- Take the BSA training outlined at http://pack996.champlearningacademy.com/requirements-for-new-den-leaders/ This will give a good background on being a den leader. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask other Den Leaders, the Committee Chair, or the Cubmaster.
- Link for reserving rooms: http://www.srvusd.net/facuse
- First meeting:
- Have everyone (parents and scouts) attend to meet each other
- Have nametags, have a game to learn each other’s names and break the ice
- Discuss future den meeting details (schedule, rules, etc)
- Collect $20 from each family for den expenses throughout the year
- Second meeting:
- Bobcat
- Easy requirements
- Delegate! Delegate as much as you can to the other parents (even the small tasks!). Here are some common roles to delegate:
- Popcorn coordinator
- Collects forms and money from all scouts in den
- Validates money collected matches the order per scout
- Provides money and summary of orders to popcorn lead (kernal)
- Picks up popcorn from popcorn lead (kernal)
- Distributes popcorn to scouts
- Advancement coordinator: Enters completion of requirements and electives into scouttrack.
- Gathering activities/snacks for each den meeting (1 family/month)
- Field trip planning
- Popcorn coordinator
- New Webelos Dens:
- Pick a patrol name
- Webeloree details
- Create a Den Flag for pack meetings. Examples: https://www.pinterest.com/valayneostler/cub-scout-flags/
- Responsibilities at Pack Meetings: http://pack996.champlearningacademy.com/pack-meeting-responsibilities-for-den-leaders/
- Scripts for flag ceremonies: http://pack996.champlearningacademy.com/flag-ceremonies/
- Den leader guide book will be provided by the pack (see Committee Chair): http://www.scoutstuff.org/catalogsearch/result/?q=%22leader+guide+book%22
- Quick tips:
- “Gamify things” – Scouts love to compete. Including parents is also very fun.
- Start having a denner role (scout who is the Den Leader’s special helper). Get a denner cord and have a ceremony. Ceremony example.
- Use carpet squares or “spot markers” (perhaps named) for scouts to stay in a designated spot
- Use a whistle to get scouts’ attention
- Our website will have the up-to-date calendar: http://pack996.champlearningacademy.com
- Coordinate uniform and handbook shopping. Shop together to help each other out. Or designate someone to pick up things for others to save others a trip.