KISMIF.org – Awesome Cub Scouting

If you’re thinking about den and/or pack meeting plans for this fall and would like to see what the official BSA Cub Scouts 2010 materials will look like, your wait is over.

The new Cub Scout Den and Pack Meeting Resource Guide is available now at the BSA National website.

You can also purchase it at your local scout shop.

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Here are some of the key points about the upcoming Cub Scouts 2010 program (which begins September 2010) based on the information in the FAQ and the Top Hands presentation:

• Traditional monthly themes are no more.
• Monthly themes will be based on the 12 Cub Scouting Core Values.
• As with Fast Tracks, most Cub Scout achievements will be done in den meetings rather than at home. Some achievements still must be done at home.
• As with Fast Tracks, den leaders will be provided a recommended advancement schedule to follow.
• Cub Scout Program Helps is replaced by forthcoming Den and Pack Meeting Resource Guide.
• New Fast Start training.
• New position-specific training for den leaders will be offered online.
• Roundtable will continue to be important for communications and training.

Here are excerpts from the official FAQ about the new Cub Scouts 2010 program changes for den meetings and pack meetings from the BSA National website:

“1. Why are we doing this program?

Initially the experience of one pack which developed and used this program led us to believe it had merit. In a pilot study of 21 dens in Bay-Lakes Council using this program, the retention rate of Cub Scouts went from 64% to 85%. In packs where some of the dens were using the program and other dens were not, the retention increased significantly for those using the program and did not increase for those not using the program. Equally important, den leaders using the program were very happy with it and felt it made their job as a den leader much easier and more enjoyable.

2. How closely must we adhere to the outline for each program level?

The outline for each program level ensures the completion of each rank in a timely manner and assures that each boy will receive significant other advancement on a regular and frequent basis. This is what keeps boys in Cub Scouting. Substitutions for requirements may not be made, since that would not fulfill the requirement. For some achievements and electives, the boy is to choose among a few different options for completion of a requirement. The outline has made that choice for you. You may find that a different choice works better for your den than the choice in the outline. When that is the case, go ahead and use your choice. For example, in the Tiger Cub program, achievement 2: Where I Live, requirement 2G is to visit a police station or a fire station. In the outline, the visit is made to the police station. This choice was made because Wolf Cub Scouts are required to visit the fire station. If you wish, you may visit the fire station as Tigers and then again as Wolves. We felt it would be more interesting for the boys to participate in the choice we made.

4. How many den meetings are expected to be held per month and per year?

The outlines are written to give you approximately 16 den meetings per year. Our observation has been that most dens hold two den meetings per month. You may begin in late August, early September, or mid-September. You may hold either one or two den meetings in the month of December, depending on the religious and family commitments of the members of your den. You may conclude in mid-May, late May, or early June. The outline is not dated, merely sequenced. With two den meetings, one pack meeting, and one other pack activity each month, each Cub Scout is having approximately four Scouting events per month.

5. If a parent and/or Scout want to complete some requirements at home which we will do later in a den meeting, what should we do?

Parents are always welcome and encouraged to work on advancement with their son. When we do it later in the den meeting, it may be done in a different way. It will certainly serve as reinforcement for the boy.

7. Can all requirements and electives be completed in a den setting?

No. The handbooks and outlines tell which must be completed at home or with a parent.

9. What if a boy misses a den meeting and, therefore, does not complete the advancement?

Please contact the parent. The boy will be able to complete the missed activity with his family. Make certain the parents understand that the boy will be able to receive his badge or award only after the activity has been completed. Ask them to inform you when it has been completed.

11. Are den and pack activities planned for the summer?

Yes, but on a reduced scale. The outlines show how certain requirements and electives are best completed during the summer months. On the display table, I have samples of flyers representing summer activities.

12. Doesn’t it seem that Cub Scouts 2010 takes all the fun out of the Cub Scouts and makes a den meeting “more school”?

• Most dens already use an approach similar to Cub Scouts 2010 for their meetings. In a 2005, a Central Region analysis of randomly selected Cub Scout den found that 96.7 percent were completing at least half or more of each achievements in their den meetings. (2005: Central Region Recruitment & Retention Study).
• All of the activities developed for the Cub Scout program are designed to be fun and Cub Scouts 2010 uses the same involving activities as those used historically. Scouts and den leaders involved in Cub Scouts 2010 report high satisfaction with the program activities.
• The activities included in the achievements have been tested with boys (Scouts and non-Scouts) and boys indicate that they would like to participate in most of the activities. Only a few, such as the food pyramid and the escape plan, were considered to be too much like what they learned in school. (2006: Cub Scout Content Study)

13. Aren’t two den meetings per month, insufficient to provide the social interaction parents want from CS?

No, dens will actually meet up to 4 times a month : 2 den meetings where boys meet in the traditional setting and complete parts of the requirements. One field trip to go see something related to an achievement or just to go have fun as a group. And one Pack meeting where all the dens meet and celebrate the boys achievements.

15. Won’t the set lesson plans/den meeting guides allow insufficient flexibility for units without access to specified activities (zoos, museums, etc.)?

While the pilot had to be rigid in how the den meeting plans were used so that we could study the effect on retention, when the plan rolls out we will continue to leverage the flexibility and creativity of our leaders to use the resources in their community to provide for the field trip experience (similar to the way the Tiger Cub go see it is done today).

17. Wouldn’t fewer den meetings per month cause some units which meet weekly to search out competing programming, potentially resulting in loss of membership.

• There are weekly meetings in this program: two den meetings, one activity trip and one pack meeting.

• Dens are welcome to meet more frequently, if they wish. Additional meeting plan are being developed to support those dens who meet more frequently.

18. Doesn’t Cub Scouts 2010 reduce or eliminate the role of the family in the Cub Scout program?

• Those who have used this program have found that family participation increases because so many of the achievements and electives in the handbooks call for family participation.
• Further, with this method, specific direction is provided to families as needed defining what the boy and his family need to be working on prior to the next meeting.
• In addition, because each boy is receiving tangible recognition of his advancement at most every pack meeting, family attendance tends to increase. They all want to be there to see their child receive an award.
• Arrow points and belt loops can still be worked on with the family.

19. How does Cub Scouts 2010 work if a den meeting is missed or if a boy joins in the middle of the program year?

Just as is the case today, at that time the den leader works with the family to let them know what they missed, so that they can catch up with the rest of the boys.”

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