Cub Scouts
Shooting Sports in Scouts
Since the Spring Camporee is tentatively scheduled to focus on rifle shooting and archery, we should probably start boning up on the rules of shooting sports in scouts.
First, some basic rules. Cubs can only do BB Guns and archery in very strictly controlled circumstances, such as a Council campsite. No rifles. Ever. Scouts can do much more, but must follow the scouting rules carefully.
So how do we know the scouting rules?
This is scouts. Of course there is a manual for that. You can download the whole thing from the BSA website along with many other new resources.
Second, why are we so picky about the rules? Remember strict adherence to the Guide for Safe Scouting in shooting sports is the only way to guarantee that the BSA insurance will cover you as a unit leader and your chartered organization when you do shooting sports. This is extremely important, especially adhering to the stricter rules for Cub Scouts.
Our first duty is to protect the boys. Our next duty is safety for other participants. Our final duty is to keep the chartered organizations happy and continuing to support scouting.
If you have questions, contact the District Commissioner or the District Executive.
Upcoming events
Commissioners’ meeting: Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 6:00 pm at Second Presbyterian
District Committee: Also Thursday at 7:00 pm, same location
Wood Badge Association dinner: tonight at Belzer
District Camporee: this weekend at the Blind School. Webelos encouraged to visit and see most of our troops in one location.
- Youth Protection Training live: Friday at 8:30 pm at Camporee.
- Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (for Scoutmasters and Asst Scoutmasters and all other volunteers who camp) and Outdoor Webelos Leaders’ Skills (for Cubmasters and Webelos Den Leaders): opening remarks Friday at 9:30 pm and training 8:30 am to 8:00 pm. Attendance at Saturday campfire required.
Roundtable: Thursday, October 13, 2016 at 6:30 pm at Luke’s Lodge at St Luke’s UMC.
More Tiger Cub Recruitment Chances
This year’s Tiger Cub class is way down in Pike and Washington Townships. (We are steady so far in Zionsville.)
Our new Field Services Director Nate Young has been encouraging the professional staff to recommend “Water Pod Parties.”
This idea consists of having enrolled Tiger Cubs inviting their best friends, who have not joined Cub Scouts yet, to a water rocket launch. The launch would be held as part of a Gathering Time event at the next Tiger Cub Den meeting. The friends would be asked to come for the rocket launch, then stay for the Tiger Cub Den meeting as guests.
The idea is to get the boys engaged in Cub Scouting before making the formal “Ask” to join. Kick the tires before buying.
If you are interested, please contact Con Sullivan, our District Executive, for more information.
NOTE: This can work for other dens, too, such as Lions, but our primary focus is on Tigers right now.
September 2016 Roundtable Resources
The following items and webpages are scheduled to be discussed at the September 2016 Roundtable.
- Budget and planning resources (spreadsheets on pages):
- Packs: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Leaders/PackCommitteeResources.aspx.
- Troops: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/Planning.aspx
Cub Scout Training Continues
This week North Star is focused on Cub Scout Leader Training.
Last night we held a class for Den Leader Training.
Tonight, Wednesday, we will hold another Den Leader Training at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N Meridian St, Room 401, Indianapolis, IN 46260. 7:00 pm. We will also hold a Cubmaster Specific and Pack Traininer/Committee Challenge (Pack Trainers are members of the committee, so their training is now committee training) will be held in an adjacent room.
Tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday, we will hold the same trainings at 7:00 pm but at the Scout Center.
You can RSVP on the District Website for training. If you do not RSVP, show up anyway! (RSVPs just help us have peace of mind that we have the right number of chairs.)
Importance of Den Chiefs
Den Chiefs are a unique role in scouting. They are Boy Scouts who go back to serve a Cub Scout Den. A Den Chief has his feet in both the Boy Scout world and the Cub Scout world.
The Den Chief learns leadership and responsibility. The Den learns about scouting from a scout. The Den Leader gets “professional” help. Maybe it would be better to call it “experienced” help.
The role of a Den Chief is hard. The Den Chief is not often given as much responsibility has he believes he can handle. Yet, leading Cub Scouts is harder than leading Boy Scouts. Leading a Den requires teaching many skills that the Den Chief thinks everybody already knows.
Having a Den Chief in a Den for the first time can be confusing for a new adult Den Leader, too. The Den Leader may just be figuring out the role. Then to be responsible for figuring out how to use a Den Chief can make it harder.
Cub Scout Family Camping
Fall is great for camping! Family camping is crucial for happy Cub Scouts.
Your pack should have a campout on the schedule.
Council has several different Family Campouts where you can participate and reduce the amount of planning you need to do.
Some packs would prefer to camp on their own. If you do this, make sure that one of your adults has BALOO training.
Back to School Night plan
District Executive Con Sullivan, on behalf of District Membership Chair Sharla Merrick, issued the final Back to School Night plan yesterday. The big push is this Thursday night!
If you would like to see a copy of the plan, click here.
We have already had two back to school nights. Sign ups are noticeably higher.
Unit Commissioner Tom Sugar has run a Boy Talk at College Park Elementary. He reports that more than 140 boys expressed interest in Cub Scouts. And there is no Pack there!
If this trend continues, we could have a great year.
It is only possible to make the best impact with all packs, troops, and crews helping. Make sure your unit contributes to this potential for overwhelming success.
Contact Con Sullivan if you can help. We have minimum staffing in most locations at this point, but now we need staffing to show that we support the new families.
Recruitment volunteers needed
Thank you very much to everyone who has volunteered to take a school for the August 25th night or a Boy Talk next week. We really appreciate the help.We still have 2 boy talks that are in need of an adult next week
1. Tuesday, August 23 – 11am –
Snacks Crossing Elementary School, 5455 W 56th St, Indianapolis, IN 46254
2. Wednesday, August 24 – 11am –
Eastbrook Elementary School, 7625 New Augusta Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46268
We have 1 school on August 25th that needs coverage next week
1. August 25 – 6:15pm –
Deer Run Elementary School, 5401 N High School Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46254, USA
These schools do not have a pack which is why they are not covered. If you are available for any of those times (the boy talks are the most important) please let me know! Also, share with other adults in your unit you know that might be able to help.
Thank you!!
District Rocket Launch Announced
As part of this fall’s recruitment campaign, the new Cubs are offered an opportunity to launch their very own rocket.
Thanks to the hospitality of Pack 358, our district rocket launch will be Saturday, September 24, 2016 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Zionsville United Methodist Church, 9644 Whitestown Rd, Zionsville, IN 46077.
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
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