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Pack Meetings with Pizzazz!

Pack Meetings with Pizzazz!. Presented by Bill Bates Cubmaster, Pack 374 – Santa Clara County Council. Who am I ? (Okay, a bit of a brag page). Involved in BSA for almost 25 years (Eagle Scout) 4 th Year as Cubmaster of Pack 374 – Sana Clara County Council Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner

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Pack Meetings with Pizzazz!

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  1. Pack Meetings with Pizzazz! Presented by Bill Bates Cubmaster, Pack 374 – Santa Clara County Council

  2. Who am I? (Okay, a bit of a brag page) • Involved in BSA for almost 25 years (Eagle Scout) • 4th Year as Cubmaster of Pack 374 – Sana Clara County Council • Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner • Have planned 47 Pack meetings (been at 57, as an adult more as a scout) • Dad of a Webelos II and Bear Scout

  3. What this presentation is not… • Short • The “right way” to run pack meetings • A cure for behavior problems • The presentation of your dreams! (Well, I guess maybe…)

  4. What this presentation is… • Ideas for jazzing up pack meetings • Examples of ideas that worked for my pack • A pointer to good online resources • Hopefully, a time where we can share ideas

  5. Agenda • Intro • What is a Pack Meeting? • The Pack Meeting Plan (Agenda) • Den Duties (Assignments) • Using Leaders & Adults • Gathering • Prayer • The Welcome!!! • Songs • Skits • Run-ons • Spotlight Dens • Rank Advancement • Awards • Monthly Activity • Leader Recognition • Announcements

  6. What is a Pack Meeting?(Oh my, soooo many words….) • The monthly pack meeting brings together boys from every den, their leaders, and their families, to participate in a large-scale event that serves as a showcase for everything the boys have learned and done in their individual den meetings. • The pack meeting gives the boys a larger experience beyond their own den, and helps them to connect their individual activities to the entire Cub Scouting program.

  7. What is a Pack Meeting really? • A monthly show for your pack families!!! • There should be: • Songs • Skits • Jokes • Awards • Rank advancement • Short announcements (use a newsletter) • FUN!!!!! • Mix it up! Some families have been there for years!

  8. Coming Up With the Plan! (Remember: Get every den involved!)

  9. You NEED an agenda!!! • Consistency is good; but change is also okay (find a balance) • Keep it simple • Keep it as short as possible (90 min in my world 70 boys and 9 dens – soon to be 10) • Be flexible! • Have a copy on hand • Get every den involved • Get parents and leaders involved • Cubmaster is the Ringmaster not the star of the show!

  10. Den Duties (Assignments) • This is what I use: • Gathering & Setup • Opening • Prayer • Song • Skit • Spotlight Den • Den Choice (Song, Skit, Cheer) • Jokes or Run-ons • Closing & Cleanup

  11. Monthly Den Duties • Publish the duties ahead of time • Remind leaders at your leader meeting • Come up with an easy rotation • Send email reminders! • Be ready to fill/change as needed • I give my dens 5 minutes each (they can use less) • Get every den involved!! • Public speaking is an important life skill! • Keep what works, change what doesn’t!

  12. Gathering & Setup Keep the kids occupied!

  13. Gathering & Setup Setup (same for cleanup) • Give the boys a job • Train parents to help Gathering • Assign to a leader, parent or den • Keep it simple • Plan for siblings • Easy clean-up

  14. Opening & Closing Keep the boys involved!

  15. Opening & Closing • Rotate! • A Flag ceremony is preferred (but not required) • Every rank has a flag ceremony requirement or elective • Let dens be creative! • Don’t let them go on too long (5 min is good) • Folks are ready to go home by the closing! • Use the time before “Pack Dismissed” for final reminders (cleanup or after meeting activities)

  16. The Prayer • A Scout is Reverent! • Let the boys do it! • Not required, but I think it is a good idea to start each meeting with a prayer • Opportunity to use prayers from different faiths and belief systems (for example, lots of great Native American Prayers) • Know your audience!

  17. The Welcome! Do NOT miss this important part of the meeting!

  18. The Welcome • Welcome scouts, parents, leaders and other special guests • Welcome new or potential scouts (gift?) • Set expectations: • Behavior • Stage Area • Scout Sign for family, siblings and guests • Applause of the Night (This can make the meeting!) • Theme of the Month (or similar) • Remind pack of any little touches (“Stand up…”)

  19. Songs Cub Scouts and families NEED to sing!

  20. Songs • Try having a Cubmaster song as well as a den song • You don’t need to be good, jut loud and full of energy! • Use leaders and other adults! • Try to mix it up, but using the same songs over time also works well

  21. Kid’s Music vs. Children’s Music • Children’s Music: Perfect, happy, sometimes fun for Tigers and lower • Kid’s Music: Edgy, sometimes borderline inappropriate (in their minds), fun for all

  22. Song Tips for Cubmaster • Give the audience something to do • Hand motions, dancing, their own part, and so on • DO NOT PASS OUT SONG SHEETS! • Change songs to fit theme: • Hole in the ground (Coffin in the ground) • Tarzan of the Apes – Monster Style! • If the Cubmaster does not like to sing, find someone who does!

  23. Songs for Dens to Perform • Most important to get the scouts involved • Keep it simple and easy to learn • Song sheets for the den are okay (sometimes)

  24. Some of my Favorite Skits • Cheese Moose (think Lion/Bear Hunt) • Frosty Jamaican Style • Billy the Cub Scout • Beaver Song/Cheer • The Birdie Song • I Met a Bear • Flea Fly (and all of the variations)

  25. Skits Everyone gets a part!

  26. Skits • A skit by leaders or other adults can be lots of fun! • Remember skits can be edgy and “inappropriate” just like songs • Keep them short and sweet • Get every scout in the den involved • Do you have a microphone? • Know your audience • Don’t Offend (that changes over time) • Repetition sometimes works very well!

  27. Some of my Favorite Skits • Invisible bench • Scout Leader Emergency Broadcast System • Baloney • Ugliest Man in the World (or Bravest Scout) • Hot Lunch • …

  28. Jokes & Run-Ons Don’t miss out on the fun and laughs!

  29. Assign Jokes and/or Run-Ons to Dens • Each scout in the den gets to tell a joke • Knock-Knock jokes are classic • Groaners are preferred! • Easy to fit into a pack meeting theme • Keep them short (no long stories)

  30. A Run-On? • A mini-skit that lasts a minute or so (did anyone watch Laugh-In?) • Usually involves two people • Sometimes they build on each other • Don’t worry about scheduling them in the program, just let them happen • Run-ons by adults and leaders are great! • Memorization is good, but not necessary

  31. Spotlight Den This has made a difference in our pack!

  32. What is a Spotlight Den? • A den who’s job is to introduce themselves, their grade level, rank level and leaders to the pack • A den may have something to show • A den may talk about some interesting things they did that month • A den may find an interesting way to introduce themselves • Could answer a question: • “What is in your pocket?” • “What do you like best about summer?” • “What is your favorite…?”

  33. How has the Spotlight Den Helped? • Leaders are more easily recognized by the pack families • Pack families know the age groups and dens better • Scouts don’t always have to perform (a break from songs and skits) • Gives the den leader a break (easier to prepare) • Gets every scout in the den to talk in front of the pack • Dens can show off what they have done

  34. Rank Advancement Are you having fun with this?

  35. Overly complex or too Simple? • Rank advancement should be fun, interesting and different each month • Don’t hand out rank with other awards (make it special) • Sometimes same can be good, but your audience needs you to mix it up • It does not need to be over the top or complex (too hard to keep up with that) • Get other adults and leaders involved • Let folks take pictures!

  36. Advancement Ideas • Use a theme • Let parents/adult partner present badge • Plan ahead (especially if you need supplies) • Some ceremonies that worked for me: • Japanese Tea Ceremony • Pumpkin Carving • Holiday Poem • Spider • Relay Race • Tiger Hunt • Flag Retirement (no fire) • Dinosaur Hunting • Lots of candle ceremonies

  37. Awards Don’t let them bring your meeting to a crawl!

  38. Presenting Awards • Make it interesting and fun (as much as possible) • Small packs have an advantage • Try not be a “baggie pack” • Individual recognition is needed (even if it is in a smaller group) • Is it hard to keep everyone interested? Quiet? • Large packs can spend 30-40 minutes handing out awards (not counting rank advancement)

  39. Award Board • My pack is trying this out (I have 70 boys) • All awards are on a giant board (will make it more fancy if it works out) • I talk about the awards for 5-10 minutes, highlighting special achievements • I explain what some awards entail • Leaders gather dens at the end of the meeting (before the closing) and hand out individual awards • Major awards are still given individually (rank, religious knots and such)

  40. Award Board Feedback • Meeting runs better • More time for “the show” aspect and dens to become involved in it • Scouts still get individual recognition • Pack families understand and appreciate the awards better • Pack pays more attention to the awards • It has all been positive (even from the skeptics)

  41. Pack Monthly Activity Traditions or keep it fresh?

  42. Pack Monthly Activity • Do you have one? • It can make the meeting feel more special • Not needed every month • Traditions can be good (but not EVERYTHING needs to be a tradition) • Keep it fresh

  43. Pack Meeting Activity Ideas • Cookie Decorating • Sundaes • Uniform Inspection • Games • Scout Skill Stations • Graduation/Bridging Ceremonies • Crafts

  44. Leader Recognition Your leaders are scouts too!

  45. Leader Recognition • Leader achievements need to be recognized in front of the pack • Can be very simple • Can make it fun! • Make sure leaders wear a uniform!!!

  46. Announcements Isn’t there a song…

  47. Announcements • These need to happen, but KEEP THEM SHORT! • Use a newsletter (printed or emailed) • An online calendar does wonders! • The Announcement Song can be cute, but don’t let it get out of hand

  48. Great Resources! Everyone needs help and ideas!

  49. Great online Resources • Pack Meeting Info from BSA: • http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Activities/pack.aspx • Simple Pack Meeting Planning Document: • http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34-37.pdf • My University of Scouting Website: • http://batescentral.com/cubmaster/ • My website for Pack 374 Leaders: • http://leaders.cubpack374.org/

  50. Major Helps • Baloo’s Bugle (my secret sauce) • http://www.usscouts.org/bbugle.asp • Cubmaster Resources from the BSA • http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Leaders/Cubmaster%20Resources.aspx • Den and Pack Meeting Resource Guides • http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Leaders/DenLeaderResources/DenandPackMeetingResourceGuide.aspx • MacScouter • http://www.macscouter.com/ • The Virtual Cub Scout Leader’s Handbook • http://webspace.webring.com/people/wu/um_10831/home.html

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