Week 3: Call of the Wild, Camper & Bear Necessities Adventues for combined Cub Scout Dens

Please Note: This activity is for small combined dens to complete Call of the Wild (Wolf), Bear Necessities (Bear) and Camper Adventures (Arrow of Light) in approximately one months time.  I suggest that LDS packs plan this activity the same month as the Father & Son camp out or cub scout day camp.

Each activity has to flow quickly into the next in order to do it all in 1 hour. We did the gathering activity on the sidewalk.  While the hot dogs were cooking I called boys over individually and showed them how to read a thermometer.  When most of the boys were done with cooking, we started building the barometers right there on the sidewalk. We had a quick safety class and our Geocache was less than a mile away at a Dairy Queen.  We were able to lead the boys quickly thru the clues to find it since we knew ahead of time where the geocache was hidden.   And finally we passed out free Blizzard coupons to the boys that we had asked  the manager for ahead of time.  We got back to our meetinghouse with only 2 minutes to spare!  

1. Gathering Activity:  Have boys wash hands using a large bowl with water and soap (Wolf, Call of the Wild #5c) Using a Bunsen burner and a  no. 10 can with a vent cut in it,  have the scout cook a hot dog on a kabob skewers. (Bear Necessities #6) Show them how to read a thermometer while they are waiting for it to cook. (Bear Essentials #7 part)

2. Make a Barometer: Show the scouts this video on YouTube from if convenient (I used my cell phone) to instruct them how to make barometer.  Having the card stock paper already folded and taped ahead of time will be faster.  Scouts should place barometer indoors next to a window.  Bear scouts record temp and hi/lo from barometer everyday for a week. (Bear: part Bear Essentials #7)

3. Opening: Prayer, Pledge (make sure you have a flag outdoors) Scout Oath and Scout Law

4.  Class:  What to do if a stranger approaches. (see Wolf Handbook Call of the Wild 5a)  Have the scouts act out the situations so they will be able to remember the lessons better.

5.  Geocaching - Make sure 10 year olds are involved in the process of how geocaching works.  I used this website and app for our activity.  Make sure to have permission slips signed ahead of time. (Arrow of Light, Camper #6)

Homework:

• Bear - Record the temperature and barometer reading at the same time each day for a week.(Bear: to finish Bear Essentials #7)
• leaders- plan an opportunity for scouts to put on a campfire skits/song and include an impressive opening, Cubmaster's minute and inspirational closing...father/son camp out, cub scout day camp, the next pack meeting (Wolf: Call of the Wild #6, Bear: Bear Necessities #2, Arrow of Light: Camper #4)
• Record any homework assignments completed and stay in communication with parents to make sure they are accomplished
• Once the camp out or day camp is over, Weeks 1-3 completed along with all homework assignments, then the pack is ready to award the belt loops for Wolf: Call of the Wild, Bear: Bear Necessities, and Arrow of Light: Camper 

Week 2: Call of the Wild, Camper & Bear Necessities Adventues for combined Cub Scout Dens

Please Note: This activity is for small combined dens to complete Call of the Wild (Wolf), Bear Necessities (Bear) and Camper Adventures (Arrow of Light) in approximately one months time.  I suggest that LDS packs plan this activity the same month as the Father & Son camp out or cub scout day camp.

1. Gathering Activity: Discuss what makes a good tent site and set up a small tent with leader.  Take down and have boys set up themselves.  (If using a larger tent or if it's going slow have boys set up themselves the first time with verbal instructions from leader if needed because of time restraints.  Make sure 9 and 10 year-olds participate if they are unable to go on camp out). (Arrow of Light, Camper #2) (Bear, Bear Necessities #7)

2. Opening: Prayer, Pledge, Scout Oath & Scout Law

3.  Talk Time/Announcements

4.  Let's pretend you are on a camp out and there is bad weather.  It's so bad you may have to evacuate.  Discuss this PowerPoint Presentation or use Webelos Handbook pg. 157 to lead discussion.  (Arrow of Light, Camper 3a,b,c) (Wolf, Call of the Wild 4, 5b)

5. Teach knots

• Overhand knot - used for the start of tying a shoe, the keep the end of a rope from unraveling, to keep a rope from going all the way thru a hole or pulley (Wolf, Call of the Wild #2)
• Square knot - used to tie two ropes together, to tie packages, the end of bandages or to rig sails (Wolf, Call of the Wild #2)
• Two half hitches -  used to tie items to a post or tree trunk (Bear, Bear Necessities #8)
• Bowline knot - It's useful because it makes a fixed loop in a rope that won't slip (Arrow of Light, Camper #5 part - complete by teaching to a younger scout)

Record Requirements & pass out homework:

• Any boy who missed will need to learn knots at home
• Webelos - Practice Bowline knot (Camper #5) and teach to another scout
• Bear - Learn Two half hitches knot and teach to another scout (Bear Necessities #8) 
• Remind boys about the camp out and that they should help pick a campsite and help set up the tent

Week 2 Severe Weather PowerPoint for Cub Scouts

Severe weather on campout from Deanna Welch

This presentation goes with the week 2 activity you can find here.  This presentation meets the requirements for:
Arrow of Light: Camper 3 a,b,c
Wolf: Call of the Wild 4, 5 b

Week 1: Call of the Wild, Camper & Bear Necessities Adventues for combined Cub Scout Dens

Please Note: This activity is for small combined dens to complete Call of the Wild (Wolf), Bear Necessities (Bear) and Camper Adventures (Arrow of Light) in approximately one months time.  I suggest that LDS packs plan this activity the same month as the Father & Son camp out or cub scout day camp.

1. Gathering Activity (15 minutes) - Frisbee & Cones - Set up small cones (like these) in a line spread apart over the area being used.  If the scout throws past the first cone they get 1 point, past the second is 2 points...ect.  If they hit the frisbee with a cone it's 5 points.  I went around to each boy and asked them their favorite camping activity and wrote it on strips of paper which I prepared for a later activity.  I also signed in each scout on this form.

2. Opening which includes Prayer, Pledge, Scout Oat and Scout Law

3. Talk Time:  Introduce this month's adventures.  We will learn how to identify animals, knot tying, camping skills, geocaching and about the weather...  Make sure to talk up the father son camp out with the boys  (Also inform parents that this will help their child meet requirements for their adventure belt loop)

4. Animal Identification Part 1.  I created a simple PowerPoint picture presentation identifying animals, snakes, birds and insects from our area of Texas that you can find here.  I downloaded a recording app on my phone called Smart Voice Recorder and recorded sounds clips of each bird or animal which I found on You Tube or the internet. The boys really liked hearing the sounds and recognized many of them,

Part 2 The second part of this activity was a game identifying animal tracks by giving each boy a copy of this guide. Tape larger images of the tracks on the wall with a number by it.   Then make a small sheet for each boy listing an animal and a blank line to fill in the number of the track they think correlates.  I did it this so that we weren't wasting time by having the boys write the names of the animals.We did 10 tracks but that may have been too many.  Make sure the tracks don't look too similar because it's harder for the youngest boys. This activity could go faster if you just show them a track and have the boys call out their guess till they get it right.


5. Outdoor Code:  Have a poster prepared and recite the Outdoor Code. A detailed description can be found here.  (Call of the Wild #7a)

The Outdoor Code:

As an American, I will do my best to

Be clean in my outdoor manners

Be careful with fire

Be considerate in the outdoors

Be conservation-minded

6. Next, Have a poster prepared and recite the Leave no Trace Principles for Kids (Found in Wolf Handbook).  Talk briefly how these principles support the outdoor code (Call of the Wild #7b)

7. Show boys the 6 essential items for camp outs:  first aid kit, water bottle, flashlight, trail food, sunscreen, whistle. Have Bears write items in their Handbook   (Bear Necessities #3)  What other items the group should take along on the camp out? Have Bears write in Handbook (Bear Necessities #4)

6.Optional if time permits - Camping charades Game - use strips of paper with camping activities gathered during the Gathering Activity.  We only had time for each boy to go once. (Wolf: Howling at the Moon #1 partial )

Closing Prayer & homework assignments

• Wolf Homework:  Call of the Wild Requirement 3 in the Wolf Handbook and write the name of each animal and how they identify it.  Do at home or at Father son camp out.
• Bear Homework:  complete their camping list for Bear Necessities #3-4 if not finished. Plan a cooked lunch or dinner, make a shopping list and help shop for food.  Help cook the meal at the Father son campout or other outdoor event/home if not going on camp out. (Bear Necessities #5)
• Webelos/Arrow of Light - Handout copy of outdoor code and Leave no Trace Behind Principles for Kids - Have them practice and recite from memory to the best of their ability to Akela (parent) or den leader (Call of the Wild #7b)

Text or email parents with assignments.

Record Completion of Requirements