Cub Scouts who are interested in other parts of the world can earn their Language and Culture pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program. Maybe it will even interest them enough to find a Scout in another country who is interested in being a pen pal.

Language and Culture Pin Requirements

Earn the Language and Culture belt loop, and complete seven of the following requirements:

1. Earn the BSA Interpreter Strip.
2. Write the numbers 1-10 in Chinese or another number system other than the one we normally use (we use the Arabic system).
3. Visit an embassy, consulate, or chargé d’affaires for another country.
4. Make a display of stamps or postcards of another country. Explain the importance or symbolism of the things depicted to that country’s culture.
5. Learn 30 words in a language other than your own. Practice saying these words with your den or an adult family member.
6. Learn a song in another country’s language. Sing he song for your den or an adult family member, and then tell what the words mean.
7. Say five words in American Sign Language. One of these words could be your first name.
8. Visit a restaurant that specializes in recipes from another country.
9. Watch a TV show or movie in a foreign language. Tell how easy or difficult it was to understand what was happening.
10. With your parent’s or adult partner’s permission, interview an interpreter. Find out what his or her job is like.
11. Make a list of 30 things around your home that were made in another country.
12. Read a book or story about an immigrant to the United States.

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Cub Scouts can learn how people with disabilities are different from them but also how they are like them by earning the Disabilities Awareness pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program. This recognition also fits in well with the Cub Scout core value of Compassion.

Disabilities Awareness Pin Requirements

Earn the Disabilities Awareness belt loop, and complete five of the following requirements:

1. People with disabilities move around in different ways such as crutches, scooters, and wheelchairs. Explain the differences. With an adult’s supervision and permission, try to safely use one.
2. Using sign language, demonstrate the Cub Scout Promise and motto.
3. Read a book about a person with a disability.
4. Explain how your school helps students with disabilities (elevators, ramps, small classes, special tools and equipment, specialized teachers)
5. Describe one of the following and its purpose: occupational therapy, speech therapy, or physical therapy. Visit with a person who works in one of these fields and learn about his or her position.
6. Read about a famous person who has been physically or mentally challenged. Report what you learned to your den or family.
7. For two one-hour periods, and with adult supervision, go about your normal routine doing chores, watching television, studying, etc. Change your abilities by using one of these experiences, then share what you learned with your den.
1. Hearing impairment — Muffle your ears with earmuffs or bandages.
2. Sight impairment — Blindfold one or both eyes.
3. Physical impairment— Bind an arm or leg so that it cannot be used.
4. Speaking impairment — Cover your mouth or do not speak
5. Choose an impairment of your own that is approved by an adult
8. Look at a catalog and find three items that could help a person with disabilities in their daily life. Explain how each item would help the individual.
9. Volunteer and help someone with disabilities in school, sports, or another supervised activity.
10. Visit a nursing home or elderly person and help someone with a meal.
11. Talk to someone who works with people who have disabilities. Ask what the person’s position is like and how he or she helps people with disabilities.

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Here’s a grace which is sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. This makes a really wonderful Thanksgiving grace. Or it would be a good addition to a Scout’s Own prayer service.

Auld Lang Syne Grace

For all the bounty He provides,
Let us give Him thanks and praise.
Let’s keep Him always in our hearts
As we thank God all our days.

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Miss Manners move over! There are Cub Scouts in the room! Well, maybe our Cub Scouts aren’t etiquette experts, but they can earn their Good Manners pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program.

Good Manners Pin Requirements

Earn the Good Manners belt loop, and complete five of the following requirements:

1. Meet one new person, shake hands properly, and introduce yourself. Extend your hand, grip the person’s hand firmly, and gently shake hands.
2. Talk with your family about polite language. Include “please,” “you’re welcome,” “excuse me,” “yes, sir,” “no, ma’am,” and so on in your talk.
3. Explain to your den or family how good manners can help you now and as you get older. Copy the actions of someone you know who has good manners.
4. Go over table manners with your family. Eat a meal together where the table is set correctly and everyone uses good table manners.
5. With an adult, discuss what foods are proper to eat with your fingers. Practice eating some of these foods the right way.
6. In your den or with your family, practice using good phone manners.
7. Explain how treating things that belong to other people with respect is a part of having good manners. Show three examples of how you can show respect for others.
8. Talk with your friends or family members about following the rules and having good sportsmanship when playing games. Then play a game with your friends or family members. After playing the game, tell how you showed good manners.

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The Cub Scout core value for the month of October is Responsibility. BSA has released a Cub Scout pack meeting plan called Jungle of fun related to this core value. The Jungle of Fun meeting plan features ideas for the core value of responsibility – games, group activities, songs, and more to help Cub Scouts become responsible members of their Packs

For more ideas for use with this program theme, see my  Jungle of Fun page.

The core value of Responsibility should still be the focus for the month.  Here is how the BSA plan suggests tying together this theme with October’s core value of Responsibility:

This jungle theme is used to show how being responsible is an important part of any society. In the Jungle Book story used in the Wolf Handbook, Akela, Baloo, and the other jungle creatures take responsibility for Mowgli’s safety and learning the ways of the jungle, making him a responsible part of their pack. It directly relates to the Cub Scout Law of the Pack and how the leaders, parents, and Scouts are all responsible for the success of their pack. In today’s society, we understand our responsibility to preserve and protect the natural habitats of other creatures as we follow the Outdoor Code.

Cub Scout Pack Meeting Plan for October: Jungle of Fun (Responsibility)

This Cub Scout pack meeting plan includes the following – all within a responsibility theme. See the meeting plan for details.

• Gathering activity – Jungle Word Search Puzzle
• Opening ceremony – Jungle Book Opening
• A prayer about being responsible citizens
• Audience Participation – Jungle Cheer, Animal Cheers, Thunder and Rain Applause
• Run Ons – I’m a Tiger, Branch Office
• Song – I Like Bananas, Coconuts, and Grapes
• Activity – Den Demonstrations
• Jungle Advancement Ceremony
• A “Jungle Book” Cubmaster Minute
• A  Outdoor Code closing ceremony

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If you have a pet, then your Cub Scout can probably earn the Pet Care pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program.  And he will learn more about his pet and how to be more responsible for his pet’s well being.

Pet Care Pin Requirements

Earn the Pet Care belt loop, and complete five of the following requirements:

1. With an adult, develop a plan for someone to care for your pet if you were to be away for one week.
2. Train your pet to do a trick or follow a simple command.
3. Describe how your pet communicates with you and other animals.
4. Observe or play with your pet for 15 minutes each day for one week. Keep a chart that shows your pet’s mood on each day.
5. Attend a pet show. Report to your den about the show.
6. Make a drawing of the cage or bed your pet requires. Describe the important parts of it.
7. Visit an animal shelter. Explain the reasons why pets are in the animal shelter to your den or family.
8. Visit a pet store. Make a list of the different animals in the store and the kinds of foods they eat.
9. Talk to a veterinarian about his or her career. Share what you learned with your den or family.
10. Tell three ways that animals can help people.
11. Do a service project for an animal shelter, exercise an elderly person’s pet, or help a friend with the care of his or her pet.
12. Find out about the pets of U.S. presidents while they lived at the White House. Tell your den about one president and his pet(s).

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The Disabilities Awareness belt loop is another of the recognitions from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program. This belt loop encourages Cub Scouts to find out what it is like to live with a disability. We had a lady who trains assistance dogs come to a pack meeting and show the Scouts all of the ways the dogs can help people with disabilities. The kids were amazed.

Disabilities Awareness Belt Loop

Complete these three requirements:

1. Visit with a friend, family member, classmate, or other person with disabilities. Find out what this person enjoys and what this person finds difficult.
2. Attend a disabilities event such as an Easter Seals event, Special Olympics, a performance with sign language interpretation, an activity with Guiding Eyes dogs, or a wheelchair race. Tell your adult leader what you thought about the experience.
3. Make a display about one or more disabilities. It can include physical, learning, or mental challenges. Share the display at a pack meeting.

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In the Ad Altare Dei religious emblem program for Boy Scouts, one of the exercises is to compare the Ten Commandments to the Boy Scout Law. This is an interesting activity for any Boy Scout group, not just those working on Ad Altare Dei.

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The core value for the month of May is Perseverance. BSA has just released a Cub Scout pack meeting plan called Head West Young Man related to this core value. For more ideas for use with this theme, see my Head West Young Man Cub Scout program theme  page.

The core value of Perseverance should still be the focus for the month.  Here is how the BSA plan suggests tying together this theme with May’s core value of Health and Fitness:

Perseverance is defined as sticking with something and not giving up, even if it is difficult. As the pioneers headed west across this great country, they met many difficulties, yet they did not give up. Instead, they kept going, overcame the adversities they met, and helped to develop our  wonderful country.

This Cub Scout pack meeting plan includes the following – all within a perseverance theme. See the meeting plan for details.

• Gathering activity – Pioneer word search
• Opening ceremony – Frontier
• A prayer about perseverance
• Skits – The Oldest Settler in the West and Frontier Life
• Audience Participation – Chuckwagon  Cheer, Horse Applause, Bandanna Applause, Wagon Train Cheer, Coyote Applause, and Westward Ho Cheer, and Tickler Phrases story
• Activity – Den Demonstrations
• Chuckwagon recognition ceremony
• A “Perseverance” Cubmaster Minute
• A United We Stand closing ceremony

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BSA provides den meeting plans for den leader on the Scouting.org website. These plans are full of Bear den meeting ideas. Today’s article covers the tenth Bear Cub Scout den meeting plan. This plan focuses on Bear Achievement 13 – Saving Well, Spending Well and Bear Achievement 15 – Games, Games, Games!

Just a note: While this meeting plan says it covers Achievement 13, really you are just checking the work that the Cub Scouts did at home.

If you don’t already have the BSA den meeting plans, download BSA Bear Den Meeting Plan 10 to follow along with this article.

BSA Bear Den Meeting 10 – Saving Well, Spending Well and Games, Games, Games!

Preparation and Before the Meeting

This is an easy meeting to get ready for. You should  get together any supplies you need for your games. And send out a reminder beforehand so the Cub Scouts have their work for Achievement 13 ready and can bring it to the meeting for you to check off.

Gathering

Check out my gathering activities page for some ideas.

Opening

Do a  simple opening flag ceremony

Business

Keep business short and sweet! But get the items for Bear Achievement 13 recorded for each Cub Scout.

Activities

You will start with playing a game for 15a:

Set up equipment and play one of the following: backyard golf, badminton, croquet, sidewalk shuffleboard, kickball, softball, tetherball, horseshoes, or volleyball.

Several of these games have belt loops associated with them, so you might be able to work that in to your program for an additional recognition:

• Badminton Belt Loop and Pin
• Kickball Belt Loop and Pin
• Softball Belt Loop and Pin
• Volleyball Belt Loop and Pin

Next, play a den game for Achievement 15b. Some suggestions:

• Red Light Green Light
• Steal the Bacon
• Sleeping Pirate Game
• Capture the Flag
• Spud Game

See my games page for more ideas. Let one of the Cub Scouts explain the rules so he can fulfill 15c:

Select a game that your den has never played. Explain the rules. Tell them how to play it, and then play it with them.

Closing

Close with a prayer, Law of the Pack,  Cub Scout Promise, etc.

After the Meeting

Have the Cub Scouts help you clean up and put the game equipment away. If any of them did not finish Achievement 13, remind them to complete it and bring the work to the next meeting. And line up some other parents to help you at the next den meeting also.

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Purchasing information: The Scouting Way

From the publisher:

The stories in The Scouting Way will appeal to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Den Leaders, Cubmasters, Packmasters, Scoutmasters and every youth and adult interested in promoting honesty, integrity, and other Scouting values. In fact, The Scouting Way can help everybody: men and women, young and old, Scouts and non-Scouts alike incorporate the core ethics and principles of Scouting into their daily lives, in just minutes a day.

The Scouting Way books are the perfect gift for graduations, birthdays, advancements, and, of course, Eagle Scout ceremonies. Any occasion when someone is starting or completing an important stage of their life.

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Purchasing information: The Scoutmaster Minute: Your Handbook for Inspiring Moments

From the publisher:

To a group of Scouts, a Scoutmaster is teacher, friend, guide and role model. Moments are frequent when a scout leader has a true opportunity to teach, inspire, and help to shape the minds and souls of young individuals. From closing a pack meeting to sitting around the campfire, this pocket guide of inspirational quotes and stories offers the ability to make the most of these times. The Scoutmaster Minute presents verses of honesty, courage, service, sacrifice and more-right at your fingertips and right when they’re needed, fitting easily into a pocket or backpack.

Covering topics such as Integrity and Honor, Obedience and Reverence, Patriotism and Respect, Service and Sacrifice, Courage and Valor, and Humility and Consequences. All the important topics are included, for all the important moments when an inspiring word is called for. The Scoutmaster Minute is a perfect companion for anyone in need of a quick lift for the spirit.

“How a person plays the game shows something of his character. How that person loses shows all of it.”

“A woman went up to a violinist after his concert and told him, “I would give half my life to be able to play as well as you do.” To this the violist replied, “That is exactly what I have done.” Even great talent requires sacrifice and work. To have the reward, we must put forth the effort.”

Abraham Lincoln said, “I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to the light I have. I must stand with anybody who stands right, stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.”

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”

“You may make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.”

Ron Wendel is an Eagle Scout with more than 15 years’ experience in the Cub Scout and Boy Scout Organizations. He lives with his family in Utah.

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Purchasing information: Scouting For Boys

From the publisher:

2010 Facsimile of 1908 Edition. Robert Baden-Powell was born in 1857 and served in the British Army in India, Afghanistan and, later, West and South Africa. In Scouting for Boys he mixed his love for the outdoors, and delight in play-acting, together with the games ethics of the Victorian public school, and processed these into a newly minted tradition, that is, scouting, which became Britain’s most successful recreational export of the twentieth century. This book is the foundation document for scouting. Profusely illustrated.

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Purchasing information: The Scoutmaster’s Other Handbook

From the publisher:

With his first book Mark Ray revolutionized the Eagle Scout court of honor, showing tens of thousands of readers how to make Scouting’s greatest moment truly great. Now, he turns his attention to an even bigger task: building great Boy Scout troops.

In this unique and highly personal book, Ray offers hundreds of proven ideas for building strong, successful, sustainable troops that truly achieve the promise of Scouting. Beginning with Scouting’s aims and methods, the book moves quickly through every aspect of the program, from troop meetings and outings to fundraising and administration.

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Know somebody with great character? Give them this t-shirt as a gift. It reads

Character is what you do when nobody is looking

Perfect for Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts, Venturers, or anyone involved in Scouting.

This is a men’s fitted t-shirt. It is available in cream, grey, yellow, light blue, mint green, silver, and white.

Character is what you do when nobody is looking t-shirts by ScouterMom
Browse more Men T-Shirts

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BSA provides Wolf den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders on the Scouting.org website. Today, I am going to go through the eleventh Wolf Cub Scout den meeting plan. This plan covers  Wolf Achievement 12 – Making Choices.

If you don’t already have the BSA den meeting plans, download BSA Wolf Den Meeting Plan 11 to follow along with this article.

BSA Wolf Den Meeting Plan 11: Making Choices

Preparation and Before the Meeting

You don’t need to prepare much for this meeting. If you are adding in a craft or a game, you will need the supplies for that.

Gathering Activity

Look at  my gathering activities page for some ideas for a gathering activity for the Wolves.

Opening

Start witha flag ceremony. If you need information about how to carry out a flag ceremony, see a simple indoor flag ceremony or raising and lowering the US flag.

Business

Keep this to a minimum, especially since this meeting already involves a lot of talking.

Activities

Do the Courage Character Connection first. This fulfills Achievement 12a:

Complete the Character Connection for Courage.

• Know: Discuss with your family what courage is. Review the requirements and discuss how you might need courage in each one to do what is right.
• Commit: Give some examples of when it is hard to do the right thing. Discuss with your family times that it might take courage to be honest and kind. Tell about a time in your life when you needed to be brave and courageous to do the right thing.
• Practice: Practice learning about courage while doing the requirements for Making Choices. With family members, act out the choices you would make for some of the requirements.

Then pick four of the scenarios from requirements 12b to 12k to discuss. We did them as a role play activity, with the Wolves acting out the different parts. Then they discussed how they handled the situation and what they might have done differently. I let my Den Chiefs do a lot of the advising for the discussion part. The Wolves seemed to like hearing the advice from the point of view of the teenagers rather than from me as an adult.

Leave time for an active game. After all of the talking, the Cub Scouts will probably want to get up and move around. See my games page for ideas.

Closing

Do your closing ceremony. The Cub Scout Promise is a nice way to close out this meeting.

After the Meeting

Don’t forget to find some parents to help at your next meeting.

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Our local Humane Society does a Dog Care merit badge skill center for Boy Scouts once or twice a year. Several of our Scouts have gone and been enthusiastic about what they learned.

The love and interdependence between humans and dogs has endured for thousands of years. Evidence suggests that dogs and humans started relying on each other thousands of years ago. Today, dogs are our coworkers and companions. They assist search-and-rescue teams, law enforcement officers, hunters, farmers, and people with disabilities. They also play with us and keep us company.

Dog Care Merit Badge Requirements

The activities used to fulfill the requirements for the Dog Care merit badge may not be used to help fulfill requirements for other merit badges.

1. Do the following:
1. Briefly discuss the historical origin and domestication of the dog.
2. Describe some common characteristics of the dogs that make up each of the seven major dog groups.
3. Tell some specific characteristics of seven breeds of dogs (one from each major group), OR give a short history of one breed.
2. Point out on a dog or a sketch at least 10 body parts. Give the correct name of each one.
3. Do the following:
1. Explain the importance of house-training, obedience training, and socialization training for your dog.
2. Explain what “responsible pet ownership” means.
3. Explain what issues (including temperament) must be considered when deciding on what breed of dog to get as a family pet.
4. For two months, keep and care for your dog.* Maintain a log of your activities during this period that includes these items: feeding schedule, types of food used, amount fed, exercise periods, training schedule, a weekly body weight record, grooming and bathing schedules, veterinary care, if necessary, and costs. Also include a brief description of the type of housing/shelter arrangements you have for your dog.
5. Explain the correct way to obedience train a dog and what equipment you would need. Show with your dog any three of these commands: “come,” “sit,” “down,” “heel,” “stay,” “fetch” or “get it,” and “drop it.”
6. Do the following:
1. Discuss the proper vaccination schedule for a dog in your area from puppyhood through adulthood.
2. Discuss the control methods for preventing fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites (worms) for a dog in your area from puppyhood through adulthood.
3. Explain the importance of dental care and tooth brushing to your pet’s health.
4. Discuss the benefits of grooming your dog’s coat and nails on a regular basis.
5. Discuss with your counselor any seasonal conditions (like hot summers, cold winters, or extreme humidity) where you live that need to be considered for your dog.
7. Do the following:
1. Explain precautions to take in handling a hurt dog.
2. Show how to put on an emergency muzzle.
3. Explain how to treat wounds. Explain first aid for a dog bite.
4. Show how to put on a simple dressing and bandage the foot, body, or head of your dog.
5. Explain what to do if a dog is hit by a car.
6. List the things needed in every dog owner’s first-aid kit.
7. Tell the dangers of home treatment of a serious ailment.
8. Briefly discuss the cause and method of spread, the signs and symptoms and the methods of prevention of rabies, parvovirus, distemper, and heartworms in dogs.
8. Visit a veterinary hospital or an animal shelter and give a report about your visit to your counselor.
9. Know the laws and ordinances involving dogs that are in force in your community.

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The core value for the month of April is Faith. BSA has just released a Cub Scout pack meeting plan called Cub Scouts Give Thanks related to this core value. For more ideas for use with this theme, see my Cub Scouts Give Thanks program theme page.

The core value of Faith should still be the focus for the month.  Here is how the BSA plan suggests tying together this theme with April’s  core value of Faith.

In springtime we give thanks for the gift of the renewal of the natural world around us—the birds returning, seeds sprouting, daylight becoming longer each day, our friends and our family. We have faith that the world around us is renewed each year. Giving thanks is an expression of our having inner strength and confidence based on our trust in a higher power.

This meeting plan seems a little lighter on activities than the other plans, so if it doesn’t seem like you will have enough to fill your meeting, see the list on the upper right for some more ideas. This Cub Scout pack meeting plan includes the following – all within a faith theme. See the meeting plan for details.

• Gathering activity – similar to the Thankfulness Zone Cub Scout Gathering Activity  I posted last month
• Opening ceremony – Faith
• A prayer of thanksgiving
• Song – Cub Scouts True (To the tune of Three Blind Mice)
• Applauses – Good Turn Applause and Heart and Sole Applause
• Activity – Den Demonstrations
• Special Gift recognition ceremony
• A Faith Cubmaster Minute
• A Thank You for Having Faith in Me  closing ceremony

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Faith is an important part of Scouting programs and religious emblems programs for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers reinforce what is stressed in the 12th point of the Scout Law

A Scout is reverent. He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion.

Even if the members of your unit belong to different faiths, they can all earn the appropriate religious emblem. For most denominations, the appropirate materials can be found at the P.R.A.Y website. For Catholic emblems, see the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. For Jewish emblems, see the National Jewish Committee on Scouting. In many cases, materials are also available at your local Scout Shop.

Many councils also provide liaisons to the various denominations or other support. If you have Scouts in your unit who want to earn religious emblems, call your local council and find out what help is available. You might be surprised at the programs and support which are already in place.

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As many of you know, the old Quality Awards have been replaced by the Journey to Excellence program. The Journey to Excellence Service Project initiative is part of this program.

“Scouting’s Journey to Excellence” is the BSA’s new council performance recognition program designed to encourage and reward success and measure the performance of our units, districts, and councils. It is replacing the Centennial Quality Awards Program as a means of encouraging excellence in providing a quality program at all levels of the BSA.

All Scouting units are encouraged to carryout meaningful service projects as part of this initiative. I think that every BSA unit should be carrying out multiple service projects over the course of a year.

Once your unit completes a service project, you can go to the Journey to Excellence Service Project website and report your hours. This site will keep track of all of the service projects your unit has done and provides your local council a record of your service projects.

The Unit Tips for Success page provides some excellent advice for planning and carrying out service projects. There are lots of service project ideas available there and practical considerations for carrying them out. It also has a great section at the bottom called Ideas for Everyday Kindness and Good Turns. These are not really service projects, but ways to “Do a Good Turn Daily.”

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