Scouting, Volume 38, Number 2, February 1950 Page: 12
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Scouting Magazine and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.
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ON THE
CRAFT
PROGRAM
<^> Many of us in Cub Scouting
tend to over-emphasize crafts.
It's important to remember that
handicrafts are only one phase of
our program, and that they are no.
more important than many other
things. In fact, they are of lesser
importance than some other things
which we are trying to accomplish
in Cub Scouting.
Crafts develop manual dexterity.
They help the boy to rid himself
of some of the natural clumsiness
of his age. They stimulate his
imagination and creative thinking.
But always remember — crafts are
not the only Cub Scout activities
which do these things.
PRODUCTION LINE
All too often someone will come
across a pattern for making some
simple craft project. Since the pat-
tern is handy every Cub Scout is
expected to make one of the articles
at the next Den Meeting.
For example, let's say that we
have a pattern for one type of bird-
house. We cut the wood out in
advance to fit this pattern and
every boy in the Den is expected
to make a birdhouse according to
the same pattern. Under this plan
there is no opportunity for the boy
to select the type of craft he would
like to do. Nor is there any oppor-
tunity for him to use his own initia-
tive and imagination in developing
the project.
Such a plan might produce a
larger number of birdhouses, but
it would be on a production line
basis, not on the basis of the indi-
vidual's preference and initiative.
THE THEME'S THE THING
Rather than teach all boys in the
Den to make the same project in
the same way, we attempt to stimu-
late individual imagination and
initiative through the use of a pro-
gram theme for each month of the
year. If the theme is good, there is
opportunity for every boy to find
something he would like to make.
For example, it isn't necessary
in Indian month for every boy to
make a torn torn copied after a
sample. Perhaps only one boy in
the Den will wish to make a torn
torn. That's all right. There are so
many craft opportunities in an
Indian month, that practically
every boy in any Den can find
something which appeals to him.
Actually then, craft activities
result from the appeal of a theme.
In photography month, perhaps a
number of boys will make their
own photograph albums. They'll
not do this just to make something,
but they will do it in order to have
a place to mount their pictures.
But even if some individualistic
Jimmy does not want to make a
photograph album we'll not be too
disturbed about it.
Few specific craft projects are so
good that we can expect every boy
in the Pack to make one just as
we have designed it. That's a good
thing to keep in mind as we plan
the craft side of our Cub Scouting
activities.
MATERIALS AND MONEY
It has been found best for the
Den Mother to turn in to the Pack
Treasurer all dues she collects. The
easiest way for her to handle this
is through the use of the Den Dues
Envelope Cat. No. 4210.
When this plan is followed, all
craft expenditures are handled by
the treasurer and paid from the
Pack Treasury. This is done on an
equitable basis with perhaps a cer-
tain allowance for each boy of the
Den.
Usually it is more satisfactory
for one person to purchase all
necessary materials, bring them to
the monthly Pack Leaders' meeting
and give them out at that time to
the Den Mothers. This only applies
in cases where definite expendi-
tures are necessary. There are some
themes where little or no material
need be purchased, but only ma-
terial which can be found around
the home need be used. In such
cases each Den Dad can assist the
Den Mothers in the rounding up
of the materials.
Usually the craft expenditures of
a Pack are devoted to general items
such as glue, nails, paint, brushes,
etc. The reason for this is that these
items can be used in so many dif-
ferent types of craft activities. A
large share of the craft work of
any Pack can be built around ma-
terials which the boys can find in
their own home.
12
SCOUTING MAGAZINE
CUB SCOUT SECTION
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 38, Number 2, February 1950, periodical, February 1950; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth313161/m1/14/?q=%221777%22: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.