Guestbook

That week was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. The presentations and activities were fun and informative. I picked up some great ideas to bring back to my Pack and set some goals to improve my own work as an Assistant Cubmaster. I saw and experienced first-hand what my mom had talked about for years. She was on my mind a lot that week and I was thrilled to be able to share those experiences with her. I finally started to see why she loved the Cub Scout program so much and did all she could to make sure her boys had an excited, enthusiastic, and trained leader. A few years later I had the chance to be on staff for Akelas Council 31 in 2015 and found another connection for my mom and me. The year I was a participant, my den leader explained that he had made one of the displays that is used as part of the course every year. While going through the supplies and other things needed for course that year, I found the original display that my den leader had fashioned his after. Stamped on the back was a note that it had been handmade by my mothers den leader many years before. I am now the Cubmaster of my Pack and have been on Akelas Council staff twice and am looking forward to my third experience this fall, this time as the Cheyenne Den Leader. I know that I could not have been as successful as I have been without the amazing example of my mother and the invaluable experiences gained as an Akelas Council participant and staff member. I would encourage any Cub Scout leader who wants to feel more prepared for Den Meeting, Pack Meeting or as a Committee Member to take advantage of the amazing resources available at Akelas Council. You will come away with countless new ideas for your boys to enjoy and be more able to help your Pack grow in whatever capacity you serve.

I went to Akela's Council 6 years ago when I was a member of the committee (serving in the LDS ward primary presidency). I wanted our pack to have a great program but didn't know much about cub scouting so this seemed like a great chance to learn. Many people in my life didn't have a great opinion of and thought of it as a waste of time. I must admit I wasn't too excited about my new position. But I'm the kind of person who likes to do things right so I wanted to get a good idea of what I was supposed to do and what a good scouting program should be, so my husband (the Cubmaster at the time) and I decided we should go. I was expecting 4 days of roundtable-like training's and a lot of sitting around taking notes. Boy was I surprised! It was an adventure from start to finish and I came away with a passion for cub scouting. At Akela's Council I had life changing experiences and made lifetime connections. Being able to step away from the bustle of life for a few days and learn and grow with all the people there was unforgettable. We got to work on projects, share ideas, complete challenges, have a great time, learn and laugh a lot. It is such a neat program and the individuals that made it all happen were so generous and kind, their examples and friendship really touched me and I still draw on the things I learned from them. There were many things that our pack just wasn't doing and I got to see first hand how much better things go when the right systems and tools are in place. I also realized how significant the small things could be to the boys and the importance of belonging, and I came away determined to help the boys in my pack feel wanted and loved. I wanted to share with my pack how fun cub scouting could be. Our pack program improved so much when we started implementing the things we learned. We even had life long scouters approach to say how impressed they were with the quality of program that they saw. I'm so glad that I went.

I am so thankful to find your site and am looking forward to trying some of the items you have shared. Will mention to another leader. thank you

Akela's Council 31 was so amazing! The leaders went above and beyond to share their love and experience of cub scouting. Not only did camp run smoothly but was packed with so much cub scout fun! The weather was perfect the entire time. I learned so many new things fire hose style :) I gained a new appreciation for recycling. I like to recycle in way of putting it in the blue bin to be hauled off. After gaining oodles and oodles of new neckerchief slides, it inspired me. I now find myself looking for things to recycle into slides. I witnessed so many acts of service and my testimony has been strengthened, my fire for cub scouts is re-lit and I gained new friendships that will last forever. Thanks for an amazing time!

Akela's Council was amazing! The staff had really gone the extra mile in their preparation for this event. The instruction, skits, songs, activities, and projects were all first class. The staff was totally upbeat and helpful the whole time. I learned so much about Cub Scouts! Now I feel so much better prepared to be a unit commissioner in my stake.

Great info for Cub Leaders! Many have asked for what you have put together. Many thanks to all that contributed to the Cub tracking and fun extras.

Thank you for all these great ideas. I will share this page with other cub scout leaders. I'm an Assistant District Commissioner.

The summer of 2011, I attended Akela’s Council. I was only there a few days when I had a family emergency and had to head home, but not without a box of neckerchief slides and many fun memories. By that time my den wasn’t just Shawnee and orange, but we had a den doodle and yell, plus we had planned days of fun for Cub Scouts back home.

I went to Akela’s Council for the first time 6 years ago. I had been a Cubmaster for about three years at that point and was on the Council Pow Wow committee. I thought I knew Cub Scouting and how to do my job. I was a pretty good Cubmaster (and humble obviously) and I enjoyed the service I was giving. I decided to go to Akela’s Council after my Assistant Cubmaster went and raved about how awesome it was. He is often excited about all things Cub Scouting, so I didn’t know what to really think, but I decided that it would be good to get some advanced training under my belt. Continued below...

...Continued from above... And so I went. I figured I'd learn some things I didn't already know, and maybe make some new friends to help in recruiting for Pow Wow teachers. And while I did learn some things and made several new friends, what I didn't expect was finally, after 3 years of being a Cub Scout leader, to really get the Spirit of Scouting. My experiences at Akela's Council changed the focus of my leadership in my Pack. We'd had fun times before, but now the Spirit of Scouting infused everything I did with the Pack. I found even more joy in my service and the boys and their families became more and more involved in the program. Akela's Council is NOT PowerPoint presentations and boring lectures. It is personalized training in a funny and outgoing and laid back manner. It is hands-on and it made scouting real in ways that are hard to understand until you've gone. I have never had such a fun and inspiring time in any other training. I've been back several times to help as a member of staff in the subsequent years and each time has taught me something new to help me be a better leader. This year, I was honored to be the Cubmaster for AC 30. We had a great staff who are worked hard to make this course the best yet. And though it stormed and flooded our tents, we grew closer together as a group and shared some special and memorable experiences that will stay with us all our lives. If you are a cub scout leader and have not been to Akela’s Council, then you really need to plan on going next summer! It will be the best training and best week of your life!