Simon Says Stretch! Preopening Activity

Here are the descriptions for each of the stretches in the Simon Says Stretch! preopening activity listed in the June Pack Resource Sheet.
Kneeling Stretch:  Kneel with both feet pressed together and knees apart.  Arms should be along each side of the body with both palms up.  Bend over slowly as if trying to touch the floor with your forehead.  Hold for 10 seconds, breathing throughout.  Release and repeat.
Shoulder Blades stretch:  Stretch the shoulder blades by standing with arms stretched out, parallel to the ground.  Keep the palms facing backward with thumbs toward the ground.  Move your arms back as it squeezing a ball behind your back.  Continue to breath normally, hold for 10 seconds, and then release and repeat.
Side Stretch:  Cub Scouts stand with legs shoulder-width apart, right hand on the right hip and left hand overhead.  Lean toward the right as if trying to touch your right shoulder with the left hand.  Exhale while leaning over, hold the stretch for 10 seconds, and return to starting position.  Then repeat the exercise, switching sides.
Straddler Stretch:  Sit with both legs apart and extended at both sides.  Both arms should be extended in front with palms on the floor.  Keeping your back straight, lean forward at the hips and bring your hands forward until your chest is as close to the floor as possible without pain.  Exhale and hold the position for 10 seconds.  Then return to the starting position and inhale.
Waist Bend:  Bend at the waist, touch the floor, and hold this position to stretch out your leg muscles.  Be sure the knees are bent a little- no straight-locked knees.
Trunk Bend:  Bend from the waist to the left.  Then stand upright.  Repeat to the right, and then upright again.
Lunge:  Step forward with your right foot.  Holding your back straight, slowly bend your right knee.  Then repeat with the left foot.
 

Starfish Story Gathering Activity

This is a fitting story for the very first post on the new Elkhorn Cubs Blog.  It's all about making a difference, even if it's just to one person.  We hope this blog will make a difference in the lives of you and your cubs!

Here's the Starfish Story...

Make a Difference to One

A man was walking along a beach with a friend. There had been a storm the night before and thousands of starfish were stranded on the beach, unable to get back to the water.

The man began picking up starfish and throwing them back into the ocean.

His friend said, “What are you doing? There are thousands of starfish on the beach. You can’t possibly get them all back in the water. Why waste your time? You won’t make a difference.”

The man looked at his friend, picked up a starfish, and threw it back into the ocean. All he said was, “I made a difference to that one.”

In our lives, we encounter many other people and have many chances to impact their lives. Don’t wait for opportunities to make a huge impact on the world. Do what you can in your own community, and you might make an difference on someone who really needs it.

Here's the idea...

Pass out copies of this story to your cubs and their families as they arrive a den/pack meeting.  Direct them to the poster of the "beach/ocean", where they will find cut out paper starfish.  Have each person write down a GOOD TURN on a starfish, then place it in the ocean.  They commit to performing that task in the next week.