PREPARATION AND MATERIALS NEEDED
• Select a local grocery store, farmer’s market, or farm to visit. (The scavenger hunt may not be possible if the den visits a farm, but a tour there would be just as interesting.)
• The den leader should bring a copy of the Guide to Safe Scouting.
• Copies of the “Grocery Scavenger Hunt” chart for Activity 1 (See Meeting 3 Resources.)
GATHERING:
As the Tigers arrive, invite them to try some traditional tongue twisters such as—
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers?
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
Another choice: Freshly fried flying fish.
Or have them try to solve these funny food riddles:
• What did the baby corn say to the mama corn? (Where’s pop corn?)
• What did the nut say when it sneezed? (Cashew!)
• Why was the cucumber mad? (Because it was in a pickle!)
• What bird is with you at every meal? (A swallow!)
• Why did the banana go to the doctor? (Because it wasn’t peeling well!)
• What do you call a shoe made from a banana? (A slipper!)
• What does a mixed-up hen lay? (Scrambled eggs!)
• What do you call a bear with no teeth? (A gummy bear!)
• Why do seagulls fly over the sea? (Because if they flew over the bay they would be called bagels!)
OPENING
• Say the Pledge of Allegiance and the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
• Gather the Tigers together in a circle, and recite the Scout Law. Ask them to listen for any words that describe how they should act during their outing. Accept all answers. If they have trouble remembering, you can prompt them with any of these: courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, helpful, friendly.
TALK TIME
• Carry out business items for the den.
Materials: pencils or markers; scavenger hunt cards (See Meeting 3 Resources.)
1. Just as real tigers need to hunt for their food, these Tigers are going on a hunt. Divide everyone into teams, or pair each Tiger with their adult partner. (Partners should adjust their level of assistance to the child’s reading ability.)
2. Give each team or pair a grocery scavenger hunt card to fill out during the hunt. Tigers will find one food that fits in each box for the five categories (grains, vegetables, etc.). Then Tigers will identify good choices and not-so-good choices. First, allow them to look over the cards so you can answer any questions. Then announce how much time they have to complete their cards, and let the game begin!
3. As den leader, keep track of the time, and monitor each group as they move around the store, market, or farm.
4. When time is up, have everyone gather with their hunt cards to share their findings. The cards will help Tigers separate good food choices and not-so-good choices.
5. Be ready to suggest a few other foods, and ask them to categorize each suggestion as “nutritious” or “not nutritious.” (Here are some examples: Nutritious—a can of soup or beans, a bag of rice, dried fruit, tuna, or cheese. Not nutritious—chocolate syrup, french fries, cupcakes, candy, doughnuts, or fast-food burgers.)
If time allows, invite the Tigers and their adult partners to further explore the facility together.
CLOSING
• If someone from the facility has been helping or showing the Tigers around, be sure to thank him or her.
• When all Tigers have completed the hunt, acknowledge their fine work.
• The meeting will end the same way it began, with the Tigers in a circle. Before each Tiger leaves, name a category from the hunt, and have the Tiger tell you the matching food item.
AFTER THE MEETING
• Prepare thank-you notes for those who helped with the outing.
• Record completion of requirement 1 and those completed at home.