Join Night 2012

I now have been at 5 Join Nights at the Pack.  I joined the first one, and got nervous at the rest.  I should have this down, and I think that I do but every Join Night is different.

The Tally:

9 Tigers (including Mission Possible‘s)
12 Wolves  (8 returning + 4 new)
12 Bears  (9 Returning + 3 new)
6 Webelos I Returning No new
10 Webelos Returning. No New

I think that we also have about four adults who will actually sign-up and be Co-Den Leaders or be on the committee.  Over the summer we had a Dad sign-up for the Events Chair as that Chair is moving into the Committee Chair position.  The current Committee Chair is more than likely to be the Co-Den Leader for the Webelos II.

Each year, I want to have about 10 Tigers join.  That is to replace the Webelos II.  We do get boys joining the other ranks and that’s a good thing.  This year, we have 17 boys joining.  Counting the Webelos II that left and those who are returning, it’s about a wash at this point.  We have several inquiries via email and boys who want to recruit their friends.  All those people have been reached out too.

So, with Mission Possible Tigers we have 16 totally new Scouts within the Pack.  Not bad.  Most we have had since I took over as Cubmaster.  Which, actually this is an upward trend for us.

Our historical Scouts on Charter was 80 in about 2005-2006 timeframe.  It sank from there.  2008 when Elliot joined was about 30.  With all the normal Webelos II Crossover & dropout we are on the upswing.  Last year we were about 53?  So, really not bad.

The one good thing about this Join Night is that the Pack is healthy and sustainable.  I do not want a Pack bigger than 60.  50 is a lot.  I know people who are in a Pack that is 100+.   To me, that is a lot of Committee/Den Leader time and Parent involvement.   If you can get it and it works, great.

Seeing the Pack grow  to 50 from 30 when Elliot started, really make me feel good.  This year, as I keep pointing out is my last in Cubscouts.  I am now on the opposite side of where I was in 2008.  I was looking at the Webelos II thinking, its going to be forever till Elliot is that old.

I think that I have seen 80 boys cycle through the Pack.  Pretty amazing.  If you think about the 4% that will be Eagles, there is roughly 4 Scouts that will be that have passed through Pack 221 while I was there.  Hopefully, I get to see that happen.

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Make Time for Scouting

 

It is the season in the Cubscout world that Packs are starting up.  Some are already going due to the school calendar.  Within Cascade Pacific Council, there is a huge push for getting Tigers and Wolves.  It is called Mission Possible.

So, today as I was checking Twitter today, I found a great video that another Council re-tweeted.  On my Google+ page, a fellow Scouter pointed it out and had sent it off to his Scout Exec.  Guess, you are on a first name basis when you’re the District Commissioner.  So, I sent off a quick note with it to my DE, SE and the SE’s Exec Admin.  My hope was that it will get blasted out through our District’s Email list.

What I like about the video is that addresses several things about why Scouting is a good thing.   However, the one theme I liked is that Scouting and Sports go together.  There are so many times that I hear from Parents that it’s hard to go to Scouts and Sports.  Many of my fellow Scouter’s have blogged about this same them.   I tell the Parents that their children should be in sports.  They also can be in Scouts at the same time since many achievements will use sports to help earn them.  Plus, Sports still uses Leadership, Character, Good Sportsmanship…many of the same ideals that are in Scouting.

So, take a look at this video.

 

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1st Pack Hike 2011

Saturday was our first Pack Hike of the 2011-2012 season.  We have done this for the past three years to get us out of the Gym as soon as possible and also to use it as a get to know you for all the new scouts.  While our numbers are trending to 19 new Scouts we only had four new scouts and four old scouts and my daughter show up.  This included a few parents that I was able to talk too.  One nice thing is that we had a Scout return for Webelos II after one year as a Wolf.  We met at Tryon State Park.   Here is the Friends of Tryon and the State Park websites.  Both are chock full of great info.

Our Pack has at lest for the four years that I have been with them, gone to there to use it to talk about all the different requirements for all ranks. Last year the Tigers used it to earn the Leave No Trace award.  I made this a Wood Badge Ticket item back in 2009 that 50-75% of the Pack would earn the LNT.  Which, we did.

While the hike was there as a mixer, the boys did fulfill several requirements toward their rank and other awards.

Webelos I & II covered:
Naturalist Activity Pin #4

Bears covered:
#5 D
#12 C, D

Tigers:
#5G (Hike with Den)

Wolves:
#10 C

All Completed:
Wildlife Conservation Academic Pin: #1,7,8

Leave No Trace Award:
#1 Discuss LNT with Parent/Leader
#2 (went on one outing)
#5 Can complete if boys agree to sign Pledge.

  What I found really very cool, is that the Ranger that our Events Chair had scheduled to give a talk had a trick up her sleeve that I didn’t see coming.  She was incredibly passionate about Scouting.  She herself is a Girl Scout and also pointed out that her brother was in Scouts as well.  She also mentioned that many Eagle Scouts come to the park to find and complete Eagle Projects.  However, the most impressive part of the talk was when she took out all the animal pelts and asked the boys to figure out what is what.  There was a: Skunk, Mole, Fox, Beavers, Coyote, Mink, River Otter, Rabbit, Squirrel and Raccoon.  They all squeeled when she brought them out, but had a great time with the identification.

Overall, it was a great first Outing for the Pack.  I got to talk to many of the parents, explain a bit of the program and get interest in helping out the Dens and Committee going forward.

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The Annual Pack Committee Planning Meeting

  The Annual Pack Planning Meeting is upon the unit that I am a Cub Master for.  This will techincally be our first real meeting since I came on board in 2008 as Tiger Den Leader.  When I ascended into the position of Cub Master, I followed what the previous Cub Master did.  He was still around as Committee Chair.  The Treasurer turned into the Committee Chair we have today.

I have grown since becoming the Cub Master.  It is not all due to Wood Badge.  Wood Badge does not teach you how to create a ceremony for Arrow of Light, Bobcat or other rank advancement.  It does not teach you how to put on a Pack meeting, nor deal with parents and grumpy Cub Scouts.  There is not a book called “Cub Masters, Tag your it!”  When I took on the Tiger Den Leader position, I quipped to my wife “I am going to be Martha Stewart of Crafts when I am done.”

That being the case of being Cub Master, I followed what happened the year before.  First Join Night…Wow….All eyes on me. Yup.  I whipped through the year ok.  I was always pulling stuff out of left field and stumbling.  Here is one of my first Pack meetings after I was on my own. I remember that Pack Meeting.  I made a Mom cry.  Yeah, it was good.  I still keep in touch with her about her son.  He’s a Webelos I now.

So, fast forward to Summer of 2011.  We are soon to have our meeting and I have been reading, writing, emailing and Googling a lot about this.  A lot of emails between myself and others about what’s going to be presented.  We have a lot to be proud of and a lot of challenges coming up for this year.  I think that I am ready.  Once it is completed, I will blog about the results and publish many of the documents.
So, what are we going to discuss.  This is where the Team comes together.  The Den Leaders and Committee are a team.  We provide the direction for the Pack, Parents and most of all the Scouts.  We will have a budget, annual calendar, Journey to Excellence, Den Leader Guide, Monthly Pack Meeting agenda’s and more. (Yes, it’s really a Wood Badge ticket.)  Hopefully our Unit Commissioner will be there for part of it. (Hint hint hint).

Image via Wikipedia

I have goals for this upcoming year.  One is already taking shape and going. Good sign.  We have several dads who are stepping up to be Committee Members.  Two ladies are stepping up as Den Leaders.  We have several members who will be leaving because of Arrow of Light, but that is the normal cycle.  Change happens.  Deal with it.  In the immortal words of my Wood Badge Scoutmaster “It is what it is.”

What I like is that my friend Arlen, who is currently not at Gilwell Field, but Philmont’s Training Center, is kind of in the same boat.  He is taking a class that I was supposed to be at. “Strictly for Cubmasters.”  Our families would have met, and my wife would be able to swap stories about me doing Cub Master stuff and having Mrs Arlen (sorry, don’t know her name) laugh out loud in agreement.  When I say same boat, I mean he did this recently and blogged about it.  Am I going to still it? Yup!  Great ideas are stolen and used!

So with all of this information digested, we will have our meeting in mid-August.  I suspect great things to come out of this meeting.  This year is going to be stellar.  We will be that team and all reach to create greatness for our Scouts.  When they smile and have fun, then, we succeed.  There is no i in Team.  Unless you work for Apple.  Then you can put i in front of anything.

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Bike Rodeo Round-up Idea

So, today while doing chores my son asked if we could go bike riding and not at school, somewhere else.  Now, I had thought that would be great.  He normally does not ask for this.  The one pitfall about our driveway is that it’s a 300ft decline right into the garage door.  It was great when we bought the house, but now, I want a ranch on a cul-da-sac. Hence, we have to GO places to ride bikes and scooter.  If I was moving I would not buy this house for that reason.

Ever since I took over being the Cub Master, I have been thinking of how to get new boys to join.  It’s hard to do!  Some places just naturally attract Cub Scouts.  It’s all about marketing and getting the work out to the parents.  Once the word is out, you have to get the interest of the boys.  Boys want FUN!

So, when Elliot asked about Biking, I realized that we have not done a Bike Rodeo.  A Bike Rodeo would be a perfect Pack event that could hit on several items for all.  The boys can have a huge amount of fun, the whole family can join in and requirements can be met for many ranks, badges and patches.

If the Pack stages it right, we can send out flyers to the schools and get a new crop of Tigers for next year. The boys can offically join Cub Scouts in June.  Which we can have a Bobcat Ceremony and get them going to Camp  and set-up for a great summer activity award of events.

Now, our council has a great Fishing Derby program in the spring.  I do not have a problem with it.  It  is set-up for the Cub Scouts to bring a friend to the Fishing Derby.  It is a one-on-one recruitment.  The location of the fishing hole for our district is a good 60 minutes away from our meeting place.  It is set right in the middle of soccer season with games during fishing time.  Most of the boys last year did not go because of that and we did not get anyone joining.  The first year was ok.  Several boys went, but no one joined. Some boys went the second year too.  This is in no way a put-down on a great event.  It gets the boys out doing something that they just might not do.  It just does not fullfill the main reason of going for us.  I will continue to support and advertise it to the pack, because if we do get just one boy, it worked.

My plan is to have a more locally centered event that we can control to our advantage.  If we can grow the Tiger population each year, that will allow this Pack to grow and still be around.  We were first chartered in 1951 and next year is our 60th Anniversary.

Here is my email to the Den Leaders & Committee today:

On Oct 31, 2010, at 11:09 AM, Adam R. Cox wrote:

Hi there:

Thinking about this for late May.  This would be a great Spring Round-up for the Kindergarten Boys in May.  June is the first available time that they can join the Pack.  Which they can also earn their Bobcat Rank and go to Summer camp & the Summertime Activity Events.

Elliot and I are doing a few things around the house today and he asked to go bike riding somewhere else.  So, after choirs we are going out.
So, being that I have Cub Scouts on the brain, I thought he could earn his Beltloop today. (I will buy it..:)  )

That made me think that maybe we hold a Bike Rodeo for the Pack and the Bears can put it on in the Spring?  It would get them a requirement, Beltloop & Pin. There is also a Bike Rodeo Segment.

Below are links to a Cubscout Rodeo on You Tube, Beltloop/Pin requirements and Bear Requirements.

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Cub%20Scouts/UniformsAndAwards/sanda/bicycling.aspx
RIDE RIGHT
Do requirement (a) and three other requirements.
Know the rules for bike safety. If your town requires a bicycle license, be sure to get one.
Learn to ride a bike, if you haven’t by now. Show that you can follow a winding course for 60 feet doing sharp left and right turns, a U-turn, and an emergency stop.
Keep your bike in good shape. Identify the parts of a bike that should be checked often.
Change a tire on a bicycle.
Protect your bike from theft. Use a bicycle lock.
Ride a bike for 1 mile without rest. Be sure to obey all traffic rules.
Plan and take a family bike hike.

The Webelos I can also use this as part of their Fitness Pin
Tigers & Wolves:There are several items that can be marked off for rank and as electives.

————————————
Adam Cox
Cubmaster Pack 221 Portland, OR

http://www.pack221.org

http://scouteradam.wordpress.com/

hueymungus@me.com

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Join Night 2010

Our Join Night was on a Tuesday after the PTA Back to School picnic and meeting on Monday.  Normally it is a week later on a Monday.  We split it up for two reasons.

1) Explaining the Cub Scout program to the boys and parents with all the seasoned scouts and parents is tough.  We need to talk to the new people and answer their questions.

2) Have Join Night and a Fundraising speech all at once, is information overload and can scare parents away.  I had it happen when I joined and know others that were overloaded with info.  The first year my son did not do Popcorn. We just paid the money and joined.

As a Pack Committee we wanted to make sure that we answered any and all questions and not overloaded anyone.  Then we would bring in the entire Pack and have the summer awards, popcorn talk and kick off the year correctly.  This would also allow the new parents to have their questions from the Join Night answered after they had thought about it for awhile.

So, to the night……

We started off the Join Night with a Flag Ceremony by the Bears and the Pledge.  Opening comments my yours truly about the agenda.  Which was DVD, Cub Master Talk, Parents talk by Pack Committee in Libaray while Den Leaders helped boys earn the Art & Marbles Beltloops.  We then end the night with awards, Cub Master Minute and Cub Scout Vespars.

I had welcomed as many parents and boys as I could.  I shook every hand, asked their name, age, grade, school and thanked them for coming.  I did this while squatted down on my knees at times since I wanted to look directly at their eyes on their level.

I am not a parent. I am Cub Master Adam, their Akela. I am here to guide them down the Scouting Path on their journey.

We then started with a DVD from the BSA.  It was “100 Years of Scouting: Celebrating the Adventure-Continuing the Journey”  It was seven minutes.  (Note to self, bring speakers…;) )  Laptop speakers in a Gym does not work.  But everyone was quite and listened.

Cubmaster Skit.  This was just for the boys. It was not for the parents.  However, there was a lot of information for them.

I had this recorded so I knew what I did and how it came across. I am always looking to see how I improve. 

As you can see from this long video,  I packed in lot of info.  I also made a few mistakes, but nothing major.  I got down on their level after getting them all working together. “MAKE THE PACK GO”  I did not use any of the old Cub Scouts since it was not their night.  I wanted to include every boy.

After the talk, we broke into groups and got the parents out of there.  I went with the parents.  That went very well since we had parents signing up to help the pack in other activities during the rest of the year.

So, now the winding down of the meeting and sending the boys home.  They were fully of excitement and parents need them in bed.  In comes the Native American Flute.  I got up on stage behind the curtain and started playing.  Just jammed for about 2-3 minutes lovely tunes.  I just let it flow.  I could hear everyone get very very quite.  They did not know what was going on.

I stepped out from the curtains and joined them at halfcourt in the gym and  talked about what was happening next. Cubmaster minute  and vespars.  I told them that I was very happy that they all came tonight and joined Pack 221 and started their Scouting Journey with us.  I then explained Vespars and why we held hands.  We all sang and hummed a verse and it was over.

ONE HOUR START TO FINISH! (Yes, it’s a goal)

I can tell you that this rocked.  It’s what I wanted to happen.  Even since going through Wood Badge I realized that traditions start the first meeting.  You set the tone.  Wood Badge gave me the tools (and Native American Flute) to pull this off.

It’s going to be a great year!

This is the flyer that was created through our Support Services at Cascade Pacific Council in Portland, Or.  Completely wonderful!

Scout join night

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"First Impressions"

This year will be my first “Join Night” on my own.  Last year the former Cubmaster aka Committee Chair handled it.  It was also my first Pack Meeting as Cubmaster. Was I scared….yup.  With a year under my belt and a better idea of what “Scouting” is all about and two full year calendar years of Scout Events, I think I am more equipped.    This is the first impression that the new boys and parents will have of the Pack, Den Leaders, current Cub scouts and ME.  No, it’s not about ME, but as Cubmaster I am the focal point.  They guy with all the answers…….

So, how do I do it…what’s my plan.  I need to present something fun to get the boys into coming back… What I do not want to do is to lecture them into what they will do. I need to tell the Scouting journey  and invite them to come along with me.  Here is how I envision it:

After the parents/boys are in the gym and settled down as much as possible and a quick intro from the Committee Chair/Den Leaders, I will come hiking in with my backpack, campfire and dutch oven.  I will set everything down, looking around for a good campsite.  During this I will start talking about all the hiking that I have done and where I am. (Will work this up…).  I will start to pitch my tent and get my campfire going and setting up the dutch oven (I will have a cobbler already to go for snack).


I will then realize that there are boys at the campsite and invite them around the campfire (logs and flashlights version) and ask them what they are doing here.  I will then begin to tell them of BP, Brownsea and Akela’s Cubs.  I will ask them to come along with me and the Pack for a journey. I will explain that they start this journey as Bobcats and that they can become Bobcats at the next meeting if they learn the oath, promise and motto….

After all of this, I will have them play several games that the other Den Leaders will supervise along with Scout Parents.

This is where the new/old parents come with the Committee and myself to explain what to expect.  You know all the boring stuff. Dues, Meetings, Forms..blah blah blah.   However, I still have sell Scouting to the parents.  This is where I explain the new 2010 Den/Pack Meeting Plans .  It is also where our new Parent Guide gets handed out along with a firmed up Pack Calendar.  I will talk about the Adult Scouter Training, what we as a Pack are planning to do and what we want to accomplish.  I will explain that  this year we are going to follow with some modification the Den/Pack Plans so if they miss one the boys will have a guide on what they can work on.

My goal this year is to get 7-10 Tigers and 7-10 Wolves. (We have three returning Wolves so 4-7)  Bears & Webelos I are 8 & 10 boys in that order.  The Webelos II have three. One is very close to the Arrow of Light.  The other two on schedule for a March Crossover. So, we will have to work that out.  Hopefully we get a couple of Webelos II and a Den Leader.

Now, as I slip away letting the Pack Committee deal with all the boring forms and junk, I come back to the Gym and get the boys to settle down and talk about the Bobcat patch. I am hoping to have them recite some of it that night.

After all this, we will scoop out dessert from the Dutch Oven and ship them off to their parents.

Our first regular Pack Meeting will be the next following week with a Popcorn Kick-Off and Bobcat Ceremony.  This is when we will start helping the new cubscouts learn about how a Pack functions. Flag, Skits, Songs, Den Chiefs, Cubmaster Minutes, Denners……. Our Den Meetings will then start after that week.  I plan to have a couple of outings (one should be a visit to Adventure Base100 in the Seattle Area on Sept 17th).

I have a plan and a vision…….let’s see how the first impression will turn out…..

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