Tiger Parent Orientation

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Tiger Parent Orientation September 2004
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Welcome to the Scouting Program and to Packs
190/901
THANKS FOR STEPPING UP! - we need a flow of new
boys - we need a flow of new leaders you! -
we need your energy and ideas - we need to have
fun! - we need your dedication - we need your
participation - we need your leadership, now,
and in future years!
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Typical Pack Organization Chart
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Cub Scouting
Year-round, family activity (unique) We are here
for our boys and their character and skill
development The Program is run by volunteers and
works by communication
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Tiger Cub Den Leader Responsibilities
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Uniforms
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Eight Parts of a Tiger Cub Den Meeting

• Before the meeting
• Gathering
• Opening
• Share
• Discover
• Search
• Closing
• After the meeting

• Take 10 or 15 minutes and jot down your ideas
• align activities with advancement first
• then align with monthly Pack and program themes
  from Cub Scout Program Helps book

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Ideas and Helps for Meetings
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Some Ideas on Implementing the Program, Or how to
paddle your own canoe
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Keys to Preventing Behavior Problems

• Expect adult partners to be responsible for
  their Tiger Cubs behavior.
• Involve all adult partners in all den meetings.
• Boys need a fast-moving program that channels
  their energy.
• Alternate noisy, energetic activities with
  quieter activities.
• Recognize that first graders have a very short
  attention span, so change activities frequently.
• Tiger Cubs do better with hands-on learning than
  with lecturing.
• Boys want guidelines and they need to learn
  self-control.
• The boys will not all be the same, though they
  do develop in stages, but they need to be treated
  fairly and to have the opportunity to make
  choices.
• Behavior problems can often be prevented by
  having den rules a code of conduct that the boys
  and the adult partners can help to formulate.

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Leader Handbooks

• Program Guide Book contains the monthly
  themes and suggestions for activities for each
  ranks aligned with the themes.

• Tiger Scout Handbook the Tiger Handbook
  includes all of the advancement requirements.
  Every boy should have one and bring it to each
  Den and Pack meeting.

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Games
Over 650 games for Scouts www.macScouter.com/Game
s
Games Are -- Lessons without teachers Body
builders Mind stretchers Friend makers
Building blocks Most of all games are
fun   Through Games, A Scout Learns new
skills Develops new interests Learns to
follow the rules Learns fair play Learns to
wait his or her turn Is taught respect for the
rights of others   Scouts like games in which
there is a sizable element of luck. They do not
require prizes, nor do they seem to worry if the
game is not finished. They like games which
restart almost automatically, so that everyone is
given a new chance. Scouts like games whereby
they gain the reassurance that comes with
repetition. Remember, the success of a game
depends greatly upon leadership. A leader can
challenge and persuade the shy Scout and channel
the energy of the "showoff", making meetings fun
for all.     KISMIF - Keep it simple make it fun.
Give it full attention practice to make it
work then evaluate to make sure it is right.
Choosing A Game Know and understand the
game. Be prepared to teach the game. Take
into consideration - Physical arrangements
- Equipment needs - Number involved
- Abilities of the participants
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Skits
Over 350 Skits www.macScouter.com/skits/index.htm
l

• Skits are usually never longer than 3 to 5
  minutes and are ideally somewhere around 90
  seconds.
• Sources of your skits are imagination, Leader
  magazine, jokes from books, Reader's Digest,
  campfires, kids, and other leaders.
• Watch out for scratch skits from the kids,
  because they usually aren't funny, are too long
  and don't make any sense, not to mention the kids
  forget what they're supposed to say and do.
• Avoid swearing, hitting, and stupid, no-sense
  skits.
• Generally, a good way to get the kids involved in
  a good skit is to provide them with a choice of
  about two or three skits and let them choose a
  tried and proven skit, then help them modify it
  to the number of kids available and the theme.
• Rehearse the skit beforehand. It will increase
  the kids' confidence and can help to avoid
  whispering, fumbling, amnesia, arguing about who
  says what, and all sorts of problems.
• The boys have to speak up so that everyone can
  hear them. Who cares how good the joke is if you
  can't hear it. That's where rehearsing comes in
  handy.
• Cue cards can be useful for the kids so that they
  can remember their lines. Make poster size cards
  with large, simple writing. A far out idea, but
  can be useful if the kids can read.

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Skits, continued

• Most skits lend themselves rather well to
  variation of some sort, allowing for easy use
  throughout a variety of different themes.
• Decide what you need and then change a skit, even
  if only minor details mentioned can be changed to
  fit. The scripts aren't cast in stone.
• Avoid rancid skits, and any skit you or your kids
  have done three times in row (or three times in
  the past year.)
• Watch out for using or modifying skits that touch
  on sensitive topics. What used to be considered
  acceptable jokes no longer are, such as ethnic or
  handicapped targets. Keep to topics of common
  ground.
• In your skits, a volunteer is usually a
  pre-selected person who you seem to pluck out of
  the audience, but of course is planted there. In
  a pinch, you can just choose your volunteers at
  random and give them instructions as part of the
  act. A victim, on the other hand, is a person
  who is chosen at random or pre- selected (without
  their knowledge) to be the butt of the joke. Of
  course, discretion is advised.
• Have a cheermaster. A CM is someone who keeps
  track of group songs, yells, cheers and skits.

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Web-Based Resources for Leaders
Central New Jersey Council www.cnjcbsa.org Boy
Scouts of America www.scouting.org Guide to
Safe Scouting, 2003 Edition www.usscouts.org/saf
ety/g2ss.html Supplies www.scoutstuff.org Good
portal www.scouter.com Cub Scout Themes of the
Month www.scoutingbear.com Virtual Cub Leaders
Handbook www.geocities.com/cybercubber/ Boys
Life Magazine www.boyslife.org Scouting
Magazine www.scoutingmagazine.org Mac Scouter
www.macscouter.com Pow Wow Online
http//www.powwow-online.net/ National Scouting
Museum www.bsamuseum.org Scouting Web Portal
www.usscouts.org Great site on the founder of
Scouting, Lord Robert Baden-Powell -
http//www.pinetreeweb.com/B-P.htm Animated Knots
http//www.webofroses.com/scouting/knots.html Pa
tches www.councilstrip.com
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The Training Continuum
Sustained and supported with - Supplemental
training - Roundtables - Advanced Training
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Youth Protection Training
Each leader in the Cub Scout program needs to
complete Youth Protection Training ASAP, which is
delivered now via a web-based course. All
parents are encouraged to take the course. In
addition to reviewing BSA policies, this training
develops and increased awareness of youth
protection issues, which is good for any parent.
The course is available on-line at
http//www.scouting.org/pubs/ypt/ypt.jsp
Youth Protection Policies 1.      No One-On-One
Contact  2.      Respect of Privacy  3.     
Separate Accommodations.4. No Secret
Organizations   5.      No Hazing  6.     
Appropriate Attire  7.      Junior Leader
Training and Supervision
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Fast Start Training

• Intended for all interested adults as well as
  new leaders
• High-level overview for each program
• Objective is to inform and to attract
  prospective leaders

This training is available on-line at
http//www.scouting.org/cubscouts/faststart/
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New Leader Essentials Training

• 90-minute instructor-led session
• Presented to new leaders for all program
  elements
• CNJC offers NLE Training on an as-needed basis
  locally
• Follow-up with position-specific training

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Position-Specific Training

• Position-Specific Sessions
• Tiger Cub Den Leaders
• Cub Scout Den Leaders
• Webelos Den Leaders
• Cubmasters and Assistants
• Pack Committee
• All sessions are led by instructors

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Upcoming Training Opportunities

• New Leader Essentials will be offered on Tuesday,
  Sept 28 at Patrick McGaheran school from 7pm to
  9pm (I don't see this lasting more than 90
  minutes)
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• Leader Specific Training will be on Thursday,
  Sept 30 at Patrick McGerhan school from 7pm to
  9pm (this is FYI since our first pack meeting of
  the year will be same date, same place!  Let's be
  in uniform and have a great meeting in case we
  have visitors!)
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• New Leader Essentials will be offered on Tuesday,
  October 5 at Patrick McGaheran school from 7pm to
  9pm (I don't see this lasting more than 90
  minutes)  
• Leader Specific Training will be on Thursday,
  October 7at TBD from 7pm to 9pm (all leaders
  needing this training should make it a point to
  attend this session, I'll send out another update
  when the location is announced).
• University of Scouting highly recommended
• Offered by Patriots Path Council on October 30,
  in Randolph, NJ

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Feel Free Anytime to Call, E-Mail, Lean on the
Pack 901 Leadership Team
Best resources are the experienced leaders of the
Pack, just reach out they will all be happy to
help.
Kevin Coleman, Pack Committee Chair, Pack
Trainer, 735-5129, ktcoleman_at_worldnet.att.net
Nick Vitovitch, Cubmaster, 730-8211,
vitovitch_at_earthlink.net Al Fillebrown, Pack
Treasurer, 713-1493, afillebrown_at_worldnet.att.net
Dave Anderson, Den Leader, Pack Committee,
735-4355, andersd_at_basf-corp.com Jim Gallagher,
Activities Chair, Pack Committee, 236-8717,
jimdo_at_earthlink.net Mark Dau, Public Relations
Chair, Pack Committee, 730-0346,
Mark_at_HunterdonGroup.com Bob Shanahan, Webelos
Den Leader, 713-1579, esqbob_at_ptd.net Bob Huber,
Webelos Den Leader, 735-7184, huberassociates_at_eart
hlink.net
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Feedback

• Was this useful?
• Do you feel better about being a Cub Scout
  Leader?
• Do you feel like you are supported?
• Do you feel better prepared to execute the Tiger
  Program?
• What do you need?