PACK/DEN ACTIVITIES

Crime Prevention Award

Requirements for Cub Scouts
National Capital Area Council

Phase I

Complete activities from the program book in which your son is working, as indicated below, and discuss how they relate to crime prevention in your family.

First Grade:
Tiger Cubs, BSA Family Activity Book

·         "Know Your Family" - Hold a family meeting and discuss ideas from the "Youth" section in the Crime Prevention Award Guidelines for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.

·         "Know Your Community" - Discuss how your family can better understand community resources related to crime prevention.

Second Grade:
Wolf Cub Scout Book

·         "Know Your Home and Community", pages 60-63

·         "Making Choices", pages 96-101

Third Grade:
The Bear Cub Scout Book

·         "Law Enforcement is a Big Job", pages 58-63

·         "Be a Leader", pages 154-157

Relate three of the requirements to crime prevention.

Fourth - Fifth Grade:
Webelos Scout Book

·         "Citizen", pages 156-177

·         "Family Member", pages 208-226

Discuss items about drugs and crime, gangs and crime, graffiti and crime, peers and crime.

Phase II

Participate with your family, den, pack, or friends in a crime prevention project, either an original project or a project of a neighborhood- or community-based organization. (Before beginning the project, have the unit leader approve your choice.)

NOTE: This award can be earned at each grade level.

Activity Ideas
National Capital Area Council

§         Plan to visit your local police department or have an officer or McGruff attend your den or pack meeting. 

§         Pass out home safety checklists for Cub Scouts to check how safe their home is. 

§         Prepare a skit or demonstration for the pack meeting about what your den has learned. 

§         Dens or packs can plan a service project for the BSA Crime Prevention Award. 

§         Ethics in Action modules, “Saying No” and “Shoplifting is Just Plain Wrong” provide meaningful activities for Cub Scouts. 

§         This would also be a good month for your pack to view the Youth Protection Video for Cub Scouts, “It Happened to Me.”

Boy Scouts' Crime Prevention Program Soars
National Capital Area Council

In October 1996, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), with support from the National Crime Prevention Council, launched a Crime Prevention Program and Merit Badge. The new program serves as the cornerstone of a comprehensive initiative emphasizing parent-child communication in teaching self-protection skills; collaboration with national, state, and local enforcement organizations; and grassroots activities such as parent nights organized by local packs, troops, and posts. To earn the crime prevention badge, young people in Scouting programs -- Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorers, and Learning for Life -- learn about crime prevention and then plan and execute a crime prevention project in their home and community, often guided by a law enforcement officer.

BSA reports that in less than one year, approximately half the local councils held crime prevention kick-off events that resulted in 292,950 youths participating in community and family crime prevention projects. The BSA projects that 1997 will be the year that nearly every council in the United States will kick off a crime prevention program. Roughly 83 percent of the councils received no special funding for their crime prevention initiatives; those groups that did have extra funding typically received it from foundations and law enforcement agencies.

For information, contact Jim Kaminski, Boy Scouts of America, PO Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079.   972-580-2241.

WHO DUNNIT?!
York Adams Area Council

The Crime:  Someone planted a worm in Mrs. Fiddlefaddle's prize Red Delicious apple!

The Suspects:  Mrs. Fiddlefaddle has been teaching at Stewartstown Elementary School since 1921, the year the school was opened.  We don't understand who would do such a heinous crime because everyone loves her.  There are some possible suspects, though, as we look back over her career.  They include:

Mrs. A

Lead In:

·         Mrs. A overheard saying that she knows Mrs. Fiddlefaddle doesn't like her because she doesn't like anyone who works for the Borough.

Clues: 

·         Because of Mrs. Fiddlefaddle's long and prestigious career at Stewartstown Elementary, she has received many honors and commendations.  Among these is a special "Good Citizen" award from Stewartstown Borough.

·         Another clue can be a "Thank You" card from Mrs. Fiddlefaddle to Mrs. A for when Den 1 had done a special service project to spruce up the little gardens outside Mrs. Fiddlefaddle's classroom.

·         A pay stub from Mrs. A showing that she works for Stewartstown Borough.

Mrs. B

Lead In:

·         A rumor that Mrs. B once broke Mrs. Fiddlefaddle's favorite ruler when she gave the B children B's in Geography class. 

Clues:

·         First, of course, we need report cards from when Mike, Lisa, and John were in Mrs. Fiddlefaddle's Geography class.  These would show different teachers giving various grades to each of them, but, in all cases, they got As in Mrs. Fiddlefaddle's classes. 

·         Also, there can be a news article about the amazing talents of Mrs. Fiddlefaddle, who has a tremendous ability of correctly guessing lengths without using a measuring device.  At the end of the article, Mrs. Fiddlefaddle is quoted to say that she doesn't know where the skill came from, but because of it she hasn’t owned a measuring device since she was a student.

·         Finally, we can have a Staples® sales receipt from Stewartstown Elementary showing that the school had made a special purchase of unbreakable plastic rulers for its teachers.

Mr. C

Lead In:

Someone said Mrs. Fiddlefaddle publicly corrected him at Graceton's for "giving away" too many awards at the Pack Meetings in 1993. 

Clues: 

·         Pack Record showing a tremendous number of awards given out to the Cub Scouts in 1993. 

·         A note from Mrs. Fiddlefaddle to Mr Sauers saying that she is truly amazed at the number of Cub Scouts in her classes that earn so many awards.  It would indicate that, if she were Cubmaster, she didn't think that that many boys would earn so many awards.

·         An undated letter from Mr. C to Mrs. Fiddlefaddle saying that he hopes nobody thinks that Pack 27 gives out awards to Cub Scouts who haven't worked hard and done their best to earn them.

Mr. D

Lead In:

·                                 He was seen "lurking" in the school hallway the evening before the wormy apple was found on her desk.

Clues: 

·         First, is the small fingerprints that were found on the apple (from one of our "little people") and a glass with Mr. D's fingerprints on it.  (There should be a significant difference!) 

·         Second is a memo from Mr. Sauers to the School Board explaining that he had called in one of the local Civil Engineers from the community to see if there was any structural damage from a recent earthquake felt in south-central PA. 

·         Finally, there can be a pay stub from where Mr. D works showing that it is a Civil Engineering firm in Maryland.]

Mr. E

Lead In:

·         Someone heard that he didn't get a part in the School Musical when he was in Mrs. Fiddlefaddle's third-grade class. 

Clues: 

·                     Mr. E's 3^rd, and 4^th-grade report cards showing the good (or not-so-good?) grades he received.  In small print somewhere on the report cards would be the name of the school he attended—Susquehannok Elementary School. 

·                     Also, there can be a newspaper article about his special talent for playing the comb-kazoo in local orchestras and how he had years of practice, including his years as "first kazoo" in his elementary school performances. 

·                     Finally, there can be a Musical Program from a recent musical for Mrs. Fiddlefaddle's class that shows a special guest performance by one, Mr. E.

Mrs. F

Lead In: 

·                                 Reported quote:  "The school doesn't do enough!   There just are not enough school activities because Mrs. Fiddlefaddle keeps voting down ideas from the PTA."

Clues: 

·         First would be copies of Mrs. F's calendar for several school months showing at least four days per week busy with the PTA and school. 

·         Next would be Mrs. Fiddlefaddle's calendar showing much the same situation. 

·         Finally, there would be a letter from Mrs. Fiddlefaddle to Mrs. F thanking her for all the support she shows to her class every time Mrs. Fiddlefaddle suggests another special activity or class trip.]

It shouldn't take a lot of time for the children to review each crime scene and take notes that lead them to a final conclusion.  Also, recognizing that there are non-readers and slow readers in the group, the adults need to be ready to read the significant clues to their sleuths at the scenes.  As to where these scenes are staged, I think we can try to set them up outside (weather permitting) and in a "circle" fashion, but separated enough that the kids aren't wandering from one to another outside their groups.  In each station's clues will be a lead-in that sends the sleuths to the next station (after they've determined the possible guilt or innocence of the station's suspect).  We will need to have clipboards with note sheets on them so that the groups can decide, through discussion, whether or not each suspect might be guilty and why/why not. 

[Committee approved this…]  Throughout town are collection cans/jars for the Stewartstown Police's Community Service Program.  I am thinking that at the end of the program, the guilty suspect should be "carted away" by the new police officer and then we need to raise his bail which would go to the Service Program.  As we get things going again with the Pack Meeting, there will have to be a break in the program to "nab" the suspect.  The police officer at the meeting can handcuff and take him to jail.  To raise bail, we'll pass a basket around for people to donate as they see fit.  [This shouldn't be too much as we already have so many different service organizations we already support, but it would be a nice way to meet the new police officer and to give back to the service that has given a lot to the pack.]  When the baskets are collected, we'll ask the officer if enough bail money was raised (yes) and then we'll release the suspect.  The bail money will go to the CSP.

And, finally, so that no one goes around thinking that there's a villainous criminal among us, we need to finish off the program with an update to the investigation, such as… 

·         A review of Mr. C’s Cub Scout Leadership record shows that he started his Cubmaster duties after 1993—in 1993 he was an Assistant Den Leader.  Therefore, he couldn't have been embarrassed by such a statement because the statement wasn't made.

·         Second, would be page 2 of the letter from Mr. Hicks to Mrs Fiddlefaddle thanking her for noting that our Cub Scouts always seemed so prepared for the awards they are given. 

And finally, it turns out that the worm probably got into the apple itself because the class was doing worm studies earlier on the same day as the worm was discovered. 

Police Badge Slide
Debbie Kalpowsky
York Adams Area Council

 Materials:

•          Plastic Police Badge

•               ¾ inch PVC ring

Equipment:

•               Hot glue/gun

Directions:

1.  Mount the PVC ring to the back of the badge with hot glue

Magnifying Glass With Secret Case
York Adams Area Council

Materials:

•          3” PVC Drain Pipe

•          1/8” Thick Plexiglas

•          ¾” PVC Pipe

•          ¾” PVC Pipe Cap (one per glass)

•          Golf pencil

•          Notepaper

Directions:  Cut 3-inch PVC drain pipe into 1-inch lengths (one per glass).  Using a hole saw without the center bit in the mandrel or a circle cutter, cut out 2-¾” circles of Plexiglas (one per glass).  Cut ¾” PVC into 4-inch lengths (one per glass).  Using hot glue or epoxy glue, carefully glue the Plexiglas piece into the center of the 3-inch drain pipe section.  Next, glue one end of the ¾-inch “handle” to the ring.  DO NOT glue the ¾-inch cap to the bottom of the handle, but you might want to put a little tape around the base of the handle so that the cap fits snugly on the end of the handle.  Finally, give the boys their golf pencils and notepad sheets so they can roll up the sheets and stick pencils and sheets into the handle and slide the cap into place.

Tips For The Thanksgiving Holiday
http://www.mcgruff.org/tphelping.htm
York Adams Area Council

Setup: This text comes directly from the McGruff website under the “Tips” links.  Have the boys share in reading off the introduction and ideas.

We all know that Thanksgiving is a time to get together with family and friends, but did you also know that it can be a time to celebrate your community as well? You and your friends can give thanks to your neighborhood by taking some few simple steps each day:

•          Ask your teacher if you could help by erasing the blackboard, or if he or she needs help carrying supplies.

•          Bake some goodies for the elderly people in your community.

•          Offer to rake the lawns of those in your neighborhood who are not able to.

•          Ask your parents if they need help around the house. For example, offer to fold the laundry while you watch the television, that way you both win!

•          Collect donations for a local shelter or Red Cross office.

These are just a few ideas that you can do to help out around your community. By helping out, you are saying thanks to all those who make your neighborhood great!

Follow the Clues
York Adams Area Council

This activity will take a little time to put together and has to be based on where you will meet when you run the activity.  List out a bunch of things that are in the meeting place and a clue as to what each is.  Depending on the boys’ level, you can make the clues appropriately hard/easy.  For example:

Den Flag – Blue cloth with Number 4 on it that says what our Cub Scout group is.

American Flag – A flag that stands for the nation.

Advancement Poster – Where we track how well you are doing learning new things and completing activities.

Craft Table – Where we gather to make special items with glue and paper.

Supplies Box – Where the Den Leader stores materials for the Den Meetings

Stairs – The up & down machine you used to get to the basement.

Good Conduct Candle – What should stay shining bright throughout the meeting.

Main Door – The entry way to the meeting.

Etc.

Write out the clues on separate index cards (or inside folded sheets of paper) and attach each clue to an object to which the clue doesn’t refer.  (In other words, don’t put the den flag clue on the den flag).  As each boy arrives, give him a sheet of paper with a starting point for him to follow the clues.  Explain that at his starting point he will find a clue to another object in the room and that he’s to go to that object, write down what it is, and then follow the new clue at that object to get to the next one until he has followed all of the clues that lead back to his starting point.

After the opening ceremony (you do use opening ceremonies, right?!), have the boys take turns reading off the objects to which the clues led them until all of the objects have been identified.

The Case of the Locked Room
York Adams Area Council

Hand out this paragraph to each of the boys to have each one try to solve the mystery.

Just as John Archer reached his apartment door, he heard the tinkle of breaking glass. “What has happened,” he asked himself, as he hurried to unlock the door. His cat, Tom, brushed him in welcome, but John Archer had no time for welcomes. There on the floor, lay Mollie and Ben! “Thank goodness, they are still breathing,” said John. “Their lives can be saved. Poor Mollie! Poor Ben! Who could have done this dastardly deed?” All the windows were locked. The only other way to get in was through the door. The only key to the door was in John’s pocket. Nevertheless, there they lay on the living room floor amid broken glass and a pool of water. Yet John knew at once who the criminal was. Can you figure out what happened and how?

Answer: Tom, John Archer’s cat, did the deed! The victims were the goldfish. The sound of breaking glass was that of Tom breaking the fishbowl. The pool of water on the living room floor was the water from the fishbowl.

Police Demonstations
York Adams Area Council

Invite your local police officers to do a short presentation on Crime Prevention.  Make sure to share with the police the BSA Crime Prevention Program literature.

Run the Cub Scout Crime Prevention Program
York Adams Area Council

If you cannot get the local law enforcement agency to make your Pack Meeting, you can still do activities from the Cub Scout Crime Prevention Program.  In addition to the published literature from BSA, check out the website <http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/crime-prevention.html> for much more information.

Who Done It? Round Robin
York Adams Area Council

This was an activity we did one year that the kids loved.  We set up a “Who Done It” mystery scenario and then had different “tables” the kids visited to gather clues to solve the mystery.  For our event, we also arranged for our local police officer to come in at the end of the activity to ask the Pack for help in solving the crime.  Of course, the event was set up so that all clues pointed to the Cubmaster.  The officer hand-cuffed him (it was me!) and then I took up a collection to make bail.  The collection went to the Police Officers’ Community Service Fund that supports the community service work that isn’t covered by the regular budget. 

Child ID Night
York Adams Area Council

How about working on a program for one evening that gets all of the children in the Pack to complete ID papers (like fingerprints and pictures).  There are a number of websites that have ID Kits for sale.  You might start with <http://www.crimedog.com/>, which has the Safe Kids Identification Kits at $2.50 per child (or less for quantity purchases).  If this is beyond the Pack’s budget, see your local police or a community organization such as a local Lions Club to seek sponsors.

Have McGruff Visit
York Adams Area Council

How can I have McGruff appear at my event (where can I get a McGruff suit)?

McGruff can only be played by law enforcement officers; law enforcement organizations around the country have purchased the costume for outreach programs. To have McGruff appear at your event:

Call the crime prevention or community relations officer at your local law enforcement agency. Ask if that agency has the McGruff costume or knows of another nearby agency that does. Explain your event's purpose with as many details as possible, including the date, time, and location. It's always helpful to meet with the officer in person and provide fact sheets on the event.

If a costume is locally available, give plenty of advance notice. McGruff is in great demand, and his appearances must fit into staff schedules.

If a McGruff costume isn't available in your community, consider asking local businesses to buy one and donate it to the law enforcement agency. It's a unique opportunity for businesses to demonstrate support for crime prevention and win positive publicity and good will.