Cub Scout Journals and Thank-you Notes

We are getting ready to do the Cub Scout Bear 'Jot It Down' requirements. Requirement #18c asks the boys to keep a daily record of their activities for two weeks. I have made small journals for the boys to use two weeks, asking them to mark off if they pray, read scriptures, and obey their parents. In addition they can write about what they have done to help someone else, what they have done that is hard, what made them happy, and what someone has done for them. I like this idea better than writing down what time they got up, ate, etc. I am hoping that as they take time to write these things down, they will notice more what others do for them (gratitude), their accomplishments (do hard things), and what they can do to help other people (do a good turn daily), Download the journal pdf. (Print two sided, cut in half, and assemble so the days are in order.)

I am thinking of doing a short game where each boy will tell something he is thankful for or why his parents are great (all boys will share the same thing, I just haven't decide which one I will have them do). The first boy will share his item. The second will share the first boy's item, then his. The third boy will share the first boy's item, then the second boy's item, and then his. We will continue adding on until all the boys have had a chance to try to remember. I let the boys help each other remember, so it's not awkward for someone who can't remember.

We will also be writing a thank-you note for #18e. I have used this template for thank-you cards.  If they write a note to their teacher, parents, and grandparents telling them what they appreciate and respect about them, it will also count for a Faith in God requirement under Serving Others.

Cub Scout Game - Show Me Your Colors

Last month one of our leaders planned a really fun game for our cub scouts. She had small glow sticks for each boy. We played in a dark cultural hall of our church building. One boy counted to ten, while the other boys hid around the room (hiding their glow sticks in their shirts). When the boy counting reached ten, he yelled "Show me your colors." All the boys held up their glow sticks and tried to stay away from the boy who was it - although they had a hard time remembering who was it in the dark. There was really no point to hiding, except it was fun for the boys. It was a cold day outside and this was a fun way for the boys to use up some extra energy playing tag in the dark.

Winter Service Fun

My mother is spending a few weeks and a care and rehab center this winter. One day this snowman appeared outside her window. I thought it might be fun to take activity day girls or cub scouts to build a few snowmen outside the windows of the rest home in our neighborhood. I noticed the face is painted on, so their are no rocks to be left over on the lawn after it melts.

Activity Day

In December, let the girls make Christmas cards. Have them send one of their cards to a missionary serving from your ward.

Consider learning a Christmas song from the Children's Songbook and having the girls share it at your ward Christmas activity. This fulfills a Faith in God requirement for developing talents.

Cub Scouts

December is the perfect time to send Christmas cards to the missionaries in your ward. Be sure to take time to discuss with the boys why a mission is important and habits they can develop now that will help them prepare to be missionaries.

I like to have the boys each share a Christmas story with each other. After they have shared their stories we will make a Christmas craft or treat, or play a Christmas game.

We practice our knots this month as time allows. I keep the ropes in my bag and we get them out when we have extra time.

Activity Day

As the weather cools off, November would be a good time to try out a sewing project with the girls. Find something fairly simple-most will have never used a needle and thread before. A small stuffed animal (with a flat pattern) would be fun, or maybe a fleece or knit headband that only needs to be stitched together into a circle. You could practice threading and using a needle one week, and the next meeting make something.

Cub Scouts

November is the time to talk about citizenship requirements. We have the boys memorize the 12th Article of Faith. When we take time to discuss with the boys what it means to be a good citizen and how their actions can affect others, they complete one of the Faith in God requirements that they need for their religious knot award.

We also work on the flag requirements for the wolf age boys and the bear requirement about what makes America special.

Our boys always have fun playing a game called 'I've seen a flag'. The first says I've seen a flag at ____. The second boy says I've seen a flag at _____, and ______(he gives a new location first and then repeats the first boys location). Continue around the circle until the last boy add his own location and then repeats all the locations given earlier. Sometimes the boys like to go around the circle an extra time. It is always OK for them to help each other out when they have trouble remembering.