Small Pack

[ronquera]

I just joined the cub scouts... ah-hem, I mean my SON just joined...We have such a small pack (Three boys when my son and 4 other boys joined a couple months ago) that it is not practical to split into dens (yet?)

 

We have 8 boys from 1st grade through 4th and we are trying to have a program that can be both capable of signing off tiger-webelos on accomplishment in their books AND engaging for such a wide range of ages.

 

Any suugestions?

 

[Lisabob]

What kind of a base do you have to recruit from? (Is it likely you'll have enough for actual dens next year?)

 

In general, get them outside! A lot of outdoor activities can be scaled to age/skill level. Maybe the older boys can do a little (supervised) cooking, and the younger boys can sit around the campfire enjoying stories/songs while dinner is being cooked for them. Hiking, older guys can hike a little further than the younger guys. Fishing, everybody likes that. You can probably go through the different rank books and find other activities that can be expanded or simplified to accommodate the different ages. But the goal should probably still be to increase pack size to a point where you can have separate dens in a year or so.

 

 

 

 

[ronquera]

Evidently we had a large(ish) pack a couple years ago but it dwindled...hopefully my enthusiasm will be contagious...I am asking the CM about having an "invite-a--friend" family picnic for fun and maybe recruitment.

[Lisabob]

Do you recruit from a specific school or church, etc., or does the pack not have a natural recruiting base?

 

The invite-a-friend picnic is a good idea. Probably the best recruiting tactic of all is word of mouth among the boys (and their parents).

[bohica2475]

Since you have a small Pack, chances are you may have only 1 boys of a particular rank. In that case, a den leader cannot meet with him alone unless it's his parent. So you will probably have to meet as a group more often.

I suggest putting together a busy calendar of events to take part in. Planned well and executed well, these events will be a lot of fun and the boys will talk to their friends. they'll get two of their friends and they'll get two of theirs. You get the idea.

A fun Pack will grow. there is no doubt about it.

You can also check with local churches in your community who do not have a Pack chartered with them and ask them to drop off some literature to be passed out during sunday school or youth programs.

Good Luck. And remember, if you're one of the five dads in the Pack, It will be partially up to you to get things going in the right direction. You do that, your son will have fun, too.

[John-in-KC]

Has anyone ever done an achievement by achievement, elective by elective crosswalk of the advancement plan for Cub Scouting? I've not yet seen one online.

 

I'd start with a crosswalk of Wolf and Bear, since those two ranks use a common advancement system (rank Gold Arrow point, multiple silver arrow points). Then, fold in the Webelos badge and its activity pins. Finally, roll back to Tigers and roll their 1/1 (parent and child) Go-See-Do (?) system in.

 

I would leverage the monthly Cub Scouting themes; they provide some program commonality.

 

Have fun with all this

[Den3Pack429]

I'm very curious about how you have executed this! My husband and I are the leaders for our son's Wolf den this year, and due to only having two Tigers sign up this year, we have offered to have them join our den. Therefore we are having to figure out how to combine our weekly meetings, much like you will need to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

[rrelaljrksw]

Our pack started last year. We are a homeschool pack so we ran it more like a den. We had 11 boys and all 4 ranks. I read all the books and organized them into themes. We used these instead of the program helps. It required some work at home especially for the Webelos, but all the boys advanced by the end of May. Now we have 20 boys and have split them into dens. The dens are small and we all meet at the same time in the same room. Each den has a corner. I would say the best idea is to have a parent step up as a co leader of tigers and let them meet at the same time but split when appropriate. If you do most of the planning and prep work they may be more willing to volunteer. Here are the themes that we used in case this would help others. It's pretty long so if you're not interested you can stop reading.

 

BobCats All Theme

All ranks work on bobcat badge and getting to know the boys

Family Works Theme

 

1st Wednesday Chores

Activity Make a family Chore Chart

Fulfills

Tigers 1 F Think of one chore you can do with your adult partner. Complete it together.

Wolves 4. KNOW YOUR HOME AND COMMUNITY (Wolf Handbook, Page 60)

E. Talk with your family members. Agree on the household jobs you will be responsible for. Make a list of your jobs and mark off when you have finished them. Do this for one month.

Webelos Family Member

2 Make a chart showing the jobs you and other family members have at home. Talk with your family about other jobs you can do for the next two months.

 

2nd Wednesday Scrap booking

Activity Make a Scrapbook

Fulfils

Tigers 1D Make a Scrapbook

Bears 8. THE PAST IS EXCITING AND IMPORTANT (Page 72)

c. Start or add to an existing den or pack scrapbook.

Webelos Artist

2. Create a scrapbook (portfolio) of your Artist activity badge projects and show it to your den leader.

6. Draw a profile of a member of your family.

 

Pack Meeting Family Fun Night

Activity Board game night

Fulfils

Tigers Elective 3 Fun and Games

Wolves 10 FAMILY FUN (Wolf Handbook, Page 88)

Do requirement a and do TWO of requirements 10b through 10g:

G. Have a family Board Game night at home with members of your family.

Bears 10. FAMILY FUN (Bear Handbook - Page 90)

B. Have a family fun night at home

Webelos Family Member

8. Tell what your family does for fun. Make a list of fun things your family might do for little or no cost. Plan a family fun night.

 

Go See It (field trip) Attend a Play with family

Tigers Elective 36 See a play or musical performance

Wolves 10 Family Fun f. Attend a concert, a play, or other live program with your family.

Bears 10. Family Fun a. Go on a day trip or evening out with members of your family

Webelos Showman Badge Drama 18 Attend a Play

 

 

Its a Grand old Flag Theme

 

1st Wednesday Flag ceremony

 

Activity Learn and practice pledge of allegiance and a flag ceremony

Fulfils

Tigers 2 D Pledge of Allegiance and flag ceremony

Wolves 2. YOUR FLAG (Wolf Handbook, Page 46)

a. Give the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Tell what it means.

b. Lead a flag ceremony in your den.

Bears COUNTRY (Do THREE of the following)

WHAT MAKES AMERICA SPECIAL? (Bear Handbook - Page 34)

(Do requirements (a) and (j) and any two of the other requirements.

f. Be a member of the color guard in a flag ceremony for your den or pack.

Webelos

Citizen Badge

5 Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance from memory. Explain its meaning in your own words.

 

2nd Wednesday Care and Displaying the Flag

Activity Tell how to respect and take care of the U.S. flag. Show three ways to display the flag. How to fold the Flag

Fulfills

Wolves 2 Your Flag

C Tell how to respect and take care of the U.S. flag. Show three ways to display the flag.

D Learn about the flag of your state or territory and how to display it.

E Learn how to raise a U.S. flag properly for an outdoor ceremony

G With the help of another person, fold the U.S. flag.

Bears COUNTRY (Do THREE of the following)

WHAT MAKES AMERICA SPECIAL? (Bear Handbook - Page 34)

(Do requirements (a) and (j) and any two of the other requirements.

H. Learn how to raise and lower a U.S. flag properly for an outdoor ceremony.

Webelos

Citizen Badge

3 Describe the flag of the United States and give a short history of it. With another Webelos Scout helping you, show how to hoist and lower the flag, how to hang it horizontally and vertically on a wall, and how to fold it. Tell how to retire a worn or tattered flag properly.

4 Explain why you should respect your country's flag. Tell some of the special days we fly it. Tell when to salute the flag and show how to do it.

 

Go See It (Field Trip) Visit a Historical Site (liberty memorial)

Tigers 1G visit a historical site and learn what life was like in the past

Wolves 4 Know your Home and Community F. Visit an important place in your community, such as a historic or government location. Explain why it is important.

Bears Family 8 The Past is exciting and important E Find out some history about your community.

 

Pack Meeting Hooray for the USA

Boys recite the pledge of Allegiance and perform a flag ceremony

 

Safety First Theme

 

1st Wednesday Fire Safety

Activity Discuss Fire safety, stop drop roll, fire escape plan, smoke detectors

Fulfils

Tiger Elective 28 Check the smoke Detectors 3Fa Plan a fire drill

Wolves 9 BE SAFE AT HOME AND ON THE STREET (Wolf Handbook, Page 82)

C, WITH AN ADULT, check your home for danger from fire.

Bears 11. BE READY! (Bear Handbook - Page 96)

a Tell what to do in case of an accident in the home. A family member needs help. Someone's clothes catch on fire.

e. With your family, plan escape routes from your home and have a practice drill.

Webelos Ready Man Badge 11 Make a fire escape plan

 

2nd Wednesday Emergency

Activity How to handle emergencies Make an emergency phone list

fulfils

Tigers Elective 27 What to do if something happens 3Fb what to do if lost

Wolves BE SAFE AT HOME AND ON THE STREET (Wolf Handbook, Page 82)

b WITH AN ADULT, check your home for hazards and know how to make your home safe.

Bears 11. BE READY! (Bear Handbook - Page 96)

Do requirements a through e and requirement g. Requirement f is recommended, but not required.

b.Tell what to do in case of a water accident.

c. Tell what to do in case of a school bus accident.

D Tell what to do in case of a car accident.

Webelos Readyman

 

Go See It Visit a Fire Station or Police Station

Fulfills

Tiger 2G Ask someone who works there how they help people in your community

Bears 7. LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A BIG JOB (Bear Handbook - Page 64)

Do all six requirements.

Practice one way police gather evidence: by taking fingerprints, or taking shoeprints, or taking tire track casts.

Visit your local sheriff's office or police station or talk with a law enforcement officer visiting your den or pack to discuss crime prevention.

Help with crime prevention for your home.

Be sure you know where to get help in your neighborhood.

Learn the phone numbers to use in an emergency and post them by each phone in your home.

Know what you can do to help law enforcement.

 

Pack Meeting (Fire Fighter Visit maybe)

 

Lets Explore Nature Theme

 

1st Wednesday Plants

Activity Make leaf rubbings, study trees

Fulfils

Tigers 5D Make a leaf rubbing

 

Webelos Forester

Draw a picture to show the plant and tree layers of a forest in your area. Label the different layers. (If you don't live in an area that has forests, choose an area that does and draw a picture of that forest.)

Identify six forest trees common to the area where you live. Tell how both wildlife and humans use them. (If you don't live in a region that has forests, read about one type of forest and name six of its trees and their uses.)

Make a poster showing a tree's growth rings or examine the growth rings of a tree stump. Explain how the rings tell its life history.

 

2nd Wednesday Animals

Activity bird ids and bird feeders, make a bird house?

Tigers Elective 32 Feed the birds

Wolves Elective 13 Birds (Wolf Handbook, Page 174)

This elective is also part of the World Conservation Award.

Make a list of all the birds you saw in a week and tell where you saw them (field, forest, marsh, yard, or park).

Put out nesting material (short pieces of yarn and string) for birds and tell which birds might use it.

Read a book about birds.

Point out 10 different kinds of birds (5 may be from pictures).

Feed wild birds and tell which birds you fed.

Put out a birdhouse and tell which birds use it.

Bears 5. SHARING YOUR WORLD WITH WILDLIFE (Bear Handbook - Page 50)

This elective is also part of the Cub Scout World Conservation Award.

Do four of the requirements.

Choose a bird or animal that you like and find out how it lives. Make a poster showing what you have learned.

Build or make a bird feeder or birdhouse and hang it in a place where birds can visit safely.

Webelos Naturalist

Visit a museum of natural history, nature center, or zoo with your family, Webelos den, or pack. Tell what you saw.

Watch for birds in your yard, neighborhood, or town for one week. Identify the birds you see and write down where and when you saw them.

Learn about the bird flyways closest to your home. Find out which birds use these flyways.

 

Go See it Hike no more than 2 mile for younger boys

Fulfills

Tigers 5F Take a hike

Wolves

Bears 12 Family Adventure B. go on a hike 5. SHARING YOUR WORLD WITH WILDLIFE d. Visit one of the following:

Zoo, Nature center, Aviary, Wildlife refuge, Game preserve.

 

Lets Explore the Food Pyramid

Fulfills

Tigers 3d

Wolves 8. Cooking and eating A

 

Communicate

Visit a TV, Newspaper or Radio Station

Fulfils

Tigers 4G

Bears 17 Information Please c. Visit the newsroom of a newspaper or a radio or television station and find out how they receive information.

Webelos Communicator 7. Visit the newsroom of a newspaper or a radio or television station and find out how they receive information.

 

Games galore

Play games both board and group

Tigers 4d 3 g

Wolves 10 b 1a-i

Bears 15 a-c

Webelos

 

[ScoutNut]

This was posted on another Cub Scout Forum site -

 

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/523-006_web.pdf

 

It is a Scoutreach syllabus "designed for leaders who do not have the adult assistance to break a pack up into dens for each rank".

 

 

[rrelaljrksw]

I sure wish someone had shown me that link a year ago. It would have saved me a lot of time. Thanks, I'll hang on to that in case we ever need it again.