gwd-scouter

another great resource: http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/home.html

Have you tried looking at http://www.cubmaster.org/ - a lot of game ideas.

One game we used to play was table top soccer. Using a ping pong ball, the Scouts are arranged on each side of the table resting their chins on the table top. By blowing the ball around they try to get it past another scout around the table. Can't use their hands. If you have a small group - one scout on each side of the (small) table. If you have a larger group you can make teams on each side of a larger table.

Another idea might be to team up with another den in your pack and have a game between the dens.

Also, get into the game yourself along with the other parents.

Have Fun!

Fleetfootedfox:

I am so sorry your wife is so negative about you and your son's involvement with Scouting.

I wonder how her thoughts are affecting your son in the program - if she thinks you are a geek, does she think her son is a geek too - and does he know she feels that way?

I can't believe anyone would think that the "smarter and more athletic boys" quit Scouting after 5th grade. What nonsense. My troop is filled boys, ages 11-17, who are smart (some gifted) and highly involved in all levels of sports - football, soccer, basketball, etc. etc.

Tim,

Our Troop is blessed with a very large trailer which we use to store equipment for our current needs. We actually have enough equipment for 3 Patrols, but our troop is small (12 Scouts), so most of our extra equipment is in a storage closet.

We have an equipment list for the trailer itself, listing all big items, i.e., cooks stoves, tents, patrol box, leader box, tarps and poles for quonset hut, ground cloths, dutch oves, etc. etc. Tarps and ground cloths are folded and stored in large plastic tote boxes. Another tote box for ropes, another for cleaning supplies.

Then, inside the patrol boxes is a separate equipment list showing all the contents of each box.

We are working on organizing the extra equipment in the closet since we just recently moved into our new headquarters - church basement. This equipment too will be listed on a checklist and pulled out when needed.

As for old equipment you don't need or use, maybe there is a needy or new Troop in your area that could use a start on building up their own equipment.

Many moons ago, our District had Cuboree every fall and the OA Chapter would cook breakfast for everyone on Saturday morning. They also helped organize and run the campfire program on Friday night. Cubs loved it.

Then, District Cuborees ended. Council wanted to promote the Cub/Parent weekends held every fall at our Scout Camp so they decided individual districts could not hold Cuborees.

Added to that, we have many Scoutmasters in our District that feel very strongly that Cubscouts (even Webelos Scouts) should not be invited to Scout Camporees. As a SM, I would very much like to encourage Webelos Dens to join our troop on an outing, especially a Camporee where they could see the Boy Scouts in action. But, this will be seriously frowned on. It has been worked out (grudgingly) that Cubscouts will be invited only to our Spring Boy Scout Camporees.

Also, even in our Scout Camporees, the OA and Scouts themselves have not run a campfire program for 2 years. The adults organizing the Camporee have done the campfire program. Our local OA chapter has not been active in anything District-wide for a number of years and has a few individuals participate in Council events, but not as many as I know have been elected into the Order - I think that's a shame.

I too believe that without the Cubs the Boy Scouts won't last. Of course there are quite of number of folks that remind me that Boy Scouting was around for many years before Cub Scouting and managed to grow in numbers. While that's true, I don't think 11-12 year old boys back in the 20s had the same diversions that boys today have and I think we have to hook them young!

Senator Zell Miller, Democrat from Georgia. When Miller was being interviewed, he also challenge Chris Matthews (Hardball) to a duel. Fun stuff!

Our Unit did not do a show and sell. We are a very small Troop and only four Scouts sold popcorn. Their totals did not equal full cases. So, the Troop has to make up the difference and try to sell it later.

The Troop sold a little over $600 of popcorn (not much, I know) and will have to shell out a bit over $100 to make up full cases. By those numbers, if we don't sell the extra, we really make very little profit.

Had first meeting with Chartered Org yesterday. What a difference it can make to meet with someone face-to-face. Church will begin to work with us in finding service projects for Scouts to do. They have posted the Troop's flyer to encourage new membership. The are also willing to put news of the Troop in the monthly bulletin if we send them a small write up and some action photos. At the end of our meeting, COR said if there was anything he could help with administratively with our Troop to let him know.

Weeee, what a wonderful beginning!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions on how to approach this meeting.

Our council decided this year that units could only order popcorn in full cases. I have been informed that because our Unit totals did not fill full cases (i.e., only 5 cans of caramel popcorn instead of 6) we will have to pay for the extras to make up the case and sell it later.

Anyone else have a council operating this way? I'm very upset about being told that our Unit has to pay for the extra popcorn and then sell it later.

I recently attended an adult leader training on Leave no Trace. The instructor said that new guidelines under the heading of considerate in the outdoors includes blending into your surroundings and not being an "eyesore" to others - that the red shirts/jackets worn by BSA are no longer proper.

Has anyone out there heard that? If so, can you tell me where it might be written. Haven't been able to find any written guidelines on this subject.

Thanks.

Does anyone have a SM Minute that relates to the Scout Oath and/or Law?

I've met adults with Woodbadge Beads with less than admirable Scout Spirit, who seem only interested in themselves. I've met parents that volunteer whenever needed to help out with activities large and small. Registered or not, trained or not, Good Scouters (to me) are those individuals that see the value in what the Boy Scouts of America has to offer and do whatever they can, large and small, to promote the program.

Michelle,

I forgot to mention that there is a Den Chief Service Award - a red, white and blue shoulder cord can be earned by Den Chiefs completing the requirements. One of those requirements is helping at monthly Pack meetings:

Full requirements can be found at meritbadge.com:

http://www.meritbadge.com/awd/denchief.htm

Karen

Michelle,

Yes indeed use your Den Chief in Ceremonies. My oldest son was a Den Chief and was always a part of presenting awards at Pack Meetings. The Cub Scouts looked up to him and it seemed to mean more to them to have the "Boy Scout" give them an award, rather than an adult.

Glad to hear Den Chiefs are alive and well!

Karen

Eamonn, Thanks for the comment about taking NO notice on District stuff. I am trying and usually have a pretty thick skin, but I do have moments - especially if I feel that any negativity towards me will hurt our Troop. Guess the best thing I can do is keep working with the Scouts and other leaders to help us become the best Troop we can be.

I think we are now ready to break our small group into Patrols. As I've mentioned, we usually only had a handful of Scouts attend meetings or outings and usually never the same few. But, recently our meetings are being attended by almost all of the Scouts and it's time to form Patrols. I am very excited about this since it is definately an important part of moving our Troop to Boy Led or, as you prefer, the Patrol Method.

Thanks.

Karen

The blanket idea is a great one for patches. I made a quilt for my son when he graduated High School. The squares were all made from his school and scout T-shirts (from Tiger Cubs through Eagle).

I had no idea he would cherish it as he does. He said it was the best graduation gift he received.

So, don't throw away those dirty, torn or outgrown T-shirts.

SueM - nice to find out I'm not alone and there are other ladies out there in similar situation. I mentioned before that I had a couple of Scouts drop out when I took the SM job and for the first half year, we were lucky to have 6 Scouts attend meetings. But, now almost a year later, we usually have 10-12 at every meeting.

Funny you should mention woodbadge. I tried to attend last year but unfortunately the Scoutmaster Outdoor Training was on one of the same weekends. Now that I've had all the necessary SM training - I'm woodbadge bound this coming Spring.

Thanks for all the suggestions. NSBC is our CO and meeting place. Over the years the Troop has done some small service projects for the church, but I would like to see more. We've offered several times, but haven't had much luck.

The church recently asked us to take over the basement of the building we've been using for our meetings. The building is separate from the church and is also used for Sunday School and other groups. The Scouts were very excited about having a place of their own and jumped right in cleaning it up, painting and repairing. They have plans to paint a mural on one wall. So happy to see the Scouts enthusiasm and spirit.

Am really looking forward to meeting with CO and agree, I need to focus the meeting on what the Scouts can do for the Church and hope to establish a good strong link between the CO and the Troop.

They have already agreed to let us post flyers about joining the troop in the entry way to the church - it's progress.

Congratulations on joining the Cub Scouts! I was a Tiger Den Leader many years ago before there was an actual program in place. The changes that have been made over the years are a wonderful program and help the Tiger Den be a real part of the Pack.

One thing special about Tigers is that a Tiger Cub Scout is actually the Scout and an adult partner. Have a planning den meeting with a calendar and assign each family a meeting to help plan. They can be in charge of bringing supplies for the activity as well. This spreads out the leadership, expense and relieves you of having to plan every meeting.

Attending Round Table meetings and Pack Committee meetings is also very important for you as the leader to get program ideas from other leaders in your area.

Remember to keep it lively and have fun!

I am having my first ever meeting with the Head of our Chartered Organization to talk about CO and Troop's responsibilities and expectations.

I am new SM, but have been on Committee for a couple of years. Never met anyone from CO nor have I seen any support from them, other than providing us with a meeting place. From postings I've seen here, and info gleaned from training, SM handbook and other sources, I think the CO should be doing much more to help out our Troop.

Advice?

Kellyr,

I am really in no position to offer anyone advice, being a new SM and learning so much myself. But, I can say that our Troop too is working toward getting back to boy-led rather than adult-led. Our Scouts plan their menus, select one Scout to buy the food on the menu list, and prepare, cook and cleanup - all by themselves.

To make it even more challenging for them, this year our adults have decided that rather than prepare a separate menu from the boys (like almost all the other troops in our District do), we eat whatever the boys make. This has resulted in a few disasters along the way (no food for some once in a while), but it helps us as leaders monitor their progress, show them a new skill if needed, and encourages them to prepare something other than hotdogs and poptarts.

Thanks for the comments Barry. PLC is difficult in just getting the boys to make plans to HAVE a meeting. The concept is very new to them. In fact, this past August, we had our Troop's first weekend planning meeting. Scouts got together and worked out their overall plans for the year for outings, merit badges, etc.

Now, the PLC has to get together to refine those plans.

I had been a Committee Member in this Troop in the past witnessed how it was leader run. I knew that turning it all around when I stepped up as SM would be met with resistence, but it is working.

In fact, I had said many times that we should let the boys fail (as long as safety wasn't an issue) rather than always immediately stepping in to fix things. Doing things the adult leader's way may make things go faster, but the boys will never learn how to do things themselves. Never got very far with this though.

District giving me a hard time - I'm the only female SM among many male SM who feel women don't belong - but that's another discussion elsewhere in this forum.

Wow, so many quick responses.

Let's see if I can cover some of the points made.

Over the past year, our troop has had some kind of outing every month, trying to use the program helps and themes, and move away from car camping and do more backpacking. This has actually been the hardest transition so far since the Scouts haven't really done any of these things for a couple of years.

Husband and son are indeed the registered ASMs, but our Committee Chair and Advancement Chair also attend meetings each week and go on many of the outings. Am working on more leadership, but it sure is hard to get people to commit. And, I think as an example to the Scouts, I would much rather have a handful of leaders that are consistent and commited to the program, than a bunch who just drop in from time to time.

The most difficult thing for us right now seems to be getting the Scouts to organize their PLC and have regular meetings and program plans.

Lastly, even though it's been a rough year on me - receiving quite a bit of negativity from others in my District - I agree that it's important to keep the job for several more years, at least to add some consistency for the Scouts. Looking forward to it!

Thanks for encouragement and advice guys!

Mr. Maynard - congratulations to you, your leaders and Scouts on such a successful troop. Our Troop is very young and over it's 7 years has had a succession of SM and other leaders. I am hoping that one day we too will be blessed to have so many Scouts and Leaders who are committed to the program and work hard to see it succeed.

Mr. Maynard - your Troop must be blessed with an abundance of leaders. While I think your policy about training and camping has merit, our poor little Troop would never go camping if we had a similar policy. Our Scoutmasters have always had all the required training and have worked hard toward getting our other leaders trained when their schedules permitted. Unfortunately, in our Troop, our leadership has never been consistent and we always seem to be starting over.