Grin and Bear It

Bear Adventure: Grin and Bear ItSeamus: What do you call a monkey that flies?
Conner: Tell me.
Seamus: A hot-air baboon!

City boy: I suppose you hatch all these eggs yourself?
Farm boy: Nope, we’ve got hens here to do that.

Enjoying a joke has been part of Scouting for a long time. The first joke above was printed in Boys’ Life magazine in the 2000s. The chicken joke came from Boys’ Life in 1916. Both can put a smile on your face.

A smile on a person’s face is one of the best things they can wear. Helping to put a smile on another person’s face is one of the best things a person can do. This adventure will help you take on the challenge of putting a smile on another person’s face.

One place that can almost always put a smile on someone’s face is a carnival. The midway has interesting things to see. The stunts performed under the big top can be amazing. Brave people show their feats of skill on the trapeze, and talented acrobats ride horses while standing up or ride
bicycles across a high wire.

In this adventure, you will try some feats of skill, you will have fun trying new things, and you will work to put a smile on someone’s face when they enter the Cub Scout Carnival. When you see your guests smile, you will see them “grin and bear it.”

Rationale for Adventure

In this adventure, Cub Scouts will learn the value of helping other people have fun. The goal is to make sure everyone is wearing a grin!

Requirements

2018 Requirements

Bear Handbook, page 186
Bear Den Leader Guide, page 127

Complete at least four of the following:

  1. Play a challenge game or initiative game with the members of your den. Take part in a reflection after the game.
  2. Working with the members of your den, organize a Cub Scout carnival and lead it at a special event.
  3. Help younger Cub Scouts take part in one of the events at the Cub Scout carnival.
  4. 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.
  5. With your den, develop a thank-you cheer to recognize those who helped organize the Cub Scout carnival..

Takeaways for Cub Scouts

  • Cooperating on a project
  • Planning an event
  • Showing empathy for younger children
  • Demonstrating appreciation for others
  • A Scout is loyal, friendly

Historical Requirements

2015-2016 Transition Addendum

This adventure has been changed to an elective adventure, swapping places with the Baloo the Builder adventure.

Complete at least four of the following:

  1. Play a challenge game or initiative game with members of your den. Take part in a reflection after the game.
  2. Working with the members of your den, organize a Cub Scout carnival and lead it at a special event.
  3. Help younger Cub Scouts take part in one of the events at the Cub Scout carnival.
  4. 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.
  5. With your den, develop a thank-you cheer to recognize those who helped organize the Cub Scout carnival

2015 Requirements

Bear Handbook, page 90
Bear Den Leader Guide, page 75

Rationale

The purpose of this adventure is to help Cub Scouts learn the value of helping other people have fun. The goal is to make sure all boys and leaders make a grin and wear it.

  1. Play a challenge game or initiative game with the members of your den. Take part in a reflection after the game.
  2. Working with the members of your den, organize a Cub Scout carnival and lead it at your pack meeting.
  3. Help younger Cub Scouts take part in one of the events at the Cub Scout carnival.
  4. 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.
  5. Make and present an award to one of the adults who helped you organize the activities at the Cub Scout carnival.