TRAINING TIP

Pack Outings

Bill Smith, the Roundtable Guy

When a boy and his family join Cub Scouting, they are joining an organization that values the fun and excitement of experiencing the outdoors. Each Cub Scout pack is encouraged to provide its youth members with enriching, positive outdoor experiences. An event may be a youth member’s first organized outdoor activity. Good planning using Cub Scouting guidelines should ensure a positive experience.

The best Cub Packs I have seen over the years have been those that regularly schedule outdoors activities. These are packs that attract and keep kids as members, packs that always seem to have lots of leaders. A common characteristic of these good packs is that they are always doing things. They have activities beyond the usual pack and den meetings. A month rarely goes by when they are not out on a tour, a service project, a hike or a campout.

What do they do? Here is a sampling of activities I found on the web site schedules of just a handful of packs across the country:

Memorial Day flag Decorating             Maple Sugaring
Scouting for food                                    Bike Rally,
Fun Day                                                Cub-O-Ree
Fishing Derby                                 Cubmobile Race
Parade                                                Tree Planting
Picnic                                                      Air Show
Cub Olympics                                Pushmobile Race
Ice Skating                                                Sledding
Winter Fun Day                              Polar Bear Derby
Bell Ringing                        Christmas Meal Delivery
Night Hike                                              Bike Hike
Fishing Tournament                            Fishing Derby
Pack Campout                                        Kite Flying
Bike Rally                                Chuck Wagon Derby
Veterans Day Flag Ceremony                             Hike

Cub Scouting in the outdoors happens all year long, as you can see from these examples:
Winter is a fine time for bird-watching.  Follow and identify bird tracks, look for nests, set out bird feeders.  It's a time to identify trees without their leaves.  And in some parts of the country it's a time to play in the snow; to build snow people, forts, and igloos; to go ice-skating, sledding, and sleigh riding; and to help others by shoveling sidewalks.

Going outdoors isone of the most exciting parts of Scouting. Cub Scouts enjoy many outdoor experi­ences as they participate in the variety of activities that can be held outside, such as field trips, hikes, nature and conservation experiences service projects, and camping experiences.

The outdoors is an ideal environment for boys to be able to develop positive qualities such as resourcefulness, ingenuity, self-reliance, team spirit, and an awareness of and apprecia­tion for the natural world around us.

The study of nature in its natural surroundings is an ideal way to encourage boys to appreciate beauty and enhance their capacity to enjoy simple pleasures and respect all living things.

In addition, apply these Cub Scouting program-specific criteria:

• The activity is parent/youth or family-oriented.
• The activity is conducted with adult supervision.
• The Cub Scouts are asked to do their best.
• The activity is discovery-based.

Pack 720 of Lambertville, MI tells us:

Pack outings usually occur once per month at other area locations and are fun events designed to be enjoyable for the whole family. Previous events include: hayrides, bowling, ice skating, sledding, hikes, Putt Putt Golf, Petting Zoo, and family camping. See Pack Outings for the latest calendar.

A Cub Scout should wear his uniform to Den Meetings, Pack Nights, and all Scout outings.

The Annual Pack Planning Meeting

When your leaders gather to plan your 2005-06 pack year, remember to sprinkle in lots of fun filled outings. These outings do not happen by accident. They will only occur when you put them on your calendar, recruit the leadership, make all the arrangements (like tour permits, etc.) and promote them. Remember, they will strengthen your pack.

I have been told the Roundtable agenda included in the Cub Scout Roundtable Planning Guide has been modified to include time for idea on an outdoor activity every month.  It appears Cub scouting is finally beginning to place proper emphasis on Outdoors.  CD