Community Heroes

Flag break, Grand Howl, and introduction to the Community Heroes trail. Ask: "Who are the heroes in our community?" Collect initial ideas on a whiteboard.

Each Cub gets a bingo card with squares like "Has helped a neighbour this week," "Knows a firefighter's name," "Has picked up litter," "Can name 3 community places." Cubs mingle and find someone who matches each square. First to fill a row wins. Builds awareness that everyone contributes.

Brief interactive lesson on community helpers: fire, police, ambulance, SES, teachers, librarians, council workers, volunteers. Show photos and ask Cubs what each person does. Discuss: "What would happen if nobody did these jobs?" If possible, invite a local community helper for a 5-minute Q&A.

Each patrol draws a large map of their local area on butcher's paper. Mark the scout hall, school, park, fire station, library, shops, aged care home, and any other important places. Use different colours for "places that help people" (green) and "places that could use help" (orange). Discuss what they notice.

Looking at the orange spots on their maps, each patrol brainstorms 3 service project ideas (e.g. park clean-up, care packages for aged care, food drive collection, card writing for hospital). Write ideas on sticky notes and put them on a shared board. Vote on the top 2–3 ideas the pack could do.

Announce which service project idea won the vote. Preview Night 2 (planning the project). Close with the Cub Scout Promise, adding "I promise to do my best to help other people."

Flag break, Grand Howl, and recap of Night 1. Remind Cubs which service project was chosen and why.

Relay race where Cubs carry items in pairs (a bucket of tennis balls, a tray of cups) without dropping them — cooperation is key. If anything drops, start again. Reinforces that helping works best when we work together.

Leader walks through the Plan–Do–Review cycle for a service project. Each patrol fills in a planning sheet: (1) What exactly will we do? (2) Who will it help? (3) What materials do we need? (4) What jobs need doing? (5) How will we know it worked? Patrols assign roles: materials collector, team leader, communicator, quality checker.

Patrols create a detailed materials list and timeline. If the project is care packages: decide contents, sources, and assembly plan. If it's a clean-up: decide location, safety gear, bag distribution, and disposal plan. Leader helps with practicalities and ensures the project is achievable within Night 3.

Do a quick practice or prototype. For care packages: assemble one sample package. For a clean-up: practise sorting waste into recycling, general waste, and compost using sample items. For cards: draft one card and get feedback. Helps Cubs see the task before the real night.

Each patrol presents their plan in 60 seconds. Leader confirms what materials to bring next week. Close with the Cub Scout Promise.

Flag break, Grand Howl, and final check of roles and materials. Tonight is the "Do" in Plan–Do–Review. Remind Cubs this work will make a real difference to real people.

Stand in a circle with a ball of yarn. First Cub holds the end and says something kind they have done for someone, then throws the yarn to another Cub who does the same. Continue until a web forms. Show how kindness connects everyone.

Patrols begin their assigned tasks. For care packages: set up assembly line stations (bag, toiletries, note card, treats, seal). For cards: each Cub writes and decorates 2–3 cards with personal messages. For clean-up prep: prepare equipment bags, print safety reminders, make route maps. Leaders circulate, help, and ensure quality.

Continue and complete the project. For care packages: final assembly, count packages, add labels. For cards: write envelopes, bundle cards. For clean-up prep: do a mock safety briefing. Quality check — would you be happy to receive this?

Display the finished output. Count the total items made. Take a group photo with the care packages or cards. Cubs share how it felt to make something for someone else. Discuss the logistics of delivery (leader will coordinate dropping off packages/cards to the aged care home or community partner).

Preview Night 4 (reflection and celebration). Close with the Cub Scout Promise.

Flag break, Grand Howl, and welcome to the final Community Heroes night. If there is a thank-you note or photo from the community partner (aged care home, park ranger), share it now.

Sit in a circle. Each Cub turns to the Cub on their left and says one specific thing they appreciated about that person during the service project. Go around the full circle. Builds gratitude and recognition.

Leader shows photos from all four nights on a screen or printed. Cubs narrate what was happening in each photo. If the community partner sent feedback or a thank-you video, play it. Discuss: "How do you think the people who received our work felt?"

Each patrol creates a short presentation (poster, skit, or talk) answering three questions: (1) What did we do? (2) Who did it help? (3) What did we learn? Each patrol presents for 3–4 minutes. Audience gives feedback using "two stars and a wish" (two things they liked, one thing to try next time).

Each Cub writes a personal pledge on a cut-out hand shape: one thing they will do in the next month to help their community (even small things count). Stick all hands on a "Helping Hands" wall display. Discuss: "Service doesn't end tonight — it's a way of living."

Congratulate Cubs on completing the Community Heroes trail. Hand out trail completion certificates. Final Grand Howl and Cub Scout Promise.