Cub Scout Olympics Blue and Gold Dinner

Scouts made the centerpieces. They are soft styrofoam rings with shiny colored paper squares pushed in. The center torch is black paper rolled up with red and orange tissue paper for the flames. The torch is in a cup of sand to hold it upright.  Also stuck in the styrofoam, are olympic rings, the scouts cut out of paper, taped together and then stuck on a stick.  Table cloths were in the olympic colors.

At the front we had and banner painted on butcher paper.  Our olympic cauldron (more below) and cupcake table.

Cupcakes in the shape of olympic rings served as our dessert.

Each scout made a flag in den meetings.  They chose a team name for their families and decorated this name on a flag.  The flags are an old bed sheet cut into rectangles and attached to dowels.  On the table was a pre-opener craft for younger siblings where they could make a torch out of rolled paper and tissue paper for the fire.

Our olympic cauldron was a large black garbage can with a fan and a light inside.  Tissue paper was attached on a wire across the top.  When it was plugged in, it lit up and the paper swayed in the wind.

After dinner, we had an eagle scout in full uniform run in while an olympic fanfare played over the sound system.  He carried a torch around the gym, and then "lit" the cauldron, which we simultaneously plugged in.  Our MC announced "Let the games begin!"

After the cauldron lighting we played olympic music and had the boys with their flags and siblings with their torches march around the gym.  The lights flashed on and off and the MC announced the names of the competing "teams" while we all clapped.  I think the kids could have done this all day!

After the opening ceremony we had 8 different events for the boys and their families to compete in.  Each boy could choose 4 to do Events included such things as relays, basketball, and nurf gun shooting.After the events we gave out medals to the winners.  We had them stand on a stand and gave out gold, silver, bronze. At the end of the evening we gave out large chocolate medals to all the scouts, and then smaller medals to all the sibling who participated.  The entire event, dinner included, lasted 2 hours.

Making Class B T-Shirts for Webelo Scouts

How to Spray Paint a T-Shirt

I wanted to get some Class B uniform shirts (t-shirts) for my Webelos. "What is a Class B uniform?" you ask.  It's basically a t-shirt for your den or pack that you use when you are doing things that would be hard on a Class A uniform (your regular one). This site had a good explanation of how a Class B t-shirt is used.  I thought these would especially helpful for Webelos as we do a lot of hiking, running, swimming and sports.    There are some Class B t-shirts available from the scout shop, and there are a lot of independent places online where you can design and print shirts for your den, but my problem (as is often the case in scouting) is I had very little cash, and I didn't want the families to have to fork out even more money.  So after doing a lot of internet research I decided to give spray paint t-shirts a try.

Here is what you need:

A drawing of the stencil you want to make
Some sort of stiff, yet flexible plastic (I used a plastic folder)
Spray on adhesive (cost me around $6.00 at the walmart)
Spray paint.
Square of card board (to stick in the shirt)
Tape
Newspapers
t-shirts


Step 1: Decide on your design

This first step can be as simple or as complicated as you wish. It could be as simple as buying som stencil numbers at the craft store and laying them down on your shirt. Depending on what you want, you could  find an image on the internet and just print it and use it as-is.  It's up to you how complicated you want to make this process.  The simpler the image, the easier it will be.  The image I chose was somewhat complicated.

Draw your design

Our den mascot is the dragon so I started searching on the internet for dragon stencils. I tried to find one that was very simple and had only the negative and the positive. I found a lot of tattoo sites that had just what I was looking for, but ended up choosing a logo from some high school some where.  I didn't like some parts of the image, so I printed the logo and then put a piece of trace paper over it. I then traced the parts of the logo I wanted and then free handed the parts I wanted to change.  I wanted to add some sort of scouting symbol in there, so I free hand drew the "W" for webelos under my dragon.

Scan your design into the computer.

After I had all that drawn, I scanned my trace paper into my computer. And then in Microsoft Publisher (you could use any editing software) I added my pack numbers.  Be sure to use the "stencil" font when adding any  numbers or text, as you'll have to cut this out.   Then I saved the whole thing as an image file.  Now I can make the file large or small and print it out at will.



Step 2: Cut out your stencil

Tape your design over your plastic.

Print out your design the size you want it to be.  Then tape your design onto the plastic you are going to use for your stencil.   (The first time I did this I cut my stencil out of a cereal box. It worked great the first shirt, but on the second and third shirt the cardboard started to rip and stick.  Online someone recommended that you use one of those old overhead plastics to make stencils with, but I didn't have anything like that lying around.  What I did have is one of those supple plastic folders, so I decided to give that a try.)

Cut along the lines with your exacto knife

Use an x-acto knife to carefully cut out your stencil. I put my plastic on piece of corrugated paperboard (cardboard) and then on a cutting board. This made it easier for me to cut all the way through the plastic sheet because the cardboard beneath was soft and forgiving. Be careful!








Step 3: Prep your shirt

Slide a square of cardboard inside your shirt.

Slide a square piece of cardboard into your shirt. This both smooths out the shirt, but also protects the back of the shirt from the paint soaking through.

The spray paint I chose faded after a few washings. I'll try a different brand next time.

Step 4: Spray adhesive

I don't know that this is a critical step, depending on how crisp you want the lines to be on your stencil.  If you don't mind a little fuzziness, you could just tape your stencil down right on your shirt.  But since I was looking for sharp lines, I used spray adhesive to stick my stencil to my shirt.  Follow the directions on the can for a temporary bond.  The product I used instructed me to spray the stencil and then wait for 60 seconds before sticking it to the shirt.

Spray adhesive stuck to the shirt

Note: If you add too much adhesive or leave it on too long you can sometimes get spray adhesive gunk stuck onto your shirt.  If you do, do not despair. I've had great luck removing the gunk with Goo Gone and following the instructions in this video.  The trick it to add the solvent to the reverse side of the stain.



Step 5: Protect your work area

tape paper around the stencil for overspray

Cover the rest of your shirt with newspapers.  I've found that I have to tape them on around the edge of the stencil.  Unless you are looking for a more splatter type look (like you see at this website), then you might consider using the over spray as part of the design. 



Step 6: Spray paint your shirt

Spray you stencil flat so that the paint doesn't run.  Use short controlled bursts.  Wait 20 minutes between coats. I used four coats on my shirts.

spray flat. use several coats

After allowing another 20 minutes to dry, carefully peel off your stencil. Since I'm making 15 shirts, I want my stencil to last as long as it can.  Once you tear the stencil you'll have to make another one.

Finished shirt!

Step 7: Wash your shirt

After 5 washings the paint is fading. 

Wait 24 hours before washing your shirt. Wash inside out in cold with other dark colors, tumble dry low.   I've had no problem with paint running or sticking.

I have had a problem with fading.  After the first washing the shirt faded about 50%.  In the picture here you can see what the shirt looks like after 5 washings.  For me, the fading isn't that big of deal. These shirts only have to last a year and will not be worn all that often.  If fading is an issue for you, maybe a more expensive brand of spray paint might be in order.  I read one blog where they were using "Testors" brand spray paint and they reported very little fading.

 If you give this a try I'd love to hear about it, so leave a comment.

*Update*

I found this product "Stencil Spray" at our local craft store and thought I would give it a try.  It cost $6.00 and is a really small bottle.  After doing one shirt it feels a little more than half full. So I may get 3 shirts out of this bottle.  It had a spray paint like nozzle, but it sprayed more like thick snake venom then spray paint. It was a sticky tar like substance and at first I panicked because it kind of globed on and I worried that it would just soak through everywhere.  I ended up smearing the stuff around with my thumb, because it just didn't spray on.  The good new is it only took one coat, and after letting it dry I was able to peal away the stencil.  It dried with a plastic like quality.  And has a smooth, thick like texture.  You can see especially on the numbers how it dried kind of thick and dimensional on the shirt.  

Overall I think it looks pretty good. I haven't washed it yet, so I'm not sure how it will wear.  The biggest down side for me was price. At $6 a bottle, and it doing 3 shirts at the most, that is more than I can pay, as I'm trying to do the shirts for more like $3 each.  But if I were making just one shirt for a special reason, I would consider using this product.  

***A Year Later Update****
Edit:  A year latter the shirt I made with the Stencil Spray still looks like the day I made it.  I've used this spray stencil stuff now for several other project including painting over bare spots on black vinyl shoes and repairing rips in black vinyl furniture.

Also, I bought one of those Yudu t-shirt makers at a garage sale for 50$, and I printed another 15 shirts on it for this year.  Wow was that so much easier!   If your going to print a lot of shirts, this may be the way to go.

Flag Ceremony: The Recipe for a Great Nation

For a leader and 5 scouts

You will need: One large bowl. Small US Flag.  3 cups full of colored paper pieces: red, white, blue. large spoon. 

*****

Leader: Today we have a special treat, and we’re going to follow this recipe to make the greatest nation in the land.

Cub Scout 1: First, we put in a heaping cup of red for courage. Red is the color of blood that was spent by great patriots, patriots of old that fought to make this a land of liberty and patriots of today that still fight to keep our country free.  (CUB SCOUT 1 puts pieces of red paper into the pot.)

Cub Scout 2: Next we’ll add blue for truth and justice, founding principles of a great nation where all men are treated equally. (CUB SCOUT 2 puts pieces of blue paper into the pot.)

Cub Scout 3: Finally, we’ll also need some white for purity of thought, word, and deed. Honesty of heart and spirit protect our nation from corruption and build diverse people into a community.  (CUB SCOUT 3 pours in pieces of white paper.)

Cub Scout 4: When you combine these things with patriotism and loyalty... (Scout 4 'stirs' the pot), 

Cub Scout 5: ...you come up with our flag, Old Glory. (CUB SCOUTS 5 removes the flag from the pot, open, and hold it.)

All Scouts: May our flag always fly with honor as a symbol of the qualities we hold most dear.

 
*******
This flag ceremony has been adapted from one originally found in the Roundtable Planning Guide 2012-2013

The Vision Quest: An Arrow of Light Ceremony 

Written for Great Salt Lake Council Pack 4838

Participants:  Cub Master, Seven Adult (or older scout) Leaders

Props Needed:  seven feathers, animal ‘costumes’,  a “forest”

Aprox. Running Time:  less than 10 minutes

Cub Master: I would like to call forward     (scout name(s))      to stand before the pack.  (The boys come forward)  For three years these young men have been learning the way of the true scout.  They have followed Akela and they have done all that has been required of them in the spirit of the scout motto “Do your best”. 

Now they have been called here to be presented the highest award that can be giving in Cub Scouting – The Arrow of Light.  

But before I award them this honor, there is one more thing I will ask them to do.  In the cultures of the American Plans Indians, when a boy grows into a man, he is asked to go on a vision quest, out into the wilderness, to ponder all that he has learned and all that he has yet to learn.  

So before you are given your award,  I ask you    (scout name(s))      to go into the forest and think about the qualities it takes to be a true scout. 

*At this point the Cub Master takes the boys to a “forest”.  Perhaps some fake trees or forest sounds can set the scene. 

Cub Master: Stay here in the forest and think about the qualities it takes to be a true scout. Bring me a feather for each quality you learn.  When you have seven feathers, you may return to me again.

 *Cub Master walks away and leaves the boys standing there.  After a moment has past, the first animal appears.   The animals should be played by scout leader or older scout. “Animal” costumes can be as simple as a head band with ears. Each animal hands the boys a feather as they visit them.

Bobcat: I am the Bobcat.  From me, a scout learns the quality of Self Control.  A new scout learns to obey Akela, and to get along with the other scouts in his den. Self-control isn't limited to the control of one's temper, but control of one's self in all things: eating, playing, and even working and talking.

Wolf: I am the Wolf.  During his days as a Wolf, a scout learns the quality of Courage. Trying new things can be frightening, but scouts face down their fears. Having courage doesn’t mean you have no fear, it means you do what is necessary in spite of your fear. 

Bear: I am the Bear.  A bear scout learns the quality of Justice.  Doing activities with other boys in his den teaches a scout to always play fair and to be kind. Justice is the practice of dealing fairly with everyone without prejudice or regard to race, color, or religion.

Owl:   I am the owl. As a boy became an experience scout, he learns the quality of Wisdom.  A scout opens his mind and makes an effort to learn new things.   But Wisdom is not just gaining knowledge; Wisdom is also knowing how to use your knowledge for a good purpose. 

Buffalo: I am the buffalo. A scout works on developing the quality of Faith. Through earning his religious knot and working on his Faith in God, a scout’s faith is strengthened.  Remember, if you have faith, you hope for things which are not seen, but are true.

Mountain Lion:  I am the mountain lion. A scout looks towards the future with the quality of Hope.  Having hope means to expect with confidence.  Always hope for better things to come. A man without hope is of little good to himself or his community. 

Eagle: I am the eagle. As the last of your animal visitors, I will tell you of the last and most important of all qualities of a true scout. This quality is Love.  A scout has love for his family, love for his fellowman, love for country and love for God.  All these loves are necessary for a happy life, and will motivate you to live a life full of charity.

*After a moment, if the scouts do not return on their own, the Cub Master calls out to the boys and asks them to return.

Cub Master: Have you learned the seven qualities of a true scout?  

*While the boys answer the Cub Master collects the seven feathers.These feathers are symbolically the feathers on the arrow that they receive. 

Cub Master: You have done well! These seven qualities are represented on your arrow of light badge as the seven rays radiating out of the rising sun. The sun is rising because your journey as a scout is only just beginning.  For the rest of your journey, you will wear the Arrow of Light to remind you. As you proceed towards your Eagle, strive to develop these qualities in your life.

Would the parents of these young men please come forward?  

(Continue to present the awards)

 

Humor Break: Naptime?

Easy Oreo Penguins

These cute and easy penguins are perfect for a class party, family or church gathering.  

What you'll need:

• Oreos 
• Mini-Oreos or Bite Sized Oreos (for the head)
• Fruit roll-ups (for the scarf)
• Orange Tick-tacks (for the beak)
• Round Sprinkles (the ones here are called "Edible Confetti" but really any round cake sprinkle will do for the eyes)
• White frosting

Before:

• Take several quart sized freezer bags and put several spoon fulls of frosting in each one.  Cut a tiny piece of one corner to make a several frosting dispensers (so easy, you just throw the whole bag away when you're done).  
• Unrolled the Fruit Roll-ups and cut them with clean scissors into thin strips, leaving the plastic backing in place. 
• Put all the various ingredients into bowls. 

Instructions

• Take one Oreo and unscrew it.  The half that got the cream will be your main body. The half without the cream will become the wings. 
• Break the cookie without the cream in half. These are your wings.  
• Using the cream as glue, press the wings down firmly into place, taking care not to break the cookie.
• Take a mini-Oreo and unscrew it.  We are going to use the half that got the cream, discard/eat the other half.   
• Cream side down, press the mini-Oreo into place as the head. Cream to cream should 'glue' it into place.
• With frosting, make dots for eyes and beak.
• Place round sprinkles for eyes, and a Tick-Tac for the beak. 
• Select a scarf and peal of the plastic backing.  Wrap the scarf around the penguin.

Here are some my daughter's 5th grade class made. 

Humor Break: Ninja Fish

It isn't unusual for my daughter to doodle on her papers, but it is unusual for her to have a teacher doodle back.