Cub Scout Behavior Chart

The last few weeks of Cub Scouts have been rough.  Today we (my co-leader and me) said enough!  We sat the boys down and went over the Scout Law discussing each principle asking for examples of ways to live the Scout Law, making sure the boys new what they were promising to do each week.  We even went so far as to give examples of ways they had misbehaved (without giving names of course).  A few were shocked to realize we were referring to something they had done in a previous meeting.

We then brought out our new behavior chart.  It's very simple.  If I were more artistic it could be much cuter.  We needed something simple and easy to understand but got the point across quickly.

At the end of each den meeting we give the boys 10 minutes to do what they want.  This usually means playing a group game - anything from a circle game to basketball, tag, you name it.  It's the boy's choice and something they really look forward to.

Prep:

• Print and laminate the number sheet
• Print, cut out each of the badges and laminated these 
  
  
  

How it works:

• Cover each of the numbers and the sad face with the different badges.  
• If no badges are removed the boys get their full 10 minutes at the end of den meeting.  
• If one badge is removed (the Bobcat - I do them in order but you certainly wouldn't have to) they are now down to 8 minutes.  
• Remove the Tiger, now they're down to 6 minutes and so forth.  

The beauty of this chart is you don't have to say anything or get angry at a Cub Scout you simply remove a badge.  The Cub Scouts give you this look of horror and gasp for air.  They know exactly what this means.  It's amazing how quickly behavior improves.  Our den meetings end on time so there isn't any overtime to make up for bad behavior.  Boys learn quickly to govern themselves and help their friends do the same.  It's made a huge difference in our den meetings!

Construction Theme Invitation Template

The Cub Scout Pack I work with is using "Cubstruction" as the Blue and Gold Banquet theme.  After searching Pinterest for an invitation I could use and not finding one that really worked for what I needed I set out to make my own.









I give full credit to How to Nest for Less for the base of my design.  Using Publisher, I took this basic design and cut and pasted until I had 4 small invitations that could be printed on one sheet cutting the cost of printing considerably.   Once I had the design, I used a text box to put in the invitation information. So easy!

Have a great party!

Click here to download the pdf version

Silicone Baking Sheet Liners

Last fall I purchased these silicone baking sheet liners.  I absolutely LOVE them!!  I'd seen them for several years and kept thinking I should try them.  I'm so glad I finally did.

After using them I struggled to know how to store them so they weren't in the way.  I tried several different ways including keeping them with the baking sheets, laying them flat a drawer and so on.  Nothing worked very well.  Finally, in one of my rare light bulb moments I thought why not roll them up.  With this in mind, I had to figure out how to keep them rolled.  Using my resources I found a toilet paper roll which has worked great!  You simply roll the sheet and put it inside the roll.  I've rolled the two larger size liners together and it works wonderfully.

If you have a chance to purchase these liners give them a try.  No more scrubbing pans, sticky residue from cooking spray and so many more pluses.  Definitely worth it.

Teacher and Bus Driver Christmas Gift Idea

Teacher Tag

 About this time of year I find myself looking for a gift idea for teachers and bus drivers.  I want it to be something they would both enjoy or appreciate as well as something that won't break the bank.  I ran across this great idea on the Over the Moon blog.  I thought it was brilliant!  Using the basic idea of the tag I created Redbox Gift tags for Teacher's and Bus Drivers.  Combine the tag with a package of microwave popcorn and you have a great gift for around $2.00! 

You can purchase the Redbox Movie codes at the Redbox website.  They can be purchased in bundles of 5, 10, 20 or more.  Once the codes are emailed to you simply write the code on the tag, hook the tag to the popcorn and you're done.  So easy!

Bus Driver / Bus Tech Tag




 

Halloween BOO Blocks

As with almost everything in my life, I try to find the easiest way to reach my goal.  For my latest project I wanted to make some a Halloween decoration that wouldn't take all day and would cause very little stress.  This is what I came up with.  It was simple, quick and very little frustration involved. 

Here's how I did it:
First, gather the materials you'll need:

• 3 blocks - I used a 2x6 (so it will be free standing) cut in the following heights:
• 6 inch
• 7 inch
• 8 inch
• black acrylic paint
• sand paper
• black ink pad
• sponge dauber 
• spray glue
• letters
• ribbon

Okay, time to go to work.  Sand your blocks so they are fairly smooth.  Really, the only part that you need really smooth is the side you'll be gluing the paper on.  Afterall, this is a Halloween decoration. Once you've got it smoothed to your satisfaction paint all of the sides.  Yes, I paint the back just to make it look finished and I can put the blocks out anyway I like.  Let these dry thoroughly. 

While they are drying cut out the BOO letters.

Once the blocks are dry and the letters are cut out you're ready to put them together.  Place the letters on the blocks without glue so you'll know where each one goes and you can make sure they're going to fit right. 

When you've got things in order, spray the backs of the letters with the spray glue.  Be generous.  Carefully and fairly quickly rub from top to bottom with your fingers or very lightly with a credit card to make sure all the air bubbles are out.  Once you've done this go around the edges to make sure you get a good seal.  Repeat this with the other 2 letters.  Let these dry for 15-20 minutes.  This is longer than you probably need to let them sit but I like to make sure they're very dry before moving on.

When you're sure they're dry, using your sponge dauber and your black ink go around the edge of the letters to give it an old, used look.  You don't need a lot, just enough to  help the letters blend in with the paint on the block.

I then took the sandpaper and went around the corners and a bit on each of the sides.  Again, this was to give it a worn, old look. 

Finally, to finish the blocks off I tied a ribbon around each of the blocks.  This is the ribbon I chose but you could use what ever you wanted.  This is where the only frustration came in for me because I'm not a ribbon tier.  It probably took me as long to tie these bows as it did for the whole project!

Happy Halloween!

Bear Claws Made Easier

While preparing for the Bear Claw adventure, a required adventure for the Bear Rank, I came across some great resources that I wanted to pass on. This adventure is all about pocketknives and there are few things that Cub Scouts like better than pocketknives.  This will definitely be of the more popular adventures. 

The first was found on the Cub Scout Ideas blog.  Here you can find information on three different types of pocketknives (Requirement #1).  You can download a graphic that allows the boys to make play knives with paper and brads. Brilliant!

You can see more of the resources I found on the article I wrote for The Boy Scout.

 Click here for the full article.


A Must-Have Cub Scout Leader Resource

Dr. Nisha Zoeller has made Cub Scout Leader’s life so much easier! For more than 10 years I’ve been a Bear Den Leader with the same Wolf Leader.  We serve as each other’s 2^nd leader for 2 deep leadership.  Since the new Cub Scout Program came out we haven’t done a lot of meetings together because the programs are so different, by design.  Dr. Zoeller has changed this.  She has gone through each of the Cub Scout Adventure Requirements from Tiger to Webelos and created a resource that shows all the requirements for each age group for a specific topic.  For example, if you want to do an Aquatics event for multiple age groups you can look on page 4 and see that there are 7 Tiger adventures dealing with Aquatics, 6 for Wolf, 9 for Bear and 10 for Webelos.  It’s wonderful!!  She has done this for 15 different themes.  Planning day camps and other events for Cub Scouts has just gotten a lot easier!  Thanks Dr. Zoeller for all your work!   Click here to download.