One of the purposes of Cub Scouting is "Developing habits and attitudes of good citizenship". A Scout promises to do his duty to his country. The Citizen Activity Badge helps the WEBELOS understand what a good citizen is and teaches him the history of our flag. Citizen Activity Badge is in the Community group.

OBJECTIVES

To foster citizenship in WEBELOS Scouts. To teach boys to recognize the qualities of a good citizen. To introduce boys to the structure of the U.S. government. To familiarize boys with basics of American history. To convince boys that laws are beneficial. To encourage WEBELOS Scouts to become community volunteers.

Where to go and what to do

	Invite a guest speaker from a local board to explain his duties and tell the WEBELOS Scouts why he volunteers his time.
	Buy a packet of used U.S. commemorative stamps. Distribute several to the WEBELOS Scouts and challenge them to discover the "story behind the stamp". At the following meeting allow each boy ample time to describe his stamps and their significance.
	Attend a local city council meeting.
	Do a Good Turn by conducting a litter pickup campaign.
	Have each WEBELOS Scout write a letter to his Senator or Congressman to express an opinion on an issue. It would be especially interesting if two WEBELOS Scouts wrote an opinion about opposite sides of the same issue. See what responses you receive.
	Encourage WEBELOS Scouts to fly a flag at home particularly on appropriate flag holidays.
	Arrange for the WEBELOS den to do a community service project.

Good turn ideas

	Give some of the toys the WEBELOS Scouts may have made as part of the Craftsman badge to needy children. Use Craftsman skills to repair and refurbish toys for the same purpose.
	Give a holiday party for children or adults in a residential situation. Plan games, songs, small gifts, party favors, and treats.
	Participate in the Food Drive in the fall to stock good pantries for needy families.
	Collect toilet articles and used clothing for the homeless.
	Salvage used books to be sold at the public library or to be used to set up libraries for children or adults in a residential situation.
	Read to someone who cannot see.
	Provide snow shoveling, yard care, errand service, or other aid to an elderly person or couple in your neighborhood.

Games

NEWSPAPER STUDY GAME - for dens or small groups

Equipment: One current newspaper per den

Teams gather in groups, each with the same day's issue of a newspaper. On signal, teams start a search for news items that definitely illustrate the 12 points of the Scout Law. Items are cut out and numbered according to the point of the law. Team with the most clippings in a given time wins.

Strategy: The smart team leaders distribute pages among his team members.

 

DO YOU KNOW YOUR FLAG?

When the Stars and Stripes first became our national flag, no one was sure just what the design of the flag should be. Since the time of that first flag, official descriptions of the national colors have been very careful and clear. Not only is the design of the flag carefully described today, but there are many special rules for displaying it. The following questions are based on the universal flag code of the United States. See how many you and your WEBELOS den can answer correctly. Some of these questions are tricky.

 

1. The flag is raised (a) slowly; (b) briskly; (c) at any speed that is comfortable.
2. If you carry the flag in a parade and passed before the President of the United States, you would dip the flag slightly in salute to the President as you walked past him. True or False?
3. The flag must never be lowered no matter how bad the weather conditions. True or False?
4. The flag is never allowed to fly after daylight hours anywhere in the world. True or False?
5. When the flag is carried in a procession or on other occasions, it is escorted by an honor guard. True or False?
6. The flag's honor guard walks (a) on the flag's right; (b) just behind the flag; (c) on both sides of the flag.
7. If you are a Cub Scout, WEBELOS Scout, Boy Scout, or Explorer, you always give the Cub Scout, or Explorer salute to the flag even when you are not in uniform. True or False?
8. When you carry the flag in a parade with other flags, the U. S. flag must go on the left of and in line with the other flags. True or False?

Answers:

1. (b) briskly - it's a happy occasion!
2. False. The flag is never dipped to anyone..
3. False. The flag is not flown in bad weather.
4. False. Although it is the custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset, there is not law prohibiting its being flown both day and night.
5. True.
6. (c) on both sides of the flag.
7. False. When you are in civilian clothes, you remove your hat and place your hand over your heart when the flag passes
8. False. It is carried at the right of the other flags or at the front and center of a line of other flags.