Outdoor Code Gathering Activity

Explaining and agreeing to follow the Outdoor Code is a requirement to earn the Webelos Badge, so I made this fill in the blank gathering activity. Just print this off and have the boys start working on it as they come in. Gathering activities really help get our Webelos quiet and set the tone for a more productive den meeting.
I'm not good at attaching documents to the blog, so here it is, just copy and paste it into a word document. The answer key is below.

As an American I will do my best to

Be clean in my outdoor manners

I will treat the outdoors as a heritage.
I will take c_ _ _ of it for my_ _ _ _ and others.
I will keep my trash and g_ _ _ _ _ _ out of lakes, streams, fields, w_ _ _ _, and roadways.

Be careful with fire

I will prevent wild_ _ _ _ _.
I will b_ _ _ _ my fires only where they are appropriate.
When I have finished using a fire, I will make sure it is cold o_ _.
I will leave a clean fire ring, or r_ _ _ _ _ all evidence of my fire.

Be considerate in the outdoors

I will treat public and p_ _ _ _ _ _ property with respect.
I will use low-impact methods of h_ _ _ _ _ and camping.

Be conservation minded

I will learn how to practice good conservation of soil, w_ _ _ _ _, forests, minerals, grass_ _ _ _ _, wildlife, and energy.
I will urge others to do the s_ _ _.

I agree to follow the outdoor code.

Sign here _______________________________

As an American I will do my best to

Be clean in my outdoor manners

I will treat the outdoors as a heritage.
I will take care of it for myself and others.
I will keep my trash and garbage out of lakes, streams, fields, woods, and roadways.

Be careful with fire

I will prevent wildfire.
I will build my fires only where they are appropriate.
When I have finished using a fire, I will make sure it is cold out.
I will leave a clean fire ring, or remove all evidence of my fire.

Be considerate in the outdoors

I will treat public and private property with respect.
I will use low-impact methods of hiking and camping.

Be conservation minded

I will learn how to practice good conservation of soil, waters, forests, minerals, grasslands, wildlife, and energy.
I will urge others to do the same.

I agree to follow the outdoor code.

Sign here _______________________________

         

Keeping Track of Sportsman

Our Webelos den has a lot of boys right now (13!) and some of them play community team sports. To keep track of who has what, I created this excel spreadsheet so you can write down each boy's name, the individual or team sport and which of the requirements towards each belt loop they have completed. For example, I know a few of the boys play baseball, so they have done the practice, the game, but they need to explain the rules to a den leader, so I would write baseball under team sport and check off 2 and 3.

Here is a link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4ZDOmoKe8TzZW5IOHAzUkJQdGc/edit?usp=sharing

Example of Our Webelos Schedule for 2014

We were asked to make a plan for the year for our Webelos. The Bishop of our Ward (we are LDS) asked for our plan specifically. On our plan I have also includes the Faith in God requirements that correspond to what we are doing for the month. This is just an example, I know lots of other troops try to get through ever activity badge in one year, but we mostly focus on getting the Webelos Badge and the Arrow of Light. Throughout the year we will fulfill other requirements as gathering activities -  such as discussing the scout uniform or learning about the webelos badge.

Here is our schedule:

Webelos Plan for 2014

January – Showman Activity Badge

·        Write play, Make puppets, Make backdrop

·        Faith in God Developing Talents #3

February – Citizen Activity Badge

·        Learn about history of the flag

·        Citizen Character connection – learn about being a good citizen

·        Service Project

·        Faith in God Serving Other #8

March – Geologist & Forrester Activity Badges

·        Learn about fossils and minerals

·        Learn about life cycle of tree

·        Collect samples

April – Fitness Activity Badge

·        Make a healthy meal plan

·        Learn about the Word of Wisdom

·        Faith in God Learning and Living the Gospel #7 and Developing Talents #9

May – Outdoorsman Activity Badge

·        Prepare for and go on a hike

·        Learn about Leave No Trace guidelines

·        Faith in God Learning and Living the Gospel #6

June – Readyman Activity Badge

·        Learn and practice first aid techniques

·        Make a home fire escape plan

·        Faith in God Learning and Living the Gospel #4

July – No Den Meetings

·        Day  Camp

August – Handyman Activity Badge

·        Learn how to make common repairs

·        Responsibility Character Connection – being responsible on your own

·        Faith in God Learning and Living the Gospel #9

September – Family Member Activity Badge

·        Discuss family duties

·        Perform home inspection

·        Job Chart

·        Faith in God Developing Talents #1

October – Artist Activity Badge

·        Discuss jobs in art field

·        Create art portfolio

·        Faith in God Developing Talents #4

November – Scholar Activity Badge

·        Discuss jobs in education

·        Positive Attitude Character Connection – positing attitude will help in school

·        Faith in God Developing Talents #6

December – Communicator Activity Badge

·        Discuss methods of communication

·        Invent den secret code

·        Faith in God Serving Others #2

Food Coloring Explosion Activity - Food Coloring, Milk, Dish Soap

Here is a fun activity you could use for the Webelos Artist Activity Badge #4 - List the primary and secondary colors.  Explain what happens when you combine colors.

We did this as a lunch date activity for our kids but I'm sure the Webelos would love it too.

 
First you put milk in a dish, we used disposable aluminum pans. Then drop in a few drops of food coloring, dip a toothpick in dish soap and touch the drops of food coloring with the toothpick. The food coloring explodes in the dish.

If you do this for the Artist Activity Badge, you could drop in food coloring of the primary colors. After you let the boys experiment with the color explosions, have them mix the primary colors with a spoon to get secondary colors.

20 Blue and Gold Banquet Themes and Ideas

Last Thursday, when I went to Regional Roundtable, we discussed ideas for Blue and Gold themes. This list was so great that I thought I would post it. It would also be a great list for party theme ideas.

Pick a theme where you can have fun with Invitations, Dinner, Dessert, Drinks, Decor, Entertainment, Crafts, Music, Giving Awards, and Dressing Up!

Here it is:  

Mad Scientist: Have someone dressed as a mad scientist and perform an experiment as entertainment, make Flubber, serve root beer made with dry ice, pop rocks, nerd glasses and lab coats
Trip To Hawaii: Board a pretend airplane in one room and then the party is in another room decorated like a luau. Leis, pineapple, Hawaii Music.  
Snoopy: Doghouses, Peanuts Characters, Stuffed Dogs, Dog Biscuits, Dog Bowls  
Circus: Tent/Canopy, Balloons, Cotton Candy, Pop Corn, Three Rings, Parade, Aerial Wire, Clowns, Juggling, Wagons  
Monopoly: Chance Cards, Jail, Play Money, Houses/Hotels, Each Table a Different Property  
Fire Station: Dalmatians, Fire Trucks, Firemen, Ladders  
Baseball: Set up tables in a diamond, put a box for a pitchers mound and give the boys awards on the mound. Eat hot dogs, peanuts, cracker jacks  
Football: Goalposts, Pom-poms (in blue and gold of course), Yard Markers, Helmets, Footballs Olympics: Medals, 5-ring symbol, Theme Music, Award Stands, Torch, Events
Native American Indian Lore: Teepees, Bows/Arrows, Artifacts, Buffaloes, Dream Catcher Craft, Animal Hides, Drums, Totem Poles, Campfires
Trains: Station, Models, Luggage, Tickets, Conductor, Tracks, Platform 9&3/4 (for a Harry Potter theme)  
Patriotic: Flags, Eagles, US Presidents  
Western: Country Store, Barrels, Candy Jars, Wanted Posters, Cowboy Hats, Lanterns, Play checkers, Hay Bale, Eat sloopy joes, or BBQ sandwiches
Under the Sea: Surfing, Waves, Sea Animals, Snack on swedish fish and goldfish crackers 
Pirates: Ships, Treasure Chest, Skull/Crossbone Flag, Eye Patch, Gold Doubloons, Maps, Parrots, Cannons
Bees: Hives, Honey, Clover, Flowers, Honeycomb, Show clips from Bee Movie  
Highways: Road Maps, Cars, Traffic Signs, Bill Boards, Gas Station  
Noah's Ark: Ark, Animals, Rainbow, Dove, Raindrops  
Farm: Barns, Tractors, Hay Vales, Silos, Fences, Animals, Serve Pie  
Jungle: Monkeys, Trees, Jungle Sound Effects, Eat Fruit - Bananas, Mango

Here are achievements that can be earned with Blue and Gold Activities:

WOLF:
-A12f Make a poster for a Cub Scout Project or  a pack meeting
-E9a Help with a party: Planning the party, scenery, decorate/setup the room, serve the food and clean up.

BEAR:
9a,b,c  Make cookies, snack, and a dinner side dish
15b,c Play two organized games with your den and select a game that your den has never played. Explain the rules. Tell them how to play it and then play it with them.
18d Write an invitation to someone

WEBELOS
-Showman : create a puppet show, write it , make puppets, build stage
-Craftsman : make decor out of non-wood materials

Other ideas:
Decorating cupcakes as a contest.
Don't forget to write Thank you notes for the parents
Find themed music stations online on Pandora, Spotify, etc.

Tracking Webelos Advancement - Spreadsheet

Here is a file that you can use to track your Webelos as they earn badges and advance. I can't credit the original author since it was given to me by our former Webelos leader (I'm not sure where she got it), but I did update it a tad so it better suited my needs. I wanted one that would fit on one page, so the font is quite small. If the font is too small, then it will give you a good example to look off of to create your own in excel. Others I have seen have included a place to mark the dates that each boy was a Denner etc. I have also seen an example that added the Faith in God activities (for LDS Webelos). Since it is a PNG file, when you go to print, change your settings to Fast Draft so it won't print picture quality and use a lot of ink.

Tracking Webelos Advancement - Spreadsheet