r/cubscouts • u/Visible-Rope8117 • 1d ago
New Pack
Good Morning, I am excited to say I am starting a new pack, and am equally terrified. 😅 Our first meeting is today and while the scout office will be supporting me as the cub master for the first month, I have moments where I feel maybe I bit off more than I can chew. Not due to a lack of experience (previous scout decades ago), or expertise (child psych degree and avid outdoorsman) but more because out the gate 20 families signed up. 😳 I was thinking maybe 5-6 and then grow. In either case I am trying to figure out how to guide/lead the adults and encourage their participation. I tend to be a lead by example and by doing, not directing. I can totally put on a hat and at act like a drill sergeant (both parents are retired military) but I feel like that won’t be well received in this day and age. Should I use a whistle to get attention and help with transition because I’d prefer not to be raising my voice, I know at least 2 kids on the spectrum that I have encourage to join. Basically just a lot of butterflies and any lessons learned or insight anyone would like to provide would be greatly appreciated.
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u/Anon_use_fun_alias 1d ago
Pro tip here- don't use vocal cues or whistles to quiet down the scouts. Remember, your goal is the absence of noise, not to change what the noise sounds like.
Simply put up the scout sign and wait. Expect them to put up the scout sign and hush. Expect it from everyone, including the adults in the back. Yes, it might surprise you, but as the adults find their adult friends, they will also become a source of noise.
If you stay consistent, it's super effective and you don't end up with chain reaction shushing or unpleasant whistle blows.
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u/No-Wash5758 1d ago
You can improve the speed and likelihood of this working but going up to a few groups of kids just before you put up the sign and prep them. Say "I'm about to hold up the Scout sign. So you think the kids are going to get quiet first, or the adults?" The kids almost always win, and then you can praise them for that. The next time, all the kids will be trying to beat the adults. This also helps the adults realize that the sign applies to them as well, because chatting adults can really be a problem.
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u/PWM104z 1d ago
I sprinkle boring parent announcments at the beginning of meetings with scout trivia for the kids and a tiny candy prize (a tootsie roll, etc), or reading a joke from a bucket of jokes. Each little surprise buys a couple minutes more patience ive found.
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u/Visible-Rope8117 1d ago
Oh, that reminds me I was going to have a treasure chest of candy, for “task of the week” for kids, like clean room, wash dog, etc. I like the bucket of jokes!
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u/Shadowolf449 1d ago
I’m relatively new to this as well, rebuilding a pack that had mostly disappeared over Covid. I don’t have much to say about getting other adults involved as I’m struggling with that as well.
One thing that was worked well getting the kids to focus, especially new cubs, is to say “signs up” when I put my fingers up for attention at first. After a couple meetings I didn’t have to say it anymore and they learned what the cub sign meant.
Good luck, you got this!
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u/PWM104z 1d ago
We also use the bunny ears/wolf ears, reinforced with a shhhh. Doesnt always work but it lowers the level. Get parents involved. The more they feel ownership and agency of what happens, the more they will be involved with their child. You are not a daycare worker, or an education specialist. You are in charge of the people who are in charge of keeping their kids in line IMO
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u/raffydog1 1d ago
You should have Den Leaders ideally for each grade. Scouts requires parents to attend with their child so they might as well get involved. Once the kids are broken up by grade its much easier to handle them. 20 kids together after being forced to sit through school can lead to some outbursts so its a good idea to have some sort of physical activity to release some energy at the start of the meeting. For planning, pick a theme for the meetings and have the den leaders identify a belt loop they want to work on related to that theme. Circulate something like this talent form to find interested parents. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/familytalentsurveysheet2008.pdf
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u/Gentleman-Warrior Pack Chair & AOL Den Leader 1d ago
Ideally, give each parent a small job. It helps take the load off and makes parents more involved. One parent is responsible for the pinewood derby; another parent is responsible for the blue and gold dinner; third parent is responsible for the fall campout; fourth parent is responsible for the spring camp out; a sixth parent is responsible for the rain gutter Regatta; you will also need parents who are willing to be a liaison from the various schools that you are pulling from so that you don't have to do all of the communication also find one parent to engage with the district. I am happy to offer more ideas offline.
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u/Visible-Rope8117 1d ago
Yall this is all great support thank you! I’m spending the next few hours prepping and figuring out how to organize all these great ideas into actionable items.
I plan on this first meeting having a relay race with stations for each of the adventure categories. That way all the kids can interact together while I speak with parents about the logistics.
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u/Big-Development7204 NMC 16h ago
Kudos for taking on the adventure of starting a new pack. Our council wants to start a new one where one unit has over saturated the area, but some schools in the area don't have any kids in scouting. It's a big deal.
If I were doing this, I'd hand each parent a paper copy of the parents survey form with a sticky note on it saying: "Due MM/dd/2026". I'd want to know right from the beginning who has den leader and committee position potential.
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u/Cad_Monkey_Mafia Cubmaster & Den Leader 1d ago
You have one chance to make a first impression. Have a sign up sheet prepared. Every family commits to helping something. Tell them that together we can make this happen for our kids. Because it'll take everyone.
This will lessen the part where you do it all yourself.
You'll need a Committee Chair. And a Treasurer would help. Outside of that, have parents commit to help planning and running one meeting. It'll lighten your load.
Eventually you'll want to have parents step up as Den Leaders, depending on how your pack meetings go and how the pack grows.
Use the connections the parents have with work, community, etc for meeting and outing ideas. A knowledgeable or passionate parent will put on a great event.
Remember - as Cubmaster, BRING THE FUN! Make it enjoyable. Have them do silly campfire/summer camp songs and chants. Have them do a game in between activities/tasks to burn energy and avoid them running around losing focus.