FOCUS

Cub Scout Roundtable Leaders’ Guide

Try putting yourself in another's shoes! Cub Scouts will spend this month exploring the world and experiences of those who face challenges every day, challenges ranging from language and cultural differences to special physical or mental needs. By doing so, out Cub Scouts will become more aware of the diversity of the people on this earth.  Cub Scouts can learn sign language or learn to sign the Cub Scout Promise or a song. You may choose to focus on one special challenge or need at each den meeting and bring various aids to underscore the themes, such as crutches, wheelchair, signs or posters printed in other languages, ear plugs or blindfolds. Cub Scouts may even want to create and run a disabilities awareness course at the pack meeting where boys can complete specific tasks at each station without the benefit of one or more senses.

CORE VALUES

Cub Scout Roundtable Leaders’ Guide

Some of the purposes of Cub Scouting developed through this month’s theme are:

ü       Character Development, Cub Scouts will learn to look beyond the physical differences of others.

ü       Spiritual Growth, Cub Scouts will learn that everyone is special to God.

ü       Personal Achievement, Cub Scouts will learn to set and achieve goals.

The core value highlighted this month is:

ü       Responsibility, Cub Scouts learn that it is our duty to care for others as well as ourselves.

Can you think of others??? Hint – look in your Cub Scout Program Helps.  It lists different ones!! All the items on both lists are applicable!!  You could probably list all twelve if you thought about it!!

COMMISSIONER’S CORNER

My employer is a big promoter of Walk America and The March of Dimes.  We have earned many awards through the years for our support.  In the late 80’s I was a very active Walker on one of our corporate teams.  The local poster child was a boy whom I knew through Scouts.  We saw him every summer at Day Camp being pushed around over the fields and through the woods by his friends.  When you spoke with the boys in the den, they didn’t think anything about it. One of their friends was in a chair and needed to be pushed.  They had been helping him for years in school, in Scouts, everywhere.  He was completely accepted.  That is the aim of this month’s theme to have our Scouts “Walk in their Shoes” and realize they are people, too.  It is our job as adults to set the right example to do what is right.  To not go too far overboard in trying to help but to not exclude either. And yes, the Cub Scout did become a Boy Scout and did earn his Eagle.  And he did it in a troop with a Scoutmaster who was known for being very demanding of all his Scouts. 

Busy, Busy Whirlwind of activity – This month was our Pow Wow and we had guests from other councils – Bucks County and Central NJ in particular.  Two years ago we knew we had to so something to bring Pow Wow back to the extravaganza it should be.  This year we doubled attendance from last year – 74 to 140 plus, and staff, also, was doubled.  As chair, it was pretty neat seeing 200 plus dedicated Scouters all assembled for the fun and learning of Pow Wow!!  Two weeks before that I was course director for Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner and Staff Basic Training.  And now we are into swing to get ready for a Philmont trek this summer.  Sorry that Baloo is a little late this month.

Last month was a month of controversy, too.  I learned a few things about writing for those you don’t know.  I had a quote from Michael Gurian, a noted educator who had an article in Scouting in 1999.  It apparently caused a lot of readers to think as I got a lot of comments.  That’s a good thing.  Then, last month, I reran some Engineering Badge material and didn’t proof it properly.  The material was old and assumed all engineers were men.  As a working engineer for 30 plus years, I know this isn’t true.  One letter I received from a “Grumpy Complainer” has led to an E-mail friendship and two engineer badge projects shown in this issue.  Thank you, Karen.  This same “Grumpy Complainer,” was upset at which bridge I had named as the oldest modern suspension bridge.  She thought it was the Brooklyn Bridge (which is far prettier than the Williamsburg).  Anyway, a little research showed naming the oldest modern suspension bridge is a little like arguing which is better Texas or Texas A&M or Jets or Giants (If you live in NYC) or  (well, you get the idea).  I had named Williamsburg because I heard it on the radio that day when I was preparing Baloo.  The point really is to get the boys although the facts may interest us adults, debating them does not help the boys.  We need to use techniques that peak their curiosity.

The theme for May 2004 is “My Home State.”  This presents a challenge for me.  I don’t think everyone wants to learn all about New Jersey so Baloo will need some help.  .Now New Jersey does have a website set up children to learn.  It is http://www.state.nj.us/hangout_nj/   If you know of a similar website for your state, please send me the link.  My goal is to have a list of 50 such websites in that issue of Baloo. 

I still need Theme oriented Pow Wow Books. If your Pow Wow is set up by themes, I would be interested in trading you a CD of mine for one of yours.  Write commissionerdave@comcast.net