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Resources
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CULTURAL AWARENESS SUPPLEMENT
NOVEMBER
UNDERSTANDING OUR HISPANIC HERITAGE
The purpose of this month's theme is to help Cub Scouts identify with some of the positive aspects of their Hispanic American culture.
Week 1
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HISPANIC AMERICAN/LATINO
Preopening
As the Cub Scouts arrive, give each a paper and pencil. Tell each to write a short poem about himself and give it the title, "Me." Be sure the boys know that poems don't have to rhyme; just simple thoughts are fine. Allow the boys time to finish the project, because the poems will be shared at the closing ceremony.
Opening
Have the boys form a straight line and have them recite the Cub Scout Promise while giving the Cub Scout sign.
Cub Scout Promise
I, [your name], promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack.
Cultural Awareness Activity
Explain to the Cub Scouts that the word Hispanic applies to any person who is a descendent of people who came from Spain and settled in the Western Hemisphere, beginning in the 1500s. In some parts of the U.S., the word Latino is used synonymously with Hispanic.
In an effort to help your Cub Scouts reflect upon their Hispanic heritage, ask them to write a paragraph that answers the question, "What nice thing comes to mind when you think about Hispanic people? A good way to begin the paragraph is, "When I think about Hispanic people, I think about ...." Encourage the boys to share just one thought so that every boy has an opportunity to share.
Cub Scouting Activity
Who Are You?
This is a good icebreaker for a den meeting. Hang a sign on the door that reads, "Who are you?" The lower part of the sign, which can be changed, has the subject or theme for that meeting, such as planets, cars, birds, etc. As each boy arrives, he must say, "Today, I am Mars" (or a Ford, or a bluebird, depending on the subject).
Closing
Ask each Scout to share his "Me" poem. When every boy has shared his poem, ask everyone to stand, make the Cub Scout sign, and recite the Law of the Pack.
Law of the Pack
The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.
Week 2
BEING A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN
Preopening
As boys arrive, give each a paper and pencil. Tell them to write a short paragraph about the meaning of being responsible. Allow the boys time to finish the project because the responses will be shared during the cultural exercise.
Opening
Have the boys form a straight line and recite the Cub Scout Promise while giving the Cub Scout sign,.
Cub Scout Promise
I, [your name], promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack.
Cultural Awareness Activity
Explain to the Cub Scouts that Hispanic adults praise young people who are responsible at home, school, and church, and in the community. A responsible young man cares about other people's needs and tries to adapt the values he learned at home with the outside world. He consciously tries to do the right thing each day and is obedient to his parents, teachers, and community leaders.
In an effort to help your Cub Scouts reflect on being a responsible citizen, ask each boy to give you an example of how a responsible behavior he learned at home can follow him into his adult life. Example: helping mom to take care of his younger brothers and/or sisters prepares him to care for his own family some day.
Cub Scouting Activity
Conservation Day
The highlight of a conservation day could be a conservation project or Good Turn. Such a project will provide Cub Scouts with an opportunity to help other people and our country, as well as show good citizenship by protecting our planet and giving something back to the community.
CONSERVATION GOOD TURN
Boys should understand why and how a conservation project is important. If, for example, the Good Turn is cleaning up and planting flowers in a park, the boys should understand that they are doing more than merely making the park attractive. They are also conserving the soil by removing potential pollutants and practicing good soil conservation by planting desirable plants that will reduce erosion.
A conservation Good Turn, such as cleaning up litter at a park or planting trees and shrubs, will show Cub Scout good citizenship in action, as well as help the community and our planet.
Consider several factors when choosing a Good Turn.
- What needs doing? Seek help from local authorities such as city and county park departments, school officials, or perhaps the head of your chartered organization. Also check with local offices of the state conservation or fish and wildlife services, soil conservation district, U.S. Forest Service, or other agencies that have conservation among their purposes. These agencies may be able to suggest projects and also will have ideas for carrying them out.
- Will the project be meaningful to the boys? Will they see the project as more than just busywork?
- Consider the number and ages of boys available to do the project. Can you complete the project within, say, a couple of hours? Can most of the work be done by boys? If adults do most of the work, the boys will learn little. Remember that projects need to be suitable for boys ages 6 to 10.
GOOD TURN IDEAS
- Clean up a neighborhood park, empty lot, school yard, or cemetery. (Note: When cleaning up litter and garbage, always wear protective gloves.) Plant shrubs, flowers, or grass seed to reduce erosion.
- Plant tree seedlings for shade, landscaping, or ground cover.
- Make litter bags for the cars of pack families and neighbors.
- Clean out trash from a section of a stream or lakefront.
- Collect newspaper, glass, aluminum, tin, or plastic for recycling, depending on the needs and resources of your community. Recycling not only beautifies the community by removing trash, it conserves energy because it takes less energy to recycle items than to make them from raw materials. It also saves valuable space in landfills.
- With advice from a conservation agency, build brush piles to provide cover for birds and small mammals in a wild area.
- With advice from a conservation agency, plant shrubs that produce food and cover for birds and mammals.
- With advice from a conservation agency, plant wildflowers or ground cover to stop erosion on sloping ground.
OUTDOOR CODE RESPONSIVE READING CEREMONY
Equipment: U.S. flag, copy of the Outdoor Code for each participant
The Cubmaster speaks briefly about the importance to our nation of taking good care of our natural resources and then uses the Outdoor Code as a responsive reading, with boys reading the responses.
CUBMASTER: As an American, I will do my best to be clean in my outdoor manner—
BOYS: I will treat the outdoors as a heritage. I will take care of it for myself and others. I will keep my trash and garbage out of lakes, streams, fields, woods, and roadways.
CUBMASTER: Be careful with fire—
BOYS: I will prevent wildfire. I will build my fires only where they are appropriate. When I have finished using fire, I will make sure it is cold-out. I will leave a clean fire ring or remove all evidence of my fire.
CUBMASTER: Be considerate in the outdoors—
BOYS: I will treat public and private property with respect. I will use low-impact methods of hiking and camping.
CUBMASTER: Be conservation-minded—
BOYS: I will learn how to practice good conservation of soil, waters, forests, minerals, grasslands, wildlife, and energy. I will urge others to do the same.
CUBMASTER: Let us close by singing "God Bless America."
Closing
Ask each boy to share his paragraph about being responsible. When every boy has shared his paragraph, ask everyone to stand, make the Cub Scout sign, and recite the Law of the Pack.
Law of the Pack
The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.
Week 3
THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
Preopening: The Magic Box
This activity is designed to make your Cub Scouts feel good about themselves. Make a "magic box," a cardboard box with a mirror placed inside so that it will reflect the face of anyone who looks inside. Begin the activity by asking, "Who do you think is the most special person in the whole world?" Allow the Cub Scouts to answer, and then tell them you have a magic box. Tell them they must look inside the box to discover the most important person in the world. Pass the box around so that all boys take a look inside. Explain that the magic box is very valuable because it shows us that each person is important.
Opening
Have the boys form a straight line and recite the Pledge of Allegiance while giving the Cub Scout sign,.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of the United States of America
And to the Republic for which it stands,
One nation under God, indivisible,
With liberty and justice for all.
Cultural Awareness Activity
Hispanic Americans/Latinos are known for their generosity and spirit of giving. Each one of us can relate to an act of kindness a relative did to help a stranger. From the simplest acts like opening a door for someone with their arms full to the most heroic acts such as saving a person's life, the spirit of giving of oneself in the aid of another is the same.
In an effort to help your Cub Scouts reflect on the spirit of giving, ask each boy to give you an example of how he helped someone in a special way recently and how he felt afterward.
Cub Scouting Activity
THE GIFT OF TREES
The American Indians believe that the secret of happiness comes from giving to others. Many, many moons ago, the Great Spirit first put people on the earth and they were frightened. "Where will we find food and water?" they asked. The trees laughed softly. "We are your brothers," they said. "We will help you."
The maple tree spoke: "I will give you sweet water to drink and make into sugar." The elm tree said, Use my soft bark to make your baskets and tie them together with my tough muscles." The hickory tree said, "My cousins and I will fill your baskets with sweet nuts." And the hickory called the chestnut, beech, and walnut to help. The great pine tree whispered softly: "When you get tired, brothers and sisters, I will make you a bed. My cousins the balsam and cedar will help me."
The people's hearts were filled with sunshine as they set out to explore this new world. But soon they came to a deep, wide river. "How will we ever cross the river?" they asked. The trees laughed and laughed. "Take my white skin," the birch said. "Sew together with the muscles of the elm tree, and you can make a boat that will carry you across the widest river."
When the sun crossed the sky to the lodge in the west, the people felt cold. Then the balsam fir tree whispered to them: "Little brothers and sisters, there is much sunfire in my heart. Rub my branches together and you will make a fire." So the people made fire. And that night they slept soundly on the branches of the great pine tree. The north wind blew cold, but the people's hearts were filled with sunshine.
Now when American Indian children ask how they can repay their friends the trees, wise people answer: "They do not ask for payment. But you can give them care and attention. You can give love and care to every plant and flower that makes your life beautiful."
Closing
Gather the Cub Scouts in a circle with the room darkened. A designated boy stands in the center holding the U.S. flag. Another boy shines the light of a flashlight on the flag. All sing the "Star-Spangled Banner."
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