Cub Scout Popcorn Projects (To Help You Sell More Popcorn!)
Over the past two years, my little family has become a Cub Scout family. Greg is a very proud Eagle Scout, and scouting was a huge part of his upbringing. As such, we started Henry as a Tiger last year, and it became a really valuable experience for him (especially while Greg was deployed). Henry enjoyed it so much that now our whole family, as well as lots of our good friends, are pretty heavily involved. Last year, our Pack had a bumpy go at fundraising, so it was all hands on deck this year to figure out how to jump start our Popcorn program. But as my girlfriend and I were searching for Cub Scout Popcorn project ideas to get the kids excited about selling popcorn, we came up somewhat empty handed. So armed with a Cricut and inexpensive supplies, we got creative and made some really fun and easy projects that worked really well! Even though this post strays a bit off course from my usual content, I thought I would go ahead and share the Cub Scout Popcorn projects we pulled together to not only get our Scouts excited about selling popcorn, but motivate them to sell way above and beyond their goals. If you or someone you know is running a Cub Scout Popcorn initiative, here are some great ideas to try that worked really, really well for us!
Cub Scout & Boy Scout Images for the Cricut
Before I dive into the projects we pulled together, I want to point out that I was able to make pretty much everything (so quickly and so easily) thanks to my Cricut Explore and the Cub Scout image cartridge available by Cricut. I’ve seen the cartridge for sale in our local BSA store, and the images are also all available within the Cricut Design Space library. If you will be working on popcorn projects, Blue and Gold Banquet, Scout awards and other items throughout your child’s Scout experience, I highly recommend investing in this really nice set of images!
Popcorn Information Folders
Since the Cub Scout Popcorn program tends to be at the beginning of the school year, much of the important information, details, and dates tend to get lost in the new school year hustle and bustle. So that parents and kids would have everything they needed in a single, easy-access spot, my girlfriend assembled popcorn folders for each Scout. We added the Cub Scout logo to the bright yellow folders by using Cricut’s Print-and-Cut feature onto Cricut’s sticker paper.
Inside the folders was a detailed welcome letter from our Popcorn Kernel that included an overview of the popcorn program as well as important dates, deadlines, and details. We also included a print out of the Scout prizes (so the Scouts could see them up close and get excited about them!), and a printable popcorn tracker we made to help each child reach our Pack-specific goal.
Printable Popcorn Tracker
We set an ambitious goal for each Scout to sell $500 worth of popcorn. However, for kids, especially the younger Scouts, we worried this number was intangible and maybe even overwhelming. To help them get excited, stay excited and track their progress in an easy-to-understand way, we created a color-in popcorn tracker. Each piece of popcorn represented $5 in sales; and when the popcorn tracker was fully colored in, the Scout could bring it to the next Pack Meeting and pull a prize from our silly prize bucket.
NOTE: The prize bucket was not offered or provided by BSA; we just used some funds to buy slimy worms, stretchy hands, fidget spinners and other silly things that would get the kids excited (especailly since the BSA-provided prizes take a while to come in).
Not only was having a physical tracker that could be hung in plain sight on the refrigerator super helpful and motivating to the whole family, but the kids got VERY excited to stand up in front of the Pack and pull a prize for coloring in their entire sheet!
Get The Cub Scout Popcorn Tracker!
To get your own (editable) copy of the Cub Scout Popcorn Tracker, just click below!
Popcorn Samples
So the boys could (literally!) get a taste of what they were going to sell, we assembled little snack packs of the basic caramel popcorn and handed them out at the end of the popcorn information meeting. Tiny treat bags (from the dollar section at Michaels) with a paper topper (also cut with the Cricut) literally came together in minutes!
Games
Another way we got the kids excited about selling popcorn was by doing an easy popcorn-themed game at the info meeting. I made some large popcorn stickers (again, using the Print-and-Cut feature onto sticker paper) and put them onto colored buckets from Party City. We then balled up different colors of tissue paper to resemble over-sized pieces of popcorn, and the kids played various games where they had to catch and pass them.
Costumes
Last but not least, we did a few small “costume” projects to help the kids identify the adults actively running the popcorn program. Although I threatened to make my girlfriend a silly popcorn hat, this paper Popcorn Kernel Ribbon was just enough to set her apart and identify her as the person to direct all the popcorn questions toward!
We then got carried away and made a costume to use at various meetings and events during our popcorn fundraising initiative. I’ll be honest, when I was asked to make a popcorn costume simply to “get the kids attention,” I planned to do a simple sandwich-board-style ensemble. But then we found this huge box…and I happened to have navy blue wrapping paper…and then I found the Cub Scout Cricut cartridge…and one thing let to another and we ended up here…
Yep…that’s a huge cardboard box “dressed” quite accurately as a box of popcorn in a Cub Scout uniform. No…I do not have too much time on my hands…yes, I tend to get carried away on these kinds of things! #guiltyascharged
The Cub Scout Cricut images made it all-too-easy to make the Cub Scout uniform pieces, like the neckerchief, slide, American flag patch, Pack number patches, and pocket.
Pretty much everything is cut from cardstock, although I used vinyl to do the BSA letters above the pocket and on the ribbons, as well as the Scout symbol on the belt buckle. I stopped short of putting all the images on the belt loop achievements, but only because I ran out of time.
And who wore this massive Cub Scout Popcorn box? Oh…only my charming husband!
Needless to say, it sure got the kids’ attention and caused quite a few laughs in the process. Now to figure out how to store it until next year’s popcorn fundraiser!
Although it was absolutely the dedication (and organization!) of our Popcorn Kernel and the hard work of our Scouts that allowed us to meet our popcorn fundraising goals this year, these simple, motivating, and easy popcorn-themed projects went a long way in setting a fun, exciting tone for our popcorn program! With just a little bit of effort (and a whole lot of stickers and cardstock), we were able to present a colorful, organized, motivating and ultimately, successful program to our Pack’s Scout families, and I know the extra-special details were noticed and much appreciated!
Thanks for bearing with me, friends, over these past few weeks as I finish up some behind-the-scenes maintenance and get my Holiday Planner launched. Next week, we’ll be back to some organization and home projects; and behind-the-scenes, I’m wrapping up my office for a reveal very soon! Have a wonderful weekend and see you back here next week!
Megan
151 Comments on “Cub Scout Popcorn Projects (To Help You Sell More Popcorn!)”
Oh my! That is such an adorable popcorn costume! I really love the popcorn sale tracker, too; what a great idea! 🙂
Just emailed it to you – good luck with your sales!
~Megan
I’d love a tracker as well! It’s amazing
Just emailed you!
If you have time and don’t mind, I would love to use the popcorn tracker you all are using!
Could I get a copy of the tracker?
What a cute costume! This is my first year as a den leader and I love your ideas about getting the kids excited to sell 🙂 can you email me the pdf as well? Thank you and happy selling!
hi there do you have a pdf of the popcorn tracker?
Hi there!
I’ve attached the PDF for you. Please note that both the header and opening paragraph are completely editable, so you can change what is typed there by opening the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader! Just delete what is already typed in and re-type in your own details!
Good luck with your popcorn program!
Megan
Hi! Where is the popcorn tracker PDF? I would love to customize it for our pack this fall!
Hi! Where is the popcorn tracker PDF? I would also love to customize it for our pack this fall! Thank you!!
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
Could I have the pdf file also.
The popcorn kernel on the badge, was that on the cartridge also?
Just emailed it to you!
I would also love the tracker please!!!
Popcorn kernel here. I just want to say that I love the costume! Great job going above and beyond to make things fun for the scouts. I have been resisting getting a cricut machine, but seeing all the fun things you made it’s very tempting!
Just emailed it to you – good luck with your sales!
~Megan
I would love to get the PDF of the popcorn tracker please!!!
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
Trying to locate the pdf of the popcorn tracker is it possible to have one sent?
Just emailed it to you – good luck with your sales!
~Megan
I LOVE this! What a great way to use the Cricut cartridges. You’re so right about the little kids needing some sort of way to keep track of their sales. Thanks for sharing!
My husband is the Popcorn Kernel, and I would love to use these printable, but can’t find the link for the PDFs!
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
This is our first popcorn fundraiser, and we are so excited. I absolutely love your page! Can you guide me on how to start my own popcorn tracker worksheet? Thanks!
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
Love the popcorn tracker! Is it available for download?
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
I love the popcorn tracker. Do you have a PDF or word file for it to be downloaded. Also, the costume is amazing!!!
Thank you,
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
this is my first year as a co-kernal, and I was hoping you could email me the tracker sheet so we can use it for our Cubs? thank you!
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
Love all of this! Could you also send me a copy of the tracker? 🙂 3rd time kernel looking for fresh ideas and yours are so cute!
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
I would love the PDF of the popcorn tracker! Super cute!!
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
Can I get the PDF for the popcorn tracker sheet? Thank you
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
These are AMAZING! Can you please send me a copy of the tracker?
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
We’d love a copy of the popcorn tracker for our pack, too! They’re working on ramping up popcorn participation this year – these are some fun ideas 🙂 Thank you!
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
Hi there! Could I also please have a copy of your popcorn tracker? It is awesome!! Thanks! Pack 29 in Springdale AR! 🙂
Just emailed it to you – good luck with your sales!
~Megan
Could I please get the PDF of the tracker too. This is my son’s first year as a scout and I think this would be a great motivator! Thank you for sharing.
Just emailed it to you – good luck with your sales!
~Megan
I’m curious if you have seen a Thank You that could be used to hand out when you deliver the popcorn. I would like my son to include this when he drops off the popcorn – figured maybe someone would have come across one.
Here you go!
Please note all the areas highlighted blue can be edited to suit your Pack needs!
Regarding the “thank you” note – I haven’t seen anything but that is a GREAT idea! If you can’t find anything pre-done, maybe just type “Thank You from Scout XXXX” into a 2×4 table in Microsoft Word and then slice them all apart. You could also tape them to each bag so they are already there when you give them out!
Good luck with your sales!
Megan
The Trails End website has a Thank you Note in the Training section/Training Assets when you log in to your scout’s Dashboard.
Thanks for all of the tips! I would love a pdf of the popcorn tracker!
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
Hello! I love your popcorn tracker as well. Such a great idea!! May I be able to get a copy of the pdf as well? Thank you so much!!
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
Could I please get a copy of the popcorn tracker? Thanks so much!!!
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
Hi. I would love to get a copy of the popcorn tracker as well. We have several scouts that this might help them participate in selling this year. Thanks!
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
Our Packs sells have lacked the last couple years and I love uour ideas to get the boys pumped. Can I get a copy of the popcorn tracker pdf emailed to me? It is a wonderful fun way to encourage the kids.
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
Can I get the PDF file also! This will help our kiddos so much!! Thank you !
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
This is INCREDIBLY helpful! Can you please email me the pdf as well? I am blown away by your creativity!
Thank you
Abby
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
hi
can you send me the pdf for the popcorn sale tracker sheet please.
Thank You .
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
Thank you for sharing these great ideas! Can you please email me a copy of the popcorn sales worksheet?
Thanks again!
Colleen
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
I would also love a copy of the popcorn sale tracker as well. I just love how visual they are for the Scouts.
Just emailed it to you! Good luck with your sale 🙂
i dont suppose you would be willing to share your popcorn tracker sheet? i love the idea and our sales barely cleared $5,000 last year. i need help
Oh my goodness. This is darling. Is there anyway I could get the pdf for the popcorn color sheet? This will be my first year as a kernel, and we have our kickoff soon. This would be an added incentive for the kiddos which is just what I was looking for. 🙂
I would love a copy of the Popcorn Tracker Sheet!!!!