I got roped into cub master of my son's pack. Make all the jokes you want, I assure you they aren't as painful as the job itself. We can't start the written curriculum until after the recruitment drive in the schools so we don't end up with new scouts trying to catch up. So, I'm trying to come up with ways to keep about 15 2nd to 5th graders busy for the next two weeks. I thought surely with this group of parents/geeks/techies someone would have some ideas.

I spent 10 years as a scout master. Good luck.

Am I that screwed? Lol

Apparently, since he didn't give you any ideas. Lol

KOT

First, they should empty your van and clean the interior. Then, they can sort all of the cables, adapters, fasteners and parts. Once that's done, they should re-label the bins and put everything back, neatly organized. Once that's done, they should itemize your tools and re-organize them.

Step 1: recruit some helpers from among other fathers and mothers. Back in a bygone millennium, I was such a recruit. Our project was to build the simplest possible wood tool box/carrier with a broomstick type handle. You'll be amazed at how long it will take for the young'uns to pound nails into precut pieces of wood. After some painful minutes of watching, you can give them the secret of the hammer--the nail goes where the descending hammer head points. It's kind of a zen thing. You'll also be amazed when one or more other fathers/mothers speaks out loud their amazement at realizing how that works. It's not just kids that can't pound in a nail.

One of the difficulties of the project--other than precutting the parts--was rounding up enough hammers to supply the entire pack. No kid of any age wants to delay beating on those nails. Bring plenty of those, by the way

Despite the amount of time and effort your term will require, you and your scout will treasure the time.

Have them make Moonshine. We all know that YOU know how to make it. We all KNOW that you like to drink it. So, why not put them to work?

Send them my way to pull weeds, rake the dirt, grade the driveway, paint the house, clean the dog run. I could go on, but I think this will take a group of rugrats about 2 weeks.

[Link: boyscouttrail.com]

We referenced this a few times when there were holes in the curriculum. We met at a school in the lunch room so we were lucky to have a large space.
things we did
Group jump rope
Balloon juggling
Marshmallow kick throw blow
Ring on a string.
We were a large pack ( our Weebelo den was 18 boys) so many of these were broken into smaller age groups. Tiger cubs and wolves, bears usually went with the weebelos)
You can also contact a local Boyscout troop and see if any of their scouts would come in to help with your pack as a den chief. They need time in a leadership position and that applies. It also gives the younge boys a goal to work towards.

Ok, one of the activities son that list is pitching pennies. When was this list written? 1953?

Parent: how was scouts tonight

Kid: fine

Parent: what did you guys do?

Kid: learn to gamble. I'm up $1.23


[Link: boyscouttrail.com]

Orienteering was always my favorite scout activity. See if those little shits know how to use a real compass and map.

Each parent is assigned a meeting, you just oversee.

We visited an SXM studio, police station, firehouse, and research lab. Built model rockets. Once a month, Home Depot has Saturday AM build workshops.

There are tons of websites that offer ideas for den and pack meetings.

There were skits and/or presentations at most pack meetings. Each den was responsible for one - divide up the work. Adults think skits are awful, but the boys really enjoyed it.

There were activities at the beginning of each pack meeting, to keep the boys occupied. Usually very simple, they were worksheets that required the Scouts to ask questions of other scouts and adults.

What, no Mumbly peg?

[Link: en.wikipedia.org]

If you're in a region where people are interested in camping, hiking, etc, basic survival skills wouldn't be a bad idea. If they plan to remain in Scouting, they may appreciate the advanced knowledge and besides, tying each other to trees and trying to get loose can be a lot of fun.

The system is much more organized than that now. Each grade level has a set curriculum, if they want to earn their rank badge for the year. But I'm looking for filler to get us through a couple weeks until we have our recruitment in the schools and can then start the official programs.