Am I missing anything in my bear den program?

[Ghosthost13]

I always worry that there is some type of award or patch that I might be missing for my boys to earn. This is what I know, The belt loops & pins, progress towards rank beads, Denner & Asst. Denner. I also give out patches for special events we do as a den. Are there any other items I should be aware of? Is there a book that let's you know what awards a boy can earn?

I don't want to let the boys in my den miss a thing. --I am located in Indiana- I have found that some museums here have patch programs for Cub Scouts-also that Boy's Life Magazine, Cub Scout Edition has patch programs as well. So please let me know if I am missing an item in my bear program or of any outside programs that Cubs can earn a patch or an award. Thanks!!

[mschwartz]

Well, our Pack gives patches to anyone who participates in things like: Pinewood Derby (we have a design contest for that patch), Spring Hike, Fall Hike (design contests for those patches too). Scout Days at the Circus gives a patch; Scout Day at the Red Sox gives a patch; the Celtics give a patch when the Scouts go...

 

Plus there's a Reading Patch, not the Boys Life one (I saw the patch at the Scout Store yesterday):

 

Tigers:

Obtain a library card from your local library.

Read three books or have someone read three books of your choice to you.

Read a book of your choice with your family.

 

Cub Scouts and Webelos:

Obtain a library card from your local library.

Read three books of your choice.

Read a book aloud with your family.

Subscribe to Boys' Life magazine.

 

Hope these ideas help!

[sctmom]

We don't focus on patches for everything. BSA has come out with a patch for each upcoming monthly Cub Scout theme. They are tiny and cost $1.15 each!

 

Right now I'm trying to cover achievements in the Bear book that are not easy to do at home. I use the Program Helps for ideas. Our pack doesn't use the themes.

 

I try to cover at least one part of an achievement or one elective in each meeting.

 

Main thing is HAVE FUN! Don't get too focused on badges and awards. Do things that are fun and the boys learn from (without knowing they are learning).

 

 

[NJCubScouter]

The Bear book covers almost everything the boys can earn (other than participation patches such as Pinewood Derby, Blue and Gold, or events that you decide on your own to make up a patch for.) You didn't specifically mention the Bear badge itself and the arrow points, but you did mention Progress Toward Ranks, so I assume you have the basic achievements and electives covered since they are the focus of the book.

 

One thing you don't mention is the World Conservation Award; that is in the Bear Book. It is earned by completing certain achievements, plus a conservation service project. Which achievements are required depends on whether the boy earns it as a Wolf, Bear or Webelos.

 

Another thing you will find in the Bear book are the religious awards, though these are not worked on in den or pack meetings. The boys earn these individually working with their families and religious organizations, and they are actually awarded by the religious organizations.

 

How about the Whittlin' Chip? The requirements for this are in the Bear book (and not in any of the other handbooks, though I suspect that will change in the new editions of the handbooks that are expected out next summer.)

 

There are also other awards such as the BSA Family Award and Physical Fitness Award. I am not sure whether these are in the handbooks or not.

 

But if you are following the Bear book, you should not miss anything significant.

[Ghosthost13]

Hi,

 

I do not make patches & awards the main focus-my main driving force is for the den to have fun. To learn things while having a great time! But I believe in a reward for a job well done-or a patch to remember a special event.

I agree the patches from the scout store are very expensive. What my pack does is order patches from other online patch stores such as Patchsales.com. This is of course, for patches outside the mandatory Cub Scout patches. I have a patch awards in my Den, such as for Honor Roll, uniform award, its fun for all, those surprise uniform inspections. What I am trying to find out, first am I missing anything from my Bear program-because my boys love to earn things, who doesn't? I would like to compile a list of outside patch programs that the boy's & their families may wish to participate in.

[NJCubScouter]

I wanted to add one more point, though in the time it took me to finish my post, I see sctmom beat me to it and said pretty much the same thing I was going to say. That point is:

 

Don't worry so much. If you are giving the boys a good program, working from the Bear book and Program Helps and whatever related ideas you come up with, and the boys are receiving the patches and beads and belt loops and whatever that the book says they should get for what you are doing, and what they are doing at home, then you are doing a good job. Patches are nice to get and the boys should get them, but the real goal is the fun they are having, the things they are learning, and the social skills they are (hopefully) developing as they go through the program.

[NJCubScouter]

OK, a third post, because I see you responded to sctmom. You mention "outside" patches or whatever. In my opinion, the Sports and Academics program (the belt loops and pins) is the "outside" awards program. They just came out with a new guidebook for that program, and I think they added between 5 and 10 new subject areas. There is enough in there to keep any boy buried in awards forever. I don't think there's enough room on a belt for all the belt loops. The boys love getting those, as you probably know.

[Ghosthost13]

Thanks to all, I agree with you - sctmom, mschwartz

& NJCubScouter, I appreciate your comments.

 

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on anything. Your comments were helpful.

 

[kittle]

Ghosthost,

 

I am jealous that your boys want to earn patches and awards. I can't even get mine to work toward their rank. But then, what can I expect, I can't even get the parents to look at their children's books (Not even the assistant leader).

 

Katrina

[Ghosthost13]

Hi kittle,

 

Here are some suggestions:

 

First take the bull by the horns You will be surprised how things come together!

 

My assistant den leader & I always schedule a monthly meeting to plan each den meeting month.

We sometimes meet at a local food place or one of our homes. We both are requred to bring the following search info-games-opening & closing cerermonies-field trips-what acievements can we do in the den? From there we vote on what seems to be the most fun.

 

I always tell the parents of my den boys - Please share your ideas! suggestions for anything in the den! tell me! You never know where a great idea may come from.

 

At the start of this year, I gave each boy a folder, with the following info-Den leader &

Assistant leader contact info- address- phone-cell phone-also the same for reaching our cub master & everyone on our commitee. A complete roster of all the boys in the den with their contact info. Directions to the local scout shop, address, phone number. I copied all the beltloop & pin requirements for this folder. I also put in plastic baseball card sheets which are perfect for holding the cub scout cards that come with their awards. I require this folder to be brought to each meeting. Any new info updates get placed in this folder.

 

I keep a "mystery box" That I bring to all den meetings. I have little candies or little toys in this box. Every boy at the end of each meeting may get something out of the mystery box if they do the following at the meeting:

 

Wear uniform - Bring bear book- bring folder-bring den dues-parent sign off on a achievement-behave properly.

 

I am surprised that your boys are not interested in the awards. Do they have patch vests? Do they see other scouts with their vests covered with patches? That was the best motivator for my boys. I make a big deal about working hard to earn something - I let the know how proud I am when they do.

 

As far as your parents go - I have that same problem with 3 of my parents. (I have 8 boys total in my den.) Last month I asked the parents to stay after the den meeting for a discusion. This is the short & sweet version of what I told them. I asked if anyone was having difficulty in understanding how the den program works because I had noticed that some boys had nothing marked off in their books. I explained when you look at the bear book you will see that most of the activities are for the scout & parent to do. Anything (acievements)we may cover in the den is a bonus. I also explained how important the parent roll in scounting is-because they make the pack & den go as well as grow.

 

I also bring to each den meeting a poster that I purchased from the scout store- it shows the progress of each boy working towards the bear badge. They enjoy being able to put a sticker on this poster when they complete an achievement.

 

I also ask the boys each month what sort of activities they wish to do, & incorporate that into the den meeting as well. When all else fails, make it fun!!

 

Have a good evening!

 

 

 

[Twocubdad]

A slightly different problem, but each year as we got into late winter, I always had a few of my Wolf or Bear Cubs who were falling behind. I sent each boy in the den an "Akela Says" letter summarizing what they needed to do complete their rank advancement. The letter usually said something like "here's what you need to do to complete your Wolf badge by the March Pack meeting" and listed the achievements they had outstanding.

 

I started doing is as simply a record-keeping function, but I was amazed at how it motivated the boys. I suppose it not only gave them a clear picture of what they needed to do, but also gave them a sense of urgency and somewhat of a deadline. Mailing them to the boys made it seem a little more formal and made sure the parents saw it. Invariably, there would be at least one or two boys who would have finished their badge by the next den meeting.

 

I tried to time the letters so that the boys got them just before winter break or a long weekend off from school. I suggested in the letter that working on their scout stuff would be a good activity for the holiday. I dressed it up with some Akela-looking graphics swipped from the net.

[kittle]

Here is how I have worked it.

 

I have spoken with all of the parents personally, explaining what them and their boys need to do. I have spoken with the boys. I send worksheets home, that I have taken many hours putting toghether, for them to work on. We accomplish some part of a requirement at each meeting. I send letters home to the boys and paents after each meeting. Nothing, no parent signatures in the books, no work done on anything.

 

If my most current letter did any good. I am going to check their books this week while my husband and them do games and relays. If I get their books checked, I will then send a letter to each boy suggesting which requirements they could would work on that would complete the needed requirements.

 

Katrina

 

 

 

 

[Ghosthost13]

Hi Katrina,

 

What kind of feedback are you getting from your parents? Why are they not doing their part?

What do your Den boys say? Just curious.

 

Laura

 

 

[Twocubdad]

Kittle, it sounds like you've provided the proverbial horse plenty of opportunities, it's up to him to take a drink.

 

Ultimately, boys and their parents will either "get it" or not. Unfortunately, my experience is that the ones who don't get it eventually drop out. Cub Scouts is a family-based program. If the family's involvement is limited to dropping their son off at meetings, he's not going to make it. We try to make that clear during our orientation talk in Sepeteber.

 

If you are trained, running a good program, and occasionally going the extra mile when needed, you've done your job (and it sounds like you have). Focus on the boys who are doing well and feel good about that.

[ScoutNut]

Ghosthost13 - Check out your local State Parks. Some might have patch programs. If you are near the National Lakeshore, I believe they participate in the NPS Junior Ranger program. Your county park districts might also have patch programs thru their nature centers. Also check out area historical societies or landmarks. One of our neighbouring towns has many, many historical houses and spots. They have a patch you can earn for completing a historical hike around the town.

 

BSA Family Award was mentioned. This is a nice award for the families to work on individualy.

 

Do you and your scouts have access to the internet? If so, there is USSP's Internet Scout Patch you can earn. Here is the address:

 

http://usscouts.org/internetscoutpatch.asp

 

Nations Trails United States Heritage Award

 

http://www.nationstrails.com/

 

Check out local zoos. One of our local zoos has a very nice patch program for youth groups. There are various activities you do, depending on the ages involved, to earn the patch.

 

Remember though, Scouts doesn't end with the Bear year! Save some stuff for the next 2 years. Especially belt loops. There are some that can be used for Webelos achievements. The catch is that they have to be earned as a Webelos. That means that if they have already earned them as a Wolf or Bear they must re-earn them as a Webelos!

 

Have FUN!