The Indian Lore merit badge is a favorite for our first year Boy Scouts at summer camp. I can always tell which Scouts are working on the badge because they are usually walking around with a necklace with beads on.

Far different from the stereotypes or common images that are portrayed on film, on television, and in many books and stories, American Indians have many different cultures, languages, religions, styles of dress, and ways of life. To learn about these different groups is to take an exciting journey of discovery in which you will meet some of America’s most fascinating peoples.

Indian Lore Merit Badge Requirements

1. Give the history of one American Indian tribe, group, or nation that lives or has lived near you. Visit it, if possible. Tell about traditional dwellings, way of life, tribal government, religious beliefs, family and clan relationships, language, clothing styles, arts and crafts, food preparation, means of getting around, games, customs in warfare, where members of the group now live, and how they live.
2. Do TWO of the following. Focus on a specific group or tribe.
1. Make an item of clothing worn by members of the tribe.
2. Make and decorate three items used by the tribe, as approved by your counselor.
3. Make an authentic model of a dwelling used by an Indian tribe, group, or nation.
4. Visit a museum to see Indian artifacts. Discuss them with your counselor. Identify at least 10 artifacts by tribe or nation, their shape, size, and use.
3. Do ONE of the following:
1. Learn three games played by a group or tribe. Teach and lead one game with a Scout group.
2. Learn and show how a tribe traditionally cooked or prepared food. Make three food items.
3. Give a demonstration showing how a specific Indian group traditionally hunted, fished, or trapped.
4. Do ONE of the following:
1. Write or briefly describe how life might have been different for the European settlers if there had been no native Americans to meet them when they came to this continent.
2. Sing two songs in an Indian language. Explain their meanings.
3. Learn in an Indian language at least 25 common terms and their meanings.
4. Show 25 signs in Indian sign language. Include those that will help you ask for water, for food, and where the path or road leads.
5. Learn in English (or the language you commonly speak at home or in the troop) an Indian story of at least 25 words, or any number of shorter ones adding up to 300 words. Tell the story or stories at a Scout meeting or campfire.
6. Write or tell about eight things adopted by others from American Indians.
7. Learn 25 Indian place names. Tell their origins and meanings.
8. Name five well-known American Indian leaders, either from the past or people of today. Give their tribes or nations. Describe what they did or do now that makes them notable.
9. Learn about the Iroquois Confederacy, including how and why it was formed. Tell about its governing system. Describe some of the similarities and differences between the governments of the United States and of the Six Nations (The Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy).

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The International Activity Badge recognizes scouts who have participated in international activities. The requirements vary by council, so you will need to check with your local council to find out what the specific requirements are. Typically, a Scout will need to do a combination of international activities, such as:

• Visiting Scouts in another country
• Participating in a World Jamboree
• Assisting international Scouts when they visit the US
• Being pen pals with Scouts in a different country

Some councils have separate activities for Cub Scouts and older Scouts. Others will have all levels doing the same requirements.

The patch itself is worn as a temporary patch on the right pocket of the uniform. The design of the patch is based on the World Crest (World Scout Emblem) and the BSA emblem.

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Boy Scouts who are interested in history can earn the American Heritage merit badge and learn about our past.

Every Scout swears to an oath that includes duty to his country. A better understanding of American heritage, the ways in which the past has lead to our present nation, is key to truly knowing what it means to be an American.

American Heritage Merit Badge Requirements

1. Read the Declaration of Independence. Pay close attention to the section that begins with “We hold these truths to be self-evident” and ends with “to provide new Guards for their future security.” Rewrite that section in your own words, making it as easy to understand as possible. Then, share your writing with your merit badge counselor and discuss the importance of the Declaration to all Americans.
2. Do TWO of the following:
   1. Select two individuals from American history, one a political leader (a president, senator, etc.) and the other a private citizen (a writer, religious leader, etc.). Find out about each person’s accomplishments and compare the contributions each has made to America’s heritage.
   2. With your counselor’s approval, choose an organization that has promoted some type of positive change in American society. Find out why the organization believed this change was necessary and how it helped to accomplish the change. Discuss how this organization is related to events or situations from America’s past.
   3. With your counselor’s approval, interview two veterans of the U.S. military. Find out what their experiences were like. Ask the veterans what they believe they accomplished.
   4.  With your counselor’s approval, interview three people in your community of different ages and occupations. Ask these people what America means to them, what they think is special about this country, and what American traditions they feel are important to preserve.
3. Do the following:
   1. Select a topic that is currently in the news. Describe to your counselor what is happening. Explain how today’s events are related to or affected by the events and values of America’s past.
   2. For each of the following, describe its adoption, tell about any changes since its adoption, and explain how each one continues to influence Americans today: the flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, the seal, the motto, and the national anthem.
   3. Research your family’s history. Find out how various events and situations in American history affected your family. Share what you find with your counselor. Tell why your family came to America.
4. Do TWO of the following:
   1. Explain what is meant by the National Register of Historic Places. Describe how a property becomes eligible for listing. Make a map of your local area, marking the points of historical interest. Tell about any National Register properties in your area. Share the map with your counselor, and describe the historical points you have indicated.
   2. Research an event of historical importance that took place in or near your area. If possible, visit the place. Tell your counselor about the event and how it affected local history. Describe how the area looked then and what it now looks like.
   3. Find out when, why, and how your town or neighborhood started, and what ethnic, national, or racial groups played a part. Find out how the area has changed over the past 50 years and try to explain why.
   4. Take an active part in a program about an event or person in American history. Report to your counselor about the program, the part you took, and the subject.
   5. Visit a historic trail or walk in your area. After your visit, share with your counselor what you have learned. Discuss the importance of this location and explain why you think it might qualify for National Register listing.
5. Do ONE of the following:
   1. Watch two motion pictures (with the approval and permission of your counselor and parent) that are set in some period of American history. Describe to your counselor how accurate each film is with regard to the historical events depicted and also with regard to the way the characters are portrayed.
   2. Read a biography (with your counselor’s approval) of someone who has made a contribution to America’s heritage. Tell some things you admire about this individual and some things you do not admire. Explain why you think this person has made a positive or a negative contribution to America’s heritage.
   3. Listen to recordings of popular songs from various periods of American history. Share five of these songs with your counselor, and describe how each song reflects the way people felt about the period in which it was popular. If a recording is not available, have a copy of the lyrics available.
6. Discuss with your counselor the career opportunities in American heritage. Pick one that interests you and explain how to prepare for this career. Discuss what education and training are required for this career.

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The “Faith and Our Ancestors” interview questions from the Our Family Tree pack meeting plan can also be turned into an icebreaker type game.

The game features a 3×3 grid with a different interview question in each space. Player must ask each other the question and fill in the answer given. Players must ask a different person for each of the spaces, so each player must speak to at least nine other players.

The questions used on the grid are shown below:

1. What do you think convinced your ancestors to journey to the United States of America?
2. Do you think your ancestors were brave to travel across the ocean to get here?
3. Do you think they had faith that they would arrive safely?
4. What does faith mean to you?
5. What kind of house do you think your ancestors lived in? Do you think it was like yours?
6. Do you think your ancestors went to school? What kind of education do you think they had?
7. What kind of jobs do you think your ancestors had?
8. Do you have a family tradition that your ancestors handed down to you?
9. Do you have a favorite meal or recipe that your ancestors once made?

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The Cub Scout core value for the month of April is Faith. BSA has a Cub Scout pack meeting plan called My Family Tree related to this core value. The My Family Tree meeting plan features ideas for the core value of faith- games, group activities, songs, and more includes a Raingutter Regatta as the featured activity. There are instructions for making Raingutter Regatta boats from household items in the pack meeting plan (link below).

For more ideas for use with this program theme, see the My Family Tree 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:

Faith means having inner strength and confidence based on trust in a higher power. Understanding one’s family tree, ancestors, and heritage brings stories to life of the strength and confidence of our family members. It also tells of their belief and trust in a higher power to help bring them safely to the United States. In years past, many immigrants traveled by boat. What faith they had in that boat that would change their lives!

Cub Scout Pack Meeting Plan for April - My Family Tree (Faith)

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

• Gathering activity – Map activity and Passport Game, Around the World in Five Minutes, work on Raingutter Regatta boats
• Opening ceremony – “Family” Opening Ceremony
• Family Tree Prayer
• Wind in the Trees Cheer, Den Number Cheer, Family cheer
• How Did You Get Here? Skit and The True Hardship of Our Ancestors Skit
• Fan applause, Holland Windmill applause, and Round of Applause applause
• Finger Food Run On
• Greece joke, Noise joke, Library joke, and Smile joke
• Song – It’s a Cub World (to the tune of It’s a Small World) and Family Trees (to the tune of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes)
• Activity – Den Demonstrations, Raingutter Regatta, and Faith and Our Ancestors Interviews
• Family Tree Recognition Ceremony
• “The Family Tree” Poem Cubmaster Minute
• Circle of Hands Closing Ceremony

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To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the electives to meet the Ranger award requirements is Outdoor Living History.

To complete the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Outdoor Living History, a Venturer must learn all about history and cultural reenactments.  Then he or she must participate in a pow wow, rendezvous, reenactment, or historical trek and share their knowledge with others.

Venturing Ranger Award Requirements - Outdoor Living History

1. Research a historical culture and time period of interest to you, such as Native American, mountain man, pioneer, or Revolutionary/Civil War.
2. Write a 2,000-word essay or make an outline describing the culture’s dress, food, housing, customs, etc.
3. Using your research, make an outfit that represents a person or type of person (soldier, farmer, trader, hunter, chief, etc.) from your chosen culture.
4. Using your research, construct a working tool or weapon out of authentic materials that would have been used by the person you have chosen to represent in 3 above.
5. Once your clothing and accouterments are complete, attend and participate in a pow wow, rendezvous, reenactment, historical trek, or other event that includes your chosen culture.
6. Make a presentation of your chosen culture to your crew, another crew, a Cub or Scout group, or another group.
7. 1. Organize a group tour to a museum, archaeological dig, or other site of significance to your chosen culture.
   2. After the tour, lead your group in a discussion about what they learned

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“When I Was Young” can be used as one of the gathering activities for any meeting centered around a history theme or a photography or cinema theme. This also works well for a Blue and Gold banquet.

Start by collecting photos of all of the adult leaders when they were children. Early grade school photos work well. The best photos have some resemblance to the adult without being completely obvious. Display the photos, each with a number next to it. Then give everyone an answer sheet with corresponding blanks for each photo. Have them write in who they think is in the photo. Younger Cub Scouts will want to work with their parents.

At some point in the meeting or banquet, reveal the answers. The best way to do this is with a slide show presentation of some sort so everybody can see. If possible, show the old photo. Then show the same person currently in a similar pose. Your Scouts will get a big kick out of this, especially if the current photos look a little silly with the same pose.

You can have them turn in the answer sheets before the reveal and have some sort of recognition for those who got the most correct answers. Or you can just let them check their own sheets for fun. Either way, with some fun photos this will add some humor to your meeting or event.

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The Cub Scout core value for the month of December is Respect. BSA has a Cub Scout pack meeting plan called Holiday Lights related to this core value. The Holiday Lights  meeting plan features ideas for the core value of respect- games, group activities, songs, and more to help Cub Scouts learn about other cultures and traditions.

For more ideas for use with this program theme, see my Holiday Lights page.

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

Many of our holiday traditions this month involve lights—the star of Bethlehem, miracle of the lamps, the morning star that enlightened Buddha, the bonfires at yule. We show respect for the customs of others by sharing our holiday traditions with the pack and den: lights on a Christmas tree, candles on a menorah for Hanukkah, or on a Kwanzaa kinara. Boys can light the way this month by brightening someone’s holiday season while learning more about how others celebrate this season.

As a pack or den, visit a nursing home, preschool, or children’s ward, and sing holiday favorites. Conclude your outing by sharing cookies decorated by the boys. Help those less fortunate with a service project or toy drive. How about a holiday dessert pot luck? Each family can bring a traditional dessert to share at the pack meeting.

This might be a perfect time to ask pack families to donate to the World Friendship Fund of the Boy Scouts of America, which assists developing nations in providing Scouting to their youth. This is also an appropriate month to work on the Language and Culture Belt Loop and Pin, or the Heritages Belt Loop and Pin.

Cub Scout Pack Meeting Plan for December: Holiday Lights (Respect)

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

• Gathering activity – Peace Word Search and Peace Word Match
• Opening ceremony – Holiday Lights Opening Ceremony
• A prayer about holidays
• Cheers – Rudolph  Cheer, Candle Cheer, Snow Globe Cheer
• Good Turn Run On
• Winter Jokes
• Mr. Boyce and the Good Turn Skit
• Song – Light the Night (To the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
• Activity – Den Demonstrations
• Fill Santa’s Sack Game
• Cubs Light the Way Recognition Ceremony
• “Lighting the way” Cubmaster Minute
• New Year of the Gold and Blue Closing Song (To the tune of Auld Lang Syne)

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BSA offers supplemental pack program ideas for each month. One theme for the December core value of  Respect is  a Holiday Lights  theme.

Here is what the  program helps say about this theme:

Many of our holiday traditions this month involve lights—the star of Bethlehem, miracle of the lamps, the morning star that enlightened Buddha, the bonfires at yule. We show respect for the customs of others by sharing our holiday traditions with the pack and den: lights on a Christmas tree, candles on a menorah for Hanukkah, or on a Kwanzaa kinara. Boys can light the way this month by brightening someone’s holiday season while learning more about how others celebrate this season.

So this theme will revolve around the ideas of cultures and service. Below you’ll find some ways to form your pack and den programs around this theme.

You might also want to check my Winter Wonderland theme and my Christmas theme.

December Cub Scout Theme – Holiday Lights (Respect)

Tiger Cub Scouts

• Tiger Elective 1 – How Do You Celebrate?
• Tiger Elective 2 – Making Decorations
• Tiger Elective 8 – Your Religious Leaders
• Tiger Elective 10 – Helping Hands
• Tiger Elective 11 – Helping the Needy
• Tiger Elective 12 – A Friendly Greeting

Wolf Cub Scouts

• Wolf Achievement 8 – Cooking and Eating
• Wolf Achievement 11 – Duty to God
• Wolf Elective 9 – Lets Have a Party

Bear Cub Scouts

• Bear Achievement 1 – Ways We Worship
• Bear Achievement 9 – What’s Cooking

Webelos

• Communicator Activity Badge
• Showman Activity Badge

Academics and Sports Program

• Heritages Belt Loop and Pin
• Language and Culture Belt Loop and Pin
• Music Belt Loop and Pin

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An interpreter strip shows which foreign languages a Scout is familiar with.  It is worn above the “Boy Scouts of America” strip on the uniform. This emblem can be worn by Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, Varsity Scouts, or adults.

BSA supply carries interpreter strips in stock for a number of languages and American Sign Language. If the language is not available, ask at your local scout shop about obtaining a custom interpreter strip.

In May 2012, BSA introduced an interpreter strip for Morse Code. This strip shows Morse spelled out in Morse Code. Neat!

Cub Scouts who earn an interpreter strip fulfill one of the requirements for the Language and Culture pin.

Interpreter’s Strip for Spoken Language or Sign Language

Show your knowledge of a foreign language or the sign language for the hearing impaired by:

1. Carrying on a 5-minute conversation in this language.
2. Translating a 2-minute speech or address.
3. Writing a letter in the language (Does not apply for sign language)
4. Translating 200 words or more from the written word.

Interpreter’s Strip for Morse Code

Show your knowledge of Morse Code by

1. Carrying on a five-minute conversation in Morse Code at a speed of at least 5 words per minute.
2. Copying correctly a two-minute message sent in Morse Code at a minimum of 5 words per minute. Copying means writing the message down as it is received.
3. Sending a 25 word written document in Morse Code at a minimum of 5 words per minute.

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Boy Scouts will learn to appreciate the rich cultural diversity of our country when they earn the American Cultures merit badge.

The United States is a nation of immigrants. Every person came to America from somewhere else – or their ancestors did – and understanding these various cultural backgrounds can help Scouts to live in harmony with others in our varied and increasingly multicultural society.

American Cultures Merit Badge Requirements

Choose THREE groups that have different racial, cultural, national, or ethnic backgrounds, one of which comes from your own background. Use these groups to meet requirements 1, 2, and 3.

1. Do TWO of the following, choosing a different group for each:
1. Go to a festival, celebration, or other event identified with one of the groups. Report on what you see and learn.
2. Go to a place of worship, school, or other institution identified with one of the groups. Report on what you see and learn.
3. Talk with a person from one of the groups about the heritage and traditions of the group. Report on what you learn.
4. Learn a song, dance, poem, or story that is traditional to one group, and teach it to a group of your friends.
5. Go to a library or museum to see a program or exhibit featuring one group’s traditions. Report on what you see and learn.
2. Imagine that one of the groups had always lived alone in a city or country to which no other groups ever came. Tell what you think the city or country might be like today. Now tell what you think it might be like if the three groups you chose lived there at the same time..
3. Tell about some differences between the religious and social customs of the three groups. Tell about some ideas or ways of doing things that are similar in the three groups.
4. Tell about a contribution made to our country by three different people, each from a different racial, ethnic, or religious background.
5. Give a talk to your Scout unit or class at school on how people from different groups have gotten along together. Lead a discussion on what can be done to help various groups understand one another better.

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BSA provides Webelos den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders on the Scouting.org website. These meeting plans are full of Webelos den meeting ideas. The fifteenth Webelos den meeting plan covers all of Scholar Activity Badge and part of Artist Activity Badge.

If you don’t already have the BSA Webelos den meeting plans, download BSA Webelos Den Meeting Plan 15 to follow along with this article.

BSA Webelos Den Meeting Ideas: Plan # 15 – Scholar and Artist

Preparation and Before the Meeting

You might notice a rather lengthy list of things in the plan which you need to do before the meeting. Most of them aren’t too complicated though. You will need to be ready to discuss the requirements for Scholar activity badge. And of course, you will need to have your materials ready for the art project you will be doing for Artist activity badge.

Gathering

See my gathering activities page for some ideas.

Opening

Do a simple indoor flag ceremony. Say the Boy Scout Oath.

Business

Keep business to a minimum. The requirements for Scholar involve talking, so you’ll want to make sure you have time to do the art project.

Activities

You will be doing Scholar requirements 1, 5, 11, and 12. These are pretty straighforward discussion items. Just talk about what the requirement asks

1. With your parent, guardian, or Webelos den leader, complete the Positive Attitude Character Connection.
a. Know: Discuss with your parent, guardian, or your Webelos den leader, what it means to have a positive attitude and the “BEST” steps you can take to have a positive attitude. (Believe it can happen, Expect success, Set your mind, and Try, try, try.)
b. Commit: Plan with your parent, guardian, or your Webelos den leader, how you will apply the “BEST” steps for a positive attitude in doing your schoolwork and in other areas of your life.
c. Practice: Do your “BEST” to have a cheerful and positive attitude while doing the requirements for this activity badge.
5. List in writing some important things you can do now because of what you’ve learned in school.
11. Ask a parent and five other grown-ups these questions:
• What do you think are the best things about my school?
• What are its main problems?
• Tell what you think were the best answers and why.
• Have boys share the responses with their den members.
12. List and explain some of the full-time positions in the field of education.

Next you will make a portfolio, a mobile, and a collage for Artist activity badge requirements 2, 8, and 10.

2. Create a scrapbook (portfolio) of your Artist activity badge projects and show it to your den leader.
8. Make a mobile, using your choice of materials.
10. Create a collage that expresses something about you.

You might not have time to complete all of these projects, so you might have to instruct the Webelos to finish some of these at home. For some more ideas, see my Crafts page.

Closing

Close with the Boy Scout Law.

After the Meeting

Have the Webelos help clean up. And this is a good time to line up some adults to help at the next meeting.

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BSA provides Wolf den meeting ideas for Cub Scout den leader. Today, I’ll go through  the fourteenth Wolf Cub Scout den meeting plan. This plan covers Wolf Elective 10 – American Indian Lore.

If you don’t already have the BSA den meeting plans, download BSA Wolf Den Meeting Plan 14 to follow along with this article.

Wolf Den Meeting Ideas: BSA Den Meeting Plan 14 – American Indian Lore

Preparation and Before the Meeting

The preparation for this meeting is just to gather the materials. You also need to tell the Wolf Cub Scouts to read a book about Native Americans beforehand and to be ready to discuss what they read.

Gathering

See my gathering activities page for some ideas. Or see my Wolf Elective 10 – American Indian Lore page for some games and crafts to go with the theme.

Opening

Do a simple opening flag ceremony. If any of your Wolf Cub Scouts have not completed Wolf Achievement 2 – Your Flag  yet, this will help them with their requirements.

Business

Keep business to a minimum

Activities

The first activity is to read a book about Native Americans. Hopefully they have read a book beforehand and can tell something about it. This fulfills Elective 10a:

 Read a book or tell a story about American Indians, past or present.

The next activity is to make a vest from a paper bag and decorate it with Native American symbols. This will cover Elective 10c and Elective 10F:

Make traditional American Indian clothing.

Learn 12 American Indian word pictures and write a story with them.

There are some alternate suggestions to use Wolf Elective 1 – Its a Secret in the den meeting plan if you need more to do or if you want to change it up:

• Elective 1a:  Use a secret code.
• Elective 1b:  Write to a friend in invisible ink.
• Elective 1d: Use 12 American Indian signs to tell a story.

Any of these would be a fun addition to the meeting.

Finally, this den meeting idea suggests singing “She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain.” Or you can check my Songs page for some other fun songs to sing with Cub Scouts.

Closing

Do a simple closing like the Law of the Pack or the Cub Scout Promise.

After the Meeting

Have them all clean up the meeting area. Talk to the other parents to line up some help for the next meeting.

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BSA provides den meeting plans for den leaders on the Scouting.org website. These plans are full of Bear den meeting ideas. Today’s article covers the eleventh Bear Cub Scout den meeting plan. This plan focuses on Bear Achievement 8 – The Past Is Exciting and Important and Bear Achievement 17 – Information Please.

This meeting is a field trip. If you can’t arrange a field trip or the location you are visiting can’t help you with all of the requirements, see my Bear Achievement 8 and Bear Achievement 17 pages for some different ideas for completing these requirements.

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

BSA Bear Den Meeting Plans # 11 – The Past Is Exciting and Important and Information, Please

Preparation and Before the Meeting

This meeting is a field trip to a newspaper office or a TV, cable, or radio station, so much of your preparation will involve setting the visit, getting permission slips, arranging drivers, etc.

Gathering

Check out my gathering activities page for some ideas.

 Opening

Do a simple indoor flag ceremony or an outdoor ceremony. Don’t forget to give each of the Wolves a chance to participate in flag ceremonies.

 Business

Keep business short and sweet.

Activities

On the  field trip, complete achievement 17c

Visit a newspaper office, or a TV or radio station, and talk to a news reporter.

and achievement 8a

Visit your library or newspaper office. Ask to see back issues of newspapers or an almanac.

Next do achievement 17b

Play a game of charades at your den meeting or with your family at home.

Finally, do achievement 17d

Use a computer to get information. Write, spell-check,  and print out a report on what you learned.

Closing

Close with the Law of the Pack or the Cub Scout Promise.

After the meeting

Have the Scouts thank the people at the location they visited.  Talk to the parents about what you will be doing at the next meeting and arrange for some of them to help.

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Bugling Merit Badge Requirements

1. Give a brief history of the bugle.
2. Do the following:
1. Explain and demonstrate how the bugle makes sound, and explain how the bugle is related to other brass wind instruments.
2. Compose a bugle call for your troop or patrol to signal a common group activity, such as assembling for mealtime or striking a campsite.
3. Sound the following bugle calls: “First Call,” “Reveille,” “Assembly,” “Mess,” “Drill,” “Fatigue,” “Officers,” “Recall,” “Church,” “Swimming,” “Fire,” “Retreat,” “To the Colors,” “Call to Quarters,” and “Taps.”
4. Explain when each of the calls in requirement 3 is used.
5. Explain how to care for, clean, and maintain a bugle.
6. Serve as bugler in your troop for three months. *

* NOTE: A bugle, trumpet, or cornet may be used to meet these requirements.

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Cub Scouts can make this simple neckerchief on their own. Use it as a gathering activity with the Turn Back the Clock theme. To ensure that the loop the neckerchief goes through stays on, go over it with a little hot glue later.

Your Cub Scouts will make more even circles if you can find something approximately the right size to trace. Or you can provide a stencil for them.

Clock Neckerchief Slide

Materials

• pencil
• fun foam (at least two contrasting colors)
• scissors
• fine point marker
• glue
• brad type fastener
• leather lacing or chenille stem

Instructions

1. Draw two circles on two different colors of the fun foam with the pencil. One circle should be about two inches in diameter and the other should be about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
2. Cut out the circles.
3. Use the marker to draw clock numbers on the smaller circle with the marker.
4. Glue the smaller circle in the center of the larger circle.
5. Push the brad through the center of the circle and bend flat to the circle to form the clock “hands”. (You don’t have to wait for the glue to dry.)
6. Cut out another very small circle and glue it over the center of the “hands”. (optional)
7. Make a small loop with a piece of leather lacing or chenille stem and glue it to the back. This is the loop the neckerchief will go through. It should be about 1/2 inch in diameter.
8. Let the glue dry before using.

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This is the eleventh in the series of Tiger Cub Scout den meeting plans provide by BSA. For the achievement related meetings, it is important to do the meeting plans in order. But starting at plan #9, the meetings are focused on doing electives. So at this point, you have a little more freedom in choosing what you would like to do.

This meeting plan covers Tiger Elective 21 – The Show Must Go On and Tiger Elective 47 – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Follow the links to find additional links for these electives.

You can download the meeting plan from the BSA website: Printable copy of BSA Tiger Den Meeting Plan 11

BSA Tiger Den Meeting 11 – The Show Must Go On and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Preparation and Before the Meeting

This is a simple meeting, so you don’t need to prepare too much beforehand. Yeah! Just follow the directions in the meeting plan.

Gathering, Opening, and Business

Leaf Print Crafts would make a nice gathering activity for this meeting. Or check out my Puzzles page for some more ideas. The Pledge of Allegiance always makes a nice opening for Tiger Cub Scouts. Keep your business items to a minimum.

Activities

First you will work on Elective 47:

Learn about what you can recycle in your community and how you can recycle at home. Learn about things that need to be recycled in special ways, such as paint and batteries.

This is mostly a discussion. I like the idea of tying it into how you can reuse ordinary items instead of throwing them away.

Next, you will work on Elective 21:

Make a puppet.

This will be a fun activity for the kids and is simple. You really can’t do anything wrong with paper bag puppets, but if you need more instructions, go to my Paper Bag Puppets post. If you have some creative ideas for paper bag puppets,  leave a comment there.

I like the idea of letting the kids put on a short puppet show and videotaping it. They will love watching themselves do this. Just keep it simple and short.

Closing

Keep the closing simple with Tigers. You can always just do something like saying the Cub Scout Motto or the Cub Scout Promise. This Native American Prayer also makes a nice closing for a conservation themed meeting.

After the Meeting

If you are having refreshments, Earth  Treats would be a fun snack. Don’t forget to insist that everyone pitch in to help clean up.

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BSA provides Cub Scout Pack meeting plans for each month’s core value. The core value for the month of February is Resourcefulness. A February supplemental meeting plan theme called Turn Back the Clock has recently been posted to the BSA website. For more ideas for use with this theme, see my Turn Back the Clock Program Theme for Cub Scouts page.

The core value should still be the focus for the month, but the new theme based Pack meetings provide a new ways to present the ideas. Here is how the BSA plan suggests tying together this history based theme with February’s core value of Resourcefulness.

When you look back in time, it is easy to find many examples of resourcefulness, using human and other resources to their fullest. Whether it is the Ice Age, the Wild West, the Space Age, or the 1950s, each time period had people with goals who used the resources available to them to make their lives better.

Since this is the February theme, it assumes that your Pack meeting will be your annual Pack Blue and Gold banquet.

This meeting plan includes the following – all within a resourcefulness theme. See the meeting plan for details.

• Gathering activities - A word search which can also double as a place mat
• Opening ceremony - Resourcefulness
• A prayer for your banquet
• Song - We Are a Cub Scout Pack (To the tune of Hickory Dickory Dock)
• Ideas for den skits
• Audience participation – putting together phrases to make up a story, a little bit like Mad Libs
• A Turn Back the Clock recognition ceremony
• A Resourcefulness Cubmaster Minute
• A simple closing ceremony

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting

As I mentioned last month, BSA is providing some supplemental theme based Pack meeting plans. This makes sense, because you can’t run the same Pack meeting plan in February year after year. I’ve heard it through the grapevine that one of the supplemental plans for February will be a Turn Back the Clock theme. This one was the program theme at least a couple of times in the past. So I’ll be adding some ideas related to the theme this month.

Here is what the old program helps said about this theme:

“Turn Back the Clock” and see what the world was like in the past. Learn about an era of your choice with songs, games, and transportation from the time that you choose. Whether it is the Space Age, the Wild West, rock-n-roll, or the Ice Age, each time period had something special about it. Construct a pack “time machine” to help introduce the den’s era skits or demonstrations at the blue and gold banquet. Whatever you choose, find the “best” in your time period and share it with others. The boys can work on the Heritages belt loop and pin this month.

The helps specifically mention the Heritages Belt Loop and Pin, but this history based theme also fits in well with a number of Cub Scout achievements and electives:

• Tiger Achievement 1 – Making My Family Special
• 1G (Go See It): Go to a library, historical society, museum, old farm, or historical building, or visit an older person in your community.  Discover how family life was the same and how it was different many years ago.
• Wolf Achievement 4 – Know Your Home and Community
• 4F: Visit an important place in your community, such as a historic or government location. Explain why it is important.
•  Bear Achievement 3 – What Makes America Special?
• 3C: Find out something about the old homes near where you live. Go and see two of them.
• 3D: Find out where places of historical interest are located in or near your town or city. Go and visit one of them with your family or den.
• Bear Achievement 8 – The Past Is Exciting and Important
• 8A: Visit your library or newspaper office. Ask to see back issues of newspapers or an almanac.
• 8B: Find someone who was a Cub Scout a long time ago. Talk with him about what Cub Scouting was like then.
• 8C: Start or add to an existing den or pack scrapbook.
• 8D: Trace your family back through your grandparents or great-grandparents; or, talk to a grandparent about what it was like when he or she was younger.
• 8E: Find out some history about your community.
• 8F: Start your own history: keep a journal for 2 weeks.
• 8G: Complete the Character Connection for Respect.
  • Know. As you learn about how Cub Scout-age life was like for adults you know, does what you learn change what you think about them. Tell how it might help you respect or value them more.
  • Commit. Can you think of reasons others might be disrespectful to people or things you value? Name one new way you will show respect for a person or thing someone else values.
  • Practice. List some ways you can show respect for people and events in the past.
• Webelos Family Member Activity Badge
• 12: While you are a Webelos Scout, earn the Academics belt loop for Heritages

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting

Helping Scouts look back at their family heritage fits in with February’s Turn Back the Clock Theme program theme. Scouts can download this Family Tree Template to write in their family back to their great grandparents.

When doing this activity, I always told Scouts to feel free to write other names on the paper outside the boxes. They put siblings next to their own names, cousins and aunts and uncles around the edges. This is their story. The template is just to help them get started. Every family is unique and they should make this activity their own.

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting