Reverence/Winter Wonderland
As the year draws to an end and snow begins to blanket our mountain valleys, could two more interesting ideas combine than Reverence and Winter Wonderland? Reverence in our local culture is most often associated with quiet in church, but unless you have been alone at 9,000 ft elevation in deep snow at our Beaver High Adventure Base, I doubt you have known stillness I have known. The sparkling solitude of winter dawn at the Base is a singular experience, one that matches the dictionary’s definition of reverence:
“… a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration.”
This month, the last point of the Scout Law comes into focus at den and pack meetings: A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others. We often think of reverence in our church buildings, but I think a Scout can reverence God outdoors too, especially in the wonderlands of winter.
So how does “Winter Wonderland” relate to this point of the Scout Law?
As winter comes, it brings with it a wonderland of snow, peace, beauty, and several religious and cultural holidays. Those holidays are certainly part of the wonder of the season for young boys.
Table set for seven days of Kwanzaa
Last year, I wrote about celebrating Kwanzaa in our multicultural family. This Sunday, December 6th, is St. Nicholas Day, which for our family is an extremely important day. At the same time, past neighbors across the street celebrate Hanukkah, which begins that same day this year.
Since many of us come from different backgrounds and celebrate different holiday traditions, coming to know and respect these traditions gives our Cub Scouts a deeper understanding of reverence for other faiths. When we share our traditions and accept the traditions of others, we expand our circle so that everyone feels that they belong. Whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or none of these, sharing valued traditions and holding true to what they stand for will help us understand others. But no matter who we are or how we celebrate, everyone in Scouting is part of a great organization that has taught us to show reverence for others and their beliefs.
Pack Meeting Ideas
Preopening Activities
CHRISTMAS CARD PUZZLE
Materials: On card stock print jigsaw_20 piece puzzle template. Glue or print a holiday scene onto the blank side of the jigsaw template.
Use scissors or a cutting tool to cut up the jigsaw. Put the pieces in an envelope, one for each family.
As they arrive, give each family an envelope to see if they can put the card back together on a tabletop or other surface. Offer dollar store items or holiday treats as prizes.
Opening Ceremonies
MANY WAYS
Narrator: It is the season that is full of so many wonders and so many thoughts. Each of us understands, celebrates, and remembers this special season in his or her own way. But if it were only “my way” or only “your way,” it would be so small, so limited. One of the beauties of the season is that it is so full, so complete. And just as the season is made special by so many different ideas, cultures, and beliefs coming together, so is our country made special. We are not a single type of people, a single religion, or a single race, but we do have a single focus—to be and become the greatest, most full and complete country we can imagine. As a melting pot of cultures and nationalities, we come together as one, and that also makes us special. Let’s join together in the Pledge of Allegiance.
WINTER WONDERLAND
Winter is a time when rain and snow can cover the landscape and make it seem drab and colorless. But candles, fires, and lights add color and brightness. Sharing, giving, and receiving make this season a wonder for the boys in our pack, and each adult experiences this wonder again through the eyes of our youth. May we always enjoy the traditions of the season. May we always appreciate the freedom of our country. Please join together in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Prayers
As many will be traveling during this holiday season, we ask that you watch over each and every member of our pack and keep them safe. AMEN.
Songs
CUB SCOUT PRAYER
Tune: “O Tannenbaum”
Lord, in this evening hour I pray
For strength to do my best each day.
Draw near to me that I may see
The kind of Cub Scout I should be.
In serving others, let me see
That I am only serving Thee.
Bless me, oh Lord, in thy great love,
That I may be a better Cub.
ETHAN THE CUB SCOUT
Tune: “Frosty the Snowman”
Ethan, the Cub Scout,
Was a very happy boy
With a uniform of blue and gold
And a den that gave him joy.
Ethan, the Cub Scout,
Earned his badges one by one.
He did his best and met the test.
A good citizen he’s become.
He helps out other people when
He sees they need a lot.
He does his chores around the house
And feeds his dog named Spot.
Ethan, the Cub Scout,
Does his duty willingly.
Someday he’ll join a Boy Scout troop,
And a fine man he will be.
Cheer or Applause
Eskimo Cheer: Brrrrr-rrr, Brrrrr-rrr!
Christmas Bells: Pretend to hold a bell rope. Then get the left side of the audience to say “Ding!” on the down stroke and the other side to say “Dong!” on the up stroke.
Advancement Ceremonies
STOCKINGS WERE HUNG
The names of Cub Scouts receiving advancement awards are inside a small stocking or attached to a stocking-shaped paper cutout. Each stocking should clearly show the boy’s name.
The stockings are hanging on or taped to a mantle. To build the mantle, use two ladders with a board placed between the higher rungs. Set a Christmas centerpiece on top of the board and paper fire below to represent a fireplace, if desired. Parents or adult partners will assist their Scouts in reaching up to get their new ranks.
The Cubmaster enters and examines the hanging stockings. Then he comments: “My, we’ve had a lot of hard-working Scouts this month. Stockings are overflowing with achievements.
Would the following Scouts and their parents come forward as I call them. Parents, please help your son remove his stocking just as you have worked with him to help him earn his rank.”
Call forward the Bobcats, then Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos, and Arrow of Light Scouts. After all the boys have received their advancements, the audience gives them the Santa cheer (“Ho, ho, ho!”). If desired, alternate with a “big hand” (holding hands up) or “round of applause” (clapping while moving your hands around in a circle).
Have Bobcats recite the Scout Oath together. The Cubmaster may comment about the adventures and electives as each rank comes forward. Boys who have earned adventure loops or pins can say one or two of the requirements they completed to earn them.
Games
SNOWSUIT RELAY
For this game, you will need two sets of the following items to make two snowsuits:
Pair of snow pants
Pair of mittens
Coat
Scarf
Hat
Snow boots
Pile the sets behind two finish lines at either end of the playing field, and line up a team at each starting line. One at a time, each player on a team must run to their finish line, put on the complete snowsuit, and run back to his team. Then he removes the items and hands them to the next runner. Play continues until all members of both teams have run the relay in the snowsuit. The first team to finish wins.
SNOWSHOE RELAY
Divide the den into two teams. Give each team a pair of “snowshoes”—two shoe boxes—and set up a chair at one end of the room for a turning point. On signal, the first player on each team stands in the shoe boxes, then races across the room, around the chair, and back to the starting line where the next player on his team dons the boxes and races. Continue until one team has finished. Have some extra shoe boxes on hand in case any of them are damaged in play.
MARSHMALLOW STRAW RACE
Have the Cub Scouts sit around a table. Place a mug or paper coffee cup in front of each player and give each of them a straw. Scatter mini-marshmallows all over the table. Set a timer. Then have the players use their straws to suck up marshmallows and drop them into their mugs. When time runs out, count the marshmallows. The player with the most in his cup wins. When the game is over, fill the mugs with hot cocoa and let them enjoy those marshmallows.
Audience Participation
WINTER SONGS
Divide the audience into four groups. Assign each group a part to perform when their designated word is read in the story:
Winter: “Dashing through the snow”
Santa: “Jolly old Saint Nicholas”
Sleigh: “Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?”
Reindeer: “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer”
Once upon a time, on a cold winter night, SANTA sat in his workshop trying to decide what to do. His SLEIGH had a broken runner, his elves were behind schedule on toy production, his REINDEER were weak and suffering from lack of exercise—and he, SANTA, had a cold. With the chilly, snowy weather of WINTER, and Christmas only days away, SANTA felt so depressed.
To make matters even worse, Rudolph, his most famous REINDEER, was unable to get his nose recharged so it barely glowed at all. In a practice run, the SLEIGH with the broken runner scarcely got off the ground. And even with so many toys left to make, the elves were stopping early to watch the Power Rangers. “Goodness me!” cried SANTA. “How will I ever get everything completed by Christmas Eve?”
Then, out of that cold WINTER night trudged a cold, hungry old man. “SANTA,” cried the man. “If you will give me a hot meal and a warm place to sleep, I’ll fix your SLEIGH, cure your REINDEER, fix Rudolph’s nose, and get the elves to work faster.” SANTA quickly agreed. After the old man ate his meal and had a good night’s sleep, he went to work.
First, he plugged the nose of Rudolph the red-nosed REINDEER into the television set. This charged Rudolph’s nose so that it glowed more brightly than ever, and it also blew a fuse on the TV set! That made it impossible for the elves to watch the Power Rangers, so they kept on working and quickly caught up to schedule. Meanwhile, the old man used parts of the TV set chassis to fix the runner on the SLEIGH. The REINDEER, not able to watch TV either, began to run in the snow and quickly regained their strength. SANTA slept better and got rid of his cold.
So because an old man knew the true value of the TV, everything was ready, and on December 24th SANTA hitched his REINDEER to the SLEIGH and rode off into the WINTER sky!
PACK MITTEN TREE
Each family is asked to bring in a pair of mittens, a scarf, and/or a hat to hang on the tree in the meeting area. After the meeting, the donations are packaged and given to a local clothing bank or other clothing distribution facility.
Crafts
CLAY ORNAMENTS
Materials: rolling pin, modeling clay or salt-flour clay (see recipe below), waxed paper, cookie cutters, toothpick, tempera paint, shellac (or clear fingernail polish), ribbon or string.
To make salt-flour clay, combine ½ cup salt with 1 cup flour. Add water, a little at a time, and use your hands to mix and knead until you have a stiff dough.
With a rolling pin, roll the clay flat between two pieces of waxed paper.
Use cookie cutters to cut out stars, bells, or other shapes.
Use a toothpick to make a hole in the top of each ornament for a hanger.
Let the ornaments dry or bake, depending on the clay recipe used. Apply tempera paint and add a topcoat of shellac.
Tie ribbon or string through the hole for hanging.
CHRISTMAS GIFT NECKERCHIEF SLIDE
Materials: foam or wood blocks or small boxes, wrapping paper, thin ribbon or lacing, plastic ring or PVC pipe, glue Wrap the small boxes, foam, or wood pieces in wrapping paper and decorate with ribbon or lacing. Glue to the plastic ring.
FOOD CRAFT: YUMMY SNOWFLAKES
Ingredients: Flour tortillas, scissors, powdered sugar, oil or cooking spray, frying pan, stovetop or burner, pancake turner or tongs
You know those paper snowflakes you fold and cut? Well, how about making some you can eat!
Gently fold the tortilla into quarters. Don’t crease it, or it will tear. Warm or room temperature tortillas work best.
Cut pieces out to make cool snowflake designs when you open it up! You might want to practice this step with paper first.
With adult assistance, fry the tortilla until it is crispy. Then sprinkle it with powdered sugar. That’s it!
Snow never tasted so good!
Cubmaster’s Minute
(see thoughts in opening paragraphs of this article)
Closing Ceremonies
A SCOUT’S ACT OF KINDNESS
Cubmaster: To end this evening, I’d like to tell you a story. A crowded bus stopped to pick up a bent old woman. With great difficulty she struggled up the steps and into the bus with a large basket of freshly washed laundry.
“You’ll have to put your basket in the rear of the bus,” the bus driver said impatiently.
“I do not dare. The laundry does not belong to me,” replied the woman. The driver was firm. “You and that basket are in the way. Either stow it or get off.”
The old lady was almost in tears when a young man arose from his seat. “You sit here, ma’am,” he offered. “I’ll take your basket to the back and watch it until your stop.” The woman was doubtful, but the bus driver was about to tell her to get off the bus. A second lady, sitting nearby, said to the old woman, “That boy’s all right. Can’t you see his Scout uniform? I’ll vouch for him.”
The woman soon took a seat, and the Scout carried the basket of clothes to the back. At her stop, the boy got out too and gently set the basket down beside her on the sidewalk. Then he returned to the bus and continued on his way.
“Who’s the kid?” the driver asked the second woman. “I do not know the kid,” was the reply, “but I do know the uniform, and you can trust it every time.”
In this season of giving and helping, let’s make certain we remember what our uniform means to others and to ourselves.
How will your pack or den celebrate this holiday season?
Author: Darryl Alder | Director of Strategic Initiatives, Utah National Parks Council, BSA. He is Friend of Scouting, Keeper of the Flame and a James E. West Fellow.
The post December Pack Meeting: Reverence in a Winter Wonderland appeared first on The Boy Scout | Utah National Parks Council Official Blog.