Too school-like?

Do most Cub packs specifically do badge and star as part of their program? When I took my WB for Pack this methodology was never mentioned, just how to structure meetings with a mix of games and activities; GAMSOC was the acronym I think. When we ran our Cubs, we never did anything with the intent of earning a particular badge or star. the kids did that on their own, and we picked activities we thought would be fun, educational, and good for the kids.

Alan, when did you do your Pack WB I? I only did mine online, and the Star method of planning was not pushed in that course either. GAMSOCS does feature largely in both Colony and Pack. This being said, we use the Stars to plan our programs down here in Brockville, as it is a very effective structure for planning around. It also gets stars on sashes/sleeves.

Alan, when did you do your Pack WB I?

According to our training records I did it in 2004. I took it in Loyalist area at the Otter Lake Scout camp; I found our main instructor did a very good job.

we also structure our years around a 2 star rotation. we do have some meetings that are structured with a badge in mind, and some which might just help with a requirement or learning

One of the Cub WBI's I did pushed the 2 star a year planning too....

That said, when I read the Cub leader Manual previous to that, it had indicated that Cubs should have a balanced program, and should have elements of each star throughout the year. (However, when I mentioned that during WBI, it didn't seem to go down too well with the trainers...) I haven't checked the more recent cub leader manual.

When I was leading cubs, We did about 1/2 of all the stars every year (with various requirements) so that over 2 years, a cub that attended well would likely be a 6 star cub, and almost certainly would be by the end of 3rd year. The 3rd year would also be used to work on Awards, and helping younger cubs.

We also tended to have themes. Besides the over-all Jungle-book theme, there would be a theme for a month or two. For example, one that went well that I recall was a "knighthood theme" - it was going so well we let it go for 3 months. The overall "story" to this was that almost all the adult Knights had been killed by a fierce dragon, and that the "kingdom" had picked the most promising youths to train to become knights to rid the kingdom of the dragon. I don't remember all we did... I know one week they decorated shields (cardboard) using heraldic symbols (basic information was given) - and made helmets (from gallon water jugs) requirements in the general Tawny Star area and recycling badge. We did an outdoor hike in the community, and while looking for signs of the dragon they also were to note any nature (green star area). They did training in tying knots (important for making dragon snares). There was an evening where we did a campfire at the local park (cooking badge, green star) where we ate a (less strong) dragon in dragon-kabobs. (it was interesting letting a cub know that had religion eating restrictions that it was "All-Beef" dragon so he didn't have to worry.) As they might have to go to other countries in search of the Dragon, they each needed to be able to sing the National Anthem correctly to prove they were a part of the "Kingdom" (Purple Star). We had a strength training night where we worked on the Athlete Badge and some Red Star requirements, so that they would be strong enough to fight the dragon. The final night of this theme they had a test to prove themselves worthy of becoming full knights, which included decoding instructions (Tawny Star), sending them to various stations where they showed off various skills... were then "knighted" with my staff - and then they went on a dragon hunt and killed the dragon and ate him (a dragon pinata filled with candy).

Just a little example of how a good mixture of badge requirements (including some "boring" types of ones) were brought into the program in an imaginative fun way.

I like that idea. that might also make a great camp.

Wasn't it the hope that people would put write-ups like the above (excellent!) in the wiki?

Thanks - that theme was definitely a winner with the Cubs. Oh, btw - we would do brainstorming with the cubs for themes they might like to do.

I remember we also did a Spy theme one year with the cubs - this was a great theme for purple star and blue star type work as well (although we would mix in various badges like always) because it could all be done as a "proving you are Canadian" or sometimes pretending we were at a foreign/enemy country - discovering things about the enemy. (Like we could go to the police station pretending it was an enemy country (but making sure not to let the police know or we would be caught) - to determine how effective the law enforcement is. Cubs in general love to pretend and play-act... and so many badge requirements can be done enjoyably when pretending.

I never posted writeups in the Wiki as all this was done before the wiki existed.... I had considered at some point to put one in the "leader" magazine, but never got "a round-tuit"

Hm - other themes from the top of my head...

Treasure Hunters
Underwater theme
Klondike
Explorers of a previously undiscovered country
Jungle Book (generally first one for the year... then some hints of this throughout the year)
Scientists (needing to solve some national crisis)
United Nations (mainly to do that one badge requirement in the Award...)
Olympics (besides the obvious Red Star connections, there is some good purple star possibilities with representing your country...)
Astronaut Training (good red star, black star, purple star links here)

and anything else that tickles the imagination.

I will always say that a mixture of stars each year can be a lot more fun than doing the 2 stars a year method... if done with imagination, usually with a theme.

I think that working on two stars as a group each year and then pointing out to the cubs the badge requirements you just happen to meet by having fun is the way to go. Give preference to the badges in your selected stars when picking the fun activities but others will be done as well.


I started the year with the intent of formatting all of my meeting plans like jumpstarts so that they could be posted to the wiki at the end of the year. I've fallen a bit behind in updating them with notes about what we would change for next time and all of the details so that others can reproduce the night. Generally we picked a requirement or two for each meeting and then make the entire night fun.

The Sask Cub Camp is medieval themed this year so we have been incorporating a medieval thing each month. When the cubs have had tasks to complete at home we called them quests. @scouterguider You make using themes sound so easy that I am going to try and incorporate them more.

If anyone wants themes to go with a particular star or requirement I am sure someone has one. while you could adapt any theme to any star with work some flow natualy. when the theme fits the activities and requirements a camp or meeting becomes magical.

The best camp I ever was at was Tawney star focused, and i must say right off, that is one of the stars I dont like.

The best camp I ever was at was Tawney star focused, and i must say right off, that is one of the stars I dont like.

Tell us more, Sam! Personally, I like Art and Crafts, but there is a block for a lot of people who think it is boring. Anything that helps engage kids on this aspect of the Cub program would be helpful.

Personally, I like Art and Crafts, but there is a block for a lot of people who think it is boring. Anything that helps engage kids on this aspect of the Cub program would be helpful.

I think there needs to be a distinction between "Arts & Crafts" and let's say "Model Building". Arts & crafts I define as things such as gluing leaves to a paper plate, and other such tasks that (IMHO) have no real objective. I called all our Beaver parents one fall, who had not re-registered their kids in Beavers, to find out the reason why. The universal response was "too much arts & crafts". We never did stuff like that in our Cub program, but that is not to say I don't like get kids building stuff. In fact, getting kids building stuff is one of my key objectives; hardly any kids have hobbies such as that these days. So in Cubs we did everything from paper airplanes, to paper rockets, to balsa/tissue airplanes, to bird houses/CD holders, to miniature catapults.


Allan.

From Wikipedia:

Arts and crafts comprise a whole host of activities and hobbies that are related to making things with one's hands and skill. These can be sub-divided into handicrafts or "traditional crafts" (doing things the old way) and "the rest". Some crafts have been practised for centuries, while others are modern inventions, or popularisations of crafts which were originally practised in a very small geographic area.

The lame 'crafts' you describe Allan are anything but, and there are loads of better crafts for Beavers to do.

Model building is a very small part of "Arts and Crafts", but it is something that will interest cubs. Other things that are included in Arts and Crafts that would interest cubs, imo: painting, pottery, cabinetry, furniture-making, sculpture, metal work, black smithing, model building, rope work (macrame done with paracord is a survival skill: Cobra braid belts/wristbands, can provide a ready source of rope in case of need for emergency shelter), rope construction, post-and-beam models, leather work (i.e. belts, sheaths, etc.), camp crafts, etc.

Take a group of cubs to a blacksmith/foundry, let them lift a 5-pound hammer, see a real blacksmith make something, etc. Arts and Crafts can be worked into almost everything we do. I remember as a scout making a rolling cart, with which we picked up a scouter from another troop, delivered him to our camp, then fed him dinner while he sat on a swing-bench we had also made, and then returned him to his camp on the cart. The cart was made entirely from poplar sticks/logs, and bailer twine, but is was a CRAFT.

see below an outline of our winter camp for jan 2011. some of it is hype to the cubs. sure we stayed up late, but we always stay up later than normal for 8 year olds at camp. I put a few notes in on how things went. other than Akela missing the concert to work on the camp septic system it was great for all. chosing songs that didnt have anything questionable took a while but it was all good and the parrents loved it.





\m/ Camp Heavy Metal \m/

A totally different camp. At this camp we will cover off many of the requirements for the Tawny Star, as well as having a blast.

Tawny Star
A6 Make a musical instrument
A8 songwriting
A9 Creative arts
B3 (mural)

Entertainer Badge
1, 2, 3, 4,
Handicraft 2,

Parts of
Musician badge
Winter Cubbing
Camping
Hiking

Intro
This camp will be a totally different experience for you all. We will abandon many but not all our normal camp rules. We will still respect and obey our leaders, but we will smash the standard schedule and activities on the Alter of ROCK and ROLL!!!!

We will sleep late like true rock stars, party hard all day and all night. We will cap the camp off with a cranking rock concert.

Friday night we will set up our bunks, get into our camp sixes and then work on a creative art piece, you can make or draw anything you want using any of the materials here. At all times in this camp we will have music playing to help keep the creative juices flowing. (create a mural)

Saturday when we get up we will eat breakfast, and then divide into our groups for the following activities

• Rehearsal (chosing and rehearsing 3 songs for concert (campfire)
• On tour (a hike, but named to fit the theme
• Wardrobe (t shirt craft)

After lunch we will rehearse our set list for the concert, attend a guitar building workshop play games (wide game) and hang out (free time)

Guitar building. Leader with a woodshop cut out guitar bodies from ¼ inch plywood, sanded and primed. Cubs painted to their liking and installed strings (wires from phone cabling.

After our evening meal we will hike to our concert where each group will play us a few songs. Of course since you are all the stars of the show you need an opening act, the leaders will open for you.

Sixes

Judas Priest
Iron Maiden
Metallica


Each six will chose some songs from the group they are named after and play a set (air band style) at the evening camp fire. Leaders formed 2 groups and did the opening act. All but the key leader for each opening act were not informed of the songs so they didn’t look too polished and make the cubs nervous.

For those cubs who are early risers there will be poker playing, song writing and snacks in the mess hall before breakfast (did not happen)


Now… For those about to Rock….We Salute you \m/!!!!



Notes

Flash bombs at campfire or if indoors on walk to camp fire. Did not happen wind chill was probably -30. Stayed indoors.
Leaders set list consists of newer songs, if many leaders 2 groups. Only 2 leaders knew any heavy metal tunes.


Sunday we return to our normal activities, and mention badge requirements covered off during camp.

OOOOOOO!!! That is very cool! I could really get into that one, and you could add all sorts of different tweaks to put your own Pack's flair into it.

I'm stealing this idea, lock, stock and two smoking barrels, and bringing it to our Sixers Council!

Now, what leader can I get to dress up like Angus Young?

Just be warned, jumping around like a lead singer for 2 songs is not as easy as it looks. even without singing I was out of breath.

my band did right to rock, by keel, and another way to die, by disturbed. for those of you who dont know disturbed its about damaging our environment.

the obvious concert closer was metalica, enter sandman, a heavy metal lulaby. of course we preped the kids during the rehearsal for that.

dont assign each kid a position, have them rotate. its great fun.

I had a pregnant lead guitarist sliding accross the stage on her knees (I noticed when her daughter in the front row yelled out "mommy you'll hurt the baby" and I had a bassist bring a guide dog on stage to help him strum the instrument. I cant find our schedule for events, but I probably could recreate it if it helps.