How to be a successful Den Leader
Get registered.
- Fill out the BSA Adult Application. It is best to fill out the real form rather than the on-line PDF, because the real form needs to be signed twice -- once on back of one of the pages. Note that the council tends to return these to us if the experience and reference section is not filled in.
- Fill out a CORI form and attach a copy of your id. (or you can snap a photo of your id and e-mail it)
- Take the on-line Youth Protection Training (YPT) course (below), and forward proof that you have completed it. Proof can either be a copy of the "completion certificate" available at the end, or if you provide your scouting.org username, we can give that to the Council and they can look up your completed training on-line.
- Note that the Pack pays for adult registration fees.
Get trained.
Go to myscouting.org, create an account, and take the free on-line training. Don't worry that you have no "BSA-ID". You will receive a BSA-ID after your application is processed, and you can later add that to your scouting.org account. Leaders must take these three on-line courses:
- General "Youth Protection Training" - this takes exactly 25 minutes.
- General "This is Scouting"
- Cub Scout "Fast Start" -- choose either "Den Leader", "Pack Committee", or "Cubmaster" flavor of fast start.
- The final step to being a fully trained leader (earning your snappy "trained" badge for your uniform) it to complete leader specific training. This is now available on-line in addition to in-person as provided by our Knox Trail Council. The in-person leader specific training takes a full morning
If you want to do something really special with your family during the summer, spend a week at the Philmont Training Center in New Mexico. The family programs and the adult leader training there are awesome!
Just as valuable as training is the experience of your peers. Talk to your peer Den Leaders and Cubmasters whenever you get a chance. Pack 157 has a Leader's Wiki where Den Leaders can write notes about how well different activities worked for them. Look at what other den leaders wrote, and leave perls of wizdom for future den leaders!
The Viking District of the Knox Trail Council holds their "Roudtables" right in our very own Scout House once per month, so show up and get some ideas. Also, attending round-tables can help you earn a snappy adult knot badge for your position.
There are also lots of Cub Scout resources on the Web
Get Organized.
Download the free Cub Trax spreadsheet for your den, and fill in your roster. Use it for keeping attendance and tracking achievements through the year.
Consult your handbook and plan a program that gives the boys in your Den the opportunity to achieve the rank badge by the end of the school year. Eg Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos Badge by May. The exception is 5th year Webelos, who must complete Arrow of Light by February's Blue and Gold Dinner, as that is when they cross over to Boy Scouts.
Schedule your Den Meetings and den events for the whole school year now.
Enter your Den Calendar on-line so that your Den's parents can see your den activities along with the Pack activities. Go to the Pack Calendar click on the Google Calendar link.
Den Meetings can be anywhere that works for you, but note that the Weston Scout House is fully available for your use and the kids love it.
Get every boy through the Bobcat Badge at the front of the book. Ideally he should be awarded this badge at his very first Pack Meeting.
Schedule Den Meetings at a time that works for the Den. After school is a golden time, particularly on half days, but not all Dens can pull this off. Some Dens meet on weekends. On week-days, 6-7PM has worked well for Tigers, since they go to bed early. 6:30 - 7:30 has worked well for 2nd graders, since earlier conflicts with dinner and later conflicts with bed time. Webelos can generally handle 7-8PM. Limit Den meetings to 60 minutes.
Get Equipped.
Visit the Scout Shop.
Get a uniform shirt -- the boys will follow your example and will wear their uniforms. The pack will pay for your handbook, neckerchief, and patches -- just like it pays for those for the boys.
The Pack will also pay for leaders books. However, most are now availabe on-line. The The most useful is Program Helps. The current month and a year of past months of program helps are available free Den & Pack Meeting Resource Guide has sections for Pack, Tiger, Wolf and Bear Den activities with a common monthly theme.
The Cub Scout How-To book is also very useful for activities, and the Cub Scout Leader Book is the reference manual. The pack generally has some leaders books "in stock".
Also at the Scout Shop, get "immediately recognition advancement beads", and award them immediately so the boys have something to show for their efforts. Like patches, the pack will pay for beads.
Get Funded.
If there is an event which as a per-boy costs, such as a ticket, it is appropriate for the den to split that cost among den members. Some dens charge an 'activity fee' for craft supplies etc. The Pack will also send a portion of popcorn proceeds to each den leader for incidentals, based on the number of cubs in each den.
Get Helpers.
Sign up the den parents to lead the achievements on the Tiger, Wolf, Bear trails. Involve as many parent helpers as possible, even if their jobs are very small. Also mix in some fun electives. An active Wolf or Bear den should give the boys the opportunity to earn several arrow points for electives, so be sure to include some fun elective activities!
Webelos Dens should take advantage of the council's Webelos Activity Meets to knock-off some of the activity pins. The Action Museum can also do a Webelos Geology session for a fee.
What else?
At Den Meetings, be sure to learn skits and songs to share as a Den at Pack Meetings.
Bring a camera to all Cub Scout events. Boys this size grow amazingly fast, so you'll be really glad you did!
Be a great example. Wear your uniform at every opportunity and the boys will too.
Always treat the boys with respect. Consistently demand respect from them, and they will consistently give it to you.
Keep it simple and make it fun. If you are having fun, it is likely that the boys will be too!
