ocus: What would a year of Cub Scout themes be if it didn’t include a little trip away from the house? This month the boys go east and south to Egypt—Land of the Pharaohs. If you are in awe at the architectural accomplishments of the ancient Egyptians, can you imagine what it must be like for the boys? Let them build a pyramid or obelisk (in your backyard, not mine).

THANK YOU EVERYONE

For the last few months, everyone has been praying for me and my family because we are seeing some difficult times right now. Every month though I reassured everyone it had nothing to do with our health. Well, okay, I did have gum surgery back in October which was and still to an extent icky to recover from. Nonetheless, I didn’t want everyone to worry about our health. Then BAM I had some test down in early January which looked suspicious. Then there was more testing of course. Then another BAM, we all had our hours cut back at work during this time. I picked up a part time job working with Weight Watchers as a receptionist so that helps ease the hours I got cut back. Then I finally got in to see a surgeon and you guessed it BAM, I had to go in for out patient surgery and wait on pins and needles for my results. Let me tell you, now I am still living with our family problem, I had my hours cut back at work, got another job, had surgery and I start thinking, “My gosh, I have to stop writing the Bugle and instead write a soap opera about my life. Well, my test results came back clean (YIPPEE), and I now realize that I wouldn’t really get any satisfaction writing a soap about our daily turmoil, but I do get immense satisfaction doing Baloo’s Bugle. So, I just keep on keeping on with Baloo’s Bugle and you all.

Thanks also goes to Barb Stephenson and Frank and the others who helped put together last month’s issue. Mike, my sincere love and appreciation goes to you for being a rock for me and always there to help.

Hugs and Kisses to you all.

TIGERS

Seeing as how I missed out on presenting ideas for last month Tigers, this month you will find Electives and some crafts for your Tigers.

Electives
Once a boy has earned his Tiger Cub badge, he can earn Tiger Track beads. For each 10 electives completed, the Tiger Cub will receive one Tiger Track. The Tiger Cub is not expected to complete all of the electives. There are many choices with a wide variety of activities. Many of the electives offer several things that may be done in order to receive credit for completion. Electives may be done more than once and counted each time they are approved. A Tiger Cub may complete electives while working on achievements, but he cannot receive a Tiger Track totem bead until after he has earned his Tiger Cub badge.
1- How do you celebrate?

Celebrating is a way of making an event or occasion special. Families celebrate different kinds of things in different ways. Many families celebrate religious holidays, cultural holidays, national holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and special events. Families can also celebrate things like good news, successful days at work or school, the arrival of a new pet, the first snow, the change of season, moving to a new home, or a visit from someone they have not seen in a long time.

Have each boy in the den think of one time when his family celebrated, and tell the den about it, and how it made him feel. Tiger Cubs can draw or bring a picture or some other items to show. See how many different kinds of celebrations your den can think of!

2- Making decorations

Every day is special, but some days are extra-special! We see decorations at holiday times. Sometimes we decorate for a change of season or when something special happens. It’s fun to make decorations for ourselves and for others.

Make a decoration with your family or your den and display it or give it to someone as a gift.

Balloon bouquet
Balloons can be used to decorate for almost any special occasion. Try making a balloon bouquet for a birthday.
Blow up 5-7 balloons and attach them to balloon sticks or tape onto dowels. Cover an empty can with gift wrap, newspaper comics or any brightly colored paper. Tape paper securely around can. Insert balloons into can and display.

Snowflakes
It’s fun to make snowflakes in the wintertime, even if you don’t have any snow where you live. Your snowflakes will be different from the ones the other Tiger Cubs make. In nature, no two snowflakes are alike. Each one is different—just like yours are all different!

Fold a paper coffee filter in half 3 times. Cut shapes in the sides, being careful not to cut all the way to the other side. Open the filter up and you have a snowflake!

3-Fun and games

It’s fun to play games and do puzzles. When we play with others, it is even more fun!

With your family, play a board game or put a jigsaw puzzle together.

4-Display a picture

It’s nice to have pictures of your family on display—especially when some of your family members are not close by all the time.

Make a frame for a family picture. Glue tongue depressors or craft sticks together in a shape to fit your picture. Attach a string or ribbon to the upper corners to use as a hangar. Tape your picture to the back of the frame and display. You may want to use a photograph, or a picture that you draw of your family.

5-Family mobile

Each member of your family is special in some way. They all have different hobbies and abilities. Your brother may like airplanes. Your sister may play on the basketball team. Adults in your family may like gardening or like to read. Think of one special thing that reminds you of each member of your family. You can also include grandparents, uncles and aunts if you like. Don’t forget to include yourself and family pets!

Make a family mobile.
Materials: light-weight wire coat hangar, clay, scraps of cloth, rocks, construction paper, heavy sewing thread, felt-tip markers.
Begin the mobile by opening up and straightening out a wire coat hangar. Bend it to form the shape shown. Make a base out of rocks covered with clay and insert one end of the hangar into it. Draw pictures of the things that remind you of your family members, or make small models of them out of paper, cloth, or clay. Suspend your mobile pieces from the wire with the thread.

6- Song Time

It’s fun to sing. Most people enjoy singing together with others. Your den could volunteer to sing a song for the next pack meeting.

Along with your adult partner, teach a song to your family or to your den and sing it together.

I’ve Got That Tiger Cub Spirit

If You’re a Tiger and You Know It

7- Play along!

Violins, trumpets and pianos are wonderful musical instruments. Maybe you know someone who plays a musical instrument. Did you know that you can play a musical instrument? Sure you can! Make one of these and have fun playing it.

Make a musical instrument and play it along with others. The others can sing, or have instruments of their own.

Pie Pan Tambourine

Materials: aluminum foil pie pans, dry beans, rice or gravel, stapler, crepe paper

Put the beans, rice, or gravel in one pan. Put the other pan on top and staple the rims together. Attach some crepe paper streamers and it will look as good as it sounds.

Paper Flute

Materials: cardboard tube from paper towels or kitchen wrap; waxed paper, rubber band, sharp point, such as an ice pick.

Cut a circle of waxed paper, about 5” in diameter. Wrap the waxed paper over the end of the tube, and attach by wrapping a rubber band around it. Have your adult partner help you to punch holes down the side of the tube, 1” apart. Whistle, sing, or blow into the flute while covering various combinations of holes for different tunes.

Soda Straw Oboe

Materials: large soda straw, scissors

Flatten one end of a large soda straw about ¾” from the end. Cut off the corners of the flattened end diagonally. Blow gently through the flattened end. To make a higher note, trim the other end of the straw. The more you cut off, the higher the note.

8- Your Religious Leaders

Get to know the people who lead and teach at your place of worship. Invite a religious leader or teacher from your place of worship to your home.

9- A New Friend

When a person moves to a new place, they have to make new friends and learn about their new neighborhood. It’s much easier if a friendly Tiger Cub helps him and introduces him to new friends.

Help a new child get to know others. You can do this by inviting him to play with you and your friends, by helping him find something at school, or by telling him about his new community.