Thank you for leading a den. You’re the adult your scouts will remember most from Cub Scouts, and you won’t be doing it alone. Here’s what the job involves and how Pack 51 supports you.
What a den leader does
- Plans and runs den meetings, usually about once a month. [Confirm: once a month, or more for some dens?]
- Leads the den through its adventures for the year: the six required adventures for your rank, plus at least two electives your den chooses.
- Brings the den to the monthly pack meeting, and sometimes helps plan a short part for the den to lead: a skit, a song, or a flag ceremony.
- Keeps parents informed. Kids forget; parents need reminders in writing.
- Records advancement so scouts get their awards on time.
- Attends the monthly Parent/Committee meeting at Christ Lutheran Church when possible, where the pack plans upcoming events.
- Helps the den move up together at the end of the year. For Arrow of Light leaders, that means helping scouts cross over to a Scouts BSA troop.
Before you start
- Register as a leader with Scouting America.
- Take Youth Protection training online through your my.scouting.org account. It’s required for every leader, and it must be renewed every two years.
- Take your den leader training, also online through my.scouting.org. It covers how den meetings work and what’s expected.
- Get the den leader guide for your rank. It includes ready-made meeting plans for every adventure.
A simple shape for a den meeting
Meetings work best at about an hour. Many leaders use this flow:
- Before the meeting: set out materials, so you’re ready when the first scout arrives.
- Gathering: a quick activity for early arrivals. It’s a good time to take attendance.
- Opening: a flag salute or the Scout Oath, so everyone knows the meeting has started.
- Talk time: den business, plans for the pack meeting, and checking what scouts did at home.
- Activities: the main event, usually working on an adventure. Keep kids moving.
- Closing: a short wrap-up, and reminders for parents.
- After the meeting: jot down what worked and what’s next while it’s fresh.
Tips from experienced leaders
- Plan ahead, and stop while it’s still fun. Well-planned, predictable meetings keep scouts coming back.
- Make the den’s rules together at the first meeting. Kids follow rules they helped write.
- Ask every family what they can offer. A parent who can’t lead a den can still teach a skill, host a visit, or bring snacks.
- Measure each scout against their own best, not a strict standard. The Cub Scout motto is “Do Your Best.”
- Keep it simple, and make it fun, for the scouts and for you.
Safety
- Scouting America requires at least two adults at every den activity, and no adult is ever alone with one child. Youth Protection training explains the rules. Your assistant den leader or a parent can be the second adult.
- Some activities need extra training for at least one adult first: overnight campouts, swimming, boating, and climbing. Talk to the Cubmaster before planning these.
- If your den meets at your home, the address goes to your den’s families directly, never on the public website.
How the pack supports you
- The Cubmaster, the Assistant Cubmaster, and other den leaders are here to help. Den leaders work as a team, sharing ideas, supplies, and the load.
- The pack reimburses reasonable den meeting supplies. Save your receipts.
- The district holds a monthly roundtable where Cub Scout leaders share ideas for the months ahead.
Your den’s page on this website
Each den has its own page showing its meeting schedule, leaders, adventures, and upcoming events. To update your den’s page, or to choose what contact information of yours is shown, tell the Cubmaster. Only details you’ve agreed to share are ever posted.
Questions? Contact Cubmaster Curt Dettmann. See the Contact page.