1. A Cub Scout Program for Kindergarten Boys and their Families
LION CUBS
A Cub Scout Program for
Kindergarten Boys and their Families
District Coordinators: Please review this presentation to understand the Lion Cub program. It should be used as a training tool for pack coordinators.
Welcome to Lion Cubs – A Cub Scout program for kindergarten boys and an adult partner.

2. Program Concept Background Rationale Integration and Implementation
Northern Star Council and its predecessor councils are experienced at developing new programs. In an organization of the scope and scale of the BSA, new ideas must be in constant development, and our volunteers enjoy being a part of such work.
We believe a substantial effect on declining traditional membership trends comes from the reality that children are ready for Scouting programs at an earlier age, but are choosing other activities before they are eligible to join Scouting.
One specific idea is in relation to the dramatic changes in school access. We need to train and support volunteers (local Cub Scout packs) to be local recruiters with a classic beginning-of-school-year approach – including kindergarten as well as other grades.
Integration with existing Cub Scout packs and programs is key. Creating a Lion Cub Coordinator position for both the district and each pack is important for the success of the program.

3. Program Overview Purpose of the Boy Scouts of America
Provide an educational program for boys
To build character
To foster citizenship
To develop personal fitness
PURPOSE OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America is to provide an educational program for boys . . .
To build character
To foster citizenship
To develop personal fitness
As children grow, we know how important it is to offer the very best information and provide resources to teach self-assurance as they build respect for other people.
The Boy Scouts of America has been serving grade school-aged boys since 1930 through the Cub Scouting program.

4. Goals of the Program The goals of the Lion Cub Program:
Strengthen Scouting
Reflect diversity
Offer greater support
Introduce fun of the outdoors
Provide learning opportunities
THE GOALS OF THE LION CUB PROGRAM:
To strengthen Scouting’s position in the community
To reflect the diversity of our communities
To offer greater support for children and their families (K-12 Program)
To introduce children and their families to the fun of the outdoors
To provide extended learning opportunities outside of school
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM PROGRAM “CONCEPT PAPER”
“This new program would be focused on parent planning and delivery, with youth participation. The primary curriculum/educational outcomes would be for parents (learning about the basics of youth development, and Scouting’s proven tools for raising happy, healthy children), and the outcome for kids would be to commit to Scouting fun earlier than now.”

5. Lion Cub Family Benefits
Age appropriate activities
Value for families
Enhances quality time
“Go for my kids . . .”
Encourages interaction
Strengthens parenting skills
Introduces families to Scouting
LION CUB FAMILY BENEFITS
Offers age appropriate activities each month
Provides value for families
Enhances quality family time
Parents would “Go for my kids, stay for myself”
Encourages interaction with others
Strengthens parenting skills
Introduces families to Scouting
As a parent or caring adult, parents want their children to grow up to be self-reliant and dependable, worthy and caring. Scouting has these same goals in mind for them.

6. Who are Lion Cubs? Kindergarten boys Join with adult partner Form dens
Part of a pack
Wear special T-shirts
“Graduate” to Tiger Cubs
WHO ARE LION CUBS
Lion Cubs are kindergarten boys
Lion Cubs join with a parent or caring adult partner
Lion Cubs form dens of 6 to 8 Lion Cub pairs (boy and adult)
Lion Cub dens are part of a Cub Scout pack
Lion Cubs may wear a special Lion Cub t-shirt to their activities
Iron-on decals will be provided to each Lion Cub pair
Lion Cubs may wear the blue Cub Scout shirt if desired
Lion Cub t-shirts are available in the Scout Shop
Lion Cubs move to the next Cub Scout level (Tiger Cubs) at the end of Kindergarten (May/June)

7. What do Lion Cubs Do? Lion Cubs Explore Adult Members Plan
Lion Cub Adventure Guide
Adult Members Plan
Activity Suggestions in Adult Guide
Meet twice a month
Den Meeting
Grand Adventure Outing
WHAT DO LION CUBS DO?
Lion Cubs use the Lion Cub Activity book to explore themselves, their homes, and their neighborhoods.
Adult Lion Cub members use the Activity Suggestion pages of the Adult Guide to plan family and den activities. Each of these Activity Suggestions has seven parts:
Family/Den Activity
At-home Activity
Grand Adventure Activity
Read-Together Selections
Fiver year-old Developmental Information
Adult Reflection on Parenting Practices
“Notes to Self” on the Activity Completed
The Lion Cubs and their partners will meet together twice per month:
Once a month for a den meeting
Once a month for a Grand Adventure outing
Once a month for the Pack Meeting

8. LION CUB Pack Coordinator
District Membership Committee will support district participation. All District Membership Committees are asked to recruit a District Lion Cub Coordinator. In the absence of a District Lion Cub Coordinator, a member of the District Membership committee can fill this role.
Packs must build in adult leadership – a Lion Cub Coordinator is essential to the success of the program.
This person helps recruit Lion Cub pairs in September, hosts the first gathering in October ,and ensures that each month’s Lion Cub den meeting is hosted by a parent/caring adult.

9. Responsibilities: Pack’s representative to Lion Cub dens
Explains program to adult partners
Handles paperwork: registration and evaluation
Hosts initial meeting with Lion Cub pairs
Establishes Lion Cub meeting calendar
Recruits/helps parents plan meetings
Calls meeting “leader” one week prior as reminder
Plans Tiger Cub transition ceremony
Pack Lion Cub Coordinator . . .
Pack’s representative to Lion Cub dens
Explains program to adult partners
Handles paperwork: registration
Hosts initial meeting with Lion Cub pairs
Establishes Lion cub meeting calendar
Recruits/helps parents plan meetings
Calls meeting “leader” one week prior as reminder
Plans Tiger Cub transition ceremony and completes Transition paperwork

10. Coordinator’s Guide Includes: Lion Cub Information Sheet
Pack Coordinator Position Description
Frequently Asked Questions
Den Calendar
Advancement Record
Lion Cub Coordinator’s Guide Includes:
Council, District and Pack Coordinator Position Description
Lion Cub Information Sheet
Welcome Letter
How Does it Work
Recognition
Advancement Record

11. LION CUB Program Materials
Lion Cub Adventure Guide
Lion Cub Adult Guide
Iron-on Decals
Instant Recognition Kits

12. Lion Cub Materials Lion Cub Adventure Guide Lion Cub Adult Guide
One for each boy
Lion Cub Adult Guide
One for each adult partner
Lion Cub Coordinator’s Guide
One for each Pack Lion Cub Coordinator
LION CUB PROGRAM PACKET – SUPPORT MATERIALS
Lion Cub Adventure Guide
Colorful, fun and age appropriate
Lion Cub Adult Guide
Informative
Parenting Truisms
Scouting Information
Lion Cub Coordinator’s Guide
Position Description
Program
Evaluation

13. Activity Planning
Lion Cub Adult Guide has suggestions for family, Lion Cub den and Grand Adventure activities.
Coordinator assists families in planning meetings.
Lion Cub Adult Guide has suggestions for family, den and Grand Adventure activities.
Lion Cub adults set the schedule of den meetings and Grand Adventures at their first gathering, guided by Pack Lion Cub Coordinator

14. Lion Cub Activities OCT I am special, we are special
NOV My family is special
DEC My neighborhood is special
JAN How does it work?
FEB I’ll use my words
MAR Let’s figure it out
APR Health and fitness
MAY Let’s go outside
Lion Cub Activities include:
OCT I am special, we are special
NOV My family is special
DEC My neighborhood is special
JAN How does it work?
FEB I’ll use my words
MAR Let’s figure it out
APR Health and fitness
MAY Let’s go outside

15. LION CUB PROGRAM Lion Cub Program
Program starts out on a very personal level
Expands to family, neighborhood and community
Includes read-together suggestions
Includes 5-year old developmental information

16. My Family is Special Reinforces Core Value: Caring
Theme: Families Change and Grow
Activity: Draw a Picture
MY FAMILY IS SPECIAL ACTIVITY
Each activity reinforces one of the core values of Scouting
My Family is Special reinforces Caring
One of the pages from the Lion Cubs Activity Book talks about families.
Youth are asked how many people are in their family?
They can draw a picture of their family showing how they care for each other.
An at-home activity suggestion is to create a family mural.
Read-together suggestions include “My Monster Momma Loves Me”
5-year old Developmental Information includes:
Five year olds have a strong desire to please parents and other adults
Beware – children this age imitate speech, slang and exaggerations.

17. We Are Special Reinforces Core Value: Respect
Theme: Alike and Different
Activity: Colored Dots
Alike and Different: We Are Special – Sample Curriculum from Adult Guide:
Treat each group differently based on colored dots on activity sheets
Red and Green get a drink, may use the restroom, and wash up for a snack
Blue gets a drink only.
Yellow stays at their place.
Blue gets popcorn and juice
Red and Green get peanut butter and graham crackers with juice
Lead a discussion about how some people are given advantages based only on skin color. Ask the Scouts if this game was fair or not and why. Assist the Scouts in coming up with ideas for making the game fair.

18. Recruitment Materials
Lion Cub Recruitment Materials can be found in the Fall Youth Recruitment Crate. Contact your District Membership Chair, FYR Coordinator or District Executive to ensure a crate is available for your recruitment event.
Lion Cub program information has been added to all Fall Recruitment materials. Grades K through 5 use the same recruitment supplies.
Welcome Sign
Registration Table Sign
Attendance Roster
Den Roster
Kindergarten Table Sign
Cub Activity
Welcome Booklets (now include Lion Cubs)
Youth Applications
Report Envelope

19. Lion Cub Recruitment
Promote directly to kindergarten boys at your school at the same time you flier 1st-5th grade boys.
Hold a Fall Youth Recruitment Event
Register kindergartners on night of your Roundup with 1st-5th graders;
Hold separate breakout conducted by Pack Lion Cub Coordinator.
Lion Cub Recruitment
Promote directly to kindergarten boys at your school at the same time you flier 1st-5th grade boys.
Hold a Fall Youth Recruitment Event.
Register kindergartners on night of your Roundup with 1st-5th graders;
Hold separate breakout conducted by Pack Lion Cub Coordinator.

20. Registration Procedure
Register Pack Lion Cub Coordinator as a Den Leader on adult application
Register Lion and Adult Partner on Youth Application. Write “Lion Cubs” at top
Registration fee is $20.00 per Scout/ Adult Partner pair and includes Lion Cub Adventure Guide and Adult Guide
Will be listed as pairs on separate sheet rather than on pack roster
Registration Procedure
Lion Cub Coordinator
Register as a Den Leader on adult application (May also be registered in another pack position)
Lion Cubs and their Adult Partners
Register youth and Adult Partner on BSA Youth Application. Write “Lion Cubs” at top of application.
Fees:
Registration fee is $20.00 per Scout/ Adult Partner pair and includes Lion Cub Adventure Guide and Adult Guide
Registration
Will not appear on unit roster
Will be listed as pairs on separate sheet rather than on pack roster

21. Q & A
See “Frequently Asked Questions” document

22. Contacts Your District Lion Cub Coordinator
Your District Membership Chair
Your District Executive
Questions or Concerns – Contact:
Your District Lion Cub Coordinator
Your District Membership Chair
Your District Executive

23. Thank You! Thank you for your interest in the Lion Cub program.
We hope you have a “Roarin’ Good Time”