Imagination helps provide meaning to experience and understanding to knowledge; it is a fundamental faculty through which people make sense of the world,and it also plays a key role in the learning process.
April 16th was Pack Meeting night for us. Another night that we all come together and hopefully learn something and celebrate being Scouts.
Several things happen. First, we welcomed a new Bear into our Pack. He earned his Bobcat and I presented it to him. I welcomed him with giving him the Pack Numerals that signify we are 60 years old. I also gave him the JTE Gold/ Boys Life Patch since we earned it together. I also gave him a woggle that I had made for the entire Unit. I explained to him that he is now a Scout. Part of all of us.
I then called up his buddy, a fellow Bear and presented him with the Recruiter Patch. This Bear since being a Tiger has tried to get several of his buddies to join. Not many completely do it or make it. This one did. I needed to let him know that I appreciate his work in bringing someone into Scouting.
It was then time for the Wolves to get their Rank Badge. These hardy souls have been working very hard all year long. A whole Den of 8 got their Rank. Their Den Leaders took over and explained who did what and what they did to earn it. I am very proud of this Den and their Leaders.
Now, finally for the FUN part of Scouting, disguised as a Game. Tonight we were taking toilet paper tubes, jugs, bottles, logicboards, duct tape, egg cartons and other trash (clean of course) and building.
I asked the boys if they built stuff with Lego’s. They did. I asked if they created stuff at school or drew silly items. They did that too. I asked if they had Lincoln Logs (dating myself here)…several said they had them! I said, tonight, we are going to build something but in a Team. They had to come up with an idea, name it, get the trash and build it. Sounds something like a Team Building Event? Woodbadge? Corporate Seminar? Yes, it was all of that.
I broke up the boys into four Dens. I then got a Tiger & Wolf to go get stuff and take it to their team and start building. I did go around and re-distribute items and give out duct tape. Each Team had a couple of Den Leaders or Parents help.
It was chaotic, slow, fast, furious, ideas flying around….. I wasn’t sure if they were going to get it done. I gave them about 15-20 minutes to make it all happen.
As I walked around chatting with parents I realized it was working. This was not a Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt Project. It was not a conference or Power Point presentation that lacked fun. It was Scouts, working with others that they did not know, communicating ideas towards a common goal.
Once the Scouts were done, I had them all come to the center of the Gym and explain what they made, what it was called and what it did. Each creation has some cannon or blaster. Each had a story. One or two Scouts talked and explained.
At the end I congratulated them on their creations. I then asked if it was hard to get started? They said yes. I asked if they worked together. They said yes but towards the end.
It was during that time and the Cubmaster minute that I told them that even though they did not know others within the Pack since they are in their own Dens, they came together and worked and communicated. I explained that we all can get a long and find solutions even if we did not know each other. I also pointed out that while we are playing baseball, soccer or other sports this spring, we might not know the other team or boys just yet. But we can work and communicate together and have fun at the same time.
A game with a purpose and a lot of imagination.
