25 September 2008
FastTracks
Posted by admin under: Uncategorized; program .
Ha! I finally figured out how to link directly to individual stories at Scoutmaster Musings (or Boy Scout Trail if you’re looking at the other title). That’s good because the site brings an interesting and relevant story for me since I’m a Tiger den leader.
BSA has expanded the FastTracks program of Cub Scout den meeting plans. This program provides more advancement opportunity in den meetings rather than each scout working with parents at home to complete requirements. Testing of the program the past two years has indicated that a scout retention improvement of about 20% occurs when using the program resources.
The program is a set of about 16 den meeting plans in PDF form for each Cub Scout rank that step the den through all the requirements to earn rank. The plans list materials and preparation needed, gathering, opening ceremony, advancement activities, and closing for each meeting – pretty sweet! Den leaders can just print off the PDFs, follow the schedule for the year, and move along. As long as scouts show up, they should all earn their ranks just fine.
Turn on your sound and check out FastTracks Site
After reading it further, I’m so going to use this program. I’ll need to tweak it a bit because I like making a production out of my pack presentations and that needs some preparation.
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3 Comments so far...
Walter Underwood Says:
25 September 2008 at 4:43 pm.
This is long overdue. I was so disappointed with the Wolf program materials that I wrote my own Wolf curriculum, Wolf Notes (http://wunderwood.org/wolfnotes/wolfnotes.shtml), to help our incoming Den Leaders. I did it as a Wood Badge ticket item four years ago.
The standard program materials don’t provide any way to get the Cubs through the badges. To finish Wolf, either the Den Leader or the family needs to spend a lot of time understanding the requirements (quite complicated, really) and getting things done.
Our Wood Badge patrol had two Cub leaders and we both chose ticket items to get new leaders started more easily. She put together full packets of all the official forms and training.
The first year as a Den Leader is pretty hard — lots to learn and the BSA materials are scattered and far less helpful than you’d expect.
admin Says:
25 September 2008 at 5:03 pm.
Excellent! Thanks for putting that out there, Walter. I’ll be looking at it next year, I’m sure. No worries for me. I’ve gone through the whole thing with my older son, too. However, I started as a Wolf den leader and the Tiger program has changed since he was in that level. Now, with a daughter in Girl Scouts and a son in Boy Scouts and a few years older to boot, I’m finding myself willing to refer to others more than I did before.
I’ve always constructed my den plan to advance the boys, but I also left room for them to finish things at home. Of course, it also depends on guys showing up to the meetings. My goal right now is to get all of my guys through Bobcat next month. I’m wondering if it’s a realistic goal due to them being 1st graders and having to memorize the Law of the Pack and the Promise. Time and attendance will tell.
Walter Underwood Says:
25 September 2008 at 5:53 pm.
For memorizing the Law and Promise, I used an opening and closing ceremony. We stood in a circle and each Cub gave one line of the Law. We went around the circle at least once, then did it again with the Promise. After a few meetings doing that at opening and closing, they’ll get the hang of it.
By the way, the requirement is not “memorize”. It is “learn and say” for the Promise, and “say” and “tell what it means” for the Law. The requirements are always within easy reach of an average Cub. If it seems difficult, re-read it to make sure.
I always used “Do Your Best” when signing off requirements. Sometimes, your best isn’t very good, but if it is your best, I think the requirement is satisfied. If you can’t get both feet off the ground when you jump, like my older son, you’ve still done “See how high you can jump” (Wolf Achievement 1f)!
