Bear Electives

Grin and Bear It

Complete at least 4 of the following:

Play a challenge game or initiative game with the members of your den. Take part in a reflection after the game.
Working with the members of your den, organize a Cub Scout carnival and lead it at a special event.
Help younger Cub Scouts take part in one of the events at the Cub Scout carnival.
After the Cub Scout carnival, discuss with the members of your den and your den leader what went well, what could be done better, and how everyone worked together to make the event a success.
With your den, develop a thank-you cheer to recognize those who helped organize the Cub Scout carnival.

A Bear Goes Fishing

Complete at least three of the following:

Discover and learn about three types of fishes in your area. Draw a color picture of each fish, record what each one likes to eat, and describe what sort of habitat each likes.
Learn about your local fishing regulations with your leader or a parent or guardian. List three of the regulations you learn about and one reason each regulation exists.
Learn about fishing equipment, and make a simple fishing pole. Practice casting at a target. Teach what you have learned to someone in your family, another Scout, or one of your friends.
Go on a fishing adventure, and spend a minimum of one hour trying to catch a fish. Put into practice the things you have learned about fish and fishing equipment.

Bear Picnic Basket

Complete at least three of the following:

Do the following:
1. Create your own Bear cookbook using at least five recipes you might cook or prepare either on your own or with some adult help. Include at least one recipe each for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a nutritious snack.
2. With a family member or den leader, prepare for cooking by explaining the importance of planning, tool selection, sanitation, and cooking safety.
3. Select and prepare two nutritious snacks for yourself, your family, or your den.
4. With the help of an adult, select a recipe to prepare in a kitchen for your den or your family. Help to select the needed ingredients, perhaps from a garden, grocery store, or farmers' market. Cook and serve your planned meal. Clean up after the preparation and cooking.
5. With the help of an adult, select a recipe to prepare in the outdoors for your family or den. Help to select the needed ingredients, perhaps from a garden, grocery store, or farmers' market. Cook and serve your planned meal. Clean up after the preparation and cooking.

Beat of the Drum

Complete requirement 1 and two others from requirements 2-4:

Learn about the history and culture of American Indians or other indigenous people who lived in your area long ago.
Create a legend by building a diorama, writing a story, or presenting a skit.
Complete one of the following:
1. Make a dream catcher.
2. Make a craft similar to one made by American Indians or indigenous people.
3. Make a drum. Once your drum is complete, create a ceremonial song.
Complete one of the following:
1. Visit an Order of the Arrow dance ceremony.
2. Visit an American Indian event or an event presented by other indigenous people.
3. Learn and demonstrate ceremonial dance steps.
4. Create a ceremonial dance.

Critter Care

Do These:

Complete one of the following:
1. If you have a pet, make a list of tasks that you did to take care of a pet for two weeks.
2. If you do not have a pet, research one that you would like to have and prepare a report about the care it needs.
Complete one of the following and share with your den, pack, or family:
1. Make a poster or PowerPoint about your pet or a pet you would like to own. Share your presentation with your den, pack, or family.
2. Make a poster or PowerPoint explaining three ways that animals can help people.
Complete at least one of the following and share with your den, pack, or family:
1. Visit with a local veterinarian or an animal shelter caretaker. Find out what types of animals he or she might see on a regular basis and the types of care he or she gives to them.
2. Learn about careers that involve the care of animals. What education, training, and experience are required?

Forensics

Do These:

Talk with your family or den about forensics and how it is used to help solve crimes.
Take your fingerprints and learn how to analyze them.
Complete one of the following:
1. Learn about chromatography and how it is used in solving crimes. Do an investigation using different types of black, felt-tip markers. Share your results with your den.
2. Do an analysis of four different substances: salt, sugar, baking soda, and cornstarch.
Complete one of the following:
1. Visit the sheriff's office or police station in your town. Find out how officers collect evidence. [Note that this may be during the same visit as "Paws for Action"]
2. Learn about the different jobs available in forensic science. Choose two, and find out what is required to work in those jobs. Share what you learned with your den.
3. Learn how animals are used to gather important evidence. Talk about your findings with your den.

Make It Move

Do These:

Create an "exploding" craft stick reaction.
Make two simple pulleys, and use them to move objects.
Make a lever by creating a seesaw using a spool and a wooden paint stirrer. Explore the way it balances by placing different objects on each end.
Do the following:
1. Draw a Rube Goldberg-type machine. Include at least six steps to complete your action.
2. Construct a real Rube Goldberg-type machine to complete a task assigned by your den leader. Use at least two simple machines and include at least four steps.

Marble Madness

Complete requirements 1-4. Requirement 5 is optional:

Discuss with your family or den the history of marbles, such as where and when the game began. Talk about the different sizes of marbles and what they are made of and used for.
Learn about three different marble games, and learn to play one of them. Learn how to keep score. Learn and follow the rules of the game. Play the game with your family, friends, or your den.
Learn four or five words that are used when talking about marbles. Tell what each of the words means and how it relates to playing marbles. Share this information with your den.
Complete one of the following:
1. Draw a Rube Goldberg–type machine. Include at least six steps to With your den or family, make a marble obstacle course or marble golf course. Share what you create. Invite everyone to go through your course.
2. Create your own game using marbles, and design rules for playing the game. Share the game you created with your den, family, or friends. Explain the rules and how to play the game.
3. With your den or family, create a marble race track. Have at least two lanes so you can race your favorite marbles against each other.
4. Make a marble maze.
With the help of an adult, make a marble bag to hold marbles.

Roaring Laughter

Complete at least four of the following:

Think about what makes you laugh. Write down three things that make you laugh.
Practice reading tongue twisters.
Create your own short story. Remove some nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs from the story, leaving blanks. Without telling the story, have a friend insert his or her own nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in the story you created.
With a partner, play a game that makes you laugh.
Share at least two jokes with members of your den to make them laugh.
Practice at least two run-ons with your den, and perform them at a pack meeting or campfire program.

Robotics

Complete at least four of the following:

Identify six tasks performed by robots.
Learn about some instances where a robot could be used in place of a human for work. Research one robot that does this type of work, and present what you learn to your den.
Build a robot hand. Show how it works like a human hand and how it is different from a human hand.
Build your own robot.
Visit a place that uses robots.

Salmon Run

Complete requirements 1-4 and two others:

Explain the importance of response personnel or lifeguards in a swimming area. Tell how the buddy system works and why it is important.
Visit a local pool or swimming area with your den or family. Go swimming or take a swimming lesson.
Explain the safety rules that you need to follow before participating in boating.
Identify the safety equipment needed when going boating.
Demonstrate correct rowing or paddling form. Explain how rowing and canoeing are good exercise.
Show how to do both a reach rescue and a throw rescue.
Demonstrate the front crawl swim stroke to your den or family.
Name the three swimming ability groups for the Boy Scouts of America.
Earn the BSA beginner swim classification.

Super Science

Complete at least four of the following and explain what you learned:

Make static electricity by rubbing a balloon or a plastic or rubber comb against another material, such as a fleece blanket or wool sweater. Explain what you learned.
Conduct one other static electricity investigation. Explain what you learned.
Do a sink-or-float investigation. Explain what you learned.
Do a color-morphing investigation. Explain what you learned.
Do a color-layering investigation. Explain what you learned.

A World of Sound

Do These:

Make an mbira.
Make a sistrum.
Make a rain stick.