Blue and Gold Banquet Class for Pow Wow

***WARNING *** This is a super long post, but well worth your time(at least I think it is)

I had the opportunity to teach the Memorable Blue and Gold Banquet class at this years Pow Wow. I was able to teach four-50 minute classes with  25-30 people in each class.

***DISCLAIMER: The information in this post is my opinion and the ideas/tips that have worked well for me in the past. With that said, I am not saying that it is the only way or the right way to plan a blue and gold. If the things in this post do not work for you, then find something that will.


I LOVE planning parties I have planned several parties for my kids over the past many years, and in my opinion the Blue and Gold Banquet is just a big party. I have had many people ask me what the purpose of the Blue and Gold Banquet is, so here is a description taken directly from the BSA's website.

**Most Cub Scouts celebrate Scouting Anniversary Week in February with a "birthday party" called the blue and gold banquet. In nearly all packs, the blue and gold banquet is the highlight of the year. It brings families together for an evening of fun and cheer. It's often the pack meeting for February.

The purpose of the blue and gold banquet is to celebrate the pack's anniversary, thank pack leaders and other adults who have helped the pack, and inspire the leaders, Scouts, and parents. Packs often like to invite former members and other Scouting or community leaders to take part in their blue and gold banquet.

The banquet can be like a regular pack meeting, with songs, skits, stunts, and awards. Or it can be something different and a little more special. Your pack may decide to bring in an entertainer such as a magician or a storyteller. Or you could have a video or slide show of what the pack did over the past year.

A good banquet needs lots of planning. Most packs begin to plan at least two months ahead of time. (Source)

Before I share pictures, I wanted to share a few things that I shared in my class:
           
Basics

• Planning is the key in carrying out a Memorable blue and gold- don’t wait until the last minute to start planning. My suggestion; if you haven't started planning by now I would start.
• Pick a theme you don't have to pick a theme, but it makes it easier to plan.
•  Make an outline/list (this is how I plan ALL of my kids' birthday parties, class parties, and our blue and gold banquets). Below is the outline that I use, if you would like the word document send me an email. 

• Decide if you are inviting the boys and parents or boys and immediate family.
• Recognize your leaders with a small gift or any awards they have earned. 

Decorations-

•      Make things different heights. Use books or boxes under the table cloth to give dimension to your table.
•      Know which type of table you are using; long tables, or round tables. Knowing this will help to determine the size of your centerpieces. Make sure they are not too big or too small. 
•      if your centerpieces are on the smaller side add a few more objects 
•     go bigger around not up. You want to still be able to see the people across from you at the table
•     If you are using printables in your centerpiece make them double sided, so one side of the table is not staring at a blank piece of paper and a stick.
• Don't buy fancy containers(unless you want to and have the budget) use containers you already have, use empty cans wrapped in paper or fabric. No. 10 cans are a great size. Check with your schools and hospitals around you to see if they will save them for you. Or use empty boxes that are spray painted or covered in paper. 

Table settings-

• Don't be afraid to change the names of your foods to match your themes, for example if you are doing a space theme and having hamburgers and hot dogs, you could rename them space shuttles and flying saucers.
• Add a simple label to your water bottles, or some clip art to your cups to dress them up and tie them into your theme.
• Use simple paper place mats like THESE and add your theme with pictures. 

Activity- 

• Make sure it is age appropriate and not too long 10-15 minutes is usually the right amount of time.
• Consider doing a rotation. These work great and you can get more activity time while keeping the boys engaged. 

Now onto the fun part of planning a blue and gold...The pictures. I presented 5 themes in my class, but there are hundreds of themes you could do if you  need more ideas Google party ideas. 

 Pirate theme- See the cans covered in paper, so cute and so simple, The small box was covered in paper. You can also so an example of the paper place mat I mentioned, and the label on the water bottle.

The invitation was made for a birthday party for one of my kids a few years ago using a pattern from HERE. This would be something the boys could help with either cutting it out or embellishing it or both.

 The next theme is a Western theme and in my opinion is by far one of the easiest themes to work with. Notice the simple yet cute clothes pins attached to the table cloth.

here is a close up. I got this idea from a friend of mine. Who is amazing at planning/decorating for blue and gold banquets.

Think outside the box for your "plates" here I used a pie tin. And for the cup I used a mason jar (which is so popular right now) I however did not buy the expensive lids they sell.
Here is a quick way to make your own

•  Use the plastic lids from drink cups from the gas station or fast food restaurants trace your lid (not the screw on one) from the mason jar onto the plastic lid and cut out. 
• You will also need to trace the lid shape onto a piece of scrapbook paper. 
• Place plastic lid and paper circle onto your mason jar, and screw on band. 
• use an xacto knife to cut the x shape into the paper for the straw
• add straw and enjoy

Here is the invitation I made up for this theme. I make all of my invitations in photoshop and have them printed at Costco.

 Next is a space theme.

 On the right you can see an example of using a box that was spray painted as a center piece. Also an example of adding clip art to the cup.

For the place setting I went to the local hardware store and picked up a bunch of blue and yellow paint chips, took them home and sewed them into a pocket. I then added some clip art. We placed the silverware and napkin in each pocket.

The Subway art I made using photoshop, to the left of the subway art is a Styrofoam block spray painted and then mini star foiled garland was poked in around it and then placed on a box that was spray painted.

To the left of that is an example of using containers you already have. One is a vase with a silver paper rolled up and placed inside then embellished with ribbon and more foil garland.

 Here is a close up of the invitations I made.

This is the inside.

 The next theme was a generic theme, using the blue and gold(yellow) colors and scout related things.
The Subway art I made using photoshop again, then took it and shrunk it down and used it as an invitation.

Use boxes wrapped up as presents, it is a birthday party after all.

I used cans covered in paper then found each of the rank symbols and printed 2 of each of them out (to make them double sided). I then put them on skewer sticks placed a foam block in the can, and added tissue paper to cover everything up.  When printing clip art on a larger scale search for high resolution images.

You could also use the vase with the paper inside to put your  images in.

The last theme I presented is one still a work in progress as it is the theme we are using at our Blue and Gold this February. This is what I have planned so far though. 

I am not exactly sure of what I am calling this theme, but we are having a company come with 12 animals and they do a hands on interactive show with the kids. 

I will use strips of burlap in the center of the table instead of the fabric that is there now. 

For the silver pail I printed made and printed out 4 inch squares and backed them with card stock then put them on skewers. I got moss from the dollar store to fill the bucket and spread around on the table. 

On the right- I used a glass jar and filled it with rocks(from the dollar store) and a fake plant, that I made using some long wispy thing I found also from the  dollar store.(I cut it to the length I wanted and put a rubber band around the bottom to keep it all together, I have enough of the thing to make a bunch of "fake plants") 

On the left- I filled plastic jar with plastic bugs and reptiles and added the same square I used in the bucket but about half the size. I plan on spray painting the lid either black or an army green, then gluing a plastic frog on the top.

The live animal box is a mini gable box that will double as a decoration and something fun the kids can take home. I made them using photoshop, then printed out and assembled. I plan to fill them with candy and some plastic bugs/insects/reptiles. 

Here is the invitation I made using photoshop. 

I hope this post helps you in planning your blue and gold banquet. If you have any questions or would like to use anything I have made please leave me a comment with your email address or email me. 

For personal use only, please do not sell or alter in any way. If you use please link back to my original post. Also please send all your friends here if they would like to use anything I have made. 

Gifts for Pow Wow

I was asked to come up with 15-20 gifts that could be given out in a drawing during Pow Wow, but they also had to be something that leaders could use. I thought the task sounded fun, but quickly learned that when you are also teaching a blue and gold banquet class and have a lot of planning and preparation for said class that it is not as much fun as originally thought.

Here is what I came up with.

These cups were donated by my mom's cool new work,don't worry they were new. I made 3 of these (obviously)I took their logo off and added the vinyl. I used my cricut, sure cuts alot and a couple of free svgs I found and then added m&m's. Now that they are done, they are super cute. They however were not cute after I spent 3 hours trying to get the vinyl cut out and to the right size. It was either to big, to small, or wouldn't come off the paper.

 Here it is all packaged up. I thought it would be a little cuter, and easier having them in bags, but I wanted them in bags that they could tell what was in it so I did clear bags and added shredded yellow, and blue paper and tied it up with yellow and blue ribbon.

Next I did neckerchief slides.I made 2 sets of these. Starting left to right. An alligator made from a clothes pin, a ninja I made using a wooden peg doll (I am sure they have a name, I just do not know what they are called),behind the ninja is a dice that was cut into a square and painted white. I then drew the dots on them using a sharpie and had hubby drill a hole into the middle. Next is a car, we actually made these for our boys for pinewood derby, the idea for this one came from HERE. Batman(because our pow wow theme was super heroes) was a figure I found at the dollar stare and cut off the base. The squiggly guy made out of pipe cleaners is a fun, simple slide that I learned how to make at Philmont. Last but not least, the cub scout slide. I made the circles using photoshop then glued them to a flat rock.

Here they are all packaged up. Oh I also put in a clucking chicken you can see a better picture and tutorial HERE.

Here is a game bag I made up. I made 3 of these. When teaching round table I encourage all of the den leaders to make a game box. I also hand out a game card (with a game on either side) I only hand these out if they attend round table. Then I tell them to go home and gather any materials they would need to play those two games and add them to their game box. This way when an activity is done faster than you planned or the boys are just not focused you can pull out a game card and will have all the things to play those games.

Anyway onto what's in the bag, obviously I added a set of my game cards, a large foam dice, a small soft ball, clothes pins, sick dice (for tutorial and how to play you can go HERE), and marbles.

All tied up ready to go.

You might remember THIS post from last month, these are my citizenship bingo games I made to teach at round table last month and also to use in pack meeting. I also included the tag I made to help the boys with opening and closing flag ceremony.

I made two of my subway art prints and put them in frames.

 I made 4 clipboards. I covered them in blue and yellow and printed some cub scout things on some of them.

Here is the back of the boards.

All packaged up with a cute cub scout pen I made.  I found the idea HERE but they were for primary and I wanted to make them for cub scouts so I asked my very talented friend if she could make me a template to use in phtoshop since I have no idea how to make templates yet. If you are interested in the template visit her site HERE. Guess I will have to get a better picture of the pen.

I did 2 cheer jars. I washed and dried empty lays stax containers since they are blue and yellow then was going to create a printable to put on it when I found THIS on already made. All I did was resize it using photoshop.  Then I went hunting for all the cheers I had and printed them up and cut them into strips and put them inside.

I also made 2 bags with stuff to help learn the bobcat trail. I made this LAPBOOK for the bobcat trail  last year, we have all of our new boys make one and take home to review with their families. I put in the Law of the pack and cub scout promise puzzles( check it out HERE to see how I use them). And last I added my roll a bobcat game and a dice to play it (this is played like cootie).

All packaged up.


I had a few more ideas to do, but ran out of time and patience.  I just hope that some of these things will help other leaders.

Law of the pack puzzle

I made these a few years ago to use as a pre-opener to help the boys learn/review the Law of the pack and cub scout promise

We use them a few different ways; the first way, I give each boy a puzzle and time him on how long it takes him to put it together, the second way I give them each a puzzle and they race against each other. The boys love trying to beat their own time and each other. They are so easy to make. You can have the boys make them and take them home and make some to keep with you (maybe in your game box?)

Halloween party Decorations

Every year for my wolves to pass off Elective 9a-Plan a party, we do a Halloween party. The boys have so much fun with this. We let them wear costumes then we plan games and have them make some decorations and bring a treat. We also invite our other dens to join us.

This is what I had them make this year. These are ones that I made several years ago but they are simple enough for the boys to make.(forgive the no one eyed ones, my cute 1 year old thought it would be fun to pull the eyes off and I am out of eyes and haven't made it to the store) I gave them a choice between the mummy,pumpkin, and Frankenstein, because I didn't want to go buy the stiff felt for the bats wings.

I will have to get a picture of the ones the boys made, they were excited that they get to keep them once our party is over.

The other thing we are having them make are these...

  Mummy treat containers. These are water bottles with the tops cut off. We bought muslin and tore strips then glued them to start(using a hot glue gun) and had the boys wrap them. Then they picked out googly eyes and we glued them on for them.

This one is filled with candy for picture purposes but we usually fill them with popcorn since it is a bit cheaper then candy. This year we will be filling them with pretzels and candy corn.

Core Value-Citizenship

This months core value that I was teaching at Round Table is Citizenship. When I started trying to come up with ideas to teach I thought about citizenship bingo and figured there had to be something online that was already made, so I went on a google search and found that there are some citizenship bingo games, but not exactly what I wanted so I started making my own and using different quiz's and trivia on citizenship to make what I wanted. I figured I would kill two birds with one stone, and use this not only to teach at round table, but also to use as a rotation for our pack meeting next month.(I am so ahead of the game this time).

This would have been fine, except one night I was lying in bed and the thought came to me to make a citizenship bingo game that actually passes off something. So the next day I pulled out the wolf and bear book and went through the section on the flag and citizenship. I took everything from both books that the boys had to know and turned them into questions and put the answers on the bingo board. 

You can elaborate on any of the questions and teach them more if you like as you play.

When played this will pass off Wolf A2b(part) A2d, and Bear A3e.

I made 15 pages of cards with 2 cards on each page (30 cards total and they all answers in different boxes so not everyone gets bingo at the same time). To get the bingo cards you can download them HERE or email me or leave comment with your email address and I will send them to you.

I also made these flag ceremony badges to help the boys when they are doing flag ceremony.

I used the id badges and one side put the opening flag ceremony and on the other side I did the closing flag ceremony. You can make one for each boy or just make one and clip it on their shirt or hang it on a lanyard for them to use during flag ceremony.

The printable is sized for use with the id holders from Walmart(I am pretty sure they are Walmart brand it didn't really have a brand name on the container). Download the printable HERE. It was being tempermental for me and looked funny in the download box, but when I downloaded it, it opened just fine, but if it doesn't work for you email me or leave a comment with your email address and I will be glad to send it to you.


*These are for personal use only, you may not sell, claim or alter. Please link back to this post if you use/share these ideas.

Cub Scout subway Art

I thought I would share with you a subway art I made for our blue and gold banquet last year, since I have had several people ask me about it.

If you are interested in a copy with your pack number on it leave me a comment with your email address and pack number or email me at runningwithpack4292@gmail.com 

***Please remember this is for personal use only and can not be sold or shared in any form digital, printed, original or altered.You may not sell my design as your own Please link back to my original post if you use/share.

Law Enforcement is a big job.

Here is a fun activity and game to help the boys pass off part of Bear Achievement 7-Law enforcement is a big job. 

 I took a small spiral bound notebook and made the cover for it.  Inside the book you can have the boys do their fingerprints and an adults fingerprints to pass off Bear achievement 7a. Also have them write numbers of neighbors down to pass off 7d, and emergency numbers to pass off 7e. I found the idea for this HERE

 Inside I put a picture of the different types of fingerprints. After they finish their prints have them use a magnifying glass to examine their prints and figure out what type of fingerprints they have (tent,loops,whorls).

Use Ed Emberly's Fingerprint Drawing Book and let the boys turn their prints into animals. 

 How cute are these animal fingerprints.


You can also play the Who ate What? game. Sorry I do not have pictures on mine, but I think you can figure it out.

Ahead of time take pictures (you need 4 or you could do more) of people from your neighborhood/pack that each boy knows and would recognize (cub master, den leader, parent etc.).  Take two sets of finger prints from each person.  Tape one set of prints along with their picture to a poster board or wall along with the words, "Who Ate What?"  On a second poster tape the other set of prints with the location where they were found (ice cream carton, candy bar wrapper, etc with one being on the cookie jar).  The boys then have to match up the finger prints to figure out who ate what.