Save your games, they can be used again

Here is a game we have used before in several different styles.


Everyone knows what Santa looks like, right?

Well try drawing him starting with his right eyebrow or left hand.


I wrote the different parts of the body on pieces of cardboard, cut them into pieces, and put them in a bag.

I made five sets.

The object was to have each cub take a piece from the bag and draw that part ... in the order it is taken.

The W
olf den had a challenge with a very bushy beard.


There was one "free" ticket where they could add anything they wanted.

I had done this once before with snowmen as the subject and the "free" item turned out to be weaponry in every picture.

These Santas were not into weapons and the free items were more likely gifts. The Webelos added highly decorated trees.

The Tiger den added a large gift.

Considering they began with the left eye, they put together a pretty good Santa.

The Wolf den finally overcame the beard problem.

There wasn't lots of room left for Santa's pack  (or hat, for that matter).

The Bears had a big group working but also did a lot of cooperative work.

And the small group of Webelos did an outstanding drawing.



The "free" was trees with gifts.

Well, they were fast and had extra time in the end.

The ribbon on the tree says Webelos, Cub Scouts, Pack 51, and Far East Council.


There was also one Santa drawn by the parents.


I would recommend a version of this game
using a number of subjects.

Easy to set up, easy to understand for both Webelos and Tigers. and easy to clean up at the end.
The part chips went back into bags for another time somewhere down the road.

Summer camp '15

I don't think I have ever spent a week camping in so much rain.
My camera bag was soaked just sitting in my tent and there are no pictures to post.

The craft area was well used with four very large classes. Two Leatherwork and two Woodcarving.
All but three blue cards were completed, which must be a record.

Meal times breaks and evenings saw boards of review for every rank from Scout to Eagle. It could be that the advancements were in record numbers as well.

For OA we accomplished one Brotherhood walk ... my contribution ... and one Vigil ... another night out of my week spent in the pouring rain. Luckily. due to plan "B", the candidate was able to keep his fire going and stay dry, and be awarded his sash and recognition.

Another ceremony which I missed (can't be everywhere at once), was a beading ceremony for the most recent woodbadge course. I was particularly honored because the candidate took a book I had created and put it on line and available to scouts through the internet.

Many years ago, the Far East Council held yearly "College of Commissioner Science" courses. The first year one would take the course. The second year, for a master's degree, one taught the course and for the third year, one would spend one year on a project.

I submitted three proposals and the one selected for my PHD was a reference book on plants that could be used by English-speaking Scouts and Scouters for identifying trees and plants. I completed the book within the year using a word processor. It could be printed out on A4 size paper and with each page folded print-side-out, stapled along the open side to create a small book. That was in February 1991.

It was put on line by Troop 15 and available to troops in our area. The woodbadge candidate took the original copy and turned it into a file that can be accessed and even added to.

WB_Ticket(4)_KantoPlantGuide_KAtobe.pdf  My own computer skills are limited but if there are those in the area who would like to have a walking map of trees they can use to teach the requirements for plants, or to test the scouts, I would be glad to create one. This makes it more simple for those who are not familiar with Japanese trees and plants. You just follow the map, look up the number on the map and read the description. With observation skills, one shouldbe able to identify which tree is being described.
Thanks Ken Atobe for your hard work and computer skills. I know scout requirements are always changing but I hope this will not disappear as did the poisonous animals. Of course we still need to know how to treat a poisonous snake bite but we no longer need to identify whether a snake is poisonous ... go figure????

Pack activities

I really miss the "Old" Cub Scout program helps.

There was a theme and activities to go with it ... and even plans to run the Den meetings and Pack meeting.

These days, the theme is a character point, but what kid joins Cub Scouts to have his character developed? They join to have fun!


Coming up with a game is always a challenge. It has to be easy enough or safe enough for first grade Tiger Cubs, and yet fun and challenging for Webelos,

For our April meeting, I decided on a fashion show.

Each den got a stack of newspaper, scissors, scotch tape, and a stapler.

The challenge was to use those supplies to create a costume for the smallest member of the den.

I had hoped in the end to have the costume moved to the adult leader for a second fashion show but the construction work became quite involved and we had to have a countdown to 'show time".

Each den had a corner of the activity room to work in.

Organized chaos !

Tigers went with a samurai theme.

This model is carrying a sword.

Note, he even has foot-gear.

The Wolf den got carried away and came up with two outfits for the runway.

The Bear Den did an outstanding job.


I was impressed with the necktie and shoes.
(as well as the tidy way they worked together).

The Webelos were last to finish with a rather casual touch.


It seems all the dens had at least one expert an making origami hats with a samurai flavor.

And, here are the models, gathered on the runway for a final shot.

It might have been fun to see what they would have done with their leaders,

but during this activity time, the leaders are checking the boy's books for the award ceremony to follow. Three new boys came to check out our group and are wishing to join.

I guess the game was a success.