THE TIGER CUB PROGRAM

 

HERE'S THE SCOOP!

Your Tiger Cub will be a member of a den. Most dens have five to nine boy-adult partner teams, meet at once a month in a den meeting, and have one outing a month, called a Go See It. The den also takes part in the monthly Pack meetings. During den meetings, Go See It outings, and Pack meetings, boys learn new things and have fun.

Each den meeting and den activity is led by one (ideally two) den leader(s) and adult partner(s) of one to two of the Tiger Cubs. An adult partner can be a parent, relative, or friend who is at least 18 years old and who cares about the boy. Each adult partner takes a turn working with the den leader to plan and lead a den meeting, Go See It and/or activity. (You'll read more about this shared leadership later.)

Your Tiger Cub is a member of Cub Scout Pack 528. Our Pack is made up of dens that gather monthly at a Pack meeting. See our calendar for schedule information. Pack meetings are a time for boys to be recognized for their accomplishments during the month, to perform skits and songs they have learned in den meetings, and to have fun with the entire family.

Our Pack is led by a Cubmaster and a Pack Committee. Like the den leaders, the Cubmaster and assistants are volunteer leaders and are usually family members of boys in the Pack. At Pack Planning Meetings, the Pack committee makes plans for Pack meetings and activities and takes care of the "business" items that are necessary for a Pack to operate smoothly.

Our Pack committee consists of family members and members of the Pack's chartered organization. The chartered organization is the community organization that is granted a charter by the Boy Scouts of America to use the Scouting program. Our chartered organization is University Heights United Methodist Church (UHUMC). The chartered organization provides a meeting place and operates the Pack within the guidelines and policies of that organization and the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) of which Cub Scouts are a part.

 

THE "SHARED LEADERSHIP" CONCEPT

The Tiger Cub Adult Partner

The success of a Tiger Cub den depends on active, enthusiastic families and one or more knowledgeable, well-trained den leader(s). The Pack relies on parents like you to become its den leader volunteers. The den leader plans and carries out a year - round program of activities for the Tiger Cub den and gives continuity to the program. Each month, however, the den leader also works with different boy-adult partner team to plan the monthly den meeting, the Go See It, and the den's part in “hosting” the Pack meeting in March. At the March Pack meeting, the Tiger den will arrive early to set up (chairs and den/Pack flags), lead the flag ceremony and pledge, lead the Cub Scout Promise, perform a song or skit, provide a den-made presentation or bring in an outside presenter/speaker (approximately 20 minutes in length), and help clean up/break down.

Some boy-adult partner teams may serve more than one month, depending on how big the den is. This is called shared leadership. Shared leadership is a key part of Tiger Cubs because the direct involvement of you and other adults is important for boys at this age. Shared leadership also gives each boy and adult partner a chance to lead, often resulting in an interesting variety of activities as each boy - adult partner team shares its knowledge and resources.

 

The Tiger Cub Den Leader

The Tiger Cub den leaders are registered volunteer positions within the BSA. Each Tiger Den MUST include at least one person in this role. The Cubmaster and Assistant Cubmaster will serve as den leaders for the first one or two den meetings until a parent or parents within the den is identified to take over as the den’s permanent den leader(s). The responsibilities of the Tiger Cub den leaders can be summarized as:

  1. Take appropriate training to become successful in the den leader role.
  2. Work directly with other den and Pack leaders to ensure that their den is an active and successful part of the Pack.
  3. Coordinate shared leadership among the Tiger Cub adult partners, ensuring that den meetings and outings are planned, prepared for, and conducted by all adult partners on a rotating basis, and that the den activities provide advancement opportunities for the boys in the den.
  4. Attend Pack leaders' meetings (Pack Planning Meetings).
  5. Lead the den at the monthly den meeting, Pack meeting, and Pack activities.
  6. Maintain den records for attendance and advancement
  7. Ensure the transition of boys in the Tiger Cub den into a Wolf den at the end of the year. See the Cub Scout Leader Book for additional information concerning the responsibilities of this position.

 

THE TIGER CUB ADVANCEMENT PLAN

Working on Achievements and Electives

In Scouting, advancement is the process by which a member meets certain requirements and earns recognition. Boys in Cub Scouting work on advancement with their families. The Tiger Cub advancement program is a blend of activities boys do in their home and activities they do in a den setting with their adult partner. This is unique to Tiger Cubs.

The first step in Cub Scouting, regardless of a boy's age, is earning the Bobcat badge. After that, a Tiger Cub may earn the Tiger Cub rank. This rank is for those boys who are in first grade or are 7 years old. All the Cub Scout ranks (Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos) are tailored for a grade and the corresponding age level.

To advance, Tiger Cubs work on achievements and electives, which are described in the Tiger Cub handbook. As a boy completes these, you, his adult partner, sign in this handbook where it says "Akela's OK." Akela means "good leader" and is an important part of Cub Scouting. Akela can be a den leader, a teacher, or other important adult. As your boy's adult partner, you are Akela.

As boys advance, they receive recognition items to mark their progress. These items will be given to them during a simple ceremony at a Pack or den meeting. It is important for boys to be recognized for the good work they do. The Tiger Cub recognition items are the Tiger Cub belt totem and totem beads, the Tiger Cub badge, and Tiger Track beads. (Although participation with an adult partner is required for all Tiger Cub awards, adult partners don't earn these awards. Recognition items are for boys only.)

EARNING THE BOBCAT BADGE

 

THE BOBCAT TRAIL

When a boy is between the ages of seven and eleven years old or is (at least) in the first grade, he can become a Cub Scout. But, regardless of a qualifying boy's age, he must complete the Bobcat Trail as the first step in his Cub Scouting adventure.

In Rudyard Kipling's story, The Jungle Book, the black panther Bagheera is the mighty hunter that teaches the cubs the skills of the jungle. In Cub Scouting we use the symbol of the Bobcat. You'll find his trail in the Tiger Cub Handbook (BSA 34713), and the Wolf Handbook (BSA 33450), the Bear Handbook (BSA 33451), and the Webelos Handbook (BSA 33452)

Along this trail the Cub Scout learns the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack, and the Cub Scout Motto. These are the three most important things a boy must learn because they will help him through all of the trails of Scouting.

 

THE BOBCAT TRACKS

To earn the Bobcat badge the boy must complete these eight tracks of Akela:

  1. LEARN AND SAY THE CUB SCOUT PROMISE

"I ____(name)____ promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack."

... AND COMPLETE THE HONESTY CHARACTER CONNECTION.

    1. Know: Discuss these questions with your family. What is a promise? What does it mean to "keep your word?" What does honesty mean? What does it mean to "do your best?"
    2. Commit: Discuss these questions with your family. Why is a promise important? Why is it important for people to trust you when you give your word? When might it be difficult to keep your word? List examples.
    3. Practice: Discuss with family members why it is important to be trustworthy and honest and how can you do your best to be honest when you are doing the activities in Cub Scouting.
  1. SAY THE LAW OF THE PACK. TELL WHAT IT MEANS.

"The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the Pack go.
The Pack helps the Cub Scout Grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill. "

  1. TELL WHAT "WEBELOS" MEANS.

"WE'll BE LOyal Scouts"

  1. SHOW THE CUB SCOUT SIGN. TELL WHAT IT MEANS.
  2. SHOW THE CUB SCOUT HANDSHAKE. TELL WHAT IT MEANS.
  3. SAY THE CUB SCOUT MOTTO. A MOTTO IS A RULE.

The MOTTO is: "DO YOUR BEST. "

  1. GIVE THE CUB SCOUT SALUTE. TELL WHAT IT MEANS.
  2. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the parent's guide, "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse".

 

When you and your boy have followed the eight tracks of the Bobcat, your boy may wear his Bobcat badge.

The badge should be ceremoniously presented as soon as possible at an upcoming Pack meeting.

 

EARNING THE TIGER CUB BADGE

 

THE TIGER CUB TRAIL

The Tiger Cub badge is for boys who have completed all 15 parts of the five achievements, that is, five family activities, five den activities, and five Go See It outings. During an impressive ceremony, the Tiger Cub badge is presented to the adult partner at a Pack meeting, who in turn presents the badge to the boy. The badge is affixed to the Tiger Cub belt totem in the recessed area.

While your boy is working on advancement, you can help. Besides signing his handbook as Akela once he has done his best, let your den leader know of any completed parts of achievements at your next den meeting. The den leader will keep a record of your boy's individual progress on the Tiger Cub Den Advancement Chart. In addition, your boy, with your help, will keep track of his own advancement on the Tiger Trail chart found on page 152 of his handbook. This encourages him and helps him see his progress toward the Tiger Cub rank.

The advancement requirements are written in such a way as to give you room to customize activities for your boy and your den. There are no performance requirements for Tiger Cubs. Boys should never be "tested" or placed in a position where they will not be successful. Simply participating in the activities and doing his best constitutes completion.

The den activities and 'Go See It' outings are intended to be completed with the den. If a Tiger Cub is unable to participate in an activity because of illness or a conflict, however, you may work with him to complete these requirements. For your boy to receive the full benefit of the program, it is important for you, his adult partner, to make every effort to attend meetings regularly.

At the end of the school year, he will graduate into a Wolf Cub Scout den. Later, he will be in a Bear den, and then he'll become a Webelos Scout.

The following requirement items are prefaced with the letters "F," "C," or "G." These denote:

·         F = A "FAMILY" oriented requirement

·         D = A "DEN" oriented requirement

·         G = A "GO SEE IT" oriented requirement (i.e.field trip)

 

 

THE TIGER CUB ACHIEVEMENTS

Earning “The Tiger Cub Badge” (see the Tiger Cub Handbook)

  1. Making My Family Special

1F - Think of one chore you can do with your adult partner. Complete it together
1D - Make a family scrapbook
1G - Go to a library, historical society, museum, old farm, or historical building, or visit an older person in your community. Discover how family life was the same and how it was different many years ago.

  1. Where I Live

2F - Look at a map of your community with your adult partner.
2D - Practice the Pledge of Allegiance with your den, and participate in a den or Pack flag ceremony.
2G - Visit a police station or fire station. Ask someone who works there how he or she helps people in your community.

  1. Keeping Myself Healthy and Safe

3Fa - With your family, plan a fire drill and then pracitce it in your home.
3Fb - With your adult partner, plan what to do if you become lost or separated from your family in a strange place.
3D - Make a food guide pyramid.
3G - Learn the rules of a game or sport. Then go watch an amateur or professional game or sporting event.

  1. How I Tell It

4F - At a family meal, have each family member take turns telling the others one thing that happened to him or her that day. Remember to practice being a good listener while you wait for your turn to talk.
4D - Play "Tell It Like It Isn't."
4G - Visit a television station, radio station, or newspaper office. Find out how people there communicate to others.

  1. Let's Go Outdoors

5F - Go outside and watch the weather.
5D - With a crayon or colored pencil and a piece of paper, make a leaf rubbing.
5G - Take a hike with your den.

When you and your boy have followed the five steps of the Tiger Cub, your boy has earned his Tiger Cub badge. The badge should be ceremoniously presented as soon as possible at an upcoming Pack meeting.

 

THE TIGER CUB BELT TOTEM - AN INSTANT RECOGNITION TOOL

EARNING THE TIGER CUB BELT TOTEM

To begin his path towards the Tiger Cub rank, a boy must do three things. They are:

  1. Learn the "Tiger Cub Motto" (The MOTTO is: "SEARCH, DISCOVER, SHARE ")
  2. Learn the "Cub Scout Sign"
  3. Learn the "Cub Scout Salute"  

When he has done these, he is awarded the Tiger Cub belt totem at a Pack meeting. This is a plastic recognition device that he wears on his belt. The front side of the totem is emblazoned usually with a tiger paw print, and the reverse includes a recessed space for your Tiger to mount his Tiger Cub badge when he earns it, or it can be sewn onto the bottom of the uniform left pocket. The lower end of the totem includes space for four strands for totem beads. A boy earns totem beads by working on the five Tiger Cub achievements.

 

HOW TO USE TOTEM BEADS

There are five achievements in Tiger Cubs:

  1. Making My Family Special
  2. Where I Live
  3. Keeping Myself Healthy and Safe
  4. How I Tell It
  5. Let's Go Outdoors

Each achievement has three parts: a family activity, a den activity, and a Go See It outing. A boy receives totem beads as he completes each part:

  • He earns a white bead for each required 'family activity' part he completes.
  • He earns an orange bead for each required 'den activity' part he completes.
  • He earns a black bead for each required 'Go See It' part he completes.

These beads go on the first three strands of the Tiger Cub belt totem. (The fourth strand is for Tiger Track beads which signify completed electives.)

A boy can earn only one bead for each of the 15 achievement parts, regardless of how many times he may repeat a part.

As each bead is awarded and added to a boy's belt totem, he should be recognized with a simple ceremony at a den meeting. When a boy has earned all 15 beads, he is eligible to receive his Tiger Cub badge, signifying that he has earned the Tiger Cub rank.

 

TIGER CUB MEETINGS - A MEETING PRIMER


When Do Tiger Cubs Meet?

To experience the fun, excitement, and other benefits of Cub Scouting, you and your Tiger Cub may do the following things each month:

  • Go to a one-hour den meeting at UHUMC (or, if preferred, the host adult partner's home or other location). Leaders will try to hold the meetings at the scheduled date and time according to the Pack calendar. Once a permanent leader is identified, they may choose a mutually agreed upon time that is convenient for all adult partners and is appropriate for boys of Tiger Cub age. Some dens meet at a school, a place of worship, or the location of their chartered organization. But meetings can be held almost anywhere: in a basement, recreation room, backyard, or park - as long as the meeting location is safe for boys and their families.
  • Take a field trip, or Go See It, with the entire den. The Go See It is a planned field trip to a place that is interesting to boys. It may be associated with the monthly theme or Tiger Badge achievement.
  • Attend the Cub Scout Pack meeting.

 

Planning the Tiger Cub Den Meeting

With shared leadership, each month a different boy-adult partner works with the Tiger Cub den leader(s) to plan the monthly den meeting and the Go See It. It is important that each boy-adult partner team has a turn at planning and conducting the den activities.

The den meetings may be based on the theme of the month (see "Using the Monthly Theme in the Den Meeting" below) or on one of the den activity parts of an achievement. (You'll read more about the three parts of achievements below.)

The Tiger Cub den leader and the host adult partner can also use the resources of other families in the den for den activities. Let the boys give their ideas, too. Remember: A well-planned den meeting will hold the boys' interest, and they will be excited to return.

 

Using the Monthly Theme In the Den Meeting (Optional)

Each year, Cub Scout Program Helps (No. 34304) suggests 12 monthly themes suitable for Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts. This annual publication, available at the Atlanta Area Council Program Center, includes songs, skits, games, crafts, and ideas for Go See It activities that complement the theme. Boys' Life magazine also features ideas and articles each month on the recommended theme.

Packs aren't required to use the recommended theme each month, but they are chosen and planned to appeal to boys and to offer opportunities for them, and you, to achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting. By following the themes, den leaders and the Cubmaster have a lot of support material available to them.

PARTS OF A TIGER CUB DEN MEETING

The focus of every den meeting plan should be based on the Tiger Cub motto: Search, Discover, Share. The Tiger Cub den meeting plan in Cub Scout Program Helps divides the meeting into eight parts. Each part has a purpose, so the den meeting will be better for the boys if you follow this pattern. It will make planning and running the den meetings easier.

  1. Before the Meeting
  2. Gathering
  3. Opening
  4. Share
  5. Discover
  6. Search
  7. Closing
  1. Before the meeting. The purpose of this part of the meeting is to give the den leader and the host adult partner time to make preparations, gather supplies, set out the U.S. flag, and take care of any last-minute details before the boys and their adult partners arrive.
  2. The Gathering is an activity or game that keeps the boys interested and busy while everybody else arrives. Planning activities for when Tiger Cubs arrive will help avoid some of the behavior problems that can happen when boys don't have enough to do. The gathering time also gives the den leader(s) time to take attendance and keep track of the achievements each boy has completed while the host adult partner is with the boys.
  3. The Opening is the official start of the den meeting. Whereas the gathering time is an informal time, the opening is an organized activity that signals the beginning of the meeting. Here are some ideas:

Most den meetings begin with a flag ceremony. At this time, the boys can practice saying the Tiger Cub motto and the Cub Scout Promise. 

    • A brief prayer may be included, but always be sensitive to the diverse religious beliefs that may be repre sented in the den.
    • The opening may also include boisterous action or a song.
    • A roll call isn't necessary, but boys like to hear their names being said.
  1. The Share part of the den meeting gives each boy an opportunity to share something that he has done since the last meeting. This activity gives boys time to share family experiences.
  2. For the Discover time, the den leader(s) may introduce the monthly theme or Achievement. Then, the boys will play games, work on craft projects and puzzles, take part in outdoor activities, or work on advancement requirements. The den leader(s) can initial requirements in each boy's handbook as the boy completes them. (You, the adult partner, also sign in the handbook)

Den activities that boys and their adult partners can do together are the best. They are a team, so they should participate and have fun as a team.

Boys love to play games, so each meeting should include at least one game. It can be indoors or outdoors, quiet or active. The host Tiger Cub could lead the game. Once again, adult partners should be included.

Sometimes, boys will do a craft project during a den meeting. For instance, around the holidays, boys could do holiday-related crafts or make something that is needed for the Pack meeting. Some projects can be completed during one or two den meetings, but others might require that you and your Tiger Cub work together at home. The den leader and host adult partner can explain the project and help the boys do it. (You and other adult partners can be very helpful during craft time.)

  1. During the Search time of the meeting, the leaders will talk about plans for the Go See It. Boys love to get out and see new things. This activity could fulfill one of the achievement requirements or one of the elective requirements, and/or it could relate to the monthly theme.
  2. The Closing period draws the meeting to an end and is usually more serious and quiet. Den leaders might present a thought for the day, have the boys say the Tiger Cub motto or the Cub Scout Promise together, and/or give everyone last-minute reminders about upcoming events. Leaders can also use this time to reinforce the 12 core values of Cub Scouting (you'll read about the 12 core values on page 26 tin the Tiger Cub Handbook).
  3. After the Meeting, the den leader and host adult partner review the events of the meeting and finalize plans for the next meeting and the upcoming Pack meeting. If this is the second den meeting of the month, the den leader may meet with the host adult partner for the next month to plan and/or preview that month's den activities.

The Tiger Cub Den Meeting Program plan helps the den leader and host adult partner run a den meeting. A few days (or more) before the den meeting, they fill in the details for each portion of the den meeting, including the plan and the supplies and equipment needed.