Hey Scouter! If you’re here because you’re preparing for your Scout’s upcoming Court of Honor, congratulations to all of you. What an awesome accomplishment! I hope this post finds you proud and happy, as you should be.
A Scout Is Thrifty! While you make plans for your upcoming celebration, I’m sure you’re considering ways to do so without breaking the bank. I’d love to help you out if I can by offering four FREE customizable and printable Eagle Court of Honor invitation templates.
Design 1 Green background with American flag and Eagle details. This file includes a cover page with instructions and two identical pages that can be printed two per sheet. There is not a watermark on the printed copy.
Design 2 Tan background with American flag and Eagle details. This file includes a cover page with instructions and two identical pages that can be printed two per sheet. There is not a watermark on the printed copy.
Design 3 Red, white and blue background with Eagle details. This file includes a cover page with instructions and two identical pages that can be printed two per sheet. There is not a watermark on the printed copy.
Design 4 Simple design with a red ribbon and Eagle details. This file includes a cover page with instructions and two identical pages that can be printed two per sheet. There is not a watermark on the printed copy.
Did this post help you plan your Scout’s Eagle Court of Honor? Tell me all about it in the comments. As always, help me spread the word about this and other FREE resources for Scouters by following my blog, sharing my blog, liking this post, and following me on Facebook and Instagram. Don’t forget to LOOK WIDER STILL.
“I think what makes ‘Jeopardy!’ special is that, among all the quiz and game shows out there, ours tends to encourage learning.” -Alex Trebek
When it comes to trivia, there’s one game show that stands out from the rest, and that’s Jeopardy! (Sorry, Cash Cab. Although that show was pretty great, too.) Even if you aren’t an avid fan, you know the theme song, which you’re humming right now, and you likely agree that Alex Trebek was the single greatest television host of all time.
Like pretty much every PL at the helm of a virtual patrol, my son and his Scouts are starting to burn out with the virtual format. It’s hard to make it more exciting than school, especially for a teenager, and they’re all looking for a Tuesday night “off,” so to speak. My son and I talked about it at length and he tasked me with trying to make a review game that they could play via Zoom but that looked and felt different from his other meetings. Jeopardy! Scouting Showdown was born, and after a week of testing, we think we have it ready to roll out for other Scouters to use.
When shown in Presenter mode, the Jeopardy! Scouting Showdown Slide Presentation is interactive. When you’re on the “live game boards,” the host can click a category value and go straight to the answer. There are even sound effects, because you can’t have Jeopardy! without its iconic theme. It’s easy to use, and if you’re brave, the categories and answers can even be edited to suit your patrol. There are two rounds, just like the real deal, the second of which includes two Daily Doubles. There’s even a Final Jeopardy question! The answers vary across several subjects, like “Life or Death”, and “Let’s Get Cooking.” There’s even a category of Scouting questions that made it onto a live show at some point in time.
Because, try as we might, none of us are Alex Trebek, I’ve included a Host Packet explaining how the Presentation works, the game rules, the answers and questions, and even a points tracker. Simply print that out before your meeting, hit Present on the slideshow, and you’re ready to go.
As always, if you download Jeopardy! Scouting Showdown, use it in a meeting, and had fun, please let me know in the comments below! Don’t forget to follow me here at LookWiderStill.com, on Facebook, and even Instagram.
Well, we’ve made it to 2021! While there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, many units continue to encounter hurdles for meeting face-to-face. With winter weather bearing down on much of the U.S., outdoor meetings are a little less convenient, especially for Cubs.
So, while we’re all still navigating a very different year in programming, many of us are trying to find ways to present Cub Scout adventures in a virtual setting. Having been a den leader for many years, I have been working on updating and converting my archived materials to help YOU plan a full year of virtual programming.
Take a breath. I’ve got you.
Below you’ll find a link to a Google Slide file entitled “Look Wider Still: Bear Den Slides & Meeting Organization Tools Master File”. This file contains 43 slides full of adventure requirements and resources like external links, embeddable (is that a word) YouTube videos, and downloadable/printable files I’ve created to keep your Scouts on track this year.
To use it:
Make a copy of this file by clicking File > Make a Copy > Entire Presentation.
Make a copy of your presentation for every meeting, editing the content with the included resources however you’d like.
Give your presentations meaningful names, like “October 16 2020 Bear Meeting Baloo the Builder”. This will make it easy to find in your Slides collection and to share with others.
Make copies of / download the linked Google Drive files within as well!
You can then pick and choose the slides you’d like to use, deleting those that you won’t need for your specific meeting adventure. Easy!
Download the Tiger Den Slides & Meeting Organization Tools Master File
This file is available with viewer permissions. You will need to follow the instructions above to make edits to the Tiger Den Slides & Meeting Organization Tools Master File.
Best of Luck!
As always, I share these files in the hopes that it helps give you back some of your free time and helps ease the stress of the planning process. I’d love to know how you used the Bear Den Slides & Meeting Organization Tools and what you thought about the resources. Did this help you reclaim a few spare minutes? Did it make den planning a breeze this year? What would you add or change?
Thank you for stopping by! Please follow Look Wider Still, like and comment on this post, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram!
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Need help planning your virtual den meetings all year long?
I’ve created a series of Google Slides that can be shared via your favorite virtual meeting program.
Look Wider Still is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
“Being brave isn’t the absence of fear. Being brave is having that fear but finding a way through it.”
– Bear Grylls, Chief Ambassador of World Scouting
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
From the very beginning of their Cub Scouting career, youth in the Scouting program are provided opportunities to learn skills that will benefit them for life. From teamwork to respecting wildlife, physical fitness to good citizenship, helping others to emergency response, and more. There are very few moments as fulfilling as noticing your Lion or Tiger thanking a Veteran, watching your Wolf raise a flag, seeing your Bear safely utilize a pocket knife, or knowing that your Webelos can prepare a meal over a campfire. Surely the motto, “Be Prepared!”, resonates with us all, even if we aren’t ourselves wearing a uniform. Knowing how to confidently exist in a hurdle-filled world is likely why we registered our children in the first place, but sometimes the fun of the program acts like a spoonful of sugar, and we often forget that what they’re learning is preparing them for more than whittling soap arrowheads.
There are countless proud moments for any parent or leader. Sometimes it’s just in seeing your Scout in uniform, working hard alongside their peers, but there are monumental moments that arise where they go above and beyond the call of the program and take action in a way that is equal parts training and personal integrity… like when they save a life. I can tell you from personal experience that what you feel then is more than pride, it’s overwhelming gratitude and admiration.
Ever look up to a Cub Scout? It’s wonderfully humbling. Let me tell you the story of my son, Nate.
His very first den meeting.
Nate joined Cub Scout Pack 521 in Mechanicsville, Virginia, in the fall of 2015 as a Tiger. In what I didn’t know would be the best decision of my life, I signed-on as den leader, and so began an adventure of a lifetime. Following in his big brother, Michael’s, footsteps, Nate welcomed the challenges of the Cub Scouting program and flourished alongside other Scouts who would become some of his very best friends. There were campouts to be had, s’mores to be eaten, fish to be caught, targets to be shot, and adventures to complete. They did it all.
Three of the more memorable adventures involved water. Completing the “Spirit of the Water” adventure their Wolf year was particularly fun for his den, because who doesn’t want to literally jump right in and learn about water safety? Our Bear year, we tackled “Salmon Run” together. I have a vivid memory of my assistant den leader teaching this merry band of Bears how to perform reaching rescues using pool noodles, pool nets, and beach towels. It was amazing seeing such young people practicing something so important. Fast forward to their Webelos year, completing the “Aquanaut” adventure together at both our neighborhood pool and the unguarded pool we visit often with his grandparents. With the help of his brother and grandmother, Nate honed in on expert diving skills, and perfected the “order of rescue” and reach and throw rescue techniques.
Every day, about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online]. [cited 2012 May 3]. Available from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars.
He’s part fish.
From Tiger to Webelos, the program introduces and practices emergency response throughout. Every Cub Scout learns how to react in an emergency, who to call, how to call, and that being calm in a stressful situation can make all the difference in its outcome. Each rank builds upon these skills, preparing youth to react appropriately no matter the severity of the emergency. As they bridge into Scouts BSA Troops, those skills are mastered and, as a result, Scouts become some of the most important members of their community.
You won’t be hard-pressed to find articles and stories of Scouts saving lives throughout history. For us, we open our mailbox once a month and flip right to the Scouts in Action section in our Scout Life magazine to read about the true stories of their heroics and bravery. The recurring theme in each story is that these young boys, girls, men, and women draw from a deep well of knowledge learned through their rank adventures, applying their bravery to selflessly and brilliantly save a life. If you aren’t up on your Scouts in Action, I suggest reading through the linked archives above. These Scouts are incredible.
Imagine how it must feel to be one of those youth, springing into action and changing what has the potential of being a grievous and life-ending situation. Imagine being only 9-years-old when one of those situations presents itself and the burden of bravery lands squarely on your shoulders and altruism and empathy take over.
That’s what happened to Nate in the summer of 2019.
June 30th was just a regular summer day for Nate and Michael. Our family was spending the day in Maryland enjoying the Chesapeake Bay, boating with grandparents, and swimming for hours on end in their local, unguarded pool. It was sunny, 90 degrees, and the water was crystal clear. Aside from a raft and a couple of adults, the boys had the pool to themselves for most of the afternoon, using all that space to practice diving. As the day went on, we were joined by a grandmother and her 5-year-old grandson, Bentley. He was known to be a weak swimmer and relied on Nate’s raft to “keep up” with the older boys. Despite our family watching over him in the water, his wild energy had him jumping from and back onto the raft until he was utterly exhausted.
Things can go from fun to terrifying in a flash, especially with children and especially where there’s water. Drowning is silent – you can’t take your eyes off of the children in your care for even an instant, no matter their swimming skills or strength. “I noticed Bentley was underwater so I watched him for about ten seconds to see if he would come up. When he didn’t, I knew he was drowning.” Nate recalls. With all of the splashing, it was impossible to see that Bentley had jumped from the raft and became too tired to pull himself back up. Before any of the adults could react, Nate sprang into action.
“I dove into the pool down to the bottom, grabbed him up, and swam him to the parents in the shallow water. He looked like he was very tired.”
Nate dove into the five-foot depth, pulled the full bodyweight of a kindergartener from the bottom, hugged him from behind, and swam him to safety. My boy did this bravely and without panic. As he explained what had happened to the adults in the pool, it was clear that Nate had just saved a life and that even a moment more would have been too much for little Bentley. We were all understandably shaken by the experience, and all Nate could do was consider how he’d teach this boy to swim the next time they were together at the pool. This isn’t where the story ends.
That evening, as I was digesting the events of the day, I posted about it on Facebook and proudly read to Nate all of the love and support he was receiving from our friends and family. If you’re a Scouter, you know that it isn’t just about the youth. You gain a new community of lifelong friends that care about your family and have the experience to guide you toward opportunities you didn’t know existed. Such was the case here. Many Scouter friends commented that Nate should be nominated for the Lifesaving or Meritorious Action Award, something I never would have known to do. (Big thanks to Ben Ward and Heather Dunton for the insight, encouragement, and support!!)
About the Lifesaving or Meritorious Action Award Recommendation, the Wait, and What Comes Next
When a registered Scout attempts to save or saves a life, they qualify for one of three national-level awards for either Lifesaving or Meritorious Action. The Recommendation for Lifesaving or Meritorious Action Award is a fillable PDF that summarizes the action taken by the Scout and then details the incident by the nominee, rescued persons, and witnesses. These are submitted to your local Council, who then forwards them to the National Court of Honor for consideration. The National Court of Honor reviews the recommendation and determines if the actions taken qualify for an award, and if so, which award the Scout will receive.
This is where a Scout is patient. It’s impossible to know who said it first, but no truer words were spoken than “anything worth having is worth waiting for.” Trust the process and try not to let the time it takes for the National Court of Honor to review your Scout’s recommendation make you feel like their actions weren’t worthy of recognition. It will take some time before you get word that the recommendation has been received, much less reviewed. Touch base with your Council every once in a while, advocate for your Scout and have faith in the process.
At the Friends of Scouting Dinner! L to R: David Saunders (Assistant Den Leader who taught Nate pool rescues), me (the proud mom), Mike (the proud Dad), Michael (seated, proud big brother), and Nate (the man of the hour)
As we waited, Nate’s heroics were graciously celebrated by our local Scouting community. We are proud members of the Battlefield District in the Heart of Virginia Council, and they treated (and continue to treat) Nate like a celebrity. He was immediately honored at our annual Friends of Scouting Dinner, receiving a standing ovation in front of hundreds of proud and supportive guests.
Nate was even interviewed by our Director of Field Services, Mr. Bill Givler, who, along with the amazing Lakayla Bonaparte, created a wonderful video about his actions in the pool that day.
I can’t impart upon you enough how important a strong relationship with your District and Council is on any given, normal day, but especially in situations like this. The way they treated Nate was exactly how I want every Scout to be treated at all times, with respect and consideration. The folks at the helm are everyday heroes!
Nearly two years after his application was submitted, Nate received word that he would receive the rare Heroism Award, a special medal and knot that was reinstated by Scouts BSA in 2018. As explained by Bryan on Scouting, this award is presented to youth members or adult leaders who demonstrated unusual heroism and skill in saving or attempting to save a life at minimal personal risk. It is one of three lifesaving awards presented by the National Court of Honor. Two meritorious action awards are also considered when you submit a recommendation. Each one is a tremendous honor, and every recipient deserves the recognition they receive!
Award Presentation… Hang On Tight!
On December 30, 2020, Nate capped off everyone’s difficult year on a very high note. The Heart of Virginia Council Director of Field Services, Bill Givler, and Council Commissioner, Tom Wood, awarded Nate with his Heroism Award in a socially-distanced presentation that he’ll never forget. Nate was proud to receive his Heroism Award medal, knot, and special certificate. What Mr. Givler and Mr. Wood said to him that day will stick with him forever, becoming a big part of the way he sees himself and others for the rest of his life.
Photo Credit: Lakayla Bonaparte, Heart of Virginia Council
We thought, surely this is the epitome of coolness? There’s no way this could get any more exciting for Nate… right? Well, then the inaugural edition of the newly re-branded Scout Life Magazine arrived in our mailbox. It was already a collector’s item for us, but when my husband thumbed through it, the excited scream he let out sealed its fate as our favorite edition of all time. Right there on page 41, among the heroes in the Scouts in Action section was a rendering of a boy we’d know anywhere.
When your Scout receives an award from the National Court of Honor for Lifesaving or Meritorious Action, they are automatically included in the Scouts in Action section of Scout Life Magazine. We had no idea! Keep this in mind and reach out to your Council after publication, as they receive numerous copies for recruitment purposes and would likely be thrilled to provide you with several. You’ll want every copy you can get!
What happens next is on you, parents and/or leadership! In our household, we’re firm believers in helping others without expecting recognition or reward. However, in special circumstances like this, it’s important to document these special accomplishments. Reach out to your local newspapers and celebrate your Scout in your community. Our local publication, the Mechanicsville Local, allowed for me to write and submit an article on Nate’s behalf, of which I’ve collected countless copies for various purposes.
This is a wonderful opportunity to promote your Scouting units, as well! Give copious shout-outs to your District and Council members who supported your Scout along the way. Include your chartering organization, family, and friends. Celebrate service and heroism! Spread the love. Be the good news we all want and need to hear.
A Mother’s Musing
When you fill out the Scouts BSA Youth Application, you do it because you want something more for your child. You want for them to become a leader, a stand-up citizen, and possibly a lifesaver. You want for them to know how to take care of themselves and others, to be selfless, kind, and trustworthy. You want them to feel confident and sure of themselves, and to be mindful of others. You want every opportunity for success to be available to them, for them to appreciate hard work and dedication, and for them to achieve something great. As parents and leaders, we tend to get caught up in the details of a thing without seeing it for what it is. Sometimes we see the numbered requirements and not the end goal of an adventure. My advice to us all is to simply step back for a moment and take it all in because what we’re experiencing in these years with our youth is unbelievably important and special. Tackle the experience with joy and patience. Acknowledge when, through training and bravery, your Scouts step beyond what you think they’re capable of and onto a path you couldn’t have seen in your wildest dreams. For me, this has been a lesson in patience. It has expanded my understanding of pride and helped me to see my sons in a completely different way. Kids are capable of more than we give them credit for, and where they will always need and deserve our advocacy and encouragement, they can and will do some seriously amazing things.
If your Scout has thrown aside fear or trepidation in an effort to save a life, congratulations! You are raising and training a hero. Celebrate them with fervor. Honor them. Shout their praises from the rooftops! Let their world know that their selfless bravery is the baseline for which we should all act at all times. Be patient and trust in the process. Know that a year or two might go by without an update about their recommendation, but that every link in the chain is working hard to acknowledge your Scout.
Last but not least, and most importantly, feel these feelings. As a mother, when my son carried Bentley to me in the pool that day, it took some time before the shock wore off and the tears erupted. Your son or daughter will need for you to listen to them throughout this process, but especially directly after they’ve saved a life. Mindfully and thoughtfully listen to their worries and concerns, carefully debrief them of the situation. Comfort, console, and encourage them. Remember that even a Troop-level Scout is still a child and that actions like these are far bigger than they realize. There’s a lot of trauma involved that takes time and care to process. If they need assistance processing the event, please hear them and get them the professional help they need.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Please remember that the links to editable Slides are the official Look Wider Still copies of those files. Please do not request editor access to those files! I’ve spent a lot of time re-building Slideshows and Certificate files to remove changes made by users. Please make copies of those files and work from your copies! Thank you!!
Whether your Pack is hosting an in-person, drive-thru, or virtual event, one thing is certain… the Pinewood Derby Race is the one event your Scouts have been waiting for all year! You could even argue that this year in particular, holding onto Scouting traditions is more important than ever. Planning your event as you always have just isn’t an option for the 2020-2021 Year in Scouting, so I’ve created a few free resources I hope will help make your job a little easier.
I’ve put together two themes for you to choose from, red and blue. Each theme includes:
Printable Pit Passes
A Google Slides template
Printable Signage
A Zoom Background
Editable Race Certificates
There are also a set of free, downloadable race certificates to save you a little bit of time and money. A Scout is thrifty, afterall.
How to Use the Pit Passes
Print the Pit Passes from the theme of your choice, cut to size, then laminate each individual pass. Punch a hole at the top of each pass and use yarn to create a lanyard, long enough for a Scout to put on without having to untie a knot. As cars are entered into Pit Row (registered), give each racer their own Pit Pass. Use permanent marker to write in their Racer name and the name of their car! If your race software provides a number for each Racer, write that (along with the date) on the back of their pass.
I’ve used Office Max for years when printing my Pit Passes. They can print your passes on heavy weight paper or even card stock. If you are skipping lamination, use a heavy card stock for your passes.
How to Use the Google Slides Templates
When you open the slideshow, click the File dropdown and select Make a Copy > Entire Presentation. You can make edits to your saved copy of the slideshow. Note that the first slide includes a Cub Scout logo with the default unit numbers “111”. That is an editable textbox that can be used to customize that logo for your own unit!
If you are hosing a virtual Pinewood Derby Race, you can share your screen in Zoom and click the Present button on the top right of your Google Slide screen. This will share your slideshow with your Zoom participants, full-screen. You can use your arrow keys to navigate through the slideshow! Don’t forget to use your matching Zoom backgrounds!
There are also editable certificates available in each theme. These are also Google Slides. When you open these files, please click the File dropdown and select Make a Copy > Entire Presentation. You should work from your copied presentation.
Blue Theme
Use the links below to download your FREEBlue Theme resources.
There are countless great resources out there to help you pull off an amazing Pinewood Derby. Here are a few I thought would be helpful to you this year.
I hope that you get some good use out of these special resources! If you use them for race day, let me know in the comments. How did it go? What were the cars like this year? Were you in-person or virtual? Tell me everything. And don’t forget to like this post, share it, and follow Look Wider Still!
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Look Wider Still is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I have personally purchased and used the products I suggest.
Happy Holidays, Scouters! My gift to you this holiday season is a handful of groaners and some resources to make your virtual meetings a little easier to plan this month. Cheers to saving time in this, the happiest and busiest month of all. How about some Dad Jokes and Zoom backgrounds to make your day a little brighter?
Looking to round-out an awesome holiday-themed virtual celebration? Here are a few additional resources for your virtual meeting.
Scouting Tech: Bitmoji Scout Settings Expansion for Winter Holidays! ‘Tis the season to be, well, a whole lotta things… jolly being at the top of the list! I have been blissfully and intentionally unaware of just how quickly the holidays will be upon us, but since the weather has finally changed and the air is pretty nippy right now, there’s no denying it’s time to start thinking of ways to celebrate with our Scouts. If you’re still using Bitmoji to make your Den, Pack, and Troop meetings a little more fun, then I have an early present for you! I’ve pulled together a brand new expansion pack to help you celebrate the winter season and all of its special holidays.
Bonus Zoom Backgrounds
I wish all of you a holly, jolly holiday season! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa! Before you go, give this post a quick like or comment, and don’t forget to follow Look Wider Still.
‘Tis the season to be, well, a whole lotta things… jolly being at the top of the list! I have been blissfully and intentionally unaware of just how quickly the holidays will be upon us, but since the weather has finally changed and the air is pretty nippy right now, there’s no denying it’s time to start thinking of ways to celebrate with our Scouts.
If you’re still using Bitmoji to make your Den, Pack, and Troop meetings a little more fun, then I have an early present for you! I’ve pulled together a brand new expansion pack to help you celebrate the winter season and all of its special holidays.
Included in the Winter Holidays pack are:
17 holiday-themed backgrounds
56 transparent accessory images
Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, New Year, Chinese New Year, and even Snowy Winter
You can use this expansion pack all on its own OR download the original base pack and the Scouting expansion pack (both linked below) and amass quite the Bitmoji collection. The best part is that it’s really just a launching point for you to get those creative juices flowing and add your own personalized images. Don’t have graphic design software? No problem. Use a website like remove.bg to give any image a transparent background.
Bitmoji is full of holiday-themed character stickers, from Thanksgiving to the New Year. Take advantage of them all and add some spice (and levity) to your meeting setting.
Go virtual with Den and Pack meetings and bring your meeting space to your Scouts, right from your desktop!
What’s included: · Five blank room templates (gray, navy, blue, tan, green) · Five den meeting templates (Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos) · Five Oath, Law, Outdoor Code templates (gray, navy, blue, tan, green) · Two special event templates (birthday and camping) · Seven custom artwork graphics (Oath, Law, Pocketknife Pledge, and more) · 50+ transparent accessory graphics (shelves, tables, tents, rugs, whiteboards, tents, plants, lighting, pets, and more)
>> Bitmoji Scouting Themed Expansion Pack, now including GSUSA! Includes: · four additional Scouting scenes · seven GSUSA themed scenes · 40 new transparent accessories, including Scout neckerchiefs in seven colors, GSUSA-themed Oath and Law artwork, additional lighting, windows with views, seating, and more · Transparent images and full setting backgrounds that can be used for GSUSA, Scouts BSA, and Cub Scouts
So, what do you think?
Will you create your own Bitmoji you? Will you use Google Slides and my Bitmoji settings for your Den and/or Pack meetings? Have you already used resources like this? How did it go?
Don’t forget to like and comment on this post, then follow Look Wider Still to be the first to know about new LWS posts.
Congratulations, Scouters, you have made it to your new Year in Scouting, which means you are likely up to your neck in to-do lists. While we’re all still navigating a very different year in programming, many of us are trying to find ways to present Cub Scout adventures in a virtual setting. Having been a den leader for many years, I have been working on updating and converting my archived materials to help YOU plan a full year of virtual programming.
Take a breath. I’ve got you.
Below you’ll find a link to a Google Slide file entitled “Look Wider Still: Wolf Den Slides & Meeting Organization Tools Master File”. This file contains 50 slides full of adventure requirements and resources like external links, embeddable (is that a word) YouTube videos, and downloadable/printable files I’ve created to keep your Scouts on track this year.
To use it:
Make a copy of this file by clicking File > Make a Copy > Entire Presentation.
Make a copy of your presentation for every meeting, editing the content with the included resources however you’d like.
Give your presentations meaningful names, like “October 16 2020 Wolf Meeting Code of the Wolf”. This will make it easy to find in your Slides collection and to share with others.
Make copies of / download the linked Google Drive files within as well!
You can then pick and choose the slides you’d like to use, deleting those that you won’t need for your specific meeting adventure. Easy!
Download the Wolf Den Slides & Meeting Organization Tools Master File
This file is available with viewer permissions. You will need to follow the instructions above to make edits to the Wolf Den Slides & Meeting Organization Tools Master File. This file has been beefed up as of February 19, 2021!
Best of Luck!
As always, I share these files in the hopes that it helps give you back some of your free time and helps ease the stress of the planning process. I’d love to know how you used the Wolf Den Slides & Meeting Organization Tools and what you thought about the resources. Did this help you reclaim a few spare minutes? Did it make den planning a breeze this year? What would you add or change?
Thank you for stopping by! Please follow Look Wider Still, like and comment on this post, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram!
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Need help planning your virtual den meetings all year long?
I’ve created a series of Google Slides that can be shared via your favorite virtual meeting program.
Look Wider Still is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Happy Thanksgiving, ya turkeys! No matter how your Pack celebrates the holiday, make sure you throw a little humor into the plan. Dad Jokes are perfect for any and every occasion, and this collection of Thanksgiving jokes is sure to get a few clucks from your crowd.
Looking to round-out an awesome Thanksgiving-themed virtual celebration? Here are a few additional resources for your virtual meeting.
I wish all of you a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving! Before you go, give this post a quick like or comment, and don’t forget to follow Look Wider Still.
Trick or treat! Bags of sweets! Ghosts are walking down the street!
Happy Halloween, Scouters! If ever there was a holiday that begged for a great Dad Joke (or even better, a groaner), it’s Halloween. Here are a few you can save and share with your unit. Feel free to post it on your Facebook group, share it via Zoom, or pass along in an email.
Looking to round-out an awesome Halloween-themed virtual celebration? Here are a few additional resources for your virtual meeting, Trunk-or-Treat, or at-home Halloween!
Looking for a game to put some pep in your next virtual meeting? I’ve pulled together a collection of Look Wider Still games that can be played over your favorite online conferencing platform. Keep it simple – make it fun. That’s the Scouting way.
“I think what makes ‘Jeopardy!’ special is that, among all the quiz and game shows out there, ours tends to encourage learning.”-Alex Trebek
Like pretty much every PL at the helm of a virtual patrol, my son and his Scouts are starting to burn out with the virtual format. It’s hard to make it more exciting than school, especially for a teenager, and they’re all looking for a Tuesday night “off,” so to speak. My son and I talked about it at length and he tasked me with trying to make a review game that they could play via Zoom but that looked and felt different from his other meetings. Jeopardy! Scouting Showdown was born, and after a week of testing, we think we have it ready to roll out for other Scouters to use.
Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: 2nd Class Rank BINGO Game
It’s hard to find fresh ideas to bring life to the Scouting program over Zoom, so when my son (a PL) asks to reinvent a tried and true game, we do it and we share. Back in May, he and I worked together to create a series of S.C.O.U.T. game boards to cover Scout Rank materials. His patrol is moving up in the ranks and many are ready to earn 2nd Class. Accordingly, some new game boards were required. If your Scouts are moving up and are ready to earn their 2nd Class Rank, this BINGO Game is a great review of the materials.
If you find yourself in a slump or in need of a last-minute game, try my Scout-Themed Pictionary Zoom Game! Complete with a free printable Pictionary Word Cards and links to a number randomizer and timer, this post has everything you need for a fun game of Scouting Pictionary.
Do you remember family game night growing up? Some games made for a fun evening, like Candy Land and Life while others turned typically sweet family members into wild-eyed logophiles, like Scattergories. Why not find a way to play Scattergories for Scouts… SCOUTERGORIES! Complete with a list of rules, links to an online letter generator and official Scattergories letter die (with timer), and printable game lists, this makes for a fun break during your next Zoom meeting.
The Scouts Whisper Game is a great opportunity to encourage Scout Spirit and practice the trustworthy, friendly, courteous, kind, and cheerful points of ourScout Law. Much like the Whisper Challenge played on the Tonight Show, this game offers up funny phrases that Scouts try to guess by reading lips, all over Zoom, Skype, or any other virtual meeting program. Complete with game rules and a printable set of whisper phrases, you can’t go wrong with this simple Scouting game.
There are a LOT of great Scouting Bingo games out there that have been shared in the last several months, many of which help your Scouts continue on the advancement trail. We worked together to pull a series of six individual S.C.O.U.T. game boards that specifically review the Scout Rank materials. This post has everything you need to help your new Scouts earn their very first rank.
Make the most of your platform and use breakout rooms to get your den or patrol working together. With four full survival situations and all of the materials you need to lead your Scouts through a deserted island, the zombie apocalypse, the wilderness, and an extreme adventure injury, you’ve got the makings of a great meeting game.
As my son continues thinking up ways to convert games to suit his virtual meetings, I’ll update the Look Wider Still Game Zone! Keep your eyes peeled here for updates.
Don’t forget to follow Look Wider Still to be the first to know when new materials are posted. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram. Have you used any of these games in your virtual meetings? Tell me all about it in the comments, and don’t forget to like this post!
Congratulations, Scouters, you have made it to your new Year in Scouting, which means you are likely up to your neck in to-do lists. Chances are good that your dining room table is a mountain of Scout stuff, and your spare room and garage look a little something like this…
While we’re all still navigating a very different year in programming, many of us are trying to find ways to present Cub Scout adventures in a virtual setting. Having been a den leader for many years, I have been working on updating and converting my archived materials to help YOU plan a full year of virtual programming.
Take a breath. I’ve got you.
Below you’ll find a link to a Google Slide file entitled “Look Wider Still: Tiger Den Slides & Meeting Organization Tools Master File”. This file contains 43 slides full of adventure requirements and resources like external links, embeddable (is that a word) YouTube videos, and downloadable/printable files I’ve created to keep your Scouts on track this year.
To use it:
Make a copy of this file by clicking File > Make a Copy > Entire Presentation.
Make a copy of your presentation for every meeting, editing the content with the included resources however you’d like.
Give your presentations meaningful names, like “October 16 2020 Tiger Meeting My Tiger Jungle”. This will make it easy to find in your Slides collection and to share with others.
Make copies of / download the linked Google Drive files within as well!
You can then pick and choose the slides you’d like to use, deleting those that you won’t need for your specific meeting adventure. Easy!
Download the Tiger Den Slides & Meeting Organization Tools Master File
This file is available with viewer permissions. You will need to follow the instructions above to make edits to the Tiger Den Slides & Meeting Organization Tools Master File. This file has been beefed up as of February 18, 2021!
Best of Luck!
As always, I share these files in the hopes that it helps give you back some of your free time and helps ease the stress of the planning process. I’d love to know how you used the Tiger Den Slides & Meeting Organization Tools and what you thought about the resources. Did this help you reclaim a few spare minutes? Did it make den planning a breeze this year? What would you add or change?
Thank you for stopping by! Please follow Look Wider Still, like and comment on this post, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram!
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Need help planning your virtual den meetings all year long?
I’ve created a series of Google Slides that can be shared via your favorite virtual meeting program.
Look Wider Still is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
It’s that time of year again, where we’re (hopefully) welcoming scores of Scouts, filling up our dens with new, smiling faces! Unless they’re a Lion, all new Scouts could and should start working on their Bobcat rank right away. There are a bunch of fun ways to help these Scouts earn their very first rank… for instance, check out my post Cub Scouts Bobcat for lots of great ideas and activities to get these kids started both virtually or in-person.
In the spirit of not reinventing the wheel, I wanted to share what I created as part of a special project on behalf of my Council. My part of the project included videos that are being used to help teach the Bobcat rank that I thought I should go ahead and put out into the world for you to use. You can preview the videos below, made using Powtoon, then save some or all from my >>Look Wider Still Bobcat Videos Google Drive folder<<
A Scout Is
Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful
Friendly, Courteous, Kind
Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty
Brave, Clean, and Reverent
Cub Scout Motto: Do Your Best
Youth Protection Pamphlet
How and Where to Use These Videos
Where these can easily be played individually throughout one or several den meetings, I found that dropping them into Google Slides helped make the presentation a little more fun! They can easily be added into a template, like the ones I shared in my post Scouting Tech: Visual Aids for Virtual Meetings, and played as part of your presentation. That saves you from opening YouTube and having an inappropriate video show up as a suggestion, as well.
Yours in Scouting
I hope these Bobcat videos are helpful to you as you plan and execute an awesome Year in Scouting! I’d love to see how you used these and hear all about your brand new Bobcats. Best wishes to all of you!
When the ball dropped and we rang in the brand new year, I don’t think any of us had “learn an entirely new set of tech skills” on our list of resolutions. Yet, here we are, picking up little tips and tricks and going pro as we navigate working from home and virtual schooling. How exciting for our resumes?
The new school year presented several hurdles that weren’t covered in the volumes of emails and help docs our county shared, and as we’ve kicked off week two in this new format, I’ve found that the one hurdle that continues to trip us up is printing from our new devices.
Let me know if this is a regular conversation in your home, “Mom, I need to make a copy of this Schoology document and save it to my Drive so I can fill it in electronically, but when I do I can’t see my teacher and I’m getting lost.”
CHEERS TO OUR EDUCATORS!
Can we please just take a moment to put out into the universe how much we love and appreciate our educators? These underappreciated, underpaid people are saints!
It took some time and a bunch of clicking around to figure out a solution to this issue, and what works for us is Google Cloud Print. This has been a life-saver for my boys, who are using tiny county-issued Chromebooks to attend school. When they open a file in Drive and attempt to work on it AND split their screen to simultaneously attend their Zoom meeting, their Drive file is minimized to a size that even their fresh, young eyes can’t work with. We print hard copies and they work from those with a full-sized Zoom screen, instead.
What is Google Cloud Print? It’s a printing service that connects your home printer with other devices over your Wi-Fi. Your computer must have the Chrome browser installed, and the accounts you provide access to your printer must be logged-in to the Google Account you share access with in order to print.
Here’s how to set up Google Cloud Print for your family:
Your printer should now be listed as available for Cloud Printing
Select your printer and click the green “Share” button to invite users to access it
In the “Invite people” box, type in your child’s Google account address as provided by your school and make sure their access is set to “Can print”
You’ll see that some printer brands have their own instructions for setting-up their devices with Google Cloud Print, so my instructions above may not work for every printer. Ours is a Dell and was set-up fairly easily using the steps above. Here’s a link to Google Cloud Print Help if you run into any issues getting set-up.
Your students can now open their files in any of the Google Suite programs and send jobs to your home printer over your Wi-Fi. This has been a tremendous help to our family and has made virtual school just a little bit easier for our students.
Hope this is helpful! Do you have other tips and tricks that have helped your family jump a hurdle? Do you struggle with something and need help? Did you get your students set-up with Google Cloud Print? How’s school going so far? I want to hear it all.
If ever there has been a perfect time to get into Geocaching, it’s right now. All summer long, brand new cachers have started popping up on the scene, looking for new and fun ways to get their families out of isolation and into the wide, wide world. Groundspeak, knowing their game naturally appeals to the more, shall we say, introverted decided to take this opportunity to reinvent Lab Caches. Way back when, Lab Caches were a cache type that involved exploring an area and answering questions about it on a separate website, much the way the new Adventure Lab Caches work. However, tech being what it was, things got a little hairy, cell towers got jammed, and though you left with a smiley, you also had a few new gray hairs.
The first time we saw a Lab Cache was when we attended GeoWoodstock XIII way back in 2015. With thousands of cachers in attendance, signing logs on the physical caches in and around Boonsboro, Maryland got to be an impossible task. Are you really finding a cache if it’s physically in the hands of a hundred people standing in line ahead of you? They offered up Lab Caches that were findable for a certain amount of time, and man were they creative. Check out this video by The Geocaching Vlogger.
My boys STILL remember the mouse trap Lab Cache!
As the years passed, technology improved, and apps like Pokemon Go started getting popular, Geocaching decided to take steps toward meeting the expectations of veteran and new cachers alike. I mean, how many micros can you find before you’re bored? To start, they reinstated another archived cache type, the Virtual. Out of the blue, cachers started receiving invitations to create their own virtual caches, and with lots of creativity and a little freedom, some really cool new listings started popping up at locations where physical containers simply weren’t allowed (or would be difficult to maintain).
We got an invitation to create a Virtual Cache and decided to highlight the largest solar installation in the Washington, DC area at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Football Team. Entitled “Greenskins,” our virtual spotlights the solar array containing more than 8,000 panels that generates the amount of energy equivalent to two and a half times the power consumed during regular season game days. The real star, however, is the 30-foot tall quarterback statue dubbed “Solar Man.” To make the find, cachers need to take a picture of the Solar Man and post it to their log. Simple as that! We love it when the notifications come in on game days… here are a few of our favorite logs.
Follow us on Instagram to share in our adventures and see what kinds of caches we’re publishing! @team_ngeocaching
The Virtual’s went over well, but two years have passed since they first made a comeback and with the pandemic pushing everyone outside, Geocaching went one step further and started inviting cachers to create brand new Adventure Lab caches.
So, what IS an Adventure Lab, anyway? These are location-based puzzles that take you from one spot to another, collecting information and answering questions as you go, earning a smiley for each stage you complete. Unlike traditional, multi, and mystery caches, there aren’t physical containers hidden anywhere. Instead, you’re sleuthing for information that you’re entering into the Adventure Lab app. The app utilizes geofencing to verify that players are, indeed, on location and a fun interface to make logging each stage interesting. While they work out the kinks – and there are some – Geocaching is only opening these up to a limited number of experienced premium member cachers, but they seem to hope that everyone will be able to publish their own in the future.
We were excited to receive an invitation to create our own Adventure Lab, and knew exactly what we wanted to do; a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Oval Portrait” using the Virginia Museum of Fine Art to set the scene. Our The Oval Portrait Adventure Lab combines clips of the 1934 silent film based on the short story to tell the tale of an artist so obsessed with his work that he neglects to notice he’s painted the life out of his young wife. Using artwork from the American Art gallery, we were able to pull together the story in a way we feel is interesting and, certainly, not possible were an Adventure Lab not given to us. Most new Adventure Labs are associated with a Bonus Cache that provides a physical container with a log inside, just for the fun of it. We’re so grateful to the fine folks at the Poe Museum in Richmond for allowing us to place our “The Oval Portrait Adventure Lab BONUS” on-site. How cool is that?
How do you find Adventure Labs near you? Download the Adventure Lab app on the App Store or Google Play and follow the instructions. Then, hit the pavement (or dirt or polished museum floor) to start collecting clues and smileys. It’s truly that easy.
Adventure Labs and Scouting
As units move toward a virtual Year in Scouting, Geocaching makes for the perfect adventure companion. It teaches Scouts all about GPS technology, gets them outdoors, takes them to new and exciting places, is great for families, and easily the most socially distanced game of all time. Look up your local Adventure Labs, find one that will take your Scouts somewhere interesting, and send them on their way. Make a video of yourself at some of the locations explaining what Adventure Labs are, how to access them, and what they’ll find along the way. Challenge your Scouts to find specific caches and report back on their experiences. Geocaching (and Adventure Labs) are a great way to keep it simple and make it fun.
Have you tried Geocaching yet? What’s your favorite find? Will you try finding Adventure Labs? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to like and follow Look Wider Still. Thank you!
This tutorial teaches Scouters how to develop a Unit website utilizing New Google Sites.
A Scout is a lot of things, as we all know. They’re all 12 Points of the Scout Law and so much more; and if this year is any indication of our enduring Scout Spirit, then I’d say with confidence that a Scout is also both resilient and flexible. In fact, resiliency seems to be the theme of 2020. Each of us has found a way to stay engaged and involved despite the hurdles and hardships, and as we face down what promises to be a difficult and possibly detrimental recruiting season, it’s important to remember that a good Scout is always prepared.
I type that knowing many units are struggling to retain their leadership team, much less recruit brand new Scouts into the fold. Let’s all take a moment to look back at the Cub Scouting program and tell ourselves it’s time to do your best, not just sometimes but all the time, and that your best is different from anyone else’s best… and that’s okay.
Recruitment is always a wild time of year, and this one promises to be nothing less than a skill-building opportunity. To that end, I’d like to be as helpful as possible and offer up some guidance on creating a virtual representation of your unit that will attract new families and keep them informed and engaged throughout your very new, very different Scouting Year. A public website should be on your list of recruitment basics, and I want to show you how to do it as simply as possible.
Though our original Pack website was built using Classic Google Sites, I’ve since come to love New Google Sites and feel like it’s perfect for Scouting Units. New Google Sites utilizes the entire Google Suite of online programs, making it easy to drop documents, images, and even calendars into your site with very little effort. You can also use basic editing shortcuts like CTRL+V to paste, CTRL+Z to undo, etc. It also allows you to drag and drop sections from one place to another as opposed to deleting and re-creating content, which is a total dream!
You’ll want to create a Google e-mail (Gmail) account for your Pack, even if you already have an existing email for communication purposes. You’ll use this account to login to Google Sites, and since it’s not your personal e-mail address, it can be passed on to the next leader to fill the webmaster role. Share the account information with your Committee Chairperson and Cubmaster!
Consider Your Basics
Make a list of what you consider to be the basics you want to share on your website. You’ll need to describe your Pack, focusing on the program you offer and how that sets you apart from other local Packs, and your meeting schedule. You’ll also need to provide a way for potential families to communicate with you, be that a Google Form or a simple paragraph providing your contact information. Do you want to link your social media accounts to your website? Maybe share newsletters or announcements? Think about what you would want to see on a Units website as a potential member.
Using that list of basics, create a simple wireframe of your site. A wireframe is essentially a blueprint of your site, a schematic or skeletal view of how information will be organized on your site jotted down on paper. Think of it like a flow chart of information! Remember that we’re supposed to Keep It Simple in Scouting.
Anyone else have a drawer full of scrap paper? A Scout is Thrifty… and a wireframe should be simple.
If you open our Pack website at www.Pack521.com, you should be able to see how this wireframe ultimately became a website.
Create A Google Site
To create a Google Site, make sure you are logged into your unit’s Google account before navigating to Google Sites. The banner at the very top will have a section for creating a new site. You can choose one of the templates (clicking “Template Gallery ^ v” will expand that section and show additional options) or start with a blank site.
TEMPLATES are great for novice webmasters and provide you with a lot of pre-fab structure that will make for a beautiful Scout Unit website. You would simply replace the stock images with your own, drop in text, and have a site in a few short hours.
BLANK SITES are easy for everyone and ideal for those webmasters who really want to customize a great site. Even blank sites have layout themes, so you aren’t starting from scratch. For this post, I’m using a Blank Site.
Your site will open and look remarkably, well, blank. To start customization, hover over the “Untitled Site” text and update it with your Unit’s information. For instance, my template site is entitled “Cub Scout Pack 521, Virginia”. This title will appear on the browser tab and Google search results, so make sure it’s meaningful but not too long.
Page Title and / or Header Graphic
The page you are currently seeing is, by default, your homepage. If you click the “Pages” tab on the far-right window, you’ll see that it’s even called home. You can hover over the three vertical dots next to “Home” to change the name of this page, but it will remain the first page of your website, where visitors will be directed if they find you in a search engine.
You can click the “Your page title” text to edit it. This is a great opportunity to welcome guests to your page from the word go. Something meaningful like “Welcome to Pack 521” is a great start! If you have a header graphic that you’d prefer to use, which includes text, you can delete the page title text block entirely and, instead, change the header type and upload an image from your device. I opted to remove the text and upload an image on my template site.
Google displays the center of your header graphic, and because it’s responsive, what you see will depend on the kind of device it’s being displayed on. Your header graphic will display differently on a smart phone versus a tablet or PC… and it will display differently on your PC if you have a full screen versus a split screen. That makes it tricky to customize your header graphic. You can save a copy and use this template on Google Drawing to design your header graphic. Note that the white area will likely not appear on your Google Site when you upload it to your template. Once you’ve completed your image, you can save it as a png and download it to your device. Return to your site and upload it by clicking on the “Change Image” > “Upload” button. You can also upload it to your Google Drive and navigate to it using the same “Change Image” button. Google Sites will automatically apply a filter that edits your image to make the text overlayed on it (like the navigational items we’ll add later), but this can be removed by hovering over the image and clicking the three stars on the bottom-right of the image to “Remove Readability Adjustment.”
If you’d like to go a step further and brand your header graphic with official Scouts BSA images and colors, you’ll want to open the BSA Brand Identity Guide and Brand Center.
Homepage Content
The basics of a good home page are:
clear navigation
announcements and reminders
eye-catching imagery or videos
a calendar
To add announcements and reminders, click the “Insert” tab on the right-hand navigational pane. There, you can choose a layout for your announcements. I chose the first layout option for my template site because it gave me space for announcements AND an image or video. From here, I selected the text block at the top to create a section title… for instance, “Pack Announcements.” In the secondary block, I formatted this as a bulleted list to help separate announcements, and used text formatting like bolding and italicizing. To edit the image, just click on the + icon to upload an image from your device or Drive, or embed a YouTube video, calendar, or map! How cool is that??
Announcement Banners appear at the top of your page and highlight a special event or call to action. This would be great for redirecting potential families to recruitment materials! To add an Announcement Banner, just click on the gray gear at the top right of your screen to open Settings. Select “Announcement Banner” to edit the message, add a link and format to suit your design!
Eye-catching imagery or videos are a great way to get attention, especially when they’re right at the top of your home page. Scouts BSA provides us with an awesome marketing center full of hundreds of beautiful downloadable, licensed images and videos. Everything from Cub Scouts catching fish to Venturing action shots. Bookmark the BSA Brand Center’s Marketing Library and keep that resource handy at all times. Don’t forget to check out the Brand Guidelines to make sure you’re using the right logo and colors. This BSA Digital Design System is my favorite of all helps these days – it’s ease of use makes it a trusted tool in my design arsenal.
My Pack synced up their ScoutBook calendar with their Google Calendar, and embedded that calendar on their Google Site. To learn how to sync your ScoutBook and Google Calendars, read my post entitled Scouting Tech: Syncing Your ScoutBook and Google Calendars.
To add this calendar to your Google Site, choose “Calendar” from the “Insert” tab on the right-hand navigational pane. Choose your calendar and “Insert” to confirm. You can easily drag your calendar to resize it however you’d like, and by clicking the gray gear icon that appears when your calendar is selected, you can customize its settings. By default, the View Mode is set to “Agenda,” but can be changed to “Month” or “Week” using the drop-down. Click “Done” to save your settings.
You can easily add a Footer by clicking the “+ Footer” button that appears when you hover over the bottom of your page. This is the perfect spot for posting a brief tagline and your email address and other quick contact information. When you type out a Gmail address, it will automatically create a hyperlink!
Changing Your Color Theme
By clicking on the “Themes” tab on the right-hand navigational pane, you’ll see a series of themes that will change the appearance of your site. By default, your suite is set to “Simple,” but can be changed to several other themes with a simple click. I chose “Level” for my template site and used the color-picker to choose my theme color. The blue Scouts BSA branded adventure banner at the bottom of my header graphic is the color #003a7a. If you use the same image as part of your header graphic, you can paste that value into the color-picker to match. I set the background of my Pack Announements section to match by hovering over that section and choosing the color pallet “Section Background” icon and choosing Emphasis 2. Play around with these settings to personalize your website to your liking!
Adding Google Drive Files and a “Filing Cabinet”
The Classic Google Sites include a Filing Cabinet page type that is no longer available in the New Google Sites. Having a place for visitors to find important documents is key, so let’s learn how to use Google Drive to get this done. Consider thoughtful file directories for items you want to share with visitors to your site. For instance, “Den Leader Documents” and “Parent Documents.” Create folders in your Google Drive to organize your files, then drop your files into those folders! It’s really as easy as that.
To share Google Drive Files with site visitors, you’ll first create a new page using the “Pages” tab on the right-hand navigational pane. Click the blue + at the bottom of your screen and name your new page. On my template site, I created a page for “Forms & Guides“, which I used to house documents that I’d uploaded to my Google Drive. The header graphic and theme you choose will move over to all new pages of your website, which saves you a lot of time. My Forms & Guides page was easy to create. I created a page title by clicking the “Insert” tab at the right-hand navigational pane and clicking “Text Box.” I resized and formatted it to suit my page, choosing Emphasis 1 from the “Section Background” settings for that section. Click “Drive” from the “Insert” tab and navigate to one or your folders… for instance, “Den Leader Documents,” as mentioned above. Click “Insert” and resize your window to suit your preferences. Repeat that process for all of the folders you want to include on your website. You’ll see that, by default, your folders are dropped in as List View by default. You can change this to Grid View to see previews of each file as opposed to the file name and details by clicking the gray gear Settings icon that appears when you hover over your embedded folder.
Adding Links to Social Media
To include your Facebook and Twitter pages on your website, click the “Pages” tab on your right-most navigation pane and hover over the + icon at the bottom of the page. An option to add a “New Link” appears. Name your new link something logical, like “Facebook” or “Twitter” and paste your link to those sites below. By default, the new link will open in a new tab, but if you’d like for it to open in the existing tab, you can un-check that box before clicking “Done.”
Sanity Check!
Still with me? Put ‘er there!
Get up – stretch – do a little dance – get some water – take care of yourself – rejoice, because you’ve got yourself a basic website! Let’s dig a little deeper.
Additional Page Ideas
For new families, learning about Scouting and getting to know the countless units in your area can be a daunting task. Make it easy for them by laying out Den Information, introducing your Leadership Team, and telling them About Your Pack or Troop.
I created a Den Information Google Doc that I saved to my Google Drive, then added to the Den Information page of my template site. I like that it can be printed from there as opposed to trying to print the entire page of the website.
Your Leadership Team is the heart of your organization, so consider introducing them to the public on your new site. Include photos (in uniform, of course) to let Scouts see who it is they’ll be learning from this year, and have each leader write out a brief bio that explains their connection to Scouting, their leadership role, and what they like to do outside of Scouting.
An About Us page is an invaluable tool for introducing your organization to the community. Show off your awards and special recognition (like your Journey To Excellence status), as well as links to your social media accounts, information about the schools you serve and your sponsoring organization, contact information, and your Scouting history! You can even include links to your Council and District sites as well as other resources that might be helpful to your site visitors, like Scout Shop information.
You can easily develop a Google Form to capture information from perspective Scouts, then drop it into your new Site using the “Insert” tab and selecting “Google Forms” from the available options. It will embed your form into your page and allow families to submit the forms to you directly from your site!
Be-A-Scout Online Unit Application
In the best interest of easing recruiting, add a link to your unit’s registration/application page through My.Scouting.org. If you aren’t sure what your link is, visit beascout.scouting.org and search for your unit. Right-click on the blue “Apply Now” button that appears under your unit listing and select “Copy Link Address.” On your Google Site, click the “Pages” tab hover over the + icon and choose “New link.” Paste your link into the appropriate field, then name your link something logical like “Apply Now!” Your new link will appear in your navigation.
Navigation Details
You’ll notice that, with every new page or link you create, your navigation menu updates automatically across all pages. By default, your navigation menu appears horizontally across the top right-hand side of your site. You can click the gray gear for that section’s Settings and select “Side” from the mode drop-down. This creates a vertical menu that is hidden on the left-hand side of your site and can be accessed by clicking the three lines that now appear next to your site title. On the “Pages” tab, you can drag your pages and links into the order you prefer, which will be reflected in your navigation menu.
You’re Ready To Publish
Your site is just about ready – all that’s left to do now is publish it! Google Sites makes this as simple as clicking a button. You’ll find a purple “Publish” button on the top right-hand side of your screen. When you click it for the very first time, a “Publish to the web” window will appear, which will allow you to make some minor tweaks before going live. A default web address will populate based on the name you gave your site. You can use what was provided or click inside of that text box and make changes. You can also manage who views your site. By default, any published site will be Public to anyone on the web, and should remain that way. You can also check a box to request that public search engines do NOT display your site – I caution against checking that box as it will limit who can find you online. Don’t forget to confirm that you would like to Publish your page.
A “Your site has been published successfully” message will pop-up from the bottom of your page! CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS! YOU HAVE A SITE! You can quickly view your published site by clicking the drop-down arrow next to the “Publish” button and selecting “View Published Site“.
Custom Website Domain
You can purchase a personalized domain and forward it to point to your new Google Site. For instance, our Google Site URL is https://sites.google.com/site/pack521va/. That’s a lot to remember and print on flyers and other promotional materails. But http://www.Pack521.com is shorter, logical, and easier for a busy mom or dad to remember.
We purchased the Pack521.com domain through GoDaddy. To do this, you’ll need to create an account, then visit their domain name search page and look for your desired domain. The search will let you know if it is available and give you pricing plan information for the .com extension as well as many other available extensions. We chose .com and registered it for two years for right around $30.00
This step might also require a 24-hour or so stand up period where GoDaddy processes the new domain forwarding. By the next day you should be able to type your domain name into your browser address bar and it will forward to your Google Site like magic!
Okay, Now You Really Are Done!
This is a LOT to digest, but I hope that I’ve made it as straight forward as possible and saved you some first-timer missteps along the way. Do you have a Pack or Troop website? What provider did you use? Have you used Google Sites or Domain Forwarding through a vendor like GoDaddy? Share your website in the comments below!
2020 will go down in history for a lot of reasons, but I sure hope the countless positives will outweigh the negatives when tested by time. What I’ll remember most about 2020 is that the world was encouraged to think outside of the box and then moved to share their clever creativity with everyone else.
It’s absolutely no surprise that many of those clever creative thinkers are our educators! You can’t search Pinterest without finding countless resources that were thoughtfully and carefully developed by our educators, many of which are so flexible and well done that they can be tweaked with very little effort to suit the needs of other groups – like Scouters!
Laura Cahill is a genius!
When I stumbled upon a blog post by engageducate.com, my first thought was, “how can this brilliant idea be used for Scouting?” A virtual Zoom background that displays an agenda, is attractive and attention-grabbing, helps maintain order, clearly displays expectations, and can be used to organize materials like You Tube and supportive links? Sign.Me.Up.
Using Laura Cahill’s awesome video tutorials, I was all set-up in Google Slides and happily clicking along, creating sample meeting agendas and thinking up ways to modify this from a classroom resource to a Den/Pack meeting tool.
My first test of this format was to have my son, a Patrol Leader, set up an agenda board and supporting slides for an upcoming patrol meeting. In under 30 minutes, he had organized his meeting plan into a Google Slideshow that set the tone for a smooth, interesting meeting. He’s since worked hard to make his patrol agendas even more interactive, finding new ways to use Google Slides to his advantage. His biggest win is that he can use materials that already exist on the web without having to manage the links. He simply shares his screen to his Slideshow and, in Presentation mode, is able to click on the links he creates for himself. Here’s an example of a recent Google Slide patrol meeting he developed.
Why Google Slideshow Agendas Are Made For Cub Scouts!
Where this is perfect for Troop-level meetings, it is especially engaging for our younger Scouts at the Pack-level. When we adopted virtual meetings in the spring, we noticed that some Scouts dropped off because it felt a lot like school. As we were all learning how to use new-to-us technology, like Zoom, we were building the plane while we flew it… there was a tremendous learning curve and guess what? Whether you built a Boeing or one of those paper airplanes that immediately nosedive into the carpet, you did a great job!
The good news is, we’ve had months of trial and error to learn and grow from, and now we’re ready to embrace a Year in Scouting that looks almost nothing like anything we’ve ever seen before, and we’re not going into this thing along. We have each other, and I for one will share any and every piece of wisdom I glean in the process.
So, here’s why Google Slideshow Agendas are made for Cub Scouts. These little lords and ladies need visual aids to stay interested. It’s no fun for us as adults to sit through an hour of someone talking to us over Zoom, so it’s easy to imagine the torture that is an hour-long lecture as an elementary school aged child. Google Slides provides you with almost limitless opportunities for pulling together eye-catching, interesting, fun presentations that can be shared and passed down to other leaders. Having all of your virtual meeting materials in one place will make your job as den leader that much easier – it won’t be necessary to juggle clicking around to find materials on the web or trying to remember where you found something on the fly. It will also help you to stay on track and add resources to your meeting, like You Tube links and interactive games, that will keep your Scouts engaged.
Please feel free to make a copy of this template, which includes Google Slides for each den, some Pack meeting slides, and even meeting openers, to include the Pledge of Allegiance, Cub Scout Oath, and Scout Law.
A sample Lion Den slide from the template (linked above).
Once you’ve logged into Zoom, you can share your screen and click the “Present” button in the top right corner of your screen to set your Google Slideshow to full-screen, making it viewable to all of your meeting attendees. It’s that easy!
Need help planning your virtual den meetings all year long?
I’ve created a series of Google Slides that can be shared via your favorite virtual meeting program.
Don’t Forget…
There are countless resources available to you, so please don’t reinvent the wheel when planning the content for your meeting. The template (linked above) includes some suggested resources to help you keep it simple, make it fun. Use my Free Cub Scout and Scouts BSA Zoom Backgrounds for Virtual Meetings to make great Google Slide backgrounds, and check out some of my Virtual Games below to help keep your Scouts excited about joining your awesome online meetings.
Youth Protection is still central to a safe and successful Scouting program. Please take some time to read my post, Scouting Tech: Youth Protection in a Virtual World, to ensure you and your Scouts enjoy a great Year in Scouting together.
Last but not least, please take it easy on yourself! That you’re even reading this or doing other research to help plan your virtual meetings means that you’re going above and beyond for the youth in your charge. You’re a hero who’s keeping Scouting alive in a difficult time – THANK YOU for your service to our Scouts and THANK YOU for remembering that Scouts are always prepared and always ready to do their best. Nice work!
If summer 2020 has been anything, it’s rainy. Here in Richmond, it’s the rainiest August on record, and we’re only halfway through! We’re getting a pretty good soak right now as I type, and with no end in sight, I’m starting to line up my family’s favorite rainy-day recipes on my weekly meal plan.
There’s no better smell than that of onions, peppers and garlic sauteing. Change my mind.
As I thumbed through my recipe box, I found this awesome recipe for Crockpot Mesquite BBQ Beef on Rolls, or as I’d dubbed it, Sloppy Joseph’s. This recipe is full of all the good stuff you love about Sloppy Joe’s, but with a lot more oomph. It’s a fancier version of a classic, hence why I call it by it’s full name. It’s a snap to pull together, cooks away in the crockpot with little to no supervision, and makes for a great rainy day recipe that the whole family will enjoy.
To quote the hubs, “this is delicious!” Not to mention all the smells that fill your house, from the sauteing onions and peppers, to the simmering barbecue.
Prep time on this recipe is less than 20 minutes. You brown your beef and saute the veggies, then let your crockpot do all the hard work. In a few short hours, you’ll smile as you overload your favorite rolls with heaping spoonfuls of the bbq beef and coleslaw.
We’re BBQ sauce snobs and refuse to buy anything other than Sweet Baby Ray’s – that sauce is the boss, afterall. I used the Honey Barbeque Sauce for this particular recipe, with a teaspoon or so of the Honey Chipotle. Your favorite sauce will do, of course! We also prefer Martin’s Potato Rolls over regular hamburger buns, but again, that’s just our preference. This recipe will be a hit no matter what bread you put it on – and let’s face it, it’s not like you’re picking it up and eating it. This is ultimately an open faced sandwich situation, so anything will do.
Every time I share a crockpot recipe, I feel obligated to talk about the exact appliance that I own. I love my crockpot so much, it’s like my handy, reliable little sidekick that I absolutely cannot live without. I own the 8-Quart Oval Crock-Pot, and I love it for several reasons:
it’s ovular, which means it can hold a nice roast or tenderloin without having to cut it down
it has a glass lid, as opposed to plastic
it’s manual, so I can only get myself in so much trouble with the three temperature settings
Here’s the recipe for Sloppy Joseph’s Crockpot Mesquite BBQ Beef on Rolls; feel free to save and print it for your own recipe box!
This recipe makes about six servings, which is enough for my family of four to enjoy for dinner, then we fight it out for who gets to have it for lunch the next day! 🙂
Have I convinced you to add this to your meal plan for the week? Are you wearing more rain boots than bathing suits this summer? What’s your favorite crockpot recipe? Let me know in the comments. Don’t forget to like this post and follow Look Wider Still to get notifications for all of my posts!
-Rebekah
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As the weeks go on and virtual meetings continue, your PL might find themselves running out of good ideas to keep things exciting and interesting. You can only share screen so many Power Point presentations before Scouts start taking virtual naps during their weekly virtual Patrol meeting. If you find yourself in a slump or in need of a last-minute game, try my Scout-Themed Pictionary Zoom Game!
The rules are pretty much the same as the board game.
Pictionary word cards will have letters on them denoting the type of word they will be drawing. For instance, a “D” means the word is difficult or challenging, an “A” means it’s an action word, and so on.
Split your attendees into two equal teams. They will determine who their first “picturist” will be, then rotate with each word. Flip a coin to determine which team draws first.
The host will flip or randomly choose a card using the randomizer, then private chat the word and category to the “picturist”. The “picturist” will tell their team the category only.
Each team will have 60 seconds to guess what their “picturist” is drawing to earn a point. The opposing team will NOT guess at this time.
If the team correctly guesses the word, they earn the point and continue on to drawing another word. If the team incorrectly guesses the word and runs out of time, the opposing team can discuss for 10 seconds and a team representative will provide one guess. If they guess correctly, they steal the point. Regardless of their success in stealing the point, they will take the next turn drawing.
Set the timer for 60-seconds and draw!
The winning team has the most points at the end of your game. They get mega bragging rights!
Don’t forget…
Drawings cannot include letters or numbers (you cannot spell out the word).
You cannot use secret clues like an ear for “sounds like” or dashes to show a number of letters in the word(s).
Opposing teams cannot shout out answers, they must remain quiet or muted until it is their turn.
You can draw “mail” for the word “male” or “blew” for the word “blue”. Homonyms are just fine!
How to use the Whiteboard Feature
Visit the Zoom Support Site for the prerequisite client download information.
Your PL is the host of the Zoom meeting, so they will need to perform the following:
Click the share screen button in the meeting tool bar.
Click Whiteboard (a blue marker and line icon).
Click share.
The annotation tools will appear, which Scouts can use to draw.
You can use the page controls in the bottom-right corner to create new pages for each drawing.
Scout-Themed Pictionary Word Cards
Remember that, when you share with your Scout the word and category they are drawing, they will tell everyone the category only so they know what kind of word they are guessing. Here’s an example of what they can expect for each of the categories.
Hopefully this spares you a little bit of time spent planning your next Patrol meeting. If you’ve given this one a try and enjoyed it, please share it with your Scouting buddies. Don’t forget to like and comment on this post, subscribe to Look Wider Still, and follow me on Facebook.
YIS, Rebekah
Looking for more ideas? Check out these posts:
Scouting Tech: Youth Protection in a Virtual World It seems to me that social distancing has brought the world closer than ever, from apartment complexes in Italy and China singing in concert, to authors performing Facebook Live readings for the masses, singers and songwriters performing free concerts from home, artists sharing tutorials so we can release our collective creativity, educators hosting live classes and providing our students with more materials than could ever be imagined so they can stay on track, and anyone with a sewing machine making face masks to share with medical professionals on the front line all over the world. Human beings are just the coolest! We really get things done! Above all, Scouts never give up! Despite the space between us, we still find ways to come together. Incredibly, we live in a time where programs that connect us are readily available and, most of the time, free to use.
Scouting Activities: SCOUTERGORIES Zoom Game! Do you remember family game night growing up? Some games made for a fun evening, like Candy Land and Life while others turned typically sweet family members into wild-eyed logophiles, like Scattergories. Was that just my childhood home? I hope so. As an adult, I’ve come to love the game again. My son (the PL) and I were talking about games he could play over Zoom this week, and in the midst of a pretty desperate brainstorm, a lightbulb went off. What about Scattergories for Scouts… Scoutergories?
Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Virtual Whisper Game You can’t be all business all the time… all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, afterall. Starting off a patrol meeting with a little game is a mood-lifter and gets everyone in the right frame of mind for learning. Don’t forget to keep it simple, make it fun! The Scouts Whisper Game is a great opportunity to encourage Scout Spirit and practice the trustworthy, friendly, courteous, kind, and cheerful points of our Scout Law. Much like the Whisper Challenge played on the Tonight Show, this game offers up funny phrases that Scouts try to guess by reading lips, all over Zoom, Skype, or any other virtual meeting program.
Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Scout Rank Bingo Game My son (PL) is wrapping up the 30 Day Rank Challenge posted by the Heart of America Council, with his brand new patrol of brand new Scouts, and as he mulled over how to test them on what they’ve learned. After careful consideration, we talked over his strategy and he decided he’d rather make it a game than outright quiz his patrol on Scouting details. Keep it simple, make it fun! Right? So we brainstormed games that could be played through his next Zoom meeting, and landed squarely on BINGO. There are a LOT of great Scouting Bingo games out there that have been shared in the last several months, many of which help your Scouts continue on the advancement trail. We worked together to pull a series of six individual S.C.O.U.T. game boards that specifically review the Scout Rank materials.
Scouting Tech: Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games Before splitting Scouts into breakout rooms, my son read off a survival situation and provided a fun list of found items they would need to use to make it through their situation. He pasted the list in the Zoom chat and then used the broadcast feature to send it to them again once they were sent to their rooms. He gave them five minutes to discuss the situation, rank their items from most- to least-important, and brought them back together as a full group to discuss. He encouraged them to have fun together, and to choose a group representative to come back and share what they’d discussed. My son randomly chose who would go into each breakout room (literally just figured out how many would need to be in each room and started clicking with reckless abandon… a very teenaged boy thing to do) and sent them on their way.
This crazy coronavirus has certainly changed the world we live in. All of us are adapting the way we shop, the way we socialize, and the way we parent. We’re grappling with an overwhelming amount of information and the politicization of every decision we make, most of the time struggling to determine the lesser of two evils and feeling judged no matter where we land.
Scouter friends and parents, please know that every last one of us is doing our best to navigate absolutely uncharted waters. How about we make a deal right now to support each other in the decisions we have to make as opposed to chiding our friends and neighbors. Being helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, and cheerful is literally part of the law we swear to abide by as Scouts. Don’t ever forget that!
We can debate the cons of this horrible virus all the live-long day… in fact, most of us do and that’s alright. But why don’t we take a moment to look at some of the great opportunities that have been gifted to us as we grow through this difficult time.
“Necessity is the mother of invention.”
– Plato
Plato said it best. “Necessity is the mother of invention.” If you consider the many wonderful things that have come from our new normal, you’ll start to feel a little overwhelmed with pride. Human beings are coming together and sharing generously in their expertise, time, and talents in ways that we hadn’t thought of until now. We are harnessing the power of technology that we’ve really only been using to share meme’s and research the symptoms of our imaginary illnesses.
I couldn’t help it. I’m human.
Teachers – real life super heroes – are developing an entirely brand new way of educating our children at the drop of a hat. Museums have opened access to their collections, allowing families to see exhibits from around the world. NASA is providing virtual tours and educational materials. World class learning resources are being shared for public use at absolutely no cost. Musicians are hosting concerts online to keep spirits up. Communities are collecting hand sanitizers, paper towels, toilet paper, and food items for the at-risk in their neighborhoods. Streaming platforms are changing the way we watch movies and keep ourselves entertained. Grocery stores are delivering. Don’t even get me started on mother nature springing to life in ways I certainly never thought I’d ever see.
Scouting is absolutely not exempt from the benefits of all these changes. We have so much available to us now that we can safely share with our Scouts and their families, and with the help of platforms like Skype and Zoom, many of us haven’t so much as skipped a beat or stepped foot off the advancement trail. Historically, Scouts embrace difficulty and find ways to move adversity out of their way. They know how to BE PREPARED, and where none of us saw any of this coming, they were somehow still ready.
So how do we continue to leverage these awesome opportunities to our advantage? We embrace it with open arms, realize its value and potential, and put some time into making it work for us.
As a merit badge counselor, I’ve been concerned about how the Scouts in my charge would continue to earn badges in this time of social distancing. What I’ve learned from my own children and their Scout peers is that they are absolutely flourishing in the virtual environment, and with the encouragement of their parents and leadership team, the sky is truly the limit. I was pointed to a Virtual Merit Badge Classes Facebook Group (please do a search so you can join properly) that shares a bajillion great ideas on offering virtual merit badges. Many of the counselors on the group are using Google Classrooms to guide Scouts either in a format with scheduled meetings or self-guided at the Scouts pace. By developing and offering up a merit badge through Google Classrooms, you are providing the opportunity to learn and earn to a greater number of deserving Scouts. Who knows what phases we’ll be in over the coming months – this is one way to keep Scouting alive in a virtual world.
Developed with educators across the country, Google Classrooms is free, meets high security standards, provides simple organization, and is easy for everyone to use (including you).
Sample of Pets Merit Badge BSA Google Classroom
I’ve developed a Sample of Pets Merit Badge BSA in Google Classroom and a Sample of Art Merit Badge BSA in Google Classroom(these are exact copies of my working copies of my Pets and Art Merit Badge BSA Classrooms). Click the + symbol in the upper right hand corner to select “Join Class” and use code hljr4jk for Pets and cujkd5w for Art. Feel free to poke around to see how they work, but please don’t submit work through this sample Classrooms.
the Stream tab is essentially a log of the activity in the Classroom
the Classwork tab has all of the requirements organized with supporting materials attached as downloadable files
the Class Drive folder houses all of your classroom materials, like copies of the merit badge requirements, workbook, and logs
Creating your Google Classroom
To start, click the + symbol in the upper right-hand corner of the Google Classroom homepage, and select “Create Class”. Read and acknowledge the notice regarding use of Google Classroom with G Suit for Education (this doesn’t apply to us) and click Continue.
Create your class details. I chose to name my classrooms with the merit badge name and Scouts BSA. For instance, Pets Merit Badge Scouts BSA. For subject, I use “Merit Badge”. Click Create.
Once your classroom has been created, you’ll notice that Google assigns your classroom a code in the top left corner of your header image. You will share that code with Scouts who choose to utilize your merit badge classroom.
You are by default taken to the Stream tab when you first enter a Google classroom. To start creating requirements, you will click the Classwork tab.
To create your first requirement, click the blue +Create button at the top and choose Assignment. Use the requirement number for your title (Requirement 1), then add the requirement details to the instructions. On the right-hand side of your screen, click on the points drop down and choose ungraded. Under topic, click create topic and create a new topic called Requirements.
You’ll return to your Classwork tab. Repeat this process for all of your requirements, choosing the Requirements topic you created in step 5 as you go.
To create a notice about blue cards, click the blue +Create button at the top and choose Assignment. Use Blue Cards or something similar for the title and add details to your instructions. Again, choose ungraded, but this time you’ll create a new topic entitled Getting Started (or something similar).
These sections and assignments are organized as most-recent at the top. You can, however, drag an entire block of assignments by clicking on their topictitle (like “Getting Started”) and drag the block where you’d like for it to go.
Now click on the link for your Class Drive folder. Create a folder for Requirements and Workbooks and move copies of those files from your own PC to your new Class Drive folder. You can drag and drop these files.
If you have supporting documentation, like PPT templates or logs that you’ve created, you can back out of your Requirements and Workbooks folder and drop those items in your main Class Drive folder.
Once you have supporting documentation dropped into your Class Drive folder, you can go one step further and link it to a specific requirement. Return to your classroom’s Classwork tab and edit a specific requirement. Click the Add button with the paperclip icon and link to the appropriate file in your Class Drive folder.
You’re all set! As Scouts work on their merit badge and drop files in your Class Drive folder, you’ll receive alerts and can review what’s been submitted for completion.
What About Blue Cards?
Where all units require that Scouts have merit badge participation approved before they begin seeking out a counselor, some may even require that they have a physical blue card completed by adult leadership as well.
In the case that your Scout has a unit-providedphysical blue card, encourage them to mail it to you for your completion. Send it back to them as quickly as possible!
In the case that your Scout needs for you to provide a physical blue card, you can find several fillable and printable PDF templates online. I like this one from the gatewayscouting.org website.
If you have a ScoutBookaccount and have updated your Positions to include Merit Badge Counselor, you can be added as a Connection to participating Scouts, manage their Merit Badge progress and issue a blue card.
Classroom Syllabus and Youth Protection
Because some Scouts might opt to use this Classroom as a self-guided and self-paced merit badge opportunity, I like to create a syllabus that outlines how the classroom works, how “assignments” should be submitted, and how to contact me. A copy of my Pets Merit Badge – Google Classroom Syllabus can be found in my Sample of Pets Merit Badge BSA classroom Class Drive folder (linked above).
If you create a Google Classroom, you must ALWAYS keep Youth Protection in the forefront of your mind at all times. Ensure that your training is completed and up-to-date, ensure that parents are present in all virtual meetings, and always include an adult in all correspondence with the Scout. Read my post, Scouting Tech: Youth Protection in a Virtual World for lots of great information and resources to keep you and your Scouts safe!
Deleting a Google Classroom
You can delete a Google Classroom on the Google Classroom homepage. Click on the three horizontal dots and select Archive. Then, click on the three horizontal lines at the top of your screen and select Archived Classes. Locate the class you want to delete, click on the three horizontal dots and select Delete. This cannot be undone – the Classroom and associated Class Drive folder have been removed.
Look Wider Still
We are absolutely living in a time where virtual Scouting is paramount for keeping Scouts interested and on the advancement trail. Offering to share your merit badge counseling experience with a wider group of youth can be what keeps them from quitting the program.
What do you think about virtual merit badge counseling? What other programs do you use? Have you tried Google Classrooms? What would you add to this post?
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Other Posts that Might Be Helpful
Scouting Tech: Youth Protection in a Virtual World It seems to me that social distancing has brought the world closer than ever, from apartment complexes in Italy and China singing in concert, to authors performing Facebook Live readings for the masses, singers and songwriters performing free concerts from home, artists sharing tutorials so we can release our collective creativity, educators hosting live classes and providing our students with more materials than could ever be imagined so they can stay on track, and anyone with a sewing machine making face masks to share with medical professionals on the front line all over the world. Human beings are just the coolest! We really get things done! Above all, Scouts never give up! Despite the space between us, we still find ways to come together. Incredibly, we live in a time where programs that connect us are readily available and, most of the time, free to use.
Scouting Tech: Online Conferencing Tools for Virtual Meetings We’re navigating some seriously uncharted territory right now, trying to find ways to maintain some normalcy and keep the kids from physically turning into the Fortnite character they’re obsessively playing. It’s been pleasantly surprising to witness the outpouring of knowledge and generosity in the last week; the sharing of wisdom and resources is truly inspiring. Guys! We’ve got this! I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking up ways to keep my Scouts on track. My den of AOLs was expecting to bridge in April, and I’m hopeful we still can, but not meeting in person has put a huge damper on the last of our den plans. I had all these great ideas – a fireside program, s’mores, reminiscing on the years we’ve spent together, encouraging them to be brave as they take the big leap into a boy-led Troop.
Scouting Tech: Free Cub Scout and Scouts BSA Backgrounds for Virtual Meetings If you’re looking to switch things up in your next Zoom meeting, and hide the piles of Scout Stuff stacked up in your room, consider virtual backgrounds. I’m sure you’ve had Scouts floating in space or enjoying a tropical vacation in recent meetings, and maybe you’ve wondered how. If you’re able to use the virtual backgrounds without a green screen, or used your Scout Skills to make one for your next meeting, you’ll need to find some cool backgrounds. There are TONS of freebies out there, but I thought I’d take some time to create Cub Scout and Scouts BSA -specific images that are free to use.
We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.
Maya Angelou
I want to grow. I want to be better. You grow. We all grow. We’re made to grow. You either evolve or you disappear.
Tupac Shakur
Update November 1, 2021:Citizenship in Society has been released! The requirements have been officially shared with the Scouting community, you can register to counsel this merit badge, and it will indeed become Eagle Required in 2022. Learn more!
Update September 29, 2021: The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Merit Badge will be released as Citizenship in Society in the coming months. Stay tuned for updates regarding the requirements and if this will join the other Citizenships as an Eagle Required badge.
Update January 7, 2021: Per Scouting.org, the introduction of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Merit Badge has been postponed while Scouts BSA considers and evaluates feedback received regarding the proposed requirements.
It’s an understatement to say that our country is growing right before our very eyes. I quote Tupac often in my life (truly, I could write a thesis on Tupac as America’s most under-appreciated poet) because I feel, deeply, that he understood the divide in a way that was far beyond his years. His honest personal experience is so beautifully recorded through his lyrics, and it’s as important now as it was when he put pen to paper. When I think about what’s happening in the streets of America right this very moment, I can’t help but consider what Tupac meant when he said, “you have to grow through what you go through.” We’re actively growing through what we’re going through, and it’s encouraging to see real legislation being passed and hearts being changed.
Somehow, this is just the beginning, and we’re 400 years in. We’ve got a long way to go, but I’m proud of the steps being made, especially by the BSA. On June 15, 2020, they released a statement entitled “BSA’s Commitment to Act Against Racial Injustice,” in which they admitted their failures as a youth-serving organization to provide a solid foundation for inclusion. The responses from fellow Scouters have been all over the map, but it’s encouraging to read the messages of support and excitement from the majority who feel this statement is long, long overdue.
Part of their statement is as follows:
The twelve points of the Scout Law that define a Scout are all important, but at this moment, we are called on to be brave. Brave means taking action because it is the right thing to do and being an upstander even when it may prompt criticism from some. We realize we have not been as brave as we should have been because, as Scouts, we must always stand for what is right and take action when the situation demands it.
The statement also announced their commitment to develop a new Eagle-required Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion merit badge, which will pull from existing American Cultures, and Citizenship in the Community merit badges, to promote the understanding of all of the cultures and walks of life right here in America.
I look forward to seeing the merit badge requirements, then signing myself up to lead it. As soon as this information is shared, I will update this post accordingly!
I’m a big fan of seeking out the best possible information and sharing it, as opposed to reinventing the wheel. Therefore, I suggest adding Bryan On Scouting’s post entitled “Answering common questions about the BSA’s commitment to act against racial injustice” (published June 24, 2020) to your reading list. He answers some of the most commonly-asked questions, including how the BSA is balancing their support of BLM as well as their support of the incredible men and women who serve in law enforcement. (Yes, you can do both!)
If you’re like me and you’re interested in going a few steps further to help our youth understand how important this time in American history is, consider a few of these resources:
The Boy Scout Movement in Black America An eye-opening historical review of the Boy Scouts through desegregation and the Civil Rights movement, and reminder of how far we have left to go.
I’m proud to wear tan and green, now more than ever. It’s an encouraging time that I hope leads to real change and a national commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Do you remember family game night growing up? Some games made for a fun evening, like Candy Land and Life while others turned typically sweet family members into wild-eyed logophiles, like Scattergories. Was that just my childhood home? I hope so.
As an adult, I’ve come to love the game again. My son (the PL) and I were talking about games he could play over Zoom this week, and in the midst of a pretty desperate brainstorm, a lightbulb went off. What about Scattergories for Scouts… Scoutergories?
If, like me, you vowed never to play the game again after experiencing the adults in your life go ballistic once or twice, you’ve probably forgotten the gist of the game. Per howdoyouplayit.com, each player gets a series of lists (in our case, there are 4), which are to be played in order. A letter die is rolled to reveal the letter you will be playing for the list you are on and a timer is set. (So, you’ll roll one letter and complete list 1, roll another letter and complete list 2, etc.) Players attempt to create an answer for each item on their list using the letter that was rolled, within a certain amount of time (normally 2 minutes). When the time runs out for each list, everyone takes turns reading their answers. If another player had your answer, you both cross that answer out. Each unique answer left on your list is worth one point.
You can also earn bonus points for alliteration! Say you roll a “d” and a category is “breakfast foods,” your answer of “Dunkin Donuts” would earn you two points.
Where some folks will argue rules all day and night (and into the next day, and in some families for decades), Scouts should be encouraged to be creative and have fun. Think about what the most common answer would be for a category and avoid it at all costs. For instance, if “animal” is one of your categories and you’ve rolled a “d”, you can bet most of your Scouts will answer with “dog”. How many will instead answer with “dingo”? If an answer is challenged, the majority rules on acceptability.
I’ve created a series of four SCOUTERGORIES game lists (PDF) that you can download and send off to your Scouts during your meeting (did you know you can send documents via Zoom chat?). I have a second series of more program-specific lists coming soon!
So? What do you think?
Will SCOUTERGORIES end up on your meeting plan this week? Tell me all about how it went in the comments, and don’t forget to like, share and subscribe to Look Wider Still!
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Other Virtual Game Ideas
Scouting Activities: Scout-Themed Pictionary Zoom Game
As the weeks go on and virtual meetings continue, your PL might find themselves running out of good ideas to keep things exciting and interesting. You can only share screen so many Power Point presentations before Scouts start taking virtual naps during their weekly virtual Patrol meeting. If you find yourself in a slump or in need of a last-minute game, try my Scout-Themed Pictionary Zoom Game!
Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Virtual Whisper Game
You can’t be all business all the time… all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, afterall. Starting off a patrol meeting with a little game is a mood-lifter and gets everyone in the right frame of mind for learning. Don’t forget to keep it simple, make it fun!
The Scouts Whisper Game is a great opportunity to encourage Scout Spirit and practice the trustworthy, friendly, courteous, kind, and cheerful points of our Scout Law. Much like the Whisper Challenge played on the Tonight Show, this game offers up funny phrases that Scouts try to guess by reading lips, all over Zoom, Skype, or any other virtual meeting program. Learn more at Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Virtual Whisper Game.
My son (PL) is wrapping up the 30 Day Rank Challenge posted by the Heart of America Council, with his brand new patrol of brand new Scouts, and as he mulled over how to test them on what they’ve learned. After careful consideration, we talked over his strategy and he decided he’d rather make it a game than outright quiz his patrol on Scouting details. Keep it simple, make it fun! Right? So we brainstormed games that could be played through his next Zoom meeting, and landed squarely on BINGO.
There are a LOT of great Scouting Bingo games out there that have been shared in the last several months, many of which help your Scouts continue on the advancement trail. We worked together to pull a series of six individual S.C.O.U.T. game boards that specifically review the Scout Rank materials. Learn more at Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Scout Rank Bingo Game.
Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games
Before splitting Scouts into breakout rooms, my son read off a survival situation and provided a fun list of found items they would need to use to make it through their situation. He pasted the list in the Zoom chat and then used the broadcast feature to send it to them again once they were sent to their rooms. He gave them five minutes to discuss the situation, rank their items from most- to least-important, and brought them back together as a full group to discuss. He encouraged them to have fun together, and to choose a group representative to come back and share what they’d discussed. My son randomly chose who would go into each breakout room (literally just figured out how many would need to be in each room and started clicking with reckless abandon… a very teenaged boy thing to do) and sent them on their way. Learn more at Scouting Tech: Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games.
On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Our Scout Oath goes back to the 1908 publication of “Scouting for Boys”, where “Be Prepared” was defined as “always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty.” Originally referred to as the “Scout Promise,” Scouts would stand, raise their right hand in the Scout Sign, and recite,
“On my honour I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and the King/Queen/my Country, to help other people at all times and to obey the Scout Law.”
Very little has changed over these 112 years, and Scouts around the globe proudly pledge their loyalty to their country through service and active patriotism. Our meetings start with the Pledge of Allegiance, Scout Oath, and Scout Law. We lay wreaths at the graves of our Veterans. We send popcorn and care packages to our active duty Troops. We wear a flag on our uniform, salute the flag on the moon, and treat all US flags with the same respect and reverence with which we treat the brave men and women who have served our country.
The Pack I served went to great lengths to protect and respect our flag, and ceremonies celebrating the service of our flags are important part of its programming. Here are a few resources to help you incorporate flag ceremonies into your unit traditions.
American Flag Etiquette at Unit Meetings
ScoutingMagazine.orghas a great article that outlines flag etiquette in Scouting. There are a few rules every unit will need to follow:
while in procession, the American flag will lead the right-most line in the formation (the marching right)
the American flag is the first to be posted to its stand, on the left-most side of the audience
uniformed Scouts and Scouters will quietly observe the flag, holding their Scout Salute
plain clothed attendees will place their hands over their hearts
do not let the flag touch anything beneath it (this means younger Scouts with little control over a heavy flag and staff should be assisted by an older Scout or adult leader to ensure the flag doesn’t touch the ground)
American Flag Etiquette at Outdoor Events
You’d be hard-pressed to find a Scouting campsite without an American flag posted in the common area! Where general flag etiquette notes that it’s a universal custom to display your flag from sunrise to sunset on stationary flagstaffs in the open, you can proudly fly our flag twenty-four hours a day at your campsite as long as it is properly illuminated. Learn more about Flag Etiquette at www.usflag.org.
Flag Ceremony Basics
An opening flag ceremony can be as simple or involved as you’d like to make it, and will depend heavily on your participants. Packs should adopt simple ceremonies that can be easily executed by even the youngest Scout (with help, of course), where Troops should use something more age-appropriate.
Regardless of the unit type, all ceremonies should post the flag in the same order (American flag first) and in the correct location (American flag to the audience left).
Simple Flag Ceremony
A simple flag ceremony for younger Scouts looks a little something like this:
Determine who will participate in your Color Guard (the Scouts who carry and post the American and Unit flags) and who will lead the ceremony. The color guard will line up in two equal lines. The left-most line will be led by a Scout carrying the unit flag, whereas the right-most line will be led by a Scout carrying the flag of our nation. To open the ceremony, they will wait for the ceremony leader to initiate and provide ceremony prompts, as follows.
Leader: Color Guard, attention. Will the audience please rise? (The color guard will stand straight, perfect their lines, and prepare to march. The audience will stand.)
Leader: Color Guard, advance. Scout Salute. (This is a prompt for both lines to begin their forward march and for all uniformed Scouts to properly salute the flag. The Color Guard does NOT salute.)
Leader: Color Guard, halt. (The color guard is prompted to end their forward march where the audience seating begins, a distance from both flag stands. The Color Guard still does NOT salute.)
Leader: Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. (All participants recite the Pledge of Allegiance save the Color Guard.)
Leader: Two. (Scouts drop their salute. Participants remove their hands from their hearts.)
Leader: Color Guard, post the colors. (The flag bearers post the flags to their stands while the other Scouts in the color guard remain in place. The American flag is posted first, crossing from its right-most position to the left-most stand. The unit flag follows, crossing from its left-most position to the right-most stand. At this time, the Color Guard salutes the American flag.)
Leader: Color Guard, retreat. (The Scouts in the color guard turn and walk to their starting point in two straight lines. Then they join their fellow Scouts in the audience.)
Print or refer to this when practicing and performing your opening ceremony.
To close your ceremony:
Leader: Color Guard, attention. Will the audience please rise? (The color guard will stand straight, perfect their lines, and prepare to march. The audience will stand.)
Leader: Color Guard, advance. Scout Salute. (This is a prompt for both lines to begin their forward march and for all uniformed Scouts to properly salute the flag. The Color Guard does NOT salute.)
Leader: Color Guard, halt. (The color guard is prompted to end their forward march where the audience seating begins, a distance from both flag stands. The Color Guard still does NOT salute.)
Leader: Color Guard, retire the colors. (The flag bearers march to the flags and lift from the bases. The American flag is crossed from its position to the right-most line, followed by the unit flag which is crossed from its position to the left-most line. Both lines retreat to their starting point.)
Leader: Two. (Scouts drop their salute.)
Print or refer to this when practicing and performing your closing ceremony.
PRO TIP: Look around your meeting space. Are there low ceilings, ducts, or doorways that your flag-bearers will need to negotiate? Prepare them for those areas ahead of your ceremony.
Complex Flag Ceremony
Older Scouts are more than able to conduct a complex flag ceremony. These include the simple ceremony prompts in addition to a few others. For a more complex opening to your ceremony:
Leader: Color Guard, attention. Audience, please rise.
Leader: Scout Salute. Those not in uniform, please place your right hand over your heart.
Leader: Color Guard, forward march.
Leader: Color Guard, halt.
Leader: Color Guard, cross the colors.
Leader: Please recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Leader: Two.
Leader: Scout Sign. Please join us in reciting the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
Leader: Two.
Leader: Color Guard, post the flag of the United States of America.
Leader: Color Guard, post the flag of Troop ___.
Leader: Color Guard, honor your colors.
Leader: Color Guard, retreat.
Leader: Audience, please be seated.
To close your ceremony:
Leader: Color Guard, attention. Audience, please rise.
Leader: Scout Salute.
Leader: Color Guard, forward march.
Leader: Color Guard, halt.
Leader: Color Guard, retire your colors.
Leader: Two.
Leader: Audience, please be seated.
Honoring the Flag
In Scouting, our deliberate duty to country provides us with countless opportunities to honor our flag. From observing national patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day to participating in special Wreaths Across America events over the holidays, Scouters should be prepared to honor our flag throughout the year. Here are a few great ceremonies for special holidays and events.
Memorial Day Flag Ceremony and Etiquette
Did you know that there is a specific way to fly our flag on Memorial Day? As your Scouts raise and lower the flag on this special holiday, remember that it must first be flown at half-staff from sunrise to noon, then raised briskly to full-staff until sunset. This is how our country honors our battle heroes. Learn more about Memorial Day flag etiquette on the US Department of Veterans Affairs website.
At 3:00pm local time, Scouts should salute the American flag in uniform and say, out loud, the name of a fallen hero. At 3:01pm local time, all Scouts who play the bugle or horn are invited to play “Taps”. Learn more about how you can salute our fallen heroes on Memorial Day at Scouting.org.
Memorial Day is observed the last Monday of May.
Flag Day and Independence Day Ceremonies and Etiquette
Commemorating the adoption of the flag in June of 1777, Flag Day is a wonderful opportunity to perform your duty to country. Though it’s not an official federal holiday, Flag Day is still celebrated around the country, traditionally with official flag retirement ceremonies.
Independence Day is, of course, a federal holiday commemorating the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted on July 4th, 1776. It’s true that this day is known for it’s fireworks, parades, barbecues, and family gatherings, but good Scouts know that it’s another opportunity to honor the flag. Refer back to Flag Etiquette at www.usflag.org for specific details, especially those concerning parading the flag in procession. Much like your color guard ceremony, the flag will remain in the right-most position as Scouts march in procession.
Per US Flag Code Section 176, burning the flag is the preferred method of retirement. I like to refer back to a 2014 article on ScoutingMagazine.org that best explains the four options for retiring American flags, which takes into consideration environmentally-responsible retirement options. A printable flag retirement ceremony used by my Pack for many years is linked in the “Flag Retirement” section below.
BoyScoutTrail.com has a page dedicated to flag readings and poetry that are perfect for Flag Day and Independence Day ceremonies.
Flag Day is observed on June 14th.Independence Day is observed on July 4th.
Veterans Day Flag Ceremony and Etiquette
The United States Congress officially recognized the end of WWI on June 4th, 1926, and simultaneously marked November 11th as the official “cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals,” noting that it was also the beginning of peaceful relations between the US and other nations. As such, the date was made a legal holiday to be observed annually in honor of the men and women who bravely serve the United States of America in the branches of our fine armed services. The proclamation also noted that the flag would be displayed on all Government buildings and that all Americans would be invited to observe friendly ceremonies in observance.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs notes many suggested activities and ceremonies to pay tribute to the men and women who have served. Suggested introductory remarks perfectly set the tone:
When Francis Scott Key wrote the “Star Spangled Banner” almost 200 years ago, he called America, “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Those words are as true today as they were then. Throughout this Nation’s history, America’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and coastguardsmen have bravely answered the call to defend our freedom, to aid our friends and allies, and to turn back aggressors. We can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to the more than 650,000 American servicemembers who died in battle or the 1.4 million who were wounded. We can, however, recognize and thank the 25 million veterans still living today. These words are inscribed on the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C.: “Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.” Those words apply equally to many of our World War I, World War II, Vietnam War and Gulf War veterans as well. They apply to today’s active duty servicemembers — tomorrow’s veterans — who are helping to maintain peace throughout the world.
Today, it is our privilege to say “thank you” to all of America’s veterans, to let them know that we appreciate them for their service and honor them for their sacrifices.
The price of freedom is high. We cannot afford to forget those willing to pay it. Today, we celebrate America’s veterans for keeping this Nation “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
Our unit has observed Veterans Day at our November meetings by discussing the importance of the holiday and rising to salute the Veterans in attendance.
Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11th and honors military veterans and marks the anniversary of the end of World War I. November 11, 2020 marked the 102nd anniversary of the end of WWI.
Today there are nearly 22 million veterans of the United States Armed Forces living among us and chances are good that at least one of these American heroes are a family member or close friend of ours, perhaps in attendance here today.
In fact, would our Veteran’s please stand? Scouts, please stand and turn to our Veterans. SCOUT SALUTE. <hold salute> Would the families of our Veteran’s please stand? <hold salute> TWO. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s please convey our thanks with a round of applause.
Veterans Day is observed on November 11th.
Wreaths Across America Ceremonies
Wreaths Across America is a national effort to “Remember, Honor and Teach” by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and locations across the country and abroad. This special service project honors our veterans in moving ceremony, and Scouts are often seen laying wreaths at local cemeteries in December.
My unit works with a local county park to provide wreaths for a Veterans Memorial that celebrates the lives and sacrifices of our local service men and women. Each year we gather around the flag and perform a special ceremony that, I admit, is difficult to get through and focuses heavily on The Flag Remembers Christmas. I first read this poem on the Scouter Mom blog and knew it would be central to our ceremony from that moment on.
In an effort not to reinvent the wheel (I do only have one hour for Scout stuff, afterall), I refer everyone to ScoutingMagazine.com‘s article regarding the retirement of worn American flags. They lay out four options for the proper retirement of flags, most notably by burning.
As noted in the link above, units who are uncomfortable retiring flags should reach out to their local VFW post or Elks Lodge to ensure flags are retired respectfully. I suggest attending the retirement ceremony and becoming more comfortable with performing them as a unit in the future.
Scouts might ask why it’s appropriate to burn a flag in retirement when it’s not appropriate to burn it in protest. I’ve had countless new Scouts or family ask why it isn’t considered desecration when Scouting units or VFW posts burn a flag. In short, retiring a flag in this way is similar to the respectful cremation of the deceased. Our flag is worthy of veneration and is a reverent tribute to its service to our country.
What constitutes an unfit flag? According to US Flag Code, Title 4, Section 8k, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” Per flagsusa.com, flags are ready for retirement when it is unable to be cleaned or repaired, or is too tattered to respectfully fly. Many Scouting units will collect unfit flags in the community and perform a retirement ceremony as soon as possible.
Packs and Troops often perform these ceremonies as part of a campfire program, in which flags are ceremoniously burned over their campfire. A reading of “I Am Old Glory” is appropriate.
“I AM OLD GLORY” I am old glory; for more the 9 score years I have been the banner of hope and freedom for generation after generation of Americans. Born amid the first flames of America’s fight for freedom, I am the symbol of a country that has grown from a little group of 13 colonies to a united nation of 50 sovereign states. Planted firmly on the high pinnacle of American Faith, my gently fluttering folds have proved an inspiration to untold millions. Men have followed me into battle with unwavering courage. They have looked upon me as a symbol of national unity. They have prayed that they and their fellow citizens might continue to enjoy the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, which have been granted to every American as the heritage of free men. So long as men love liberty more than life itself, so long as they treasure the priceless privileges bought with the blood of our forefathers; so long as the principles of truth, justice and charity for all remain deeply rooted in human hearts, I shall continue to be the enduring banner of the United States of America.
Our Flag Retirement Ceremony (PDF) can be downloaded, printed, and used in your special ceremony this holiday season.
Don’t forget to retrieve the flag grommets after your fire has cooled. We use these to honor our Veterans by presenting them in a meaningful way on holidays like Veterans Day. They can also be left on the graves of or at parks and monuments memorializing our fallen heroes. They can also be presented to the Scouts who performed the flag retirement ceremony to save as a memento of their duty to country. Some Scouts include grommets on neckerchief slides, bracelets or ornaments. A quick search for “flag grommet crafts” on Pinterest brings up several great ideas!
Properly Folding the American Flag
It’s important that all flags are folded appropriately before they are retired. Here’s a great video by Scouts BSA explaining how Scouts should fold and hold the flag.
Flags and Accessories
I don’t suggest products unless I’ve purchased them myself, and I’m excited to give a shout out to the fine folks at Gettysburg Flag Works. Two years ago, we replaced our parade flag poles and spindles/toppers with their products. We purchased the Hardwood Parade and Indoor Flagpoles for both our American and Unit flags. You can also purchase your floor stands and toppers, like this plastic slip-fit Eagle for your American flag. The Scout Shop also sells toppers, like these Universal Emblem and Eagle Scout Emblemtoppers. Just double-check the pole diameters against the topper sizes to make sure they fit.
Regular sand-filled flag bases aren’t going to cut it at a campsite. Consider ground stakes that are meant for flag poles to keep the flag upright at all times. You can also pickupflag pole brackets that can be installed directly onto your Scout trailer. Don’t forget to pick-up a solar-powered light to ensure your flag is properly illuminated all night long.
What Are Your Unit Traditions?
Scouting traditions vary from unit to unit, but a duty to country is one part of the program and lifestyle that transcends geographical borders. How does your unit celebrate our flag? Do you have special retirement ceremonies that you’d like to share?
Did I miss something? Get something wrong? Teach you something new? Let me know in the comments.
As always, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share Look Wider Still!
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
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“Scouting is not an abstruse or difficult science: rather it is a jolly game if you take it in the right light. In the same time it is educative, and (like Mercy) it is apt to benefit him that giveth as well as him that receives.“
– Lord Robert Baden-Powell
A jolly game sounds good about now, and if you’re several weeks into virtual meetings, you’re looking for new ideas. Last week I shared my son’s Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Scout Rank Bingo Game, and you all seemed to enjoy it so I thought I’d share what he’s up to next.
You can’t be all business all the time… all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, afterall. Starting off a patrol meeting with a little game is a mood-lifter and gets everyone in the right frame of mind for learning. Don’t forget to keep it simple, make it fun!
The Scouts Whisper Game is a great opportunity to encourage Scout Spirit and practice the trustworthy, friendly, courteous, kind, and cheerful points of our Scout Law. Much like the Whisper Challenge played on the Tonight Show, this game offers up funny phrases that Scouts try to guess by reading lips, all over Zoom, Skype, or any other virtual meeting program.
Here are the rules:
The PL will split the patrol into two equal teams.
To decide which team goes first, representatives from each of the two teams will call either head or tails, and the PL will flip a coin.
The team will then decide who will go first, and the PL will message that Scout a phrase.
The Scout will then mute their microphone and say the phrase. Their team mates (not members of the other team) will guess the phrase.
If they haven’t guessed the correct phrase in 30 seconds, the opposing team can discuss for 10 seconds and make one guess.
Whoever guesses correctly earns their team 10 points and dibs on the next phrase.
This continues until all Scouts have had a chance to participate OR an allotted amount of time passes.
I hope this is helpful to your Scouts and that it finds you in good health! Don’t forget to follow, like, and share Look Wider Still.
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Scouting Activities: Scout-Themed Pictionary Zoom Game
As the weeks go on and virtual meetings continue, your PL might find themselves running out of good ideas to keep things exciting and interesting. You can only share screen so many Power Point presentations before Scouts start taking virtual naps during their weekly virtual Patrol meeting. If you find yourself in a slump or in need of a last-minute game, try my Scout-Themed Pictionary Zoom Game!
Scouting Activities: SCOUTERGORIES Zoom Game
Do you remember family game night growing up? Some games made for a fun evening, like Candy Land and Life while others turned typically sweet family members into wild-eyed logophiles, like Scattergories. Was that just my childhood home? I hope so.
As an adult, I’ve come to love the game again. My son (the PL) and I were talking about games he could play over Zoom this week, and in the midst of a pretty desperate brainstorm, a lightbulb went off. What about Scattergories for Scouts… Scoutergories? Learn more at Scouting Activities: SCOUTERGORIES Zoom Game!
Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Scout Rank BINGO Game
My son (PL) is wrapping up the 30 Day Rank Challenge posted by the Heart of America Council, with his brand new patrol of brand new Scouts, and as he mulled over how to test them on what they’ve learned. After careful consideration, we talked over his strategy and he decided he’d rather make it a game than outright quiz his patrol on Scouting details. Keep it simple, make it fun! Right? So we brainstormed games that could be played through his next Zoom meeting, and landed squarely on BINGO. Learn more at Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Scout Rank Bingo Game.
Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games
Before splitting Scouts into breakout rooms, my son read off a survival situation and provided a fun list of found items they would need to use to make it through their situation. He pasted the list in the Zoom chat and then used the broadcast feature to send it to them again once they were sent to their rooms. He gave them five minutes to discuss the situation, rank their items from most- to least-important, and brought them back together as a full group to discuss. He encouraged them to have fun together, and to choose a group representative to come back and share what they’d discussed. My son randomly chose who would go into each breakout room (literally just figured out how many would need to be in each room and started clicking with reckless abandon… a very teenaged boy thing to do) and sent them on their way. Learn more at Scouting Tech: Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games.
Preparing AOLs (and their PL’s) for Scout Rank
Their first meeting is simple: simple flag ceremony, the Lord’s Prayer, roll call, introductions, an overview of the Scout rank and 30-day Challenge, and patrol business. They’ll start thinking of their patrol name and yell, and each Scout can work on flag design ideas. The PL will set a standard for uniforming and let Scouts know there will be periodic checks. Scouts will be tasked with working to complete days 1-7 on the 30-Day Challenge. Before closing out for the night, they can play a virtual game or perform a task together, like learning a new knot. A simple closing, to include a closing thought by the PL and/or APLs about the importance of Scouting, wraps up the meeting. Learn more at Pack-to-Troop Transitions: Preparing AOLs (and their PL’s) for Scout Rank.
Free Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA Backgrounds for Virtual Meetings
If you’re looking to switch things up in your next Zoom meeting, and hide the piles of Scout Stuff stacked up in your room, consider virtual backgrounds. I’m sure you’ve had Scouts floating in space or enjoying a tropical vacation in recent meetings, and maybe you’ve wondered how. In a recent update, Zoom made it possible to change your background without a green screen, which seems to work well for my Scouts on tablets or laptops, but my old PC doesn’t have the processing power to make it happen. If you’re able to use the virtual backgrounds without a green screen, or used your Scout Skills to make one for your next meeting, you’ll need to find some cool backgrounds. There are TONS of freebies out there, but I thought I’d take some time to create Cub Scout and Scouts BSA -specific images that are free to use. Learn more at Scouting Tech: Free Cub Scout and Scouts BSA Backgrounds for Virtual Meetings.
My son (PL) is wrapping up the 30 Day Rank Challenge posted by the Heart of America Council, with his brand new patrol of brand new Scouts, and as he mulled over how to test them on what they’ve learned. After careful consideration, we talked over his strategy and he decided he’d rather make it a game than outright quiz his patrol on Scouting details. Keep it simple, make it fun! Right? So we brainstormed games that could be played through his next Zoom meeting, and landed squarely on BINGO.
There are a LOT of great Scouting Bingo games out there that have been shared in the last several months, many of which help your Scouts continue on the advancement trail. We worked together to pull a series of six individual S.C.O.U.T. game boards that specifically review the Scout Rank materials. Here’s how it works:
Download the S.C.O.U.T. Game Boards, Rules, and Questions
Have your Scouts choose the board they’d like to play with. Next, read your game rules and answer questions Scouts may have. Then, choose one of the two randomized numbers lists (or make your own) and ask the questions in order of the list. Don’t read out the answers! When a Scout yells “SCOUT!”, check their board against the answers. If they were correct, they’ve won the game. If not, continue asking questions. You can either end the game after the first person successfully wins or keep going until you’ve asked all the questions.
Have Fun!
Make it a rousing game of Bingo by getting into that Scout Spirit and taking on the persona of a real game show host!
Did You Know…
Bingo was originally called “beano,” as it was a county fair game where players marked their game cards with beans. It was changed to “bingo” after a toy salesman named Edwin Lowe overheard someone accidentally yell it instead of “beano”. It stuck! He went on to become a bingo pioneer, mathematically devising 6,000 different bingo cards that would allow for fewer simultaneous bingo’s in the same round. Big brain! Learn more about the history of bingo here!
Enjoy S.C.O.U.T. Bingo in Good Health
I hope this is helpful to your Scouts and that it finds you in good health! Don’t forget to follow, like, and share Look Wider Still.
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: 2nd Class Rank BINGO Game
It’s hard to find fresh ideas to bring life to the Scouting program over Zoom, so when my son (a PL) asks to reinvent a tried and true game, we do it and we share. Back in May, he and I worked together to create a series of S.C.O.U.T. game boards to cover Scout Rank materials. His patrol is moving up in the ranks and many are ready to earn 2nd Class. Accordingly, some new game boards were required. If your Scouts are moving up and are ready to earn their 2nd Class Rank, this BINGO Game is a great review of the materials. Visit Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: 2nd Class Rank BINGO Game!
Scouting Activities: Scout-Themed Pictionary Zoom Game
As the weeks go on and virtual meetings continue, your PL might find themselves running out of good ideas to keep things exciting and interesting. You can only share screen so many PowerPoint presentations before Scouts start taking virtual naps during their weekly virtual Patrol meeting. If you find yourself in a slump or in need of a last-minute game, try my Scout-Themed Pictionary Zoom Game!
Scouting Activities: SCOUTERGORIES Zoom Game
Do you remember family game night growing up? Some games made for a fun evening, like Candy Land and Life while others turned typically sweet family members into wild-eyed logophiles, like Scattergories. Was that just my childhood home? I hope so.
As an adult, I’ve come to love the game again. My son (the PL) and I were talking about games he could play over Zoom this week, and in the midst of a pretty desperate brainstorm, a lightbulb went off. What about Scattergories for Scouts… Scoutergories? Learn more at Scouting Activities: SCOUTERGORIES Zoom Game!
Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Virtual Whisper Game
“Scouting is not an abstruse or difficult science: rather it is a jolly game if you take it in the right light. In the same time it is educative, and (like mercy) it is apt to benefit him that giveth as well as him that receives.” Lord Robert Baden-PowellA jolly game sounds good about now, and if you’re several weeks into virtual meetings, you’re looking for new ideas, so I thought I’d share what my PL son is up to next. Learn more at Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Virtual Whisper Game.
Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games
Before splitting Scouts into breakout rooms, my son read off a survival situation and provided a fun list of found items they would need to use to make it through their situation. He pasted the list in the Zoom chat and then used the broadcast feature to send it to them again once they were sent to their rooms. He gave them five minutes to discuss the situation, rank their items from most- to least-important, and brought them back together as a full group to discuss. He encouraged them to have fun together, and to choose a group representative to come back and share what they’d discussed. My son randomly chose who would go into each breakout room (literally just figured out how many would need to be in each room and started clicking with reckless abandon… a very teenaged boy thing to do) and sent them on their way. Learn more at Scouting Tech: Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games.
Preparing AOLs (and their PL’s) for Scout Rank
Their first meeting is simple: simple flag ceremony, the Lord’s Prayer, roll call, introductions, an overview of the Scout rank and 30-day Challenge, and patrol business. They’ll start thinking of their patrol name and yell, and each Scout can work on flag design ideas. The PL will set a standard for uniforming and let Scouts know there will be periodic checks. Scouts will be tasked with working to complete days 1-7 on the 30-Day Challenge. Before closing out for the night, they can play a virtual game or perform a task together, like learning a new knot. A simple closing, to include a closing thought by the PL and/or APLs about the importance of Scouting, wraps up the meeting. Learn more at Pack-to-Troop Transitions: Preparing AOLs (and their PL’s) for Scout Rank.
Free Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA Backgrounds for Virtual Meetings
If you’re looking to switch things up in your next Zoom meeting, and hide the piles of Scout Stuff stacked up in your room, consider virtual backgrounds. I’m sure you’ve had Scouts floating in space or enjoying a tropical vacation in recent meetings, and maybe you’ve wondered how. In a recent update, Zoom made it possible to change your background without a green screen, which seems to work well for my Scouts on tablets or laptops, but my old PC doesn’t have the processing power to make it happen. If you’re able to use the virtual backgrounds without a green screen, or used your Scout Skills to make one for your next meeting, you’ll need to find some cool backgrounds. There are TONS of freebies out there, but I thought I’d take some time to create Cub Scout and Scouts BSA -specific images that are free to use. Learn more at Scouting Tech: Free Cub Scout and Scouts BSA Backgrounds for Virtual Meetings.
“Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness.”
– Jane Austen
It’s true that some recipes can bring you back to happier, simpler times. Now that summer has officially kicked off here in the States, there isn’t any recipe as iconic or comforting as apple pie. Simply stated, it tastes estival, and I can’t think of anything better than that.
These days I’m looking for opportunities to simplify my life without losing any of the quality we’ve all come to enjoy over here, and as my love affair with my 7-QuartPowerXL (Target) or (Amazon) continues, I’m always on the lookout for new recipes. Every time I logged into Pinterest, I was getting served up links to beautiful hand pies in a vast array of flavors, but kept going back to three or four apple pie recipes that looked too good not to try. Since I have yet to perfect a pie crust (if you have a fool-proof recipe, please point me in its direction), I lean heavily on store-bought crusts and decided to try my hand (aka: wing it) with my local store brand crusts. They didn’t disappoint!
Ingredients: Makes 8 fruit hand pies
1 box of refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts)
21 oz. can of fruit filling (one can made 8 pies)
turbinado sugar
butter-flavored cooking spray
Directions:
Pre-heat air fryer to 350 for 5 minutes
Unroll pie crusts and, using a 4.5″ cookie cutter, cut 4 rounds from each crust (you may need to re-roll leftover crust to get 4 rounds)
Spray one side of each round with butter-flavored cooking spray
Flip each round to the “dry” side and spoon in fruit filling
Wet the inside border of each round and fold in half, pressing the edges with a fork
Cut 3 slits into the top of each hand pie
Sprinkle turbinado sugar on the top of each hand pie
Bake two hand pies at a time in the air fryer for 11 minutes
Before hitting the air fryer
My kids hear the air fryer start and they emerge from their Hobbit Holes to find out what’s cooking. They were delighted to hear that I was trying something new – but especially that they were having apple pie for dessert. The big test, though, is my husband. Apple pie is his second favorite dessert (I don’t think I can pull off an air fryer carrot cake, but maybe I’ll try), and I have tried countless times over the years to perfect an apple pie recipe with just about no success. But these? He ate one directly out of the air fryer, making it precisely 700 degrees in the center, and suffered through it because “this is unbelievable!” I can confirm that they make the perfect breakfast the next morning, as well, pairing beautifully with your favorite coffee!
Hot out of the air fryer
Somehow that miracle machine roasts the perfect chicken, makes the best wings, and pulls off pie crust like a total champ! If you don’t have a 7-QuartPowerXL (or any air fryer, really), I cannot suggest it enough. Make room in your pantry or find a spot in your cabinet, and thank me later!
Don’t stop at apple hand pies. Choose your favorite fruit filling and have fun personalizing this recipe. Cherry hand pies are on the meal plan for the coming month and I know the whole family will be happy to try them.
Do you have a great air fryer recipe I should try? Have you made your own air fryer hand pies and have suggestions? Did you use this recipe and fall in love with your air fryer all over again? Tell me everything in the comments! Don’t forget to follow, like, and share Look Wider Still.
My oldest son is working to complete his Eagle and has the special opportunity to lead the newest Scouts (recent AOL graduates) in earning their Scout Rank virtually. He’s leaned heavily on the 30 Day Rank Challenge posted by the Heart of America Council, and over the last few weeks has learned a lot about the different tools available using Zoom conferencing.
Despite the flood of creativity and generosity online, he was struggling to find a fun game that Scouts could play virtually. It wasn’t until I was invited to attend a Girl Talk, Inc. Zoom chapter meeting hosted by two dear friends that the light bulbs started going off. They were utilizing breakout rooms to get the girls in their chapter to work together to solve survival situations. It was brilliant, fun, and fostered team work. In the week that followed, my son and I worked to figure out how to best use those breakout rooms and tested it out on his patrol.
I would be remiss not to give full credit for three of the survival situations listed below to the RVA Chapter of Girl Talk, Inc. My heroes!
What Are Breakout Rooms?
These are little side meeting spaces that allow you to break your full meeting into smaller groups that can be called back to your full meeting with the click of a button. The Troop hosts full group meetings and uses the breakout rooms for separate patrol rooms, and since the meeting hosts can designate specific attendees to specific rooms, it makes keeping their group organized a snap.
My son purchased his own Zoom membership so his patrol logs into a regular meeting and they use breakout rooms to play games. They’re easy to set-up and use! Here’s a quick overview from the folks at Zoom.
Before splitting Scouts into breakout rooms, my son read off a survival situation and provided a fun list of found items they would need to use to make it through their situation. He pasted the list in the Zoom chat and then used the broadcast feature to send it to them again once they were sent to their rooms. He gave them five minutes to discuss the situation, rank their items from most- to least-important, and brought them back together as a full group to discuss. He encouraged them to have fun together, and to choose a group representative to come back and share what they’d discussed. My son randomly chose who would go into each breakout room (literally just figured out how many would need to be in each room and started clicking with reckless abandon… a very teenaged boy thing to do) and sent them on their way.
The results were hilarious! First, they returned to the full group with giant smiles on their faces. They loved that they could go off together at random, that each of their voices mattered, and that they could decide who was in charge. (Surprisingly, they took turns with each situation, which made me one very proud former den leader.)
Without further adieu, here are some of the survival situations the Scouts worked on together.
Situation 1: The Deserted Island
Your patrol is sailing together for the very first time! You’re all learning the ropes when a storm blows in unexpectedly. You try to make it back to the dock, but the swells are too large and the wind blows you out to sea. Your boat begins taking on water, and in a flash of lightning, you begin to sink. You’re wearing life jackets, but you swim out to gear and debris that’s floating in the water around you to stay above water, and spend a long night riding out the waves. The sun rises over calmer water, and you find yourselves within swimming distance of a small deserted island. A Scout is brave! You swim to shore and immediately begin searching for items that might help you survive. You find:
a mirror
a book
a fork
a mattress
a roll of twine
your choice of one of the Scout Six Essentials
How on Earth are you going to survive? You have five minutes to discuss your situation and the items you have available to you. Rank them from most- to least-important and how you would use them. Choose a group representative to come back to explain your list and reasoning. A list of your found items will be pasted into chat and broadcasted to your groups. Ready, set, go!
Situation 2: The Zombie Apocalypse
It’s the summer of 2020 and the Zombie Apocalypse has begun. Before transmissions went down, scientists deduced it was spread by the Murder Hornets.Your group has managed to find one another and compile your gear into one large cache, knowing there is strength in numbers. Because the virus spread so quickly, you each have only what you were able to grab.
bug spray
golf club
shovel
night vision goggles
pile of lumber
your choice of one of the Scout Six Essentials
Use those brains while you’ve got ’em! You have five minutes to discuss your situation and the items you have available to you. Rank them from most- to least-important and how you would use them. Choose a group representative to come back to explain your list and reasoning. A list of your found items will be pasted into chat and broadcasted to your groups. Ready, set, go!
Situation 3: The Wilderness
Your patrol has been planning a camping adventure for the last several months and are finally ready to head out. You make it to your destination and set-up camp before heading out on a long, pre-dinner hike. The weather is beautiful and you stay out longer than planned. As the sun starts getting low, you decide to head back and make those delicious hobo packets you’ve been thinking about all day long. But as soon as camp is within sight, you know something is terribly wrong! A bear came by while you were gone, ate all of your food, and destroyed your gear. All that’s left are:
a flashlight
a yo-yo
some clothespins
a pocket knife
a pair of stilts
your choice of one of the Scout Six Essentials
It’s going to be a long two days and nights before your adult leaders arrive to bring you home. You have five minutes to discuss your situation and the items you have available to you. Rank them from most- to least-important and how you would use them. Choose a group representative to come back to explain your list and reasoning. A list of your found items will be pasted into chat and broadcasted to your groups. Ready, set, go!
Situation 4: The Extreme Adventure Injury
It’s a beautiful day for adventure, so you and your patrol decide to take that biking trip you’ve been talking about. It’s late December, so it’s pretty cold but the ground is dry and you want to head out to make the most of the daylight hours. You’ve double checked your bike and gear, and everything looks great, so you meet up on a remote bike trail and head out. Time flies when you’re having fun, and you realize you’re losing light and decide to call it a day when one of you falls off your bike and breaks an arm. “Great,” you think, “it’s cold and getting dark – how could this get any worse?” That’s when the snow starts. Just like any good Scout, each of you has the Six Essentials in your pack, but your buddy can’t ride back and is in distress. You have the following items that might help:
a small pile of lint you found in your coat pocket
a Troop neckerchief
your phone, but the cold is quickly draining the battery
a pocketknife
a bike lock and chain
You’re running out of daylight! You have five minutes to discuss your situation and the items you have available to you. Rank them from most- to least-important and how you would use them. Choose a group representative to come back to explain your list and reasoning. A list of your found items will be pasted into chat and broadcasted to your groups. Ready, set, go!
Would Your Scouts Survive?
Seems to me there’s nothing a Scout can’t do, and if their ability to be flexible and use new technology to continue on with the program is any indication, I think our youth are going to keep the rest of us moving forward no matter the situation. In fact, I think their ingenuity and creativity in these trying times will change the Scouting program forever, and in countless wonderful ways.
So what do you think? Would your Scouts survive? How did these survival situation games go over with your unit? What would you add or change? I want to know all about it! Don’t forget to follow, like, and share Look Wider Still to stay in the loop.
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Scouting Activities: Scout-Themed Pictionary Zoom Game
As the weeks go on and virtual meetings continue, your PL might find themselves running out of good ideas to keep things exciting and interesting. You can only share screen so many Power Point presentations before Scouts start taking virtual naps during their weekly virtual Patrol meeting. If you find yourself in a slump or in need of a last-minute game, try my Scout-Themed Pictionary Zoom Game!
Scouting Activities: SCOUTERGORIES Zoom Game
Do you remember family game night growing up? Some games made for a fun evening, like Candy Land and Life while others turned typically sweet family members into wild-eyed logophiles, like Scattergories. Was that just my childhood home? I hope so.
As an adult, I’ve come to love the game again. My son (the PL) and I were talking about games he could play over Zoom this week, and in the midst of a pretty desperate brainstorm, a lightbulb went off. What about Scattergories for Scouts… Scoutergories? Learn more at Scouting Activities: SCOUTERGORIES Zoom Game!
Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Virtual Whisper Game
“Scouting is not an abstruse or difficult science: rather it is a jolly game if you take it in the right light. In the same time it is educative, and (like mercy) it is apt to benefit him that giveth as well as him that receives.” Lord Robert Baden-PowellA jolly game sounds good about now, and if you’re several weeks into virtual meetings, you’re looking for new ideas, so I thought I’d share what my PL son is up to next. Learn more at Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Virtual Whisper Game.
Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Scout Rank BINGO Game
My son (PL) is wrapping up the 30 Day Rank Challenge posted by the Heart of America Council, with his brand new patrol of brand new Scouts, and as he mulled over how to test them on what they’ve learned. After careful consideration, we talked over his strategy and he decided he’d rather make it a game than outright quiz his patrol on Scouting details. Keep it simple, make it fun! Right? So we brainstormed games that could be played through his next Zoom meeting, and landed squarely on BINGO. Learn more at Scouts BSA Patrol Activities: Scout Rank Bingo Game.
UPDATED 6/5/2024: The Sample Pack Family Calendar template has been updated! Please see the new link below.
I’ve been mulling over what I would jot down next, and I had considered Annual Pack Program Planning but thought it was too much to wrap my head around these days. Fifth-grade fractions and decimals and ninth-grade geometry are eating up all of my available brain cells, so my processing power has been maxed out for weeks. I’m awaiting the day that I look in the mirror only to find two blue screens where I used to have eyes. The reboot I needed came when my Council’s Director of Field Service / COO reached out to me for some help in creating a short video for Pack leadership to be aired at our upcoming virtual Unit Program Planning Party (UP3) event. It’s always a pleasure and privilege to work with the folks at the Heart of Virginia Council and Battlefield District, so of course I was happy to participate. Now that the video is recorded, and I’m still a little wired from the two-too-many cups of coffee I enjoyed today, I figure it’s the perfect time to put those talking points to work here. Two birds, one stone.
So, what is pack program planning? Just in case you’re new to your Pack Committee or need a refresh, it’s an annual meeting or series of meetings in which all members of your leadership team work together to establish the upcoming 12-month calendar of pack events. This also includes drafting and approving an operating budget. These planning meetings (also referred to as conferences) take place in late spring and/or early summer, just ahead of the brand-new Year in Scouting.
Why are these meetings so important? Well, for one, we serve an organization whose motto is not, in fact, “Just Wing It!” We have the invaluable job of serving the youth in our community, and we all know that youth lose interest in disorganized events. Have you ever overheard a Scout utter, “this is lame” at a special meeting? It’s heartbreaking, and it has a domino effect that sucks the wind right out of dedicated leaders sails, makes parents lose their faith in you, and discourages those parents to volunteer their time and talents. Never wing it.
Here’s the tried and true method my Pack uses to complete our annual pack program planning.
A successful plan evolves all year long. We are in a constant state of program planning and review, and this is why our Pack is able to provide a great program year after year.
Step 1: Survey Your Families
We start with a parent survey developed by our Committee Chairperson and delivered to families in the spring. This survey asks for feedback on the previous Year in Scouting and requests suggestions for the upcoming year. This is an invaluable tool that weighs heavily in our planning process.
Step 2: Pack Committee Chair and Cubmaster Meeting
Next, the Pack Committee Chair and Cubmaster meet to draft a program plan for the upcoming Year in Scouting. This meeting is prefaced by countless texts, emails, and phone calls, and is normally several hours long. In this meeting, we review the previous year’s calendar and discuss the results of the parent survey. We purchase a large desktop calendar for the upcoming year – you can buy annual calendars that begin in July of the current year and end in June of the following year (like this one from Office Depot) – and pencil in important dates from our Council, District, Troop, Chartered Organization, and school calendars. Next, we pencil in our core Scouting program events, like Den and Pack meetings, camping trips (to include rain dates), Pinewood Derby, Family Bake-Off, Blue and Gold Banquet, Arrow of Light Bridging, and more. Then we determine which additional activities we’d like to draft into the plan and develop a written copy that we will present to our Pack Committee.
Holding this particular meeting offline is important! Delivering a proposed plan to the full Pack Committee for review helps the whole planning process run smoothly and efficiently.
Step 3: Pack Committee Program Planning Meeting #1
The draft program is now presented to our Pack Committee for review. Because good decisions are never made on an empty stomach, we always bring pizza… and lots of it. This is another lengthy but important meeting where the plan is considered in great detail and each event is discussed, changed if necessary, and approved. Budget line items, like expected trailer maintenance or equipment purchases, are discussed and approved. Additionally, we use this meeting to determine who will formally coordinate each of our events. Finally, we move to have the Committee Chair and Treasurer meet to formulate a proposed budget.
Step 4: Pack Committee Chair and Treasurer Meeting
In this meeting, the Pack Committee Chair and Treasurer use the program plan to draft a budget. To do this, they roughly estimate the number of Scouts expected to return and to be recruited in the coming months. They consider the previous year’s fundraising efforts to estimate what to expect in the coming year, the previous year’s expenditures, and other factors for the year. At this point, the budget is compared against our membership numbers and dues are assessed. This proposed budget is then brought to the Pack Committee for final review and approval.
Step 5: Pack Committee Program Planning Meeting #2
At this final program planning meeting, the Pack Committee hashes out the final details. We discuss the program plan and proposed budget, make adjustments as necessary, and finalize dues to arrive at an approved plan for the year.
Step 6: Spread the Word
The last step in this process is to publish an official “Pack Family” calendar and share it with your Pack families. We also provide the Pack Committee and Chartering Organization with the approved budget and Pack Program Plan, and we host a parent informational meeting to go over the details (normally as part of the first Pack meeting of the new year).
Look Wider Still
You have to be flexible because even the best-laid plan will be met with challenges, and you’ll need to learn how to adjust. Inclement weather is our biggest obstacle in Cub Scouting, and we’ve learned to bake in rain dates and Plans C-Z when planning our program for the year. We meet as a Pack Committee each and every month to discuss the previous month’s events, the actual budget line items associated with those events, and make adjustments to the budget as we go. We also discuss, like Roses and Thorns, the high and low points of each event, which helps us to better determine what will be included in the coming year’s program plan.
Too much to read? Well, let me and a few of my friends lay it out for you. I Scout in the Heart of Virginia Council, who puts on an amazing “Unit Program Planning Party”, aka: UP3, to help Units prepare for the year ahead. I was honored to be included as the Cub Scout representative to talk about how my Pack plans a top-notch program and stays on budget.
Sample Pack Family Calendar
In case you’re looking for a calendar template, here’s an editable Google SheetSample Pack Family Calendar! Please read the “Instructions” tab before editing your file… this gives you important information about edit access and printing. You will not have the ability to directly edit the linked copy above – you will have to download a copy to your own Google Drive before having full access to customize for your own unit needs. There is also a link at the bottom to a Pack Logo Canva Template that you can use to build your own unit logo!
I Hope This is Helpful
I know it’s a lot of information, but this process is truly the most important part of planning a great program for your Scouts and their families. Don’t forget to Keep It Simple, Make It Fun and stay flexible.
Did this post help you with your unit’s program planning? What would you add? What works best for your Pack? Tell me all about it in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe to Look Wider Still!
I’ve been a stay-at-home / work-from-home mom for about six years now. I’m a very organized person, but before I took the plunge and started working out of the house, I was doing my grocery shopping when I had a few spare minutes and things were out of control. I would impulse and over buy.
One of the first items on my to-do list was clean and inventory my fridge, freezer, and pantry. I don’t remember the exact number, but I was astonished by how many cans of cream of mushroom soup I’d accumulated over the years. I swear it was around a dozen cans, stashed alongside at least four cans of black eyed peas (why?) and a variety of canned cranberry sauces. The kicker? I had cream of mushroom soup on my grocery list.
It took a long time to get out of the habit of buying things without checking my supplies first. I was also buying ingredients with the intention of making specific recipes, but forgetting what I had or what I was planning to make and throwing spoiled food – and lots of good money – away.
I’m big on bullet journaling and found that a weekly spread with a section for meal planning was critical if I were to realistically kick my overbuying habit. My budget loved me and it felt great that my family was eating in more and wasting less.
Right now we’re socially distancing, especially at the grocery store. I decided early on that the grocery store would be my biggest risk and that I would lay out thoughtful meal plans with the intent on going only once every two or more weeks. To get that done, I needed to start by inventorying my pantry and freezer. I created a printable inventory to help track what I had so I could better prepare for trips to the grocery store. A matching meal inventory was a must! Now that I’ve been using them successfully for about a month, I thought I’d share.
How I use this: First, I performed a pantry inventory of everything I already had in stock, using a highlighter to denote in-stock quantities. As I’ve made recipes using those items, I’ve marked the appropriate number of boxes with an x. There are 15 total squares, which should be more than enough for tracking these items for a long time. I had no idea I had so many packets of salmon!
How I use this: The link for the freezer inventory takes you to an improved version of what is pictured above. This works exactly like the pantry inventory, only it includes columns to write-in the date it was frozen and a use-by date.
How I use this: The link to the meal inventory takes you to an improved version of what is pictured above. I keep this right on the refrigerator where I can see it. This has been a life-saver during my weekly meal planning and has helped me extend the time between shopping trips.
Big Box Retailers
Your local big box retailer offers up online shopping with one-stop pickup. My kids are devouring snacks like it’s their job, and the cost of buying Cheez-Its and drinks was getting ridiculous. Instead, we order snacks, drinks, and other items (like toilet paper and paper towels, if we’re lucky) and pick it all up with little to no contact with other people. It’s kind of amazing, and it keeps us from breaking the bank or making more trips to the regular grocery store. If you aren’t already a member of your local store, now’s the perfect time to make that commitment. You won’t regret it.
Save Money with iBotta
You can save even more time and money just by signing up with iBotta. I’ve linked up to my favorite grocery stores using my rewards or membership numbers and automatically save quite a bit on items I already purchase. At Christmastime, I converted my savings into an Amazon gift card and used it to buy a Bose Soundbar. Give it a try! If you join, consider using my code: oyxjtpi.
Happy Organizing!
Let me know in the comments if these inventories helped you get organized. Did they make shopping and meal planning more efficient? Are you throwing away less? Eating in more? I hope so!
Growing up with Depression-Era grandparents made me aware of how often we all waste food. Nothing irritates me more than throwing away an unopened package of lettuce or having a tomato go bad; so it’s no surprise that I love a good “two-for-one” recipe. This one is my favorite and is made better and easier with the help of my new air fryer (a Christmas gift from my aunt).
There are countless brands of air fryers out there, but mine is a 7-QuartPowerXL, and I’m partial. Not only does this air fryer make the most incredible wings and drumsticks of all time, it also perfectly cooks frozen fries, salmon patties, hamburgers, hot dogs, and whole chicken roasters! The basket has a non-stick coating so there’s no need for cooking spray or parchment paper, and the whole thing cleans up easily. We use it almost as often as we use our 8-Quart Oval Crock-Pot.
Prepping this recipe is easy. Preheat your air fryer at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes. While you wait, rinse and pat dry your roaster. Then, rub the entire chicken with grapeseed oil (olive oil or vegetable oil will also work, but I find that the higher the smoke point, the crispier the chicken). Season all sides of the chicken with black pepper and Lawry’s Seasoned Salt. Use regular salt sparingly, and only if you feel it’s absolutely necessary.
Once the air fryer is preheated, place your chicken in the basket, breast side down. Set the timer for 30 minutes. Flip your chicken breast side up and fry an additional 20 minutes. Use a food thermometer to ensure that you’ve hit 165 degrees before carving and serving your chicken. If it isn’t ready after 50 total minutes, fry in 5 minute intervals and recheck.
Serve your chicken with your favorite sides, like mashed potatoes, peas, and a nice salad. When you’ve carved what you want off of your chicken, place what’s left in a big stock pot and cover it with water. Store it in the refrigerator overnight.
The next morning, bring your pot to a fast boil, then reduce to low and simmer all day (5 to 6 hours) to make an awesome chicken stock. This will also separate a lot of meat from your chicken that you’ll add back to the prepared stock.
Place a strainer over a second pot or large bowl and pour your stock and chicken over the strainer. Add the pieces of chicken meat from your strainer to your stock and throw everything else away – except, of course, your wish bone. Place your stock and chicken over low heat and bring to a boil, adding in frozen soup vegetables and uncooked egg noodles. Boil on low until your noodles are soft, then serve!
Served up with a nice piece of bread and butter, this soup can’t be beat. It’s that feel-good family recipe that warms your belly and your heart. It technically would keep in the refrigerator for several days, but even this big ol’ pot of soup disappears pretty quickly in my house.
Do you have a family-favorite recipe that reminds you of home? Do you have a recipe that performs double-duty and makes two different dishes? I would seriously love to know about it. Let me know if these Air Fryer Whole Chicken Roaster and Chicken Noodle Soup recipes make your regular rotation in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe.
If you’re looking to switch things up in your next Zoom meeting, and hide the piles of Scout Stuff stacked up in your room, consider virtual backgrounds. I’m sure you’ve had Scouts floating in space or enjoying a tropical vacation in recent meetings, and maybe you’ve wondered how.
In a recent update, Zoom made it possible to change your background without a green screen, which seems to work well for my Scouts on tablets or laptops, but my old PC doesn’t have the processing power to make it happen. For folks like me, there are easy and inexpensive green screen options out there, and some work better than others depending on your meeting space. If your desk is situated so your back is to a wall, you can purchase six or so neon green poster boards that will quickly and easily tape to the wall behind you for perfect virtual background presentations. Maybe you don’t have a wall directly behind you, but instead it’s furniture, cabinets, open doorways, or other more difficult spots… grab some neon green plastic tablecloths and use painters tape to hang them from your ceiling. There are also plenty of fun tutorials for making your own green screen, like this one by cryptostache.com. If you’re a pro who uses their green screen for Scouting, work, and more, maybe invest in a Webaround Portable Webcam Background.
If you’re able to use the virtual backgrounds without a green screen, or used your Scout Skills to make one for your next meeting, you’ll need to find some cool backgrounds. There are TONS of freebies out there, but I thought I’d take some time to create Cub Scout and Scouts BSA -specific images that are free to use.
WordPress converts these .PNG files to .WEBP files. When saving to your computer, change the file extension back to .PNG.
NOTE: this post has been updated to include Venturing, Sea Scouts, Wood Badge, NYLT, OA, Girl Scouts USA, and fundraising backgrounds.
Cub Scout BackgroundsScouts BSA BackgroundsScouts BSA National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)Scouts BSA Order of the Arrow (OA)Scouts BSA – VenturingScouts BSA – Sea ScoutsScouts BSA – Wood BadgeGirl Scouts USA (GSUSA)
And one special batch for one of my Scouting Heroes, the Program Support Executive for Heart of Virginia Council, Heather Dunton! Your Unit Popcorn Kernels and Nut Captains are welcome to use these, as well.
The “I’m Nuts for Heather” Collection
I’m sure I’ll add more to these galleries in the next few days, so keep your eyes peeled for updates. In the meantime, enjoy these in good health and let me know in the comments how they worked in your virtual meeting.
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Need help planning your virtual den meetings all year long?
I’ve created a series of Google Slides that can be shared via your favorite virtual meeting program.
Visual Aids for Virtual Meetings
Google Slides provides you with almost limitless opportunities for pulling together eye-catching, interesting, fun presentations that can be shared and passed down to other leaders. Having all of your virtual meeting materials in one place will make your job as den leader that much easier – it won’t be necessary to juggle clicking around to find materials on the web or trying to remember where you found something on the fly. It will also help you to stay on track and add resources to your meeting, like You Tube links and interactive games, that will keep your Scouts engaged. Read more at Scouting Tech: Visual Aids for Virtual Meetings.
Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games
Foster Scout Spirit and team work by dropping your patrol into survival situations and seeing how they would react. By using Zoom Breakout Rooms, you can split your patrol into separate groups to discuss their found items and strategies for survival before presenting to the full group. It’s a great opportunity to use the tech you have available and teach them a thing or two about being prepared for anything! Scouting Tech: Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games
Online Conferencing Tools for Virtual Meetings
We’re navigating some seriously uncharted territory right now, trying to find ways to maintain some normalcy and keep the kids from physically turning into the Fortnite character they’re obsessively playing. It’s been pleasantly surprising to witness the outpouring of knowledge and generosity in the last week; the sharing of wisdom and resources is truly inspiring. Read more in my post, Scouting Tech: Online Conferencing Tools for Virtual Meetings.
How to Run a Virtual Pack Meeting
Well, if you’re doing your part to flatten the curve by sitting on your couch and brainstorming all of the ways you and your Pack can Scout in these difficult times, welcome to the One Hour A Week Club. We’re starting campfires with our Den and Pack meeting plans for kindling, looking for a spot among the dining room table to safely store the Arrow of Light plaques, picking at patch corners to see what could use a new stitch, wearing our uniforms around the house because we’re starting to miss the itchy shorts. Read more in my post, Cub Scout Activities: How to Run a Virtual Pack Meeting.
Youth Protection in a Virtual World
It seems to me that social distancing has brought the world closer than ever, from apartment complexes in Italy and China singing in concert, to authors performing Facebook Live readings for the masses, singers and songwriters performing free concerts from home, artists sharing tutorials so we can release our collective creativity, educators hosting live classes and providing our students with more materials than could ever be imagined so they can stay on track, and anyone with a sewing machine making face masks to share with medical professionals on the front line all over the world. Learn more at Scouting Tech: Youth Protection in a Virtual World.
Look Wider Still is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I have personally purchased and used the products I suggest.
At the very beginning of our Webelos year, I told my Scouts that they could vote on and determine the electives we’d complete throughout the year. In the back of my mind, I almost dreaded the day that they’d choose Adventures in Science. Why? I harkened back to my high school chemistry class and got full-body chills. Instead of burying my head in the sand, I decided it was an opportunity to embrace something I didn’t feel completely comfortable with, do my research, and give my Scouts an experience they wouldn’t forget.
That year, I went as a Quirky Quarks Labratory Scientist to our Pack Trunk-or-Treat. In the end, Adventures in Science was a tremendous success that did not, in fact, blow up in my face.
I consider myself to be a fairly creative person, but even I know when it’s time to lean on the professionals who invented the wheel, shared the blueprints, and smiled the whole time. This post is a good mixture of my own tried and true tweaks and their extreme generosity, with credit erupting like that awesome volcano experiment we all did in elementary school.
Adventures in Science Elective Adventure Requirements
An experiment is a “fair test” to compare possible explanations. Draw a picture of a fair test that shows what you need to do to test a fertilizer’s effects on plant growth.
Visit a museum, a college, a laboratory, an observatory, a zoo, an aquarium, or other facility that employs scientists. Prepare three questions ahead of time, and talk to a scientist about his or her work.
Complete any four of the following:
a. Carry out the experiment you designed for Requirement 1.
b. If you completed 3A, carry out the experiment again but change the independent variable. Report what you learned about how changing the variable affected plant growth.
c. Build a model solar system. Chart the distances between the planets so that the model is to scale. Use what you learned from this requirement to explain the value of making a model in science.
d. With adult supervision, build and launch a model rocket. Use the rocket to design a fair test to answer a question about force or motion.
e. Create two circuits of three light bulbs and a battery. Construct one as a series circuit and the other as a parallel circuit.
f. Study the night sky. Sketch the appearance of the North Star (Polaris) and the Big Dipper (part of the Ursa Major constellation) over at least six hours (which may be spread over several nights). Describe what you observed, and explain the meaning of your observations.
g. With adult assistance, explore safe chemical reactions with household materials. Using two substances, observe what happens when the amounts of the reactants are increased.
h. Explore properties of motion on a playground. How does the weight of a person affect how fast they slide down a slide or how fast a swing moves? Design a fair test to answer one of those questions.
i. Read a biography of a scientist. Tell your den leader or the other members of your den what the scientist is famous for and why his or her work is important.
This is a direct copy and paste from usscouts.org, where you can print a PDF and/or DOCX workbook of this adventure. My den completed the bolded requirements to earn this pin.
Den Leader Materials
For In-Person Meetings
If you’re able to meet in-person for this elective, you’re about to have a lot of fun! You can complete all the bolded requirements above. Here’s what you’ll need:
We’re all meeting virtually these days, and this allows you some great opportunities to use new technology and digital resources to complete adventures. It’s difficult to complete the circuits requirement (3e) virtually, but you should be able to easily cover the rest. This includes the museum visit in requirement 2! You’ll need everything above, plus the following:
Adventures in Science PowerPoint Presentation (free PPT): this includes slides to support this adventure, including an opening ceremony and links to some of the video resources mentioned in the “in-person” materials above. This presentation has materials for three total virtual meetings and can be edited to suit your needs. It is formatted to use the Burbank Big Condensed Bold and Schoolbell free fonts.
A constructed Air Rocket Launch and Paper Rockets using the Cub Scout Ideas tutorials linked above so you can stream the fair test in requirement 3d during your virtual meeting
Several types of Coke (I used a variety of store brand sodas) and enough Mentos to drop 12 candies into each bottle (I suggest sticking them to a long piece of gift wrapping tape so you can quickly drop them in before the explosion begins) to stream a fair test for requirement 3g during your virtual meeting
A Few Notes Regarding This Adventure
Remember my trepidation? I hope all the materials above prove that I dug deep to find a way to enjoy this adventure alongside my AOLs. We started this in March, so half of it was completed before COVID-19 closed schools and shut down our in-person adventuring. We made the best of it and managed to complete the pin with a series of virtual meetings. For instance, we completed circuits in person, but I built and tested the rocket launcher virtually. It’s tough but possible! Here are some notes regarding this adventure.
Simple Circuits
Of all the activities, my Scouts enjoyed building circuits the most. My son has his circuit sitting on his desk, and he fiddles with it just about every day. I used the Cub Scout Ideas’ Simple Circuit Project Tutorials to complete this requirement. Here were my supplies:
4″ x 6″ cardboard rectangles, cut from cereal boxes in my recycling (they will make the circuits on the unprinted side of cardboard)
Clear LED Bulbs, 5mm, multicolor (100 pack)this may seem like a lot of bulbs, but some colors draw more battery power than others and I found testing different bulbs made the activity even more interesting
regular gift wrapping tape
Testing my LEDs before the meeting! I did this for almost an hour. You will, too.
Paper Rockets and Launcher
Again, extreme props where they are due because the Cub Scout Ideas’ Tutorial for an Air Rocket Launcher and Paper Rockets simply cannot be improved upon. Sherry’s tutorials are top-notch and this is no exception. In fact, we got our paper rockets to launch at least 90′ into the air, which was impressive even when it was streamed virtually. I suggest cutting out as many fins as possible from thin cardboard boxes in your recycling. This is a great job to task parents with! I purchased all the materials suggested in the tutorial for under $10 at Home Depot and had parents asking for the link when our meeting was over – several have now built one for themselves and have been sending me photos and videos of some inspiring launches.
If you intend on using empty 2L soda bottles for this activity, consider doing your Coke and Mentos Fountain first!
Seriously – how awesome is that thing?
Coke and Mentos Fountain
The printable on Compound Chem’s “The Secrets of the Coke and Mentos Fountain” page is a tremendous help in explaining the why’s behind this interesting chemical reaction. Seeing is believing, and the fountain conveys well both in-person and virtually. We used store-brand 2L sodas with great success! According to Compound Chem, Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper is a real show-stopper, but we found that regular diet soda versus any number of other sodas gives you quite the bang for your buck. We had to do this virtually and later had Scouts and their families sending in pictures and videos of their OWN fountains.
Diet Coke for the win for one Scout family!
Virtual Scavenger Hunt Challenge
My Adventures in Science, NOVA Award Science Everywhere!: Virtual Scavenger Hunt Challenge was designed to help my Scouts earn both the Adventures in Science pin and the Science Everywhere NOVA module. I did quite a bit of research to ensure I pulled in many different types of science and linking Scouts up with safe and engaging websites. If you use it, please let me know what you thought!
Make sure you download a copy of this to your own Google Forms or local computer before filling it out!
I hope that at least some of this is helpful, and that it saved you a few minutes of your weekly hour of Scouting. Enjoy all of it in good health!
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Look Wider Still is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I have personally purchased and used the products I suggest.
It’s finally happened. Those adorable Tigers (or Lions) of yesterday have completed the Cub Scout program and are bursting out of the nest, soaring toward their next big adventure. We usher them out in ceremony and are sometimes so distracted by the to-do lists and the emotions that we forget to wrap up the digital loose ends. The last thing we can do as leaders to ensure their success at the Troop level is to take great care with their records and deliver them safely and soundly into their new Unit’s ScoutBookaccount.
There are a few things you’ll need to think about and know before you start clicking away their membership and enjoy your retirement.
Complete Their Cub Scout Records
It’s extremely difficult to back-peddle and update their Cub level records after they’ve been transferred to a Troop, so it’s extremely important that you double-check all advancement and awards for their AOL year before making the switch. Ideally, this would have been completed before their bridging (physical or virtual) so the Pack could purchase and present any final pins or awards before the Scouts move on.
After you’ve updated their records, make sure you’ve approved everything by opening your Den and navigating to Den Reports > Needs Approval Report, and approving any records you missed. This puts those pins and awards on the existing purchasing order. You can navigate to Den Reports > Needs Purchasing Report to screen capture the outgoing AOL items on the list. (Am I the only out here loving the Microsoft Snipping Tool for this?)
Note: It was suggested to me by the ScoutBook User Advisory Council that I just close out and print the official Purchase Order, but the Pack is still working on advancement for the month. Make sure you reach out to your Advancement Chairperson beforeyou make any changes in ScoutBook that might create confusion on a future order.
Run the Cub Scout History Reports
ScoutBook provides a Cub Scout History Report, which provides completion dates for required and elective adventures, service hours, hiking miles, camping nights, special awards, and more. You can pull individual reports by navigating to your Scout’s page >Reports > Cub Scout History Report. You can also pull this report for all of the Scouts in your den at one time by navigating to your Den Page > Reports > Cub Scout History Report. Both reports allow you to save as either Portrait or Landscape PDFs.
These reports are what I call “mission critical” for special projects, like wrapping Arrow of Light Ceremonial Arrows with their individual achievement strips. They’re also a great keepsake for your Scouts. I print copies for each Scout and include them with their arrows when they bridge.
Transferring Scouts to New Troop Units
If your outgoing AOL is transferring into a Troop WITHOUT ScoutBook, there isn’t much for you to do. You would navigate to that Scout > Membership > Current Membership and enter a date in the “Date Ended” field, un-check “Position Approved” and click Update. This will take you to that Scout’s membership page again and will show that most recent membership change under the “Past Membership” header. Since you aren’t adding them to a Troop, simply click out of this window and that Scout is no longer listed as a member of your Pack. If you’re moving with your own Scout into the Troop and are looking for a way to contribute to their overall success – offer to be their ScoutBook Administrator! Set them up with the program, transfer your Scouts in using the techniques below, and they’ll thank you later.
If your outgoing AOL is transferring into a Troop WITH ScoutBook, there are a few ways of moving them out of the Pack.
One way is to simply allow the Youth Application to process. Each Scout will need to fill-out a new application when transferring into a Troop, which will be processed by the Council and, using their BSA Number, will drop them into their new unit automatically.
You can manually move each Scout to a new Troop by navigating to that Scout Scout Membership > Current Membership and enter a date in the “Date Ended” field, un-check “Position Approved” and click Update. You will return to that Scout’s membership page, where you’ll see the red “+ Add” button in the top left. You’ll click that, double-check the Council, choose “Troop” from the Unit Type drop-down and enter the Unit Number in the field. A new “BSA Unit Description” drop-down populates; choose the appropriate unit from the list. Next, if you know the patrol your outgoing Scout will join, choose it from the “Patrol” drop-down. Enter today’s date, any notes you’d like to add, and click the red “Update” button to complete the transfer.
Finally, you can reach out to the Troop to determine who their ScoutBook Administrator is. Search for and add that person as a Connection for each Scout with Full Control permissions. They can then review their Connections and make the transfer above on their own.
Of these three options, I prefer the second. It’s time-consuming but it’s faster than waiting on the application to process and, unless they prefer option three, easier for the Troop Administrators.
They’re Transferred in ScoutBook, But Still Need to Submit a New Youth Application
ScoutBook is a record-keeping program, but not the end-all-be-all in official Scouts BSA membership. The Troop will have these Scouts complete brand new Youth Applications to transfer their membership officially, but it’s a great help to have them moved over in ScoutBook as soon as possible.
They’re Ready to Scout On!
At the time of this post, we are in the middle of the COVID-19 lock down, with all springtime traditions canceled or postponed for sometime in the future. Many Packs have “virtually bridged” their AOL’s, or are waiting to officially bridge them in full ceremony this summer or fall. Those Scouts shouldn’t have to wait to start working on Troop-level advancement now, as expected. Most Troops are offering virtual Patrol Meetings via platforms like Zoom and Skype, and many are using virtual tools to help those new Scouts earn their Scout Rank. See my recent post entitled Pack-to-Troop Transitions: Preparing AOLs (and their PL’s) for Scout Rank for ways to help make this particular transition as easy and engaging as possible until regular meetings are scheduled. Transferring them to their new units in ScoutBook will help those Scouts advance and their new youth leadership team keep track of that advancement right away.
I hope this helps you feel more confident about navigating this big change! Let me know in the comments if you’ve found a more efficient way of transferring Scouts, if this helped you with your transfers, or if I left anything out. Don’t forget to give this post a like and/or share!
“The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.”
– John Muir
What an adventure it truly is to lead a group of young boys and girls through the Cub Scouting program. They tell us we need the Scout Six Essentials to do it; water, sun protection, a first aid kit, flashlight, whistle, and (in most cases, most importantly) a snack. But having been involved with the same great Pack for a decade now, I’ve learned that every good leader needs something sturdy to lean on. They need a tool that helps them keep a steady pace, supports them through the more difficult footholds, and gives them the leverage they need to stand proud and tall at the end.
A Scout Stave is an important part of any good Scout’s basic accoutrements, and not just because it looks great with the uniform. They serve an important purpose – providing an adventurous Scout with support and safety. It’s more than that, though. Scouts know that any piece of equipment worth carrying has many uses, and the stave is no different from a Swiss Army Knife, for instance. You can use it to splint an injury, secure a patrol flag, as a tent pole or part of a lean-to, for measuring distances, feeling your way through marshy or rough ground, estimating height, linking together in darkness or difficult weather, and of course self defense. It’s impossible to mistake a unit for anything but prepared when they’re led by a Scout carrying a stave.
As a marker of leadership, it’s a logical gift for the intrepid, dedicated Arrow of Light leadership who are bridging their merry little Cub Scouts into a Troop.
I’ve been making personalized hiking staves for outgoing AOL leadership for years now, presenting them at the bridging ceremony. It’s been a true pleasure to see them used by those leaders as they continue on with their Scouts into the Troop or step off the Scout path and go on personal adventures. I’ve seen them used in many ways – some choose to hang them up in pride of place, some add accessories and take them on adventures, others hang lanterns from the end and use them to literally light the way. Making a personalized stave gives you the opportunity to truly think through the blessing each leader has been to your unit, to mull the ways they improved your Pack, to consider how they changed the lives of the youth in their charge. It’s a special process that helps you to clearly see the overall picture of a persons dedication to Scouting.
Making a personalized Scout Stave is easier than it looks, and you can find a lot of great tutorials out there. I tried several before settling on a combination of many, doing what I could NOT to create more work than was absolutely necessary, but without sacrificing any of the important details.
Here’s a list of basic supplies I use to complete this project:
It looks overwhelming, but the beauty of this project is that it’s personalized, so you can use whatever you have on hand to make a beautiful hiking stave. I already have the paracord, stain, poly, brushes, wood burning tool, drill, and sandpaper on hand from a million other projects, and you probably do as well. A lot of Scouters pick-up, whittle and dry their own blank walking sticks; that’s just outside of my wheelhouse and takes time I don’t seem to have. I’ve seen beautiful staves that were hand-painted instead of wood burned! Truly, the sky’s the limit with this project.
Prepping the Staves
I’ve purchased Aspen Walking Sticks – Blank – from TreelineUSA for four straight years and have yet to be anything but extremely pleased with the product. Each stick is, of course, different, but they’re all exceptional quality. Some orders are perfectly straight sticks, and others come with a little more personality (I prefer those). TreelineUSA is a great company with fantastic customer service, and their website is a lot of fun to poke around.
Once your staves arrive, you want to lightly sand them right away. You’ll want to focus a little more heavily on areas where the whittling process has left small imperfections. Next, you’ll want to spend a little time with each stave, finding the most natural way that particular stave should be held. That will help to determine the front and back of the stave, and where a hand will most naturally want to hold it. Once you determine where the hand will naturally go, you’ll drill a hole completely through, from front to back, using a 13/64 bit, about an inch below where your hand rests. This will be where you start your paracord wrap, from the bottom up.
Woodburning
If you are going to woodburn your unit number and/or leaders’ names into your staves, now’s the time. I own a Walnut Hollow Creative Versa-Tool and Wood Burning Tips kit, and I use it regularly. I love this tool! For this project, I like to put the unit numbers facing out, name on the back. Placement is up to you – I normally start burning vertically about an inch below the hole I drilled for my paracord.
One year, we had a smaller den and invited Scouts to come and hand-write their names into the staves with the rounded woodburner tip that comes in the full Walnut Hollow kit linked above. It was a great opportunity to teach those Scouts how to properly and safely use a new tool, and the final product was beautiful! On this years staves, which will be presented to my fellow den leadership, includes a nod to the legendary Star Wars Blue & Gold Banquet we put on together a few years ago.
The alphabet and number sets are a great investment if you purchase or own a Walnut Hollow wood burner. The kit linked above comes with several tips, including a rounded attachment that’s great for hand-lettering. My outgoing AOL leadership team are true Jedi’s, so I chose a nod to Star Wars for their staves.
Next, you’ll want to lightly sand down around the areas you burned. Sometimes you’ll accidentally burn the perimeter of the burning plates into the wood, which oftentimes come right out with a little sanding.
Staining and Sealing
Once you’re happy with the burning and sanding, you’ll want to tap the end of a small nail into the bottom of each stave so you can dry it without touching the ground. You’ll remove this later.
With a 1″ foam brush, apply a thin layer of Minwax stain (I use Puritan Pine, but you can use whatever you have on hand), paying special attention to the knots and lettering. Allow it to dry completely before gently sanding any drips or imperfections wiping away any dust, and applying a second coat. The top and bottom of each stave will really suck up some stain, so make sure you apply enough to both ends.
After your second coat has completely dried, check it for any drips or imperfections. Sand those one last time if need be. Apply your first coat of Minwax polyurethane and allow it to completely dry – the Fast-Drying formula takes about 3 1/2 hours to completely dry. A second and final coat will give your staves a shiny protective coat that can withstand a lot of abuse, including use out in wet conditions. If you feel the need to sand between coats of poly, make sure it’s completely dry before you sand and that you wipe away dust particles before applying a new coat.
Paracord Wrapping and Medallions
Having a paracord hand grip doesn’t just look and feel good, it has a lot of important uses in the field. Scouts use paracord all the time for securing tents and other structures, first aid, hanging bear bags, tethering and repairing gear, and about a million other ways. It’s our go-to for knots and other fun pioneering and camp crafts. Having a nice length of it at your disposal is never a bad idea, so any good hiking stave should have some just in case.
There are several knots and wraps you can use to make a sturdy hand grip; here are two I’ve used and prefer (tutorials by Paracord Guild):
A single stand ringbolt hitch.
A spiral / french hitch.
The single stand ringbolt hitch looks awesome and feels good in your hand, but you can get a much tighter wrap with the french hitch.
You’ll need a 17′ length of paracord to wrap one stave. Use the hole you drilled as an anchor point for this wrap, feeding your paracord through and tying off a simple overhand knot at the end, then continuing on with the tutorial posted above, minus the constrictor knot. The constrictor knot in the tutorial will hold your grip if you choose not to drill a hole and use an overhand knot, but I like the extra security. Where this tutorial starts at the top of the stave and works its way down, you want to start at the hole you drilled and work your way up to about 2.5 – 3″ from the top of your stave (it’s in that 2.5 – 3″ space that you’ll place your medallion). Using the free end of your paracord, tie off a loop with a two half-hitch knot to create your wrist rest. The wrapping will be about 6 – 6.5″ total, with plenty left over to create the perfect wrist rest loop. Don’t forget to fuse the ends of your paracord.
Once your wrapping is complete, go ahead and remove the nail from the bottom of each stave.
You can attach your Cub Scout medallions at the top, as seen in the title graphic above. If you have a Wood Badge graduate on your team, you can purchase gorgeous pewter Fleur De Lis medallion or brass Wood Badge medallions from TreelineUSA. You can even purchase pewter Military medallions from TreelineUSA to celebrate their service to our country. They also sell rubber stave caps and other accessories. Even if it’s just for fun, their website is worth a good browse!
(I do NOT have a TreelineUSA sponsorship and do not benefit from purchases made with TreelineUSA. I just love their products and want to spread the word.)
Presentation
An Arrow of Light Bridging Ceremony is one that is rightfully full of pomp and circumstance. Sometimes we forget to acknowledge the real effort and contributions of our leaders, and this is our last shot to tell our outgoing leadership team how grateful we truly are.
We reserve time after Scouts have bridged into their Troops, and right before we break, to thank our outgoing leaders. Talk about saving the best for last! Our typical script goes a little something like this:
<Leader’s name>, what we’ve witnessed tonight is the culmination of many years of your life spent in service to your children and other youth in this incredible program. We know that you stand here bathed in pride watching <their own Scout’s name> bridge into a Troop, <if applicable> received by his brother <name>, and witnessed by your daughter <name> and youngest son, <name>. The call to leadership is one we all have felt deep in our hearts; it’s a commitment of time, energy, talents, and oftentimes blood, sweat, and possibly tears. That commitment is a gift that you have generously given to your own children and the youth in this Pack. We are so very grateful for your leadership, your dedication to Scouting, and your friendship, and look forward to Scouting with you for years to come. We would like to present you with a gift of gratitude that we hope will accompany you on the many adventures that await you.
Scout On!
I quoted John Muir at the start for several reasons, not the least of which is that I think any opportunity to quote the man should be taken. But when it comes to our outgoing leaders and they job they volunteer for, it truly is through the wilderness that they show our youth the vastness of what’s available to them, what’s to come. If that’s not the universe, I don’t know what is; and if you’re going on an adventure in the wilderness, you better have a good hiking stave.
Scouts are bridged, leaders are thanked, and it’s on to the next chapter.
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Look Wider Still is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I have personally purchased and used the products I suggest.
If you had asked me two months ago how my AOL Bridging plan was coming along, I would’ve told you I was prepared for our big April event. I had, after all, been dreaming about the day my den of Cub Scouts would cross into the care of their new Troops since they first donned their Tiger neckerchiefs. A bittersweet event, for sure, but one I knew from experience was tremendously important. My Scouts deserved the pomp and circumstance, the ceremony steeped in Scouting tradition, the gorgeous Arrow of Light plaques and arrows, their brand new neckerchiefs, the fellowship among their peers, their parents pride. I envisioned flaming arrows, candle light, and memory boards for each of my 17 Scouts. I was ready to order the cupcakes. I’d prepared myself for the flood of emotions.
Then came Covid-19. This Saturday, April 25th, I should be proudly ushering my den into this next, wonderful chapter of their Scouting stories and enjoying the last of my duties as their Den Leader and Cubmaster. Instead, I’m spending the day in my pj’s, drinking too much coffee, getting caught up on ScoutBook reporting, and wondering what day it is. I’m planning my very last den meeting of all time, to take place over Zoom tonight, and trying to get my emotions in check before then.
Those of us bridging our Scouts have the unique experience of feeling utterly jipped in so many ways. Our AOLs are 5th graders who are already feeling the loss of celebrating their last year in elementary school before taking the plunge into middle school, wishing they could have one last summer break party before life gets too serious, enjoying their graduation, missing integral opportunities to become familiar with the giant, complicated schools they’ll hopefully attend in the fall. Missing out on all of the important transitional steps that take them from Cub Scouts in a Pack to Scouts in a Troop is just another blow, and if I can be selfish for a moment, it stinks for everyone involved.
Like any good Scout, it’s up to us to process the disappointment, button up those uniform shirts, and find ways to Be Prepared for this next, new opportunity to learn and grow.
If your Cub Scout unit has ceased all activity because of this virus, it’s okay. We’re all juggling so much and, at some point, something has to give. But I implore you all, but especially those with outgoing AOLs, to start those gears and find ways to get back to Scouting.
Why? Well, for one, your families have paid dues and should have a program available to them, no matter what it looks like. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Stay in contact with your den families and offer up simple ways to stay involved in Scouting. (Try my Cub Scout Activities: Adventuring from Home Rank Challenges for some simple inspiration.) Get parents involved in their child’s Scouting adventures, encourage them to log adventure completions and advancement in ScoutBook, tap into their creativity however you can.
Look wide, and even when you think you are looking wide – look wider still.
– Lord Robert Baden-Powell
Arrows of Light need a little bit more. They need for us to Look Wider Still. It’s easy to throw up your hands in defeat and accept that everything is different, nothing is what you thought it would be, and it would just be better for everyone if we all waited it out. Well, that’s not what Scouts do. We are built to be prepared for anything, and if Baden-Powell were alive today, he’d tell us this is what we’ve been working for all these years. Our AOL’s have learned how to see the potential in every situation and plan around it. What if the weather changes? We’re ready. What if the food plan didn’t work out? We have a plan. What if there’s a virus going around? We know how to stay clean. What if… yeah, we’ve got it! You can throw anything at a Scout and they have a solution. This situation is absolutely no different.
Throughout it’s history, Scouts have endured tremendous difficulties. In WWI, Scouts were used as message runners and coast watchers. They collected peach and other fruit and nut pits to be used to create charcoal for gas masks. They sold over $352 million in war bonds, and $101 million in War Saving Stamps. They grew foods at home through the War Garden program to help feed the troops. As their leaders were called to serve their country, Scouts continued on with the program and worked hard to serve their communities. In the second World War, they served in civil defense, acting again as messengers, providing a national service to their community as regular means of communication were disrupted. Credited for their special skills, Scouts have been called to action many times over the years. Historically, we assemble and cheerfully show a united front in times of hardship. Hosting some virtual meetings and doubling-down on our commitment to these incredible youth is truly the very least we can do considering the great lengths Scouts have gone to be of service in the past.
Preparing our Arrows of Light to Join a Troop
First, have your Pack commit to a full AOL Bridging Ceremony as soon as we’re able to meet again. This is more important than I can convey.
Next, reach out to the Troops your Scouts have committed to and have them join you virtually, each hosting their own transition meeting for the Scouts who will bridge into their unit. They should discuss:
how Troop membership is different from Pack membership
virtual meeting dates and times
immediate expectations
their patrol(s) structure(s), to include youth leadership
a plan for advancement (see below)
upcoming special events (I imagine summer camps will be canceled, so think into the fall at the earliest)
Then, spend one or more virtual den meeting wrapping up Cub Scout adventures or awards. Allow your Scouts to talk to one another, to ask questions, to air any concerns or worries, and counsel them through their nerves. They’re ready! We’re the ones who need the nudge.
Preparing our AOL’s (and their PL’s) for Scout Rank
My gigantic den of 17 AOL’s are moving together into one patrol in one local Troop. We met with Troop leadership virtually to discuss the structure of their patrol, who their youth leadership would be, when they would meet virtually, and how they would use this wild time to earn their very first rank.
Their patrol will be led by one patrol leader (PL) and two assistant patrol leaders (APL). The PL has scheduled weekly Zoom meetings, 7pm to 8:30pm. He’s provided the Scouts in his patrol with:
Their first meeting is simple: simple flag ceremony, the Lord’s Prayer, roll call, introductions, an overview of the Scout rank and 30-day Challenge, and patrol business. They’ll start thinking of their patrol name and yell, and each Scout can work on flag design ideas. The PL will set a standard for uniforming and let Scouts know there will be periodic checks. Scouts will be tasked with working to complete days 1-7 on the 30-Day Challenge. Before closing out for the night, they can play a virtual game or perform a task together, like learning a new knot. A simple closing, to include a closing thought by the PL and/or APLs about the importance of Scouting, wraps up the meeting.
Their second meeting is as follows: simple flag ceremony, the Lord’s Prayer, roll call, and patrol business. They will establish their patrol name and yell, share flag ideas, and discuss what they each completed in the last week. They’ll be tasked with working to complete days 8-14 on the 30-Day Challenge. Before closing out for the night, they can play a virtual game or perform a task together, like learning a new knot. A simple closing, to include a closing thought by the PL and/or APLs about the importance of Scouting, wraps up the meeting.
And so on.
As his Scouts progress, the PL will prepare his patrol for virtual Scoutmaster Conferences by explaining the process and scheduling conferences with the Troop’s adult leadership.
Tips for the PL’s and APL’s
If you’re planning to lead the new patrol of young Scouts, there are a few things you’ll need to remember. First and foremost, you are their official leadership team and are, therefore, their first real experience in Scouting as part of a youth-led Troop. It’s up to you to start them off on the right foot through:
understanding the technology and Youth Protection
proper uniforming
Scout Spirit and the 12 Points of the Scout Law
preparation
The program is very different these days – you are in the unique and difficult position of welcoming new Scouts into a virtual program. Because we aren’t meeting in person right now, your attitude and engagement determines if these Scouts will physically join you when we’re cleared to do so.
Understanding the Technology and Youth Protection
Consider which program you want to use to meet virtually, and become well-versed in how to share your desktop, mute attendees, and all of the other features that will make your virtual meeting a success. Many programs offer quick tutorials, but the best way to truly understand the technology you’re using is to practice using it before your big debut.
Remember your Youth Protection Training. As a Patrol Leader, you should have completed youth training programs to help you better understand the leadership roles in your Troop. Take some time to read my post about Scouting Tech: Youth Protection in a Virtual World for some insight into how to protect your patrol (and yourself) as you meet virtually.
Proper Uniforming
Uniforming is one of the methods of Scouting and serves many purposes; to include creating equality in your unit, identification of each youth as an official Scout, achievement recognition, and commitment to the ideals and purposes of Scouting (including a Duty to God, Duty to Country, and commitment to your Troop). Baden-Powell said, “The uniform makes for brotherhood, since when universally adopted, it covers up all differences of class and country.” He also said, “Show me a poorly uniformed Troop and I’ll show you a poorly uniformed leader.” Show up to your virtual meetings in full uniform, shirt tucked-in, neckerchief neatly rolled. It’s tempting to wear the uniform shirt up top and pj pants on bottom, but that doesn’t help you get into a true leadership frame of mind. Get serious – wear your uniform properly and perform regular uniform checks for all of the members in your patrol.
Scout Spirit and the 12 Points of the Scout Law
It’s easy to get relaxed online – especially when adult leadership isn’t present. Being properly uniformed will help you feel that Scout Spirit! Show enthusiasm for the program, cheerfully greet the Scouts in your patrol, and show an interest in what they have to say. Be kind and courteous, show them the respect they deserve, and foster a sense of joy and brotherhood. During your opening, truly consider all 12 Points of the Scout Law and take them to heart as you begin leading your new Scouts. A lackluster meeting isn’t going to encourage Scouts to come back next week!
Preparation
Yep, you guessed it. BE PREPARED! Utilize the free downloads linked above, create a binder or folder on your computer, maintain accurate records, and prepare for your meetings ahead of time. You truly cannot “wing it” with these new Scouts and expect anyone – including yourself – to advance and succeed. This is an awesome opportunity you have here, so make sure you take full advantage of it.
PL’s, assign duties to your APL’s and communicate with them in a timely and clear manner so they can also plan properly. Do you need a game that can be played virtually through your meeting software? Task your APL to find games that can be played in that format. Do you need to teach a special skill, like a knot? Your APL can lead the instruction and help your Scouts learn this new skill. You should find ways to give them leadership opportunities and they are capable of being helpful. Maybe your youth leadership team should meet together separately to plan your upcoming meetings together, or maybe you have a post-meeting review to talk about what you covered and what should be done in the upcoming week.
PS: You’re Going to Be Great, and We’re Here For You!
If you need help, reach out to the adult leadership in your Troop. You’re not expected to do all of this on your own. Trust me, when a youth leader reaches out for help, adult leadership will make themselves available. Trust yourself, you’re going to be great and we’re all truly proud of you for taking a leadership role in a time where absolutely everything is different.
Cubmaster’s Minute for Outgoing AOL Leadership
Take a moment to grieve what you personally are missing because of these changes to our program. Allow yourself time to think on everything you had planned for your Scouts, all of the kind words you had written to send them off on their new adventure as members of a Troop, all the sweet moments you shared over the years. You’re allowed to do that, it’s perfectly acceptable to be “selfish” and grieve what didn’t work out the way you’d dreamed it for the last four or five years. Now, think about how wonderful it is that your Scouts are at this exciting turning point in their Scouting careers and pat yourself on the back for teaching them how to prepare for the unexpected. You did a TERRIFIC JOB, you should be so proud of yourself. You’re allowed to do that, too. You are allowed to tell yourself that you did a great job leading those Scouts, planning meeting after meeting, and tracking each adventure. If none of us get the opportunity to send these Scouts off the way we’d imagined, that’s okay. You were and always will be a tremendous influence in the lives of those Scouts and their families. Congratulations! Thank you for your service to Scouting!
Need Help Transferring Outgoing AOLs to Troops in ScoutBook?
It’s finally happened. Those adorable Tigers (or Lions) of yesterday have completed the Cub Scout program and are bursting out of the nest, soaring toward their next big adventure. We usher them out in ceremony and are sometimes so distracted by the to-do lists and the emotions that we forget to wrap up the digital loose ends. The last thing we can do as leaders to ensure their success at the Troop level is to take great care with their records and deliver them safely and soundly into their new Unit’s ScoutBook account. Read more in my post entitled Pack-to-Troop Transitions: Final Reporting and Unit Transfers in ScoutBook.
Use Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games
Foster Scout Spirit and team work by dropping your patrol into survival situations and seeing how they would react. By using Zoom Breakout Rooms, you can split your patrol into separate groups to discuss their found items and strategies for survival before presenting to the full group. It’s a great opportunity to use the tech you have available and teach them a thing or two about being prepared for anything! Scouting Tech: Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games
As of December 31, 2020, the SCOUTStrong PALA Award has been discontinued. The resources below will no longer help you to qualify for this award, but are still a great opportunity for adventurous Scouts to get out and enjoy nature!
3/3/22
Since my last post, Cub Scout Activities: SCOUTStrong PALA & the “Where in the World is my Cub Scout Leader” Game, I decided to work on some rank-specific SCOUTStrong Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) Scavenger Hunts to make our outdoor adventures a little more… adventurous.
As many neighborhoods are posting rainbows, Easter eggs, and inspirational messages for children to find on their family walks, I figured a Scavenger Hunt would be the perfect addition to the already awesome PALA program. Do you need a little something extra for your next walk in the woods? Do you have a Lion preparing to graduate up or a new Scout who would like to earn their Bobcat? I have everybody covered. Each Scavenger Hunt also includes the Leave No Trace Principles for Kids in the footer, just as a reminder that we shouldn’t take home any of the fun things we find.
Learn more about the different SCOUTStrong Awards, including the PALA, at Scouting.org. This award should be submitted to your local Council Scout Service Center, but can also be logged for record-keeping purposes in ScoutBook.
How is your unit earning the SCOUTStrong PALA? Is your leadership team hosting or issuing special challenges? How’s it going?
Leaders familiar with the SCOUTStrong Healthy Unit award know that this special series of activities fit perfectly into the den setting. You can incorporate healthy snacks, water, and physical activities into just about every adventure and easily earn this special award as you go. In particular, my den enjoyed the Quiz Calensthenics so much that I found ways to work that game into our adventures, and even into Pack meetings, over the years.
Just as perfectly as the Healthy Unit Award fits into face-to-face Scouting, the SCOUTStrong Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) suits the long distance Scouting we’re all participating in today. If you visit the link above, you’ll get a detailed packet of information, including suggested physical activities and healthy eating ideas.
Scouts and adult leaders can earn this award by meeting a daily activity goal of 30 minutes for adults, and 60 for kids under 18 for at least 5 days out of the week. They should do this for six of eight weeks, and focus on a new healthy eating goal each of those weeks. How about making half of your plate fruits and vegetables, or eating seafood during the week? Sounds pretty straight forward!
Just about any physical activity counts (they note that excessive video gaming is off the list), and that Scouts who need to swap out walking for other physical activities can do so by meeting pedometer requirements (for example, at least 13,000 steps a day for boys between the ages of 6 and 17). There are also around 100 or so suggestions on a special Activity List that you can do to fulfill your activity goals, from aerobics to snowmobiling (scuba diving and hang gliding are also on the list, for those Scouts who are a little more adventurous).
The SCOUTStrong Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) packet also includes a PALA Activity Log that makes keeping track of your physical activities and healthy eating goals a snap! All families have to do is send me a scan of their log and I’ll enter it into ScoutBook. When we meet again, I’ll be proud to award those Scouts with their new SCOUTStrong PALA patches!
The first point on the Program Launch Tips is to LEAD BY EXAMPLE! They suggest a strong web presence where leadership can encourage Scouts and their families to follow their lead “in pursuit of PALA.” Well, I loved that, and since my Pack leans very heavily on social media, I knew exactly what to do to.
Where in the World is my Cub Scout Leader?
The Scouts in my unit have their pick of countless county and State parks that offer up endless miles of hiking trails and outdoor activities. My family and I just about live in the outdoors, choosing one local park after another to keep us active and healthy. If the sun is out, we’re out!
So when I found myself sitting on a park bench last week, wondering how I would lead by example, I realized I already was That’s when it hit me! Why not post videos from different parks each week, providing hints to my Scouts about my location, and challenging them to visit the park and post photos of them following in my footsteps in the comments.
“Where in the World is my Cub Scout Leader?” was born. My first video published this week…
The intent is to get as many of my leaders to create videos as I can, posting them every few days to social media and showing our Scouts that we’re out and about, staying active, and finding ways to a be healthy and strong. Upcoming videos will include a call to action:
find the park and post a photo of your family doing jumping jacks
find the park and post a photo of a geocache you found there
find the park and collect a bag of trash
find the park and go on a scavenger hunt
find the park and tell me about an animal you found there
It’s more important than ever that we show our Scouts how to be healthy and active. This particular award is so perfectly suited for this special time, and it’s another great opportunity Scouting has provided us with to stay connected. In pursuit of PALA, your Scouts will look to you for inspiration! Give them something to work toward – keep it simple, make it fun.
It seems to me that social distancing has brought the world closer than ever, from apartment complexes in Italy and China singing in concert, to authors performing Facebook Live readings for the masses, singers and songwriters performing free concerts from home, artists sharing tutorials so we can release our collective creativity, educators hosting live classes and providing our students with more materials than could ever be imagined so they can stay on track, and anyone with a sewing machine making face masks to share with medical professionals on the front line all over the world.
Human beings are just the coolest! We really get things done!
Scouting is, in no way, left behind. Our program has flourished in the wake of the coronavirus; we are, afterall, a bunch of adventurous survivalists who have been training for this our whole lives… even the Lions! It’s like Bear Grylls said,
Above all, Scouts never give up! Despite the space between us, we still find ways to come together. Incredibly, we live in a time where programs that connect us are readily available and, most of the time, free to use.
Hey, leaders! Can you imagine what this situation would’ve been like for us when we were kids? We’d be neck deep in mud pies, out of the loop, and pretty unsure about it all. These days, it’s as easy as picking up the nearest readily-available device and clicking a link.
Just because we have an opportunity to host virtual meetings and see our Scouts online, that doesn’t mean the basics go out the window. These meetings should be treated and conducted in the same way any in-person meeting would be, and that means Youth Protection absolutely MUST be in the forefront of your mind.
Train Your Leadership Team
Members of your leadership team MUST complete Youth Protection Training every two years. I cannot suggest enough having your Key 3 or delegate go into the My.Scouting.org Training Manager to pull a YPT Status report. Look at your team and see who needs this training and who is nearing expiration, and let those people know that right now is the time to get this done.
Encourage Parents / Legal Guardians to Complete Youth Protection
Anyone can create a My.Scouting.org profile and complete youth protection training. Many units require parents / legal guardians to take the training courses online so that every single adult understands the policies and procedures of the unit, how leaders and Scouts are expected to behave, and what signs of abuse we should be looking for.
Our children are entering a world where all of their normal activities and responsibilities are being converted, very quickly, into virtual versions of what they’re used to. Doors are opening left and right for innovation and invention, but not everyone has helpful intent. Per Scouting.org,
The Boy Scouts of America is committed to creating safe environments for Scouts and leaders. Child abuse is an uncomfortable topic but an important one for us to cover to ensure the safety and well-being of our Scouts. The Boy Scouts of America has partnered with subject-matter experts from the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Foundation to present the “Protect Yourself Rules” that help children recognize, respond to, and report abuse.
With adventures for each rank, Lion through AOL, these new Protect Yourself Rules “preview adventures” are the complement of the adult youth protection training. They teach Scouts about safe and unsafe touch, trusted adults, personal space, saying no, stranger danger, cyberbullying, unsafe behaviors online, and more.
Did you know that Scouts can complete the Protect Yourself Rules in place of the Cyber Chip? It’s true! I still suggest doing both as they have their own merits and, well, you can never be TOO well trained.
It’s Virtual, But It’s In Their Home
It’s absolutely imperative that Scout leaders remember that this virtual world will often take them into the homes, and sometimes the bedrooms, of the children we swear to protect. With computers and tablets sitting on their personal desks, there are glimpses of their lives that are normally separate from our Scouting experience. Your youth protection training is paramount!
If Scouts are participating, they MUST do so alongside their parents / legal guardians and in a room that is not their bedroom.
Do you know the Three R’s of Youth Protection?
Recognize anyone that could be an abuser
Respond when someone is doing something that goes against your gut or against the safety guidelines
Report attempted or actual abuse or any activity that you think is wrong to a parent / legal guardian or other trusted adult
When using a virtual conferencing app to hold your meetings, you and your Scouts have the ability to send chat messages back and forth. You will invariably receive a chat text that comes just to you from a Scout.
Unless there is a parent / legal guardian at their side participating, do not answer private chat messages from a Scout
If they are telling you something is wrong at home, call 911 and report it immediately to 1-844-SCOUTS1 and / or report it online using Incident Reporting, then reach out to your local Scout Executive
Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse covers digital privacy in depth. A few common sense reminders for initiating a virtual meeting that will likely take you into the home and/or bedroom of a child include:
Two registered leaders, 21 years of age or older, are required to be in that meeting or virtual activity
There must be a registered female in that meeting or virtual activity if a female Scout is in attendance
The meeting MUST be conducted with the knowledge and permission of their parent and / or legal guardian
Any request for private communications (to include a message in chat, IM, text, etc.) MUST include another registered leader AND the Scouts parent or legal guardian
Adult leaders are responsible for monitoring the behavior of Scouts as they participate in these virtual meetings and intervene as necessary
Cyberbullying is not tolerated
When the meeting ends, make sure you officially end it for everyone so you are not at any time alone in the virtual meeting with an unsupervised Scout. There will be Scouts who are so happy to see their den mates that will try to beg you to leave it open so they can continue to talk, but you absolutely must end the meeting. The good news is, they’ve now learned how to use some cool technology, can create meetings of their own, and will do just that. For everyone’s protection, don’t give them an opportunity to ask; I cannot stress this enough – just end the meeting when it’s over.
Meeting Recordings
Many of these online conferencing programs allow for meetings to be recorded. Ask permission from your families before you do this. It’s vitally important that you respect the privacy of their home. If you get permission to record, do not use a Scouts last name. If there is information on the recording that shouldn’t be made public, edit your video first and use a fine-toothed comb to ensure that what you post is appropriate. Watch it several times and ask yourself if it’s absolutely necessary and completely safe. If you don’t have any useful purpose for a recording, just don’t do it.
AGAIN! If Scouts are participating, they must do so alongside their parents / legal guardians and in a room that is not their bedroom.
Additional Security Measures
Not everyone is a Scout; there are people out there in the world looking for opportunities to create havoc wherever they can. Unfortunately, it’s becoming commonplace to have a meeting hacked by someone with ill-intent, which is inconvenient at best and extremely upsetting at worst. Virtual conferencing programs have security measures available to protect the youth in your meetings from these types of attacks.
When you create your meeting, choose a one-time unique ID.
Require a meeting password.
Create a “waiting room”.
Select “only hosts can share screen”.
Establish and share etiquette rules and kick out unruly attendees.
Learn more about virtual conference hacking (‘Zoom Bombing’) at CyberGuy.com.
The “Zoom Meeting Settings” (PDF) by Helen Son is another EXCELLENT reference for Zoom-specific settings to help lock down your meetings further.
Please Note
This posting is not in any way a substitute for official Youth Protection training. It’s sole purpose is to put this important part of our training into your brain as you find thoughtful and interesting ways of filling in the gaps left behind from what should be in-person meetings and activities. This is all very much the bare bones minimum of what should be taken into consideration as you plan your events and thoughtfully consider who will be in attendance. Seize this opportunity to bend and learn new things, encourage families to participate, seek out new ways of presenting program materials, but do it all with their safety and your protection in mind.
Now is our chance to show Scouting and the world at large that this generation of Scout Leadership is in it for all the right reasons, properly trained, and trustworthy. Complete your training, educate your Scouts and their families, and Scout On!
The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
Robert Burns
Well, if you’re doing your part to flatten the curve by sitting on your couch and brainstorming all of the ways you and your Pack can Scout in these difficult times, welcome to the One Hour A Week Club. We’re starting campfires with our Den and Pack meeting plans for kindling, looking for a spot among the dining room table to safely store the Arrow of Light plaques, picking at patch corners to see what could use a new stitch, wearing our uniforms around the house because we’re starting to miss the itchy shorts.
This is weird. It feels like this awesome community we’ve all created is a million miles away. On my family’s evening walk this week, I saw one of my Scout families riding bikes together, and my Scout waved from across the street and said, “Miss Rebekah, I really don’t like social distancing. I just want to give you a high five!” So we gave a high five from opposite sides of the street, and when he rode off I felt a twinge in my heart. As leaders, we need Scouting just as much as these kids. Let’s not get used to the couch potato life and just wait out the virus. Let’s DO OUR BEST to find ways to stay connected and do what we can for the families in our charge.
There are a lot of free, easy-to-use online conferencing tools that are perfectly suited for a Pack meeting. Some host up to 10 attendees, others 100. Some allow you to share files and photos, others don’t. I wrote a quick and easy post about Scouting Tech: Online Conferencing Tools for Virtual Meetings to help break down the options for each of several programs, and how to get started using them.
Of the programs noted in that post, my unit is going to use Zoom for Pack meetings, mainly because we have a large Pack and need to host as many as 100 attendees at one time. It’s also very flexible, easy to use, allows me to share my desktop, add files to chat, and manually control microphones and screen sharing.
There are additional security measures that should be taken to ensure the safety of our Scouts. Please read the Scouting Tech: Online Conferencing Tools for Virtual Meetings post to learn more about the settings that are available to lock-down your meeting and provide the security our Scouting families deserve.
The “Zoom Meeting Settings” (PDF) by Helen Son is another EXCELLENT reference for Zoom-specific settings to help lock down your meetings further.
What Do I Do?
Plan Your Basics
After you choose the right online conferencing tool for your unit, break out those Pack plans you prepared this month and consider what can be converted into a graphic, PowerPoint Presentation, or other file that can be shared with your unit using that conferencing tool. For instance, I created a PowerPoint Presentation with an opening that asks all attendees logging in to mute their microphones, use the “Reactions” button to give me a thumbs up when they’re ready, and say hello to their friends using the chat feature. It also includes our opening ceremony – Pledge of Allegiance, Scout Oath, and Scout Law. I will share my desktop during our meeting and advance through the slides as needed. Keep it simple, make it fun!
Determine a Theme
Consider a quick theme for your digital materials. Our local neighborhoods are all sharing rainbows in their windows, drawn in chalk on their driveways, and hidden around their property so the kids can hunt them on their walks. I decided that rainbows would be the theme of my presentation for that reason, and because they are a beautiful reminder of the hope that comes after a storm. It’s fitting in my eyes, BUT there are a lot of themes that are appropriate right now. How about the Wolf adventure, Germs Alive, which is full of fun opportunities to reinforce that a Scout is Clean. Maybe you decide upon a specific point of the Scout Law each month and would prefer to use a one of the full meeting plans provided by Scouting.org (for us, March is obedient, which is a great opportunity to remind Scouts about listening to mom and dad).
Make It Interactive
A normal Pack meeting is boisterous and fun, so why wouldn’t a virtual meeting be? Zoom has tools available that make any meeting interactive, like the chat feature, reactions, and of course the ability to speak and be seen! There are a lot of great ideas at the Scouts.org/uk/activities site (793 to be exact) that can easily be converted into an interactive activity for your unit. How about a knot-tying challenge, use the chat function to have Scouts ask you 20 questions, play camp charades and have Scouts guess in the chat, demonstrate how to properly wash your hands, or go around and have Scouts each tell a joke using their microphone and webcam. Just like your Pack, ours is full of talent! Invite Scouts to share their gifts with the Pack. For instance, one of my AOLs is working on his Maestro adventure and will be serenading us with a guitar piece.
Give Credit Where It’s Due
You won’t have a traditional awards ceremony in a virtual meeting, but it’s still important to acknowledge the Scouts who have earned loops, pins, and special awards in the last month. Create slides in your PowerPoint Presentation for each den that prompts individual leaders to give a brief update to their Scouts, then another that notes who has earned what adventure. Advancement is, of course, one of the Methods and Aims of Scouting, and a Scout deserves to see that their efforts are noted and appreciated. Physical awards will have to wait until we’re able to meet again in person, but until then we’ll do our best!
Challenge Your Scouts
It’s more important than ever to keep our Scouts interested and engaged, and social distancing allows us an opportunity to show just how flexible this program is. Challenge your Scouts to complete requirements at home, let parents know that they can submit advancement for approval through ScoutBook, and offer prizes to Scouts who commit to making the most of their time at home. I created a rank-specific Cubmaster Challenge, offering 3 to 4 adventures for each rank, and including tips and resources to help them out along the way. My post Cub Scout Activities: Adventuring from Home Rank Challenges has shared links to the FREE challenge docs as well as a running list of virtual resources that support the Scouting program.
Keep It Short and Sweet
A free Zoom membership allows up to 100 attendees, and 40 minutes of meeting time. Honestly, it’s hard enough getting Scouts to hang in there for a full hour in person… 40 minutes should be more than enough time to complete a virtual meeting.
Keep it positive; these kids are getting bombarded by heavy, upsetting information from all sides. This should be a safe place for upbeat conversation, celebration, and camaraderie. There’s absolutely nothing you can add to this global conversation in your Pack meeting that these families haven’t already heard a trillion times over. A Scout is Clean, so please feel free to share some hand-washing tips or to joke and see who’s brushing their teeth these days, but steer clear of pointing out how isolated we all are right now.
Make it about community and connection, and it will be a Pack meeting to remember!
PowerPoint Template
Many of our local neighborhoods have started hiding rainbows on their property in a show of solidarity, creating a scavenger hunt for the kids as they go out on their daily family walks. Because they’re a sign of hope at the end of a difficult time – rainbows only appear after the rain, right – I went with a rainbow theme for my Pack meeting presentation. You are more than welcome to use my template for your own meeting. Google Docs likes to convert special fonts to Arial, but my original uses the Burbank Big Condensed Bold (Fortnite) free font.
Google Slides provides you with almost limitless opportunities for pulling together eye-catching, interesting, fun presentations that can be shared and passed down to other leaders. Having all of your virtual meeting materials in one place will make your job as den leader that much easier – it won’t be necessary to juggle clicking around to find materials on the web or trying to remember where you found something on the fly. It will also help you to stay on track and add resources to your meeting, like You Tube links and interactive games, that will keep your Scouts engaged. Read more at Scouting Tech: Visual Aids for Virtual Meetings.
Scout-Themed Virtual Backgrounds
If you’re looking to switch things up in your next Zoom meeting, and hide the piles of Scout Stuff stacked up in your room, consider virtual backgrounds. I’m sure you’ve had Scouts floating in space or enjoying a tropical vacation in recent meetings. I’ve made a whole bunch of great Scouting-related backgrounds to suit any type of unit and meeting. Not only are Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA covered, but also Sea Scouts, Venturing, Wood Badge, Order of the Arrow, National Youth Leadership Training, Fundraising, and Girl Scouts USA. The collection grows every day, so keep it bookmarked, check in often, and share it with your Scouting friends. Scouting Tech: Free Cub Scout and Scouts BSA Backgrounds for Virtual Meetings.
Zoom Breakout Room Games
My oldest son is working to complete his Eagle and has the special opportunity to lead the newest Scouts (recent AOL graduates) in earning their Scout Rank virtually. He’s leaned heavily on the 30 Day Rank Challenge posted by the Heart of America Council, and over the last few weeks has learned a lot about the different tools available using Zoom conferencing. Despite the flood of creativity and generosity online, he was struggling to find a fun game that Scouts could play virtually. It wasn’t until I was invited to attend a Girl Talk, Inc. Zoom chapter meeting hosted by two dear friends that the light bulbs started going off. They were utilizing breakout rooms to get the girls in their chapter to work together to solve survival situations. It was brilliant, fun, and fostered team work. In the week that followed, my son and I worked to figure out how to best use those breakout rooms and tested it out on his patrol. Learn more at Scouting Tech: Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games.
Look Wider Still – Cubmaster’s Minute
I have the privilege of being a part of countless Scouting groups, and something stands out now more than ever. We are a true community. We care about one another, we care about the Scouts collective, and we are all doing our best to keep our heads above the water and this program on its track. We are a lot of things, but we aren’t perfect. We don’t have endless energy or resources. We have jobs, families, and a lot on our minds and hearts. Please continue to lean on each other, to reach out when you need help, and to share when you can. It seems like absolutely everything has changed in the last two weeks, not the least of which is humanity’s willingness to serve. There will be a rainbow at the end of all this, we just need to remember to keep an eye on the sky!
The natives are getting restless around here, and Fortnite aside, they’re missing their one-on-one time with their buddies. Totally understandable, and honestly, my heart aches for them that the weather is so beautiful and they can’t play with their friends in it. We’re going to make it, we just have to be resourceful and find new ways of doing our favorite things.
Virtual Play Dates seem like a pretty great idea! If you want to reconnect with friends or family over the Internet, here are a few suggestions for games and activities that might pull some chuckles out of even the most stoic of teens.
What Tech Do I Need?
Well, if you have a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a webcam and microphone, you could use online conferencing tools like Skype, Zoom, Facetime, or Google Hangouts, you’re ready to go! Here’s a quick tutorial on how to use a few of those awesome online tools, Online Conferencing Tools for Virtual Meetings.
Game Suggestions
Go to your board game closet and look around. If you and a friend share a game, it’s pretty likely it you can play it over Skype, Zoom, Facetime, etc. Here are a few suggestions:
You can play countless virtual board games, as well. You could have one browser open to the game, the other to your conferencing site, and split the window so you can see them both. Maybe have your conferencing site open on your PC, and a game app open on your device. Here are a few great websites with online board games:
How about a game of I Spy using things you see in the background at your buddy’s house? Have them think about what’s behind them without turning around.
Act Out!
Now’s the perfect time to write and perform a fun skit for your friends or Cub Scout den. Go all-in! Find props around the house, get dressed up, get the family involved, and prepare yourself for a lot of laughs. Here are a few great skit sites to get you started and inspire your creativity:
Maybe perform a magic show or read out loud to each other as dramatically as possible. Maybe have a fashion show, talent show, dance off, concert, or book club!
Get Creative!
Download the Lego app and host a Build Challenge, choosing a design and seeing who can build it first! Find a coloring book page online, print it out, and host a Coloring Challenge. Maybe work together to write and illustrate a story, comic, or movie script. Choose something you love and draw or paint it, revealing your masterpieces when you’re both done. Create a scavenger hunt list to take out on your next walk with your families, and compare what you found later.
Get Active!
Are you missing gym class? Log on with your friends and create a fun exercise routine that you can complete together. Jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, running in place, stretching, yoga… the possibilities are endless. Don’t forget to stay hydrated!
The Great Indoors – Skills and Activities
Scouts.org.uk/activities is chock full of activities (793 to be exact) that are perfect for children – Scout or not – to complete together online. 20 Questions, script-writing, drawing, animal facts, campfire cooking, circle storytelling, fort-building, DIY’s, musical exploration, and more make this the perfect resource for fun in the Great Indoors. In fact, Bear Grylls, the chief Scout, is working with the Great Indoor Initiative to bring live weekly videos over Facebook, including many of the activities found on the Scouts.org.uk/activities site. Will you log-in?
School Stuff
If you’re like us, you’re working on an extensive packet of at-home school work these days, and sometimes it gets a little boring to do your work at the kitchen table. Invite friends from school to get together and work on their packets together! Some activities might include a virtual field trip to a local museum – how fun to do that together? What about that math problem they’re stuck on? Sometimes it’s easier to walk through it with a friend (especially when the new home school teacher’s are working from home and have multiple children to help with their work).
Just Talk It Out
Kids are going through something none of us can understand; this isolation is exceedingly difficult on active little people, and missing friends and the daily routine can be very upsetting. Just log-on and let them talk it out! Maybe they just need a friend in a moment when they’re feeling down about everything, someone who gets their experience and can share some true sympathy. We can give them every activity in the world as a distraction, but the truth is, they’re feeling big things and having big thoughts… connect them with their bestie and let them release a little steam.
Cyber Chip
Scout or not, I encourage children to complete the NetSmartz activities for their age group. This is a requirement in Scouting for the Cyber Chip, but I think this is the right time to convince as many families as possible that our children should know how to safely navigate the World Wide Web.
Everyone, now’s our opportunity to embrace the meaning of DO YOUR BEST! We’re not going to be perfect, but we’re going to be our best, and that’s above and beyond anyone’s expectations. Let’s all find new ways of doing the things we love to do! I have a feeling the way we do a lot of things has been changed forever.
It’s officially springtime on the East Coast of the United States, and as the temperatures rise, all manner of creature starts to emerge. There are bees buzzing, mosquitoes biting, and I imagine we’ll be covered in inchworms by the end of the month. Of all the creatures making their way out into the warm, wide world, my favorites are the snakes. I’m one of those people who like to carefully flip logs, inspect rocky creek beds, and look up into the trees. Yep. I said “up into the trees”.
Listen, before you get all squirmy and start itching from head to toe, I want to try to change your mind about snakes. Let me give this a shot!
A little back story – I was privileged to grow up on a farm, surrounded by hundreds of acres of beautiful Virginia farmland, teeming with wildlife. Opossums, raccoons, whitetail deer, field mice, owls, and of course, snakes. At the time, I had absolutely no appreciation for any of it beyond “that’s beautiful.” I saw countless snakes go down via gardening hoe, shovel, or even car, and I was unfazed because I thought they were awful, worthless creatures. It took becoming a Scout leader and finding my zen in the outdoors before I realized how incredibly interesting and wonderful snakes are, and then it was at least a year of research and forcing myself to join several online herpetology groups before I realized I loved them.
As I write this, we are practicing social distancing in the hopes of flattening the curve on the coronavirus. Here in our house, like every other family in the world, we’ve hunkered down together, cancelled all play dates, and have started home schooling. We’re already an adventurous family, but since we’re all supposed to keep a 6-foot distance from anyone out and about in public, we’re heading into the woods. It’s the perfect time to do so – there are leaves on the trees, the weather is beautiful, birds are chirping, and snakes are coming out of their brumation cycle.
Although we have yet to see a snake (in fact, it seems like everyone is seeing snakes BUT us), we know it’s just a matter of time. I’m not a professional herpetologist, and though I consider myself an amateur, I still have a lot to learn. I want to share with you what I’ve learned in the hopes that, if you don’t end up fascinated by the snakes of Northeast United States, at least you’ll know how to identify and respect them.
Why Are Snakes Important?
Snakes get such a bad rep. A legless creature that is capable of slithering away at lightning-fast speeds, climb trees, and more? Some are venomous, some are not, but they’re all weird looking so they must be vicious creatures with ill intent.
Dudes. Snakes are the unsung heroes of the great outdoors. They are vital to the ecosystems in which they live, are central to the food chain, and protect humans from seriously gross stuff, like diseases spread by rodents and other pests.
As snakes are exclusively carnivores, they are both predators and prey. They help to control the population of their prey, most notably rodents. In large numbers, rats and other rodents will eat the seeds and fruits of plants that are essential to a healthy ecosystem, which halts their reproduction and starves out other animals and insects. Rodents are historically responsible for passing horrendous diseases, like the plague and leptospirosis. Lucky for us, some snakes prefer a good fuzzy rodent for dinner, which is why you see them so often in barns and warehouses.
You also hear about snakes taking up residence in chicken coops, and most people presume they’re there for the hens. That’s not the case, although there’s no doubt at some point a snake has at least tried to eat a hen or two. If you own a coop and find a snake there, it’s doing you a tremendous favor. Rodents LOVE chicken feed and, as we discussed above, they spread disease. Some snakes will enjoy an egg here or there as payment, and for some chicken owners that’s just fine!
Like this Rat Snake…
This is a rat snake, one of my favorites! These guys are named for their prey of choice, which is why these are the guys you’re most likely to find in your barn, warehouse, or chicken coop. There are lots of different rat snakes in the Colubridae family, like the gorgeous black rat snake above and the colorful corn snake in the picture at the very top of this post. Remember when I said that I look up into trees for snakes? I’m looking for these guys! They are amazing creatures with a very special body shape that helps them climb to great heights in search of food, like birds in a nest. Where most snakes are round, rat snakes are shaped like a loaf of bread, with a flat bottom and rounded top. Have you seen the viral videos of the snakes on Ring cameras? Those are almost always rat snakes. They “crinkle” their body into a wavy pattern as they move, which breaks up the outline of their body and helps them camouflage in nature. The ability to climb and contort is what makes them such funny creatures.
Rat snakes are non-venomous, harmless constrictors. You’ll often see them at your local parks in the learning center because they tend to be pretty docile and easy to handle. They do have teeth, and of course they can bite if they feel imminently threatened; if you find yourself on the receiving end of a rat snake bite, you’ll be just fine. Like other harmless snakes, the first aid is pretty simple… wash the area, put a bit of Neosporin on it, and cover it with a clean band-aid.
Meet Houdini, the black rat snake in the Nature Center at Pocahontas State Park in Virginia. He’s roomies with a beautiful, elderly albino gopher snake named Lemonade.
There’s a great Facebook group out there dedicated to rat snakes called Ratsnakes in Predicaments where members share photos of the rat snakes they’ve found in compromising, often comical situations. If you’re snake squeamish, a few minutes in that group might just make you smile.
Why Are Snakes Lovable?
Okay, guys, bear with me. Snakes are lovable! They aren’t the slimy and ferocious creatures we grew up thinking they were… the villains in the story, the character that hypnotizes and tricks you, the monster that will swallow you whole.
Kaa from the Jungle Book
Let’s tackle that first misconception – that snakes are slimy. Think about it. If snakes were slimy, they’d be covered in dirt, sticks, leaves, and other debris at all times. It would make it hard for them to move, navigate, and hunt for prey. Snakes aren’t slimy, or wet for that matter! They are covered in scales, which serve as body armor and camouflage, retain moisture, and provide traction to help snakes move. There are very smooth scales, which give a snake a shiny and slick appearance, and keeled scales, which have a raised ridge that runs lengthwise down the center of the scale and gives the snake a dull appearance.
Smooth Scaled Snakes
A great example of a smooth scaled snake is the smooth earthsnake, a teeny, tiny little snake (they max out at 10 inches long) that lives underground, logs, leaf litter, and other debris. They’re shy, harmless little creatures who love a good earthworm for dinner.
Their smooth scales make them shiny, but, along with their pointy faces, they also help them to burrow underground in search of food and protection. We find them every year when we rake leaves.
Keeled Scaled Snakes
Harmless water snakes have keeled scales, which make them look rough and dull. These guys live in watery habitats, like lakes, swamps, streams, and rivers, and are often seen fishing for dinner or sunning on rocks or branches. They love to eat fish, frogs, and other creatures in their environment. Their scales provide traction as they move through wet and muddy terrain, and help them to retain moisture.
These guys can get pretty chunky, and even though they’re non-venomous, they’re more aggressive than other harmless snakes. A bite from a water snake doesn’t put you in danger any more than that of a rat snake, but it hurts a little bit more. It’s best to enjoy these snakes from a distance.
Funny Snake Antics
What makes snakes lovable, in my opinion, is that they all have incredible adaptations that make them special and, oftentimes, funny.
A rhino rat snake, for instance, has a totally adorable snout. These snakes live in Vietnam and parts of China, and though that horn serves a purpose, science is stumped. My best guess is that it breaks up their body shape and makes their business end look like a harmless leaf.
How about the Arabian sand boa, a snake that looks like it slithered right out of a toddler’s coloring book. As its name suggests, this snake burrows into sand, leaving only its eyes out to watch for both predators and prey. Those eyes on the top of its head give it a real goofy appearance.
There’s always this guy! Wait. Nevermind.
They’re funny and all, but you won’t find them here in the US. What you WILL find, however, is the greatest snake on Earth… in my humble opinion.
Introducing, the eastern hognose snake! I wish you could hear me squealing right now because I adore these harmless little frog-eaters. Just look at that face, with it’s little turned-up nose and smile. How about those gorgeous spots? They have wide jaws that help them to swallow frogs and other wide-bodied prey.
Hognose snakes have this adorable, signature, curly tail that makes them instantly endearing. See that flattened head? When threatened, hognose snakes, the drama queens of the natural world, do their very best cobra impersonation. They create what looks like a hood, and the dark spots on either side of their head give off mega cobra vibes to predators that don’t even know what a cobra is. Also known as puff adders, they suck in air, which puffs up their bodies to make them look bigger, and as they exhale it sounds like big, scary hisses. They make false strikes without even opening their mouths, just hoping the movement is scary enough. They’re venomous snakes, but they have special rear-facing fangs, which makes their bite harmless to humans.
Don’t be fooled by their antics. They’d be better off called something like “scared of their own shadow” snakes, or something similar. When they’ve given you their very best, very scary cobra show and you aren’t fazed, they initiate Plan B… an elaborate death scene.
Guys. Look at that tongue wagging in the air. What’s not to love? Other snakes will put on a similar show, like kingsnakes and grass snakes, often pairing it with a horrendous musk that sends predators packing.
Even The Venomous Ones Are Lovable
The cute snakes are easy to love, but what about their venomous compadres? Every snake deserves some love, so let’s talk about the purpose of venomous snakes and why they deserve to live.
Three venomous snakes call Virginia home; agkistrodon contortrix (Eastern copperhead), agkistrodon piscivorus (Northern cottonmouth), and crotalus horridus (timber rattlesnake). Each one has its merits.
Eastern Copperhead
Let’s get everything we perceive as negative out of the way. Copperhead snakes are venomous pit vipers, which means they possess a heat-sensing pit between their eye and nostril that they use to locate prey. It’s an awesome adaptation and, when paired with their beautiful pattern, they blend right into leaf cover and debris, makes them accurate and stealthy hunters. Along with the pit, they also have hooded eyes that give them a menacing expression.
These guys have a gorgeous “Hershey Kiss” pattern that’s easily identifiable on its sides, and from the top that pattern looks like an hourglass. The pattern extends entirely down the sides of the snake, and it has a beautiful black and white pattern on its belly. They have adapted to live in a wide variety of habitats, from rocky and wooded areas, to mountains and overgrowth around a water source. If there’s sunlight, there could be a copperhead. They feel safe under surfaces like boards and logs, so if you’re out and about flipping for snakes, you need to be very careful.
Juvenile copperhead snakes have a bright green or neon yellow tail, which stands out among the debris. These guys are feisty, so it’s important to heed that yellow tail and admire them from a distance.
He’s beautiful, but he’s also a butthead. Find out why below.
Of the three venomous snakes in Virginia, copperhead have the weakest venom and bites are very rarely life-threatening. Boy do they hurt! Like most kids, juvenile copperheads tend to take greater risks and are, therefore, more dangerous. Sometimes adult copperheads will give a dry bite as a warning, whereas juveniles will often deplete their venom supply in a single bite. Typical teens!
Don’t rely on a copperhead to give you this benefit, they’re wild animals and you’re scary. Stay away and admire them from afar.
First Aid for venomous snakes include:
keeping the bite victim calm and still
keeping the bite above the heart
removing jewelry or shoes from the area that was bitten
covering the wound with loose, sterile bandages
getting medical help right away
making note of the physical characteristics of the snake
Things you don’t want to do include:
attempting to kill or killing the snake
icing the bite area
applying a tourniquet
attempting to suck out the venom or cut the wound to let it drain
Though you should be careful, copperheads don’t tend to be very aggressive. You put yourself at risk of a bite if you attempt to kill a venomous snake, and if you’re successful, the snake can still envenomate you for hours after its death… even if you behead it. Not only is it dangerous, it’s extremely inhumane. Plus, if you have a copperhead in your area and you kill it, another will likely come in and take over its territory. These guys LOVE to eat the rodents in your yard and are, ultimately, doing you a solid by hanging out on your turf. If you’re concerned about the safety of your children and animals, call a professional or simply shoo the snake away with short bursts of water from a hose!
Northern Cottonmouth
Unlike the Eastern Copperhead, Northern Cottonmouths can’t survive in any kind of habitat. The species name, piscivorous, means “fish devourer,” so you can count on finding these guys in and around water. In fact, they’re commonly referred to as water moccasins. They are venomous pit vipers, and though their pattern is similar to that of a copperhead, they are two very different snakes.
In most cases, they flaunt a similar “Hershey Kiss” pattern, only it’s darker and not as smooth as that of a copperhead. It’s often described as “pixelated”, and it’s easy to see why. They have the same pit and hooded eyes, but also have a dark brown “mask” that runs along the sides of their face. Sometimes they are so dark, you can’t see the patterns and would need to rely on other characteristics to identify them, like the mask and hooded eyes. They prefer to live in swamps, marshes, grassy edges around bodies of water, and even ditches. They’re semi-aquatic, so they spend a lot of time swimming in the water and looking for prey. They prefer to eat fish, reptiles, frogs, invertebrates, and small mammals. They help keep populations of invasive species in check, like rodents and fish. You’ll often see cottonmouths sunning themselves in warm sandy spots or on logs and rocks around the waters edge.
Cottonmouth juveniles also feature a bright green or neon yellow tail, which stands out against their surroundings. Like juvenile copperheads, they’re more aggressive and are more likely to deliver a bite than an adult. Kids these days are real inconsiderate!
He looks feisty!
Though they look like they’re absolutely furious and out for revenge, these snakes very rarely bite humans. When they feel threatened, they tend to tightly coil and raise only their heads, opening their mouths wide and showcasing their namesake cotton white mouth.
In the event that you do end up bitten by a cottonmouth, make sure you follow the first aid do’s and don’ts above. Though you’re not likely to see a cottonmouth in your yard, you may very well see one out camping or hiking. They play an important role in the ecosystem and deserve your respect. Give them a wide berth and move on! Live and let live.
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus is Latin for “dreadful rattle,” and these snakes certainly earn the name. Timber rattlesnakes are large, commonly hitting between 30 and 60 inches long, but a record stands at 6 feet in length. These snakes have keeled dorsal scales and a dark brown or black crossband pattern with a yellow or gray background. The crossbands look like zigzags from above and are often in the shapes of v’s or m’s. Sometimes they are melanistic, making the pattern difficult to recognize, so you’ll need to rely on other characteristics to make a solid id, like the hooded eyes and defensive rattle.
Timber rattlesnakes live in deciduous forests among fairly rugged terrain, and they seek protection in high areas around watery spots, craggy mountain ledges, and even pine forests and farming areas. They are shy and tend to steer clear of urban and suburban settings, which means you’re not very likely to see one.
These guys prefer t eat small to medium sized rodents. Their favorites are mice and squirrels, but they won’t pass up a good bird or lizard if it’s available. They’ll even eat another snake if they have the chance. They are fiercely territorial, and the males will literally sit on top of females to keep them safe.
Of all three venomous snakes in Virginia, timber rattlesnakes are the most dangerous. Their body and fang size, and the quantity of venom they yield, they are capable of packing quite the punch. The good news is, they brumate longer than other snakes and have a fairly mild disposition. They’d prefer to rattle their tails for an extended amount of time to biting something that isn’t prey.
In the event that you do end up bitten by a timber rattlesnake, make sure you follow the first aid do’s and don’ts above. They play an important role in the ecosystem and deserve your respect. Give them a wide berth, enjoy from a distance, and move on!
Special Resources
Parents, grandparents, teachers, family friends, etc…. have you been reading along with the child in your life and want to learn MORE about snakes? I have a great list of suggested resources that you can refer to often for help identifying and appreciating snakes.
In my role as a den leader and Cubmaster for a Cub Scout Pack, I found that it was imperative to understand the world I was bringing my Scouts out into. We have 12 Points in our Scout Law, one of which is brave, so running scared from a snake was never an option. I took it upon myself to create a Be Snake Safe – Virginia Snakes (PDF) resource that I printed, laminated, and placed in a camping binder that we take on all of our outings. It’s specific to Virginia, but full of great information that can be helpful no matter where you live. Please feel free to download and use this however you see fit!
The Virginia Herpetological Society website is an almost endless trove of information on snakes and other reptiles and amphibians. It’s a must-visit for inquiring minds and includes information like defining characteristics, habitat, and prey. It compares each snake to the other snakes it’s most commonly confused for, which is incredibly helpful and important.
The What Snake Is That website is a great resource for identifying snakes by region across the United States and Canada. Choose your state from the drop down menu and it will serve up all of the snakes you’re likely to find in that area.
I rely heavily on the Snake Identification Facebook Group, and credit it almost entirely for my love of snakes. Members post photos of snakes they’ve found and the moderators, who are full-fledged herpetologists, work to identify them. You will learn more about snakes by simply joining this group than any other resource, in my opinion.
The Wild Snakes: Education & Discussion Facebook Group is run by many of the same moderators, but invites members to openly discuss the characteristics of the snakes being identified there. I suggest following this group, which will fill your feed with awesome snake pics and quickly teach you everything you could ever want to learn about all of them.
You simply cannot beat the Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians. This book is FULL of beautiful illustrations and a wealth of information that you can throw in your hiking or day pack and pull out as needed. I have two different copies of this publication and use both regularly, on adventures and with my Scouts.
If you’ve found a snake, have had it identified, and want to add it to one of the fastest-growing citizen science projects online, hop over to HerpMapper.org. They want to know everything about the snake you’ve found, and your contribution furthers their study of snakes around the world. How cool is that?
Are you amazed by the camouflage of snakes and other creatures? Visit the My Little Eye Facebook Page and test your eyes! Can you spot all the critters yourself or did you need help?
Do You Love Them Yet?
Listen, this kind of thing takes time, especially if you have a true fear of snakes. Sometimes the best you can do is learn to respect snakes, and that’s admirable! You don’t have to want to snuggle one to be a snake conservationist.
Did you learn anything new from this post? Do you have a fun snake fact you’d like to share? Did you or your child find a newfound love for these creatures? Let me know in the comments below. Don’t forget to give me a quick like, follow, and/or share!
Rebekah
Look Wider Still is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Oriental Trading Affiliate Program , affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising.
We’re navigating some seriously uncharted territory right now, trying to find ways to maintain some normalcy and keep the kids from physically turning into the Fortnite character they’re obsessively playing. It’s been pleasantly surprising to witness the outpouring of knowledge and generosity in the last week; the sharing of wisdom and resources is truly inspiring.
Guys! We’ve got this!
I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking up ways to keep my Scouts on track. My den of AOLs was expecting to bridge in April, and I’m hopeful we still can, but not meeting in person has put a huge damper on the last of our den plans. I had all these great ideas – a fireside program, s’mores, reminiscing on the years we’ve spent together, encouraging them to be brave as they take the big leap into a boy-led Troop. As it turns out, social distancing has been the perfect catalyst for creativity. Through the tremendous brain trust over at the Cub Scouts Volunteers Facebook Group, I’ve learned a lot about virtual meetings and the technology that make them possible. As I plan out ways to use this to my advantage for both Scouting and schoolwork, I wanted to share what I’ve learned in the hopes that it saves someone else the time and energy.
There are a lot of great Scout Tech options out there for hosting virtual meetings, but before we just plop a Scout in front of their PC and use that hour to take a breather, it’s important that your Scout has an updated Cyber Chip.
Facebook Live
Most units have a social media presence, and this is where Facebook Live could be the perfect option for your online meetings. Host a meeting live like you would in person… flag ceremony, Oath, Law, Outdoor Code, and activities. The perks of this free technology are that you can broadcast your meeting on your Pack Facebook group or page for up to four hours! You can also see comments as they come in, allowing for question and answer time. The best part is that the Live broadcast will save as a regular post that can be viewed and commented on later! The down side is that you can’t share resources like files or presentations.
How Do I Use Facebook Live?
Go to your Facebook group on your smartphone and tape the red “Live” icon under the “write something” box, as if you were about to type a new post.
Give Facebook access to your camera and microphone.
Switch to “Live” on the bottom of your camera screen.
Choose your privacy and posting settings.
Write a subject or description.
Set your camera’s orientation.
Click “Start Live Video” and you’re broadcasting!
Skype
Skypeis a very popular video conferencing tool used to connect families, classrooms, and businesses online. There is a free version that allows up to 10 guests on a video call, but there are interactive chats and you can record the video and share it later on social media. There are appsfor both iOS and Android devices, and can be used on your Windows OS desktop computer. As the leader of the meeting, you’ll want to create a Skype Group meeting that you’ll invite people to via email, social media link, or text. You can record your meeting and share it later, and even click the paperclip icon at the bottom of your screen to attach images, files, or more.
I just sat in on a Skype den meeting tonight and was absolutely floored by how cool it was! The Scouts were sharing their desktops to give presentations, used manners and showed courtesy by muting their own microphones, and the leader had a tremendous amount of flexibility and control over how the meeting was run. I will, personally, use Skype to host my meetings.
How Do I Set-Up a Skype Group Meeting?
Launch your Skype app or desktop program and sign-in.
You can change your online status by clicking on the colored circle next to your profile picture.
Using the left-hand menu, click the “New Group Chat” icon.
Add an image and chat name. Click Done.
Add up to 10 attendees to your meeting ORcreate and share a link to your group meeting by clicking the icon at the top left that looks like a person with a plus sign.
Zoom
If you need something similar to Skype but have more than 10 attendees, consider Zoom, which allows you to host up to 100 attendees. This would be great for a virtual Pack Meeting! Zoom also allows screen sharing, so you could have more than one leader in different locations running the meeting. Like Facebook Live and Skype, it’s free to use and allows for you to quickly and easily share a virtual meeting with your Scouts. You can record and share your video later, and even attach files for your attendees to view.
How Do I Use Zoom?
Visit zoom.us and sign-in.
Click the “Host a Meeting” button at the top of your screen, choosing to have video on or off.
It will prompt you to join with computer audio, or you can click the check box to automatically join audio by computer when joining a meeting. You can also test your speaker and microphone.
Click the “Invite” button at the bottom of your screen and send an email OR copy the URL using the buttons on the “Invite people to join” pop-up window. Make note of the meeting password.
Share your invitation and get started!
Zoom Security
The “Zoom Meeting Settings” (PDF) by Helen Son is an EXCELLENT reference for Zoom-specific settings to help lock down your meetings.
Google Hangouts
Most of us have a Google account, so Hangoutsis a great option for hosting a virtual meeting. Like Zoom, Hangouts allows you to connect to up to 100 people (in chat) and 10 in a video conference. There are fewer bells and whistles, but the trade-off is that it’s extremely easy to use and connects directly to your Google account, so there’s no need to upload a contacts list.
How Do I Use Google Hangouts?
Visit hangouts.google.com and sign-in.
Click “Video Call” on your home page.
Invite specific peopleORcreate and share a link to your group video.
You can chat with your meeting members by clicking the chat icon.
Other Options for Staying Connected
A Facebook Group is a great tool for keeping your Pack and Dens connected without sharing your meetings, photos, or posts publicly. My Pack uses ours to keep families updated on changes to Pack and Den schedules, and at the time of this posting, changes to our overall plan for our Year in Scouting due to social distancing because of the spread of the coronavirus. We’re trying to keep our Scouts engaged by offering up Rank Challenges to keep them on the advancement trail and off the XBOX. Please visit these two posts to learn more and use the resources I’ve made available to keep your unit on track.
Not everyone is a Scout; there are people out there in the world looking for opportunities to create havoc wherever they can. Unfortunately, it’s becoming commonplace to have a meeting hacked by someone with ill-intent, which is inconvenient at best and extremely upsetting at worst. Virtual conferencing programs have security measures available to protect the youth in your meetings from these types of attacks.
When you create your meeting, choose a one-time unique ID.
Require a meeting password.
Create a “waiting room”.
Select “only hosts can share screen”.
Establish and share etiquette rules and kick out unruly attendees.
Learn more about virtual conference hacking (‘Zoom Bombing’) at CyberGuy.com.
Free Cub Scout and Scouts BSA Backgrounds
If you’re looking to switch things up in your next Zoom meeting, and hide the piles of Scout Stuff stacked up in your room, consider virtual backgrounds. I’m sure you’ve had Scouts floating in space or enjoying a tropical vacation in recent meetings, and maybe you’ve wondered how. Learn how, and help yourself to my collection of FREE virtual backgrounds! Download yours atScouting Tech: Free Cub Scout and Scouts BSA Backgrounds for Virtual Meetings.
Visual Aids for Virtual Meetings
Google Slides provides you with almost limitless opportunities for pulling together eye-catching, interesting, fun presentations that can be shared and passed down to other leaders. Having all of your virtual meeting materials in one place will make your job as den leader that much easier – it won’t be necessary to juggle clicking around to find materials on the web or trying to remember where you found something on the fly. It will also help you to stay on track and add resources to your meeting, like You Tube links and interactive games, that will keep your Scouts engaged. Read more at Scouting Tech: Visual Aids for Virtual Meetings.
How to Run a Virtual Pack Meeting
Well, if you’re doing your part to flatten the curve by sitting on your couch and brainstorming all of the ways you and your Pack can Scout in these difficult times, welcome to the One Hour A Week Club. We’re starting campfires with our Den and Pack meeting plans for kindling, looking for a spot among the dining room table to safely store the Arrow of Light plaques, picking at patch corners to see what could use a new stitch, wearing our uniforms around the house because we’re starting to miss the itchy shorts. Read more atCub Scout Activities: How to Run a Virtual Pack Meeting.
Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games
Foster Scout Spirit and team work by dropping your patrol into survival situations and seeing how they would react. By using Zoom Breakout Rooms, you can split your patrol into separate groups to discuss their found items and strategies for survival before presenting to the full group. It’s a great opportunity to use the tech you have available and teach them a thing or two about being prepared for anything! Scouting Tech: Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for Survival Situation Games
Look Wide, and When You Think You’re Looking Wide, LOOK WIDER STILL!
If you’ve planned out something clever that other families can benefit from, share your work! Go to your Facebook page, find online groups that share your interests, and put it out there for others to use. We have an opportunity to be helpers in a difficult time, and we can use it to start a groundswell of giving. How cool is that?
Stay healthy! Yours in Scouting, Cubmaster Rebekah
My Pack is issuing Rank Challenges to help our Scouts stay involved and entertained over this prolonged period of self-quarantine and social distancing.
As an addition to my post about Webelos/AOL Adventures to Complete at Home, which includes an extensive look at how Scouts can complete numerous adventures from the safety of home, I decided to create challenges for each of the dens in my care.
Please feel free to download and use as you see fit. Note that these DO include reference to our Pack’s closed Facebook group. If you download these forms, please give this blog post a link and/or share. It would help me out a lot and would give more Scouters the opportunity to use them.
If you’re looking to switch things up in your next Zoom meeting, and hide the piles of Scout Stuff stacked up in your room, consider virtual backgrounds. I’m sure you’ve had Scouts floating in space or enjoying a tropical vacation in recent meetings, and maybe you’ve wondered how. Download your own at “Scouting Tech: Free Cub Scout and Scouts BSA Backgrounds for Virtual Meetings“
Virtual Meetings
There are several free tools out there that are perfect for virtual meetings. Check out “Scouting Tech: Online Conferencing Tools for Virtual Meetings” for suggestions and tutorials for hosting your own Den and Pack meetings online using Facebook Live, Skype, Zoom, and Google Hangouts. Each option is easy to use and built to suit the needs of each individual unit.
Are Your AOL’s Ready for a Troop?
It’s a strange time, but we can still find a way to transition our AOL’s into a Troop and get them on that advancement track right away. Check out “Pack-to-Troop Transitions: Preparing AOLs (and their PL’s) for Scout Rank” to learn about virtual transitions. This post includes free resources for PL’s and APL’s to use as they lead their new Scout patrols.
As the nation struggles to get used to the idea of our unplanned coronavirus cancelations, I can’t help but think about what it means to be Scouts with a Duty to Country. I saw a meme this morning that simply stated,
Our grandparents were called to the front lines. We’re called to our couches. I think we can handle this.
It’s true. I think, just like any good Scout, this is our opportunity to find ways to be helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, and brave for the sake of our countrymen. For my part, I’d like to share the online resources I’m developing for the Webelos and AOLs in my charge in the hopes that it helps other units out there stay on track and engaged.
Cubmaster Challenge: Adventuring from Home Rank Challenges
As time has permitted, I’ve created a series of rank-specific challenges to be completed at home. Check out my post entitled “Cub Scout Activities: Adventuring from Home Rank Challenges” to download the PDFs. A Lions Challenge will be added soon.
Virtual Meetings
There are several free tools out there that are perfect for virtual meetings. Check out “Scouting Tech: Online Conferencing Tools for Virtual Meetings” for suggestions and tutorials for hosting your own Den and Pack meetings online using Facebook Live, Skype, Zoom, and Google Hangouts. Each option is easy to use and built to suit the needs of each individual unit.
Cyber Chips
Before we begin any online adventure, it’s important that your Scout has completed their Cyber Chip requirements. Some of the adventures below require the use of the Internet with a parents permission, but learning how to safely navigate resources on the World Wide Web is imperative. Webelos and AOLs watch the Password Rap video and visit NetSmartz to watch another video of their own choosing!
Adventures in Science
Along with the Adventures in Science elective, my Scouts were working toward the NOVA Award – Science Everywhere! module. Though we can’t complete some of these adventures remotely, there are a few requirements we can tackle online.
NOTE: Please make sure you download copies of the files shared in this post. Editing them directly in Google Docs edits the file for everyone who views it.
Our plans to visit our science museum were cancelled, following the lead of our local schools and Council. This was a tremendous piece of our adventure plan, so I got to work finding ways to tackle it from home. I created a Google Formfor families to access and fill-out at home, and included a Virtual Science Museum Scavenger Hunt that can be completed electronically and returned to me through that Google Form. Easy peasy, and since Google Forms can be updated and edited, Scouts can take their time completing the adventure requirements from home over the next few weeks.
UPDATE 6/15/20: Per Scouter requests, I’m including a link to a SAMPLE Google Form, identical to the images below. Please do not encourage your Scouts to complete THIS form; instead, use it as a guide for developing your own Google Form. Thank you!!
Screen Grabs from my Google Form
The Kennedy Space Center is even offering Facebook Live videos on rocketry from the Saturn 5 Center! They’ll give lessons on creating your own rockets at home from materials that are lying around your house. The sessions will take place Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET for young kids, and 1p.m. for older kids.
Fix It
Fix It is the perfect elective to complete at home, and parents might even enjoy the help around the house. I created a Scout Bingo game that can be printed and stuck right on the fridge so Scouts can help out here and there while they’re home. The board is set-up like Bingo, but with a Scouting twist. The green squares are required in this adventure, and the blues are Scout choice. Pick 8 and see how many times you can complete Scout Bingo for the win!
Screen Grab of the file. Print a PDF using the link above.
Protect Yourself Rules
The Protect Yourself Rules preview adventure is built for completion at home for all Cub Scout ranks. Scouts BSA has provided a printable adventure PDF that lays everything out for you. Just navigate down to the 4th and 5th grade resources for your Webelos and AOLs and you’re good to go.
Screen Grab from the official Protect Yourself website.
Art Explosion
Art Explosion is SUCH a cool elective adventure, and there are about a million ways to complete it at home. Just because art museums around the world closed for business doesn’t mean you can’t get inside. The Guggenheim Museum in New York and offers a virtual tour of two exhibits using Google Street View. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has an entire website built for kids to explore the museum and learn more about art. Take a walk around, learn about some of the art there, and you’ve knocked out one of the requirements. Free online resources like Sketchpad 5.1 are perfect for creating and sharing your self-portraits! I used it to make my own – uploading a photo and tracing it with the available tools to create a stunning portrait of myself and challenging my den to do the same. HA! The results were fantastic! You can even sign-up for Free Art Tutorials by McHarper Manor and learn how to use watercolors, chalk, Model Magic, and more! The New York Academy of Medicine, one of the most significant historical libraries in the world, shared 12 pages of historical medical masterpieces that can be printed and colored! Comets, anatomical hearts, plants, and animals? Try your hand at drawing and/or coloring them all.
Break out the Play-Doh or make your own salt dough by kneading together:
2 cups plain flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water +/-
Just add the water in slowly! If you end up with too much water and your dough is sticky, add a little flour and keep kneading until it’s right. Use your dough to sculpt a simple form.
Outdoor Adventurer
Some adventures include preparing for natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes. The Wolf Adventure, Call of the Wild, AOL required Adventure, Outdoor Adventurer, both require that Scouts discuss the actions they should take in natural disasters, minimizing as much danger as possible. The Disaster Detector app, developed by the Smithsonian Science Education Center is the perfect tool for teaching Scouts about predicting and preparing for natural disasters, protecting the good citizens of Smithsonville in the process.
Screen Grab of the SSEC.si.edu Disaster Detector app
It’s true that there’s nothing like the great outdoors, but the indoors can be pretty great, too! Plan a living room campout, complete with your tent, and knock out requirement 2 and 3 of option A. Talk with your Scout about choosing a tent site that isn’t in a low area, full of rocks or roots, or nearby a bees nest (for instance). Have them set-up the tent, and when it gets dark, throw on some fun ambient camping sounds to bring the outdoors inside. Don’t forget the s’mores and campfire stories!
Screen Grab from the ambient camping sounds You Tube link above.
Project Family
Well, while we’re stuck together, we may as well learn something about our families and find ways to chip in to make everyone’s load a little lighter. Project Family is the perfect adventure to complete at home, and even dovetails nicely with Fix It (see my Fix It section above). I created a Project Family Workbook (PDF) with all of the good adventure details, including interview prompts, a family tree, a job chart, and more.
Screen Grab from the Project Family Workbook PDF linked above.
A Scout Is Clean
As we navigate this difficult time together, let’s do our best to do our part in keeping our elderly, immuno-compromised, and vulnerable safe. Webelos and AOLs can think back to the Germs Alive Wolf adventure, when they learned about hand washing and safe sneezing. Don’t forget…
If they’ve outgrown the Wolf Germ Song, have no fear. Washing your hands while reciting the Scout Oath and Scout Law together is perfect amount of time for killing all those yucky germs!
This post will be updated as I think up more ways to help our Webelos and AOLs stay busy over this extended break from school and Scouts. If you have an adventure suggestion, please let me know in the comments! The more I can do to be helpful, the better. In the meantime, please stay healthy!
2024 Cub Scout Program Updates: The Summertime Pack Award has been replaced with the Summertime Fun adventure. Links have been updated in the article below. As additional program changes are announced, further updates will be made and noted here.
Sherlock Holmes, the legendary brain-child of one Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, has come to mind often as I’ve spent countless hours flipping through rank handbooks and leadership guides to find fun, new ways of presenting adventures to my Scouts. It isn’t common to have that “A-HA!” moment when laying out an adventure plan – invariably, something throws a wrench in the works. More often than not, it’s either time or money, sometimes both. I normally look at my ideal dream plan and ask myself… “what are the basics here and how can you do this on the shoestring budget that is your den account?”
Will my Scouts feel engaged by this plan?
What programs and materials do I already have at my disposal?
Have I looked wide?
Will my Scouts feel engaged by this plan? That’s always at the fore-front of my mind. I have had the honor and pleasure of leading a den of 20 Scouts (the Patrol Method has been a real life-saver) and learned the hard way, early on, that boring Scouts out of their mind is the best possible way to have them drop out of the program or go absolutely bonkers in that precious hour you have with them each week. What programs and materials do I already have at my disposal? First of all, if you aren’t on the Cub Scout Volunteers Facebook Group, RUN, DO NOT WALK. Next, look to free resources like Pinterest and (specifically for Webelos) JJCarter.info to help formulate an engaging plan. Do you have Power Point, Publisher, Word, or any other desktop publishing software you can utilize? Go for it! Have I looked wide? Baden-Powell tell us “Look wide – and when you think you’re looking wide, look wider still.” It’s my personal Scouting mantra and something I hold close to my heart. Scouts need for us to look at the program and give them an experience they won’t forget. Looking wide doesn’t equate to breaking the bank or driving yourself crazy. Sometimes it just means “don’t stand in front of them and read for an hour, they’re not here because they love a good lecture”.
So what does this have to do with mysteries? Those aforementioned rank handbooks are jammed with opportunities to transform your Scouts into forensic scientists, chemists, detectives, and problem-solvers. It’s part of the magic of Scouting, and the best way for them to invest and take pride in their own advancement is to make it fun. As Sherlock Holmes would say, “THE GAME’S AFOOT!”
Cub Scout Mysteries: Adventures
There are 96 total adventures in the Cub Scouting program, Lion to AOL. There are opportunities in each rank for your Scouts to throw on their trench coat, pull out their magnifying glass, and become the detective and/or scientist they were always meant to be. For many of those adventures, the scientific method is a central theme, whether they mention it outright or not. It’s never too early to teach your Scouts about answering questions using the facts. As Sherlock Holmes would say, “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?” ScouterMom.com gives a great, simple explanation of the scientific method. I created a Scientific Method Foldable (PDF) for both 8.5 x 11 and 4 x 6 notebooks (which I link to below).
Lion:Gizmos and Gadgets explores the properties of motion and force. Have your Scouts make a fun popsicle stick catapult and use the scientific method to determine how the amount of force used changes the motion of the item you are launching. A 500 Pack of jumbo craft sticks can be used for countless projects throughout your Scouting career.
Tiger:My Tiger Jungle is all about looking closely to unravel the mysteries of nature. For the 1-foot hike, provide each Scout with their own Scout Notebooks and magnifying glasses, and have them log what flora and fauna they see up close. How about the different kinds of birds that live nearby? Why do they live there? Is there a food source nearby? What could it be?
Tiger:Curiosity, Intrigue, and Magical Mysteries is set-up perfectly for a fun month of make-believe and magic. Requirement 3 teaches Scouts how to create a code and share it with their family, and 5 asks that Scouts conduct a science demonstration that shows how magic works. Raising daVinci is an awesome blog with 10 magic tricks that are really just science.
Tiger:Sky Is The Limit is another Tiger adventure that turns your everyday Scout into an astronomer! You can discuss how the settings on the telescope or binoculars change depending on the person using it and the distance of the star you’re looking at. Looking at the moon, have Scouts consider why there are so many craters and how they got there. I Can Teach My Child has a great science experiment explaining the craters on the moon and planets. Why are some craters larger than others? As they complete this adventure by visiting a planetarium, observatory, science museum, astronomy club, or college/high school astronomy teacher, have them write down several questions about the mysteries of the cosmos. Use your smartphone for good, and download one of these cool Astronomy Apps for iOS and Android, and take your investigation to the next level.
Wolf:Call of the Wild offers up the perfect opportunity to pull out the thinking caps and match animals to their footprints. Create a Scout Notebook for each member of your den that they can customize and use to build an awesome hiking log. Have them fold a copy of this Animal Tracks Checklist from Education.com and glue it into their notebook. A small magnifying glass for each Scout can be left in their hiking pack and used for checking out the smallest of details along the way.
Wolf:Paws on the Path is similar to Call of the Wild in that Scouts are required to go on a 1-mile hike and find interesting things they’ve never seen before, and name two birds, two insects, and/or two other animals that live in the area. Break out the Scout Notebooks and magnifying glasses and get down to the ground to see what tiny creatures are living right there in plain sight.
Wolf:Adventures in Coins is an opportunity to look closely at the coins we use every day. These cool Coin Investigation worksheets are perfect for budding investigators to consider how each coin is different. Again, break out the Scout Notebooks and magnifying glasses to log what you find. Make a balance scale and have Scouts develop a fair test of coin weight using the scientific method.
Wolf:Air of the Wolf has Scouts conducting two different investigations to see how air affects different objects. They suggest making paper airplanes and testing how it flies differently when its shape is altered, making a balloon-powered sled or boat, testing it with differently sized balloons, bouncing a basketball at different air volumes, rolling a tire or ball at different air volumes, and more. Get out those Scout Notebooks and determine a fair test of each investigation. You can even bundle this adventure up with your Raingutter Regatta and earn the Summertime Fun adventure(previously the Cub Scout National Summertime Pack Award) while you’re at it!
Wolf:Code of the Wolf is chock full of mystery! With Codes and Ciphers (PDF), and even a fun opportunity to conduct a Skittles Experiment, this adventure is perfect for Scout Super Sleuths. You guessed it… get out those Scout Notebooks and take notes as you go because this is one sweet loop you won’t want to forget.
Wolf:Finding Your Way is one of those adventures that makes you wonder if the folks at Scouts BSA just LOVE a good mystery. Go on a scavenger hunt using your compass and see what you find. How do you know in which direction you’re heading? What do you see along the way? What’s at the end? Aside from being a valuable skill, learning how to read and use a map can be a lot of fun when you get out there and learn by doing. Take that scavenger hunt up a notch by heading out to a local park and bringing additional technology into the mix… like Google Maps and QR Codes. It’s also a great opportunity to introduce Scouts to Geocaching.
Wolf:Germs Alive! is my FAVORITE of all Cub Scout adventures. Grab your Scout Notebooks and get ready to use the scientific method to uncover the mysteries of those little invisible guys we call germs. Create a fair test of how gross your hands are by growing a mold culture on bread (tortillas work better than bagged bread, which is so full of preservatives that this experiment can take months to see results). This DailyMail.com article, dated December 18, 2019, uncovers the now viral results of a 3rd grade moldy bread experiment.
Wolf:Motor Away is a great opportunity to use the scientific method, and your detective skills, to determine how motion, shape, and force affect the flight of paper airplanes, catapults, boats, and model cars. Take your Scouts outside for this awesome Chemical Reaction Car by Cub Scout Ideas, which uses old Pinewood Derby kits to teach Scouts about the force and motion created by chemical reactions.
Wolf:Spirit of the Water is, without question, one of the most memorable adventures our den tackled. It’s not just that Scouts love to swim! We had everyone gather up into the shallow end of the pool and gave an awesome presentation on water pollution using a demonstration similar to this Earth Day Water Pollution experiment by SupplyMe.com. Sometimes seeing is believing, and for our Scouts, this one turned our swimmers into conservationists on the spot. How do we pollute our water ways? How can we stop water pollution? What can be done once water is polluted?
Bear:Fur, Feathers, and Ferns is another adventure that asks the question… what lives here? I created a Hike Packet (PDF) specifically for this adventure, which can be placed in (you guessed it) their Scout Notebooks. Put your thinking caps on, Scouts. What caused the decline of an animal that has become extinct in the last 100 years and one on the endangered list?
Bear:Forensics, the Bear elective that seems to have been made for Sherlock Holmes himself. This was my first opportunity to really open up the creative flood gates and let loose an entire month of extreme investigation. My Scouts kicked off the month with an introduction to forensics and Case #020518: The Cookie’s Crumbled (PDF), a case file that followed four local bakers to see who it was that stole Jimmy’s top-secret cookie recipe he thought would win the Family Bake-Off. An editable Case #020518: The Cookie’s Crumbled (PPT) case file is also available, so please feel free to customize it as you see fit. Scouts whipped out their handy Scout Notebooks and glued in a copy of the Forensics Powder Analysis (DOC) to help catch the cookie crook, red handed! We also took our detective work to our local Sheriff’s Department, where we learned all about fingerprint analysis. Scouts conducted a Fingerprint Test (PDF) to determine if they had loops, arches, or whorls, and even took home a McGruff Safe Kit to learn more. A printable The Cookie’s Crumbled Scout Packet is available that is the perfect companion piece to The Cookie’s Crumbled case files above. I also have a Leadership Packet to go along. This cool chromatography experiment by Carrots are Orange is made for the den meeting format!
Bear:Robotics turns Scouts into engineers and helps answer the question: how have we made robots in our own human image to complete work? The Robot Hand is the perfect example of this. Bristle Bots are, robot hands down, the most fun we had our Bear year. Engineers? How do these little bots go? How do the vibrations and the bristles help your bots move? What if you added more batteries or used a different type of brush? Grab some 3V coin batteries, foam mounting pads, and coreless vibrating motors to get started, then follow my lead using my Robotics presentation (PPT).
Bears:Super Science was the adventure that inspired me to create my Scientific Method Foldable (PDF) printable. We broke out our Scout Notebooks and got to work predicting the effects of static electricity on different materials, a sink-or-float investigation on objects like coins and pumpkins, and color-morphing / color-layering experiments. Here’s a Scientific Method and Experiments (PDF) document I created specifically for this adventure. So many mysteries and only a month to solve them!
Webelos / AOL:Adventures in Scienceis the perfect recap of fair tests, the scientific method, and never ending your quest for knowledge. This one is absolutely bursting at the seams with mystery and adventure, and my Scouts were truly excited to tackle it, Scout Notebooks in hand! By the time they’ve hit the fifth grade, most of this is old news, which is why it’s important to make it fun. I created a Fair Test and Variables (PDF) packet that briefly reviewed what we’ve discussed numerous times as a Den and at school. It includes the profiles of three Scout scientists and an overview of what was to come. In the spirit of NOT reinventing the wheel, I admit that I relied heavily on Cub Scout Ideas to help me out with most of this adventure, specifically the circuits and paper rocket launcher. Their tutorials simply cannot be beat! To complete your circuits like the real scientists you are, you’ll need to pick-up 3V coin batteries, LED diode bulbs, and copper foil tape. I made mounting boards by cutting thin cereal boxes into 5 x 5 squares… just make sure Scouts use the brown side of the cardboard and not the printed side. I purchased the rocket launcher materials at Home Depot using the list on the Cub Scout Ideas tutorial linked above. My word does that thing work! We completed the adventure by conducting the famous Coke and Mentos experiment every Scout dreams of conducting, using this Secrets of the Coke and Mentos Fountain info-graphic by CompoundChem.com as our guide for planning our fair test. A Scout Is Thrifty… we completed the Coke and Mentos experiment before we launched our rockets, and used the empty 2L bottles for our launching mechanism. Visit my post entitled “Webelos/AOL Adventures to Complete At Home” for free online resources to help complete Adventures in Science virtually. Check out my post “Cub Scout Adventures: Webelos & AOL Elective, Adventures in Science” for meeting plans, free downloads, and tips for earning this loop in-person or virtually.
NOVA Award
Scouting is all about STEM, and what’s STEM exploration but one gigantic and fun science experiment? Where that wheel reinvention mentioned earlier might be the perfect exercise in scientific mysteries, it’s certainly not one this busy den leader wants to undertake in that one-hour per week I’m allotted. Instead, I lean on the pros. Scouting Magazine published an entire article, STEM In A Box, to help us weary leaders plan exciting and engaging activities that help your Scouts stay interested in your meeting plans so they can leave with new tools in their learning arsenal. Reach out to your District to find out who your local NOVA Counselors are and visit the Cub Scout Nova Awards page on Scouting.org to learn more about the award and the individual modules you can complete to earn it.
Basic Supplies
I mentioned them countless times above, but sometimes you just need to see them in a short, tidy list.
Need help planning your virtual den meetings all year long?
I’ve created a series of Google Slides that can be shared via your favorite virtual meeting program.
It’s Elementary!
It’s not just the science-themed adventures that leave room for creativity, dear den leader. Look at every adventure, big or small, as an opportunity to look wider still and do a little bit more for your Scouts. Again, it doesn’t have to be expensive, it just needs to catch their attention and help them to learn by doing. We’re not just here to mark off completions in ScoutBook, we’re here to inspire the Scouts in our care to do a little more, be a little more, and have a little more curiosity about the world around them. You’ve got this!
Thank you for stopping by! Please follow Look Wider Still, like and comment on this post, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram!
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
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Aye, matey, picture it! Ye and yer merry crew of bandits have battoned down the hatches and set sail toward Port Royal. Yer aboard the Black Pearl, the cursed ship with black sails that’s captained by the worst pirate ye’ve ever heard of.
But ye have heard of him, mate.
If you haven’t seen the 2003 movie, Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, or any of it’s incredible sequels, you’re missing out on hours and hours of swashbuckling fun and adventure, endless quotable moments, and an awesome opportunity to give your little pirates a banquet they’re sure to never forget! Our Pack transformed our chartered organization’s Fellowship Hall into Barbossa’s treasure-filled cave on the Isla De Muerta. We had treasure, rock walls, photo back drops, cave murals, skeletons galore, and of course, Captain Jack Sparrow himself!
The tradition of the Blue & Gold Banquet is to celebrate the anniversary of Scouting in February. Consider it a birthday party that focuses heavily on the success of your Pack with a nod to the BSA’s anniversary (February 8th)! It’s an opportunity for the Pack to get together to celebrate the Scouts and their accomplishments, and to thank adult leadership and parent volunteers. Because it’s a banquet, there’s food! And because it’s a Scouting event, there’s fun.
Some units use the February event as a goal post for rank advancement. In most cases, leadership aims to use the banquet as their deadline for completing rank requirements and spend the rest of their Scouting year working on additional electives, special awards, and more.
Planning a Blue & Gold Banquet
Baden-Powell taught us to “Be Prepared”, and the key to a great B&G is to plan early and well.
Your Pack committee meets over the summer to set a budget, so knowing how much is set aside for this event is the very first step in your planning process. It should also be determined during that planning period exactly who will coordinate the event; is it a leader that was eager to step up at your meeting OR do you assign it to a specific den? In our Pack, we assign the B&G to our Bear Den (which is why we’ve had a carnival theme time and again). Assigning this particular event to a specific den works well because rising Bear families know that it’s coming and can assist or take notes from previous years to help make their event a success.
A good plan requires a good planner. When it was my Bear year and, thus, my turn to coordinate, I created a Pirates of the Caribbean Blue & Gold Planner(DOC) that I printed out and put directly into a binder. I began assigning specific duties to people early in the new Scouting year, maintaining an electronic copy of the planner that I shared with them regularly. As you work through your planner, build a punchlist for Friday and Saturday. That punchlist should include everything from rolls of tape to the talent.
Booking the Talent
Speaking of the talent, some themes provide the perfect opportunity to book an impersonator to come in and take your event to the next level. We did some research on local Jack Sparrow impersonators and found the RVA Captain! If you’re local to Richmond, Virginia, and you’re pulling together a Pirates themed event, I truly cannot suggest the RVA Captain enough. He gets all five stars! Before he even entered the building, he was wandering the parking lot in character, which was a treat for the folks who weren’t even attending our banquet. He was absolutely on character down to the smallest detail, was extremely flexible with our schedule and event needs, interacted beautifully with the Scouts, and made for one seriously memorable evening.
Truly, RVA Captain was icing on an already awesome cake! When I say that, I mean that our event would have been the tremendous success it was regardless, even if Captain Jack was marooned on an island, growing out his back hair and standing in the ocean ’til all manner of sea creatures ‘came acclimated to his presence. We are grateful to have had a nice budget to work out such a special addition to our banquet, but Scouts are thrifty, so I’d love to tell you all about the basics of our event.
The Invitation
If you use my Pirates of the Caribbean Blue & Gold Planner(DOC), you’ll see that you need to create and share an Evite early and often. We considered making “messages in a bottle” as a Save the Date announcement for our big event, but we decided it wasn’t necessary and relied on our Evite instead.
There are a lot of great websites out there to help you talk like a pirate; here are a few I relied on heavily for the Evite and my ceremony script.
I created a personalized logo (editable PNG) for our Evite and Power Point Presentation (link to follow). There are a lot of files I’ll share throughout that use two special font faces. Consider downloading those from the links below:
The pirate cave at Isla Del Muerta… our inspiration!
You’ll want to work on printables and decorations as early as possible, especially if the decorations are hand-made. You may very well need to head out to your banquet hall and take some measurements of items you’d like to cover to better suit your theme; think cork boards, hanging art work, etc.
Each year, I like to use the banquet as my creative outlet and enjoy painting murals that cover the art work, boards, and doors in our space. I purchased Pacon fadeless bulletin board art paper, 4′ x 50′ roll in brown and used my stash of acrylic paint to quickly paint stalactites, stalagmites, treasure, and doorways.
Not all treasure’s silver and gold, mate! A Scout is thrifty! This is a great opportunity to rummage through your recycling to find treasure. It’s easy to make some pirate cave sea life with a little creativity.
Egg crates make beautiful barnacles, and toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, and plastic bottles make awesome anemones. For the plastic bottle anemones, cut the bottom off of your bottle, cut vertical strips down to about an inch from the bottle top, and use a lighter or a lit candle to melt the strips down into natural curls in a well-ventilated area. You can separate any strips that melt together and form your anemones however you’d like while the plastic is cooling. A little spray paint turns your recycled bits into sea life in a snap! We used these as decorations around the hall, stuck onto the door murals and placed along our rock walls.
You can’t have a cave without the rock walls. Our space is tremendous, so we ordered several rolls of Brown Jumbo Craft Paper, 18″ x 175′ to get the job done. While we waited on the paper to arrive, we asked family, friends and neighbors to save all of their cardboard shipping boxes to form the wall structures, even reaching out to local businesses like our neighborhood pharmacy and big box store. The response was overwhelming, and we found ourselves storing cardboard boxes in several locations, using every single one to build our cave. We also used lots, and lots, and LOTS of masking tape to strap the boxes together into rock formations and then tape the craft paper to the boxes and walls. We also used a staple gun to staple the craft paper to the boxes as needed. Building the paper cave was the most time-consuming of our decoration projects and couldn’t be tackled ahead of the event, so when you are setting up for our banquet, make sure you have a lot of helping hands to get this part completed with time to spare.
We decided the entrance to the Fellowship Hall is the perfect place to set the scene, and built a tremendous pirate cave entrance, complete with a bridge (the one our Scouts cross at graduation).
The blue foil fringe backdrop came in a two-pack and was perfect for our waterfall. We also picked up a bunch of blue plastic table cloths from the dollar store to create the water effects, from the small stream that trickled around our rock wall, to the stream under our bridge. We also used them to create a focal point on the ceiling that looked like we were under the sea, with the sea life cut from scraps of craft paper we had leftover from other projects. We loosely hung the plastic table cloths by tucking the ends under the ceiling tiles, covering some of the canned lighting to give the hall a more watery feel. This blog post was our inspiration!
To help complete the theme, we dimmed the lights and used blue uplighting throughout.
It’s hard to sell a pirate cave without a little sunken treasure, including the mast of a ship that crashed at the Isla Del Muerta! There are a lot of ship tutorials on my Pinterest Board, but this one was created using insulating foam boards and leftover PVC one very talented den leader had at home.
This theme presents a great opportunity to ask family, friends, and neighbors for permission to use their best pirate Halloween decorations. We put a request out for skeletons and found ourselves surrounded by fearsome pirates, some forever guarding their treasure. Children’s Halloween costumes (some found at our local Goodwill) completed the look!
Tiki torches, beads and gold coins left over from birthday parties of the past, and a few pieces of treasure thrifted from the local Goodwill, completed our trove of treasure chests and hoardes.
We always set-up a photo backdrop at Blue & Gold. Sometimes we hand paint a backdrop, and other times one magically appears in our Amazon suggestions that we simply cannot turn down. Such was the case with the LFEEY 10′ x 7′ Pirate Ship Backdrop, which totally completed our space and gave us a real Black Pearl to escape on.
More paper rocks and treasure!My pirate was wiped out by the end of the night.
Know what’s a bummer? Holding an event in February at the height of flu season and NOT taking a few steps to help everyone keep their germs to themselves. Aside from planning on supplying LOTS of hand sanitizer, it’s also important to consider all of the areas where germs are most likely to spread. We’ve found that the utensil baskets are like magnets for kids who like to wipe their noses with their hands, then fish around for the perfect fork. We decided years ago that we would provide napkin rolls for every attendee, complete with a fork, knife, and spoon, and place it at their tables. We picked up luncheon napkins in redand black, both from Oriental Trading Company, and bulk boxes of utensils at our local big box store. It’s not just about germs, this also helps those parents who are balancing three plates in their two hands from having to go back for utensils or carry them under their armpits or in their pockets to their table. Yep, when you have a big event, making the napkin rolls can be time consuming, but it’s totally worth it. Your families will thank you, trust me.
This brings up your table settings! Another bummer is having worked hard on the decor just to have your table cloths be transparent, tear easily, or not fit your tables properly. We use the plastic dollar store table cloths often, but have found that nicer cloths can be just as easy on the budget if you shop around. We purchase the 84″ round tablecloths from Crown Table, this year in red and black. They are super durable and thick, fit our tables well, and come in a variety of colors. We stick to the rectangular dollar store cloths to cover our buffet, cake, and award tables. We create a table seating chart that we post at the entrance to our Fellowship Hall, using our Evite to organize our attendees by rank. We seat the Lions at the front, followed by the Tigers, and so forth.
To complete our tables, we found a local printer who donates 100 black and white folded programs for our big event! We also print table numbers that coincide with the seating chart to help families better find their seats. This year, our table tents (PUB) and banquet programs (PUB) were customized to go along with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme, donning the likeness of our favorite pirate, Jack Sparrow.
The programs are single-fold. I used two in this photo to show the front and back of the program while protecting the names of our Scouts.
We challenged our dens to create three centerpieces each and were not disappointed with the results!
Awards and Advancement
We like to make a big deal out of it when we present awards and advancement to our Scouts at our monthly Pack meeting, but like to go a bit overboard at Blue and Gold. Their monthly swag means a lot to them, and they mean a lot to us, so why not stay on theme and present their treasure for what it is? We picked up Beavo Pack of 100 5″ x 7″ Gold Jewelry Pouches and loaded them up with loops, pins, special awards and rank patches. Under our blue lighting, these bags looked like real gold and the Scouts were thrilled to receive them!
Each year, our Pack likes to also recognize our adult leadership and volunteers in a ceremony we now refer to as our “Packie Awards“. In years past, we’ve made funny award trinkets to go with each volunteer role (like a golden box of popcorn for our Kernels) but found that they end up tossed soon after the banquet. This year we decided to print certificates of appreciation that were presented in nice navy blue and gold covers. I tried to come up with my own design, but couldn’t get it right and decided to go to the pro’s – the fine folks over at the Cub Scout Volunteers Facebook Group! The perfect certificate was in the files section… if you aren’t a member of that group yet, I could NOT suggest it more. I edited it a little bit and uploaded it to Google Docs (PPT), but you’ll need to download the Cinzel and Affectionately Yours free fonts to make it work properly.
Ceremony and Presentation
You can’t have a pirate themed Blue and Gold without a pirate themed ceremony. I delved deep into the world of pirate-speak and Pirates of the Caribbean movie quotes to create an entertaining ceremony that I’d love to share with you. Please note that I’ve done my best to remove identifying information, which may very well throw off some of the formatting, especially on the slide numbers in the left-hand margin. Those will need to be moved around depending on any changes you might make to the script. I rely heavily on those little slide numbers to keep me on track as I speak and need to move slides forward.
My Blue and Gold Ceremony – POTC (DOC) is readily available for you to download, change, and use how you see fit. Please excuse any errors in the document that were caused by said attempt to remove names and other identifying information.
A big part of the presentation is, well, the presentation(PPT) itself. This file covers just about everything, from your opening ceremony to your closing prayer. It’s easy to customize using the personalized logo and associated fonts linked at the very top of this post. Just print out your advancement report to type up the awards and advancement for each den, and compile a list of leadership and volunteers to make this presentation your own!
Giveaways
What’s a pirate party without swords? Each year, we come up with a giveaway that matches the theme, so swords only made sense. We found a great blog post outlining the entire process from start to finish, making tiny adjustments as we went. We’ve found that local hardware stores, especially the larger brands like Home Depot, will donate paint sticks to you if you ask. We asked for paint sticks four years ago that we’ve now used for several different projects, and STILL had enough left over to make almost 100 pirate swords. PRO TIP: don’t hand out giveaways until families are physically leaving the event, especially something like a sword. Kids get these and naturally want to have a sword fight… these particular swords are pretty sharp, so handing them out at the end, and only after a Scout has gotten permission from their parents, cuts back tremendously on accidents. Having a fun giveaway is an opportunity to have them leave with something to remember their night by!
Final Thoughts
This was my very last Blue and Gold before my den of AOL’s bridges into a Troop this spring. It was bittersweet! The years of Blue and Gold Banquets are fast and furious, full of imagination and joy, and may seem like endless work but are worth every bead of sweat. If you start feeling overwhelmed in the planning process, ask yourself one very important question: If this is left out of the plan, am I still covering the basics and will anyone mind? Chances are you have a lot of extra ideas that don’t need to come to fruition to make the event a success, so give yourself a big ol’ break. Don’t let this fun event get you down or stress you out beyond belief. Ask for help and rely on it. Do your research and find the best prices on the items you want or need to purchase. Ask for donations and make sure you return everything in one piece and in a timely manner. Don’t reinvent the wheel… if you find a good idea out there, use it!
Don’t forget to take it all in and enjoy yourself! Congratulate yourself and your team on a job well done and forget the small issues you had along the way. If even one Scout smiled, you absolutely ROCKED your event and should be proud of yourself. On behalf of parents and leadership teams everywhere, THANK YOU for taking the time to celebrate the successes of Scouting, your Pack, your Scouts, and your volunteers!
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Teaching good citizenship is a big part of raising future adults that you can confidently send off into the world, knowing they’ll do their part and value the efforts of others. Hopefully we lead by example as often as we can – showing calm and fairness in conflict, respecting the property of others, and lending a helping hand, for example. Having responsibilities at home is a great opportunity to teach your littles (and bigs) how to be contributing members of society. Enter chores.
We’ve maintained an age-appropriate chore chart for each child for years, adding to it as we go and providing the kids with opportunities to earn a little allowance for being good citizens in our home. My youngest asked for an updated chart last night and I felt it was a good opportunity to share our system.
We print and laminate customized chore charts for both boys (15 and 10 years old), then post them to the fridge. Each day, they use a dry erase marker to check off a box to show that they’ve completed their chores for the week. At the end of the week, we reward them with an allowance. It’s pretty simple, and since the ball is in their court to track their own chores for the week, they have ownership that inspires them to stay on top of their chores. I love it because they get what they give! Their allowance is up to them, and without it they don’t have the funds to buy that pack of Pokemon cards or to go into their savings.
Allowance
Offering an allowance for chores completed around the home provides your child with an opportunity to earn something on their own and, ultimately, use it to buy something they want. In our house, we provide an allowance and expect that at least part of it goes into their savings. We reward them with their allowance once a week, placing it directly into a laminated budget envelope we hang from the fridge.
this 12-pack of budget envelopes from Amazon are great! We have one for each child’s allowance, and one for each child to use for the money they’d like to save. I have found uses for the remaining envelopes around the house – for my grocery coupons, bank deposits, receipts, and more.
these poly envelopes from Office Max are another great option. If you shop in-store, you can find them in a lot of different colors and patterns, oftentimes on sale for even less than they already are.
Chore Charts
I print a separate chore chart with customized chores for each child, paste them to a colorful piece of construction paper, cut to size, laminate, and stick them to the fridge with the best magnets on Earth. They are small but mighty! I even glue two to the back of the allowance envelopes to hang them from the fridge.
First, you’ll need to download all of the individual Chore Chart Images, which I’ve zipped for convenience. This folder contains a series of 17 editable PNG images that can be opened in graphic design software and customized to suit your own family. You can also use them as they are! If you’d like to maintain the font I used in these graphics, you can download Burbank Big Condensed Bold (aka: the Fortnite font) for free at the link below.
Next, download the Chore Chart file and open it on your computer using one of the links below. The formatting will be funny in Google Docs, so download the file and open it in Word.
You can simply openthe chore chart file, click inside of the square boxes, navigate to the Insert tab, and choose the Picture option. Navigate to the Chore Chart Images and place them in the boxes. Next, you’ll print your personalized chart!
Paste your chart to a piece of colorful construction paper, cut to size, and laminate! One of the best purchases I’ve ever made is an Amazon Basics Thermal Laminator and Amazon Basics Laminating Pouches. I use mine CONSTANTLY, between school and Scouts, and at the price it simply cannot be beat. Truly, you absolutely cannot begin to imagine how useful this particular tool is!
After you hang it on the fridge, your children can use a dry erase marker to mark off their chores each day of the week. Then, at the end of the week, you reward them for their work with an allowance.
Incorporate Scouting
We talk about good citizenship all the time at both the Pack and Troop level. In fact, many Cub Scout adventures include a chore chart and having responsibilities at home. I included a few nods to our Scouting responsibilities, in both Scout Night and Bonus – Do a Good Turn Daily chore chart images.
Here’s a quick list of the rank adventures that this chore chart might help your Cub Scouts to earn!
Lion – King of the Jungle: Explain what it means to be a good citizen.
Tiger – Team Tiger: With your family, talk about how family members each have a role in the family team. Then pick a job that you will do to help the team. Follow through by doing that job at least three times during the next three weeks.
Wolf – Germs Alive!: Make a clean room chart, and do your chores for at least one week.
Bear – Critter Care: If you have a pet, make a list of tasks that you did to take care of a pet for two weeks.
Webelos – Project Family: Show your understanding of your duty to family by creating a chart listing the jobs that you and other family members have at home. Choose three of the jobs you are responsible for and chart them for two weeks. Select a job that belongs to another family member, and help that person complete it.
In Summary
It’s never too early to teach your children about responsibility and how being responsible makes you a good citizen. Having chores and rewarding them with an allowance provides them with a sense of their worth within the family and some pride in how well your home is run. Having a chore chart is a great way to help everyone stay on task and to better track their work throughout the week. I hope these downloads and product suggestions help you to create an easy to use chore chart that helps you and your children find tremendous success in the little things.
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
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I’d like to think that, after a decade in Cub Scouts, I have a favorite special event; just one gathering that is more exciting than the others or that I feel the kids enjoy the most. I’ve said it a million times before (and even used it to name my blog), but if you Look Wider Still, every single event will be the memory-maker that you anticipate from year-to-year.
Sure, the Blue and Gold Banquet is the biggest of all deals, but the Family Bake-Off is the real star in your annual program. It’s the sweet spot (pun intended) of the coldest and darkest of the seasons, and an opportunity for creativity and quality time to shine.
Our Bake-Off is a lot of fun for everyone! We have the entire evening down to a science and I want to share with you how we work this into a regular Pack meeting, how desserts are categorized and judged, and what our awards have been over the years.
The Bake-Off Categories and Registration
We have a large Pack full of creative families, so we’ve used the last decade of baking to hone in on the three most popular judging categories, which are then also split between appearance and taste.
Bodacious Brownies appearance and taste
Captivating Cakes appearance and taste
Creative Cookies appearance and taste
To get the Scouts involved, we also have them cast their own votes for Cub Scout Traditions and Character Creations appearance awards. Desserts aren’t specifically registered for one of these two categories; the winners of those are chosen by their peers and their desserts are registered as either a brownie, cake, or cookie in the general categories above.
We open up official registration about 30 minutes ahead of the Pack meeting start, setting up two folding tables with several volunteers to get desserts accounted for quickly and efficiently. Each volunteer has a Bake-Off kit consisting of a numbered Pack roster (each Scout is assigned a number) and listing of dessert categories, instructions, registration receipts, a permanent marker, circle stickers, and unwaxed paper or plastic cups. They are then directed to place their dessert on the corresponding table, marked with a table label. Remind them to hang onto their registration receipts and not to leave them with their dessert.
As a Scout is registered, their number is written on a circle sticker which is then placed on their dessert item. They also receive an unwaxed paper or plastic cup with that same number written on it, which they place next to their dessert on its assigned table. They are also given a registration receipt, which includes their number, the dessert category they’re registered for, and two tear-away votes for the Cub Scout Traditions and Character Creations categories. Once all of the desserts have been registered, Scouts are given a few minutes to tear those votes off of their registration receipts and leave them in the cup associated with the dessert of their choice.
Kaa from the Jungle Book; definitely a winner for Character Creations!
Why do we use numbers instead of writing the Scouts name on the desserts? Because we aim to have fair, unbiased voting among our Scouts and also our dessert judges.
As our Pack meeting begins, our unbiased judge(s) (who are normally volunteer Scouts BSA Troop members) work with an adult volunteer to judge for appearance and taste in the Bodacious Brownies, Captivating Cakes, and Creative Cookies categories. They also count the paper votes cast by our Scouts for Cub Scout Traditions and Character Creations. Their votes are noted on the last page of the Pack Roster and listing of dessert categories linked here and above.
The Pack Meeting
For us, the Bake-Off lands squarely at the end of November, right after the Thanksgiving holiday. Everyone is in that happy holiday mood and the creative juices are really flowing. Scouts have been indulging in sweets since Halloween and have their finger on the pulse of all things delicious. The timing of the event is immediately after the end of our Popcorn Fundraiser, which means it’s aligned with the top sellers eagerly throwing pies in the Cubmaster’s (that’s me) face. Though pies and cakes are the easy theme of the night, we focus heavily on Veterans Day.
We start our Pack meeting with a flag ceremony, followed by a Power Point presentation and awards ceremony. At slide #6 of that linked presentation, I ask that all of our Veterans in attendance please rise. We give them a round of applause, and I ask all Scouts to please rise, turn to face our heroes, and hold the Scout Salute. I can’t convey to you how important and meaningful this is to our Pack families and I hope it’s a tradition you include in your own November meeting.
By slide #13, we’re discussing our Peanut and Popcorn FundraiserTop Sellers. As our Kernel is reporting on our fundraiser, members of leadership are behind the scenes filling pie tins with shaving cream (trust me, this is favorable over whipped cream for a lot of reasons). At the time the Top Sellers are officially announced, leadership emerges with tarps, a plastic yard trash bag with a hole cut out of the bottom, goggles, and pies! The crowd goes wild! All this should be happening just as you advance to slide #14. You know what happens next.
My son and AOL getting to “cream” me.
All of this gives your dessert judges plenty of time to make their choices and count the Scout votes, so it’s officially time to start giving out awards.
Bake-Off Awards
A quick search on Pinterest will return countless fun and creative Bake-Off Awards. We’ve truly done it all, from trophies to chef hats to wooden spoons, and even trophies of chef hat wearing wooden spoons.
How cute are these little guys?
We’ve moved back to awarding Scouts with wooden spoons that they can then use at home when they’re baking sweet treats with their family in the future. My handy Walnut Hollow wood burning tool and scrap ribbon makes for a fun little personalized award. I purchased the Walnut Hollow Hotstamps Number and Symbols set andWalnut Hollow Metal Alphabet Stamps set to brand these and other personalized gifts and awards over the years. (I keep the wood burner and accessories in a Craftsman Soft Tool Bag along with a mini-loaf tin and a pair of needle nosed pliers to hold and handle the hot stamps.)
I like to make my own thank you gifts for my special parent volunteers, and in the case of our Bake-Off, there’s nothing more appropriate than a rolling pin that is personalized with a little wood burning.
Make a big deal about presenting your awards and take LOTS of pictures of your mini pastry chefs! These are some amazing memories you’re making and you want to capture their little smiling faces BEFORE you let them stuff those faces with dessert.
Dig In!
A lot of units use the Bake-Off as a fundraiser, raffling off the desserts to help pay for a fun Pack event or activity. We use the Bake-Off as an opportunity to extend the tradition of putting on the holiday five between Halloween and New Years. Once the awards are handed out and Scouts are congratulated on a job very well done, everybody grabs a plate, slathers on the hand sanitizer, and samples the sweets. We provide the paper products, milk and water. Make sure you have a broom and some paper towels on hand to clean up the crumbs and frosting smudges… your Chartered Organization thanks you!
Again, dear leader, the Family Bake-Off is an opportunity for you to enjoy yourself and forget the stress of planning and executing Pack events. Get in there with your Scouts, try their desserts, praise them for their creativity and skills, then go home and take a long, hot shower to get the shaving cream out of your hair.
PRO TIP: a little hydrogen peroxide in each ear will help get that shaving cream out! 🙂
I thank you so much for your service to your unit and the Scouts it serves. Thank you for providing everyone with these wonderful events, the fellowship, and the quality time their family spent together in the kitchen. What a tremendous influence you are out in this crazy world! I’m personally so proud of and grateful for you.
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
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Updates to the Original Post Regarding Coronavirus
March 16, 2020 We are officially experiencing a national COVID-19 epidemic and just about everyone I know is out of school and practicing social distancing. While we are confined to our homes and feeling like our schedules and, well, entire lives are completely at a stand-still, there are still ways to stay active and find some balance to this new normal.
A SCOUT IS KIND! It’s been amazing to see that the sneers of judgement against people wearing gloves and face masks in public are far out numbered by the acts of kindness. This has been a tremendous reminder that you simply don’t know the life of the person you’re judging. There are countless immuno-compromised and vulnerable people in our communities, and their loved one’s life literally depend on specific safety measures. There’s an epidemic of callousness that we’ve been suffering through for a long time, brought to the surface by this virus. But, like Fred Rodgers said, “look for the helpers.” Be a helper. Find ways to lend a hand where you can, even if it’s just an encouraging smile to a mom who’s out doing her best to protect her sick child, a son taking measures to keep his elderly parents healthy, the healthcare worker who knows the public depends on them. Be kind. Practice kindness like everything depends on it, because it does.
A SCOUT IS LOYAL! It’s easy to sink into a routine of lounging around and enjoying this time at home like it’s an extension of spring break. It isn’t! With schools out for an indefinite period of time, kids are going to start that downward slide that will make it tough to get back into the swing of things when schools reopen and everything rumbles back to life. Stay on top of their education and, yes, their Scouting. There are a lot of online resources that, in an enormity of kindness and generosity, are being offered for free at this difficult time. I’ve made two recent blog posts that maintain a running list of free online resources to help our students and Scouts stay on task.
These are geared toward Scout advancement, but as we all know, Scouting adventures are perfect for EVERY child. Please feel free to use all of the resources, downloads, and suggestions on both posts as you see fit.
It’s my sincere hope that everyone stays healthy and happy! We’ll get through this together. 🙂
Original Blog Post
January 29, 2020 In my professional life, I’ve worn a lot of hats. Newsletter and intranet designer, web developer, IT administrator, HR assistant, project manager, event planner, trainer, and even business continuity and disaster recovery manager.
My business continuity and disaster recovery duties were varied and, if I’m totally honest, my years managing the continuity of a local community bank were some of my favorite. I got to create some wild disaster scenarios and work with my colleagues on finding ways to keep the bank open. It seemed that, year after year, our scenarios became a reality, including the one where a paint truck rolls over through the intersection outside of our corporate headquarters, causing power outages and system downtime that made it difficult for our customers to access their accounts. It totally happened within days of the exercises and we were, gratefully, completely prepared to handle it.
Each year, I trained employees on how to prevent the spread of bacterial and viral infections, which is no small feat when you’re handling cash that’s been touched / sneezed on / etc. A pandemic is oftentimes more disastrous to an organization than, say, a total meltdown in the server room.
What I learned over the years helped me to keep my family healthy in the height of school-wide illness outbreaks, and I’ve used my training to keep my Scouts healthy and happy year-round. As of January, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is working to stave off the Novel Coronavirus, a horrendous respiratory virus originating from the Wuhan Province, China. What’s most alarming about this particular flu-like virus is that it’s easily spread from person to person and those infected with the virus might not show symptoms for weeks. It’s absolutely essential that we’re all carefully and thoughtfully working to prevent the spread of this and other viruses like the seasonal flu and RSV (and bacteria).
Prevention: Do Your Best
First, let’s talk about prevention. I am an advocate for the flu shot and other vaccines. Aside from wanting to do everything I can to protect my loved ones and myself from all the gross and potentially deadly viruses out there, and I truly believe in building up a healthy immune system. I want my kids going out into this world with armor! I type that knowing, specifically, that the flu shot doesn’t come with a 100% guarantee it will stave off the flu, but it’s an opportunity to do your best. It’s not just MY children I’m trying to protect. We know and love a lot of people with weak or nearly non-existent immune systems, and since we enjoy venturing out into society, I feel it’s my responsibility to also protect the babies, elderly, and immunocompromised that live among us. Not a soapbox, just a personal opinion.
Another step in preventing the spread of deadly viruses is to listen to your own body. Are you showing symptoms of the flu or other virus? Do you have a fever? That’s not the time to be a warrior. It doesn’t impress your boss that you push through illness to show up in the office, and your colleagues are not even remotely happy to see you. Instead, go see your doctor and stay home. Parents, I know it’s tough to call in when your child is sick, and that oftentimes our sick days are few. If your child is showing symptoms of illness, if they have a fever, please keep them home. Classrooms and Cub Scout meeting rooms are tight little spots and germs spread very quickly among when you’re sharing pencils, giving high fives, and coughing all over your peers. Your cubical neighbor and their desk mate might have a newborn or at home, or they might be responsible for the care of a parent with cancer. That fever might pass for you in a few days but it might be deadly for someone else.
Scouters in particular, it’s a good idea to hold off on the Scout handshake for a little while. In the corporate world, one of the first rules of dealing with a potential pandemic is to cut out the handshakes. Per the CDC, most viruses are spread by unwashed hands! Kids have spent their day touching absolutely everything they can get their hands on, and chances are they aren’t washing up the way they should. Maybe elbow bumps through spring?
Now’s the time to stay hydrated, eat healthy foods, take your vitamins, get plenty of sleep, and avoid sick people or places where they might be. Don’t be too proud to use the disinfecting wipes on your shopping carts or to carry a bottle of hand sanitizer in your pocket!
Make A Sick Kit
It might seem like overkill, but a sick kit could help prevent the spread of viruses at the height of flu season. I like to have a small kit of virus-blasting go-to’s that I can use to clean up the house and/or Cub Scout meeting place.
In my business continuity role, I created plastic totes with lids that housed items like rubber gloves, face masks, disinfectant, disposable thermometers, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and more. I have a small bin of sick kit items and first aid supplies that I keep on hand in the event that a Scout, parent, or sibling attends a meeting and brings a bug along.
I am utterly obsessed with the Sterlite 12 Gallon Latch and Carry totes at Home Depot (link updated 3/18/21). These are what I use for patrol totes as mentioned in my post, Scouting: Introducing Webelos to the Patrol Method. They’re the perfect size for your sick kit and first aid items, plus they’re easy to carry and compact enough that you might be able to store it at your meeting location.
The eleventh point of the Scout Law is “clean,” and because it’s considered to be one of the twelve most important character points, the program works hard to encourage cleanliness. There are a couple of opportunities to teach proper hand-washing and germ busting in Cub Scouts while earning some bling for your uniform:
Tiger Bites – explain the importance of hand washing before a meal and clean-up after a meal. Show how you would do each.
Germs Alive (Wolf) – wash your hands while singing the “germ song.” Play Germ Magnet with your den or your family – wash your hands afterward. Conduct the sneeze demonstration.
The Germs Alive adventure is a favorite of mine. We really did this one up and it left a pretty tremendous impression on our Scouts… I even laminated the meme below and posted it at every meeting all year long to drive home the importance of covering our mouths when we sneeze.
We also made adorable watercolor blow art germs with googly eyes and talked about how easy it is to spread these cute little buggers. This is a great gathering activity for any rank, Lions to Webelos.
Teach your kids the Germ Song to the tune of Happy Birthday to help them remember how long they need to wash with soap and water.
Germ Song
No dirty paws for me, No dirty paws for me, A Wolf Scout is clean, No dirty paws for me.
Clean paws keep me strong, Clean paws keep me strong, A Wolf Scout is smart, Clean paws keep me strong!
Stay Informed
The CDC’s website is truly your first and best resource for keeping tabs on the flu virus and other viral outbreaks. Here are a few of my favorite features:
First of all, I am so sorry and I hope you get better right away. PLEASE call your doctor and make an appointment if you have any of the following flu symptoms:
fever or feeling feverish/chills
cough
sore throat
runny or stuffy nose
muscle or body aches
headaches
fatigue
vomiting and diarrhea
The flu test is uncomfortable but fast, and the sooner you find out you’re sick, the sooner you can get well and the less likely you are to spread the virus. Listen to your doctor and get the rest you need to recover, and don’t go back to work or school before you’ve recovered and are no longer contagious.
If you live alone or are a single parent and are too sick to pick-up that chicken soup you desperately need, use your Amazon Prime membership for good and download the Prime Now app. Depending on where you live*, you could have food delivered to your door without having to interact with another human being… this is also great for introverts like me who just want their popsicles without having to be social. You can also try out Prime Video and keep yourself entertained while you surf that couch.
You can’t always avoid coming into contact with contagious viruses or bacteria, it’s what happens when we go out and live our lives. But you can protect yourself and your family from getting ill or prolonging an illness by taking good care and arming yourself with common sense. Wash your hands, drink plenty of water, get some rest, avoid places where people are sick, stay home if you are sick, and stay up-to-date on where outbreaks are occurring. I wish all of you well this flu season!
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Look Wider Still is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising.
* Prime Now is available from morning to night, seven days a week. Currently available in select areas including: – Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Berkeley, Boston, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas & Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles & Orange County, Manhattan, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis & St. Paul, Nashville, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle & Eastside, Tampa, Virginia Beach, and Washington, DC Metro
Is your unit busily planning for the upcoming Year in Scouting? If you’ve read my post, Cub Scout Leadership: Annual Pack Program Planning, you know that a unit calendar is an integral piece of your planning process. A “living document,” which is one that is regularly undergoing updates, is a great way to ensure your unit families are accessing the most up-to-date information at all times. The best option I’ve found to date utilizes Google Sheets, which allows for you to build and share a link to your ever-evolving calendar of events.
The program planning period is busy, and at some point you’re going to look for ways to make that process a little less time-consuming. I figure, if I’m building a resource for my own unit, why not share it with other leaders who are feeling the crunch?
Please feel free to make a copy of my Sample Pack Family Calendar, a Google Sheet template resource that looks great (and is printer-friendly, if you’d prefer a hard copy). Please follow the instructions on the “INSTRUCTIONS” tab to get the most of your calendar template. Included is a link to a separate tutorial, Customizable Canva Template: Pack Logos, which will help you to build and download your own Pack logo for use on your new calendar and other resources.
I wish you the best of luck in your program planning and the exciting year ahead! Did this Sample Pack Family Calendar template help you out this year? Let me know in the comments.
Look wide, and even when you think you are looking wide – look wider still.
The new Cub Scout program officially launches on June 1st, 2024, and with it will come a tremendous amount of planning for your upcoming Year in Scouting. Having been there, done that, I’m hoping my updated 2024 Cub Scout Rank Tracking Google Sheets will help unit leaders keep track of their Scout’s achievements (alongside ScoutBook, of course) and attendance! Plus, you can utilize the Meeting Plan Worksheet to prepare for two monthly den meetings.
Please read the “Instructions” tab before asking for edit rights to this file. You need to save a copy to your own Google Drive to have edit abilities.
The best time to update your trackers is immediately after you get home from a meeting. Regularly syncing your Advancement Trackers to Internet Advancement or ScoutBook is a fail-safe for accurate Scout Shop purchase orders. Trust me, your Scouts will thank you!
Here are a few additional tips (and resources) for successfully tracking rank advancement alongside ScoutBook!
Included Meeting Plan Template and Scout Attendance Sheet
Included in the 2024 Cub Scout Rank Tracking Google Sheets are tabs for a Meeting Plan Worksheet and Scout Attendance. Use the Meeting Plan Worksheet to plan out your two monthly den meetings. This will help you plan for the requirements you’ll complete each meeting, and will keep you on track during those hectic Cub Scout den meetings. Use the Scout Attendance sheet on the fly to track your den or pack attendance throughout the upcoming Scouting year.
Put Together A Leadership Binder
If you’ve read my other posts, you already know that I’m a stickler for organization. In my opinion, there are far too many resources out there to just wing it when it comes to a leadership role, and my favorite tip for staying on top of things is putting together a good leadership binder. You can read all about it in my post Three Rings to Bind Us All: Den Leader Binder Organization Tips.
Let’s Review!
Keeping up with your Scouts is one thing, but staying on top of their advancement is another. Remember to KEEP IT SIMPLE, MAKE IT FUN, and give credit where and when it’s due by taking attendance, planning your meetings well, and tracking completions as you go. Immediately after your meeting, review your attendance sheet against your meeting plan, update your advancement tracker and ScoutBook, and enjoy watching those Scouts smile when they’re called up to receive their awards at each Pack Meeting.
Yours in Scouting, Rebekah
Did my post help you? Did you download any of the Advancement Trackers, Meeting Plan Worksheets, or Attendance Sheets? If so, how did they work for you? What would you change?
Have you tried using Canva for your unit flyers, social media posts, or logos? It’s quickly becoming the go-to tool for online designs and publishing because of it’s ease of use, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness.
Please feel free to use and share this template as you see fit! I’ve included patches for all the numerals, so just swap them out as you need to. I’ve found that saving this as a transparent .PNG maximizes the potential for a Pack logo, making it useful on your website, promotional items, flyers, etc.
What other templates would you find useful? Do you have a Canva tip or trick other Scouters would benefit from?
Scouting is many wonderful things, including a year-round recruitment opportunity. According to the BSA, there are approximately 2.2 million Scouts in the United States of America, but it’s estimated that enrollment dropped by 62% since 2019. Now, more than ever, that year-round recruitment is helping build back participation and keep our units chartered.
Every little thing you do can have a huge impact on your success in this and coming years. If you have a little extra time (insert “one hour a week” jokes here), consider using it to create a Google Business Profile for your unit.
What’s a Google Business Profile? “With a Business Profile on Google, you can manage how your local business shows up across Google products, like Maps and Search. If you run a business that serves customers at a particular location, or you serve customers within a designated service area, your Business Profile can help people find you. Verified businesses on Google are twice as likely to be considered reputable.”
Basically, it’s optimization of your units search ranking. By creating a Google Business Profile, you’re putting your website at the top of the search results, and giving potential Scouters a quick view of your unit. What it says about you is that you’re organized and tech savvy… and if you have ratings and reviews, it shows that you’re trustworthy. Put those things together and you’re likely the unit those families will choose to Scout with.
Go ahead and Google “Cub Scout Packs near me” and see what comes up. My results are below. What do you think a potential family will do next? Probably click the “website” link for the top return, right? Yep.
Now, if I search for “Cub Scout Pack 521,” this is my result.
How do I get started?
Using Google Business Profiles, I was able to get my unit listed on the right-hand pane with all of our contact details, reviews, a map, and more. We are easy to find, contact, and apply to. Even when you search for all nearby units, we are your first result. A study of billions of Google searches confirms that over 1/4 (28.5%) of people click the first search result. According to Google, potential Scouters are 2.7 times more likely to consider you reputable and are 70% more likely to visit your website, and 50% more likely to consider joining your unit if you’ve set up your Google Business Profile. This is huge, and a no-brainer because it’s absolutely free to use.
First, you need to create a Google accountfor your unit. Make sure you follow the button for managing a business when you begin this process.
Next, visit the Google Business Profile site, making sure you’re logged in as the account you just created for your unit, and click “manage.”
Using the form below, type in your unit information (for example, “Cub Scout Pack 521”) and click the “Add your business to Google” link.
Add your Business name (“Cub Scout Pack ___”) and Category (Scouting)
Next, it asks you if you’d like to add a location customers can visit, like a store or office. This is where you will add your meeting space or chartered organization’s address.
The next step is to add the areas you travel to deliver services. Confusing, right? I entered the city and state from the prior step here.
Adding contact information is critical to the success of your business profile. Add a phone number and your website URL on this page.
The “Stay in the Know” page allows you to accept updates and recommendations for your business.
Next, you’ll add your mailing address (this does not accept PO boxes). This is hidden from the public, but Google uses it to mail you a verification code that you’ll need to complete the set-up process.
Choose a way to verify. I chose “Postcard by mail” because it was the easiest option. Add a contact name and click the “Mail” button. It will let you know that a postcard is on its way!
The next step allows you to enter business hours. You can choose the hours you prefer or skip it entirely.
Add messaging on the next step, which provides potential families the opportunity to message you directly via Google. I chose to skip this step and not accept messages as I shared our email address and find that’s the best way to keep myself organized.
Now, you’re going to add a business description. You have 750 characters to describe your unit. Consider the important details, like who charters you, when you meet, if you’re a Family-Scouting unit, etc.
Next up, you’ll add photos to your listing. Make sure you include your logo, if you have one, and photos that families have given you permission to post.
Google will offer you a $500 advertising credit. This is optional – you can skip this step or use it to pull together an ad, which would be great for recruitment.
You’re almost done! Google will tell you that your Business Profile is almost ready, and that it will be visible to customers on Google after you’ve been verified. Click Continue.
Congratulations! You are now in your Business Profile Manager! Click “Get Started” to… get started. The Business Profile Manager is a console where you can make changes to all of the information you’ve just entered. Look for the “Complete your Business Profile” section and click on “Add Logo”.
This is where you can add a logo, a cover photo and even a video. Clicking “Business Profile Manager” at the top will return you to your console to make additional changes.
Your Business Profile Manager is where you can add “posts” that let potential recruits know about upcoming Join Scouting Nights or special community events you’re participating in. It’s a great way to share your news and get the word out about your unit. Every little thing you can do to boost your recruitment potential is priceless!
What are your next steps?
In five days, you will have received a postcard from Google in the mail. It looks a little bit like tax documentation, so keep your eyes peeled. Inside are three steps for verifying your business, along with your unique verification code. Follow those instructions and enter your code. Once you have, you’ll redirect to a page that (hopefully) confirms that your code was accepted.
Google will not automatically or immediately publish your new Google Business Profile listing. In fact, they review your listing first, publishing it up to three days later. During this time, you can log in to your Business Profile Manager and see the status of your listing. Until it’s been processed, this is what you’ll see…
Once this review process is complete, you’ll have a very powerful recruitment tool available to you. It provides you the opportunity to accept reviews and to better promote your unit. Call on your leaders, parents, and chartered organization to leave reviews. If you’ve performed a service project in the community, let folks know that their feedback is important to you.
If you don’t already have a website, check out my post, Scouting Tech: Building Your Unit Website with New Google Sites. I give you a step-by-step tutorial with links and examples to help you create an awesome site for your unit. Make sure you go back to your Business Profile manager to add it to your new search results.
Last but not least…
We are all looking for new and effective ways to recruit Scouts. You’ve heard the saying that mom’s make the decisions about what their kids actively participate in outside of the home. We’re all busy, right? So, if your unit is easy to find and your reviews show that you’re trustworthy, you are already leaps and bounds ahead of other youth organizations.
Did this tutorial help you set-up your unit with a Google Business Profile? Maybe you were able to easily set-up and maintain a Google Site? Please let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to like and share the tools you find helpful here. Oh, and don’t forget to follow Look Wider Still here and on Facebook at @LookWiderStill.
Promises fulfilled! I have published a guide for creating a Google Business Profile, and have updated the Rank Trackers.
Hello there, Scouters!
You’ve likely noticed the posts have slowed WAY down in the last several months. In fact, they’ve come to a screeching halt. I’m glad to report that this wasn’t because of something negative, or that I’d lost my steam. In fact, it’s very much the opposite.
This summer, I excitedly created a contracting business and accepted a wonderful job with my local Council managing their digital media. I’m working on websites, social media, event scheduling, and even serve on a rebranding committee to help remind the community that local Scouting is a safe program for our youth. It’s been a dream come true, and I feel most deeply grateful for an opportunity to serve Scouting in a new way.
Just last week, I had the opportunity to join the John Reid Show, a local morning radio program, to tell all of Central Virginia just how much I love and trust Scouting! Listen in by visiting my Facebook page at @LookWiderStill.
That being said, being gainfully employed and working long hours makes blogging tough to squeeze in. You simply do NOT want my musings from 6:30 in the evening when I’m trying to talk to my kids and make dinner with one hand while folding laundry with the other. THAT Rebekah is a hot mess. She can’t teach you anything except, maybe, how to use a fork to put your hair in a bun.
I’ve also transitioned into the role of Pack Committee Chairperson, which is another great joy and another opportunity to pitch in. It’s interesting seeing a unit from pretty much every position at this point. Are you a PCC? What do you love about it? What do you find is difficult?
As we inch closer to spring, we’re going to hit the May 31st deadline on many Cub Scout Rank adventures, and I’m getting to work on updating several posts that include the retiring adventures. Please keep your eyes peeled, especially on the Cub Scouts: Rank Tracking Sheets, for updates.
I’m also working on a tutorial for setting up your unit website with a Google Business Profile to help boost traffic and accept reviews.
Thank you for continuing to support Look Wider Still and for all of the traffic in the last few months! You guys are amazing and I’m grateful that you find anything I have to offer interesting or helpful in any way. I look forward to getting back to cheerful service to all of you.
Hey Scouters! Happy summertime to all of you. I hope this finds you well and enjoying the fruits of a year well-spent. I’m sure many of you are gearing up to plan for the Scouting year ahead, and if you’re a Girl Scout Troop Leader looking for a little help, I hope this is it.
This spring, my husband and I were asked to lead a local GSUSA Troop in earning their Geocacher Badge at our local library. We had a great time coming up with the materials to complete this badge, putting all of our Geocaching skills to great use, and even having the Scouts find our library cache on-site. It was an awesome opportunity and we hope we’ll be asked back again to lead more Scouts on this adventure.
The presentation went over so well, I thought it might be useful to someone else in the coming years. It’s free for you to use – just make a copy and edit away. >>LWS – GSUSA Geocacher Badge Slides
Please let me know in the comments if you used the Geocacher Google Slides to help your Troop ear their badge and how it went. Did you check out the trackable we launched? Did you launch your own? What Geocache did your Troop find together? Tell me everything.
Don’t forget to like this post, follow Look Wider Still, and visit me on Facebook and Instagram.
YIS, Rebekah
Kids Stuff: Geocaching Adventures If you boil it down to the very basic gist of the thing, Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt. “Geo” literally means “relating to the Earth” and a “cache” is an item or collection of items hidden from plain sight or in an inaccessible place. Put them together and you’re searching the Earth for hidden treasures. If that doesn’t spark your interest, I implore you to keep reading.
Kids Stuff: All About Geocaching Adventure Labs If ever there has been a perfect time to get into Geocaching, it’s right now. All summer long, brand new cachers have started popping up on the scene, looking for new and fun ways to get their families out of isolation and into the wide, wide world. Groundspeak, knowing their game naturally appeals to the more, shall we say, introverted decided to take this opportunity to reinvent Lab Caches. Way back when, Lab Caches were a cache type that involved exploring an area and answering questions about it on a separate website, much the way the new Adventure Lab Caches work.
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Look Wider Still 