CUB SCOUT MONTHLY THEMES

September, 2003 to August, 2004
Approved by the National Cub Scout Committee in October 2000.
DO YOUR BEST

For more information on the theme, click on the MONTH/YEAR of interest.

*MONTH/YEAR*	*CUB THEME*	*WEBELOS ACTIVITY BADGE*
September, 2003	Soaring To New Heights	Communicator, Citizen
October, 2003	Once Upon A Time	Showman / Citizen
November, 2003	Pilgrams of Plymouth Rock	Craftsman / Scientist
December, 2003	A Cub Scout Gives Good Will	Craftsman / Scientist
January, 2004	Home Alone	Fitness / Readyman
February, 2004	Fiesta!!	Scholar / Engineer
March, 2004	Walk In My Shoes	Athlete /Engineer
April, 2004	Cubservation	Sportsman / Family Member
May, 2004	My Home State	Outdoorsman / Handyman
June, 2004	Cub Rock	Traveler / Artist
July, 2004	Fin Fun	Aquanaut / Geologist
August, 2004	Scouting The Midway	Naturalist / Forester

SEPTEMBER 2003 - SOURING TO NEW HEIGHTS Cub Scouts learn how man conquered the air and explore the history of aviation. Look at the ways we have taken to the skies, from airplanes, to helicopters, to balloons. Dens might visit a local airport or Air Force base and learn how airplanes fly. Cub Scouts can build model airplanes or hold a paper airplane-flying contest at your den or pack meeting. Make your very own homemade "aircraft carrier" and land your airplanes on it. Packs can distribute promotional "flyers" on the upcoming contest. How about having a kite making and flying contest? The runway is clear, so take off for fun!

OCTOBER 2003 - ONCE UPON A TIME... Cub Scouts learn about the "bigger than life" characters in the land of make believe. Fairy tales... folklore... tall tales... or are there any local legends or stories from your area? Add a little local heritage to this theme to bring the "bigger than life" characters to life at your pack meeting. The boys will enjoy a local field trip, research and reliving this piece of local history. How about making up your own? Pack meetings and awards can be built around one or more of these characters -- Pecos Bill in the west, Paul Revere in the east, Paul Bunyan in the north, or even Mother Goose. Let your imagination fly.

NOVEMBER 2003 - PILGRIMS OF PLYMOUTH ROCK What kind of people were the Pilgrims? How did they live, and what did they mean to our nation's history. The Pilgrims and the Native Americans who helped them gave us many things, including Thanksgiving. This month, Cub Scouts will re-enact the first Thanksgiving, which lasted three days, with games and contests in addition to a bountiful meal. Prepare Pilgrim and Native American costumes. Design some games that would have been played during this time. Dens can prepare a game or food for the feast, and help by building props or scenery. Consider a raingutter regatta as a modern day version of a game that might have been played at the first Thanksgiving. Most of all remember to give thanks for all the blessings we enjoy.

DECEMBER 2003 -- A CUB SCOUT GIVES GOODWILL "A Cub Scout gives goodwill" - Cub Scouts learn about the spirit of Scouting and the meaning of the season by performing a good deed for someone in need during the holiday season. Making gifts for friends and family is a fun part of the celebration of the season. Keeping service to God and others in mind, have your den collect donated food or gift items for an "adopted" family in need. Conduct a pack-wide collection of winter coats and gloves or blankets for the homeless. Prepare an outing to work in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, make decorations to brighten up a nursing home or other care facility or sing carols for the people who live there. The opportunities to "do a good turn" are endless this month.

JANUARY 2004 - HOME ALONE Many boys are left at home alone after school. This month is a good time to review basic first aid, emergency plans, calling for help, and family rules for when you are home alone. The Red Cross, a local nurse, or doctor may be willing to come to a den meeting to discuss basic, age-appropriate first aid. The boys can make a home First Aid kit, too. Many public safety offices offer brochures that contain tips for being home alone; these ideas can be used for role-playing and skit ideas. What kinds of snacks can the boys make when they are alone? This would be a good month to find out. Being home alone won't be so scary after this theme is explored.

FEBRUARY 2004 - FIESTA!! Viva Fiesta! It's party time for Scouting and what better way to celebrate than with a Mexican flavor? Boys will learn about the country's festive traditions as they make cascarones and fill piñatas for the blue and gold banquet. Perhaps they can even learn to sing Happy Birthday or other songs in Spanish. They'll enjoy planning the menu too--fajitas or quesadillas, anyone? It's "nacho" ordinary blue and gold banquet! Ole!

MARCH 2004 - WALK IN MY SHOES Try putting yourself in another's shoes! Cub Scouts will spend this month exploring the world and experiences of those who face challenges every day, challenges ranging from language and cultural differences to special physical or mental needs. By doing so, our Cub Scouts will become more aware of the diversity in God's children. Cub Scouts can learn sign language or learn to sign the Cub Scout Promise or a song. You may choose to focus on one special challenge or need at each den meeting and bring various visual aids to underscore the themes, such as crutches, wheelchairs, signs or posters printed in other languages, ear plugs or blindfolds. Cub Scouts may even want to create and run a disabilities awareness course at the pack meeting where boys can complete specific tasks at each station without the benefit of one or more senses.

APRIL 2004 - CUBSERVATION This month our boys will learn about the importance of conservation and ecology. Have a conservationist or park ranger come to your den or pack meeting to talk about the dangers and effects of pollution and littering. Take your den to visit a local government conservation or reclamation project. Your den can plan its own conservation project and work on the World Conservation Award. Don't forget collecting and recycling old toys and clothes for those who are less fortunate. Your den may want to collect aluminum cans to sell and donate the proceeds to be used on a conservation project.

MAY 2004 - MY HOME STATE What is special about your state? This month we'll find out. Cubs will visit historic places, theme parks, museums, and zoos. Choose a city or a historical site in your state to highlight. Design a game that features some special aspect of your home state. Take a trip, go to a ball game, or just have a family picnic in the park. Pretend you are someone important in the history of your state, and see if anyone can guess who it is! Put on a skit where each den pretends to be doing something that is common in your state, and see if the audience can guess what it is! How about some special recipes that each den can prepare to be shared at the pack meeting? Invite a guest speaker who can share something special about your state with the boys. Use maps or collect tourist brochures to learn more about places to visit. Your local historical society or public library is a great place to get started. JUNE 2004 - CUB ROCK Welcome to Cub Rock! The boys can learn about prehistoric times by creating table settings, toys, clothing, school supplies, vehicles, etc. These ideas would be great for use in a skit and these skits could be shared at a prehistoric pack meeting. What a good month for geology and learning about the dinosaurs. By the end of the month, all the boys will be looking at rocks in a whole different way. With cooperation and team building in mind, this might be a good month for a prehistoric scavenger hunt. What fossils can you find?

JULY 2004 -- FIN FUN " Dive right in as our Cub Scouts spend a month learning about water, our most precious resource, and the many creatures that live in our oceans, lakes, and rivers. Dens can visit a local aquarium or fish farm. You may want to try your hand at fishing. Cub Scouts may even want to prepare their own aquarium or fish bowl and "adopt a gold fish." This is also an excellent opportunity to teach our Cub Scouts about water conservation and "catch & release" programs. Don't forget learning about water safety. So hit the beaches, there's a lot to "sea!"

A NAME="Aug"> AUGUST 2004 - SCOUTING THE MIDWAY tep right up folks... for a chance at some fun! This month is full of fun and games. Each den will create a midway game to run at the Pack Midway. How about a ring toss, a beanbag throw, a coin toss, a ball throw, or a card throw? Get those creative juices flowing. The boys can design and build the games at their den meetings, and then run their game at the Pack Midway, so everyone gets in on the fun. What's a midway without prizes? Make sure you have prizes for all age groups. And don't forget the popcorn!

Please send me your comments, suggestions, additions, and requests.

CUB SCOUT MONTHLY THEMES

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