Meeting plan

Lion / Ready, Set, Grow

Ready, Set, Grow Den Meeting Plan

Scouts discover where food comes from, plant a small garden outside or in a container, and visit a gardening expert who demonstrates different methods and basic skills. This plan uses original picture prompts for the food-source activity, a container herb planting activity, and a confirmed expert guest. The meeting does not require a handbook page or a repro.

Supported requirements

1, 2, 3

Adventure: Ready, Set, Grow
Rank: Lion (kindergarten)
Status: Elective
Selected activities: Food-source picture match; plant herbs in a container garden; gardening expert demonstrates different methods and basic skills
Suggested meeting duration: 60 minutes
Estimated leader preparation: 45-75 minutes to confirm a gardening expert, choose suitable seeds and containers, gather soil and cleanup supplies, and check allergy/access needs; allow 10-15 minutes for cleanup. Assumes up to six Scouts with adult partners. Per-Scout planting supplies and guest coordination make overall effort High.

About this adventure

Scouts discover where food comes from, plant a small garden outside or in a container, and visit a gardening expert who demonstrates different methods and basic skills. This plan uses original picture prompts for the food-source activity, a container herb planting activity, and a confirmed expert guest. The meeting does not require a handbook page or a reproduced worksheet. See the adventure page for approved plans and handouts..

Safety and respect

• Confirm seed, soil, and plant suitability with the gardening expert. Ask families privately about allergies, skin sensitivities, and accessibility needs.
• Use clean potting soil, child-safe tools, and direct adult supervision. Do not taste seeds, soil, or plants.
• Provide a no-touch role such as choosing a seed label or directing an adult partner. Wash hands after planting.
• Do not use food as a reward or judge family food choices. Use familiar, inclusive examples for the matching activity.
• Review the SAFE Checklist and Guide to Safe Scouting.

Meeting preparation

Overall preparation effort: High, driven by coordinating an expert who can demonstrate different methods and basic skills, sourcing and portioning growing supplies, and preparing for soil cleanup and plant care. If shopping is required, the affected activity remains at least Medium.

• Confirm an expert, such as a gardener or nursery professional, and ask them to demonstrate different methods and basic gardening skills within the meeting time.
• Choose quick-starting, locally suitable herb seeds and containers with the expert. Confirm sunlight, water, and take-home care needs.
• Prepare one container and planting portion per Scout/adult pair. Do not assume egg cartons, soil, seed, or tools are available.
• Prepare simple picture prompts showing foods and where they grow or are raised. Use original prompts, not copied handbook pages.
• Tell families about soil, seed, and plant contact and ask privately about accommodations or sensitivities.

Supplies

• Original food-source picture prompts
• Recycled paper containers or other confirmed planting containers
• Suitable herb seeds, clean potting soil, child-safe scoops, and water
• Table covering, handwashing supplies, and labels for plant care
• The gardening expert’s demonstration materials, confirmed in advance

Pre and post meeting activities for scouts

Before

Bring a Lion adult partner and clothing suitable for planting. No food or gardening supplies need to be brought from home.

After

Place the planted container in the agreed growing location and follow the expert’s care instructions. The planting requirement is complete when the Scout has planted the garden; later care supports the project but should not be misreported as a separate official requirement.

Completion checklist

• Requirement 1: Scout discovered where food comes from using examples such as food grown in the ground, on a tree, on a vine, or raised on a farm.
• Requirement 2: Scout planted a small garden outside or in a container.
• Requirement 3: Scout visited a gardening expert who demonstrated different methods and basic skills. A general talk without demonstrations is not sufficient for this plan.

Sample Agenda

Leader notes and talking points

Welcome and opening (0:00-0:05)

• Set up: Keep soil covered and picture prompts ready. Introduce the guest and explain how Scouts can participate.
• Say: “Today we will learn where food grows, plant a small garden, and learn from a gardening expert.”
• Ask: “What foods have you seen growing?”
• Do: Let Scouts answer, point, or ask their adult partner to help.

Where food comes from (0:05-0:15)

• Say: “Let’s match each food with where it grows or is raised.”
• Do: Use simple, familiar picture prompts. Invite children to match a food to ground, tree, vine, or farm as appropriate.
• Ask: “Where do you think this food begins?”
• Tip: Avoid claiming that every food follows the same growing path; explain unfamiliar examples simply.

Movement and hand reset (0:15-0:20)

• Do: Put picture prompts away, offer a brief stretch, cover tables, and wash hands as needed.
• Say: “Let’s get our planting space ready.”
• Ask: “Is the walkway clear?”

Container garden planting (0:20-0:38)

• Set up: Follow the confirmed seed and container instructions. Adults manage soil portions and tools.
• Say: “Choose a seed and help your partner plant it in the container.”
• Do: Each Scout adds soil or seed, or directs the adult partner if touch is not comfortable. Label the container and give the expert’s care directions.
• Ask: “What will your plant need to grow?”
• Check: The Scout participates in planting a small container garden; decorating an empty container does not complete the step.

Expert demonstration (0:38-0:53)

• Set up: Confirm beforehand that the guest will demonstrate different methods and basic gardening skills, not only speak.
• Say: “Our guest will show us a few ways gardeners work with plants.”
• Do: Let the expert demonstrate the methods and skills selected with the leader. Scouts can observe closely, try a safe step, or point out what changed.
• Ask: “What did you see the gardener do?”
• Check: The expert demonstrates different methods and basic skills. If a method is omitted, arrange the required demonstration before marking complete.

Care and cleanup (0:53-0:57)

• Do: Follow the expert’s confirmed directions for watering and placement. Wipe tables and wash hands.
• Say: “Let’s leave the planting space ready for the next group.”

Closing and completion check (0:57-1:00)

• Ask: “What is one thing your plant will need?”
• Do: Thank the guest and adult partners, close with a den cheer, and check all three requirements individually.