As you may or may not know, the Cub Scout September theme was all about trains. Being a Cub Scout leader with an interest in trains made this all the more fun. Our pack, based in northern RI, did three great activities that I’d like to share.
First, Providence & Worcester RR gave a tour at one of their rail yards. About 25 kids got to climb aboard a real loco, walk the tracks and check out some rolling stock. Most were awestruck to get that close to something that big.
Then at a smaller den meeting, 4 boys (age 8) built their own modular layout. I had some old brass track that I glued to 4 pink foam quadrants. They collected natural things in the yard and supplemented it with other craft supplies. They built factories, sculpted ponds, etc. Afterwards we got to run some of my old trains around the loop. They could have done that all night.
Finally at a larger pack meeting, Joe from Trackside sales (http://www.tracksidesales.com/) came to talk trains with the boys. They even brought a modular layout for the kids to see. It amazed me how many kids have never seen anything like this before. I really appreciated how quick Joe was to step up and volunteer his time with the kids. Isn’t it great when the LHS supports the community?
One of the goals of Cub Scouts is to prepare for Boy Scouts where they work towards the coveted rank of Eagle. But in the short term, my goal was to expose the boys to the worlds greatest hobby. I figured if one boy got hooked, it’d be worth it.
Later one night one of the known avid video game kids said to his mom that a train set is definitely going on his xmas wish list. Cool.
I have lots of pictures, but I didn’t want to post any of the kids without the permission of their parents. Here’s a shot of their modular layout.
That’s awesome for the cub scouts. Look at all those minds and their imaginations hard at work. ( just as fun if not more than pinewood derby.)
Try to encourage them to continue in Scouting. There is a Railroading merit badge when they enter the Boy Scouts. I am an Eagle Scout and was a Scoutmaster a few years back and also the councilor for the Railroading Merit Badge. The boys built a lot of my HO gauge layout in a bedroom of my old house to earn the badge and did a great job. I hope I instilled in them just how fun model railroading can be…The hard part was getting the parents involved because of that “two deep” leadership thing. I had great support in the beginning but as time went on the parents turned it into a baby sitting service. I may get back into scouting again one day but as an Assistant Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster of a large troop is some pretty big shoes to fill especially when the adults don’t want to help. I believe everyone should do some sort of community service. The Scouts is a great place to help…chuck
That is wonderful to hear. I’m so glad to hear that the P&W was enthusiastic enough to bring you all onto their yards! That has got to be the best way of getting a child hooked on trains, model railroading aside.
You mentioned if there were any one that did anything to get more people interested in the hobby, I was thinking of this very thing this past Friday. I have been going to physical therapy 3 times a week, and have to wait a few minutes before I get in. I have read all the magazines in the office, and took my latest copy of MRR to read while I was waiting. Why not take all those old mags that lots of people have been wondering what to do with, and put a few in the waiting rooms at the Dr. Office and Hospitals. Someone will pick it up because it is different and maybe someone will decide to get into the hobby.
I think the Cub Scout and the Model RRing is an excelent idea. May keep some of them off the streets and out of trouble. Mike
When I was a leader I use to arrange to have the Cubs and parents free admission to the local Train Show providing they were in uniform I woul;d also have a day set aside where all the cubs would com over to my house (with parents) and work on their cub cars, which was in the workshop adjacent to the trainset. By the end of the afternoon the cars would be built, they’ld see the trains working and several badge requirements would be fulfilled and at the next meeting badges awarded… and they would always have a look on their faces… “How’d I get this badge?”
Unfortunately, we didn’t find out about the theme until we were walking into the pack meeting. There was one handout with questions about trains (which we did not discuss), the pack leader was in engineer overalls, there was a skit about crossing the railroad tracks, and instead of the normal cheering or claping everyone was supposed to make “Whoo Whoo” train whistle sounds. There was nothing I felt would encourage any real interest in trains or model railroading. They didn’t even mention the model railroading merit badge that a boy scout can earn.
When my older kids were of the right age I was active with the Youth In Model Railroading. In fact, it was my children “graduating” that set the wheels in motion to expand beyond children into an older teen program.
Wow, I wish that I would have known about the month of September being Train month for the scouts. My church is very very involved with scouting and I could have helped them with that. I doubt they did anything with trains but next sunday I’ll have to find out who’s incharge of scouts and ask them what went on.
When my son was a cub scout the pack went to visit a club layout.
He really enjoyed it. He takes a lot of interest in what I am doing
with my HO trains. He is now a Boy Scout and working on his railroad
merit badge. I couldn’t be happier.
I’m just playing. I’m actually a big Bronco fan too. I root for the Chargers because I’m a San Diego boy. I really don’t have a true team, more of a fan of certain players and the underdog.
Baseball is a different story, and my Padres are sad but for the play-offs I’m rooting for the Rockies since the Pads couldn’t do the job.
For our October Pack meeting I wore a conductor’s uniform. I started out by describing the uniform and the conductor’s job. I gave out LIRR timetables and discussed how to arrange for a trip. Next I gave out tickets (used) and told how they could buy them and that the conductor would announce “tickets please” and then punch them. The conductor would give them seat checks (which I also handed out). I passed around a used 10 trip ticket and showed that each conductor has his own punch pattern. I showed them a lantern and showed signals. We then showed the movie Polar Express. Some of the parents even said that they learned some things.
My RR club holds an annual model RR show. When my son was in the scout troop we started a show for them as a fund raiser. We bring in 10 operating layouts. It has been a great success. One thing that we added a few years ago were “floor” trains. We picked up used Brio and similar push trains. I just put the box on the floor and within a few minutes the little ones have them set-up. Two years ago when I announced that the show was ending several of the children put them away. The show draws a good crowd and there are always many good questions from the attendees. Neither show has vendors and the displayers say that the show is more fun as it is just about the railroads.