Cub Scout Letter for INACTIVES

I have recently been called into the Primary as Second Counselor.  We are trying very hard to keep up with our less active families.  One way is we are sending a letter to the children who are coming up to their 8th birthday with information about the program and cub scouts so they know it is an option to still come and join up even if they do not want to make the Sunday meetings.

Here is an example of the first paragraph:

Dear ______ Family,                                                                                                          2013

            Hello!  According to our records, your child is coming up to their 8^th birthday and we would like to ask if he’d like to join our cub scout pack in the Howell Ward.  If you are interested, please contact me at the phone number or email below so I can come meet with you and your 8 year old boy.  If he has already joined up a pack within his school please still keep our contact information in case he would like to switch packs.  Below is an overview of the cub scout program.

Here is the whole letter in google docs.

Please change all names and dates to your specific group.  

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6DCXATjYwQ5d1Z2WDVpRllUSFU/edit

BSA FAMILY AWARD

BSA Family Award

A family may earn the BSA Family Award. The experiences family members share as they
complete the requirements for the family award will enrich family living and strengthen family
relationships. The family will complete, within a 12-month period, five requirements to earn the
award. Two of the requirements are mandatory and three may be the family's choice.
Families who are registered in Cub Scouting for several years may earn the award more than
once. Each time the award is earned, the family will receive a BSA Family Award Certificate.
The certificate will indicate the 12-month period in which the family completed the requirements. The Scout will receive the BSA Family patch.

Here is a link to the book, but it will need to be purchased through your local council shop.
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Parents/Literature/33012.aspx

To earn the BSA Family Award, a family will complete 10 activities within a 12-month period. The family chooses one activity in two topics in each of the following five categories.

1. Learning Through Fun and Adventure
                       o Enjoying Family Fun
                       o Knowing It's Make-Believe
                       o Cultivating Talents
                       o Being Patriotic
2. Strengthening Family Relationships
                       o Making Mealtime Meaningful
                       o Strengthening Family Traditions
                       o Understanding Siblings
                       o Showing Love
                       o Communicating
                       o Sharing
3. Developing Character
                       o Learning Duty to God
                       o Fostering Self-Esteem
                       o Accepting Success
                       o Trusting
                       o Giving
4. Teaching Responsibility
                       o Developing Responsibility
                       o Being prepared
                       o Planning and Organizing
                       o Managing Money
5. Handling Difficult Situations
                       o Overcoming Obstacles
                       o Adjusting to a Move
                       o Coping With Long-term Illness
                       o Loss of Loved Ones

The BSA Family Activity Book is the primary resource for the program. It is filled with suggested
activities to enhance the children's personal development and enrich and strengthen the family.

These activities could include going on filed trips; telling stories; doing arts and crafts projects; playing
games; participating in family discussions; or making lists, charts and scrapbooks.

Included with most topics are recommended books for adults and children to read together.

Cub Scout Academic Belt Loops and Pins

The Cub Scout Academics and Sports program complements the scouting program by providing opportunities for scouts to improve scholarship, develop sportsmanship, and explore new games while collecting Cub Scout belt loops and pins. The emphasis of the program is to try new things and to put forth a best effort, not of achieving proficiency or winning. This program is one method of addressing the third aim of Scouting: the development of physical, mental and emotional fitness. Fitness includes the body (well-tuned and healthy), the mind (able to think and solve problems), and the emotions (self-control, courage, and self-respect).

This information has been taken from US Scouting Service Project website.
http://www.usscouts.org/



Here is a link to the planning guide for Academic and Sports click here:  BELT LOOPS AND PINS

Archery

Badminton

Baseball

Basketball

BB Shooting

Bicycling

Bowling

Fishing

Flag Football

Golf

Gymnastics

Hiking

Hockey

Horseback Riding

Ice Skating

Kickball

Marbles

Physical Fitness

Rollerskating

Skateboarding

Snow Ski & Board Sports

Soccer

Softball

Swimming

Table Tennis

Tennis

Ultimate

Volleyball

Art

Astronomy

Chess

Citizenship

Collecting

Communicating

Computers

Disability Awareness

Family Travel

Geography

Geology

Good Manners

Heritages

Language & Culture

Maps & Compass

Mathematics

Music

Nutrition

Pet Care

Photography

Reading & Writing

Science

Video games

Weather

Wildlife Conservation

Religious Knot for LDS Cub Scouts

These are the basics of the LDS Cub Scout knot.  Here is the link to a pdf document which would be a great addition to your cub leader binders!

Earning the LDS Cub Scout Religious Knot

How Does a Boy Earn the Religious Square Knot Patch for Cub Scouting?

1. He fulfills the Basic Requirements in the Faith in God for Boys guidebook.
 Pray daily to Heavenly Father.
 Read the scriptures regularly.
 Keep the commandments and live “My Gospel Standards”.
 Honor your parents and be kind to your family.
 Pay your tithing and attend tithing settlement.
 Attend sacrament meetings and Primary regularly.

2. He completes all seven activities marked with the square knot icon in the Faith in God for Boys guidebook.

3. The religious square knot must be earned before a boy turns 11 years old. It is recommended that it be earned in the Bear or Webelos years.

4. The square knot is usually awarded in a pack meeting.
                                             
Learning & Living the Gospel
Give a family home evening lesson on Joseph Smith’s First Vision.

Discuss how Heavenly Father answers sincere prayers.

Give an opening and a closing prayer in family home evening or at Primary. Share your feelings about how prayer protects us and helps us to stay close to heavenly Father and the Savior.

Tell a story from the book of Mormon that teaches about faith in Jesus Christ. Share your testimony of the Savior.

Prepare a Pedigree Chart with your name and your parents’ and grandparents’ names. Prepare a family group sheet for your family and share a family story. Discuss how performing temple work
blesses families.

Serving Others
Write a letter to a teacher, your parents, or your grandparents telling them what you appreciate and respect about them.

Read the twelfth article of faith.  Discuss what it means to be a good citizen and how your actions can affect others.

Developing Talents
Write a poem, story, or short play that teaches a principle of the gospel or is about Heavenly Father’s creations.

Basics to Planning a Pinewood Derby

Planning a Pinewood Derby Pack Meeting - usually in January

1. Meet with your committee at least two months prior to January to plan the event.

2. Make sure all cub scout have derby cars who want to participate and pass out pinewood derby rules and suggestions with the cars.  We usually do it at the November Pack Meeting, but it would be good to allow at least 6 weeks or more to give them time to plan over the holidays.

3. Discuss details with cubmaster and committee on time to set up the track on event day,  who can be there and what time weigh-in starts.

4.  On the day of the event there should be a table with tools and graphite and extra weights, nails/axles and wheels for one last adjustment.  Once their final weigh-in (they only get two- one and then adjustment and then the final) the cubmaster and assistant will keep their cars and no more adjustments can be made.

5.  Also, discuss what types of awards and decorations you may want.  Ribbons for winners or certificates.  

6.  A big poster of the car races or Computer based elimination can be put up on a big screen.   Please discuss with cubmaster how he would like the races to be run.  Our cubmaster has been in charge of this night and runs with it.  If a new cubmaster, please find all information needed to help him plan for this event.  It is one of the biggest events of the year and should be well organized so the boys have a great time.  Only advanced planning will make this event succeed.

7. Make sure to schedule the gym for the event

8. Contact family about refreshments per List

FROM THE BOY'S LIFE MAGAZINE tips and hints

http://boyslife.org/hobbies-projects/projects/2952/speed-secrets/

Basics to Planning a Blue & Gold Banquet

Planning a Blue & Gold Banquet - in February

1. Meet with your committee at least three months before the event and monthly thereafter.

2. Discuss the theme related to the February month in your pack planning guide http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Leaders/DenLeaderResources/DenandPackMeetingResourceGuide.aspx

3. Plan activities related to the monthly theme - two activities and two games are usually good.

4. Plan for any special guests or other presentations you may want to include. We've included picture presentations/powerpoints or music videos of the year of events.

5. This is also a good time to schedule a Friends of Scouting Presentation.

6. Talk to your primary liaison to discuss the main dish and potluck ideas for the families to bring.  Make sure your primary liaison is part of your committee

7. Discuss start time, table centerpieces and invitations  - Include the cub scouts in making the centerpieces and invitations - You can google ideas.

8. Also, discuss with your committee about location and costs.

9. Plan with your committee the list of who to invite - cubs and families, bishopric members, primary leaders and their families as well as anyone else you feel is needed.  This will help in planning the amount of food needed and in chair and table set up.  It will also help with game and activity planning.

HERE ARE SOME MORE LINKS ON BLUE & GOLD BANQUETS

B&G Banquet

Basics to planning a Blue & Gold Banquet

Basics to Planning a Pack Meeting

STEPS TO PLAN A PACK MEETING

1. Look over the theme and review the pack planning guide from the BSA http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Leaders/DenLeaderResources/DenandPackMeetingResourceGuide.aspx

2. Meet with your committee once a month for pack meeting planning.  Discuss all ideas with cubmaster and committee

3. Using the pack planning agenda and discuss with your committee concerning special guests, awards, games and refreshments.

4. Find out from advancement committee member which boys are almost due for rank advancement

5. Find out from den leaders what awards are needed to be purchased for the pack meeting, advancement chair should be getting this information from the den leaders.

6. Make sure advancement report gets printed and you get a copy for all awards monthly.  Advancement Reports are needed for all Rank Awards being purchased.

7.  Discuss if you'd like to have any of the dens present a skit, song or talk about the activities they've been doing in their den meetings and give them a month advance notice to plan.

8.  Make sure to have a flag ceremony at the beginning and at the end as well as opening/closing ceremonies related to monthly theme as needed.

9. Make sure you have a printout of the agenda on pack meeting night.  Always send reminders to committee members or parents about time, date etc.

BASIC OUTLINE OF PACK MEETING AGENDA:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-CnUz6CfkaXlbg4l7wLYvNotTLcsi11hpq3aoyJymT4/edit?hl=en_US