The Cub Scouter Knot

  My next knot officially started on April 9th 2011, after I attained the Cub Master knot.   To me, it’s actually the continuation of being Cub Master.  Besides the training, the Cub Scouter knot actually has more items to complete than Cub Master.  Cub Master however is more public.  As Cub Master I will continue to do my job.  I recognize and realize that being in this position it is very easy for me to attain this knot.  However, for some Committee Members & Den Leaders some of these points might be harder than others.  That is the key to this knot and others is stretching yourself to get the end result. Yike…that means that I am not stretching myself.  While true in some sense, the way I am viewing it, is I am making the Pack Go.  Some of it comes easy, others it is a stretch. Either way you look at it, knots provide a path to completion.  Working the requirements will help the Pack attain certain goals and provide that activities are actually happening.

One great thing about this knot, is if you have a Den Leader who is not able to attend Roundtables or Pow-wow, but is doing everything else, then it’s a great way to reward them.  Hence the fact, that I can as Cub Master officially recognize a Den Leader and Committee Member who helps out officially.

Cub Scouter Knot items san Training Requirement:

Performance
Do five of the following:
Assist in planning a pack program that results in advancement in rank by a minimum of 50 percent of pack members each year. (I do this when Planning the Year. This year we are doing it as a Pack Committee)
Serve as an adult leader related to a pack that earns the national Quality Unit Award. (Been doing that for two years now.  Will be the same for JTE)
Serve as leader of a blue and gold dinner, pinewood derby, space derby, raingutter regatta, field day, picnic or other Cub Scout pack activity.  (Yeah, that’s me.  But I will claim Summer Time Pack Award planning)
Give leadership to a promotional effort that results in at least 60 percent of pack families subscribing to Boys’ Life magazine. (Pack Committee choice to just include fee in Scout Fee for the year.)
Develop or update a Tiger Cub or Cub Scout den activity book listing local places to go, things to do, costs, distances, etc., for the five Tiger Cub areas, or for at least 12 Cub Scout themes. (Um….outside of forwarding the 2010 Den Themes to Den Leaders, I will coach them.  But this really is a Wood Badge ticket item and I will guide them.  )
Give leadership to planning and conducting a pack service project. (Duh….it’s what I do)
Organize participation of a pack in the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program. (I gave a whole Pack Meeting about this.  Plus I do talk about it all the time.)
Help conduct two annual pack Friends of Scouting campaigns. (Did that for two years…..will “talk about it” each year.)
Serve as a leader for members of your pack attending a Cub Scout day camp or resident camp. (Third Year in a Row…;)

Cub Master Knot:

Performance
As a Cubmaster or assistant Cubmaster in a pack, earn the national Quality Unit Award at least twice.
Earn the National Summertime Pack Award at least once.
Plan and conduct pack meetings during each year registered as Cubmaster.

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Webelos Part II #100daysofscouting

In an earlier post about Webelos, I covered a how beltloops can be used to complete many of the Pins that the boys need to complete for the the Webelos Badge and Arrow of Light.   We are going to take a look at the first of two rank badges earned while Webelos.  While, the boys are Webelos for about 22 months they actually earn one rank a Year.    The first is the Webelos Badge itself.  There are two versions of the badge.  If the boy is using the Cubscout Blue uniform, it is the Blue badge.   If your using the Tan Shirt, then it is the Tan Badge. 

If you have been following Twitter and this blog you will know that I have already gotten Elliot’s Tan Webelos shirt.  I am doing this because I want to have his shirt cleaned up from all the clutter from the four ranks he has.  If you yank off the current patches and put on the Webelos Badge, it just looks bad.  A Scout is Clean.

So, what is the requirements for these badges?  From the
For the  Webelos Badge, it cover 9 items to cover.
From the USSCOUTS.ORG website there is a list of what is needed to complete the Webelos Badge for the first year. (Please read as it’s too lengthy to post here).
These achivements can be attained by using the simple guide from the Boy Scouts of America’s Webelos Den Plan that came out in early 2010.
If going by these plans over 18 meeting dates, the Webelos I can earn 13 Pins the first year, which would more than get their Webelos Badge.  It would also help them earn the Compass Point Patch and Pins for that as well.  Think Silver & Gold Arrow Points but only cooler!

Webelos Compass Emblem and Points

Webelos Scouts can earn the Compass Emblem and Compass Points once they have earned the Webelos rank badge. The emblem is awarded after earning seven activity badges (four more in addition to the three earned for the Webelos badge). For each four activity badges earned after that, a compass point device, one for each remaining cardinal direction, can be pinned on the on the emblem in the “E,” “W,” or “S” positions in any order chosen.

Worn suspended from the right pocket flap button.

Again, working within the Webelos Program, careful record keeping is key after the Webelos Scout has completed all requirements.  Within Packmaster, there is a section that can track all Activity Badges and Compass Point.   Using this type of program, will ensure that once an activity is complete and correctly recorded the Webelos Scout will advance sooner than later.   Showing him and his Parents, just like a report card, will motivate them to do more.  While the ultimate Goal is getting  the eight Activity Badges in order to get the Webelos Badge and then Arrow of Light, the other Activity Pins are great to work through.  Look closely to these Activity Pins and the 21 Merit Badges required for the Eagle Rank, and you will see a close resemblance.

Many Scouts within Boy Scouts will go for more than the 21 Merit Badges.  Why? Because they are fun and very interesting.  Who knows, maybe one of them will be the inspiration for a career!  So, go ahead and encourage your Webelos to get all the Activity Pins.  There is a Patch for that too!

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Webelos #100daysofScouting

In June the Bears will crossover into the Webelos I Den and start off on a completely new adventure.
When I was a Wolf Cub in 1976, these Webelos were cool.  Their neckerchiefs were plaid and also had a three colored braided thing on their sleeve.
Fast forward to when I was a Tiger Den Leader I saw them and was transported back…Webelos.  They are COOL!  My desire was to be the Webelos Den Leader and help the boys earn and learn all the cool stuff.  For the past few years I have been learning more and more about Cubscouts, Scouting and Webelos.  Reliving my past?  Maybe.

But, as I have learned I have found out several things that are needed to be passed on to those who are going to be the Webelos Den Leaders and Parents as well.  Many people that I follow talk about the Webelos to Scout transition.  It’s something that needs a voice.  However, there is the Bears to Webelos transition as well. If done correctly, the Webelos III and Heliocopter syndrome can be less painful.

Much of what I first learned and read about the Cub Scout program came from the website “The Boy Scout Trail.”  It is an excellent resource.  It’s one of the go to spots for Scout info.  The next place that I go for info as a Cubmaster and a Webelos Den Leader is on the Scouting.org site.  Within the Webelos and Arrow of Light Den Meeting guide sections, I can figure out what to do when certain pins and activities.  The BSA National Office really did a great job on the 2010 Den/Pack Meeting guides.  If your a seasoned Den Leader, these might not be for you.  However, its a great resource to get new ideas from.  If your fresh into Scouting and you do not know what to do, these are perfect.  One great thing is that if your son missed a meeting a parent can be given this and followed to completion.  That is a win-win for the Parent and Webelos.
The other site that I use for Webelos (along with all other Cubscouts) is the Academic & Sport Beltloops and Pins section on Scouting.org.  To me, this site is invaluable.  In the spring the boys are generally wrapping up their ranks and still need to be challenged.  These beltloops & pins are perfect.   The one thing that I tell the boys and parents is that if your playing sports, you can earn one of these.  If your into math, science, space, geology or things like that, there is a beltloop for you.  I did a whole pack meeting last year about this very subject.

However, within the Webelos 20 or so month program, the boys are earning Webelos Pins for the Rank and Arrow of Light.  I have begun to urge the boys to re-earn these beltloops to help them earn a Pin.  For example. The Sportsman Pin.

1. Show the signals used by officials in one of these sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer, or hockey.
2. Explain what good sportsmanship means.
3. While you are a Webelos Scout, earn Cub Scout Sports belt loops for two individual sports ( badminton, bicycling, bowling, fishing, golf, gymnastics, ice skating, marbles, physical fitness, roller skating, snow ski and board sports, swimming, table tennis, or tennis).
4. While you are a Webelos Scout, earn Cub Scout Sports belt loops for two team sports ( baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, flag football, or ultimate).

While this Pin is not required for Rank, it’s a good one to earn.   Even if the Webelos is not the worlds greatest at sports, they might enjoy bowling and bicycling.  You can even get one for Ulitmate  (Disc Golf) & Flag Football (or as one Webelos this last year used La Crosse for it)
Point being, if your Scouts are involved in sports, this pin is an easy one to earn.  It might take a whole school year, but so might the Sports Merit Badge in Scouts.

My point is this, within the first full year of Webelos I, there is a lot going on.  It can be daunting if planning is not worked out.
What has helped me greatly is the Packmaster Software. There are several great software packages out there.  Even ones with MS Excel spreadsheets, for all programs as well.  I am going to focus upon Packmaster since it’s what I know and use.

There are basically ten things that a Webelos has to do to earn the Webelos Rank.  One is time based, which is just like the Arrow of Light Badge, but only twice as long.   However, within these basic ten, there are multiple requirements to earn them.
Within the Activity Badges, our Pack has historically done the Traveler Pin in November to a Hockey Game with the Portland Winterhawks.  Troop 41 has also done the Aquanaut in October with the Webelos I & II as well.  So, working with the Troop and going to a sports event with the whole Pack the Webelos can knock out all their pins in pretty quick order.

In my next Blog about Webelos, I will dive into more Activity Badges , Beltloops & Pins as well as using Packmaster to keep track of everything.

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How to Sew a Patch #100daysofScouting

Today, in the world of Scouting I got my wife to sew on 13 patches on my new uniform.  She is currently sewing on all of Elliot’s patches to his new Webelos Uniform. Oh, and yes the Cubscout Outdoor Activity Award badge will be on the correct side, compared to how I put it on the Cubscout Blue Uniform.

I twittered today that my wife is doing it for me and got a lot of Feedback about it.  Feedback is a gift!  So, I decided for my 200th post for this Blog that I would talk about how to Sew a patch.

Up til now, I used Badge Magic.  While it’s a wonderful product and works very well it does not work on all things.  Meaning the Gold/Silver Arrow points.  It also leaves a sticky brown residue that is apparent when it looses it stick.  All that being said, Elliot’s uniform used a lot of Badge Magic.  I put them all on.  I used it on my old uniform as well.

Looking at Scout Master Clarke Green’s blog I found this entry about sewing.

If you are going to sew it by hand, here is a great video by a Canadian Sea Scout!

So, boys should learn to sew.  I was all ready to take Home Econ in 8th grade,when my Dad said, “It’s ok for Cooking, but what are you going to do when you have to sew a dress?”  Well, that killed that.  I did not progress past Wolf, so I was not required to sew my own badges.  So, here I am blogging about how I cannot sew.

So, Scouts do promote Sewing. However, I can only offiically find it as Tiger Elective #18: Sew a Button.  There was a thread (get it) in the Scouter Forum about wanting a Sewing Merit Badge.
I know in the twitter feedback that I got today, that one Scoutmaster tells the boys, it’s your uniform you sew it.  Which, is a great philosphy.  It is one that I will instill upon Elliot once he gets into Boy Scouts.  Just means that I have to learn.

Which brings me to this.  Classes for Dudes.  No, I am not going to run off and see if I can get a a reality show to be a designer.  There is one in Portland at PDX Seamtresses called Dudes can Sew.
I think sewing is a very good skill to learn and have.  Your mom is not going on Wood Badge with you, so you need to learn.
So, if you do not know how to sew, it would be a great time to learn.  It would also be a great go-see-it or Den Outing to take the boys to a Seamstress and have them learn how to.

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Pack Graduation Ceremony #100daysofScouting

Our Pack will be graduating about 35 boys into their next rank in June.  I am in the process of finding a good all in one ceremony.  I found this one from Macscouter.com.  Last year, I had the parent do facepainting on the boys.  It will ok.  However, I think this one might be kinda cool.  I will have to alter it for what will work for us.  I think it will also be good to have the Den Leaders transisition over with them.

Note: This ceremony eventually has all the boys and leaders standing in front of the pack. You will need a lot of room if yours is a large pack. We wrote this one for a Pack of about 90 and needed all the school’s risers and most of the gym!

Equipment: Set of risers or a stage with broad steps leading up. Each boy needs to have his scarf and you may need extras if you have more of a rank than the one following it.

Asst. CM: Second year Webelos, please come forward and stand on the top row of the risers.

CM: Will (Read names of those receiving Bear) and their parents please come forward? You have worked long and hard to earn the rank of Bear. Soon you will be in a Webelos Den. Remember the hard work you have put in and the support of your parents. This will get you to your next step on the Cub Scout Trail. Parents will you pin the Bear badge on your sons. (they do.) Congratulations! Now will the new Bears please take your place on the second riser. Parents, you may return to your seats.

Asst. CM: Would all Bears please stand on the second riser.

CM: Will (Read names of those receiving Wolf) and their parents please come forward? You also have done a good job of working on your Wolf rank. This is the step that will enable you to proceed on the trail to Bear. Parents please pin the Wolf badge on your son. (They do.) Congratulations! Now will the new Wolves take your place on the first riser. Parents you may return to your seats.

Asst. CM: Would all the Wolves stand on the bottom riser, please.

CM: Tiger Cubs and parents, please come forward and stand on the floor in front of the Wolves. You are just starting your trip along the Scouting trail. You have searched, discovered and shared the world around you. These patches show you have graduated from the Tiger Cubs and are ready to become Bobcats. Parents, please pin this patch to your son’s shirt. (They do.) Congratulations! Parents, you may return to your seats, New Cub scouts, please remain where you are.

Asst. CM: ________ has been a leader of Den ___ for ___ years. Please come forward. (Repeat until all leaders are present.)

CM: Please accept the sincere gratitude of Pack ___ for your work with the Cubs in your den. This star may be small, but it represents many hours of your time given to Scouting. I am also giving you service stars for the boys of your den. They too have put in many hours toward their badges. Den Leaders please present these to your dens at their next meeting. Would you please stand on the floor at the ends of the risers?

Asst. CM: Tiger Cubs, for the past few months you and your family have explored all sorts of new and exciting things and places. Now it is time to move along the Cub Scout trail to the next part of the program.

Your family is important throughout your whole Scouting Experience. Support in earning each badge comes from your family as well as from your Den Leader. Your parents will help you each step of the way.

CM: On behalf of Pack ___ I would like to welcome you. You will be receiving your Wolf scarf tonight. The Wolf Scarf is gold, like the sun. It stands for joy in a job well done. Have fun as you learn the way of the Wolf Scout. Would the Wolf Scouts please pass their scarf to the New Cub Scout in front of them. (Leaders will need to provide help and a scarf for any boy who doesn’t get one from the Cub behind him.)

Asst. CM: Wolf Scouts, you have spent this year learning about Cub Scouting by earning Bobcat and Wolf. You have Done Your Best to live up to the ideals of Cub Scouting.

CM: Tonight you will receive your Bear neckerchief. The Bear neckerchief is blue. Blue stands for truth, loyalty, and obedience. You must learn to obey before you can expect others to obey you. The blue neckerchief stands for obedience to the Law of the Pack. On behalf of Pack ___ I congratulate you. Would the Bear Scouts please pass their scarves to the Cub Scout in front of you. (Again Leaders assist.)

Asst. CM: Bear Scouts, tonight you start the Webelos trail. The Webelos Den has one big purpose. That’s to prepare you for Boy Scouting. You will work on very exciting activity badges, learning things that may lead you to lifelong hobbies or professions. At the same time, you will study Boy Scout requirements so you will be ready to become Boy Scouts.

CM: Each of your parents has helped you along the Cub Scout trail this far. It is important now that your parents continue to stay with you in your Webelos den. We will soon have the pleasure, we know, of seeing you presented the Webelos badge. Again on behalf of Pack ___ I congratulate you. Would the New Boy Scouts please pass their scarf to the New Webelos Scout in front of them. (Leaders assist.)

Asst. CM: Would the rest of the Webelos please come forward? Please fill in any open spot on the risers. I would like to recognize the hard work each of these boys has done this year. Each boy has lived up to the Cub Scout motto, DO Your Best, in each activity badge earned. Each boy has also been working to fulfill the Scout motto of Be Prepared by working on the Boy Scout requirements.

CM: The entire Scouting program runs on the volunteers who help teach our sons the principles of Scouting. Without them, there is no program. Would the Den Leaders, Webelos Den Leaders, their assistants, the Den Leader Coach, Tiger Cub Coach, Committee Chair and all members of the Committee please step forward? Parents please give these people a Big round of applause as they return to their seats. Would the Scouts now please return to their seats.

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Trying to save a Scout #100daysofScouting

I have just read Scoutmaster Jerry’s Blog post for today.  Stop reading this post and read his.  Then come back. Ok, your back. Thanks.  I currently have a Scout that has stopped coming to meetings because of bullying.  Now, this is different from Scoutmaster Byran Spellman’s recent post on why a Scout wanted to stop.  This is personal to me because I stopped going to Cubscouts due to a bad craft and that it got boring. It is also personal because I was picked on while growing up.  I do understand that boys and girls stop Scouting due to other personal interests. ie: Football, Soccer, Singing, Theater, Hockey or other interests.  I know first hand that single moms will make sure that their son will get to Scout meetings because it’s the only male authority figure or it keeps them off the streets.

However, it bugs me to no end when a boy quits because of others.  I have just now sent a note to the Den Leader about seeing how I can reach out to the Scout personally.  I have also stated that if he does not want to return to our Pack, that I can find him another Pack that will be good for him.

Hopefully, this Scout will give us a second chance.  Hopefully his friends will come to understand that they were the reason he left.  I am hopefully going to speak to them about it.

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84 & 83 Days left of Scouting Anniversary

It was a slow weekend, not much happened.  I was able to get a few to-do lists done.  These were highly overdue due to my Scouting activities.  Mt St Helen’s Trip was canceled due to SNOW & Heavy Rain.

My son Elliot did his good turn of the day on Saturday by helping us unload a bunch of sacks of pellets for Grammy.  She bought 2 tons at Home Depot.  While we were unloading, he calmly walked out into the garage and asked if he could help.  I think he did about 15-20 bags. They were #40 bags.  I think he is #80?

He later asked if he earned anything by doing it.  While it was understandable, I told him of the story about the Unknown Boy Scout and how the BSA came to be.  I told him I was proud of him.

We also had our Pack Committee Meeting. 90mins. Start to finish.  Treasurer even cut checks for what we were owed for past items.  I like those meetings!!  Our Popcorn Sales are way above what we had last year, so we are going well.  Program seems to be clicking right along as well.  Everyone took a turn giving their report or asking questions.  Smoothly done.  Great thing is that I am only focusing in on being Cub Master.  I like that.

Tiger Den Meeting is on Monday.  Looking forward to it.  Will be going over Bobcat and simple items.  Hopefully handing off the Den to the two Den Leaders tomarrow night….WHOO HOO!

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The Day Popcorn taught me a lesson. (97 Days Left)

Today was POPCORN. My son did two, two hour shifts.  He also cornered his Grandma and Great Aunt into buying Popcorn when visiting between his shifts.

While numbers of sales and physical dollar amounts are not important, he did well.  The goal set out by the Committee Chair & Treasurer was met and exceeded.  The goal that Trails-End asked for is still out there.  However, only after two days of selling is closer than it was after about 7-8 days of selling last year.

This year we are more organized and ready to go than last year. Hence, it’s easier on those who run it for the pack.  I suspect that next year even more so.

There is two things that stand out while I stand there watching my son sell popcorn to put himself through Scout Camp and to pay his fees for the year.

First, people who have scouts, Eagle Scouts, married to and Eagle, knows a Scout, who are Den Leaders, Scoutmasters or like it that boys are doing good either Buy Popcorn, Donate some money because they do not like Popcorn and grill the boys on what they know and teach them how to sell.  Those are the people who understand why the boys are there.  They are helping them.

Then there are people who just pass by and say no thank you, which the latter sometimes just does not happen.  I get why they do on some level.  I used to avoid the little kids selling stuff because I just did.  It felt awkward.  However, there are people who just out right lie and walk out the other side.  They also ignore the boys altogether.  That I just do not get.

To illustrate both of these, the boys and I had several talks with Moms whose sons are Eagles and told them to keep at it. Gentlemen who were Scout Masters back in 1948 where they chopped the Christmas trees down themselves and hauled them to the parking lot for sale…not like they do today!  Even had one gentleman who schooled them in the art of the sale and then just gave them money.

The flipside is this:  One lady came in and out several times totally ignoring the boys.  The boys did give up asking if she wanted to buy.  Not too bad, however, for 5-7 minutes she stood right in front of the popcorn stand, obstructing traffic flow while she tapped away on her iPhone 4.

Then it hit me….we were in the rich section of town. Yup, cars that cost $50k+ rolled around.  Watches that were about the same on the wrists.  The ladies had handbags worth $$$. I realized this when one gentleman stated that WE were the Rich Parents out there with kids selling popcorn.  Even from one old Scout Master.

I am not rich and I am not poor.  I have a good job, a good income and my family does well.  I am able through Scouting to contribute back through the community and change lives.  Our family does donate clothes and time to several causes.  (We need to do more TIME than donate clothes however.)  I am not a Cub Master just to have the title.  I am here to make sure that the boys have fun, but learn the values of the golden rule.

I realized that some wealthy people go out of their way to ignore something that is good.  They won’t support it directly.  They will however text $10 to a cause that is happening thousands of miles from them. If you are a faceless cause, you get money.  If you have a face and your right there, you won’t get the money or the time of day.

It also taught my son a lesson, hopefully.  Hopefully he got the point that the people who bought from him cared about what good he will do and what he will learn.  He is already getting the point that people with money have a hard time letting go of it.  However, he will know that he earned his way and that a Scout is Thrifty.

Tonight, I told him I was proud of him. I am proud that he is earning his own way.  He wants to go back out tomarrow around the neighborhood and sell. When asked if he likes Scouts, he says yes.  Yup, I am proud of him.

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Religious Emblems Programs

The CubScout Promise is:

I, (say your name), promise
to DO MY BEST
To do my DUTY to GOD
And my Country
To HELP other people, and
To OBEY the LAW of the Pack

Religious Emblems Program is for Cubscouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, Scouters and also the Girl Scouts.  Because Scouting is open to all people reguardless of religious belief there is a patch that can recognize a person’s faith.  It is also a patch that can be earned as a youth and adult and worn on any uniform as they progress through the ranks.

I have always have been religious, but always had issues with the followers of any religion that seem to push beliefs that are not my own.  Hence, why I relate to the “A Scout is Reverent” part of the Boy Scout oath.  I believe that everyone should have an open mind and heart to people of other religions and beliefs.  If you walk into situations with this openeness, then a person will gain more knowledge and friends in the end.

(updated 10/28/10)
Part of the Bear Rank for my son is to either complete the Ways we Worship or Embelms of Faith.

This is a good chance for myself and Elliot to talk about a subject we generally don’t talk about.  Also, it is Knot that can be worn on all their uniforms going forward.  In our Unit, there is not anyone at this time who has earned it.

My hope is to have him complete all requirements by Scout Sunday.

 

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