Fehler

That's a "Pack Trainer". I wish we had one.

State highway property, but leased to the local community garden, of which I am a member and have permission from the board of the garden. They're organic gardeners, so any use of chemicals is out. I'm not too concerned about "effectiveness", I just want effort. Over time, the sustained effort will become effective.

It's not a "hill", its a berm along the highway, with a soundwall at the top. The scouts will not be on the traffic side of the berm, so they are free to roll (save for the thistles).

I do plan on working with the Minneapolis Parks Dept (I have political connections with the Park Board) for a larger, Pack service project in the winter in Minnesota (to help get this Pack to realize that scouts don't "move indoors" once the snow flies), but I was looking for a quickie project that I could whip together in a week for our next (First!) Bear Den Meeting.

The requirements specifically state "Participate in a Leave No Trace-related service project."

I've seen that page, and downloaded the 98 page .pdf file that it linked. I got some good ideas for activities, but no ideas for "service projects".

Also, that page and the .pdf are referencing the seven "Backcountry Guidelines". Cub scouts Leave No Trace involve the six "Frontcountry Guidelines". Similar, but not identical. I haven't found a training regimen/activity list specifically for the Cub Scout level.

moosetracker,

I'm just having a hard time coming up with "Leave No Trace" ideas that I can pull off in near-downtown Minneapolis, other than "pick up trash", which we've done to death. The local "Park Service" is a monolithic public entity, I have no idea whom to contact and where about helping with trail maintenance/signage.

At least we can discuss "Plan Ahead" and "Respect Other Visitors". I can explain how Canadian Thistles migrated from Asia to Canada, as a warning with "Leave What You Find" and "Trash Your Trash".

I had an idea about getting the Cubs to help out cleaning dog poop at the local dog park, as "Manage Your Pet", but I don't think any of the parents would be too happy with me on that.

My son hates hot dogs, which is standard ration in our Pack. So, I've taken to bringing along a bag of tortillas, a bag of shredded cheese, and a bag of sliced pepperoni. Then, using a two-pronged hot dog stick, spear the tortilla, sprinkle on the cheese, and lay some pepperoni over the top, and try to toast it over the campfire until the cheese melts without tipping it over and spilling the cheese into the fire.

One of the requirements for the Disability Awareness Belt Loop is to "Attend a disabilities event such as an Easter Seals event, Special Olympics, a performance with sign language interpretation, an activity with Guiding Eyes dogs, or a wheelchair race."

Would going to a "Sensory Friendly Film" sponsored by the Autism Society count in this regard? I'm guessing its similar to the "performance with sign language". The theater takes care to make the movie friendly to viewers with sensory issues, by leaving the house lights up, toning down the sound, no ads, allowing outside snacks (for gluten/caesin free diets) and allowing noise/talking/dancing/singing by the audience. The goal is to get the scouts to notice the differences between this presentation and a "normal" movie theater experience. The scouts will (hopefully) attend with two of my nephews and brother-in-law, who are on the Autism spectrum.

As a bonus, we will see "Cars 2" and call it educational.

http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/events/sensory-friendly-films/

So, the local Community Garden is next to a state highway, and between the soundwall and the garden is a hillside with a patch of Canadian Thistles. Service project!

But can Bear Scouts pull/cut thistles with any success? They don't need to pull the plants, just cut them down to prevent them from seeding this year. The patch is on a moderately steep berm, walkable but unmowable. Or will they just be hurting themselves too much for the effort?

Or how about I forget the pulling/cutting, and just have them "crush" the patch down? More fun, sure, but would it be successful?

And I plan on using this as a Leave No Trace service project. How does invasive species removal count in this aspect? Were Canadian Thistles imported for some ungainly purpose, like Buckthorn?

I just find the idea of holding 2nd graders to the letter of the requirements distasteful. If we want to encourage them to advance, we need to make sure they are doing their best, whatever "their best" may be, to complete the achievements. If, when they are at the meetings, they are involved and participating, then so long as they attend at least "sporadically" (one Den meeting every other month) I'd award it to them. We cannot penalize them for the faults of their parents, whether its work scheduling, family issues, or other activities.

I had 6 Wolf scouts in my den, and like you two (mine and the son of their Tiger Den Leader), earned the Wolf Badge on their own, completing all requirements. As for the other four, two families lost the Handbook and were reluctant to buy a new one for the remainder of the year, one was heavy into sports, and the other had three younger brothers. The two who lost the book I made a list and checking off what we did in the meetings for them, and gave it to them. The sport family and I talked out what their schedule was with me, and kept in contact for the months they weren't there. And the boy with the brothers I just accepted that he kept showing up to the meetings as well as he could. In the last two months of Den Meetings I had "go back" activities that reinforced what was missed earlier (In October we did Achievement 7 and 8, and in April we did an Earth Day service project and earned the Nutrition Belt Loop).

By being positive and accommodating, I got every parent in my Den to also volunteer for the Pack for next year: Committee Secretary, Advancement Chair, Popcorn Chair, and the Sport family and Large family are the Tiger Den Leader and Assistant for next year.

Now, if we were talking Boy Scouts earning First Class, then hold the feet to the fire, point to their handbook, and say they need to get with the program. But with them, they can take as long as they want, they aren't "cut off" at the end of the year. I don't think by withholding the Wolf Badge these boys are going to want to continue in scouting.

In your case, I'd hold a "last chance" double-length Den Meeting on a Saturday/Sunday afternoon or evening for just the boys who need to complete the badge, set up "stations" covering some of the hands-on activities. Ask them if they've "done their best", and if they think they did, then award the Wolf Badge.

And remind them that as they get older, you will expect better adherence to the requirements. But in the Bear year, they will have more input into what those requirements are. For example, they can choose either learning how to safely use a pocket knife, OR how to ride a bike, OR how to fix things with tools. The choice will be theirs.