Cub Circus

Cub Circus

Several Pack Meeting plans have "stations" where cubs can try a variety of things and this is one of those. Each cub is given a card on a quarter piece of card stock with a list of stations and a check box for each.  A leader or a parent is assigned to each station to help the cubs learn the skill at that station. When the cub has visited the station the adult checks that box on his card. Cub Circus has the following stations:

• Face painting - Give each cub a clown face. If you or others in the pack have additional clown costume items, like wigs or hats bring those for the cubs to wear. Also, clown noses can be made by painting ping pong balls red, cutting off the back and attaching twine.
• Tumbling - This station has one or two foam pads. The Cubs practice doing somersaults across the pads.
• Balancing - Bring a variety of lengths of sticks from 1 to 3 feet long. Each stick must have a heavy end. This can bone by taping a small rock to one end with duct tape. Cubs practices balancing a stick on the palm of their hand, heavy end up.
• Stilt walking - If possible borrow some stilts and have the cubs learn to walk on them.
• Miming - Have an adult study up on how to mime being inside a box or being near a wall had have them teach the cubs this skill.
• Balance beam - Make a balance beam from an 8 foot long 2X4 and have the cubs practice walking across this.
• Scarf Juggling - Teach the cubs to juggle scarfs. This is similar to ball juggling but can be done in slow motion.
• Bubble gum skit - In this skit one cub walks on pretending to chew gum. Takes it out of his mouth and pretends to put it on a chair. A second cub comes out, sits in the chair and pretends he is stuck. He finally gets up, peels the bubble gum and throws it on the ground. The next cub comes out and gets his foot caught in it. He finally peels it off and puts it on the back of a chair. This continues until. the last cub puts it back on the chair. The first cub comes back on picks it up and chews it again. You may want to have them practice this in den meeting before the pack meeting.
• Add additional skills as available, e.g. the cubs can build a pyramid or learn to spin basketballs on their fingers.

Plan for about 30 to 40 minutes for the cubs to complete all stations. Once they are complete gather the cubs and have them put on a circus show for their parents and leaders. Have all cubs demonstrate one skill at a time together with musical accompaniment. Some good songs for this include March of the Gladiators, Peter Gunn, Skaters walts and Golliwogs Cake walk. Parents and leaders cheer them on.