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Making Up Missed Cub Scout Requirements

Julia asked this question:

I have a question about some of the new program requirements. I’m the leader of a Bear den and have the following issue. We had our “Cub Scout Carnival” at the beginning of the year and all of our 6 scouts planned and executed it – it was a lot of fun and a lot of work. Then a few months into the school year we had 3 brand new scouts join our den. What would you do in this situation? With the old requirements, there was always something scouts could do instead if they missed something hard to repeat. Should I just check them off too and consider requirements something we complete as a den rather than individually? I’m understandably loathe to do a whole second carnival to help them fill this requirement. We have scouts who missed our police station visit too, so I’m running into the same problem there. This seems like either an oversight when laying out the new requirements, or an indication that we should, indeed, take requirements as something to be completed by den rather than individual. I have a feeling that I’ll get the answer that, no, it’s supposed to be individual, but what do you then do in these situations as a leader?

Thanks for the question Julia. I have never been a fan of giving Cub Scouts credit for activities they didn’t participate in. I feel they should do something for the recognition.

For example, if they missed the carnival event, they could run a carnival game as a gathering activity at a different pack meeting. See my post with carnival ideas for some simple games which a Cub Scout could do with the help of his parent.

I don’t think the den leader should be responsible for putting together a second event either. Cub Scouting is a family program and parents are expected to help out. If they missed the police station visit, then maybe the parents can take them instead. If making up the requirement just isn’t possible, come up with an alternative which is in the spirit of the requirement. The Cub Scout could do a poster presentation about all of the things police do for the community. Or perhaps your local police department is sponsoring a community event which the Cub Scout could promote to the pack.

Readers, what do you think. Add your comments below.

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