Scout
Law: Clean
Everything
we do impacts the world around us. When a Scout is clean, he is
choosing to make sure that the legacy he leaves is a positive one.
He makes moral choices and through an active lifestyle he keeps his
body healthy. He also is conscious of the impact that he can have on
nature and the responsibility he has to keep the world clean for
those who come behind him.
Theme:
Destination Parks
We
are blessed with an abundance of natural parks. Walking, hiking, and
exploring nature helps a Scout to keep his body and mind fit and
clean. Any green area around your home can provide the opportunity to
put the outing in Scouting.
Gathering
Activity: Nature Trail
Make
a “nature trail” though the den meeting area (inside or outside)
by placing nature items around, such as plaster animal tracks,
pictures of birds, flowers and insects, beaver-gnawed branches, etc.
Number each specimen. Each person is given a pencil and paper and
moves along the “trail” writing the identification number for
each specimen on the paper. Most correct answers wins.
Opening
Ceremony: Four Directions
Materials:
4 Cubs, each with a poster with
a large letter for his direction on it. On the back, the following
is written for each boy to read.
CM: Finding our way to our
destination is aided by the use of a compass, which shows the four
directions- north, south, east, and west.
#1 (“E”): I represent the East.
From me comes the sun each day, giving light to all living things to
help them be strong and healthy.
#2 (“S”): I represent the South.
From me comes heat and rain, so all living things have warmth and
water to drink.
#3 (“N”): I represent the North.
From me comes cold and snow, so all living things can experience
coolness and the beauty of winter.
#4 (“W”): I represent the West.
To me, the sun comes at the end of each day, giving the world
darkness so all living things can rest.
CM: We gather from all directions,
joined together by the Scout Oath. Will everyone please stand, and
recite the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the Scout Oath.
Song:
Take Me Out to the Forest
Tune:
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Take me out to the forest.
Let me hike in the wild.
Show me a skunk and a few bear tracks.
I won't care if I never come back!
But it's look, look, look at your
compass.
If it rains, then it pours.
And it's ouch, slap, sting and you're
bit
In the great outdoors!
Advancement
Ceremony: Cub Hike
On
a large sheet of butcher paper, draw a Scouting trail. Mark the
trail with a sign for Bobcats, then move down the trail with a sign
for Wolf, Bear, Webelos and Arrow of Light. Add animal tracks for
Bobcat, Wolf, and Bear, W's for Webelos and Arrows for Arrow of
Light. Decorate your trail with sketches of trees, bushes, and
rocks. Add photos of boys from this month's outdoor den activities,
if desired. Attach awards to cutouts of boots or large paper
footprints, and place the cutouts at the appropriate places on the
trail. Call boys up and present awards as you move along the trail.
Award
Ideas
Tin
Foil Dinners: Wrap up awards
like tin foil dinners. Display around a fake log campfire in front
of audience.
Cheers
Clean
Air Applause: Take in as much
air as you can through your nose, hold it, then exhale and say,
“Ahhhh!”
Hiking
Applause: Have group stand and
stomp their feet and swing their arms as if hiking, saying, “Stomp,
stomp, stomp! Keep on going!”
Owl
Cheer: We give a hoot, hoot,
hoot!
Bigfoot
Applause: Hold one foot up off
the floor (like the Big Hand Applause)
Hiking
Map Applause: Have audience get
out a pretend map, unfold it, look up and down several times and say,
“It's that way!” (Everyone points a different direction)
Mosquito
Applause: With one hand slap
yourself on the neck, arms, and legs, while saying, “Ooo, aah,
ahh!”
Audience
Participation: Sounds of the Forest
BOBCAT:
meow SCOUT: On my honor!
WOLF:
howl HUMAN: Great campsite!
BEAR:
growl
Creatures
from all over the land gathered together to talk about the best way
to protect the lands in which they lived. The BEAR said: “We
large creatures watch the forests for fires and warn all creatures
when we see danger. BEARS are good at that, but we can't get the
HUMANS to be careful.” The WOLF and BOBCAT agreed. The BOBCAT
spoke next. “We love to play in the tall grasses, but the HUMANS
are building things where we used to play.” The BEAR and WOLF
looked sadly at the BOBCAT. The WOLF stood tall. “We need to
teach the HUMANS not to drop their garbage and leave it around our
homes.” The BEAR and BOBCAT agreed. The SCOUT stood up. “I am
HUMAN. I am a SCOUT. In our pack we learn how to protect the forest
and the grasslands and all nature. We can help you by following the
Outdoor Code.”
“Hooray!”
said the BEAR, BOBCAT, and WOLF. “SCOUT, you are welcome in our
lands!”
Skit:
Hike Safely
Materials:
safety whistle, neckerchief
#1: Oh! Oh! Where is everybody? We
must be lost! What do we do now?
#2: We should stay in one place. We
can wait by this tree. Someone will find us!
#3:
We should blow our safety whistle! (blows whistle)
#4: Let's use my neckerchief as a
signal! (takes off neckerchief and waves it around)
# 5, 6, 7 (running in): We
heard your whistle and saw your signal! We found you! Let's get
back to camp. (everyone walks off)
Cubmaster's
Minute: Set Your Course
When
you hike, always stay on the trail so you don't get lost. But there
is another trail that Cub Scouts should be sure to stay on; the
character trail. Your character is being formed right now, by what
you do and by what you don't do. Others will try to influence your
actions sometimes in ways that may steer you off course. Set your
own course. Make up your mind that you will always live by the Scout
Oath and Law. Then follow through with it, forever climbing the
character trail.
Closing
Ceremony: Outdoor Code
CM:
As an American, I will do my best to be clean in my outdoor manners.
#1:
I will treat the outdoors as a heritage to be improved for our
greater enjoyment. I will keep my trash out of America's waters,
fields, woods, roadways, and parks.
CM:
Be careful with fire.
#2:
I will prevent wildfire. I will build a small fire in a safe place
and be sure it is out before I leave.
CM:
Be considerate in the outdoors.
#3:
I will treat public and private property with respect. I will
remember that use of the outdoors is a privilege I can lose by abuse.
CM:
Be conservation minded.
#4:
I will learn how to practice good conservation of soil, waters,
forests, minerals, grasslands, and wildlife, and I will urge others
to do the same. I will use sportsmanlike methods in my outdoor
activities.
Game:
Changing Winds
Use
a compass to establish the four main directions in your meeting area.
Have all boys stand facing one player who is the “wind.” The
wind tells the direction he is blowing by saying, “The wind
blows... south.” All players must face south. If a player is
already facing that direction and moves, he is out. The wind may
confuse the game by facing any direction he chooses. Players turning
the wrong direction are out. The winner is the last player still in
the game.
Game:
Outdoor Essentials
Materials:
empty backpack, trail food, flashlight, first aid kit, water,
whistle, (sunscreen, hat, jacket)
The CM and assistant CM play a tossing
game: The CM holds up an object, then tosses it to the ACM. As he
does so, the ACM puts it into the empty backpack, and talks about why
the object is an important part of the 6 essentials for hiking and
camping. Continue through all the items.
Next, have the boys try to remember
the items that went into the backpack and write those down.
Cub
Grub: Campfire Goodies
Materials:
Graham crackers (to build fire on), jelly beans (rocks), pretzel
sticks (logs), candy corn (fire), can of frosting (to hold it all
together)
This is a fun way to teach the boys
fire safety and different ways to build a fire. Have the boys make
their “campfires” and then eat them.
Before
a BSA group may engage in swimming activities of any kind, a minimum of
one adult leader must complete Safe Swim Defense training (online at