Lion Cub Pilot Program

Lion Cub Scouts

• Program focused on parent planning and delivery with youth participation
• Specifically designed, age appropriate literature for kids
• Adult Partners will learn basics of youth development

The Lion Cub Scouts is a pilot program created to introduce a new Cub Scout program for boys age 5 or in Kindergarten and their adult partners. The program is focused on parent planning and delivery with support from the Cub Scout pack using literature specifically designed for the younger age group (Lion Cub Scout Adult Guide and Lion Cub Scout Adventure Guide). The Adult Guide contains a detailed plan for each month’s curriculum and breaks down each section into Family/Den Activities, At-Home Activities and Grand Adventures. The program was developed by the Northern Star Council and is scheduled to test for a total of 5 years. 2008-2009 is the first year of the program and includes a total of 262 of Lion Cub Scouts currently enrolled in the program. During the year, Adult Partners will be asked to provide answers to detailed survey questions and provide feedback on each month’s theme, plans and activities. The first report on the pilot program will be released at the end of December 2008 based on the October/November adult partner surveys and evaluations. The primary curriculum/educational outcomes are for parents/Adult Partners to learn the basics of youth development and Scouting’s proven tools for raising happy, healthy children. The outcome for the kids is to discover the fun of Scouting at an earlier age.The Lion Cub Scouts pilot program will ultimately be evaluated based on retention of youth in the program. The initial results will be tabulated based on the number of youth registering as Tiger Cubs by June 2009 with a targeted retention rate of 75%. In addition to Tiger Cub registration, attendance at camp and advancement will be measured. At the end of the year, the entire program curriculum will be evaluated based on parent/Adult Partner surveys, evaluations and other observations by the local council staff. If warranted, the program will then be expanded to a larger area to test the initial results of the first year of the program.

Girls in Cub Scouting & Female Eagle Scouts in Venturing

Both ideas have been assigned to the BSA Innovation and Strategy Group. A meeting and discussion will take place regarding these suggestions and the action taken will be updated soon.

BSA's Kindergarten Pilot Program

From: BSA, Innovation Team, Innovation and Strategy Group
The Innovation and Strategy Group is currently monitoring a pilot program which creates a new rank for kindergarten-aged boys. A brief summary of the program will be entered on to the Pilot Program section of the Innovations Engine shortly. Thank you.

Adopt a US Soldier Program

Last night at the Rio Hondo District Roundtable, Cubmaster Elaine Gadbury, Pack 72, shared one of the unit's Best Practices. The Pack 72 Cub Scouts have adopted a US soldier who is deployed in a combat area. They are going to exchange letters and send care packages. This is a wonderful opportunity for our Scouts, and for our service men & women. See Elaine's email below with more information. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks.

From: elainegadbury@msn.comTo: aearete@aol.comSent: 12/5/2008 4:56:51 P.M. Mountain Standard TimeSubj: FW: Your Soldier Information from AAUSS ( Adopt a US soldier )
Dear Anthony, Here is the web site to adopt a US soldier.Visit our site: http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/index.html- Click the tab “What to Send” for suggestions.- Visit the “How to Send” tab to find out post office requirements.

Scout Executive Fireside Chat & Roundtable

On Thursday, December 4, 2008, 06:00 PM, at the S. P. Yates Scout Service Center (2603 North Aspen Avenue), Roswell, (one-hour before Roundtable) the Scout Executive, Guy Eichsteadt (my boss) will host a Fireside Chat. This is an opportunity to meet the Scout Executive, and for him to meet all of our leaders from the Rio Hondo District. Guy would also like to hear your ideas and suggestions for the coming year, and hear any concerns you may have about the program.

Following the Fireside, at 7:00 PM, we will have Roundtable at the S.P. Yates Scout Service Center in Roswell. (The Scout Store will also be open during that period.) Roundtable is a great opportunity for Scout leaders, parents and other interested members of the community to learn more about the Scouting program, receive training, share ideas & best practices, and enjoy some good snacks! Hope to see you at Roundtable on Thursday. Let me know if you have any questions. Thank You!

2009 Tour Permit Changes

Beginning January 1, 2009 Tour Permits will require that at least one leader attending the outing has been certified in the new BSA Planning and Preparing for Hazardous Weather. Currently this course is only offered on-line at the online training portal. The course can be found on the "General" tab and it is listed as "Weather Hazards."

Scouting Article by The Roswell Record

Check out this article that appeared in Sunday's edition of the Roswell Record.

http://www.roswell-record.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=35532&SectionID=49&SubSectionID=112