Lion Scout Program
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Basic Program Overview
As a Lion, your kindergartner will make friends, laugh loud, gain confidence, discover nature, and most of all…have fun! He’ll experience the Scouting concepts of character development, leadership, citizenship, and personal fitness through engaging and exciting adventures!! Your kindergartner will have a blast exploring the world around him in ways that fuel his imagination and creativity. Together, you’ll take his first steps down the path to success. Adventure awaits.
Lions is a family-oriented program. A youth and his parent or caring adult partner join Scouting together. Typically a group of six to eight boys and their adult partners meet together in a group called a den. They have fun participating in den meetings and outings while making memories together.
The Lion pilot encourages boys to learn and explore through hands-on, high-energy activities. Adult partners take turns leading a den meeting or outing during the year. Most meetings and outings are approximately 45 minutes in length. Boys are recognized for their accomplishments as they work toward the Lion badge. Adventures are completed during the den meetings and outings.
The uniform for Lions is a Lion T-shirt with an optional cap. These items, as well as the book, will be available in the Scout Shop this summer.
What did families think of Lions in 2016 – 2017?
Lion Guides, parents, and youth agreed that the program content was enjoyable, effective and engaging.
“Overall, the Lion program was a big hit with our pack,” one survey respondent wrote. “In my opinion, this is the best idea the BSA has come up with, next to allowing girls to join Venturing.”
Many said they got the training and support from council and district volunteers to help make their Lion experience a success.
Other highlights from the survey:
- 61 percent of Lion parents indicated they have no other child in Scouting. This means Lions is both recruiting new families to Scouting as well as serving siblings of existing Scouts.
- 90 percent of parents said they liked the uniform T-shirt, shared-leadership model, age-appropriate activities, youth Adventure book and immediate recognition stickers. They’re also pleased with the meeting duration, frequency and content. They said the Leader Guidebook was simple and easy to follow and that the Adventures were engaging for the boys.
- 91 percent of parents say their Lion will be moving to Tigers. This is probably the best indicator of all that the pilot program is success.
What’s new in Lions for 2017 – 2018
Pack meetings and activities will be open to Lion families who want to participate. Lion families said they wanted more pack involvement, and now they have the option of being included in program, skits, and more.
Pinewood Derby open to Lions. Packs have three recommended options for implementing this:
1. Integrate into the pack Derby with other Cub Scouts.
2. Use the wedge car from the Scout Shop to eliminate cutting.
3. Have Lions participate in a Veggie Car Derby, where potatoes and cucumbers replace wood blocks.
Fundraising will be allowed as a family option. Although they don’t want mandatory levels of funds to raise, Lion families indicated they do want to have the option to raise funds. Spring fundraising is encouraged. If popcorn is sold by Lions, a show-and-sell approach where older boys and parents are also present is preferred. Door-to-door selling would only be appropriate if the parent is by the youth’s side.
Uniform T-shirt won’t change, but families can buy button-down if they want. Parents and boys love the required Lion T-shirt and optional cap. But this change allows families to buy official blue Cub Scout button-down shirts and blue pants as desired for special occasions and pack ceremonies.
A Lion-specific page in Boys’ Life. Parents can use this great resource to help unlock the world of reading for their child.
Resources passed out at or shown at Lion Palooza:
Lions Popcorn Order Form — Coming Soon