Gathering Activities

Gathering Activities 

Here is a link to Bryan's demonstration on how to make Pom Pom Shooters to be used as a gathering activity:  Pom Pom Shooters Demonstration - Bryan Free 

And here is the remainder of his class:

Gathering Activities with Bryan Free 

Source:  Roundtable Mini Pow-wow, January 2015, Bryan Free

What is a gathering activity?
Gathering activities are program ideas to keep scouts and families busy and having fun while they are waiting for the meeting to start.
The activities can be puzzles, crafts, or anything which will only take a few minutes.

 Where are gathering activities done?
Gathering activities can be done at pack meeting, or den meeting, or adult meetings, etc.

Tips:
*  Have a person in charge of running the activities to direct the boys.
*  Starts before the meeting (usually 10 min. prior) and stops at the meeting starting time.
*  Make sure they are age appropriate
*  Make sure they keep the boys' (or other participants) interest
*  Do activities that are not complicated
*  Make sure they are not mandatory
*  Can be terminated at any point
*  When done at pack meeting try to involve everyone (boys, siblings, parents, etc.)

 Why a gathering activity?
1. To keep boys and others busy while others arrive
2. When boys and others are not busy they can get in trouble
3. Helps them bond a bit and then they are ready for the main event.
4. A way to encourage everyone to be on time or miss the gathering activity
5. To hone a skill
6. To pass off requirements

Where to find ideas for gathering activities

Den and Pack Meeting Resource Guide – for sale at scout shop or scoutstuff.org;  also found electronic copy for free at http://www.pack166macedon.org/den-leader-s-resources

Cub Scout Leader How To Book – for sale at scout shop or scoutstuff.org;  free electronic copy at http://www.pack166macedon.org/den-leader-s-resources

Cub Scout Magic Book – Can purchase at scout shop or scoutstuff.org - did not find electronic copy

Den Chief Handbook - Can purchase at scout shop or scoutstuff.org;  electronic copy at
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxgyGhfwmpSpWlp6VUJwaTBZRk0/edit

Other Resources:
* Children’s magazines
* Puzzle books
* School fun sheets
* Other Cubmasters (contact your unit commissioner – Stake Primary Presidency member in LDS units for list of other cubmasters in area [or council office]).
* Training Meetings:
   - Roundtable held 3rd Thursday of every month at 7 pm 2161 Grays Drive , Lehi;
   - University of Scouting on February 21, 2015 go to: http://www.utahscouts.org/university-of-scouting/50774

Helpful Websites with Gathering Activities:
*Note this is not a full list, but should give you a good start on finding resources.

http://scoutermom.com/tag/gathering-activities/

www.pinterest.com – Great site with lots of ideas you can search and keep for later. Here is one page on this site I have found http://www.pinterest.com/happyscoutermom/cub-scouts-gathering-activity-ideas/ There are many other pages here and you can make your own just ask others if you do not know how.

http://www.boyscouttrail.com/themes/scout-themes-2015.asp - Here you can click on the month and theme and it will give an outline from the scouting.org website. The outlines also give ideas for gathering activities
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-410_WB.pdf  This is the current roundtable planning guide. One of the first pages has the core values for each month. Further in are the pack meeting planning guides which are slightly different from the other pack meeting guide but similar as both are on the same month from scouting.org.

www.macscouter.com – An older site, but still has lots of good ideas for activities.

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/free-puzzlemaker/ Great site to make printable word searches, puzzles, mazes, etc.

http://www.nickjr.com/printables/index.jhtml has some fun printables than can be pulled up by type or season of year, and more.

I have also found activities by Googling sites for kids:  print-outs, many fun puzzles, games, etc. have been found – you can even search by theme.


A few gathering activities that can be done last minute (little or no supplies)

* Wolf, Wolf, Bear (same as duck, duck, goose)
* Freeze Dance (play or sing song – then participants freeze when music stops – anyone moving is out until next round)
* Tag (partner tag, freeze tag, toilet tag, and more)
* Paper snowball fight – First version: each person takes a piece of paper and writes 3 things about themselves, then when ready say go! And everyone crumples up their paper and has a snowball fight throwing papers everywhere. After a bit say stop, players pick up closest snowball, read items on paper and try to guess who wrote them. Second version:  two teams with line in between on ground. Have paper ready to crumple for each team. Everyone makes snowballs and put on center line. Then teams go to back of each side. When time starts they try to throw as many snowballs to the other side within time limit (1-2 min) when time is over team with fewest snowballs on their side wins.
* Red Light, Green Light
* Mother May I?
* Guessing Game – On pieces of paper write names of animals, famous people (participants would know), job titles (farmer, cop, doctor), etc.  Then attach to back of each person with tape, safety pin, clothes pin, etc. Each person must try to guess the animal on their back by asking others yes/no questions. Must ask 2 or 3 different people questions before asking the same person again. Once guessed they can answer others questions and if time allows get a new tag to guess again.

Remember the first rule of Cub Scouts is to have fun!!!