Banana Wheels Recipe

By Scouter Mom | Published: September 3, 2010

This recipe is suitable for Cub Scouts. They can make themselves a snack at home or it would work as a snack at a den meeting. Since it doesn’t require a stove or oven, you can make this almost anywhere.

This type of recipe can be used for Cub Scouts working on Tiger Elective 25 - Snack Time, Wolf Achievement 8 – Cooking and Eating, or Bear Achievement 9 – What’s Cooking?

Banana Wheels RecipeDownload printable copy of Banana Wheels Recipe

Banana Wheels

Equipment:

  • Ziploc bag
  • Rolling pin
  • Knife
  • Cutting board

Ingredients

  • favorite breakfast cereal
  • banana
  • peanut butter

Directions

  1. Put about half a cup of cereal into the Ziploc bag and crush it with the rolling pin.
  2. Cut the banana into ¾ inch slices.
  3. Spread some peanut butter on both ends of the banana.
  4. Put the banana slices in the bag a few at a time and shake to coat with cereal.

Notes

If you have a peanut allergy in the group, substitute strawberry flavored spreadable cream cheese for the peanut butter.

Popular documents related to Tiger Elective 25 – Snack Time:

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Posted in Bear Achievement 9: What's Cooking, Cub Scouts, Tiger Electives, Wolf Achievement 8: Cooking and Eating | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Recruiting New Boy Scouts

By Scouter Mom | Published: September 2, 2010

Every February at our Pack Blue and Gold banquet, we have a group of Webelos cross over to Boy Scouts. Getting new youth into the Troop every year is essential. Otherwise our numbers will decrease due to older Scouts aging out of the program or due to Scouts deciding to drop out.

But there is another group which is prime for recruiting. We know of a number of middle school students who are not currently involved in Scouting. So this is a good time of year to try to recruit them into the Troop.

The best recruitment tool we have is our current Scouts. And in the past, we have gained two or three Scouts per year just because a youth member has asked a classmate to come see what our Troop does.

They usually plan a “fun” meeting in September to invite potential Scouts to. Let’s face it – inviting somebody who is completely unfamiliar to the program to a meeting which is all business might not be the best enticement. The meeting can be focused on organized games or an “open house” type event. Basically,  they plan something pretty lively and invite their friends to come.

After the meeting, the Scoutmaster (my husband) follows up with a call to the parents to explain the program. This is important, because sometimes there is more resistance from the parents than from the middle schoolers.

As an added bonus, Scouts who bring a friend to the meeting are fulfilling Requirement 10 for the First Class rank: Tell someone who is eligible to join Boy Scouts, or an inactive Boy Scout, about your troop’s activities. Invite him to a troop outing, activity, service project or meeting. Tell him how to join, or encourage the inactive Boy Scout to become active.

Documents you might find helpful:

Posted in Boy Scout Youth Leadership, Boy Scouts, First Class Requirements | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Kickball Belt Loop

By Scouter Mom | Published: September 1, 2010

School is back in session now. Around here, kickball remains a favorite playground game. And thanks to the recent addition of the kickball belt loop and pin, Cub Scouts can now use those recess skills to earn an award.

On a side note, every October our school holds a kickball tournament to raise money for a charity selected by the students. This is a really fun event and community builder.  If your Pack, Troop, or Crew is looking for a service project, try it yourselves.

Kickball Belt Loop and Pin RequirementsDownload printable copy of Kickball Belt Loop and Pin Requirements

Kickball Belt Loop

Complete these three requirements:

  1. Explain the rules of kickball to your leader or adult partner.
  2. Spend 30 minutes practicing the skills of kickball (pitching, kicking, base running, catching, throwing). This may be over two different practice periods.
  3. Play a game of kickball.
Posted in Cub Scouts, Cub Scouts Academics and Sports Program, Kickball Belt Loop and Pin | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Chaplain Aide Description and Self Evaluation

By Scouter Mom | Published: August 31, 2010

“A Scout is reverent.”

The twelfth point of the Scout Law indicates that Duty to God should be an important part of the Scouting program. Having the right Scout in the Chaplain Aide position can help integrate religious activities into a troop program. The Chaplain Aide works with the Troop Chaplain to meet the religious needs of the Scouts in the troop and to promote religious emblems programs.

If your troop has Scouts from different faiths, make sure your Chaplain Aide is sensitive to the varying needs of the unit. The description and requirements below are an example. Adjust them as necessary to meed the needs of your troop.

The printable copy also includes a self evaluation form for the position.

Chaplain Aide

Qualifications:

  • Appointed by SPL and ASPL with Scoutmaster approval
  • Tenderfoot Rank or higher
  • May not serve three consecutive terms

Reports to: the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader

Chaplain Aide duties:

  • Keep troop leader apprised of religious holidays when planning activities.
  • Assists the campmaster for each outing in planning participation in religious services.
  • Encourage saying grace at meals while camping or on activities.
  • Lead the troop in prayer at troop meetings and other troop activities.
  • Promotes participation in religious emblem programs.
  • Participate in outings. Attendance expectation 50%
  • Attend troop meetings. Attendance expectation 50%
  • Set a good example.
  • Wear the field uniform (class A) correctly to all regular troop meetings and religious services.
  • Wear the activity uniform (class B t-shirt) to all outings and other troop activities.
  • Live by the Scout Oath and Law.
  • Show Scout spirit.
Posted in Boy Scout Youth Leadership, Boy Scouts | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Legend of Paul Bunyan

By Scouter Mom | Published: August 30, 2010

There are so many Paul Bunyan stories out there. When I did Achievement 4 – Tall Tales with my Bear den last year, I needed to put something together for them with just a few of the Paul Bunyan stories. I wanted it to be enough to give them a sense of the folklore, but not so much that it would be overwhelming for the variety of reading proficiency in the den.

So here is the story of the Paul Bunyan at a 3rd grade level – written for use with Cub Scout Bear Achievement 4: Tall Tales

The Legend of Paul BunyanDownload printable copy of The Legend of Paul Bunyan

The Story of Paul Bunyan

From the day he was born, everyone knew Paul Bunyan would be special. He was so big that it took three storks to carry him to his parents. By the time he was one week old he was already so big that he was wearing his father’s clothes.

Paul always wanted to be a lumberjack. When he was growing up, instead of playing with balls and toys, he played with a saw and an ax. When he was one year old, Paul’s father gave him a blue ox named Babe to have as a pet.

Paul and Babe headed out west for a while. Paul was tired after the long journey and started dragging his ax behind him. That is how the Grand Canyon was formed.

One winter, Paul and Babe were in Michigan. Babe was thirsty, so Paul dug out Lake Michigan to make a drinking hole for Babe.

One night at the logging camp in Michigan, it got so cold that the flames in the lanterns froze solid. They couldn’t blow out the flames and the light was keeping the lumberjacks awake. So they moved the lanterns outside of camp where nobody could see them, but they forgot about them. When spring came and the flames thawed, they started a big fire all over Michigan. Paul Bunyan had to stomp out the flames with his giant feet.

Documents you might find helpful:

Posted in Bear, Bear Achievement 4: Tall Tales | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Webelos Citizen Activity Badge Den Meeting Plan Part 2

By Scouter Mom | Published: August 29, 2010

This meeting plan completes the requirements for the Webelos Citizen activity badge which were started in Webelos Citizen Activity Badge Den Meeting Plan Part 1.

The first meeting focused on the flag requirements. At this meeting, we will do the requirements which relate to government and personal citizenship.

To make it more fun, we will play a game at the end to reinforce some of the things which they learned.  The meeting plan allots 15 minutes for the game, but you might have to adjust this if the rest of the meeting takes more or less time than you anticipated. Also, if you didn’t complete the flag requirements at the first meeting, you can continue working on those and omit the game.

This meeting completes some of the requirements for the Citizenship belt loop. They will need to record their progress doing chores at home. They must also participate in some sort of service project. Our Pack participates in Scouting for Food every November, so we will count that. Or they can count a project they did with their family or at school.

(includes timetable)

Webelos Citizen Activity Badge Den Meeting Plan Part 2

Preparation

Your will need to gather these materials beforehand:

  • A US flag
  • Printouts for the meeting
  • Materials for Citizenship Football
  • Crayons and poster board or a large sheet of paper
  • A list of government officials for requirement 2

Gathering Activity

Make a large poster together showing ways to be a good citizen – for Citizenship Belt Loop requirement 2

Opening

Simple Indoor Opening Flag Ceremony for Cub Scouts

Activities

Character Connection for Citizenship – requirement 1

While doing the Character Connection, have each Scout mention another boy he thinks is a good citizen and 3 other people (from any country) who they thing are good citizens – requirements 12 and 13

Discuss government leaders and the rights and duties of a US citizen – requirements 2 and 8

Discuss doing chores at home and how that is part of being a citizen – Citizenship belt loop requirement 1

Talk about how the National Anthem was written – requirement 6

Play Citizenship Football

Announcements and Closing

Hand out recognitions

Announcements for upcoming pack and den events

Hand out Chore Chart for Citizenship Belt Loop Requirement 1

Other documents you might find helpful:

Webelos Citizen Activity Badge Requirements
Citizenship Football
Webelos Badge Requirements
Webelos Badge Check Off Sheet
Cub Scouts Citizenship Academics Belt Loop and Pin Requirements
Posted in Citizen Activity Badge, Citizenship Belt Loop and Pin, Webelos | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Webelos Citizen Activity Badge Den Meeting Plan Part 1

By Scouter Mom | Published: August 28, 2010

I’ll be starting on Citizen activity badge with my Webelos next week. Citizen is required for the Webelos badge, so I like to get this one done right away.

We’ll be focusing on the flag requirements at this meeting (requirement 3, 4, and 5). The following week we will do the requirements which relate to government and personal citizenship. I’ll post that meeting plan later.

We’ll be doing a flag retirement ceremony at this meeting. This is not a requirement, but I have done it with Webelos before and it seems to have some meaning for them. We are just going to retire one small flag. When the Boy Scout Troop has a number of flags to retire, it usually takes up a whole hour.

(includes timetable)

Webelos Citizen Activity Badge Den Meeting Plan Part 1

Preparation

Try to meet somewhere where you can use a flagpole, such as a school. If you don’t have access to a flagpole, talk to your Boy Scout troop and see if they will make one using poles and lashings. You will also need to secure a fire pit. Some troops also have these.

Your will need to gather these materials beforehand:

  • A US flag for hoisting
  • A worn US flag which is ready to be retired.
  • Fuel and matches for the fire
  • Printouts for the meeting

Gathering Activity

Practice folding a US flag (See How to Fold a United States Flag) – for requirement 3

Opening

Flag raising ceremony  (See Raising and Lowering the United States Flag) – for requirement 3

Activities

Talk about the history of the flag. Show how a flag would be displayed on a wall horizontally and vertically – for requirement 3

Talk about respecting the flag. Show how to salute it. Tell which days you fly it – for requirement4

Talk about the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance – for requirement 5

Hold a Simple Flag Retirement Ceremony – for requirement 3

Announcements and Closing

Hand out recognitions

Announcements for upcoming pack and den events

Flag lowering ceremony – for requirement 3

Other documents you might find helpful:

Webelos Citizen Activity Badge Requirements
Citizenship Football
Webelos Badge Requirements
Webelos Badge Check Off Sheet

Posted in Citizen Activity Badge, Webelos | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Ham and Sweet Potato Packets Recipe

By Scouter Mom | Published: August 27, 2010

Are you  stuck in a rut making foil packets? This variation of the hobo meal features ham and sweet potatoes. Perfect for a fall campout!

Cut the sweet potato into small enough pieces that it will cook through. This will be the ingredient which determines how long you have to cook it. Don’t cook it too long or hot or you will burn the sugar.

The brown sugar is optional. Some people like their sweet potato dishes very sweet while others prefer them with little or no sugar.

Ham and Sweet Potato Packets RecipeDownload printable copy of Ham and Sweet Potato Packets Recipe

Ham and Sweet Potato Packets

Equipment:

  • Charcoal fire
  • Heavy duty foil
  • Knife and cutting board

Ingredients

  • 1 ham steak or piece of boneless ham
  • 2 large sweet potatoes
  • 2 Granny Smith apples
  • ½ cup brown sugar (or less if you don’t want it too sweet)
  • 2 Tablespoons butter

Directions

  1. Prepare your charcoal fire.
  2. Cut the ham into bite sized chunks.
  3. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into cubes.
  4. Core the apple and cut into pieces.
  5. Prepare the foil for four foil packs. (See below).
  6. Place ¼ of the ingredients on each piece of foil.
  7. Seal and cook.

For instructions for sealing and cooking the pack, see How to Make a Foil Pack (Hobo) Meal.

Serves 4

Posted in Boy Scout Camping, Boy Scouts, Cooking Merit Badge, Grubmasters, Outdoorsman Activity Badge, Venturing Camping, Webelos | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Welcome New Den Leaders

By Scouter Mom | Published: August 26, 2010

Around this time of year there are a lot of new Den Leaders wondering to themselves “Exactly what did I just volunteer for?” Welcome!

You might have enthusiastically volunteered for the position. Or maybe you found yourself talked into it because you want to help out and nobody else step forward. With my first den, I actually volunteered to be Assistant Den Leader, which seemed safe enough. But suddenly the Den Leader resigned and I was on the spot.

Whatever your story, I want to welcome you to the world of Scouting. If you haven’t been offered a mentor by your Pack, find one! Hopefully there is an experienced Den Leader there who will take you under her wing and show you the ropes.

If you are not familiar with the program, some things might seem a little confusing at first, so it is important to have somebody you can ask questions. Don’t worry about sounding silly. Any Den Leader who has been around a few years has probably asked plenty of unusual questions himself.

Your Council offers training sessions for adult leaders. Find out when the next training session is and attend. I have attended training for all of the positions I have filled in the Cub Scout Pack, Boy Scout Troop, and Venturing Crew and I have learned valuable information every time.

Hopefully you will find a few things on the website to help. If you are a new Tiger Den Leader, I suggest you start with the Tiger Den Meeting for the Bobcat Badge. Feel free to contact me if you are looking for a particular resource. And the Facebook page is a great place to get feedback from other experienced Scouters.

The service you are providing to our children will help develop the “thinkers and movers” of the next generation.  Thank you very much for your generosity!

Posted in Bear, Bobcat, Cub Scout Pack Committee, Cub Scouts, Tigers, Webelos, Wolf | Tagged , | Leave a comment

National Summertime Pack Award

By Scouter Mom | Published: August 25, 2010

Hopefully your Cub Scout Pack remained active this summer. If your Pack had one activity each month, now is the time to apply for the National Summertime Pack Award.

Packs who qualify for the award receive a streamer for their Pack flag. Plus, individual Cub Scouts who participated in all three activities receive a pin. The pin can be worn on the right pocket flap of the uniform and is a little different for each rank. Any dens with an average attendance of at least half their members at the three summer pack events also receive a den streamer.

You can download the application from http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33748.pdf . Fill is out and turn it in to your Council service center so you can get your awards in time for your September Pack meeting.

Don’t miss this opportunity to recognize all those who kept your Cub Scouting program active over the summer.

Posted in Cub Scouts, National Summertime Pack Award, Other Cub Scout Awards | Tagged | 2 Comments

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