Cub Scout Monthly Themes
Here is a look ahead at the monthly
themes for the Cub Scouting program:
Cub Scout Monthly Themes for 2009-2010
- SEPTEMBER 2009 - CUB SCOUT POCKETS -
Character Connection: Compassion
- What can possibly be in a Cub Scout's pocket? What
is in a boy's pocket can tell a lot about who he is and what he likes. The
boys can share and show off their collections and maybe even start a new one!
Put some marbles in the boy's pockets and teach him how to play the game of
marbles. Pick an interest of the boys and go on a field trip to explore and
learn about it. Maybe a trip to a rock quarry in search of fossils, or a
nature hike around the den meeting site to pick up items. This is also a great
month to educate the boys on what can go on their uniform and then make some
goals to accomplish their rank advancement, special awards, belt loops and
pins, and involvement in camps and council events. This might be a good month
to work on the Collecting or Marbles belt loop and pin.
- OCTOBER 2009 - JUNGLE SAFARI - Character
Connection: Resourcefulness
- Help boys discover fun and adventure in the wilds of
Scouting. Take them on a month-long safari. Learn why Africa is special to our
founder Lord Baden-Powell. Find out how the Jungle Book story connects to
Scouting. Use it and its characters to highlight den meeting games, crafts,
and costumes for the pack meeting. Learn about the things you need if you are
going on a safari and how would you survive. What do Scouts in Africa do? What
are their uniforms like? Take a den trip to a local zoo, animal rescue
facility, or wildlife refuge. Work on the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award or
the Wildlife Conservation Academic belt loop and pin.
- NOVEMBER 2009 - SCOUT SALUTE - Character
Connection: Respect
- This month Cub Scouts salute those heroes who help
keep us safe and secure each and every day. Can only adults be heroes? Heroes
are often ordinary kids who did something out of the ordinary! A den can
decide what makes a hero and who the heroes of tomorrow might be by looking at
people they know today. Learn about heroes in your own community, as well as
Scouting heroes who have earned BSA heroism awards. Have your Cub Scouts
invite their hometown heroes to a den or pack meeting. Perhaps your den can
become "silent heroes" by performing service for others without seeking any
recognition. Visit a fire station, veteran's hospital (Veterans Day is this
month), police station, or teacher's classroom and learn about their heroic
deeds and reciprocate with a "Scout salute" for their contributions. You might
work on the Citizenship belt loop and pin.
- DECEMBER 2009 - WORKS OF ART - Character
Connection: Faith
- December is a time of celebration and giving. This
is a perfect month for involving friends in doing good deeds and creating
holiday magic through art. Cub Scouts use their artistic abilities to create
holiday decorations, gifts, or cards. This artwork might be put on display in
nursing homes, in churches, schools, or homes, and at the pack meeting or at a
meeting of the chartered organization. Boys can make cards and ornaments and
share them with residents of a local nursing or retirement home, children's
hospital, or community center and do a "Good Turn for America." Boys can
discover different forms of art, write poems, attend a musical or performing
art show, or visit a local art museum. Works of art can become gifts for
family members. The Academic belt loop or pin in Art or Music could be worked
on in conjunction with these projects.
- JANUARY 2010 - POWER UP! - Character
Connection: Responsibility
- Boys explore the science of energy through solar,
electrical, and wind power and how this energy is used in their everyday
lives. They can explore different ways to conserve energy and protect the
world we live in. Work on the Science or Weather belt loop and pin. Boys can
invite friends to join in the pinewood derby and discover the power behind
those little cars. What types of things are powered up by the flip of a
switch? A field trip to the local water works or power plant might be part of
the den's monthly plan. Finish up the month with a real power-packed pack
meeting. The boys can power up by being physically fit and working on the
Physical Fitness belt loop and pin.
- FEBRUARY 2010 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, B.S.A. -
Character Connection: Honesty
- It's time to celebrate with a big birthday bash. Boy
Scouts of America is 100 years old this year. Learn the history of how
Scouting came to the United States. Find out about those who have given us
this great Scouting legacy such as Daniel Carter Beard, James E. West, Ernest
Thompson Seton, Waite Phillips, and W. D. Boyce. Let's play birthday games,
make party decorations, and have birthday cake for our blue and gold banquet.
- MARCH 2010 - TAKE FLIGHT - Character
Connection: Courage
- The Wright brothers had a lot of courage to
accomplish their dream to fly. Air has power to push and pull objects so that
they can fly. This month learn all about air, what it consists of, and why it
is needed to fly. Learn about gravity. Make your own flying machines as you
hear about the Wright Brothers and their invention. Explore different types of
paper airplanes. Figure out which ones fly farther, higher, faster, longer,
and why? Hold a pack-wide paper plane derby fun night! How many things can you
name that can fly? Study birds and their flyways. Why do some fly in a V
formation? Take flight outdoors with a den or pack kite derby this month and
enjoy that air! Take a field trip to the airport, hobby shop, or a science
museum. Earn the Science belt loop and pin.
- APRIL 2010 - SPRING INTO ACTION -
Character Connection: Positive Attitude
- 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 roadsides, or planting some 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. Bring along food and supplies that they
might need as part of your "Good Turn for America." Build bird houses, bird
baths, 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 would be a good month to work on the
Conservation belt loop and pin.
- MAY 2010 - IN THE SPOTLIGHT - Character
Connection: Cooperation
- It's time to perform and be in the spotlight! This
month spend some time making musical instruments to be used in the pack
meeting variety show. The variety show could be skits, songs, puppet shows,
magic trick - you name it. Have the boys and their parents and families
participate in a variety show and have some adults record the show. Dens can
create posters announcing the show and make programs to let everyone know
what's coming. Commercials could be videotaped by the den during their den
meetings and then be shown between acts. (Get the parents involved) Take a
photo for the local newspaper or a video clip for the local TV station for
recognition of their achievements and put Cub Scouting in the spotlight. Visit
a television, radio, or cable station to see how they prepare and produce
their shows. Attend a play or musical production. The Cub Scouts can earn the
Music belt loop and pin.
- JUNE 2010 - HOOP-DE-DOO! - Character
Connection: Health and Fitness
- This is a good time to learn and play the game of
basketball while you learn about sportsmanship. Have a member of the high
school basketball team (preferably a Boy Scout) teach the boys the rules of
basketball; then play a game in the pack with older boys and younger boys
balancing each team. Play other games such as ring toss, hoop games, soap
bubble contests, and hoop obstacle course. Start working on the National
Summertime Pack Award or Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award. The boys will be
able to earn the Basketball belt loop and pin or another Sports belt loop and
pin of their choice, including the Physical Fitness belt loop and pin.
- JULY 2010 - CELEBRATE FREEDOM - Character
Connection: Citizenship
- Celebrate America's freedom established on July 4,
1776, with patriotic songs, games, and family fun. Discover what makes America
so special to us. Decide on a birthday present your pack can give to America
by doing a service project and a "Good Turn for America." Participate as a den
or pack in an Independence Day parade. Enjoy the beauty of our country by
participating in outdoor activities. Have a pack barbeque or family gathering
and share some family heritage about coming to our great nation. Design and
serve a birthday cake and sing to America! Earn the Citizenship and Heritage
belt loops and pins.
- AUGUST 2010 - WAVES OF FUN - Character
Connection: Perseverance
- Jump in and make a BIG splash with fun activities
that explore water and waves. There is an adventure waiting in one of Earth's
final frontiers, the depths of the ocean floors. Creatures never imagined
before can be found there. What kinds of animals do live there? What does the
ocean floor look like? The den could discover what makes a boat float, learn
about different sea vessels, and even make their own boats. The pack can
celebrate this month with a beach party (no beach required) and family picnic
as they enjoy the great outdoors. Top it off with a raingutter regatta.
Complete the requirements for earning the National Summertime Pack Award. This
is a fun month to bring a friend! This is a wonderful opportunity to teach
water safety and practice the buddy system while having fun and earning the
Swimming belt loop and pin.
Cub Scout Monthly Themes for 2010-2011-9++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- SEPTEMBER 2010 - CUB SCOUT INVESTIGATORS -
Character Connection: Resourcefulness
- What happened to the cookies in the cookie jar?
Let's find out. Learn techniques that the police use to solve crimes. Use
microscopes, dust for fingerprints, and learn observation techniques. Visit
your local police department and find out how to contact them in an emergency.
Show your respect for law enforcement by thanking them for what they do. This
would also be a great month to use your investigative skills to find friends
to join Cub Scouts.
- OCTOBER 2010 - UNDER THE BIG TOP -
Character Connection: Cooperation
- "Ladies and Gentlemen," welcome to the Cub Scout
Circus. It will be a month of entertainment. Dens will practice stunts, skits,
songs, run-ons, and cheers as part of their advancement and just for fun. They
can share their talents at the monthly pack meeting, with the Cubmaster
serving as ringmaster. The focus will be the magic of the circus with a center
ring set up for performances. Be sure to have lots of balloons, peanuts, and
popcorn for the audience, as well as spotlights on all dens as they perform.
- NOVEMBER 2010 - CUB SCOUTS SPREAD THE NEWS -
Character Connection: Citizenship
- Cub Scouts spread the news about the fun that they
are having in Cub Scouts. They learn many different ways to communicate. Plan
a field trip to the local radio station, television station or newspaper
office. Dens can publish articles and pictures in a den or pack newsletter or
make their own commercial about a service project to be shown at the pack
meeting, or on a local cable or school access channel. They can email a friend
to join Cub Scouts. This would be a good month to work on Good Turn for
America as well as the Communication belt loop and pin.
- DECEMBER 2010 - WINTER WONDERLAND -
Character Connection: Positive Attitude
- The excitement of the holiday season brings magic to
the eyes of Cub Scouts as they prepare decorations, make gifts, and sing songs
of the season. Den or pack activities may include a Good Turn field trip to
bring some holiday magic to the lives of others. Northern Cub Scouts will
enjoy winter games in the snow. Southern Cub Scouts might play games with
paper snowballs or take to the beach for a Klondike derby in the sand. This
might be a good month to work on the Ice Skating or Snow Ski and Board Sports
belt loop and pin.
- JANUARY 2011 - ROAD WORK AHEAD - Character
Connection: Perseverance
- What does it take to build our roads and bridges? Who builds our roads and
what materials and equipment are used? Find out this month as you put on your
construction hats and dig in! Arrange to tour road building equipment. Have a
construction company foreman/owner come visit at your pack meeting. What
vehicles travel the Cub Scout roads? Why not have a pinewood derby this month
and find out?
- FEBRUARY 2011 - TURN BACK THE CLOCK - Character Connection:
Honesty
- "Turn Back the Clock" and see what the world was like in the past. Learn
about an era of your choice with songs, games, and transportation from the
time that you choose. Whether it is the Space Age, the Wild West, rock-n-roll,
or the Ice Age, each time period had something special about it. Construct a
pack "time machine" to help introduce the den's era skits or demonstrations at
the blue and gold banquet. Whatever you choose, find the "best" in your time
period and share it with others. The boys can work on the Heritages belt loop
and pin this month.
- MARCH 2011 - FORCES OF NATURE - Character Connection: Faith
- Behold the awesome forces of nature. Discover how wind, rain, fires,
floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, avalanches, and glaciers can alter
and shape the earth. Cub Scouts learn now to prepare themselves and their
families to meet the challenges associated with these forces. Each Cub Scout
can work on preparing an emergency kit to keep in his home or car. Explore a
different force of nature at each den meeting, creating models of these
natural powers or their results. This is a good month to work on the Emergency
Preparedness BSA Award and the Weather belt loop and pin.
- APRIL 2011 - SCOUTING THE LAND DOWN UNDER - Character
Connection: Respect
- Scouting is alive and thriving in Australia. Let's learn about the earth's
smallest continent, its animals, and its Scouting program. What kind of games
do the boys play? What is a Joey? What kind of outdoor activities do they do
in the Australian Scout program? Learn about Australian art work and ancient
musical instruments. Come on mate and have a g'day. This would be a great
month to work on the Language and Cultures belt loop and pin.
- MAY 2011 - ACORNS TO OAKS - Character Connection: Responsibility
- Nature provides a miraculous wonder in the life cycle. This month the boys
can discover how plants grow from seeds. They can build and grow a terrarium
or plant a garden. Here is the opportunity to assist nature by building
birdhouses, bat nurseries, or squirrel feeders. This theme also can be used to
assist the leaders in helping the boys learn about their own growth and
health. They can make goals using a food pyramid. This would be a good month
to work on the Physical Fitness belt loop and pin. All these things will help
them grow strong and healthy much like a sturdy oak tree.
- JUNE 2011 - CUBS IN ACTION - Character Connection: Health &
Fitness
- This is a great month for outdoor or indoor activities with focus on
ACTION. Hikes, games, or relay races using Scout skills would all be good
activities. The boys can learn and grow through sports, practicing good
sportsmanship and team building. This might be a good time to work on the Cub
Scout Outdoor Activity Award and any of the team Sports belt loops and pins.
- JULY 2011 - SPLISH SPLASH - Character Connection: Courage
- What could be better than a water carnival complete with games, skits, and
a fishing derby? Create a water adventure trail with plenty of opportunity for
boys to get wet. Stations could include a sponge toss, sprinklers, water
slides, and raingutter regatta. Or plan a pack outing to a local swimming pool
or beach. Be sure to teach the Cub Scouts the buddy system before you go and
use Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat. Cub Scouts could work on their
Swimming and Fishing belt loops and pins. The pack could also work toward the
National Summertime Pack Award.
- AUGUST 2011 - ON THE WILD SIDE - Character Connection:
Compassion
- Imagine being shipwrecked on an island of wild adventure! What kinds of
wild animals and fauna might they encounter? Go on a hike and learn about the
wild side that might be in your own backyard. And if that isn't enough, help
the boys release some of their "wild side" fun with exciting games and
creative projects. This is one month you'll enjoy the wild side. This will be
a great time to invite a friend to come and join in the Scouting adventure!