Christmas Blizzard
Please share this newsletter with your Scouting friends!!
Check out the hundreds of new pages on InsaneScouter.
You will notice we made some minor changes to the site this month, by making the colors brighter and friendlier. We also changed the background to add a little something to the site. I think the end result is a livelier site. Please let us know what you think.
Please update your address books as all emails after this one will be coming from news@iswebteam.net. This is an internal domain that we are now using for all email other then a few InsaneScouter addresses that will remain.
Next months newsletter is "Celebrations and Resolutions". If you have anything for this theme please email me.
I am also looking for content to add to the website relating to Leave No Trace / Low Impact Camping. If you have anything please send it on.
1.“Saw, saw, saw” (make sawing motions)...
Put thumbs to head with fingers pointing up...
Pretend to throw a pack onto your back and say...
A great maze game for scouters to celebrate Christmas.
Boys design projects or posters on a particular subject for fun or to be judged.
Players sit round a table, each with paper and pencil. The right-hand Scout draws a picture,
Call out numbers beginning with one. Have group members gather by the numbers.
Give each boy five Christmas cards or seals. On signal each boy introduces himself to five parents other than his own.
Tell contestants that this is a contest to see who can make the most accurate drawing of their face on a paper sack.
Have families at the December Pack meeting work on the answers as a team.
Equipment: One wrapped package for each team How to Play: Divide into teams.
Materials: A poster-size menorah A cardboard candle for each player
Fill a big bag with all sorts of dress‑up clothes, including wigs and funny hats. Players form a large circle around "Santa's Sack".
If You Go To The North Pole With Me...
This can be used in both Den and Pack Meetings. Group can be divided into smaller groups, which compete or can be done within the den with boys taking turns.
Line up the dens for a relay. Attach large sheets of paper to the opposite wall and give each boy a different colored crayon.
Buy package of peanuts. Write K on 4, H on 4, N on 4, U on 4 and A on 4.
Cubs sit in circle, start music. Pass the top around the circle. When the music stops,
Two or more red stocking are hung up, the number depending on the number of contestants you have for each side.
This is a variation of the classic Kim’s game. It is a good game for den meetings.
Another great word puzzle from the best scouting site, InsaneScouter
A great Chirstmas Maze from InsaneScouter
Great word find puzzle by the folks of InsaneScouter
Give each group a piece of paper with CHRISTMAS written vertically down the side and tell them that after each letter...
Take a set of old Christmas cards (about three times as many cards as there are players) and cut each card into two pieces, making two sets of half-cards so that each half-card
Have everyone write down the word Christmas leaving a space after each letter.
This is the season of lights. It is a time when the days are shorter and the nights are long.
This is a classic that appears almost every year for your Holiday Pack Show.
Set Up: A narrator to say the lines of the Pledge of Allegiance and 6 Cub Scouts to say the accompanying lines.
Props: Box wrapped with holiday paper and tied with a bow. In the box are a menorah.
The whole idea is to give good will and holiday spirit to each of your Scouts' families by having the boys sing carols at each boy's house.
Set Up: This requires a bit of advance prep. All boys who are to receive awards need to be notified that they should bring a can of food or a small gift to the meeting.
Staging: House lights are dimmed. Ceremony board or log contains seven small candles and one tall candle representing the spirit of Cub Scouting.
Cubmaster: Each of us has some traditions that are only practiced by our own families.
In a recent issue of Scouting magazine, there is a story about a Webelos Scout named Daniel Simon of Pack 381, Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
Set Up: Dim or turn off room lights except for an electric candle or flashlight
Props: Log candle holder with 3 candles (12") multipurpose lighter
Have 9 packages wrapped as gifts with the letter on one side and the words to speak written on the back. In order, boys hold up box and read the words.
ARRANGEMENT: Cub Scouts come on stage one at a time carrying appropriate props and line up facing audience as narrator reads the following poem.
Nine boys stand in a line et the back of the room. Each holds a large letter that spells out Christmas.
Arrangement.: Nine Cub Scouts come onstage, one by one; each carrying a large cardboard letter. As he speaks his lines, he holds up his letter, which ultimately spells out the word Christmas.
C - C is for candles, we burn on Christmas night.
The Legend Of The Christmas Scout
SETTING: Have leader in the front of the room. Turn off all lights possible. Leader reads the Legend with the aid of a small flashlight.
ARRANGEMENT: Each boy comes on stage holding the object he's speaking about, or, he can use a poster with the appropriate picture on it. He can read his lines, or they can be read by a narrator.
Personnel: 8 Cubs (May be divided into more or less parts depending upon number of Cubs in the Den.)
Provide sets of four cards. On each card, write one of the first four lines of the famous Christmas poem...
1/4 cup peanut butter, creamy 2 slices whole wheat bread 16 raisins 4 Cherries 16 pretzels - twist style
Supplies: Uncooked oats Ziplock Bag Ribbon Glitter In a Ziplock bag, put a little bit of uncooked oats and glitter.
1 Gal. Apple Cider or Apple Juice 1-9 oz bag of Cinnamon Red Hot Candy 1/2 cup Sugar...
1 cup butter or margarine 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar 3 cups flour 2 - 4 tablespoons heavy cream red and green food coloring 2 dozen chocolate kisses...
Blend together: 2 Cups powdered sugar 1/3C heavy cream 2 teaspoons vanilla Mix and divide into two bowls.
1/2 Apple, cored miniature marshmallows peanut butter 1. Place apple cut side down on a plate...
Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs 3/4 cup miniature marshmallows 1 cup chopped dates or raisins...
Ingredients: Bread cream cheese or butter carrot sticks pretzel sticks raisins Spread bread with cream cheese or butter...
Ingredients: 2 cans crescent rolls ¼ cup sugar 1 cup powdered sugar 1 stick softened butter...
You need: Two Empty Film Canisters Two Craft Sticks Colored Vinyl Tape Black Marker or Paint Rice, Beans, or Beads Scissors
Supplies: Foil covered chocolate kisses Poster board Gumdrops Cake frosting Ribbon.
Materials: Four photos of family members 4 inches red ribbon Thumbtack Glue Foam cube.
Materials: Oval wood piece Pens Glue Tulip paint Pipe Cleaner or Ribbon.
Deck your tree with flavor!!! Materials: Use small candy canes about 3-3/4" long.
Cinnamon Cookie Cutter Ornaments
Use cookie cutters to make shapes. Use an ice pick, toothpick or chopstick to make holes in the tops for threadin.
You'll need: Ice cream stick or craft stick black, white and orange acrylic paint 3/8" red felt tiny white pompon tacky glue
Divide the Pack into four or more groups, and give each group materials to make a garbage bag snowman (large white garbage bags, newspapers, tape, etc).
Good for holding presents, treats, or supplies!! Materials needed: Seven Holiday cards cut to measure 4" X 6" (for each house)
Draw outlines of holiday items (e.g. Christmas Tree, Santa Claus, Menorah) on lightweight cardboard.
Materials: Six corks all the same size for the head and body. You'll need one more cork for the base of the antlers. If corks don't fit together well, cut away cork until they do.
You will need a 6-8" tall styrofoam tree, a couple bags of red and green gumdrops, some u-shaped hair pins, toothpicks, and a miniature string of beads.
Skits / Songs / Stories / Cheers
Tune: Rudolph Here's to the Cubs in our den. As they follow, help and give. All of the boys in our den, Know just how a Cub should live.
Tune: Merrily We Roll Along Hanukkah is here at last, Here at last, here at last. Hanukkah is here at last, There's fun for everyone.
Over the river and through the woods To Grandmother's house we go. The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh Through white and drifted snow.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas, We Wish You a Merry Christmas,
Tune: Mary Had A Little Lamb Hanukkah is here at last, Here at last here at last. Hanukkah is here at last.
Tune: Edelweiss Winter snow, winter snow, Each December you tease me.
Tune: Where Has My Little Dog Gone Oh why, oh why, hasn't Santa come yet?
Tune: Up On The Housetop Down 'in the basement Cub Scouts pause, They are helping Santa Claus.
Tune: The Hokey Poky You put your antlers in. You put your antlers out.
(Tune: Old McDonald Had A Farm) Old St. Nicholas had a tree (form tree with arms) Ho, ho ho ho ho! And on that tree he had
Pretend to hold a bell rope, then get the left side of the audience...
Done similarly to “Chip, Chop” Divide audience into two groups, raise right hand and half say HAPPY...
Reach down and pick up some imaginary snow, pack it into a snow ball...
Wrap your arms around yourself, and say, “BRRRRR!”
What happens when a cat crosses the desert at Christmas? It gets “Sandy claws!” What lives in winter...
Characters: Bob, 12 Cub Scout friends (if den has less than 12 boys, have them do several parts)
Cast: Mother, Father, Child, scout staff with sprig of evergreen lashed to the top; materials to make snipping and sawing sounds (you can pre-record these on cassette tape.)
Gathering Game: Icicle Hunt Game
Set up: Numerous pieces of string of various lengths hidden around the room before the boys arrive.
How to Play:
Divide into teams and have the boys hunt for the “icicles” for any length of time. The winner is the team whose “Icicles” form the longest line when laid end to end.
Opening Ceremony:
Cub Scouts enter, one by one, carrying large cards with a letter printed on it.
The Cubs all line up to spell the word CHRISTMAS
Each Cub recites his lines:
C is for Cub Scouts, cheerful and bright
H is for helpful, healthy and right
R is for Resources they try to save
I is for Ideals they like to wave
S is for Scarf of yellow and blue
T is for Tying they learn to do
M is for Magic of which they all shout
A is for Akela, our best Scout
S is for Something we all have to do
All Cubs say: “and this brings a Cub Scout Merry Christmas to you!”
Snowball Applause:
Pretend to stoop down, pick up snow, shape it into a ball and throw it.
Do “splat” sound when it hits its mark.
Christmas Cheer:
At a time when we
Should feel the most blessed
The Holidays can
Make you feel stressed.
So when you feel
The “crabbies” coming near
Just sprinkle yourself
With Christmas Cheer
A GREAT CHRISTMAS
Divide the group into nine smaller groups and assign each group one of the words listed below. Read the story. After each of the words is read pause for the group to make the appropriate response.
SANTA CLAUS: (Hold belly and laugh) "HO, HO, HO."
PRESENTS: (Spread arms and shout) "A new bike."
GREETING CARDS: (Throw up hands and say) "Hang 'em on the wall."
MOM AND DAD: (Scold with finger) "You'd better be good."
HOLIDAY DINNER: (Shrug shoulders, hold up hands saying) "Where's the beef?"
ANGELS: Do "Twilight Zone" theme while flapping arms
DECORATIONS: Sing "Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly!"
CHRISTMAS: All sounds and parts at the same time.
SNOW: (Wrap arms around yourself and go) "Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"
My favorite holiday is CHRISTMAS___. I enjoy sending GREETING CARDS___, I enjoy a big HOLIDAY DINNER___, I enjoy the SNOW___, but most of all, I enjoy SANTA CLAUS___ bringing me lots of PRESENTS___.
The house is filled with DECORATIONS___. My favorite are silver ANGELS___. I help MOM AND DAD___ open the GREETING CARDS___, fix the HOLIDAY DINNER___, shovel SNOW___, wrap PRESENTS___, put up DECORATIONS___, and polish the silver ANGELS___. After we are finished, I leave out milk and cookies for SANTA CLAUS___ while MOM AND DAD___ clean up I can hardly wait until CHRISTMAS___ morning.
I race to the tree. I see SANTA CLAUS___ has left me lots of PRESENTS___, with little GREETING CARDS___ on them. He's put some new DECORATIONS___ on the tree, including some new silver ANGELS___, and he has sprinkled the branches with SNOW___. Of course, he has left some lovely grown-up gifts for MOM AND DAD___.
So we sit down to eat our HOLIDAY DINNER___ I turn on the radio and Frank Sinatra is singing "Hark the herald ANGELS___ Sing"! MOM AND DAD___ and I say grace and eat our HOLIDAY DINNER___ while the DECORATIONS___ twinkle all over the house. After dinner we look at the GREETING CARDS___ one more time, and then go out for an afternoon stroll in the falling SNOW___.
I tell you, that SANTA CLAUS___ is quite a guy. He sure knows how to turn out a great CHRISTMAS___.
Christmas Time:
(Tune: Jingle Bells)
Schools out, we won’t pout
Cubs Shout “Hip Hooray”
Something Special’s coming soon,
And it’s Christmas Day
Wrap the gifts, trim the tree
Mind your mom and dad
You’ll get presents if you do
Boy, won’t we be glad
Christmas all Together
(Tune: Deck the Halls)
Christmas Brings cubs all together
Fa la la la la, la la la la
No Matter what the Wind and Weather
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Cub Scouts and their Parents beam
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Achieving good will faces gleam
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Cub Scouts come to trim a tree
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Craftsmen all in spirit tonight
Fa la la la la, la la la la
All are keeping a fond tradition
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Lighting ways to dreams and wishing
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Christmas Closing:
Arrangement: Nine Cub Scouts come onstage, one by one; each carrying a large cardboard letter. As he speaks his lines, he holds up his letter, which ultimately spells out the word Christmas.
C - C is for candles, we burn of Christmas night
To gladden weary travelers with their light so bright.
H - H is for happiest; the happiest time of year;
It’s jolly, gay old Christmas time, with all its mirth and cheer.
R - R is for ring; we ring the Christmas bell
All the Christmas gladness, the world to tell.
I - I is for the jnfant who lay in a manger
Little Lord Jesus, a dear little stranger.
S - S is for shepherds who kept their flocks by night;
And heard the angels singing, and saw a wondrous light.
T - T is for tree, all green and gold and red,
We see it Christmas morning when we jump out of bed.
M - M is for the mistletoe we hang at Christmas time;
In merry wreaths, when candles burn and Christmas bells chime.
A - A is for all; to all men we wish cheer,
Joy and gladness, love and hope, for Christmas time is here.
S - S is for the star that shone on Christmas night,
Star and candle, bell and wreath, all make our Christmas bright.
Holiday Spirit
Christmas and Hanukkah are, for the most people, the most joyful holidays of the year. The holiday parties, the exchange of gifts, and the brilliant lights of the Christmas trees make a guy glad to be alive at this season.
Sometimes we forget that these holidays are really religious festivals. It's well to remember that the real holiday spirit is cast by the Star of Bethlehem and the Hanukkah candles, reminding us of the miracles in times past.
In the 12th point of the Scout Law we say that a Scout is reverent. That doesn't mean that he has to go around all the time with a long face or with hands folded in prayer. It means that he does his duty to God, which includes doing things for God's other creatures. We'll be doing that later this month with our troop Good Turn.
Now remembering that a Scout is reverent, let's close with the Scout benediction.
Closing - The Legend Of The Christmas Scout
SETTING: Have leader in the front of the room. Turn off all lights possible. Leader reads the Legend with the aid of a small flashlight.
NARRATOR: This is the legend of the Christmas Scout. It was told to me by a small boy whose faith in the story was absolute. He showed me a toy airplane and said emphatically that it came from the Christmas Scout.
A Boy Scout was returning on Christmas Eve from a party of his relatives where he had received all of his gifts. He had a sled full of presents, just the things he had been hoping for; and although it was cold, he was warm because he was wearing the new plaid jacket for which he had been hinting. It was his favorite gift.
In spite of everything, he was not happy. This was because it was to be his first Christmas without his brother, whom had, during the year, been the tragic victim of a reckless driver. His brother had been a good Scout and a fine example to him.
The Boy Scout had taken a short cut through the Flats, hoping he might meet his Patrol Leader who lived there with his widowed mother. This was a section of town in which many of the poor lived. His Patrol Leader, one of the best Scouts in the Troop, had to work hard. Not that the Boy Scout was rich. His family was just one step above the Flats.
As he hiked down the street, the Scout caught glimpses of the trees and decorations in many of the homes. He had no intentions of prying, but suddenly, in one glimpse, he had seen a shabby room with two limp stockings hanging above an empty fireplace and a woman seated near them weeping. The stockings reminded him of the way he and his brother had always found them the next morning, full to brimming. Then, he remembered that he had not done his Good Turn for the Day.
He Knocked at the door. "Yes?", the sad voice of the woman inquired. "May I come in? I am a Boy Scout." "You are very welcome", she said, "but I can not help you. I have nothing for my own children."
"That is why I am here", he replied. "You are to choose whatever you need from this sled." "God bless you!", she answered gratefully. "My little boys will be very happy." She took some candies and a game, the toy airplane, and a puzzle.
Then, as she took the new official flashlight, the Scout almost cried out. But he did not. He saw that the stockings were filled and then turned to go. "Won't you tell me your name?", the lady asked. "Just call me the Christmas Scout," he replied.
He was glad to have done the Good Turn, but he was not really happier. He had seen that his sorrow was not the only sorrow in the world, and before he got out of the Flats that night, he had given the remainder of his toys away. The plaid jacket had gone to a boy whom had none at all.
He trudged homeward, cold and disconsolate. He had given his presents away and he could think of no explanation he could give his family that would seem reasonable. He wondered how he could make them understand. His parents tried to be patient. His father was firm. "You made your choice, son. You know we can not afford to give you any more presents."
The Christmas Scout realized he had seemed foolish in the eyes of his parents and even, to a degree, in his own. His brother gone, his family disappointed, he suddenly felt alone. He hadn't thought to be rewarded for his generosity, for in the wisdom of his young grief, he knew that a good deed should always be its own reward. It would be tarnished otherwise. He didn't want his gifts back. The boy thought of his brother and cried himself to sleep.
The next morning, he came down to find his parents listening to the Christmas music on the TV. Then the announcer spoke. "Merry Christmas everybody. The nicest Christmas story we have this morning comes from the Flats. It appears that a crippled boy down there has a new sled this morning, another youngster has a fine plaid jacket, and several families have reported that their children have been made happy by the visitation of a Boy Scout who gave no name, but simply referred to himself as the Christmas Scout. The boy with the jacket declared that the Scout gave it off his own back. No one can identify him, but the children of the Flats are claiming that the Christmas Scout was a personal representative of old Santa Clause himself."
The Christmas Scout felt his father's arms go around his shoulders and saw his mother smiling at him through her tears. "We are proud of you, son." The Christmas Scout caught his breath. "Mother, Father!" he cried. "This is a happy Christmas after all!"
The carols came over the air again filling the room with music. "And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth."
Fuzzy And Scout's Hidden Corner
Hi all, Fuzzy and Scout here, this time we are going to tell you about
something we did last Christmas eve.
We were walking through a forest looking for salmon, when it started to
snow......
We of course knew exactly where we were, so we were not scared or
anything (Fuzzy says well only scared to miss dinner). We kept walking
on and on playing in the snow.
At one point we saw someone wondering and struggling through the
blizzard who looked like he was lost, we both walked towards him and
took a good look at the overweight guy. He turned around and saw us,
with a funny laugh he said “Oh boys, I am so glad you found me. I need
to get to a plane or all would be lost. We told him being good Scouts we
would help him find his way to the train station, which was the best and
fastest way to get to the airport.
Scout thought he recognized the guy, but did not know from where. After
a 20 minute walk we reached the station and said goodbye to the kind
man, he wanted to give us something for helping him, but being good cubs
we declined and told him it is our duty to help people.
Fuzzy looked at the clock and said it is nearly dinner time, so we ran
home for dinner.
The next morning we both woke up early and shouted “IT IS XMAS!!” Of
course we rushed to wake Baloo up to see what presents we had. We both
had very nice presents, but also a card which said the following: “Dear
Fuzzy and Scout, thanks for your help yesterday.... Without your help
Christmas would have not been fun for a lot of children worldwide. Even
though you said you did not want a reward I thought you would like these
presents. I just wish more boys would be like you. Your Friend S. Claus”
After reading this Scout shouted out: “Now I know where I have seen that
man before, it was Santa Claus”
Baloo told us he was very proud of us, as we saved Christmas. Although
Scout and I didn’t think it was that special and every cub or Scout
would have done the same.
“Mmmmmm yummmmm...... Baloo this is good Christmas Salmon.... mmmmmm”
Christmas and Hanukkah are, for the most people, the most joyful holidays of the year. The holiday parties, the exchange of gifts, and the brilliant lights of the Christmas trees make a guy glad to be alive at this season.
Sometimes we forget that these holidays are really religious festivals. It's well to remember that the real holiday spirit is cast by the Star of Bethlehem and the Hanukkah candles, reminding us of the miracles in times past.
In the 12th point of the Scout Law we say that a Scout is reverent. That doesn't mean that he has to go around all the time with a long face or with hands folded in prayer. It means that he does his duty to God, which includes doing things for God's other creatures. We'll be doing that later this month with our troop Good Turn.
Now remembering that a Scout is reverent, let's close with the Scout benediction.
Thank you for subscribing to the InsaneScouter newsletter. Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends and encourage them to subscribe to this newsletter by becoming a free member. To get a free membership register here. To unsubscribe login to your account, go to the user control panel, click on "Manage Newsletter Subscription" and uncheck the check box.