Wolf Elective 1a: Secret Code Wheel

This Secret Code Wheel will help pass off: Wolf Elective 1a (It's A Secret: Use a secretcode) and Webelos Communication Achievement 5. Instructions: Print wheels on white or colored paper, cut out, and connect using a paper brad. The smallest wheel and the medium wheeleach have common alphabet letters, numbers, and symbols. This is so that one wheel can be turned then matched up with the other wheel for one code. For example, T can match up with K, setting all the other letters on the wheels up as a code itself. The largest wheel is for the boy to make up his own code; write new code symbols lining up with an upright letter on the right side of the wheel. The picture in color includes my son's made-up code on the largeset wheel as an example of a finished project. If a boy's friend has the samewheel, the first boy writing a note to his friend could put the code at the top of the note, for instance "T=K", so that his friend can line up those letters on the wheel and decipher the note from there. Of course, in order to write in his secret code, the friend will need to have the same code on his wheel. This alphabet wheel by itself makes several systems, since A can = A or B or C or L or K, etc. If H=5, then 4WW1 7WY means GOOD JOB

Wolf Achievement 1 Relay

Achievement 1 Complete in a Minute, when it's a race!

This is how it was set up in the gym: One crib mattress on the ground, and a 2x4 plank on the ground in line with the mattress but about a yard in front of it.  Someone timing each person with a stopwatch or second-hand on a clock.

1. Have the boys squat down while the den counts down from 10 down to "blast off!",  At "Blast Off!" he jumps as high in the air as he can, hands and arms up.  That's the start of his race.

2. Have the boy walk the plank forward, backward, and sideways.

3. Have him travel around the crib mattress 3 times:  Elephant Walk once around, Frog Leap once around, and Crab Walk once around.

4. Then on the mattress have him front roll, back roll, and falling front roll.

5.  At this point he will face his den leader (who is 10 steps away), who will throw a tennis ball to the boy to catch and throw it back. 

30 Beautiful Trophy Stands for $50

In "This Old House"-style, Grove Rasmusson (Cubmaster) teaches us and shows us exactly how he makes 30 impressive Pinewood Derby trophies, each costing just over $1.50, depending on your available resources. In his own words:

     "Each year I make the awards for the Pinewood derby. The top piece is 5"x 1-1/4". The Middle piece is 5-3/4" high and the Bottom piece is 8" long. The whole thing costs about $50 depending on what you have around the house. 15 minutes long? I know, but I was pretty thorough! :)" Yes, the video is 15 minutes long, and it certainly is thorough. It makes it easy to craft a trophy worthy of displaying the cubs hard work for a lifetime. Click on the Cubmaster's name in the first paragraph to watch this video.

If you involve your den in making these, it can pass off:
Wolf 5 TOOLS FOR FIXING AND BUILDING
Bear 21 BUILD A MODEL  b. build a display for one of your models.
Webelos CRAFTSMAN  (technology) 1. Safe handling of tools. 2. Construct 2 different wooden objects. 3. Make a display stand to be used to display a model.

Den Meeting Ceremonies

Surprise! Ceremonies aren't just for pack meetings!

Most of the time, a ceremony during den meeting should be so simple and quick, ('tho dramatically presented) that there is no memorizing, just doing.  5 - 10 seconds. is all it takes to get these boys smiling ear to ear.

Ceremonies To Do in the DEN

How to Fold a USA Flag

While you can find ceremonies that give a meaning to each fold, they are just cool ceremonies.  There is nothing official about the meaning of each fold ... officially, they are just folds.

This is not the only way to store a flag.  You may fold it up into a rectangle, cover it so it will not get soiled, and store it flat (or upright, if it is held firmly in a box).  If it's on a pole, you may wrap it around the pole and secure it with rubber bands or ties and store it upright, leaning against a wall in a closet.

Never salute a flag that is furled (folded, wrapped, or gathered against the pole to keep it from touching the ground).

Please keep in mind:  When displayed, the flag should fall naturally and freely.  It should never touch anything beneath it (like a table or floor), should never be draped (like over chairs or boxes or tables), and should never carry anything or have anything placed on top of it.

Stop the Spread of Germs

Value of Hand Washing

Wolf 3: Taking Care Of Your Body (Bear  9: In the Kitchen)

Let kids discover for themselves how effective their hand-washing habits are in keeping germs from spreading. Here is a 55-min hand-washing experiment for kids. I found Glogerm to be the best price of the germ-glowing agents ($5.50 for 25 applications in a 2 oz bottle) and have included it's link here.

Mini Gel - 2 ounce Code: MG2O Price: $5.50

Den Meetings for One Pack-Combined Den

Is your pack small enough that you need to combine all dens (Tiger/Wolf/Bear/Webelos) into ONE COMBINED DEN?  Scouting.com has made available two years' worth of Alternative Cub Scout Lesson Plans with you in mind:  Year A and Year B.

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.

Belt Loop Tracking Sheet

Above is a sample tracking sheet to be able to keep track of where each boy is on requirements towards each academic belt loop.  There are links below to print one for the Academic belt loops, and another for the Sports belt loops.  They are meant to be printed back to back.  I like to do it on cardstock, and I print one for each boy to be kept in my leader binder next to their tracking sheet for Wolf, Bear, or Webelos.  Then I have information on each boy.  It helps to do it this way if you do one requirement one week and a different one other weeks.  Not every boy is there every week.  By doing this, I can always know where each boy is at, and it is all in one place.

• To print the Academic Belt Loops tracking sheet, click HERE
• To print the Sports Belt Loops tracking sheet, click HERE
• To print the 4 page document that shows the requirements for each belt loop,click HERE

If they enjoyed what they've learned and experienced with any of the belt loops, they can go on to become "experts" in that sport or academic and earn their Sports or Academic Pin. 

Wolf Musts With Family

Certain WOLF Cub Scout requirements need to be done at home with the family.  Here is a list to give parents of things they do at home with their Cub Scout.  There are certain things in the book that a Cub Scout Leader can not do with their scouts, and it gives parents a place to start when they want to help their son pass off some requirements. Click on the picture above for a printable format.

1 Doc = Cub Meeting Plans + Faith In God

Connecting Faith in God for Boys and Cub Scout requirements. (click HERE)

Connecting Faith in God for Boys and the plans from your Den and Pack Resource Manual (click HERE)