Beadmania-part deux

I was surprised. I expected carefree fun. Silliness. The goofy,
boisterous cub scouts I know and love. I expected Lucille Ball at the sale
where they fight over things.

Nope...

Before the meeting I arranged all the toys I had collected on tables. I
separated the really, really cool stuff (expensive store bought things,
things like chapter books, street sharks, a rubber snake OR something that
was just plain desirable). These things I priced at 50 beads. Then there
was the medium table, 25 beads. Then the table with hundreds of happy meal
toys at 10 beads each (sometimes we had six or seven of the same thing.
The gargoyles from Hunchback looked neat lined up). I also had stickers
and really little stuff for 1 bead each.

I covered all this up with blankets and NO ONE was allowed near the tables.
But boy did they WANT to be near those tables.

After the meeting closed the wolves and webelos were sent to have ice cream
while the tigers shopped. To the tigers this was such a serious, solemn
considered affair. Much mulling and pondering and considering went on. I
was astounded. These are the kids who yell, "come on mom" when you pause
for a moment to look at something in a store. Such measuring out of beads
to pay for things, and back to the table to spend more.

The wolves and webs, as expected made much quicker decisions. They didn't
lament or whine about what the tigers got because they had not seen the
other choices. As they finished their ice cream they drifted over.
Everyone seemed to genuinely treasure their purchases. The parents seemed
to genuinely cherish getting rid of a bunch of toys.

P.S. The newly minted tenderfoot scouts, my former WebII's made a point to
come back and spend their beads. I did sneak them in and let them shop.
There's still a little boy inside there.

P.P.S. I had a "creme pie in the cubmasters face" for sale at 150 beads.
It didn't sell until I made a big deal out of it, how easy I was getting
off, how relieved I was etc.

OR COURSE I HAVE A GARBAGE BAG FULL OF TOYS LEFT...(just like too much food
for a party, I was really worried about having enough toys to go around,
silly, silly me) and what to do?

Cinco de Mayo is on Tuesday, our meeting night (that's The Mexican
celebration of the 5th of May). The tigers will be making a pinata and
guess what goes inside along with candy. HAPPY MEAL TOYS!

That gift exchange game at Christmas...HAPPY MEAL TOYS. (see below)

Box to the Battered Womans Shelter...HAPPY MEAL TOYS.


----------------from a Scouts-L christmas post-------------------
The gifts I used where small $3 gifts I purchased from the Scout Shop (yo
yo, book mark, key chain). I also used 4 gifts per game, we played it
twice, and posted the gifts at the North, South, East and West positions
around the circle. Make sure to give the explicit instructions to the folks
you hand the gift to NOT to open the gift. We also had everyone at the
meeting participate in the game. I hope some of you can use this and if you
do please let me know how it goes.
Have fun and Happy Holidays !!!!!!


Holiday Magic Gift Exchange
from Cascade Pacific Council's Pow Wow 1994 Book

(Everyone stands in a circle holding the gift they brought, or a wrapped
treat from the Pack such as a disguised pinewood derby car kit or a candy.
As the following story is read, each time the word RIGHT is said, the
gifts get passed one time to the right; every time the word LEFT is said,
the gifts are passed one time to the left. Read slow enough for the
younger boys to keep up, but fast enough to keep things funny. The gift
you have at the end of the story is the one you keep.)


Christmas was almost here and Mother RIGHT was finishing the Christmas
baking. Father RIGHT, Sue RIGHT, and Billy RIGHT returned from their last
minute Christmas errands.

"There's not much LEFT to be done," said Father RIGHT as he came into the
kitchen. "Did you leave the basket of food at the church?" asked Mother
RIGHT. "I LEFT it RIGHT where you told me to," said Father RIGHT.

"I'm glad my shopping is done," said Billy RIGHT. "I don't have any money
LEFT." The telephone rang, and Sue RIGHT LEFT to answer it. She rushed
back and told the family, "Aunt Tilly RIGHT LEFT a package for us RIGHT on
Grandpa RIGHT's porch. I'll go over there RIGHT now and get it," she said
as she LEFT in a rush.

Father RIGHT LEFT the kitchen and brought in the Christmas tree. By the
time Sue RIGHT returned, Mother RIGHT, Father RIGHT, and Billy RIGHT had
begun to decorate their tree. The entire RIGHT family sang carols as they
finished the trimming. They LEFT all of the presents under the tree and
went to bed hoping they had selected the RIGHT gifts for their family.

Now, I hope you have the RIGHT present for yourself because that's all
that's LEFT of our story ... except to wish you a Magical Holiday ...
isn't that RIGHT?

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