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Post by cathyb on Apr 5, 2016 0:50:54 GMT
I am one of the den leaders in our cub scout pack. My son is finishing up his Webelos 1 and has been in the back since Tigers. We do family camping twice a year. I have always tried to make a few planned events as a pack during our campouts, (fishing, hiking, etc) and that includes siblings, anyone that wants to join. But I also believe that if the individual den wants to plan something for just their den to do in addition to the pack adventures, that is fine too. Each rank has different camping requirements so in my mind, what better time to accomplish those requirements than when you are camping. I am bumping heads with one of my den's other leaders. He is insisting we do no den breakouts at all. Anything that is done is done as a pack. He texted me today to find out what I have planned for the pack to do during our campout this weekend. Ummmm, I have taken care of the campfire night, flag retiring ceremony, and I will put something together for our den that has to do with their requirements. He is insisting that not be done because we would break away from the pack. At the last campout, I planned foil dinners and told my den parents to come prepared to do that. At a campout before that, I purchased $100 worth of pvc so my den could do a craft. Both times I sent several texts prior to camping what I had planned to the other den leaders of all ranks to see if they wanted in on it. They dropped the ball and did not participate. That made it a bummer for the younger kids especially because I did not have enough supplies for everyone.
My question is this.....As a parent and leader, my expectation for a cub scout family campout is organized pack activities, den breakouts if planned, (both of those with the thought of earning patches or completing requirements) free play time for the kids, and the standard campfire, s'mores, skits, flag retirement ceremony on Saturday night.
Other den leader, strictly pack/family everything. No breakouts at all. (he was also of the mindset of no planned activities at all, just a free for all for the kids the entire weekend, but I got that curtailed because we had families that do not camp at all and just came so that their child could experience the cub scout camp out so I figured we needed something scoutish going on)
What would be your expectation as a parent on a family cub scout campout? As a leader or parent would you think it odd if a den broke off and completed a project or requirement? If I'm barking up the wrong tree, I want to see the other side.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 1, 2024 15:43:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 0:58:21 GMT
I'm not sure I have a firm opinion but everything we have done as a pack is for the entire pack, no break outs. We use den meetings and events for that. I don't think there is a right or wrong way as long as everyone agrees.
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,788 
Location: Kentucky
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Post by Kerri W on Apr 5, 2016 0:59:34 GMT
My experience has been everything done as a pack and no breakouts but the whole campouts were very well planned with a lot of activities.
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Post by hop2 on Apr 5, 2016 1:01:15 GMT
We usually did cub scout campouts 3-4 times per year at camp with many other packs. Our pack would get its own campsite other packs got other sites. We did camp wide activities, pack wide activities, den activities AND even individual activities. So I've never experienced all things done all together. As a pack we cooked nearly every meal where as many packs just went to the dining hall. ( less work you jst show up )
Some families did Friday night thru Sunday some families left late sat night some families came mid Saturday, it was whatever you could do. Pack leader provided the camp wide schedule to all families, den leaders were welcome to schedule anything they wanted in between ( our den usually did extra fishing and extra 'Riflery' ( BB guns at that age ) and individual scouts were welcome to fill out the rest of the time as they wished. Many did belt loops some did nothing.
We'd have had a whole lot of extra stress if everyone had to do everything all together. Geez
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 5, 2016 1:22:13 GMT
If it is family camp out, it should always include the whole family. Dens could put on an activity that help advance, but I wouldn't do breakout sections because it penalizes families with more than one acout.
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Post by holly on Apr 5, 2016 1:40:45 GMT
It's been many years since my DS was a Cub Scout but the family camp outs we went on usually had Pack activities. We didn't usually break up into dens. Family camp was more about having fun together not earning towards badges or belt loops. We went fishing sometimes, hiking, played horseshoes, volleyball, had the boys cook the adults dinner, stuff like that. We also only did family camp once a year. When we went regular camping (not family camp) it was more den geared, especially when we got into Boy Scouts.
Btw, you can still check requirements off even when they aren't broken off into dens. As long as they participate in the activity I'd check it off for them. Save the crafts for another time unless the whole Pack is onboard.
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Post by tampascrapper on Apr 5, 2016 1:49:21 GMT
It's been awhile since I did the scout camp out stuff, my Eagle Scout is now 21  From what I remember they did a lot together but had breakouts too. The scouts were in charge of planning things and I didn't really get that involved. I wanted my son to learn to work with others to get things organized and accomplished. He learned great leadership skills going one to be asst pack leader and then pack leader for 2 or 3 years. |
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Post by craftedbys on Apr 5, 2016 2:03:14 GMT
DH and I were den leaders for the five years DS was in cubs and now DH has gone back to be the Cubmaster of the Pack.
I think part of it depends on how large of a pack you are talking about. Our pack has always had anywhere from 50-75 cubs, almost that many families considering the siblings. Den sizes range from 10 to 15, any more and the rank is divided into two dens. We camp twice a year and we do it the same way each time.
We have the camp divided so each den/rank camps together in a section and everyone eats as a den. The den leader (or a designated parent in the den) is grubmaster and plans/shops for just their den. For families with more than one scout, they have to decide which den they will camp/eat with even though the scout does activities with their den. {This can be a sore spot, I had a family who always insisted on camping/paying for food with the younger sons den, but tried to eat with us because what we were having looked better, but sorry, food was not purchased for you because you chose the other den.)
On Saturday morning we have pack activities, starting with a flag ceremony followed by games, scout skills, etc and then after lunch we might have a hike, but mostly we have den time where each den can go on a hike or fishing or do whatever and then late afternoon we have free time where all the scouts can play together. After dinner with our dens, we come back together to retire the flag and then have a campfire with skits etc.
Sunday we have scout church as a pack before going back and eating breakfast with our dens and breaking camp.
It sounds like your Cubmaster or committee chair needs to have a leaders meeting to plan the campout and specifically lay out the activities so leaders know in advance what they need to plan for. Don't apologize because you have your act together and others are too lazy or clueless to plan.
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Post by Basket1lady on Apr 5, 2016 2:13:56 GMT
DH and I were den leaders for the five years DS was in cubs and now DH has gone back to be the Cubmaster of the Pack. I think part of it depends on how large of a pack you are talking about. Our pack has always had anywhere from 50-75 cubs, almost that many families considering the siblings. Den sizes range from 10 to 15, any more and the rank is divided into two dens. We camp twice a year and we do it the same way each time. We have the camp divided so each den/rank camps together in a section and everyone eats as a den. The den leader (or a designated parent in the den) is grubmaster and plans/shops for just their den. For families with more than one scout, they have to decide which den they will camp/eat with even though the scout does activities with their den. {This can be a sore spot, I had a family who always insisted on camping/paying for food with the younger sons den, but tried to eat with us because what we were having looked better, but sorry, food was not purchased for you because you chose the other den.) On Saturday morning we have pack activities, starting with a flag ceremony followed by games, scout skills, etc and then after lunch we might have a hike, but mostly we have den time where each den can go on a hike or fishing or do whatever and then late afternoon we have free time where all the scouts can play together. After dinner with our dens, we come back together to retire the flag and then have a campfire with skits etc. Sunday we have scout church as a pack before going back and eating breakfast with our dens and breaking camp. It sounds like your Cubmaster or committee chair needs to have a leaders meeting to plan the campout and specifically lay out the activities so leaders know in advance what they need to plan for. Don't apologize because you have your act together and others are too lazy or clueless to plan. This was very much our experience as well. Sure it's good to do things as a group. But a 10 year old isn't going to want to do things on the same level as a Tiger Scout. And a Tiger Scout can't do everything a Webelos does. You do things as a pack to have the older scouts mentor the younger scouts. But an hour away from the pack isn't going to ruin the experience for the entire weekend. Even in boy scouts, there's a big difference between a 12 year old and a 16 year old. For example, hikes. Our troop always offers a shorter hike for those scouts who are younger or not as fit. DS was one of the bigger kids at 12, but even he couldn't keep up with the older scouts--his legs just weren't long enough and his pack was as big as he was. |
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Post by cathyb on Apr 5, 2016 3:32:08 GMT
DH and I were den leaders for the five years DS was in cubs and now DH has gone back to be the Cubmaster of the Pack. I think part of it depends on how large of a pack you are talking about. Our pack has always had anywhere from 50-75 cubs, almost that many families considering the siblings. Den sizes range from 10 to 15, any more and the rank is divided into two dens. We camp twice a year and we do it the same way each time. We have the camp divided so each den/rank camps together in a section and everyone eats as a den. The den leader (or a designated parent in the den) is grubmaster and plans/shops for just their den. For families with more than one scout, they have to decide which den they will camp/eat with even though the scout does activities with their den. {This can be a sore spot, I had a family who always insisted on camping/paying for food with the younger sons den, but tried to eat with us because what we were having looked better, but sorry, food was not purchased for you because you chose the other den.) On Saturday morning we have pack activities, starting with a flag ceremony followed by games, scout skills, etc and then after lunch we might have a hike, but mostly we have den time where each den can go on a hike or fishing or do whatever and then late afternoon we have free time where all the scouts can play together. After dinner with our dens, we come back together to retire the flag and then have a campfire with skits etc. Sunday we have scout church as a pack before going back and eating breakfast with our dens and breaking camp. It sounds like your Cubmaster or committee chair needs to have a leaders meeting to plan the campout and specifically lay out the activities so leaders know in advance what they need to plan for. Don't apologize because you have your act together and others are too lazy or clueless to plan. This is exactly what I'm thinking. Thank you. |
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