See this YouTube Video for Ideas and Resources about How to Plan Your Best Year Ever in Cub Scouting – the program description (and segment links for if you want just a few minutes on a single part of the program) are below:

Action | Practical Planning | Help 4 Leaders  This Video has Ideas and Resources about How to Plan Your Best Year Ever in Cub Scouting. Key Segments after the Introduction (2 minutes):

• Importance of a Strong Activities Calendar – Step One of the Steps to Successful Recruiting (2 minutes) 2:17
• Goals Here: (1) Build Your Best (local) Plan (2) KISMIF and (3) Fun for Kids and Families (and Safe) equals Stronger Families Through Scouting (3 minutes) 4:17
• Scouting Is Outing – Two Examples of a Year Long Activity Calendar (7.5 minutes) 6:55
• Do Activities With Troops Too! (1 minute) 14:35
• When Should You Schedule Your Blue + Gold Banquet? (1.5 minutes) 15:30
• Outdoor Ideas, Local Places to Go, and Unique Overnight Activity Destinations (4 minutes) 16:42
• Any Fun Activity Can Be a Welcoming Joining Event (1 minute) 20:35
• A Safety Moment and S:A:F:E: Checklist (3.5 moments) 21:62
• Planning Methods – Surveys and Sharing Intro (1 minute) 25:30
• Critical Analysis of Your Plan: Is It Too Hard? Does it “Spark Joy”? (4 minutes) 26:20
• Pack Planning Process – Leaders and all Parents! (2+ minutes) 29:53
• Key Dates to Identify to Focus Planning (2+ minutes) 32:15
• Survey Options (2 minutes) 34:45
• Parent and Leader (“PAL”) Planning Conference (2 minutes) 36:32
• Pack “Activities” and Pack “Meetings” (Apply the FunMeter) (2 minutes) 37:50
• Den Meetings: How Often? When? Where? What Works For Your Families? (3.5 minutes) 39:58
• Now, Who Will Lead These Dens? Or How To Turn Parents Into Leaders! (2 minutes) 43:38
• Advancement Help for Den Leaders and Parents (2.5 minutes) (UPDATE: links to 126 Adventure Resource Pages and simpler and easier “Assembled” Den Meeting Plans are found at scoutingatl:org/CubScoutAdvance) 45.43
• A Plethora of Fun*Simple*Easy Activities Dens and Packs Might Do and Recruiting Families (1.5 minutes) 47:43
• Budget Introduction (1 minute) 49:15
• National Registration Fees and Your Budget (2.75 minutes) Note: refers to 2024 fees which likely will change, and more on Renewals is now posted at scoutingatl.org/charter-renewal 49:43
• Other Expenses a Pack Might Build into a Budget for Pack Local Program Fees (or “dues”) (1 minute) 52:58
• Revenue Options, including Fundraisers – and Balancing the Budget to Set Your Local Fees or Dues (2.5 minutes) 53:42
• Journey To Excellence Scoring 2024 (2+ minutes) (NOTE: JTE was discontinued at the end of 2024) 55:02
• Conclusion and Questions (2 minutes) 57:28

Resources for All of the Above are here.

Reminder to all that there are three types of Fifth Graders who can join a Troop in the Scouting America program:

1. Anyone aged 11 or older (through age 17)
2. Those who are 10 years old and have earned the Arrow of Light Award
3. Those who are 10 years old and register on or after March 1

That’s Right.  A 10 Year Old 5th Grader need not be a Cub Scout to Join on or after March 1!

Don't get us wrong ... we want as many Fifth Graders to get the Arrow of Light Rank (that's why we provide help in doing that through these resource pages and plans).

Those first two types have been the rule for years … but opening to any 5^th Grader on or after March 1 was a new membership opportunity started in the spring of 2022 (it was announced in late April, effective as of April 18, 2022).

You can reach out to all Fifth Graders and their families:

• Certainly those in your favored Packs today.
• Work with Packs to see if they retained contact info for those who “almost” joined last fall.
• Contact any families in your Scouts' Fifth Grade Classes to “come join our Troop”.
• Plan fun events they can join.  Cookout?  Local Hike?  Bike Ride?  Axe Yard?  What do your Scouts want to do?

More about recruiting into Troops is found at scoutingatl.org/ScoutsBSARecruiting. 

Want more Scouts in Your Scouts BSA Troop?  See this Scouts BSA Recruiting Ideas video for a review of best practices used by growing Troops. More ideas at scoutingatl.org/ScoutsBSARecruiting.

Highlights of the most recent District News were these (click links for information):  Congratulations to Ron Gates, Silver Beaver Award Recipient ... Camp Cards Information - You Can Register Now For This Easy Fundraiser ... The Great Big List of Places to Go and Things to Do Around Atlanta ... Scouts BSA Troop Program Ideas ... Help for Den Leaders -- "Assembled" Den Meeting Plans ... Service Ideas: Service Projects and Simple Ways to Help ... Opt In, Opt Out ... and from the week before: Upcoming Events in the Southern Crescent District in 2026 ... District Awards Announced At 2026 Banquet ... Helping Units in Your District ... Email webmaster@southfultonscouting.com if you need a reminder about the login.

From the Atlanta Area Council: "We're excited to announce Ron Gates as a member of the Atlanta Area Council's 2025 class of Silver Beaver Award recipients! 

Ron has been a dedicated Scouting volunteer since 2016, beginning as a Den Leader and Cubmaster of Pack 374. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he kept the Pack active through engaging virtual programming and, in 2021, led the successful reinstatement of Troop 374 after more than a decade of inactivity. Ron served concurrently as Cubmaster and Scoutmaster for three years and continues to serve as Scoutmaster and Chartered Organization Representative. At the district and council levels, Ron has held numerous leadership roles, including District Vice Chair, interim District Commissioner, and currently Assistant District Commissioner for the Southern Crescent District. A 2023 Wood Badge participant and 2024 Troop Guide, Ron is also a recipient of the Whitney M. Young Award and remains an active supporter of Scoutreach, including serving as an Advisor for the council’s 2025 Philmont trek. 

Please join us in congratulating Ron on this achievement! If you would like to attend the Silver Beaver Award Ceremony on March 4th, visit https://www.scoutingatl.org/silverbeaver." 

Did you know?  Camp Cards are an excellent way for Scouts to earn their way to do Scouting -- not just camping, but all of Scouting.

These cards, created in partnership with local and national businesses, offer discounts to supporters of Scouting who purchase the Camp Card. Cards are sold by Scouts to members of their community. Profits from these cards are split evenly between the council and the individual Scout. The funds a Scout earns can be used towards Summer Camp or other Scouting activities.

If like last year, Units participating in this program will earn 50% commission ($5.00) for each $10 Camp Card they sell -- so, for every $10.00 card sold, your Scout earns $5.00 for their Scouting journey or their Unit. The sale begins in February and ends in April - but you can register now to participate.  More information and registration information is at scoutingatl.org/campcards.