Cub Scout parents - Pack Nights

This is my son's third year as a cub scout... Pack nights are starting to get boring.

Tell me about your pack nights, what they do... looking for new ideas to bring to the cub master

Message edited 4/17/2014 11:45:04 AM.

Re: Cub Scout parents - Pack Nights

Next month, we are doing the Raingutter Regatta (similar idea to the Pinewood Derby, but we don't make it really competitive.) We have 4 "tracks" set up, and either 2x2, or all 4 at once, we have them "race" across the water-filled raingutter. Then they get to the end of the line and go again. Lots of fun, and they don't care that there are no trophies or ranking.
The boys are also throwing water balloons at me (I'm the Cubmaster), for rewards for selling popcorn. If they went to a show-and-sell, they get a balloon. For every $50 of popcorn they sold on their own, they get another balloon. It's super cheap, the kids have a blast, and it gives them an incentive to sell more popcorn. (and it makes me the "cool" Cubmaster.... )

We also had "races" with air balloons. Get some string and attach one end to a wall or something, and hold the other end. Have the boys blow up the balloon, tape a straw to the balloon, put the string through the straw, and have them race down the string. Also very cheap, and a lot of fun.

One meeting, we did some parade marching practice. If you do that too often, the boys will not enjoy it, but if you do it once or twice a year, it's something new, interesting, and fun (since they have a hard time walking in straight lines... )

Another meeting, I printed out some plans for various paper airplanes, and brought in a bunch of paper. I gave each Den Leader copies of the plans, and all of the boys picked some planes they liked, made them, decorated them, then flew them. Near the end of the meeting, we had a distance competition. Again, it's a very cheap, fun activity.

Most of these activities can also tie into some of the requirements for each rank, at least some of the electives.
I tried keeping the meetings more activity-based, instead of craft-based. It's usually cheaper, the boys enjoy doing activities, and I like activities over crafts as well.

Re: Cub Scout parents - Pack Nights

It gets difficult, especially if you have a night with lots of announcements. One thing we always try to make sure we have time for is a game of some sort.

Some of the recent things we have done:

Maybe once a year read a story that relates to something you are doing. Last year we read the entire LORAX and talked about what we had planned as our Environmental Service Project.

Each year We do two outdoor meetings at a park with a campfire. Each Den does a skit or two, we do samores and we try to play a game that they can earn a beltloop for (kickball, flag football, softball).

Map & compass/Buddy System -Last pack night we had someone come in from council (a Sagamore) and teach the boys how to read a map and use a compass. We reviewed the importance of the Buddy System. They buddied up and played a game using their compass and coordinates to find their way around.

Leave No Trace/Camping - What's Wrong with this Campsite? set up a campsite indoors and illustrate the points of leave no trace and how to choose a campsite.
We put the tent next to the campfire and river(blue wrapping paper0, leave cans and food wrappers around, leave the tent flaps open etc. The scouts correct the problems and talk about leave no trace and what we need to look for in a campsite. We also talk about campsite safety and etiquette.

Golden Rod - I am definitely going to steel your parade practice idea!

Message edited 4/18/2014 7:55:35 AM.

Re: Cub Scout parents - Pack Nights

Re: Cub Scout parents - Pack Nights

Thanks, these are great ideas and we currently don't do anything like this.

This is what we have done the past two years...

Uniform inspection night: people from the Coast Guard come to help with this plus show the boys about flag folding/handling.

Movie night.

Skit night: done inside around a fake fire.

December is a mini party: just really handing out awards and eating cake.

Pinewood Derby, of course.

End of the year picnic: we go to the local park and launch water rockets that the boys built.

Last year we had a Mr. Science come, he was great. This year we are hoping to get a bike safety person.

We have one overnight a year, not including WEBELOS Woods.

Re: Cub Scout parents - Pack Nights

Cub Scout parents - Pack Nights

I just remembered another one but it was expensive for a Pack Night so we only did it once - the Teepee Ted and the traveling wilderness museum came and built a teepee with the boys, started fire by rubbing sticks and did a brief Lesson on. Native Americans. The boys loved it.

Contact: TED STRICKROTH (TIPI TED)
Phone: 631/722-4645

Cub Scout parents - Pack Nights

I just remembered another one but it was expensive for a Pack Night so we only did it once - the Teepee Ted and the traveling wilderness museum came and built a teepee with the boys, started fire by rubbing sticks and did a brief Lesson on. Native Americans. The boys loved it.

Contact: TED STRICKROTH (TIPI TED)
Phone: 631/722-4645