CUB SCOUT OATH OR PROMISE

On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

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For more information about the Scout Oath, click here.

 

Character Connections

 

The goals of the Cub Scout leader are

• to seek out and maximize the many opportunities to incorporate character development

• to convince the young Cub Scout that character is important to the individual, to his family, community, country, world, and God.

 

Character development should not be viewed as something done occasionally as part of a separate program, or as part of only one area of life. For in reality, character development is a part of everything a Cub Scout does. Character development lessons can be found in every aspect of the Cub Scouting experience.

 

When it comes to developing character, the complete person must be considered. Character development involves at least three critical areas:

• Know (thought)

• Commit (feeling)

• Practice (behavior)

 

In Cub Scouting, addressing these three critical areas and relating them to values is referred to as Character Connections.

 

Character Connections asks the Cub Scout to:

Know

Character development includes moral knowledge—both awareness and reasoning. For example, children must understand what honesty means and they must be able to reason about and interpret each situation, and then decide how to apply the principles of honesty.

What do I think or know about the core value? How does the context of this situation affect this core value? What are some historical, literary, or religious examples representing the core value?

 

Commit

Character development includes attention to moral motivation. Children must be committed to doing what they know is right. They must be able to understand the perspectives of others, to consider how others feel, and to develop an active moral conscience.

Why is this core value important? What makes living out this core value different? What will it take to live out this core value?

 

Practice

Character development includes the development of moral habits through guided practice. Children need opportunities to practice the social and emotional skills necessary for doing what is right but difficult, and to experience the core values in their lives.

How can I act according to this core value? How do I live out this core value? How can I practice this value at school, at home, and with my friends?

To make Character Connections an integral part of Cub Scouting, the 12 core values are being integrated throughout the boys' handbooks and advancement program. Program support for character development can be found in Cub Scout Program Helps, in the Cub Scout Leader Book, and at your monthly roundtable meetings.

 

Remember:

• Core values are the basis of good character development.

• Character must be broadly defined to include thinking, feeling, and behavior.

• Core values should be promoted throughout all phases of life.