Go West Young Man!

Perseverance

Sticking with something and not giving up, even if it is difficult

►Finish what you start

►Never give up

►Continue to work hard even if you're not successful at first

►Work to get better at things you aren't very good at

►Set personal goals for improvement

►Always do your best

- definitions from Trapper Trains Council

 

RACE TO SUTTER’S MILL (can be a den meeting activity or a pack meeting activity)

This course can berun as a timed race by individuals, race between two teams (one round at a time), or a relay race.

START

Have one Scout as a miner with a wagon, or another Scout as a trusted pack horse instead of the wagon. For a wagon, use a redwagon.

GENERAL STORE

Load supplies (cup, rolled blanket, gold pan --strainer or pie pan with holes) on the wagon or horse.

DESERT

Drink a cup of water (and feed horse) from “spring.”

MOUNTAIN CAMP (Have a few logs ready)

1. Unload supplies. 2. Lay logs for fire. 3. Roll out bedroll. 4. Lay down. 5. Get up.

6. Roll up bedroll. 7. Scatter fire 8. Load supplies.

SUTTER’S MILL

1. Unload supplies. 2. Pan for gold (gold painted pebbles buried in the sand. Use “gold pan.”). Have miner find 2 or 3 nuggets (decide ahead of time).

ASSAYER’S OFFICE

This is the end of the race. Weigh the gold and give scout a certificate for “authentic fake gold.”

- idea from "District 11"

 

Tips for Pack Activity: Western Rodeo Roundup and Pioneer Day. In the spirit of Head West, Young Man, your pack may wish to hold its own Western-themed event.

This activity can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, but either way, playing like cowboys and testing their roping and riding skills will be lots of fun for the Cub Scouts and their families. Consider researching the local history in your area and create games and activities that not only challenge the boys’ physical prowess but also engage them in knowing more about where they live and how it all began. Tips and ideas can be found in the Cub Scout Leader How-To Book, Page 6-23

Sample Ceremony: A rededication ceremony. Materials: A small twig or stick for each participant and a campfire (real or artificial).

CUBMASTER: Fire has been used as a symbol in many cultures. It provides heat for warmth and light of darkness. It cooks our food, and it brings us together in friendship.

Before you is a fire of friendship. All of us in our pack are friends and shall remain so for many years to come. I am going to ask everyone here to add their stick to the fire as a pledge of their continued friendship.

Please make the Scout sign and repeat after me: “I promise to do my best and be a friend to everyone.” Now place your stick on the fire.

Hikes, Hunts, Activities, and Checklists

 

Here is one of our collections of hike ideas, to keep the cubs' minds busy and present (not to get to the end of the hike fast). There are also a couple of scavenger hunts. I particularly like the Camera Scavenger Hunt, because the Outdoor Code is about "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints".

Doing a scavenger hunt while hiking will help the boys really explore the world around them while they are walking, rather than getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible. This scavenger hunt is a “check off” type hunt. They don’t actually bring the items with them. This fits in with the Leave No Trace guidelines. 

Here is a list of 14 Themed Hikes, including: Hold the Front, Puddle, Stop-Look-Listen, Crafts, Color, Historical, City, I Spy, Nature Cribbage, Follow the Odor, Awareness, Breakfast, Sealed Orders, Touch and Feel. 

Another fun hike is taking the boys Geocaching! 

Do you have petroglyphs or fossil sites nearby? Have the boys draw a picture of what they see to take home with them.
 

Without A Trace are activities that can help the boys appreciate nature, getting a feeling of why we would want to preserve it and why we adopt ways such as Leave No Trace. 

Ready, Set, Go! includes things the boys need to know before taking a hike, as well as things the adult leaders need to know before taking the boys on the hike. Happy Hiking!

Fun Den or Pack May Ideas

HEALTH and FITNESS IDEAS

1.  Value of Handwashing: Here’s a 55-minute handwashing science activity.  You’ll need some germ-glowing agent.  The least expensive I’ve found is GloGerm  ($5.50 for 25 applications in a 2 oz bottle)

2.  Figuring Out Food Labels: This is a place you can learn about it to teach kids.

3. First Aid Neckerchief Slide:  Start with a plastic 35 mm film canister.  Make a red cross with red electrical tape on the front of the canister.  Glue a twist tie, aluminum ring, or piece of pvc pipe on the back.  Put inside the canister: Self-adhesive bandages with first aid ointment.  Alcohol pads.  

4. Chicken Dinner Neckerchief Slide:  Start with a plastic 35 mm film canister.  Tape on the front “Complete Chicken Dinner”.  Glue a twist tie, aluminum ring, or piece of pvc pip on the back.  Put inside the canister: 2 dried corn kernels

5. Cub Olympics: It would be fun to coordinate with other dens within or outside of your own pack.  Here’s one idea how to organize a Cub Olympics.

6. Silly Olympics:  Here is another cub olympics, based on world olympic activities

7. Sports Belt Loops:  Pick a sport, individual or team.  All the belt loops have three requirements:  Explain the rules, Practice the skills for 30 minutes, then play a game.

8. Go Hiking:  In 2009 a Hiking Belt Loop was added -- earn it. Or, go on a Geocaching hike around your area.  Or, simply go on a den hike.  Two documents that give hike ideas are found at this link and this one.

*Anytime you take your cubs away from home for an outdoor activity, one of the attending leaders ought to have Hazardous Weather training first.  Go to this page, scroll down to Hazardous Weather, then log into your MyScouting to take the course.  http://scouting.org/training/adult.aspx

9. Fitness Center:  Take a field trip to a Fitness Center.  Ask an employee to give a tour of the fitness equipment, demonstrating the proper way to use them, then let the boys practice using the equipment correctly -- always under adult supervision.

10. Swimming:  *Remember that any time you take cub scouts in water, one attending leader must get Safe Swim Defense trained first.  Go to this page, scroll down to Safe Swim Defense, then log in to your MyScouting to take the course. http://scouting.org/training/adult.aspx  *In addition, anytime you go away from home for an outdoor activity, one attending leader ought to have Hazardous Weather training, which can be found on the same page further down.

Service & Conservation Projects

Consider these when looking for a service project.  This list was found in 

Pack 98 Service Project Committee Guide, which seems to be no longer available online.

1.  Does it serve a real need?

2.  Is it within the boys’ ability and understanding?

3.  Does it show dignity and privacy of the people being helped?

4.  Does it make the best use of time and money being spent?

5.  Is it a project that the boys are interested in?

6.  Can it be supervised adequately?

Here is a 1- page list of World Conservation Projects

Here is the HUGE list of Cub Scout Service & Conservation Projects

Food Drive Scavenger Hunt

Things you will need:
 * a limit of your choice:  time limit, neighborhood/street limit, # bags limit,       1 per item limit
 * boxes or strong bags for food
 * list of items to collect:    filled form (page 3)  Or, make your own list.  Call the local food bank to see what they are most in need of, and give those items the most points on the list
 * pencils for groups and stations
 * maps of the neighborhood streets (highlight ahead of time which streets each car will cover)
 * enough vehicles to carry participants (3-4 boys + 2 adults, one of whom is Child Protection trained)
 * methods and items to weigh & measure
 * certificates or awards for: heaviest, bulkiest, most items, most points
 * return stations: 1) Record number items, 2) measure bulk, 3) weigh, 4) record points, 5) leave for item separation
 * 2 volunteers per station:  one to gather info (weigh, measure, etc.) and one for recording results
 * A truck, trailer, or empty van that will take all the food items to the local food bank


Instructions:
*  Explain the rules of the game, as well as what categories will be awarded
*  Separate cubs or kids into groups of 3-4 (or if you have all vans, 5-6)*   Give each group the items they need: 2 adults (one Child Protection trained) w/car, map, bags/boxes, scavenger list, pencil
*  Remind them of their limit and send them out
*  When they return with the collected, have them rotate through the stations, then help at the end with separating
*  Gather for awards
*  Refreshments! for a job well done

Den Discipline: The BRAVO Board

The BRAVO board

This idea came from my son's 4th grade teacher that uses it in her class so I adapted it to use for my children for good behavior. Then got thinking this would be great for den discipline. It's easy.. just create a grid with letters on the top and numbers down one side. Then laminate the board and use dry erase markers. Then when you observe good behavior from a scout you let them put their name on the BRAVO board. Then when all the squares are filled (this could take a few weeks or so, depending on how big your BRAVO board is), then you have a Bingo drawing where you put the square number on a piece of paper (such as B4 and so forth). Then just pick out a determined amount of squares (at my house we draw out 5) and then they get to pick out of the reward box, which is filled with items the scout would like (neckerchief slides, first aid kit, candy, etc). This has really worked personally in my household to change behavior and helps me focus on good behavior instead of the negative. - Debbie

February Den Chief Training = Success!

We had 11 people attend our Den Chief Training in February, 8 den chiefs and 3 leaders.  It was a great turnout for the lack of notice.  We learned a lot, gave a KITS (Karry It to Scouts) away, and had fun.
  Congratulations!

The next Den Chief Training will be held on April 13 from 1-4pm at the Training Building at 496 S River Way in Lehi.

Thank you all for your attendance and help with the training!  If you are interested in training or attending at the next Den Chief Training on April 13, please comment below.