Cheerful/Celebrate /Campfire Etiquette & Obedient/Cub Scout City Council/Cub Scout Camping

December's SLP:Cheerful Theme:Celebrate Interest Topic: Campfire Etiquette
January's SLP:Obedient Theme:Cub Scout City Council Interest Topic: Cub Scout Camping

Opening Brain Teaser - This would be a great thing to write on the chalk or white board for boys and parents to have something to think about while they wait for everyone to arrive at a Pack or Den Meeting.  (An idea you could use would be to reward the cub scouts a piece of candy if they get it right).

ONE TOO MANY -  Use Basic Math functions (+, -, x, division) with the digits 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9 so that you get a result of 1. All digits must be used but only once.
 *Answer is at the end of this section. (scroll down)
(Brain Teaser taken from: The Little Black Book of Mindbenders by John Samson and Elsie Samson; pg. 46)

Gathering Activity Idea #1
Camping Word Search
Click here to print off a copy of the word search:https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0revQcSgs4OZm0yYXBIT1BmLXM
Click here to print off a copy of the answers to the word search:https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0revQcSgs4OYTFRZlhvZ09UR2s

Note:  To have the image of these links print off in "landscape' format, you will need do the following: 1ST STEP-Click on the picture of the printer- upper right-hand corner / 2ND STEP- Click on "Properties / 3RD STEP-Click on the IMAGE of the paper format (This has a big blue E and a colored graph on it above the "Paper Sizes" drop down menu). Note: Be sure to reset it back to "Portrait" when you are done printing off this booklet or your printer will stay on this setting when you print off other documents.


Gathering Activity Idea #2
REMEMBER THE CAMPFIRE TOOLS
Materials: 13 to 15 campfire items, blanket, paper and pencils or pens.  (Ideas for camping items are: A picture of a campfire, marshmallows, skewer, campfire skit book, a wooden log, a Dutch oven, oven mitt, a grill, a camping cup, paper plates, knife, fork, spoon, pocket knife, Kindling, seasonings, kettle, tongs, campfire claw, small shovel, hotdogs, spatula, Joke book, etc...
Instructions: Put the campfire items on a table and cover them with a blanket.  Instruct everyone to lift the blanket for only 30 seconds.  Then take a piece of paper & pencil and write down as many of the items as they can remember without lifting the blanket a second time.

 

Flag Ceremony Idea 

What Are We Full Of?

Props: Six posters with the letters “C,” “H,” “E,” “E,” and “R” (one on each poster), and one poster with the letters “FUL” on it

Seven Scouts hold up the posters as the Cubmaster calls the letters.

Cubmaster: “Give me a C!

(A Scout holds up a poster, prompting the audience to yell “C!”)

“Give me an H!

(The next poster goes up, etc.)

“Give me an E!

“Give me another E!

“Give me an R!

“What are we full of?”

“What are we full of?” (The audience yells “Cheer” when the poster with “FUL” goes up.)

Cubmaster: Will the audience please join us in saying the Pledge of Allegiance with Cheerful hearts.

Reindeer Pudding Snack
This idea would be fun and cheerful to do for the boys for either a Den or Pack Meeting dessert!   
Materials: red marker, black marker, red pom poms, gold pipe cleaner, pudding cups, eyes.
Directions:
Pretty much just create what you see in the picture. So easy!   

TP Roll Nativity Scene
(Google "TP Nativity" on Pinterest to see a variety of different sets.)
1) This craft would be great to do at a pack meeting.  You have everyone sit at tables set up with the craft materials in the middle.  The parents and their cub scout can each make  1-2 of the people to create a nativity set for their family to take home.  Note: have them focus making Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus First, just in case they do not finish in time.  I like this idea because it helps the parents feel involved in their son's cub scout program.

2) Another idea would be to pre- make a kit and put it in a Zip Lock bag for each cub scout to take home and make their nativity set for a Family Activity some night.    This would be a great Christmas gift.  Be sure to include a picture of the finish product in the zip lock bag. To print off a nativity scene picture click here:https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0revQcSgs4OWk1Za0ZDU0lSVlU
Materials:

Empty TP rolls or paper towel rolls, scrap fabric, pipe cleaners, scissors, glue gun, Elmer's Glue, bling jewels, ribbon, string of all kinds, fine tip black marker and anything else you want.
Directions:
Just be creative and have fun.  I used a glue gun, but you could also use Elmer's Glue as well. 

To make the manger, first cut the TP roll in half.  Then with one of the halves, make a straight cut down the TP roll and fold in the sides for the legs.  Then with the other half, cut it in half length-wise and glue one of the halves on top of the legs. I did not have straw, so I used some jute to outline the bed of the manger.
*Many of you asked me at round table where I got the white empty TP rolls.  It is from Scott's Toilet Paper.

PVC Outdoor Flag Pole
With this Flag pole, you GET to choose your own location for an outdoor flag ceremony!

Materials: (In the picture above it shows the PVC pipe cut after bought at the store.  In this list, I am telling you what to buy at the store.) 3 of 10ft 1-1/4" PVC poles, 3 of 1-1/4" PVC Tee Connectors, 4 of 1-1/4" PVC Elbows, 1 of 1-1/4" PVC cap, 1 of 1-1/4" PVC Coupler, PVC 1 - 1/4" All-Purpose Ratcheting Cutter (You could also use a miter saw - but the saw gets lots of plastic shavings all over the place. Make sure you vacuum and wipe off the PVC pipe before gluing/cementing.), Sledge Hammer, Drill, PVC Primer & PVC Regular Clear Cement, 1 to 2 gray spray paint cans, 2 of 1/2" Rigid Eye Bolt Snap, 2 of 1/2" Rope Cleat, 1 of 1/4"by 4" Eye Bolt with Nut, Black Marker, Phillips Screw Driver, Measuring tape and American Flag.
Directions:
1) Using the All-Purpose Ratcheting Cutter, cut one of the 10ft PVC pipes into two 4-1/2 feet long poles. With the other 10ft PVC pipe, cut 2 pieces at 24" and 6 pieces at 11".

MARKING THE DRILLING HOLES FOR THE EYE SCREW & THE 2 ROPE CLEATS.
Note: You will be using two Rope Cleats.  One is for the Cub Scouts so they can reach it on the BOTTOM HALF of the flag pole when in use. The other one is on the TOP HALF  of the flag pole for wrapping the rope around when storing.
2) Choose one of 4.5 ft poles and designate it the TOP HALF of the flag pole.  Place a dot 2" from one end for the Rigid Eye Bolt. (This will be the top end.) From the bottom end, temporarily place a rope cleat approximately 4 inches from the end. Make sure it is in-line with the first dot you made at the top end.  Use a black marker to put dots in the screw holes.
3) Take the BOTTOM HALF of the flag pole and temporarily place a rope cleat 24" from one end. Using a black marker, mark the screw holes for the rope cleat.

4) Find a drill bit for the 4" Rigid Eye Bolt.  Then drill your hole in the PVC pipe. The hole should be big enough to allow the eye screw to pass through.  When you put the Rigid Eye Bolt through later, it will be secured on the opposite side with a bolt. (This is the hole that is 2" from the top end of the TOP HALF of the pole.)

5) Find a drill bit that is the right size to drill pilot holes for the rope cleat screws.  This bit should be small enough that when the screws are put in the PVC pipe they grab a hold of the PVC pipe securely. Drill the hole for both rope cleats.
Cementing PVC Pipe Together
THIS PART IS CHALLENGING AND NEEDS TO BE DONE QUICKLY AS THE PVC PRIMER AND CEMENT DRY VERY FAST.  It took me four tries to get it somewhat right. So here are a couple of tips I learned.  a) When cementing, GO FAST! b) Use a sledge hammer because it provides the weight necessary to pound the PVC connections together in one hit. c) Use LOTS of PVC Primer on both the inside and outside of the connections. Put it on first.  Do not allow it to dry before you put the PVC Cement inside the connection because it will give you a second or two of extra drying time to position everything right. d) Use plastic trash bags to cover your floor. e) Do this on a LEVEL floor. (Some drive ways have a slant to them.) Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee a non-wobbly base.  One of mine was perfectly flat and the other one wobbles slightly.  But in the end, you are going to be outside using this flag pole and you will need rocks or bean/sand bags to hold it in place anyway; especially if it is windy.

6) Prime and cement one PVC Elbow onto one of the 24" pipes. Use sledge hammer to pound in place.  Then quickly Prime and cement the 2nd elbow and slide it on the end matching the direction of the first elbow as much as possible by 'eyeing it.' Then place it on the floor and push the elbow in exactly the right place.(You want to do this before using sledge hammer, because it is hard to twist once you have pounded the pieces together.) Then quickly stand it up and take sledge hammer and pound once. This might cause the elbows to be slightly ajar, so place it back on the floor and stand; maybe jump, on both elbows at once, applying body weight.
7) Repeat for the 2nd 24" pipe and elbows.

 

8) Prime and cement ONE 11" PVC pipe AT A TIME to the PVC Tee using the sledge hammer to pound the connection together each time. Do this for 2nd PVC Tee.

For this one, make sure you have one of the long 4.5 foot poles nearby.  You will need it to move the 3rd PVC Tee in the right direction once it is pounded into place.  Also make sure you have a door or something nearby that you can use to help you 'eyeball' the pole position to make sure it is standing up straight.
9)Taking one of the Tee PVC Sections (with the 11" pipes extending from the a PVC Tee), apply primer and cement to the last PVC Tee that you have not used yet, and the 11" PVC pipe that is extending from a Tee.    (Remember to use lots of primer to give you those extra two seconds!) Pound in place and quickly take the long pole and place it in the top of the PVC TEE.   Use the long pole as a leverage to move the  PVC Tee in place so it is at 90 degrees.  Stand back and look at the long pole against the door or straight edge you choose earlier and make sure it is at 90 degrees. If not, twist the PVC Tee using the long pole as leverage to where it needs to be. You probably can only do this twice before the cement dries.  So move quickly.

10) Prime and cement the other PVC Tee Section to the middle PVC Tee.  Stand, maybe jump on all the PVC poles to help everything position right.

11) Prime and cement one of the poles with elbows, pounding on both ends and then standing on both elbows at the same time on a level floor. Repeat with the 2nd pole with elbows.

12) Prime and cement the cap on the TOP HALF of the flag pole.  Make sure it is by the 4" Rigid Eye Bolt.
13) Then prime and cement the coupler on the bottom end of the TOP Half of the flag pole.

14) Lightly sand the whole flag pole except where the long poles are inserted.  These areas need to stay smooth.

15) Put the whole flag pole together before painting.  You want to make sure you do not paint the ends of the long poles where they are inserted into a connection.

16) After the paint dries, screw in the rope cleats.  (The cleat on the bottom pole is used when you have a flag ceremony.  the cleat on the top pole is used when storing the poles in your garage or elsewhere). Be sure to line up the rope cleat on the top pole with your Eye Bolt hole.

17) Then screw in the eye bolt in the hole you made at the top for it.
18) CUTTING YOUR ROPE: Take your 1/8 inch nylon rope and cut a piece that is 185 1/2 inches long.

19) Melt the ends of the rope to keep it from fraying.

20) Measure from one end 9 inches and mark it with painter's tape.  Then measure 47 inches from the same end and mark that with painter's tape.

21) Thread the end that is closest to the painter's tape markers through the Eye Bolt.

22) With a bow Line Hitch, tie on one of the Rigid Eye Bolt Snaps at the 47 inch 'blue painter's tape maker'.  Then repeat with the second Rigid Eye Bolt Snap at the 9 inch 'blue painter's tape marker'.

23) Tie both ends of the nylon rope together using a Bow Line Hitch.
 

24) The extra rope can be wound around the rope cleat.

25) When you are ready to have your outdoor flag ceremony, hook your flag on using the Rigid Eye Bolt Snaps.

26) Optional, but a good idea.  Make some bean bags to place on the bottom of the flag pole to keep it from blowing over if there is a lot of wind where you choose to hold your flag ceremony.  You could also use some rocks to hold it in place if you are out in the wilderness.

Audience Participation Activity
Favorite Camping Memory

Have everyone turn to their neighbor and share a favorite camping memory. Then take a bouncy ball and throw it onto the floor so that it bounces into the audience.  The person who catches the ball gets to share the story his/her neighbor told them. Then that person throws the ball to someone else.  Have the ball thrown about 4 times.

Cubmaster Minute - The Christmas Scout

Many of you asked me at the round table where I got the story of the Christmas Scout.  Here is the link:http://www.boyscouttrail.com/content/story/story-1.asp

Cheers / Run-ons
Marshmallow Cheer: Pretend to put a marshmallow on the end of a roasting stick.  Then cook it over a campfire.  Pretend the marshmallow caught on fire by saying "Whoosh!" Oh No!"  Blow it out and take it off your roasting stick. Then put it in your mouth and say, "Delicious." like your mouth is full.

Santa Claus Cheer: Reach out and hold stomach saying loudly, "HO, HO, HO, Merry Christmas."

Opening Brain Teaser Answer: (9-8) x (7-6) x (5-4) x (3-2) x (1-0) =  1x1x1x1x1 = 1

Courteous/ Cubs in Shining Armor/Recognition

November's Scout Law Point: Courteous
November's Theme: Cubs in Shining Armor
November's Interest Topic: Recognition

Opening Brain Teaser - This would be a great thing to write on the chalk or white board for boys and parents to have something to think about while they wait for everyone to arrive at a Pack or Den Meeting.  (An idea you could use would be to reward the cub scouts a piece of candy if they get it right).

Riddle:  What gets wetter as it dries? (The riddle answer can be found by entering the missing letter in each word over the corresponding numbered space below.)
___      ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

 1          2       3    4     5     6

1. ___PPLE     2. RESUL___     3. ___VAL     4. ___EIGHT    5. SING___R

6. GUI___T

 *Answer is at the end of this section. (scroll down)
(Brain Teaser taken from: The Little Black Book of Mindbenders by John Samson and Elsie Samson; pg. 29)

Gathering Activity
Award/Patch Matching Activity

Print off pages 77 - 81 of the 2016 - 2017 Cub Scout Round Table Planning Guide:   http://www.scouting.org/filestore/cubscouts/pdf/510-714%2816%29_CS.pdf   Cut up the sheets as directed  to make cards.  Mix up the cards and have a pile of cards with just names and another pile with the pictures. Then have everyone take turns  matching them up.  You also have the option to play a game of concentration by mixing up the cards, turning them over.  Then have everyone taking turns choosing which two cards to turn face up and see if they can find a match. 

Cubs of the Round Table Board

Using cardstock paper or poster board paper you can use this board for many things. Some examples are:  1)To post your pack's news letter. 2) To post a Cub Scout spot light. (Click here for samples of spot light questions you can ask: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0revQcSgs4OSG1WajlzU3dNNU0 and  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0revQcSgs4ObEFhQWhYSWxFbW8 )  3) To post a flyer for a cub scout carnival. 4) To place a sheet for the Cub Scouts to sign their name after they memorize the Scout Law. If you do this one, use a dark colored cardstock sheet of paper and a metallic pen for the boys to sign their names with.

Materials: a wooden board 24"x18", 2 large paint sticks (I got mine from Home Depot), 2 small paint sticks, 220 grit sand paper, black duct tape, a light wood finish stain, Wood finish Lacquer, hand drill, 4 3/4" screws, miter saw or hand saw, wood burning tool, pen.
Not shown in picture: throw away gloves for stain, a rag to apply stain, a sponge brush for lacquer, steel wool, pencil, black marker, paper cutter, paper with words that will be burned into the wood, a miter saw or hand saw, wood glue, silver spray paint, scissors to cut the duct tape and blue painters tape.
Directions:

 
1) Print out the words to be burned in the board by clicking here:https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0revQcSgs4ONnRieldxcmdseDg
2) With a paper cutter to cut straight lines, cut the strips of paper with the words on them.  Then turn them over and with a pencil, scribble on the back of the strips of paper so the letters are completely covered with lead. If it is hard to see the words from the back side of the paper, put them up to a window.

3) Using a ruler, turn the pieces of paper over for the first line and place them on the board exactly where you want to wood burn the words into the board.
4) Using the pencil, trace the outside of the letters of "Cub Scout."  When you remove the paper you should see where you traced as shown in the picture.

5) After all the words for the 'first line' are on the board, then you can start to wood burn them in the wood. (For the words, "Cub Scout," I first wood burned the outline and then I wood burned decorative straight lines throughout each letter).

6) Repeat steps 3 through 5 for the second line of words.

7) Repeat for the Scout Law. The only difference is that you need not outline the words.

8) Using a rag and some throw away gloves, lightly Stain your board front and back and let it dry according to the instructions on the can of the wood stain.  I used a very light stain so the words would be very visible.  After the stain dries, brush on the first layer of lacquer.  After it dries, sand it with 220 grit sand paper and lacquer it a second time.  After the second coat dries, sand it one more time, after which scrub it with steel wool.  The steel wool will make it very smooth.
 

9) On both of the large paint sticks, with a pen draw a 90 degree line across the ruler at the 4.5 line.  Then draw2 diagonal lines from this line to the edge of the ruler as shown. Note: I did not draw a point because I did not want the sword to be too sharp. Cut with either a Miter Saw or Hand Saw.
10) Then take the 4.5 pieces of wood and cut them to be 4 inches long

11) Glue the 4 inch piece of wood on the large paint stick right at the point where the wood curves in.  This will make the handle short, but perfect for the board we are making. Let this dry for a day.

12) Sand the blade of the swords as well as sand and round up the tip.  Then sand the small paint sticks. Lastly, spray paint them silver.
 
 
 
 

13) W rap some black duct tape strips around the handle of the sword. I found that placing a piece across the top middle and over all the ends first before wrapping pieces around was helpful.

14) With a black marker, place a dot 1 & 6/8 inches from the handle.  Then place another dot 9 & 7/8 inches from the handle as seen in the picture. (These will be for the screws).

15) Position the small paint sticks on the main board so that they are centered horizontally and allow enough space in between them for an 8.5 x11 piece of cardstock plus 1/8 of an inch. The swords will be placed on top of these small paint sticks.  (Putting the small paint sticks in between the main board and the swords will allow enough space to slide in an 8.5x11 piece of paper or a piece of poster board). Once the placement of the small paint sticks is decided on, secure with blue painters tape.
 
 

16) Center and Place the swords horizontally over the small paint sticks and secure with blue painters tape.  Note the sword on the bottom needs to be placed so the bottom edge of the small paint stick and the bottom edge of the sword match up. Then the top sword needs to be placed to that the top edge of the small paint stick and the top edge of the sword match up. (This will create a little lips to catch the top and bottom edge of the cardstock paper or poster board that you will slide in between the two swords).

17) First drill a pilot hole where you placed to the two black marker dots on each sword. This will help keep the wood from splitting when you drill in the screws.  Note: The pilot hole needs to be the right size.  If it is too small the wood will split anyway.
18) Then drill in the screws.
19) Then unscrew it and take off the blue tape. Then re-screw everything back together.  You are done!! 

 

Cub Scout Ribbon for Mothers

 I made one of these for me when my boys were in cub scouts and found it to be very handy.  First of all, all I had to do was grab it and put it on over my head.  Second, when it came time for my boys to put the pins on "their mother" there was not a guessing game or embarrassing moment trying to find a place where the pins should go. Lastly, I was able to keep all the pins in one place and they never got lost.  Now that my boys are no long in Cub Scouts or Scouts, whenever I see it in my drawer, it brings back good memories and gives me reason to smile. 
Materials: blue ribbon (I looked for sales in the fabric store),Eagle symbol patch/decal (bought at the scout shop), measuring tape, sewing machine and thread.
Directions:
1) cut the ribbon 40 inches long.
2) Drape it over your neck and pin the two ends together. The ends of your ribbon will not match up. 

3)Sew the two ends together stitching in a triangular fashion. Then cut off the ends so they are straight.

4) Place the Eagle patch/decal on the ribbon with the bottom of the decal touching the ends of the ribbons. Then sew on with a zig zag stitch.
 - This would be a great gift to give to new mothers in the cub scout program.  I believe it would promote enthusiasm and a desire to help their boys earn belt loops, patches and pins.

Audience Participation/Game
A-Mace-ing
This is a medieval version of beanbag toss.  For the target, make two large cardboard cutouts of a castle with several window of various sizes cut into it.  Use beanbags or foam balls as the "mace." to be thrown through the windows.  Divide up the cub scouts into two teams.  Each cub scout gets to throw a bean bag three times.  A point is given for each bean bag thrown through a window.  After all the cub scouts on each team have taken their turn, add up the points.  The team with the most points wins.  (This idea was taken from the 2016 November Pack Meeting Plans).

Cheers / Run-ons
BRAVO APPLAUSE:  Everyone shouts, "Bravo, Bravo!" gradually getting louder. End with huge clapping.

YOU DID GOOD JOB APPLAUCE: Everyone says, " You did gooooooooooooooood!" (in fluctuating their voice) and then hand bumps the person next to him/her.JB

Great Idea Shared In One of the Breakouts
 
Jump Start Jar
Ever Wonder what to do with your cub scouts when you need a 3 to 5 minutes filler.  Just have one of your cubscouts pull out a piece of paper with an idea from this jar.
Click here to see paper with ideas you can cut up: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0revQcSgs4OTi1QcFE3eUFVeVE

Opening Brain Teaser Answer: A TOWEL