Cub Scouts

"f86sabre" (f86sabre) 08/26/2013 at 20:29 • Filed to: Dadlopnik

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Well, I volunteered/was cajoled/got picked to be the leader for my 6 year old's Cub Scout den. I did Cub Scouts when I was a kid, but never went past that. Are there any other Oppo parents on here who were den leaders? Any tips for a newbie aside from spiking the kid's juice with downers to keep them from destroying the place?

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > f86sabre 08/26/2013 at 20:40

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Whiskey, lots of it and only wear one sock. Your choice of extremity.

dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter > f86sabre 08/26/2013 at 20:45

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Nope. Spike the juice. That's about it. That's what I did when I was den leader. Totally turned the den around. #notreallydon'tdothis

Dusty Ventures > f86sabre 08/26/2013 at 20:46

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Not a parent but I am part of a Scouting family. My father runs cub scouts and boy scouts, my brother runs boy scouts, and I run venture crew (mostly because I have no idea what to do with the younger kids, aside from wrap them in bubble wrap and foam, go off in a corner, and take a nap until their parents come).

f86sabre > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 08/26/2013 at 20:46

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Yeah, I have the whiskey covered. Can I wear one black and one white sock...with sandles?

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > f86sabre 08/26/2013 at 20:55

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My kid's a scout. Just follow the book and don't give out any snacks until you are done with the lesson. If it is a large pack, make the parents rotate the snacks. Focus on the pine wood derby...because wooden racecar. Plan occasional outings to keep the kids from getting too bored to put up with stuff.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > f86sabre 08/26/2013 at 21:19

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Sure knock yourself out.

Dealkiller the Very Tired > f86sabre 08/26/2013 at 22:29

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1. Don't yell at the kids, at least not much.

2. Keep it interesting. Reading out of the scout book is like school. They've been to school already, don't drag it on for another 1 - 2 hours.

3. Keep meetings short & sweet (see above). Opening with scout law & oath, maybe pledge of allegiance. Reminders of what's coming up. Lessons & demonstration time. Have the kids play active parts, it keeps them from getting bored. Have an activity/game planned for the end of meeting. Something simple. We used to play dodge ball at the end of my scout meetings, but we had a full gym to do it in. You may not be as lucky, but something they can look forward to at the end of the meeting may help with attendance.

4. Even the small stuff is interesting. Can you sharpen a knife? Show the kids the correct way. Tie knots? (several cool websites, http://www.animatedknots.com/ ), show them how. Start a fire with a battery & steel wool? You'll be as a God among them.

5. Keep the parents involved. Invite them to teach a skill to earn a pin/belt loop/badge. It can be anything. Make sure they know what their doing.

6. Keep it fun, stick to the scout theme, but don't be preachy about it.

7. Don't expect 6 & 7 year old boys to know jack shit about anything. They're just barely toilet trained. If they can find the four points on a compass, that's a good day. I had a pack leader trying to teach cubbies orienteering by compass. The adults were confused, the kids were completely lost.

My 10 year old cub scout is switching packs because his current den leader is a bit of hard case, and the pack leader is MR. CUB SCOUT, who takes everything way too seriously. He upbraided me because I wasn't in full uniform at a scout function. I'm not even a leader, but he expected Class A's for all adults. Screw that, my best is a pair of jeans and a scout shirt. This is scouts, not the military. Have fun, plan well and remain calm.

From a 44 year old Eagle Scout

P.S. Jameson. I like it on the rocks. It helps.

Chteelers > Dealkiller the Very Tired 08/27/2013 at 08:30

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Wow. GREAT advice on all points. Only thing I would add is to just accept that things will get broken, kids will get hurt, parents will get upset. Try as best you can to prepare for damage ahead of time. As a 31 y/o Eagle Scout myself, probably the best lesson I learned from scouting was their motto: "Be prepared." You can never do enough preparation, and all preparation goes miles once a situation arises.

f86sabre > Dealkiller the Very Tired 08/27/2013 at 08:52

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Fantastic notes. Thanks!