Into the Woods requirements (Arrow of Light)

0:00 · 10 min

Gathering: tallest tower

Give the Scouts who arrive first something to do, so the meeting starts the moment they walk in.

• Put scrap cardboard, painter's tape and two pairs of safety scissors on the gathering table.
• The task on the card: build the tallest thing that stands on its own before the opening.
• Scouts join whichever table has room, so nobody waits alone for the meeting to start.

0:10 · 5 min

Opening

Flag ceremony, Scout Oath and Scout Law. The same five minutes every week, run by the Scouts.

• The denner calls the den to order and leads the flag ceremony.
• Say the Scout Oath and the Scout Law together. New Scouts read from a card and nobody makes anything of it.
• One sentence on tonight's adventure, Into the Woods, and the one thing everybody will get done.

0:15 · 5 min

Talk time

Den business while everyone is still sitting down, and a look at what is coming.

• The two dates parents need: the next den meeting and the next pack event.
• Ask who already did part of Into the Woods at home, and write the names down so it gets recorded.
• Take one question from the den. Answer it or say when you will.

0:20 · 12 min

Activity 1: Visit an area with trees and plants

Close requirements 1 and 2 of Into the Woods.

• Line the visit or the guest up a week ahead and tell them the den has fifteen minutes and one ask: "Visit an area with trees and plants and conduct a tree inventory".
• During gathering, have each Scout write one question on an index card so nobody freezes.
• Every Scout asks their question, then the den thanks the guest in its own words.
• Then requirement 2: read "Determine if your tree is deciduous or evergreen" out loud, work it in pairs, and mark it off as each Scout finishes.

Requirement 1 Requirement 2

0:32 · 12 min

Activity 2: Determine if your tree is native

Close requirements 3 and 4 of Into the Woods.

• Read the requirement to the den in plain words: "Determine if your tree is native or was introduced to your area".
• Work it in pairs or small groups for most of the block while you move between them.
• Bring the den back together and have each Scout tell you what they did.
• Mark requirement 3 off as each Scout finishes rather than trying to remember afterwards.
• Then requirement 4: give the den five minutes in pairs on "Find out how your tree deals with wildfire", then take one answer from every Scout.

Requirement 3 Requirement 4

0:44 · 11 min

Activity 3: Learn how wildlife uses your tree

Close requirement 5 of Into the Woods: Learn how wildlife uses your tree.

• Read the requirement to the den in plain words: "Learn how wildlife uses your tree".
• Work it in pairs or small groups for most of the block while you move between them.
• Bring the den back together and have each Scout tell you what they did.
• Mark requirement 5 off as each Scout finishes rather than trying to remember afterwards.

Requirement 5

0:55 · 5 min

Closing

End on time, and make sure every Scout leaves knowing what they finished.

• Cubmaster's minute: one short thought tied to what the den just did. Sixty seconds, no lecture.
• Read back what got finished tonight, requirement by requirement, so the Scouts hear their own progress.
• Send the den off with the den yell, and catch the parents who need to hear something at pickup.