New Cub Scouts 2010 leader courses

By taking the online Fast Start training, you'll be off to a good start to having a fun and successful Cub Scouting experience for your son, yourself and all the families you serve in Scouting.  After you've created your MyScouting training account, here's how you access the new Fast Start courses:

(fig 1) - Click on the "Cub Scout" tab to access New Cub Scouting 2010 courses are Fast Starts for Cubmasters, Den Leaders and Pack Committee.  Each of these courses are less than 30 minutes long, and are easy to follow.  You need a high speed internet connection to access these courses.

If you click on the "General" tab, you can also take "Youth Protection Training" and "This is Scouting."

Once you've taken Fast Start, Youth Protection and This is Scouting, you've taken all of the courses needed to be a "Trained Leader," except Cub Scout Leader Specific Training (for your Scouting position). 

(fig 2) - Cubmaster Fast Start reviews the roles of a Cubmaster: to provide leadership for the Pack, to lead each monthly Pack meeting, to coordinate pack membership, recruiting and training.  You also get a good overview of how a Pack is organized.  You will learn best practices of running a Cub Pack, including planning, having everyone have more fun by getting everyone to participate in Pack meetings, proper uniforming, starting and stopping on time, keeping the Pack meeting moving, awarding rank advanement, and keeping the Pack meeting simple.

(fig 3) - Fast Start teaches you the basics of being a successful Cubmaster or Den Leader with a series of multimedia lessons, followed with review questions.

(fig 4) - Cubmasters will learn the seven steps of a Pack Meeting:

Before the Meeting - checking facilities and seating, audiovisual needs, and having awards for all boys and leaders

Gathering - assigning a different den each month to greet arrivals, have space for dens to show off their hard work for the month, and having a pre-meeting activity which is active and fun (use the How To Book for activity suggestions).

Opening - Assign a den each month to lead an opening, usually a flag ceremony.  Then have someone do a prayer that is diverse, serving all faiths in your Pack.

Program - Use the new Cub Scout 2010 Den and Pack Meeting Plan book to have an interesting program, based on Scouting's Character Counts themes.

Recognition - Have your Pack's Awards person lay out awards by den before the Pack meeting starts.  Have a ceremony that's simple and meaningful, that recognizes all advancement.  Make sure you pronounce everyone's name right, and recognize adults who helped your Pack this month.  The Cub Scout Ceremonies Guide can give you ideas for good ceremonies.

Closing - Pass out the Pack newsletter, have a few short important announcements, and have an inspirational Cubmaster's Minute.  Finish with a closing by an assigned den.

After the meeting - Have refreshments (if desired), clean up (getting the Cub Scouts to help) and then evaluate the Pack Meeting while it's still fresh in your mind.

(fig 5) -  BSA publications are great resources for creating successful Pack and Den meetings.  These are available at the Council Service Center or online here.  The course also give hints on how to run a good meeting, including using the Cub Scout sign to get attention and control behavior, and encouragment to reach out and get more parents involved, to help make the Pack more fun and meaningful for everyone.

(fig 6) - The Den Leader Fast Start gives you some basic ideas of how to plan and conduct a den meeting, to help your Cub Scout Den advance and how to prepare for the monthly Pack meeting.  Most dens meet four times a month: two Den meetings, one activity/event, and one Pack meeting.

(fig 7) - You will learn that Tigers are first graders, who are usually age 7, and participate with an adult partner.  Wolfs are second graders (usually age 8), Bears are third graders (usually age 9), and Webelos are fourth and fifth graders (usually age 10-11).

(fig 8) - Den Leaders will learn the seven steps of a Den Meeting:

Before the Meeting - determining where the den meeting will be and communicating that to all parents, making sure there are safe and adequate facilities, having a meeting planned and materials needed.

Gathering - use the Cub Scout How To Book for game, song and activity ideas, to keep boys busy and having fun, while everyone arrives.

Opening - Have boys take turns doing an opening activity, such as a flag ceremony, Cub Scout sign and salute, or reciting the Cub Scout Promise.

Business Items - Discuss what the den needs to do to get ready for their part in the Pack meeting, have boys share advancement they workedon last week at home, discuss upcoming den activities, and recognize advancement.

Program - The hands-on activities related to advancement, as laid out in the Den and Pack Meeting Guide.

Closing - Pass out the Den newsletter, have a few short important announcements, and have an inspirational Den Leader's Minute.  Finish with a closing, such as the Living Circle.

After the meeting - Have refreshments (if desired), clean up (getting the Cub Scouts to help) and then evaluate the Pack Meeting while it's still fresh in your mind.

The Fast Start course for Den Leaders also offers suggestions for managing boy behavior.

Don't know how to create an online learning course?  Click here.