Cub Scouts is more than having a group of boys at your den meeting to say the Pledge of Allegiance, or playing games with their friends. Getting Cub Scout Leader Training will allow you to understand, then meet the aims of the Boy Scouts of America's program through Cub Scouting.

The Boy Scouts of America's program has three overall aims:

To build character:
To build self-reliance, self-discipline, self-confidence and self-respect

To foster citizenship:
To foster love of community, country and world, along with a commitment of service to others and an understanding of democratic principles.

To develop fitness:
To develop physical, mental, emotional, and moral fitness that will stay with a Scout for the rest of his life.

These aims are met through the purposes of the Cub Scouting which are:

• Influence the development of character and encourage spiritual growth.
• Develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship.
• Encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body.
• Improve understanding within the family.
• .Strengthen the ability to get along with other boys and respect other people.
• Foster a sense of personal achievement by developing new interests and skills.
• Show how to be helpful and do one's best.
• Provide fun and exciting new things to do.
• Prepare them to be Boy Scouts.

These are the purposes of Cub Scouting. Activities planned by leaders and enjoyed by boys relate to one or more of these purposes. These purposes help us achieve the overall aims of the Boy Scouts of America.

More information on "What is Cub Scouting?" can be found in Chapter 1 of the Cub Scout Leader Book available from your Scout Shop.

Knowing the purposes of Cub Scouting and reading the CS Leader Book will not make you a trained CS Leader.

Cub Scout Leader Basic Training is a training course for Cubmasters, Cub Scout den leaders, Webelos den leaders, Tiger Cub coaches, den leader coaches, their assistants, pack committee members, and all other Cub Scout leaders.

Trained Cub Scout leaders provide a quality, fun-filled program for boys. When leaders understand the whys and hows of Cub Scouting, they are more effective in their roles. Trained leaders know how to use the available resources to provide an exciting and worthwhile program for the boys. Trained leaders also have confidence in carrying out their roles and responsibilities. As a result, Cub Scouts receive a program designed to achieve Scouting's aims of citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness.

Remember your Cub Scouts deserve Trained Leaders. Contact your local council office to find out when training dates are for adult leaders in Cub Scouts.

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We (I) always have the TV going at home, I just need the noise. Recently a very old Full House was on, and one of the characters was a substitute teacher in an elementary classroom. To get the students attention he said he would show them how to suck an egg in a bottle. I thought, "I HAVE DONE THIS!" Or at least I think I have done this twice, once for my Webelos working on the Scientist Activity Badge, and maybe once during a presentation of "What Is Cub Scouting" as a trainer. And it is so cool, no matter how you use it. You will find all the details for sucking an egg into a bottle under this month's Webelos Section. For those of you that train and do "What is Cub Scouting?, you could have a jar sitting on the table with the egg on top next to you during your short presentation. At the end remind trainees, that Cub Scouting is fun, then light your piece of paper, drop it in the jar and let everyone watch as the egg gets sucked into the jar. Most trainees will like seeing something like this, and it is a special way to end your presentation.

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Lydia P. suggested this month that there be a Words of Wisdom Column, which is a great idea along with the suggestions of reminding leaders to get trained.

Sometimes "Words of Wisdom" will help a leader to realize the importance of being trained. In this section you found the aims and now some quotes provided by Britt B, an online scouting friend that are about training and leadership.

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The moment you stop learning, you stop leading. Rick Warren

A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go but ought to be. Rosalynn Carter

Sermons we see, you might use parts of this without taking to much away from the true message.

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's are always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put into action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done; I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live. Edgar Albert Guest 1881-1959

True leaders are not those who strive to be first but those who are first to strive and who give their all for the success of the team. True leaders are first to see the need, envision the plan, and empower the team for action. By the strength of the leader's commitment, the power of the team is unleashed.

Leadership is action, not position. Donald H. McGannon

Of those whom much is given, much is required. John F. Kennedy

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what you want to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.
George Patton

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Chinese Proverb

A leader is anyone who has two characteristics; first, he is going someplace; second, he is able to persuade other people to go with him. W.H. Cowley

Leadership in the 90's is the productive integration of diversity.
David Bruno

If we take people as we find them, we make them worse, but if we treat them as though they are what they should be, we help them to become what they are capable of becoming.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it.
Andrew Carnegie

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.
Kenneth Blanchard

If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you.
Paul "Bear" Bryant

1. Ten Steps for Effective Leadership:
1. Learn from your mistakes.
2. Exercise self-control.
3. Always be considerate.
4. Do the best you can.
5. Encourage others often.
6. Respect the rights of others.
7. Shoulder your responsibility.
8. Have a good attitude.
9. Infect others with enthusiasm.
10. Practice perseverance.

No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it. Andrew Carnegie

You manage things; you lead people. Grace Murray Hopper

Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them. John Maxwell

Strong people don't need strong leaders. Ella Baker