A textile is a flexible material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn.  Boy Scouts can learn all about the uses and manufacture of textiles while working on the Textile merit badge.

People use countless fibers and fabrics in their everyday lives: clothes, carpets, curtains, towels, sheets, upholstered furniture. Add to that list boat sails, book bindings, bandages, flags, sleeping bags, mailbags, airbags, seat belts, backpacks, parachutes, umbrellas, basketball nets, and more.

Textile Merit Badge Requirements

1. Discuss with your merit badge counselor the importance of textiles. In your discussion, define the terms fiber, fabric, and textile. Give examples of textiles you use every day.
2. Do the following:
1. Get swatches of two natural-fiber fabrics (100 percent cotton, linen, wool, or silk; no blends). Get swatches of two synthetic-fiber fabrics (nylon, polyester, acrylic, olefin, or spandex). Get a sample of one cellulosic fabric (rayon, acetate, or lyocell).
2. Give the origin, major characteristics, and general content of each type of fiber obtained for 2a. Explain the difference between a cellulosic manufactured fiber and a synthetic manufactured fiber.
3. Describe the main steps in making raw fiber into yarn, and yarn into fabric.
4. Assume you will soon buy a new garment or other textile item. Tell your counselor what fiber or blend of fibers you want the item to be, and give reasons for your choice.
3. Do TWO of the following:
1. Visit a textile plant, textile products manufacturer, or textile school or college. Report on what you saw and learned.
2. Weave a belt, headband, place mat, or wall hanging. Use a simple loom that you have made yourself.
3. With a magnifying glass, examine a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, and a knitted fabric. Sketch what you see. Explain how the three constructions are different.
4. Make a piece of felt.
5. Make two natural dyes and use them to dye a garment or a piece of fabric.
6. Waterproof a fabric.
7. Demonstrate how to identify fibers, using microscope identification or the breaking test.
4. Explain the meaning of 10 of the following terms: warp, harness, heddle, shed, aramid, spandex, sliver, yarn, spindle, distaff, loom, cellulose, sericulture, extrusion, carbon fibers, spinneret, staple, worsted, nonwoven, greige goods.
5. List the advantages and disadvantages of natural plant fibers, natural animal fibers, cellulosic manufactured fibers, and synthetic manufactured fibers. Identify and discuss at least four ecological concerns regarding the production and care of textiles.
6. Explain to your merit badge counselor, either verbally or in a written report, five career possibilities in the textile industry. Tell about two positions that interest you the most and the education, cost of training, and specific duties those positions require.

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BSA provides Bear den meeting ideas for den leaders on the Scouting.org website. These Cub Scout Bear den meeting plans are step by step guides to carrying out a den meeting. In addition to the basic den meeting plans, there are supplemental plans which can be used if you have additional meetings left. Today’s plan covers Bear Elective 13 – Magic.

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

Bear Den Meeting Plans: Magic

Preparation and Before the Meeting

You will need to gather the supplies for the magic tricks. I recommend you try the tricks out several times beforehand so you are completely familiar with how they work before you get to the meeting.

Gathering

Check out my gathering activities page for ideas.

Opening

Have a flag ceremony. Say the Scout Law.

Business

Keep business to a minimum. Your Cub Scouts will be eager to get to the magic.

Activities

The den will be working on Bear Elective 13 – Magic, parts a, b, and d

Learn and show three magic tricks.
With your den, put on a magic show for someone else.
Learn and show three rope tricks.

For the magic tricks, use the ones from the book or try these:

• Mystifying Paper Osmosis Trick
  
• Dark Magic Mind Reading Trick

For the rope tricks, the one mentioned is very easy. Also see

• The Great Rope Escape Magic Trick

They can use the tricks they learned to do a show for parents or siblings or even some other dens from the Pack.

Closing

Close with the Scout Oath.

After the meeting

The Bears should help clean up all of the equipment and supplies they used for the magic tricks. This is a good time to enlist some parents to help out at the next den meeting.

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BSA provides Wolf den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. Today’s plan is a supplemental den meeting plan which gives Wolves the opportunity to do some activities related to theater.  This plan covers part of  Wolf Elective 12 – Be an Artist and Wolf Elective 2 – Be an Actor

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

Wolf Den Meeting Plans –  Be an Actor and Be an Artist

Preparation and Before the Meeting

Your preparation will involve arranging for an appropriate meeting space and gathering the materials to create the sets and costumes for the skit.  If you need some skit ideas, see my Skits page.

Gathering, Opening, and Business

See my Gathering Activities page for ideas for the gathering time. Do an opening flag ceremony.

Activities

The focus of this meeting is preparing and performing a skit. I’d suggest you either pick the skit ahead of time or come with a few suggestions. Otherwise your Wolves might spend the whole meeting trying to decide what the skit will be.

Elective 2a: Help to plan and put on a skit with costumes.

Large pieces of paper and art supplies work well for the scenery.  You can let them take over this activity themselves. Remember, it doesn’t have to look like a professional set!

Elective 2b: Make some scenery for a skit.
Elective 12d: Help draw, paint, or color some scenery for a skit, play, or puppet show.

I guarantee you that they will enjoy making sound effects.  If you have some supplies – great. Otherwise just let them use their voices, hands, feet, etc.

Elective 2c: Make sound effects for a skit.

If you they will all want to be announcer, let them rotate this responsibility throughout the skit. Or run through the skit a few times, letting them take turns as announcer.

Elective 2d: Be the announcer for a skit.

Making masks is an optional activity for this den meeting plan. If you choose the skit beforehand, this could even be part of the gathering activity.

Elective 2e: Make a paper sack mask for a skit.

If you need ideas, the book Making Masks – Kids Can Do It has some neat ideas.

Closing

Do a closing flag ceremony.

After the Meeting

The Wolves should help put away all of the supplies and clean up the area. This is also the time to ask parents to help out at the next den meeting.

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Working on the Sculpture merit badge give Boy Scouts the opportunity to create three dimensional art.

This merit badge introduces Scouts to sculpture, an art form that allows an artist to express what he sees and feels by using these three dimensions by shaping materials such as clay, stone, metal, and wood.

Sculpture Merit Badge Requirements

1. Explain to your counselor the precautions that must be followed for the safe use and operation of a sculptor’s tools, equipment, and other materials.
2. Do TWO of the following:
   1. Model in clay a life-sized human head. Then sculpt in modeling clay (such as Plasteline or Sculpey) or carve/rasp in wood or soft stone a small-scale model of an animal or person. Explain to your counselor the method and tools you used to sculpt the figure.
   2. Make a plaster mold of a fruit or vegetable. In this mold, make a copy of the fruit or vegetable. Explain to your counselor the method and tools you used to make the copy.
   3. With your parent’s permission and your counselor’s approval, visit a museum, art exhibit, art gallery, artists’ co-op, or artist’s studio. After your visit, share with your counselor what you have learned. Discuss the importance of visual arts and how it strengthens social tolerance and helps stimulate cultural, intellectual, and personal development.
3. Find out about career opportunities in sculpture. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

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BSA provides a set of Tiger den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. There are 16 basic Tiger den meeting plans and then some additional supplemental Tiger den meeting ideas. This den meeting plan covers Tiger Elective 36 – See a Performance

You can download the complete meeting plan from the BSA website: Printable copy of BSA Tiger Den Meeting Supplemental Plan I – Go See It: See a Performance

Tiger Den Meeting Ideas – Go See It: See a Performance

Preparation and Before the Meeting

To prepare for this meeting, you will need to find a suitable performance and make arrangements to attend. The suggestion to consider a high school performance is excellent. High school events are usually very kid friendly and not too expensive.

Gathering

Since you will be away from your regular meeting space, you might not have the opportunity to do a gathering activity. See my gathering activities page for ideas for gathering activities if you have the time and the space.

Opening

Keep it simple. You might not have a flag where you are visiting, but you could say the Cub Scout Promise.

Business

Once again, keep business to a minimum. It might be difficult to get much of this done in a public location.

Activities

Do Elective 36 – See a Performance

With your family or your den, go see a play or musical performance in your community.

Closing

Keep it simple. Say the Law of the Pack.

After the Meeting

If possible, have the Tigers thank the people at the location you visited. And remind the parents what you are doing next time and who is responsible.

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Last week I posted a gathering activity called “When I Was Young” which works well with a photography or camera theme. Another idea for your gathering activities for these themes is to have a caption contest.

Find some photos which are absurd or unusual. These can be photos from your past events or you can even pose some photos.  Put the photos on display at your meeting or banquet with slips of paper next to them.  Put a container next to each photo for the caption. During the gathering time, the Scouts should look at each photo and write a silly caption for it. Then they should put the caption in the container.

After the meeting or banquet starts, have a few parents or youth leaders go through the captions and pick the best three or so for each photo. Then at some time during the event, display each photo with a projector and read the best captions. You can do all of the photos at once or you can just do one at a time to break between other activities.

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Metalwork involves both art and science. Boy Scouts can learn all about it when they earn the Metalwork merit badge.

Scouts will begin their work on this merit badge by learning about the properties of metal, how to use simple metalworking tools, and the basic metalworking techniques. Then they will practice using these tools and techniques before concentrating on the more intricate skills of one of four metalworking options.

Metalwork Merit Badge Requirements

1. Read the safety rules for metalwork listed in the Metalwork merit badge pamphlet. Discuss how to be safe while working with metal. Discuss with your counselor the additional safety rules that apply to the metalwork option you choose for requirement 5.
2. Define the terms native metal, malleable, metallugry, alloy, nonferrous, and ferrous. Then do the following:
1. Name two nonferrous alloys used by pre-Iron Age metalworkers. Name the metals that are combined to form these alloys.
2. Name three ferrous alloys used by modern metalworkers.
3. Describe how to work-harden a metal.
4. Describe how to anneal a nonferrous and a ferrous metal.
3. Do the following:
1. Work-harden a piece of 26- or 28-gauge sheet brass or sheet copper. Put a 45-degree bend in the metal, then heavily peen the area along the bend line to work-harden it. Note the amount of effort that is required to overcome the yield point in this unworked piece of metal.
2. Soften the work-hardened piece from requirement 3a by annealing it, and then try to remove the 45-degree bend. Note the amount of effort that is required to overcome the yield point.
3. Make a temper color index from a flat piece of steel. Using hand tools, make and temper a center punch of medium-carbon or high-carbon steel.
4. Find out about three career opporuntities in metalworking. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.
5. After completing the first four requirements, complete at least ONE of the options listed below.
1. Option 1—Sheet Metal Mechanic/Tinsmith
1. Name and describe the use of the basic sheet metalworking tools.
2. Create a sketch of two objects to make from sheet metal. Include each component’s dimensions on your sketch, which need not be to scale.
3. Make two objects out of 24- or 26-gauge sheet metal. Use patterns either provided by your counselor or made by you and approved by your counselor. Construct these objects using a metal that is appropriate to the object’s ultimate purpose, and using cutting, bending, edging, and either soldering or brazing.
4. One object also must include at least one riveted component.
5. If you do not make your objects from zinc-plated sheet steel or tin-plated sheet steel, preserve your work from oxidation.
2. Option 2—Silversmith
1. Name and describe the use of a silversmith’s basic tools.
2. Create a sketch of two objects to make from sheet silver. Include each component’s dimensions on your sketch, which need not be to scale.
3. Make two objects out of 18- or 20-gauge sheet copper. Use patterns either provided by your counselor or made by you and approved by your counselor. Both objects must include a soldered joint. If you have prior silversmithing experience, you may substitute sterling silver, nickel silver, or lead-free pewter.
4. At least one object must include a sawed component you have made yourself.
5. At least one object must include a sunken part you have made yourself.
6. Clean and polish your objects.
3. Option 3—Founder
1. Name and describe the use of the basic parts of a two-piece mold. Name at least three different types of molds.
2. Create a sketch of two objects to cast in metal. Include each component’s dimensions on your sketch, which need not be to scale.
3. Make two molds, one using a pattern provided by your counselor and another one you have made yourself that has been approved by your counselor. Position the pouring gate and vents yourself. Do not use copyrighted materials as patterns.
4. Using lead-free pewter, make a casting using a mold provided by your counselor.
5. Using lead-free pewter, make a casting using the mold that you have made.
4. Option 4—Blacksmith
1. Name and describe the use of a blacksmith’s basic tools.
2. Make a sketch of two objects to hot-forge. Include each component’s dimensions on your sketch, which need not be to scale.
3. Using low-carbon steel at least 1/4-inch thick, perform the following exercises:
4. Draw out by forging a taper.
5. Use the horn of the anvil by forging a U-shaped bend.
6. Form a decorative twist in a piece of square steel.
7. Use the edge of the anvil to bend metal by forging an L-shaped bend.
8. Using low-carbon steel at least 1/4-inch thick, make the two objects you sketched that require hot-forging. Be sure you have your counselor’s approval before you begin.
9. Include a decorative twist on one object.
10. Include a hammer-riveted joint in one object.
11. Preserve your work from oxidation.

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I took a drafting course  in college and enjoyed it. Boy Scouts can learn more about this precise way of drawing a design by earning the Drafting merit badge.

Drafting is a highly refined form of drawing used to communicate ideas to engineers, architects, and craftspeople. In earning this badge, Scouts learn the importance of accuracy and simplicity in developing a drawing that shows precise details in a simple format.

Drafting Merit Badge Requirements

1. Format TWO sheets of drawing paper with proper borders and title blocks—one for your manual project (see requirement 2) and one for your lettering project (see requirement 5).
1. Make a rough sketch for each of your project drawings to determine the correct size of paper to format.
2. Using either single-stroke vertical or slant Gothic lettering, fill in all important information in the title block sections of the formatted paper.
2. Using the formatted sheet of paper you prepared for your manual project, produce a pencil drawing as it would be used for manufacturing. Fill in all title block information. The manual drawing may be any one of the following drawing types:
1. Architectural: Make a scale drawing of an architectural project. The architectural drawing may be a floor plan; electrical, plumbing, or mechanical service plan; elevation plan; or landscaping plan. Use an architect’s scale and show dimensions to communicate the actual size of features. Include any important notes and considerations necessary for construction.
2. Mechanical: Make a scale drawing of some mechanical device or interesting object. The mechanical drawing may be of the orthographic or isometric style. Use an engineer’s scale and show dimensions to communicate the actual size of features. Include any important notes and manufacturing considerations.
3. Electrical: Draw a simple schematic of a radio or electronic circuit. Properly print a bill of materials including all of the major electrical components used in the circuit. Use standard drawing symbols to represent the electronic components.
3. Produce a computer-aided design (CAD) drawing as it would be used in manufacturing. Fill in all title block information. The CAD drawing may be any one of the following types:
1. Architectural: Make a scale drawing of an architectural project. The architectural drawing may be a floor plan; electrical, plumbing, or mechanical service plan; elevation plan; or landscaping plan. Use an architect’s scale and show dimensions to communicate the actual size of features. Include any important notes and considerations necessary for construction.
2. Mechanical: Make a scale drawing of some mechanical device or interesting object. The mechanical drawing may be of the orthographic or isometric style. Use an engineer’s scale and show dimensions to communicate the actual size of features. Include any important notes and manufacturing considerations.
3. Electrical: Draw a simple schematic of a radio or electronic circuit. Properly print a bill of materials, including all of the major electrical components used in the circuit. Use standard drawing symbols to represent the electronic components.
4. Discuss with your counselor how fulfilling requirements 2 and 3 differed from each other. Tell about the benefits derived from using CAD for requirement 3. Include in your discussion the software you used as well as other software options that are available.
5. Using single-stroke slant or vertical Gothic lettering (without the aid of a template or lettering guide), write a brief explanation of what you consider to be the most important benefit of using CAD in a particular industry (aerospace, electronics, manufacturing, architectural, or other). Use the experience gained in fulfilling requirements 2, 3, and 4 to support your opinion. Use the formatted sheet of paper you prepared in requirement 1 for your lettering project.
6. Do ONE of the following (a or b):
1. Visit a facility or industry workplace where drafting is part of the business. Ask to see an example of the work that is done there, the different drafting facilities, and the tools used.
1. Find out how much of the drafting done there is manual and how much is done using CAD. If CAD is used, find out what software is used and how and why it was chosen.
2. Ask about the drafting services provided. Ask who uses the designs produced in the drafting area and how those designs are used. Discuss how the professionalswho perform drafting cooperate with other individuals in the drafting area and other areas of the business.
3. Ask how important the role of drafting is to producing the end product or service that this business supplies. Find out how drafting contributes to the company’s end product or service.
2. Using resources you find on your own such as at the library and on the Internet (with your parent’s permission), learn more about the drafting trade and discuss the following with your counselor:
1. The drafting tools used in the past—why and how they were used. Explain which tools are still used today and how their use has changed with the advent of new tools. Discuss which tools are being made obsolete by newer tools in the industry.
2. Tell what media types were used in the past and how drawings were used, stored, and reproduced. Tell how the advent of CAD has changed the media used, and discuss how these changes affect the storage or reproduction of drawings.
3.  Discuss whether the types of media have changed such that there are new uses for the drawings, or other outputs, produced by designers. Briefly discuss how new media types are used in the industry today.
7. Find out about three career opportunities in drafting. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

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BSA offers supplemental pack program ideas for each month. One theme for the January core value of Positive Attitude  is a Lights, Camera, Action theme.

Here is what the  program helps say about this theme:

Let the spotlight shine on our Cub Scouts. Our Scouts spend many hours in front of the television set. Let’s put that to good use this month, and use it to promote positive values and a positive attitude. Create a very special red carpet event at this pack meeting, and every Cub Scout will feel like a star.

So this theme will revolve around the ideas of being a star.  Let your Cub Scouts put on a show and be their own entertainers! Older Cub Scouts might focus on the “camera” part and learn more about photography. You can even take the “stardom” more literally and throw in some astronomy. Below you’ll find some ways to form your pack and den programs around this theme.

January Cub Scout Theme – Lights, Camera, Action (Positive Attitude)

Tiger Cub Scouts

• Tiger Elective 6 – Song Time
• Tiger Elective 19 – Magic Fun
• Tiger Elective 21 – The Show Must Go On

Wolf Cub Scouts

• Wolf Elective 2 – Be an Actor
• Wolf Elective 11 – Sing a Long

Bear Cub Scouts

• Bear Elective 1 – Space
• Bear Elective 8 – Cub Scout Band
• Bear Elective 11 – Photography
• Bear Elective 13 – Magic

Webelos

• Showman Activity Badge

Academics and Sports Program

• Astronomy Belt Loop and Pin
• Music Belt Loop and Pin
• Photography Belt Loop and Pin

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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 eighteenth Webelos den meeting plan covers the  all of the requirements for Showman Activity Badge with a focus on drama.

There are a lot of requirements for Showman. Consider doing this over two meetings in order to give the Webelos plenty of time to explore this badge and to allow time for some games.

If you don’t already have the BSA Webelos den meeting plans, download BSA Webelos Den Meeting Plan 18 to follow along with this article.

Webelos Den Meeting Ideas: BSA Plan #18 – Showman Drama

Preparation and Before the Meeting

You will need to arrange for a meeting space which allows for enough room for the drama activities.

Gathering

See my gathering activities page for some ideas.

Opening

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

Business

Hand out recognitions. Keep the rest of the business to a minimum.

Activities

You will be doing Showman requirements 3, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. Here are some tips:

Showman 16: Give a monologue (a talk) on a patriotic, humorous, or holiday subject, or another subject of your choice.

They can talk about anything. Just have them relate something interesting which happened to them lately.

Showman 21: Describe a theater-in-the-round. What are its good and bad points?

Showman 22: Explain the difference between a grand opera and a light opera. Explain the difference between a musical and a play.

Showman 23: Read about William Shakespeare. Draw a picture of his Globe Theatre.

See the Webelos handbook for help with 21, 22, and 23.

Showman 18: Read a play. Make a model stage setting for one of the acts.

If they have read a play together in school, that makes this requirement easier. Otherwise, I recommend you have them all read the same play at home beforehand. Then they can make a model set.

Showman 20: Make a list of stage directions. Tell what they mean.

This one is pretty easy and can be turned into a game. Say a stage direction and have them move to it. If they go the wrong place they are out.

Showman 19: Write, put on, and take part in a one-act play.

A skit is a one-act play. Have them write their own skit.

Showman 17: Attend a play. Describe the story. Tell what you liked about it.

When I did this with my Webelos dens, they had all attended several plays together at school. So we just talked about what they had seen.

Showman 3: Make a set of puppets or marionettes for the play you have written or for another play.

See the Showman – Puppetry den meeting plan for some ideas.

Showman 11: Tell what folk music is. Hum, sing, or play a folk tune on a musical instrument.

See my songs page for some ideas.

Closing

Close with the Scout Law.

After the Meeting

The Webelos should help you put everything back as it was in the meeting area. Ask for some adults to help with your next meeting.

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BSA provides a set of Tiger den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. There are 16 basic meeting plan ideas and then some additional supplemental Tiger den meeting ideas. This is the sixth of the supplemental tiger den meeting plans. It covers Tiger Elective 19 – Magic Fun.

You can download the complete meeting plan from the BSA website: Printable copy of BSA Tiger Den Meeting Supplemental Plan F – Magic Fun

For more magic related ideas for Cub Scouts, see my Abracadabra Theme page.

Tiger Den Meeting Ideas: BSA Supplemental Plan F – Magic Fun

Preparation and Before the Meeting

To prepare for this meeting, you need to gather the materials for the magic tricks. I recommend that you practice the tricks until you are comfortable with them so you will be able to demonstrate them.

Gathering

See my gathering activities page for ideas for gathering activities. Or play a  game during gathering time.

Opening

Start with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Business

Hand out any recognitions. Keep the rest of the business to a minimum.

Activities

Do Tiger Elective 19

Learn a magic trick and show it to your family or den.

The Magic Jumping Paper Clips and the Magic Unbreakable Balloon magic trick are shown in the Tiger Cub Handbook. Check my Abracadabra Theme page for additional ideas.

Keep an eye on your Tigers to see that they are not getting frustrated. Keep in mind the suggestion to break it up with some games or songs. If you have any Den Chiefs who help your pack, have them do some magic tricks at the meeting.

At the end of the meeting have a “magic show” where the Tigers demonstrate some of the magic tricks they have learned.

Closing

Keep it simple. Say the Law of the Pack.

After the Meeting

Clean up your meeting area and arrange for some parents to help at the next meeting.

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With the holidays coming, there will soon be lots of opportunities for singing and enjoying music. If your Cub Scout has musical talent or just appreciates music, have him look at the Music pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program.

If you are looking for songs for Cub Scouts, check out my songs page.

Music Pin Requirements

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

1. Make a musical instrument and play it for your family, den, or pack.
2. Teach your den a song.
3. Play a song by yourself or in a group, in unison or in harmony.
4. Create an original melody and/or original words for a song.
5. Using a tape recorder, capture natural sounds of the environment or record songs you create, and use your recording as a soundtrack for a short skit or as background for a movement activity.
6. Attend a live musical performance or concert.
7. Demonstrate conducting patterns for two songs using two different meters (two-, three-, or four- beat meter) while your adult partner or den members sing or play the songs you have selected.
8. Take voice or dance lessons or lessons to learn to play an instrument.
9. Create movements to a piece of music without words to demonstrate the moods of the music: happy, sad, calm, excited, playful, inspired.
10. Learn about a composer of some music that you enjoy. Tell your den

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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 seventeenth Webelos den meeting plan covers the  all of the requirements for Showman Activity Badge with a focus on music.

There are a lot of requirements for Showman. Consider doing this over two meetings in order to give the Webelos plenty of time to explore this badge and to allow time for some music related games.

If you don’t already have the BSA Webelos den meeting plans, download BSA Webelos Den Meeting Plan 17 to follow along with this article.

Webelos Den Meeting Ideas: BSA Plan #17 – Showman Music

Preparation and Before the Meeting

Most of the preparation for this meeting involves getting together the music for this meeting.

Gathering

See my gathering activities page for some ideas.

Opening

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

Business

Keep this part of the meeting short and sweet, but do take the time for recognitions.

Activities

You will be doing Showman requirements 6,  9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. Here are some tips:

Showman 9: Sing one song indoors and one song outdoors, either alone or with a group. Tell what you need to do differently when singing outdoors.

See my songs page for some songs your Webelos will enjoy singing.

Showman 10: Make a collection of three or more records, tapes, or music CDs. Tell what you like about each one.

You could ask each Webelo to bring in an appropriate CD. And then you can discuss the different types.

Showman 11: Tell what folk music is. Hum, sing, or play a folk tune on a musical instrument.

Showman 12: Name three American composers. Name a famous work by each.

Showman 13: Draw a staff. Draw on it a clef, sharp, flat, natural, note, and rest. Tell what each is used for.

Showman 14: Show the difference between 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 time by beating time or playing an instrument.

If you are not a musician, you can find help with all of these in the Webelos handbook. Chances are your Webelos have studied these in music class in school. One fun thing to do is to turn the tables and have them teach you.

Showman 15: While you are a Webelos Scout, earn the Cub Scout Academics Belt Loop for Music.

See my Music Belt Loop and Pin page for ideas to help with this activity.

Showman 6: Make a set of four paper bag puppets for a singing group. With the help of three other den members, sing a song with the puppets as the performers.

See Meeting Plan 16 for help with puppetry.

Showman 16: Give a monologue (a talk) on a patriotic, humorous, or holiday subject, or another subject of your choice.

I never had Webelos who had a difficult time talking. Even the quiet ones liked to tell a story if it was something they were familiar with. Make sure they are comfortable in their environment and set some ground rules about respectful listening.

I like the idea of making time for some musical games. If the meeting is too much like music class at school, you might lose their interest.

Closing

Close with the Boy Scout Oath.

After the Meeting

Everyone should help clean up the meeting area. Don’t forget to recruit some adults to help at your next meeting.

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BSA provides a set of Tiger den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. There are 16 basic meeting plan ideas and then some additional supplemental Tiger den meeting ideas. This is the fifth of the supplemental tiger den meeting plans. It covers Tiger Elective 20 – Get the Word Out.

You can download the complete meeting plan from the BSA website: Printable copy of BSA Tiger Den Meeting Supplemental Plan E – Get the Word Out

Tiger Den Meeting Ideas: BSA Supplemental Plan E – Get the Word Out

Preparation and Before the Meeting

There is not too much preparation for this meeting other than getting some ideas about what type of skit to do.

If there is a parent in your den with a video camera, ask them to bring it. The Tiger Cubs will enjoy having their skit recorded like a real PSA announcement. Then you can play it back for them.

Gathering

See my gathering activities page for ideas for gathering activities. Or play a  game during gathering time.

Opening

Start with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Business

Hand out any recognitions. Keep the rest of the business short and sweet.

Activities

You are spending most of the meeting working on Tiger Elective 20 – Get the Word Out:

With your den, make up a PSA (Public Service Announcement) skit to tell people about Tiger Cubs.

The Tigers and their adult partners will need direction for this. One of the easiest ways to do this is to have each Tiger say a couple of things that they have done in turn. For example:

• Tiger Cubs go on hikes.
• Tiger Cubs visit fire stations.
• etc.

Adding some props or actions will make it fun.

If you recorded the skit, play it back for them.

You might find this activity takes the whole meeting or it might go really quickly. I recommend you have an active game ready in case you have extra time.

Closing

Keep it simple. Say the Law of the Pack.

After the Meeting

Clean up your meeting area as a group and then arrange for some help for the next meeting. Talk to your Cubmaster and arrange for your Tigers to perform the skit at the next Pack meeting.

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

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 the  all of the requirements for Showman Activity Badge with a focus on puppetry.

Note that Showman is a lengthy badge. You might not be able to accomplish all of this in a single meeting. Better to break it into two meetings than to rush the Scouts through their fun.

If you don’t already have the BSA Webelos den meeting plans, download BSA Webelos Den Meeting Plan 16 to follow along with this article.

Webelos Den Meeting Ideas: BSA Plan #16 – Showman Puppetry

Preparation and Before the Meeting

Most of the preparation for this meeting involves gathering the materials to make the puppets along with a stage and props.

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. Your Webelos will be looking forward to making the puppets.

Activities

You will be doing Showman requirements 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 17, and 20. Here are some tips:

Showman 2: Write a puppet play about one of your Webelos den activities or a subject of your choice.

See my post about the puppet play one of my dens wrote for an idea of how to start.

Showman 3: Make a set of puppets or marionettes for the play you have written or for another play.
Showman 7: There are sock, stick, and finger puppets. There are paper bag puppets and marionettes. Explain their differences and show any puppets you have made for this badge.
Showman 4: Build a simple stage for marionettes or puppets.
Showman 5: Alone or with the help of others, put on a puppet show for your den or pack.

The downloadable plan has lots of ideas for puppets, including finger puppets, egg carton finger puppets, dancing stick puppets, cylinder hand puppets, kneesie puppets, footsie puppets, glove puppets, and paper bag puppets. You don’t have to make all of them. Choose one type and let the den make a set. But do talk about the different types of puppets.

A stage can be made from a large shoebox if you are using finger puppets. Otherwise you can get creative with some tables turned sideways and some curtains or tarps.

Once the play is written and the puppets and stage are complete, you are ready to put on a show. Tiger Cubs would find this really entertaining. If you do den demonstrations at your pack meetings, volunteer to do a puppet show. Or put it on during the gathering time for your next pack meeting.

Showman 6: Make a set of four paper bag puppets for a singing group. With the help of three other den members, sing a song with the puppets as the performers.
Showman 11: Tell what folk music is. Hum, sing, or play a folk tune on a musical instrument

Do these two together. First, determine what song you will be singing. (See my songs page for some ideas.) Then make your paper bag puppets and perform it.

Showman 17: Attend a play. Describe the story. Tell what you liked about it.
Showman 20: Make a list of stage directions. Tell what they mean.

Our grade school brings in an acting troupe each year, so we were able to count that. Local high schools put on plays which boys this age enjoy also. The stage directions are straightforward. Look in the Webelos handbook if you are not familiar with them.

Closing

Close with the Boy Scout Law.

After the Meeting

Have the Webelos help clean up. There might be a mess from all of the puppet making. And this is a good time to line up some adults to help at the next meeting.

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

The Art belt loop is another of the recognition from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program. Our pack did this belt loop at our School Night to Join Scouting back in August. A few of the Scouters did the activity with the Scouts while the parents filled out paperwork. The new Cub Scouts were really excited about earning something at their very first meeting.

Webelos who earn the Art Belt Loop while a Webelos also complete requirement 11 for the Artist activity badge.

Art Belt Loop Requirements

Complete these three requirements:

1. Make a list of common materials used to create visual art compositions.
2. Demonstrate how six of the following elements of design are used in a drawing: lines, circles, dots, shapes, colors, patterns, textures, space, balance, or perspective.
3. Identify the three primary colors and the three secondary colors that can be made by mixing them. Show how this is done using paints or markers. Use the primary and secondary colors to create a painting.

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

Every now and then I see a kid who can make the most amazing intricate drawings. It is a real gift. If you know a Cub Scout with some artistic talent, encourage him to earn the Art pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program.

Art Pin Requirements

Earn the Art belt loop, and complete six of the following requirements:

1. Visit an art museum, gallery, or exhibit. Discuss with an adult the art you saw.
2. Create two self-portraits using two different art techniques, such as drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, or computer illustration.
3. Demonstrate how to make paper. Make a sample at least 4 inches by 4 inches.
4. Make a simple silkscreen or stencil. Print a card or T-shirt.
5. Create a freestanding sculpture or mobile using wood, metal, soap, papier-mâché, or found objects.
6. Create an object using clay that can be fired, baked in the oven, or hardened in water.
7. Photograph four subjects in one theme, such as landscapes, people, animals, sports, or buildings.
8. Make a collage using several different materials.
9. Use your artistic skills to create a postage stamp, book cover, or music CD cover.
10. Use a computer illustration or painting program to create a work of art.
11. Display your artwork in a pack, school, or community art show.

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

BSA provides a set of Tiger den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. This is a review of the 13th den meeting plan in the series. This den meeting covers four Tiger Cub Scout electives:

• Tiger Elective 27 – Emergency!
• Tiger Elective 26 – Phone Manners
• Tiger Elective 12 – A Friendly Greeting
• Tiger Elective 15 – Our Colorful World

You can download the complete meeting plan from the BSA website: Printable copy of BSA Tiger Den Meeting Plan 13

BSA Tiger Den Meeting Plan 13 – Phone Manners, Emergency!, Our Colorful World, and A Friendly Greeting

Preparation and Before the Meeting

For preparation, you just need to have your meeting space and your supplies ready to go. This is a pretty simple meeting and not much is required.

Gathering

Check my gathering activities page for some appropriate activities for your gathering time. Or play a simple game.

Opening

The Pledge of Allegiance is always an appropriate opening for Tiger Cub Scouts.

Business

Keep business to a minimum. Tigers will get restless if you do too much of it.

Activities

First work on elective 27:

Talk to your adult partner about what to do if these things happened.

• The adult who is caring for you becomes ill.
• You are alone with someone who makes you feel uncomfortable.

Closing

Say a prayer for the people you will be giving the cards to. You could end with the Cub Scout promise.

After the Meeting

Everyone should help you clean up. Remember to enlist some adult help for the next meeting. And make arrangements to get the cards they made delivered to the nursing home.

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

BSA provides den meeting plans for den leaders on the Scouting.org website. The eighth Webelos den meeting plan focuses on the Artist Activity badge. It also completes the requirements for Citizen and the Webelos badge, which were started in previous meetings.

If you don’t already have the BSA den meeting plans, download BSA Webelos Den Meeting Plan 8 to follow along with this article.

If you have been following the BSA den meeting plan series in order, at this point your Webelos should be finishing up the requirements for the Webelos badge and should be starting to work on some electives. However, chances are that some of your Webelos have missed some of the meetings or have not done the required work at home. So these Cub Scouts will need to catch up with the rest of the den in order to earn their Webelos badge. Go through your records and figure out what each Scout needs to do. Give him a list and follow up with his parents so he can earn his badge.

BSA Webelos Den Meeting 8 – Artist

Preparation and Before the Meeting

As suggested, review the requirements for Webelos and figure out what your Scouts still need to do. You can spend some time during the meeting playing catch up while the Webelos who have already completed the badge work on Artist. You might need to arrange for some additional adults to help you with this. Or ask your Boy Scout troop if they have some older Scouts who would be willing to work with a Webelos to help him catch up.

Gathering

Since you will be working on Artist, try putting out some markers, crayons, watercolors, and paper to let your Webelos get creative while they are waiting for everyone to arrive.

Opening

If anyone still needs to do an opening flag ceremony for his Webelos badge let him lead it.

Business

Keep business short. This is a good time to hand out lists of what Cub Scouts still need to do to finish the Webelos badge.

Activities

You might have two different groups here. Some who are finishing up Webelos badge or Citizen activity badge and some who are working on artist. For help with Webelos or Citizen just follow the links. Since these have already been covered before, I am going to focus on Artist.

Try to get a “guest artist” to come in and speak with them. This will make it easier to fulfill the requirement. With one of my dens we couldn’t arrange this, so the Webelos just talked to their art teacher at school. She was very willing to help them with this.

We did the color mixing with paint, but I love the idea of using frosting. Bring some graham crackers for them to spread it on and they can have a snack – albeit an unhealthy one.

Clay is fun, but messy. We didn’t have a lot of time when we did this badge and ZM’s den had all done some clay sculpting at school the month before, so we just counted that.

ZM’s den loved doing the constructions. I gave them a big box of “raw materials” and they came up with some very creative projects. At the end of the meeting, they each showed off what they had made, explained what it was, and told how they made it. One of them made an amazing looking bird with an egg carton, toothpick, a yogurt container, and some feathers.

Closing and After the Meeting

Say the Scout Law or Scout Oath. Your Webelos need to memorize this to earn the Arrow of Light and repitition will help.

After the meeting, have all of the Webelos help you clean up. And remind the parents about who will be helping you at the next meeting.

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

Several years ago I attended a Cub Scout Pow Wow session on neckerchief slide crafts. They showed us a number of ways to make neckerchief slides from various materials. One of the slides on display was a seed neckerchief slide.

The slide was made on a thin slice of a tree branch. They had several different types of slides made with this type of “base”. I liked the natural look of these slides.

This slide would fit in well with March’s Planting Seeds of Kindness Cub Scout program theme for the core value of Compassion.

Seed Neckerchief Slide Craft

Materials

• 1 thin slice of a tree branch – about 3 inches in diameter and about 1/3 inch thick
• Assorted dried seeds – sunflower, popcorn, garden seeds, etc
• Tacky craft glue
• 1 slice of 1/2 inch PVC pipe

Instructions

1. Glue the seeds on the slice of tree branch. You can put them in a geometric pattern or make a mosaic or just arrange them to look like something. Be creative!
2. After the glue dries, glue the slice of PVC pipe to the back. The neckerchief will go through the ring of pipe.

Notes

The PVC neckerchief ring will stay attached longer if you use hot glue.

Hot glue can also be used to attach the seeds for a more durable neckerchief slide.

1/2 inch PVC  will provide a very snug fit for the neckerchief. You can use a slightly larger size and use a rubberband under the neckerchief ring to keep it from sliding down the neckerchief.

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