Gospel Centered Cub Scout Den Meetings & Pack meetings

We had our annual stake primary auxiliary training meeting and I shared some of the documents that I have been working on.  I attended the Summit Leadership meeting as part of the University of Scouting and I feel like the overall thing I learned was that we need to include some aspect of the gospel in every den and pack meeting.

Loved this quote" Every opportunity we have to meet with the boys is an opportunity to teach them the gospel."

Here is what I learned in a nut shell at the training:

A month ago I attended the Summit Leadership training that was held as part of the University of Scouting.  Elder Monk gave the keynote address and I just wanted to share a few of the things that I learned there. He talked about how important relationships are and referenced the "big three" that the Gen. YM use in their training to help accomplish the purpose of young people becoming converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are

Be with them,

Connect them to Heaven

and Let them lead.

I feel like these principles really apply to us as we help bring the cub scouts unto Christ.

#1- BE WITH THEM . This is having leaders who care, getting to know the boys, their names and learning about them, it’s building trusting relationships, and being consistent.  I have seen how children come to love their leaders and teachers, how they trust them. BE WITH THEM!

#2- CONNECT THEM TO HEAVEN.  We need to enlist the help of  Cub Scout and 11 year old Scout leaders with connecting the boys to heaven. Church activities should be planned to fulfill gospel-centered purposes. To maintain a gospel focus in Scout activities, leaders use the Faith in God for Boys guidebook as one of their resources (see Handbook 2, 11.5.3). The Faith in God program should be coordinated with Scouting to lay a foundation that prepares a boy to keep his baptismal covenants, better serve his family, and receive the priesthood (see Scouting Handbook, 4).

 #3-LET THEM LEAD -

"In Primary through Scouting we're seeking to support boys in keeping their baptismal covenants and prepare for the Aaronic Priesthood, and ultimately we see them as righteous husbands and fathers."

"As we view our Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts, and eleven-year-old Scouts, do we envision them as future leaders? Do we recognize their potential? Are we planting seeds in these young boys to help them seek, embrace, and enjoy leadership opportunities?...Scouting has given us clarification of what these "seeds of leadership" might be."-Joy D. Jones, Primary general president

Elder Monk told us how he attended a conference and there were several less active members that as adults came back into full activity because they remembered primary lessons and the love they felt as primary children. 

Elder Monk talked about how it can be hard to measure the impact that we are making on the lives of these boys. But he stressed that YOU really CAN and DO make a difference.

Thank you for all you do!

IDEAS TO CONNECT THEM TO HEAVEN:

CUB SCOUT DEN LEADERS
*Encourage Den Leaders to bring in a gospel element to each den meeting.
As leaders plan out their monthly adventure and then the weekly plans ask them to consider how they can tie the gospel into that particular adventure.  Can be very simple:
 ·         Is there a scripture story that goes with what they are learning for that particular adventure? (Could just be a verse of scripture)
 
·         Is there a primary song that goes along with the adventure that they could sing?


·         Look under the Primary Resources for a possible story from the friend. (Lds.org click on serve & teach then select primary then teaching children then click on resources for teaching children then lesson helps by topic)

·         Does the adventure tie to a Faith in God activity?  Look at the Correlation sheet for the adventure you are working on.

·         Is there an aspect of the Scout Oath or Law that can tie in with a gospel element to what the boys are learning?

·         Will you be out in Nature?  Discuss how we can feel God’s love out in nature. Talk about gratitude for all of God’s creations.

·         Remind them of the Savior and His love for each of the boys.

 SEE THESE SHEETS FOR VERY IN DETAIL FAITH IN GOD IDEAS at this LINK
WOLF
BEAR
WEBELOS
HERE IS A LINK TO SPECIFIC RECOGNITON IDEAS FOR THE 2 A YEAR THAT THE FAITH IN GOD BOOK SAYS THEY SHOULD HAVE

CUB MASTERS

*Encourage Cub Masters to include a gospel element in their Cub Master Minutes each month at pack meeting.  Same principles as above, is there a scripture story or scripture that goes with the monthly theme?

 *We should use every opportunity to bring the boys and their families unto Christ.  CONNECT THEM TO HEAVEN!
 

SAMPLE OF A GOSPEL THEMED PACK MEETING LINK

11 YEAR OLD SCOUT LEADERS

*Encourage 11 year old Scout Leaders to bring in a gospel element to each patrol meeting.

As leaders plan out their monthly meetings and then the weekly plans ask them to consider how they can tie the gospel into that particular activity .  It can be very simple.  See ideas above.

*Try to tie Faith in God in as well as the Preparing for the Priesthood from the Faith in God Booklet.