Ideas for Bear Scout Electives

BEAR SCOUT ELECTIVES

Here are some ideas of fun ways you can have your den complete some of the Bear Scout electives. You can see the complete List of Electives here. On this page, we are only offering suggestions for certain electives since many of these electives are meant to be done individually by each scout, depending on their interests. Of course, we'd love to hear what activities your den did that the scouts really enjoyed.

1. Night Hike: take a hike after dark so you can see the stars. Take flashlights and a book or picture of the solar system with you. Do Space: a by finding the North Star and two other constellations. It should also take no more than 10 minutes of searching before you see a satellite go over. Talk about natural and man-made satellites for Space: e and compare how they are similar and different. Have the scouts try to name all the planets in our solar system, then show them on the picture, then try to find Mars or another planet. Discuss how it is different and similar to Earth for Space: f. Go to Space.com for lots of information on what planets are visible, phases of moon, and other things to look for.
   
2. Weather Recording: Get your scouts aware of the weather - it will be valuable when they start camping. Introduce them to reading and recording the weather at a den meeting and give each one our Weather Tracking Chart to track the temperature, rain, wind, pressure, type of weather, and TV forecast correctness for two weeks. This can be used for Weather: a, b, c, d, & f A weather vane can be a piece of cloth hung from a tree branch. A rain gauge can be a clear jar.
   
3. Playing with Electricity: Of the whole Bear year, this was my favorite den meeting! Use Electricity Projects Page to have your den make an electric magnet (Electricity:c) and an electric motor (Electricity:d). Use the picture in the handbook for an electronic quiz board for Electricity:b. Have each scout come up with 6 matching type questions on slips of paper that he can attach to the board and then rewire it for someone else to take his test.
   
4. Hot Air Balloon: On a cold winter day with very little wind, your den can create their own hot air balloon for Aircraft: c
   You need a super-thin plastic garment bag from a dry cleaner, a dozen small birthday candles, some drinking straws, a long fishing line, some strong scotch tape.
   • Tape straws together to create an X that will fill the opening of the plastic bag.
   • Cut a hole in the straws every 1 to 1.5 inches - these are spots in which you will stand the candles. Put candles in all the spots and tape them if necessary.
   • Tape the ends of the straw X to the opening of the bag to hold it open. This is the base of the balloon and the bag will fill with hot air and provide lift.
   • Tie the fishing line to the center of the X to prevent it from flying away and causing trouble somewhere.
   • Have an adult hold the balloon up from the top to keep the plastic away from the candles. Light the candles and wait for it to lift off.
   Instead of the candles, you can use an electric hair dryer and extension cord to fill the balloon, but it will cool off quickly. Or, if you are having a campfire, you can carefully fill the balloon with hot air rising from the fire.
   
5. Nature Hike: By arranging a hike at a Nature Center or through a park, you can complete many of the Nature Craft electives. You can take 15 minutes before the hike to make a water scope and bird caller and take them with you to complete Nature Craft: d & h. Give each scout a paper & pencil. Take 30 large plastic baggies with you. Along the hike, have scouts find tracks of 8 different animals and draw them on their paper. For 10 different kinds of leaves, put enough for each scout into a baggie and label that baggie with the tree name. Do the same for 8 different seeds - acorns and berries are seeds also. If there is a rocky stream or hillside on your hike, you can also collect 10 kinds of rocks, but you may need to get permission first. Stop at a stream or lake to try your waterscopes and write down what water life you see. Take a break and have a snack and once everyone is settled down, try out your bird calls. When you return from your hike, pass out the things that were collected so scouts can mount them at home, or do a mounting project at your next den meeting. This will fulfill Nature Craft: b, c, and e.
   
6. Magic Show: Simple magic tricks are fun. Having just a couple simple tricks that you can do anywhere is a great social skill. I still use the card trick I learned when I was in 6th grade and impressed everyone at a birthday party - that was a big confidence builder. Your scouts might like these 14 Simple Magic Tricks.