence to do- heard they just had new wells dug at quite a cost but it's still costly. The boy scout camps are 285.00 I think. BTY- day camp 5 days 9-3 is 150.00 per cub. Again the kids have fun but they only get a t-shirt and the pack awards the belt loops and pins in the fall. That said- I'm thinking in other areas of the country the camps are not as seasonal as in the NE, thereby partioning the costs better. Also consider taxes and the cost of living in the NE. Summer is the main season to pay for upkeep, etc, so you need to take that into consideration too. Perhaps you can use fundraisers to help pay your way. Have you gone to this resident camp before? then you can add constructive comments otherwise you don't really know. My son had more than the value in returns in experiences and fun! As did the adults that went along.Sure we had recommendations about ways it could imporve but it was an overall great experience- even for the Dad the broke his collarbone!!

As a former retail manager I couldn't agree more. I've had many people ask me to be their reference. I refused a fellow college grad many years ago because when I looked at his resume it was a complete lie. I also knew his poor wor habits. However, I gave a glowing recommendation last year for one of my wolves for his ti-kwon-do blackbelt. The first thing these high-paid super talented athletes need is a life coach, you can give someone money but not values!!

Since we give out applications right then at recruiing night and it is a separate event not mixed in with any other school event, we get very few that don't join. Maybe two last year.

On another note. Our pack has adpoted a garden at an elementary school. Maybe there is something similar in a park or school or at your meeting place. You can plan out the garden on a piece of large paper and bring each time, and research plants and during the winter grow seeds to place in the spring. There is a Bear achievements (or electvies?) around this. If it is at your meeting place you can spend a little time each meeting weeding or just looking at it and trying to identify anything already there. they could even study insects living there. We found ladybugs, grass hopper, crickets( led to a discussion between difference between them) as well as ants and wasps to stay away from.