Tiger Tracker SWAPS or Den Doodle

 Tiger Tracker SWAPS or Den Doodle

Materials: 3D printed pawprint base*, twine or string, small rubber band, pony beads (listed below), and optional safety pin.

Bead Colors (can be revised as desired):

• 3 Black: At-Home Rank Requirements Completed
  (Includes: Cyber Chip, Protect Yourself Rules, and Duty to God Adventure)

• 1 Yellow: Bobcat Rank Completed

• 1 White: First Elective Adventure Completed (Required Elective for Rank)

• 5 Orange: Required Adventures Completed as Den
  (Includes: Games Tigers Play, My Tiger Jungle, Team Tiger, Tiger Bites,
  and Tigers in the Wild Adventures)

• 1 Gold: Tiger Rank Completed

• ⪯12 Red Orange: Elective Adventures Completed

*I designed the model for the Tiger Tracker Base in SketchUp

Scouts add the beads of the appropriate color to their Tracker as they complete requirements for Rank and additional Tiger Adventures during the year. The idea for this tracker is based on an early tradition in Tiger Scouts where they received beads rather than the Adventures/Belt Loops they earn in the current Tiger Scout program.

Note that the At-Home vs. Den Requirements are based on what is scheduled in my Den and you can change or revise the colors to match how your Den completes requirements.

I allowed my Tigers to vote on whether they wanted to keep their Tracker themselves, with the option to wear it on their neckerchief or as a temporary patch on their uniform, OR if they wanted to have their trackers displayed with their Den Flag as a Den Doodle.

This SWAPS can be a great tie-in for the first meeting at the beginning of the year, particularly if you are working on an Adventure like Team Tiger which focuses on being a Tiger Scout.

Recommended Adventure Tie-In:

Tiger = Team Tiger Adventure, Earning Your Stripes Adventure, or Rank Requirements

Soda Cap Boat SWAPS

 

Mini Boat SWAPS

Materials: Plastic bottle cap, string, toothpick/dowel/or wooden skewer, scrap paper, safety pin
Also needed: Glue and/or hot glue, scissors

Optional: decorations for ship and/or paint 

1. Take a recycled bottle cap and hot glue string in a loop to be able to attach a safety pin to the boat when not in use.

2. Trim a stick, dowel, skewer, or toothpick to the desired size for your mast (Be careful that a mast too tall will make the mini ship top-heavy). Hot glue the dowel, skewer, or toothpick for the mast of your ship to the center of the bottle cap.

3. Use scrap paper to cut a sail. Paint, color, or decorate the sail as you desire.

4. Punch holes into the sail and slide onto the mast. You can style your sail and ship however you choose.

5. Decorate the mini ship as desired.

6. Attach a safety pin on your string loop or have fun floating your mini ship!

Ideally, you should be able to float your mini ship in the water (leave the safety pin off as needed)! 

This SWAPS ties in wonderfully with the annual tradition of the Raingutter Regatta! For young scouts, this one may require the assistance of an adult partner if they need hot glue, but can easily be done on their own. Additionally, I know at least one Adventure where it can be a great tie-in craft!

Recommended Adventure Tie-In:

Tiger = Floats and Boats

Mini Kite SWAPS

 

Mini Kite SWAPS

Materials: cardstock or colored paper, two toothpicks, a piece of ribbon or string (curling ribbon is a favorite), a safety pin.
Also needed: glue and drawing materials (crayons, pencils, or markers)

1. Cut out a diamond on your paper to make the kite, ideally, the long side is ~2 inches or the length of your toothpicks.
2. Color your paper, if desired.
3. Glue the toothpicks in a lowercase t-shape onto one side of the paper to make the frame of your mini kite. You may cut the crossing toothpick in half to glue it flat on the paper.
4. Trim toothpicks as needed.
5. Trim or curl the ribbon of your choice and glue it to the bottom of the kite for a tail.
6. Punch the safety pin through kite paper and pin. 
   
   

This SWAPS lends well to scout-themed designs if desired.