Before the meeting: 

1. Using the animals chosen by the Cub Scouts in requirement 1, write down the name of each animal on a separate index card. You may need to add a few additional animals to make the game work. 
2. Punch holes in each of the top corners of the card and run a piece of yarn through them. Tie the ends of the yarn together so that the Scout can hang the card around their neck. 
3. Set up meeting space for Cub Scouts to sit in a large, wide circle. 

During the meeting: 

1. With Cub Scouts, discuss how are all are connected to each other.  
   • What is a predator? 
   • What is prey? 
   • Are predators bad? Why or why not? 
   • What does “It’s not easy being a predator?” mean?  
   • What happens to an ecosystem if we take away predators? 
   • What do your friends or members of your family feel about predators? Why do they feel that way? Are their feelings based on their own experience? Something they saw on television or something they read. What influences people’s attitudes? 
   • Are humans predators? Explain. 
2. Have the Scouts sit in a circle. Hand out index cards with their animal. For additional animals, give these to adults.   
3. Hand the ball of yarn to one of the Cub Scouts and ask them to hold the end. While holding the end of the yarn, have the Cub Scout toss the ball to someone they’re connected to (something they would eat or be eaten by or a place they would live). Have them explain how they’re connected.  
4. The second Scout repeats this, making sure they’re holding on to the yarn as they toss the ball of yarn. 
5. Keep repeating until everyone has at least one connection.  
6. While everyone is still holding their strings, talk about how the different plants and animals are connected to each other.  
7. Cut one or two of the strings and explain how the cuts represent something being removed from the environment. Ask the Scouts how cutting one or two strings affects other parts of the web.