Community Patch ProgramsAnd

The Cub Scout Academic and Sports ProgramI. Introduction

a. What are Patches all aboutb. Recognition

II. Traininga. New Leader Essentials (NLE)b. Cub Leader Specific for Rankc. Youth Protection Guidelines (YPG)d. Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)

III. Tour Permitsa. When Requiredb. Why have onec. Where can we get them

IV. SDIC Patch Programsa. SDIC Patch Program Bookb. Annual Eventsc. Where to obtain Patches

V. National BSA Patch Programsa. Website Linksb. Where to obtain Patches?

VI. Community Patch Programsa. Website Linksb. Where to obtain Patches

VII. Cub Scout Academic and Sports Programa. Description.b. How to incorporate into your Program yearc. Where to obtain awards

VIII. Miscellaneousa. Patches for Pack Events (Creating your Own)

IX. Closing

Introduction

You’ve seen them around. Those red brag vests…all those patches…where do you get them. Well there are many ways to get patches for your Cub Scouts and theyall have their own completion requirements. In the following pages, we willdiscuss how to gather information concerning what patches are available for a CubScout youth.

First of all, it is important to find out what your particular Cubs are interested in.Remember, what sounds interesting to you, may not be of interest to your Cub, butwe should try to introduce new ideas and areas of interest to our Cub Scouts.Therefore, it is important to bring your parents and their knowledge of their Cubsto the table when you do your den program planning whether it is done on a yearly,quarterly, or monthly basis.

Patches are a good way to recognize the Cub Scout for their many and variedactivities. They provide recognition that all can see. They also provide a memoryfor the Cub Scout of that camping trip, nature hike, day camp, day at the museum,etc.

It is important to remember that not all Scouts will earn all of the patches and theemphasis should be on the activity rather than the recognition item.

Training

Before you can take your Cub Scouts on any field trip, you must have training.The tour permit requires that at lease One (1) adult attending the field trip haveYouth Protection Guidelines (YPG) training before going on any field trip. In fact,it is best if all adults who will be working with the Cub Scout youth have YPG.Depending on the type of field trip, other trainings may also be a prerequisiteincluding Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (Baloo), Safe Swim Defense,Safety Afloat, etc.

The safest course of action is, of course, to have all Adult Leaders fully trained.You can go to the Council’s website to see what the required trainings are for yourposition. Even if you are “just a parent,” it would be in the best interest of your Cub Scout, and other Cubs in your Pack, for you to take some basic training tofamiliarize yourself with BSA guidelines and safety rules.

Use the link below to visit the Council’s website and view the required and recommended training for your position. You can also view the Council’s training schedule or visit your District’s website for additional training opportunities.

http://www.bsasdic.org/training/content/CubScoutTrainingSummary.asp

Tour Permits

Whenever you are leaving your “normal” meeting place, or meeting at a locationdifferent from your “normal” meeting place, a Tour Permit is required. This can include a trip to a public park, local fire station, or a camping trip to the mountains.

There are two types of tour permits: Local and National. The local tour permit willcover most Cub Scout trips. It covers a radius of 500 miles from your normalmeeting location, as long as you don’t cross international borders. The National tour permit covers destinations over 500 miles and travel across internationalborders. Both types tour permits are available at the Council’s Service Center or on the Council’s website.

http://www.bsasdic.org/forms/content/permits/permits.asp

Tour permits are important because they notify Council of where Cub Scouts willbe. This is important in case you experience any emergencies and need anyassistance. If you are delayed on the road for any reason, they will have yourexpected route and will be able to send assistance. It also gives the parents, whoaren’t attending, information on where you will be and when you expect to return. It tells them who will be in charge and who will be responsible for their children.You should also have a Permission Slip signed by the parent or guardian. Thepermission slip is also available at the website listed above.

One important thing to note about the tour permit is that it states that the “tour leader” HAS, and has READ, a copy of the Guide to Safe Scouting. The currentGuide to Safe Scouting can be purchased at the Scout Shop and can be found online at:

http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=ca

Remember, in order to be covered by the BSA insurance policy while on an outing,a tour permit must be filed.

San Diego Imperial CouncilPatch Programs

Our local council has it’s own patch programs that are detailed in the Cub Scout Patch Resource Book. This book is available for purchase from the Council’s Service Center, but a copy of this resource is also available on your POWWOWCD. The patches associated with this Resource Book are available at the Council’s Service Center or the Scout Shop.

Patches in the Resource Books include:

Camp Balboa Weekend ProgramCub Conservation High AdventureCub Day HikerCub Ranger AwardGray Whale AwardEl Camino Real High Adventure AwardHistoric Cycling AwardIntergenerational PatchJungle Book AwardOld Town Heritage PatchPersonal Health DecisionsPersonal Health Decisions for WebelosScout-Webelos WeekendU.S. Mormon Battalion TrailWebelos AwardWebelos Hiker High AdventureWebelos OvernighterWebelos Overnighter Penguin Award

National BSA Patch Programs

The BSA also has special programs designed for Cub Scout youth. Informationabout these awards can be found on the National BSA website. Go to the LeaderPage and visit awards. Links are provided below for your convenience.

www.scouting.orghttp://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=ca

Some of the awards available are:

Cub Scout 75th Anniversary AwardCub Scout Outdoor Activity AwardEmergency Preparedness BSA AwardTo Be Physically FitLeave No Trace–Front Country GuidelinesReligious EmblemsLife Saving or Meritorious Action Awards

Visit this site often for new award programs updates.

Community Patch Programs

Many local organizations offer special youth programs or programs designedspecifically for Scout groups. Some of these organizations are listed below:

San Diego ZooSan Diego Wild Animal ParkSea WorldSweetwater Water AuthorityFriends of Balboa ParkUSS Midway MuseumMuseum of ManSDG&E Green House

You can also obtain programs via the Internet. Ideas include:

Junior Park Ranger (See the specific National Park Website)Internet Scout PatchUS Heritage AwardPresidential Fitness AwardPresidential Volunteer AwardCabrillo National Monument

You will find information detailing how to obtain patches at the specific websites.Costs of patches and requirements for each award will vary by Cub Scout rank.Most awards are available to all Registered Cub Scouts and Adult volunteers.

National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS)–outlines programs availablefor catholic youth and some which are designed for Christian Youth. Our localNCCS Committee sponsors tours of the Missions and an annual 5 Mile Hikethrough Old Town along the El Camino Real route which helps to completerequirements for the El Camino Real High Adventure award outlined on Page 5 ofthis Syllabus and can be found in the Council’s Cub Scout Patch Resource Book.

Cub Scout Academic and Sports Program

The Cub Scout Academic and Sports Program is a fun way to expand upon yourprogram year and provide an opportunity for your Cubs to be exposed to a varietyof interesting topics. The current areas of study available are:

The Belt Loop portion of the program provides the Scout with an introduction tothe topic. Belt Loop requirements can be completed more than once, but it is up tothe Pack if an additional Belt Loop will be awarded for each subsequentcompletion.

Instead, it is recommended that Scouts who show an particular interest in a subjectbe encouraged to continue on and earn the pin associated with the subject. The pinrequirements are more complicated and require more steps for completion. Theyare similar in format to completing Webelos Activity Badges or Boy Scout meritbadges.

This program should be incorporated into your program year. As you arecompleting your planning, refer to the Program Guide to see what areas may helpsupplement what you are already planning to do.

For example:

Monthly Theme: Saving for the FutureField Trip: Visit a BankActivity Possibilities: Mathematics Belt Loops or Pin

Fundraising ActivityCommunity Recycling Programs

Discussion: Based on the monthly theme, a tour of a bank to discussways of saving money might be in order. The Mathematics Belt Looprequirements state that the Cub keeps track of his savings or spendingfor at least 2 weeks. Doing a fundraising activity or creating aCommunity recycling program will aid the Cubs in seeing the value ofhard work and how hard their parents work to help support the familyunit. They can then either donate their funds to a worthy cause orsave it for an upcoming pack event. Either way, it will be a lesson theCubs won’t soon forget.

You can obtain a copy of the Cub Scout Academic and Sport Program Guide atyour local Scout Shop or it is available on line at:

Awards can be purchased at your local Scout Shop or through the BSA SupplyCatalog.

Miscellaneous

Remember, anything your Cubs do, either as a Pack, Den, or Individual, can berecognized as you or the Pack sees fit.

Monthly Theme patches are available at the Scout Shop. You can special orderpatches from the Scout Supply Catalog or online. You can also custom orderpatches from a variety of patch companies online, by mail, or over the phone.

With just a little planning on your side, let your Cubs be the one’s who can say:

“Been There…Done That…Earned the Patch”