Christmas Pack Games and Songs

 Here is a link to 24 games with a Christmas theme for your December pack meeting.

Another game I enjoy is Building Frosty. Divide into teams. Each team is given a roll of white toilet paper, a broom, scarf, hat, three 3" black paper circles, and 3 rolled-up tape pieces. The teams race to see who can transform one person from their group into Frosty, using ALL the toilet paper and all the items. You can have a winner for the first to be completed and a winner for the best job. Remember to bring your camera for pictures!

Click HERE for silly cub scout Christmas songs I have compiled, including 6 Carols about Cub Scouting, 2 just really silly songs to Christmas tunes, 5 songs about Santa with familiar tunes, and 4 sweet holiday songs.

THIS is a link for traditional Christmas songs compiled by one pack in PDF for an attractive 11-page Caroling booklet.

Turkey Song Game

This hilarious audience participation game was presented at Roundtable last night.  I wish I had taken pictures, but hopefully my description will suffice.  All of my measurements are only a guess to help you visualize, and the colors can be any you choose, so do what actually works.

Make 4 turkey tails, one of each color: brown, red, yellow, orange (or pink, blue, black, green ... whatever you already have around):

1.  Cut a 6" circle out of stiff paper for the following colors:  brown, red, yellow, orange,

2.  From the same paper cut out feathers.  The feathers we saw last night were just 6"x1.5" rectangles. 

3.  Attach the feathers to the top circumference of the circle.

4.  Get material 6" wide by 6' long to fit around someone's bottom and hips and tied in the front.  Sew the feathered circles to the middle of the material.

Make 4 turkey masks.  Here's a picture of a simple one that I would probably make, but with paper.

THE GAME:

Teach the audience the following words to the tune "Have You Ever Seen A Lassie" or "Here We Are Together":
    Have you ever seen a turkey, a turkey, a turkey
    Have you ever seen a turkey with feathers like that.
    There's brown ones and red ones and yellow ones and orange ones.
    Have you ever seen a turkey with feathers like that.

Get 4 volunteers who wear the turkey masks and tail throughout pack meeting.  Whenever a certain word is said, let's just pick "thank" for an example, the turkeys get up and start strutting around like a turkey would and the audience sings the above song.  When the color of their tail is sung, the turkeys wag their tails to the audience.

Webelos Face Painting Ceremony

Found at http://www.oocities.org/pagedavies/paint.htm#pww

Materials: Blue, Yellow and Red Paint, Webelos Badges, Safety Pins

Indian Drummer begins soft, slow rhythmic beat.

Cubmaster: Webelos stands for "We'll Be Loyal Scouts."

Would the following Scouts and their parent please come forward.

Read Scouts names.

Cubmaster: The sign of the Webelos Scout signifies a major step on the Cub Scout Trail. Just as Indian boys became warriors and were painted in the colors of their tribe, we will paint you with the colors of Scouting.

Do you want to wear the sign of the Webelos, please say "yes".

Cubs: Yes

Cubmaster: You are well on your way along the Cub Scout Trail to reach the honor of the Arrow of Light, and eventually start the Boy Scout trail to seek the sign of the Eagle.

To help you along your journey, we will give you the sign of the Webelos.

The blue W across your nose is for strength as you work on the Arrow of Light.
(Paint a large W From ear to ear across the bridge of nose)

The yellow on your chin and forehead is the color of sunlight and will light your way along the Scouting Trail.
(Paint a yellow triangle on chin pointing down and on forehead pointing up)

The red stands for fire so that you have a burning desire to explore new areas.
(Paint red stripes on each side of the chin and forehead triangles and under the W on each cheek)

All of these colors together form the Webelos symbol. You should be very proud to wear it.

I will present your badge to your parent who will pin it to your uniform when you go back to your seat.

Congratulations to you and your family on completing this part of the Cub Scout Trail.

Generic Ceremonies Creator

I got this "All Purpose, All Occasion, Do Anything, Generic Ceremonies Creator" from UNPC AUG 2012 Pow Wow Handouts, which was apparently taken from SCCC 2001 Pow Wow:

Directions for use:
     Choose one or more phrases from each list.
     Add your own personal words for each occasion.
     Assemble the props called for as you choose.
     Conduct the successful ceremony.

1. "Would the following please come forward?"
     Cub Scout               Leader           Special Event Chairman
     Webelos Scout        Parent            Special Guest
     Den

2.  (After the above have assembled) - "Before you is:"
     a candle          a drum                a bucket          a branch             
     a flashlight       a scout book      Akela              a neckerchief               
     a car key        a box                 your leader       a bridge               
     a tripod          a picture             a trail               etc.

3.  "This represents:"
     the Spirit of Scouting          good deeds               your future
     your accomplishments        our community           our pack
     fun and adventure              goodwill                     our dedication
     your advancements            our church                 the family
     your den                            the world                  character

4.  "You have earned this award by:"
     completing achievement     helping others            doing your best
     helping our pack               having a birthday        being the best ___
     helping boys grow            helping with ___         being a denner
     serving for ___ years       selling the most ___    etc.

5.  "Please accept this award and continue to:"
     help the pack go               grow strong              give goodwill
     do your best                     come to meetings      work hard
     follow Akela                     be the best you         help your son

6.  "Would the rest of the Pack join me in congratulations for this award."

Use a tasteful applause

Big Deal Arrow of Light Ceremony Format

  All advancement ceremonies should feel big, special, and entertaining (although not necessarily long).  Be sure your Arrow of Light ceremony is SO big (as in a big deal), SO special, and SO entertaining that it is set apart from the rest and is very much looked forward to by the recipients as well as the audience!  All advancement ceremonies will take some planning, and the Arrow of Light ceremony will deserve a little extra preparation.

   For this reason, it is my opinion that if you do painted face ceremonies for other rank advancements, it should not be used also for Arrow of Light.  Arrow of Light ceremonies should stand out as much more special than other rank awards.

  This Big Deal Ceremony Format is from a link I think you will want to subscribe to if you are a Cubmaster, because it also has some wonderfully creative ceremonies already written, including the wonderful Captain Jack Sp'arrow of Light Ceremony demonstrated at our April's Roundtable: arrowoflightdoneright.blogspot.com On the date I write this post, the home page has the formula on it. Please check out the blog and look for "Why do we use advancement scouting?", as the format (called Basic Format on their page) is toward the bottom of this page.  

   If you have searched around that blog and can't find it, I have copied it onto a googledoc, but be clear that I am not the author of this recipe. This is the basic DIY recipe from the aforementioned blog for a very entertaining advancement ceremony!

Painted Paw Ceremonies

Here is a link to painted paw ceremonies specified for the ranks of Tiger, Wolf, and Bear -- separately. 

Power Point Games

These classroom games were created in PowerPoint and LOOK very attractive and user-friendly.  

Download the templates and modify the games to fit your curriculum needs here.

Lots of whole class participation games similar to Jeopardy,Wheel of Fortune, Pyramid, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?, Password, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, and more.

Feb 2012: I just found another site with 52 more power point game templates.  Click here.

Eagle Can

Special thanks shout out to Debbie Wood from Eagle Mountain, UT for this idea!

The idea is that every boy take something home from Blue & Gold.  

Or, you could give this as a graduation to boy scouts gift.

 

Take a #10, which can be purchased at the LDS Cannery for about 90cents and then

10 cents for the lid. Then you can rent the sealer from the cannery, Free rental.

Decorate the can and put the CubScout Name on the lid. 

Put inside the can a letter from the Cub Scout's parents, bishop, den leader, and cub master. She also included a poem and a small token/trinket. 

The idea is that the Cub Scout receives this can but cannot open it. There are only two conditions where the boy can open it; 1. if the Boy receives his Eagle or 2. if the Boy graduates from High school.

On the top of the can it says: " I CAN! I CAN! I CAN get my Eagle and when I do I CAN open my CAN."

Under the Big Top

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Boys and Girls!
Welcome, to the
Greatest Show on Earth!

Meet your roundtable staff: Angela, Jennifer, Angie, Kent, Makenna, Tacy, Dayna, Cami

Roundtable:  First Thursday of each month, 7:00p.m., 1255 N. 600 E. 

Most of the costumes and all of the train were chosen and put together within the 36 hours preceding roundtable.  If we can do it, you can do it!  Have fun!

Circus-Themed Pack Meeting

While it's great to have the Pack Committee dress up for the occasion, the real show and stars of the show are the Cub Scouts.  Those cubs and family members that come to pack meeting dressed as something from a circus could come into the room in a parade.

Throughout the evening the boys can entertain the audience with tiger taming tricks, dog training tricks, clown stunts, show off their tumbling skills, put on a magic show - all playing a part.

One ceremony to show appreciation, you could "throw" a pie in their face. Scott is a circus clown by trade.  He taught us a great gag - how to properly throw a pie in someone's face.  
Tip 1:  Never use actual whipped cream, because if it stays on the clothes for a while, it will stain and ruin the clothes.  Therefore, always use soap, like shaving cream.
Tip 2: Protect the victim's clothes with a towel.  Also, be sure they know to close their eyes and their mouth.
Tip 3:  The person never throws the pie at the face, but instead just places the pie on the face.  Practice with a clean pie plate.
Tip 4:  Never actually put a pie in some unsuspecting person's face.  Sure, they'll be expecting it and so will the audience, but they will also be anxious, especially the boys.  
He surprised everyone by secretly setting up ahead of time to "unexpectedly" getting the pie in his own face. It takes cooperation to pull this off, and got squeals and giggles of surprise from everyone!

Some Cub Scout Pack themes to look up from the past related to this theme:  Circle of Stars, A Cub Scout Circus, Under the Big Top.  Click here for other ideas I found related to Circus activities.

My Favorite Bike Rodeo

Here is a thorough bike rodeo plan. This article (bike rodeo) explains different situations that children ought to practice, because they are dangerous situations children face every day. Whether your pack does a thorough rodeo as described or just a short one for mostly fun, I think it's well worth reading over this article once before planning your own.

Pack Budgets

Budgeting for a pack can be difficult.  One of the best ways to know how to budget is to know what was spent.  Keep a detailed record of how much you spend in very specific categories.  Pair these records with attendance at den meetings and pack meetings to get an average spent per scout, then use all the information you have gathered to determine next years budget.

Also, here are some links to budget tools from the BSA.

Planned Budgeting

Planning Your Program Budget

Pack Operating Budget PDF

Scout Law Song & Other Ideas to Teach the Scout Law

According to the BSA, we are NOT to implement any part of the new cub scout program until the new cub scout program has been officially launched, May 2015.  This includes teaching and reciting the Scout Law and Oath. 

Having said that, and supporting that policy 100%, I have worried about how to teach these long recitations to my young cubs.  Not to worry, I can prepare to know it myself and get ready to teach the cubs in summer of 2015 with the following ideas:

HERE FROM SCOUTINGMAGAZINE.ORG are some ways to teach Cubs the Scout Law, worth checking out!

I like this catch song; a pleasant way to become familiar with the Scout Law:

"A Scout Is"  

CHORUS:
It doesn't say "could be",
It doesn't say "would be",
It doesn't say "might be",
It doesn't say "someday will be",
It doesn't say "shall be",
It doesn't mean "maybe",
  But notice that it says "A Scout IS"!

A scout is TRUSTWORTHY; a scout always tells the truth.
A scout is LOYAL; to his family, friends, and nation he is true.
A scout is HELPFUL; he helps his neighbors without pay.
A scout is FRIENDLY; to everyone along his way.

A scout is COURTEOUS; a scout is polite to all.
A scout is KIND; he'll help you up when you fall.
A scout is OBEDIENT; he follows rules willingly.
A scout is CHEERFUL; he does his labor cheerfully.

A scout is THRIFTY; a scout will work to pay his way.
A scout is BRAVE; he'll face the danger tho' he's afraid.
A scout is CLEAN; he keeps his mind and body clean.
A scout is REVERENT; he follows God faithfully.

Build-A-Certificate

 HERE are 93 Scouting and Cub Scouting certificates- some horizontal and some vertical - (13 that are only for Cub Scouts, but many others that work for Cub Scout Awards, as well) that you personalize and print from your computer.  Check them out!

Uniforms

 

Field Uniforms:

The Field Uniform should be worn at pack meetings and is appropriate for wearing to den and other cub scout gatherings.  (The field uniform is sometimes referred to as the class A uniform, but this terminology is not used in any BSA publication and is officially discouraged.)

Activity Uniforms:

An activity or utility uniform generally consists of a Scouting related T-shirt, polo shirt or other shirt, often customized with a unit design, such as those received at some Cub or Webelos Day Camps, bought at a BSA store, or made specifically for the den or pack. Activity or utility uniforms are worn when the official field uniform is not appropriate for activities or as directed by the unit leaders.  (The activity or utility uniform is sometimes referred to as the class B uniform, but this terminology is not used in any BSA publication and is officially discouraged.)

Saluting the Flag:

The official word is, "The hand-to-forehead salute is correct for flag ceremonies for any person wearing a uniform of the Boy Scouts of America. The hand-over-heart salute should be used when not in uniform."  There is no further uniform definition for boys giving the scout salute for flag ceremonies.

Themed Costumes:

It is always appropriate for boys, families, and leaders/committee to wear costumes fitting the theme of the pack meeting. It is very appropriate and encouraged for the Cubmaster and other committee members to wear simple costumes for ceremonies, which should be put on just before the ceremony and taken off just after the ceremony, unless it is too complicated and time-consuming - which case, it may be worn throughout the evening.  Those wearing theme costumes would salute the flag as a civilian, with hat off head and hand over heart

Pack Meeting is ALL Leaders' Responsibility

WHY the Pack Meeting part of Roundtable pertains to all positions.

“Committee” includes Committee Chair, Cubmaster, all Den Leaders, other Committee Members, and Parent Volunteers

“Cub Dens” are the responsibility of the Den Leaders to prepare them before the Pack Meeting

If the Cubmaster has an emergency or gets sick and can't make it and there's no assistant, the responsibility falls on the Committee Chair, who should be completely familiar with how a Pack Meeting should run and look like.

Committee includes not only Committee Members (Awards Chair, Primary Counselor, Trainer, etc.), but also the Cubmaster, and Den Leaders.

Plans Theme & Activities                    Committee

Set Up    & Decorations                      Committee

Pick up Awards                                   Committee Chair or Awards Chair

(inc. Records of bought, actually awarded, needs awarded next month because of absences)

Program                                              Committee Chair

Gathering Activity                                Cubmaster or Committee

Emcee                                                Cubmaster or sometimes Cubs 

                                                                                            (Den Leader)

Prayers                                              Cub By Invitation

Flag Ceremony                                  Cub Dens (Den Leader)

Opening Ceremony                           Cub Dens (Den Leader)

Announcements                                Committee Chair

Skit                                                    Cub Dens (Den Leader)

Run-On Jokes                                   Committee or Cub Dens (Den Leader)

(between acts or during lulls)

Core Value connections                    Cubmaster

Den Presentations                            Cub Dens (Den Leader)

Award Ceremonies                           Cubmaster w/Committee and 

                                                                                 Den Leaders' help

Activity                                               Cubmaster and Committee 

Refreshments                                    by Assignment Preference 
                                                           (cubs can pass off achievements 

                                                            if they make treats sometimes)