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Video Games Pin for Cub Scouts  I remember a couple of years ago when this recognition was introduced. There was a lot of buzz about an award for video gaming. Hopefully your Cub Scout will learn to use video games responsibly by earning the Video Games pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program.

Truck Transportation Merit Badge for Boy Scouts  A local trucking company offers Boy Scouts a skill center for the Truck Transportation merit badge every year. The last time our Scouts went, they said they learned a lot, but they were a little disappointed that they didn't get to learn to drive a truck. :-)

Marbles Belt Loop for Cub Scouts  Marbles is a classic outdoor game which kids can still enjoy today. So have your Scouts grab a bag of marbles, draw a circle on the ground and earn the Marbles belt loop from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program.

Pack Meeting Plan for January - Lights, Camera, Action (Positive Attitude)  The Cub Scout core value for the month of January is Positive Attitude. BSA has a Cub Scout pack meeting plan called Lights, Camera, Action related to this core value.

Collections Merit Badge for Boy Scouts  If your Boy Scouts aren't interested in the Coin Collecting merit badge or Stamp Collecting merit badge, maybe they will like the more general Collections merit badge.

Halloween Craft, Snack, and Game Ideas  Craft, game, and snack ideas for your Halloween party or meeting. While some work best for younger kids, others are also appropriate for the older Scouts.

Railroading Merit Badge for Boy Scouts  Boy Scouts who are fascinated by trains can earn the Railroading merit badge. Our local Museum of Transportation offers several skill centers for this badge.

Horseback Riding Belt Loop for Cub Scouts (Requirements)  Whether you live in an urban or rural area, there are probably horseback riding opportunities available. So find a stable and arrange for your Cub Scouts to earn the Horseback Riding belt loop from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program.

Whitewater Merit Badge for Boy Scouts  Boy Scouts can choose between a canoeing option and a kayaking option when they earn the Whitewater merit badge.

I Like Bananas, Coconuts, and Grapes Song for Cub Scouts  I Like Bananas, Coconuts, and Grapes is a very simple song, which makes it a perfect interlude for a Cub Scout meeting. It is sometimes called The Tarzan Song.

Rifle Shooting Merit Badge for Boy Scouts  Many of our Boy Scouts earned their Rifle Shooting merit badges at our August campout. Shooting is always a popular activity for our Scouts.

Stamp Collecting Merit Badge for Boy Scouts  Stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. Boy Scouts can earn the Stamp Collecting merit badge.

Scouting Heritage Merit Badge for Boy Scouts  Earning the Scouting Heritage merit badge helps Boy Scouts learn about the history of the Scouting movement and understand how the Boy Scout program developed.

Small-Boat Sailing Merit Badge for Boy Scouts  When a few of our Boy Scouts earned their Small-Boat Sailing merit badge a couple of years ago, they would yell "Pirate Adventure!" as they walked down to the waterfront at camp. They loved doing this badge.

Archery Pin for Cub Scouts  All of my sons earned the shooting sports recognitions as Cub Scouts, either at day camp or resident camp. If you have a Cub Scout who loves to shoot, find an opportunity for him to earn the Archery pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program.

July Cub Scout Theme - Cubs in Shining Armor (Courage)  The newest theme for the July core value of Courage will be a Cubs in Shining Armor theme. This theme will revolve around the ideas of honor and service.

Collecting Belt Loop for Cub Scouts  My sons collect all sorts of things. So the really enjoyed earning the Collecting belt loop from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program. As a den leader, I always did this in conjunction with Wolf Achievement 6 - Start a Collection.

BSA Norman Rockwell's Boy Scouts of America  A chronicle of Scouting in America - from campouts, hikes, and pinewood derby races to the Scouts public service initiatives throughout their long history.

Motorboating Merit Badge for Boy Scouts  Boy Scouts learn about motor boat operation and safety while working on the Motorboating merit badge.

Beginning Boy Scouts  An unofficial guide to help parents, new leaders, and even scouting youth to better understand scouting goals and participate in Boy Scouting

Fishing Pin for Cub Scouts  One of the things our pack has done as a springtime activity is a fishing day at a local park. At this event, Cub Scouts can work on their Fishing pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program.

BSA Tiger Den Meeting Plans: #15 – Fun and Games  BSA provides a set of Tiger den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. This is a review of the 15th den meeting plan in the series. This den meeting idea covers Tiger Elective 3 – Fun and Games.

BB Shooting Pin for Cub Scouts  A couple of years ago, ZM went to a shooting sports day camp offered by our district and earned the BB Shooting pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program. Find out what opportunities there are for your Cub Scouts to earn their shooting sports recognitions in your area.

Collecting Pin for Cub Scouts  Kids collect all sorts of things - trading cards, bottle caps, rocks, cars. If your Cub Scout has a collection, he can earn the Collecting pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program. It will encourage him to organize all of those things which have collected in his room into something he can display and be proud of.

Encouraging a New Boy Scout  What steps can a parent take in encouraging a new Boy Scout who has just joined a troop with little or no previous Scouting experience?

BSA Bear Den Meeting 6 - More Sawdust and Nails and Games, Games, Games!  This Bear Den Meeting plan completes Bear Achievement 20 – Sawdust and Nails and covers part of Bear Achievement 15 - Games, Games, Games.

Four Facts Game  This is an icebreaker game. It would also work well with any activity relating to personal history or storytelling. I think it could also be worked into a discussion about honesty.

Announcements Song  The Announcements Song will add some laughs to the dry business parts of your meetings. Sing "Announcements, announcements, announcements" followed by one of the verses and then do an announcement. Sing it again and then do another announcement.

Sleeping Pirate Game  This month I am featuring the Cultural Awareness Troop Program Feature for Boy Scouts. The meeting plan for week two suggests playing Sleeping Pirate as a opening activity while the Scouts are gathering. This works well for this purpose since it doesn't require much equipment and additional Scouts can join in as they arrive.

Mystifying Paper Osmosis Trick  A magic trick will add some fun to your meeting. For this simple trick you will need an accomplice who is capable of not telling everyone he is helping you.

Abracadabra Pack Meeting Plan Available for January Core Value - Positive Attitude  The core value for the month of January is Positive Attitude. A January supplemental meeting plan theme called Abracadabra has recently been posted to the BSA website.

Tent Pitching Contest (Standard or Blindfolded)  Tent pitching contests are an inter-patrol activity staple. To make it a blindfolded tent pitching contest, just add blindfolds. If you want, let one team member keep his vision, but he can only participate by giving verbal instructions to the others. This makes a good communications exercise also.

The Great Rope Escape Magic Trick  This month I am featuring the BSA Abracadabra theme for the January Pack meeting. If you want to add some fun to your meeting, perform a simple magic trick. Cub Scouts will love it.

Book Review: Getting Started in Pinewood Derby  I recently received a copy of Getting Started in Pinewood Derby by Troy Thorne. This colorful workbook goes through all of the steps involved in building a car. My favorite thing about the book is that it is directed at Cub Scouts - who should be doing most of the work on their cars.

January Cub Scout Theme – Abracadabra (Positive Attitude)  Rumor has it that BSA will be rolling out an Abracadabra theme for January's core value of Positive Attitude. So this month I am going to highlight some ideas to go along with that magic based program theme also.

Shoot The Gap Game  This game is suggested as an interpatrol activity for one of the meeting plans in the Public Service troop program feature. This game would also work as a team building game or ice breaker, since the participants must know the names of the other players. So I think this could also be worked into a Crew program.

Audience Participation - The Story of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox  This a story about the cold winter when Paul Bunyan found Babe the Blue Ox. A few words and names are repeated throughout the story. Your audience will be divided into groups and assigned a word or name. Whenever they hear it, they must say something - loudly and with enthusiasm - and do an action. Cub Scouts usually enjoy these "action stories".

Coin Collecting Merit Badge for Boy Scouts  If you know a Boy Scout with a coin collection, have him look at the requirements for the Coin Collecting merit badge.

Cotton Swab Snowflake Craft  You don't need a lot of fancy materials to make these and they can be put together pretty quickly, so these could be done at a pack meeting or den meeting.

Marbles Pin for Cub Scouts  My kids have several sets of marbles and ZM and LC still enjoy playing with them. Marbles is a great "take anywhere" game. Just grab your bag of marbles, draw some circles on the ground, and you are ready for a game. If your Cub Scout has already earned the Marbles Belt Loop from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program, he can learn more about the game by earning the pin.