Monthly Theme - Hoop-De-Do

While most Pack's close down for the summer Pack 195 does offer a summertime program. This month's them is Hoop-De-Do!

Jump ball! Free throw! This month, Cub Scouts will have opportunities to play basketball and learn about sportsmanship. Invite a Boy Scout who is a member of his school's basketball team to teach the boys the rules of the game. Hold a pack basketball tournament, making sure to balance out the teams with older and younger boys. It's a good time to start working on the Basketball belt loop and pin. Play other games with hoops.

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

Sportsmanship & Fitness, Cub Scouts will develop better sportsmanship while playing games with others in the den and pack.
Personal Achievement, Cub Scouts will feel a sense of accomplishment as they demonstrate their new skills on the court.
Respectful Relationships, Through interactive games, Cub Scouts' ability to get along and play with others will be strengthened.

The core value highlighted this month is:

Health & Fitness, Boys will learn the benefits of being fit and healthy when playing on a sports team.

New Youth Protection Rules Take Effect

Recently, the Boy Scouts of America announced important changes to its Youth Protection policies. The purpose of these changes is to increase awareness of this societal problem and to create even greater barriers to abuse than already exist today in Scouting.

Effective June 1, 2010:
Youth Protection training is required for all BSA registered volunteers, regardless of their position.

New leaders are required to take Youth Protection training before submitting an application for registration. The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time the application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins.

Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer's Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered.

To find out more about the Youth Protection policies of the Boy Scouts of America and how to help Scouting keep your family safe, see the Parent's Guide in any of the Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting handbooks, or go to http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx .

Youth Protection training can be taken by going to the My Scouting website and creating an account, or by logging in with your current account information.

Closing Thoughts

To be good at anything, you have to believe that you can do it, and then practice it until you can. There's no easy way to become an expert. You just have to keep at it, over and over. There will be times you'll think that you just can't make it. But don't give up a task because it seems hard. There are few things worth doing that are easy to do at first.

I hope you had a great month in scouting and I'll see you next month!

Air & Space Museum Trip

Cubmaster Minute

Part of the magic of Cub Scouting is the opportunity boys have to try out different talents, such as painting and drawing, music, puppetry, fixing things, landscaping and photography. Let’s always remember to celebrate the courage to try something new, the perseverance to keep practicing till you are really good, and the good sportsmanship to applaud the other guy when it’s his turn to shine.

Monthly Theme - In The Spotlight

It's time to perform and be in the spotlight! Dens can make musical instuments to be used in a pack meeting variety show. Dens can create posters annoucing the show and make programs listing the acts. "Commercials" could be videotaped during den meetings and shown between acts. Visit a local newspaper, radio or cable tv station to see how they produce shows. Attend a play or musucal production. This is a good month to work on the Music belt loop and pin.

Some of the purposes of Cub Scouting developed through this month's theme include:

Respectful Relationships. Boys learn that everyone has different talents and appreciating each other's talents is important.
Perseverance. Boys learn that they need time and practice to be ready to perform in front of an audience.

This theme is designed to promote character development by emphasizing these core values:

Cooperation. Performing together requires being able to work together.
Resoucefulness. Scouts learn to use items for props that might otherwise be thrown away.

Closing Thoughts

Baden-Powell said:

"The way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people."

That's a good thing to remember this year, the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. I'll see you next month!

Cubmaster Minute

You all know that the Cub Scout Motto is “Do Your Best.” But if you ever start to feel like you aren’t old enough, important enough, or experienced enough to make a difference, even if you do your best, go outside and look for an ant. Here is a tiny creature that can be squashed underfoot, washed away by a little stream of water, or easily buried by a spoonful of dirt. But he never gives up – wash him away with a little water, and he will struggle back to his feet and search for the ant trail. Buried under a shovel of dirt, he will dig his way out and continue on his way. Put a brick or a leaf in his path, blocking the ant trail, and he will find a way around or over the obstacle and continue on his way. So think of the ant if you are tempted to give up or think you can’t succeed – just pick yourself up, dig your way out, or find a way around, under or over that obstacle – don’t ever give up!

Big Sweep Reminder!

If you are participating in the Big Sweep event on April 24, your pledge money needs to be turned in no later than Thursday, April 15. There will be a committee meeting on April 15 at 7 p.m. at St Paul’s. You can turn it in at that time or give it to your den leader before that date and your den leader can turn it in for you.

Monthly Theme - Spring Into Action

This month is a good time to spring into action with outdoor activities such as hikes, sports and games; cleaning up litter along ponds, parks or roads; or planting trees for improved habitat. Make plaster casts of the animal tracks you find on your hike. Visit and talk with someone who works with wildlife conservation and visit a fish hatchery, zoo, animal shelter or wildlife sanctuary. As part of your Good Turn for America, take along food and supplies they might need. Build birdhouses, birdbaths, feeding stations, or boxes for nesting materials. Do a community service project with your chartered organization to show your positive attitude in doing your best. This is also a good month to work on your Wildlife Conservation belt loop and pin.

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

Sportsmanship and Fitness, Cub Scouts will learn the importance of being fit and playing fair while enjoying games and outdoor activities.
Friendly Service, Cub Scouts will demonstrate friendly service through clean up or beautification projects.
Preparation for Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts prepare to be Boy Scouts as they gain more outdoor experiences

The core value highlighted this month is:

Positive Attitude, Boys will see that even a difficult project becomes easier and more often fun if they think they can do it and do their best.
Citizenship, Scouts see that their good works demonstrate their good citizenship.