Tiger Electives and Tiger Track Beads
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Your Tiger Cub will be a member of a den. Most dens have five to nine boy-adult partner teams, meet twice a month in a den meeting, and have one outing a month, called a Go See It. The den also takes part in the monthly pack meetings. During den meetings, Go See It outings, and pack meetings, boys learn new things and have fun.
Each den meeting and den activity is led by a den leader and an adult partner of one of the Tiger Cubs. An adult partner can be a parent, relative, or friend who is at least 18 years old and who cares about the boy. Each adult partner takes a turn working with the den leader to plan and lead a den meeting and/or activity. (You'll read more about this shared leadership later.)
Your Tiger Cub is also a member of a Cub Scout pack. Most packs are made up of several dens that gather monthly at a pack meeting. Pack meetings usually follow a suggested theme and are a time for boys to be recognized for their accomplishments during the month, to perform skits and songs they have learned in den meetings, and to have fun with the entire family.
Packs are led by a Cubmaster and pack committee. Like the den leaders, the Cubmaster and assistants are volunteer leaders and are usually family members of boys in the pack. The pack committee makes plans for pack meetings and activities and takes care of the "business" items that are necessary for a pack to operate smoothly.
Most pack committees consist of family members and members of the pack's chartered organization. The chartered organization is the community organization that is granted a charter by the Boy Scouts of America to use the Scouting program. This chartered organization might be a school, service club, religious group, or other group interested in youth. The chartered organization approves the leadership of the pack, provides a meeting place, and operates the pack within the guidelines and policies of that organization and the BSA.
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THE "SHARED LEADERSHIP" CONCEPT
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WHAT IS SHARED LEADERSHIP?
The Tiger Cub Adult Partner The success of a Tiger Cub den depends on active, enthusiastic families and a knowledgeable, well-trained den leader. The den leader plans and carries out a year - round program of activities for the Tiger Cub den and gives continuity to the program. Each month, however, the den leader also works with a different boy-adult partner team to plan the two monthly den meetings, the Go See It, and the den's part in the pack meeting. (Some teams may serve more than one month, depending on how big the den is.) This is called shared leadership. Shared leadership is a key part of Tiger Cubs because the direct involvement of you and other adults is important for boys at this age. Shared leadership also gives each boy and adult partner a chance to lead, often resulting in an interesting variety of activities as each boy - adult partner team shares its knowledge and resources.
The Tiger Cub den leader is a registered volunteer position within the BSA. Each Tiger Den MUST include a person in this role. The responsibilities of the Tiger Cub den leader can be summarized as:
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THE TIGER CUB ADVANCEMENT PLAN
WORKING ON ACHIEVEMENTS AND ELECTIVES
In Scouting, advancement is the process by which a member meets certain requirements and earns recognition. Boys in Cub Scouting work on advancement with their families. The Tiger Cub advancement program is a blend of activities boys do in their home and activities they do in a den setting with their adult partner. This is unique to Tiger Cubs.
A Tiger Cub may earn the Tiger Cub rank. This rank is for those boys who are in first grade or are 7 years old. All the Cub Scout ranks (Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos) are tailored for a grade and the corresponding age level. (A Tiger Cub must earn the Tiger Cub badge first and then the Bobcat badge [rank] before all other ranks. See here for the Bobcat badge requirements.)
To advance, Tiger Cubs work on achievements and electives, which are described in the Tiger Cub handbook. As a boy completes these, you, his adult partner, sign in this handbook where it says "Akela's OK." Akela means "good leader" and is an important part of Cub Scouting. Akela can be a den leader, a teacher, or other important adult. As your boy's adult partner, you are Akela.
As boys advance, they receive recognition items to mark their progress. These items will be given to them during a simple ceremony at a pack or den meeting. It is important for boys to be recognized for the good work they do. The Tiger Cub recognition items are the Tiger Cub belt totem and totem beads, the Tiger Cub badge, and Tiger Track beads. (Although participation with an adult partner is required for all Tiger Cub awards, adult partners don't earn these awards. Recognition items are for boys only.)
THE TIGER CUB BELT TOTEM
EARNING THE TIGER CUB BELT TOTEM
To begin his path towards the Tiger Cub rank, a boy must do three things. They are:
When he has done these, he is awarded the Tiger Cub belt totem at a pack meeting. This is a plastic recognition device that he wears on his belt. The front side of the totem is emblazoned with a tiger paw print, and the reverse includes a recessed spage for your Tiger to mount his Tiger Cub badge (see above) when he earns it. The lower end of the totem includes space for four strands for totem beads. A boy earns totem beads by working on the five Tiger Cub achievements.
HOW TO USE TOTEM BEADS
There are five achievements in Tiger Cubs:
Each achievement has three parts: a family activity, a den activity, and a Go See It outing. A boy receives totem beads as he completes each part:
A boy can earn only one bead for each of the 15 achievement parts, regardless of how many times he may repeat a part.
As each bead is awarded and added to a boy's belt totem, he should be recognized with a simple ceremony at a den meeting. When a boy has earned all 15 beads, he is eligible to receive his Tiger Cub badge, signifying that he has earned the Tiger Cub rank.
- A MEETING PRIMER -
When Do Tiger Cubs Meet?
To experience the fun, excitement, and other benefits of Cub Scouting, you and your Tiger Cub will do the following things each month:
Planning the Tiger Cub Den Meeting
With shared leadership, each month a different boy-adult partner works with the Tiger Cub den leader to plan the two monthly den meetings and the Go See It. Together, they also organize the participation of the den at the monthly pack meeting. It is important that each boy-adult partner team has a turn at planning and conducting the den activities.
The den meetings will be based on the theme of the month (see "Using the Monthly Theme in the Den Meeting" below) or on one of the den activity parts of an achievement. (You'll read more about the three parts of achievements below.)
Using the Monthly Theme
Each year, Cub Scout Program Helps (No. 34304) suggests 12 monthly themes suitable for Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts. This annual publication includes songs, skits, games, crafts, and ideas for Go See It activities that complement the theme. Boys' Life magazine also features ideas and articles each month on the recommended theme, and the monthly adult leader roundtable meetings provide program ideas and instruction for these same themes. (You'll read more about roundtable below.)
Possible Monthly Themes
Parts of a Tiger Cub Den Meeting
The focus of every den meeting plan should be based on the Tiger Cub motto: Search, Discover, Share. The Tiger Cub den meeting plan in Cub Scout Program Helps divides the meeting into eight parts. Each part has a purpose, so the den meeting will be better for the boys if you follow this pattern. It will make planning and running the den meetings easier.
Parts of a Tiger Cub
TIGER CUB UNIFORMING
The uniform is an important part of the Scouting program. It identifies the boys and adults with Tiger Cubs and gives them a sense of belonging to the den, the pack, and the Boy Scouts of America. Most boys enjoy wearing their Tiger Cub uniform. They should wear it to all den meetings, pack meetings, and special pack activities.
The uniform for the Tiger Cub is the official Tiger Cub orange T-shirt with the Tiger Cub emblem on the front. The official Tiger Cub cap and blue web belt with a Tiger Cub buckle are optional. Adult partners don't have to wear a uniform, but it is highly recommended that they also wear a Tiger Cub orange sweatshirt or T- shirt.
The Tiger Cub den leader wears the official Cub Scout leader uniform, the Tiger Cub cap, and the Tiger Cub leader neckerchief.
EARNING THE TIGER CUB BADGE
THE TIGER CUB TRAIL
The Tiger Cub badge is for boys who have completed all 15 parts of the five achievements, that is, five family activities, five den activities, and five Go See It outings. During an impressive ceremony, the Tiger Cub badge is presented to the adult partner at a pack meeting, who in turn presents the badge to the boy. The badge is affixed to the Tiger Cub belt totem in the recessed area.
While your boy is working on advancement, you can help. Besides signing his handbook as Akela once he has done his best, let your den leader know of any completed parts of achievements at your next den meeting. The den leader will keep a record of your boy's individual progress on the Tiger Cub Den Advancement Chart. In addition, your boy, with your help, will keep track of his own advancement on the Tiger Trail chart found on page 152 of his handbook. This encourages him and helps him see his progress toward the Tiger Cub rank.
The advancement requirements are written in such a way as to give you room to customize activities for your boy and your den. There are no performance requirements for Tiger Cubs. Boys should never be "tested" or placed in a position where they will not be successful. Simply participating in the activities and doing his best constitutes completion.
The den activities and 'Go See It' outings are intended to be completed with the den. If a Tiger Cub is unable to participate in an activity because of illness or a conflict, however, you may work with him to complete these requirements. For your boy to receive the full benefit of the program, it is important for you, his adult partner, to make every effort to attend meetings regularly.
At the end of the school year, he will graduate into a Wolf Cub Scout den. Later, he will be in a Bear den, and then he'll become a Webelos Scout.
The following requirement items are prefaced with the letters "F," "D," or "G." These denote:
1F - Think of one chore you can do with your adult partner. Complete it together
2F - Look at a map of your community with your adult partner.
3Fa - With your family, plan a fire drill and then pracitce it in your home.
4F - At a family meal, have each family member take turns telling the others one thing that happened to him or her that day. Remember to practice being a good listener while you wait for your turn to talk.
5F - Go outside and watch the weather.
When you and your boy have followed the five steps of the Tiger Cub, your boy has earnrd his Tiger Cub badge.
The badge should be ceremoniously presented as soon as possible at an upcoming Pack meeting.
TIGER ELECTIVES AND TIGER TRACK BEADS
ELECTIVES AND TIGER TRACK BEADS
After your boy has earned the Tiger Cub badge, he can earn Tiger Track beads - by completing elective activities in this handbook. Tiger Cubs strives to provide an opportunity for your boy to learn and grow while having fun along with you. The wide variety of electives allows your Tiger Cub to choose additional activities and receive recognition for his participation. The electives help broaden a boy's horizons and fulfill the Tiger Cub motto of Search, Discover, Share. Electives provide advancement opportunities and recognition for your boy until he is eligible to begin working on the Wolf rank.
As with the achievements, you, the adult partner, approve your boy's completion of electives by signing the handbook in the space provided for "Akela's OK." Then let your den leader know about completed electives. The den leader will fill in the Tiger Cub Den Advancement Report, found in the Cub Scout Leader Book, to show Tiger Track beads earned and give the report to the pack committee at the monthly pack leaders' meeting. In addition, your boy, with your help, will keep track of his own elective advancement on the Tiger Track Trail found on page 154 of his handbook.
Here's how earning Tiger Track beads works: A boy earns one Tiger Track bead for every 10 electives he completes. The Tiger Track bead is presented to you, the adult partner, at a pack meeting, and you in turn present it to your boy. The Tiger Track beads are suspended from one the the lace strands on the Tiger Cub Totem.
A boy may work concurrently on both achievement and elective projects; however, he can't receive Tiger Track beads until he has earned the Tiger Cub badge.
The Tiger Cub Handbook documents all of the Tiger Cub Electives with ideas and tips for the Tiger Cub and his Adult partner. The following list enumerates the 50 Tiger Cub electives by elective number and name.

AN INSTANT RECOGNITION TOOL
These beads go on the first three strands of the Tiger Cub belt totem. (The fourth strand is for Tiger Track beads which signify completed electives.)
The Tiger Cub Den Meeting Program
form, found in the Cub Scout Leader
Book, helps leaders and boy - adult
partner teams plan weekly Tiger Cub
meetings.
In the Den Meeting
Blast Off: Rocket ships, space program
Circus Fun: Three-ring circus with animals and acts
Exciting Explorers: Famous adventurers and their accomplishments
Hometown Heroes: Recognize people who make a difference in your community
Land Before Time: Dinosaurs
Magic: Secrets of the magicians' art, amazing feats
Rodeo: A look at the Wild West
Treasure Chest: Pirates
Visiting Other Lands: Cultures from around the world
Den Meeting
"HELPING YOUR BOY ALONG THE TIGER CUB TRAIL..."
THE TIGER CUB ACHIEVEMENTS
EARNING THE "TIGER CUB BADGE"
1D - Make a family scrapbook
1G - Go to a library, historical society, museum, old farm, or historical building, or visit an older person in your community. Discover how family life was the same and how it was different many years ago.
2D - Practice the Pledge of Allegiance with your den, and participate in a den or pack flag ceremony.
2G - Visit a police station or fire station. Ask someone who works there how he or she helps people in your community.
3Fb - With your adult partner, plan what to do if you become lost or separated from your family in a strange place.
3D - Make a food guide pyramid.
3G - Learn the rules of a game or sport. Then go watch an amateur or professional game or sporting event.
4D - Play "Tell It Like It Isn't."
4G - Visit a television station, radio station, or newspaper office. Find out how people there communicate to others.
5D - With a crayon or colored pencil and a piece of paper, make a leaf rubbing.
5G - Take a hike with your den.
"ADDITIONAL RECOGNITIONS FOR THE TIGER CUB"
A boy shouldn't feel, however, that he must do all of the electives. Some may not appeal to him, and some he may want to do more than once. if a boy completes an elective activity twice, it may be counted as two electives. But at the same time, try to avoid much repetition, as variety will keep Tiger Cubs more interesting for your boy.