One of the key elements in having a successful pack is keeping the cub scouts interested.  The Raingutter Regatta and Pinewood Derby are great, but only occur once a year.  Boring pack meetings will only lead to bored scouts.  Here are several ideas to bring some excitement to your next den meeting or pack meeting!

• Cub Scout 500 - Have the cub scouts build a "race car" at home.  Tell them to use a cardboard box for the car and decorate it with whatever they want.  They can make holes in the sides for their arms or make straps to go over their shoulders to keep the car on.  Any materials are allowed, such as pie pan wheels and paper towel roll exhaust pipes.  The next pack meeting will be the big race.  All scouts should bring their car, a water bottle, a towel and an extra set of "tie" shoes.  Set cones in a grassy area to map out the oval track (not too big so the Tigers will physically make the whole race!)  Each scout has one person as their "pit crew" who will stand on the inside of the track at the start line.  Begin with the Tigers.  Have the scouts race in their cars around the track one time and stop at their pit.  The pit crew takes off their shoes and replaces them with ties shoes.  This is "changing the tires."  One more circle around and then a stop at the pit crew for a "fill up."  For the fill-up, each scout eats two saltine crackers and washes it down with water before running the final lap.  And of course, at the end of the final lap, cheer everyone on for a job well done! This event is exciting, has spills, thrills and fallen car parts after each race - fun for the parents too!

 

 

• Cheering - Any time it is appropriate for clapping, use a special cheer!  Bring an empty Cheer bottle and have the scout master lift the lid.  Every time the lid is off, everyone cheers loudly.  You can also use a neckerchief for cheering.  The Pack Leader throws it in the air and people cheer while it is in the air.  They have to stop when the leader grabs it.  Do this several times, grabbing it quickly or pretending to throw it but not. 

• Cubstruction! - Create a package of the same items for every scout.  Place all items in a large paper grocery bag, again for each scout.  Items to include can be straws, paper plates, washers, paper clips, pinecones, string, yarn, pipe cleaners, plastic utensils, foam peanuts, paper clips, feathers, egg cartons and so forth.  Each bag has to contain the same items.  Pass these bags out and tell each scout that for the next meeting, they need to bring in an invention created with the items in the bag.  They do not have to use every item, and they are allowed to use any form of glue or tape.  Just wait until you see the amazing things the scouts come up with!  Some will use the bag too, others will create games, some will create robots.  If you like, you can tie this project into a theme such as Space Stations or Conservation.   Have a long table set up at the next meeting to display all the wonderful projects.  Each scout can get in front of the group and describe his project.  This is a lot of fun for both the cub scouts and the parents.

• Skits - What is a scout meeting without a scout skit?  Every meeting should have one skit prepared by a different den.  The skit can be elaborate or only last a moment.  These are fun to watch and help prepare the scout for speaking in public.

• Halloween - The Halloween meeting can be most fun of all.  Scouts can dress in costumes and have a parade around the room.  The month before, ask each den to create a Halloween display for the October meeting.  They can create a "haunted house," a game with a Halloween theme - anything they want!  The display can have candy for each visitor.  Then have a time during the meeting for everyone to walk around the room enjoying the displays.

• The Amazing Shrinking Arm - One of the keys to a good meeting is keeping it fresh.  Ask the boys to get up and go to the nearest wall.  Have them close enough to the wall to extend one arm and touch the wall with their fingertips.  Now, tell them to rub the inside of their arm briskly for 10 to 20 seconds.  Tell them to hold out their arm towards the wall.  Surprise!  Their fingers will not touch the wall - their arms have shrunk!

• Balloon Game - Need a break in the pack meeting?  Have balloons already blown up with a string tied to each.  Tell the scouts to tie one balloon on one of their ankles.  When the Pack Leader says go, everyone should run around trying to stomp on everyone else's balloon.  The last person to have a balloon un-popped wins.

• Toilet Paper Mummies - Another good break for a meeting!  Each scout has a partner.  One will be the mummy, one will be the wrapper.  Each wrapper has one roll of toilet paper.  When the leader yells, "Go," the wrapper must wrap the mummy with as much toilet paper as they can.  When time is called, the winner is most wrapped.  Now comes the "clean up" lesson!  Make sure you have a big trashcan, and see how fast the group can clean up all that toilet paper!

• Scout Recruitment - Do you want to recruit more boys for scouts?  Here is a wonderful incentive for your current cub scouts to recruit their friends.  Have the leader tell them that for each person the scout recruits, they can throw a whipped cream pie at the leader.  The rule is, the recruit has to come to a meeting with their form filled out IN UNIFORM before the recruiter can throw the pie.  The leader can lay down a sheet, put a chair over it, sit in the chair and wrap a sheet or tarp around their body - then get ready for a yummy blast of whipped cream in an aluminum pie pan - and LOTS of screams of laughter!

We also know a secret knot tying trick that is a great break in between pack business.  Click here to see the trick!