Crafts and Woodworking ideas

Crafts and woodworking are only part of a successful day camp program. The things the boys bring home will give the parents an impression of what kind of camp you held. Focus on providing a few quality projects for the boys instead of something at each class.

The key to successful projects is planning: before, during, and after the activity.

Before:

Where to find ideas: library books, Family Fun Magazine, internet search (especially if you include “birthday party” in search), old Pow Wow books, library/community programs, Cub Scout Leader How to Book, Cub Scout Program Helps

Things to consider:

Age Appropriate: Different crafts/projects for different ranks

Time to complete: It will take the tigers longer to do a craft than the webelo 2.

Theme related: camp is to do fun projects and things that are difficult to complete in a standard den meeting, not to “get them their rank”

Cost: work within your budget

Your camp setting: access to electricity, running water, tables, protection from wind

Your camp history: has there been a history of boys doing certain woodcrafts at each rank? If so, boys coming up are looking forward to those crafts, how will you address this?

Supplies: Some items are consumable and you need enough for each boy plus some for breakage/mistakes. Some items can be used again and again but you need enough for each boys (ex. if there are 10 cubs, you need 10 hammers)

Prep. Work: Are there things that need cut out ahead of time, if so who will do that?

Safety: Follow BSA standards for using tools,knives, etc.

Learn from my mistakes!  Do a dry run and allow yourself to only use the materials you've set aside for the class.  Then, have the person teaching the class do the same thing.

During:

Follow BSA safety standards. Safety glasses must always be worn when working with wood tools such as hammers, saws or drills.

Determine how materials will be given out, either as kits or one piece at a time.

Determine how to monitor supplies to make sure there are enough for all cubs

How will construction be demonstrated? Shown step by step, partially completed projects as examples, posters with illustrations...

What is the plan if the project is completed faster than expected?

What is the plan if the project is not completed in time? How will incomplete projects be stored to get them back to the boys quickly and easily? When will they be able to complete it?

Remember to have the boys place their name on the project

After:

Recognize the hard work of the boys, emphasizing the cub scout motto of “do your best” and talk about core values used in completing project.


Three choices for what to do with the project when it's done and things to consider

Will they carry it with them for the rest of the day? Is it ackward? Are they carrying other things? What will happen to projects that get forgotten at later stations?

Will they return it to their den site? Will the class end early to allow time to return to den site? Is there time during the normal passing period to return to den site?

Will they leave it at the station and retrieve it later? How will projects be sorted for quick retrieval? What will you do with unclaimed projects?

What will station leader do with leftover supplies? Are they needed for another class, if so whose responsibility will it be to get them to the other class? What will happen with left over wood kits? (are they being returned for credit, resold for profit, or stored for future years)

Provide an evaluation to the station leader to get her feedback on the project

It is likely some boys will forget their projects the last day, what will happen to them?