Who am I, you ask?

I am Dave, Cubmaster of Pack 499 in the Kempsville District of the Tidewater Council in Virginia Beach, VA. I have just completed my first year as Cubmaster. Yea, I'm not all that experienced, but I'm getting there. I was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout for a total of eight years. I have two sons, one 10 (Webelos) and one 2. So, I'll be around for a while.

This blog is a dumping ground for scouting-related stuff I find interesting. I'll post information about ceremonies I try, ceremonies I want to try ... ceremonies I'm afraid to try. There will probably be a little bit of Pack Meeting stuff, but there is already so much out there, that I'll probably just post links with some brief notes. I really want to focus on things that relate to Cub Scouting in general.

I want to talk about the fun stuff Cubmasters get to do. That one little thing that makes every boy in the room, (or around the campfire,) stare, jaw dropped in awe; that one little thing that makes the whole room laugh; the stuff that gets them and their parents, excited about Scouting.

Here's a little more about me:

I love this stuff! I love everything we do as scouts and scouters. My childhood scouting ended as a Life Scout after my family moved and I never got back into it. I do regret that now. Maybe that's why I'm so into it. Scouting has been in my family from the beginning. My Great Grandfather used to tell me that he was the first scout to sign up in New Jersey back in 1910. My Grandfather was a scout. Even my Mother used to help out when her cousins were scouts. Later, she was my first Den Leader in Cub Scouts. I was a Cub Scout in the South Texas Council and a Boy Scout in the Palmetto Council in Rock Hill, SC. Once my oldest son became interested and joined a Pack, I jumped right in as soon as I was asked. I went from Assistant Den Leader to Cubmaster in two months.

I've had a lot of training from my excellent district and council trainers and the BSA web-based training.

The Basics:
Cub Scout Fast Start:
Tiger Cub Den Leaders
Wolf/Bear Cub Scout Den Leaders
Webelos Den Leaders
Cubmaster
Pack Committee Fast Start
Boy Scout Fast Start (Good Stuff for Webelos Leaders)
Youth Protection (Not just for Scouters!)
New Leader Essentials
Leader Specific:
Cub Scout Den Leader
Cubmaster

Other Great Stuff:
Safe Swim Defense
Safety Afloat
BALOO
Outdoor Webelos Leader Skills (Great Fun!)
University of Scouting (Associates)
Boy Behavior
Geocaching to Promote Scouting
Geocaching (part 2)
Ceremonies
Summer Program
Conducting a Safe Outing

I hope to attend Wood Badge this year, I'll let you know how it goes...