Den Leader Handbook

Select Group Communication method for your Den

Choose a method of group communication that feels comfortable to you. 

Commonly chosen method are

• Group SMS

• Group Me

• WhatsApp

• BAND

Choose a Location for Den Meetings

Den Meetings can be held in a wide variety of locations. Generally any area that offers some shade, an open space for activities, and nearby restrooms will work. 

In Sienna, we are blessed with a wide variety of public, HOA, FBISD, and SPLID facilities. 

Public Locations

The following locations are known to work well for Den Meetings. Please inspect any facilities prior to hosting a meeting there. 

As more areas of Sienna are being developed, new places for Den Meetings are popping

• Covered Pavilion in the center of the Camp Sienna Soccer Fields (Close to Camp Sienna Trails)

• Brushy Lakes Pavilion

• Covered Area near Sawmill Lake Event Pavilion

• Pecan Grove Park (No Public Restrooms in walking distance)

• Your House / Backyard

Bookable Locations

Sienna HOA & Fort Bend ISD both use Facilitron to manage bookings for their facilities. 

To use Fort Bend ISD / Sienna HOA facilities, create a non-profit Facilitron account (www.facilitron.com).  This will allow you to book facilities using non-profit pricing (Free). If required, email the Pack Chairman (chairman@pack1402.org) for a copy of the Certificate of Insurance

• Facilitron: Sienna HOA

• Facilitron: Scanlan Oaks Elementary

• Facilitron: Donald Leonetti Elementary

• Facilitron: Fort Bend ISD

• Fort Bend Country Libraries : Sienna Branch

Choose a Meeting Time

Den Meetings can be held in a wide variety of times. Generally the best meeting time is the one that works for you and your Den Members

Popular meeting times are

• Sunday Afternoon 

• Monday Evening (This aligns to Troop 140 Meeting - For AOL Dens this will provide continuity after crossing over)

• Tuesday Evening (Same time as Pack Meeting, this way Tuesday Night becomes Scout Night)

Aim to hold between 12 and 20 Den Meetings during the School year (August to May)

Meetings 2-3 times per month will provide a far richer scouting experience, and provide the following additional benefits & Opportunities

• Promote better friendships within the Den

• Undertake an elective adventures (much more fun and engaging)

• Undertake activities outside of the published adventures (play at the park / setup a tent / check equipment before campout / play gaga ball / cook a meal / etc.)

• Spend 2 meetings to complete an adventure, diving deeper into the content

• Repeat a favorite adventure / activity

Scoutbook Plus

Scoutbook Plus is a website for managing the Den Calendar, and recording the completion of Adventures for Den Members

Scoutbook Plus is also available as a cell phone app. You can search for “Scouting BSA,” or click these direct links to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play. 

Use the calendar feature in Scoutbook Plus to create a Calendar event for your first Den Meeting. 

Please note that the Scouting App will only be available to Adults linked to their Cub Scouts in the Scouting Database. Please have parents contact the membership coordinator (membership@pack1402.org) if they are unable to see the Den Calendar in their Scouting App. 

BAND

BAND is a website and cell phone app used for Pack Communications, and for sharing of Cub Scout event photos. 

Send a Welcoming Email

The welcoming email should include the following

• Introduce yourself

• List the Time and Location of the First Meeting

• Outline the Chosen Group Communication Method

• Introduce Parents to the Scouting App

A Sample Welcome Email is available to use as a template

Acquire a Uniform

Wearing a uniform helps to identify you as a Scouting Leader. The uniform is one of the core methods of scouting. Wearing the same uniform as their peers gives Cub Scouts a sense of identity and comradery within their den and pack, and connects them to the values of Scouting.

Full details of what to purchase are available on the Uniform Page

Lions & Tigers

Youth of Lion (Kindergarten) and Tiger (1st Grade) age are still learning to sit still, rapidly making friends, absorbing everything they can about everyone and every thing around them. Attention spans are short, and they are already spending a large amount of time in a classroom each day. 

A great den meeting at this age is about an hours long. spends about 10 - 15 mins (Lions) or 15 - 30 mins (Tigers) focused on requirements, and the remainder of the time playing. 

In Sienna, there are enough play spaces in the community to potentially meet at a different play space for each meeting, thus completing a tour of Sienna outdoor play spaces throughout the year

Lions & Tigers will often have younger siblings, and it is ok to include them if they are interested in joining in at any point. 

Wolves & Bears

Wolves (2nd Grade) and Bears (3rd Grade) have 2-3 years of experience in the education. They know how to participate, and are ready to be challenged.  Cub Scouts of this age are becoming aware that they are an independent person (no longer an extension of their parent). 

At this age, structure and routine is important to provide predictability and consistency to scouting. Meeting at the same time, at the same place, and following the same meeting format will provide the stability to learn develop and grow. 

A good meeting is 60-75 mins, with requirements will consume about 30-45 mins of the meeting time, and the remaining time used playing in an outdoor play space, or playing a scouting game. 

Webelos & Arrow of Light (AOL)

Webelos (4th Grade) and AOL (5th Grade) are beginning pre-adolescence, fully aware of their own identity, will want to have influence over the path they trek, and are ready to prove to you just how amazing they are. Their primary role models are beginning to transition away from their parents, as they look more and more to older youth to define their values and behaviors. The biggest developmental transformation in Cub Scouts will happen during these 2 years.

At this age, the Cub Scouts will enjoy being included in the decision making process. If you are going on a cycling trip, or the Webelos walkabout, the Cub Scouts are ready to help choose the route or the destination. When camping, these Cub Scouts love selecting the menu, and selecting the location of their tents. At every step of the way, if a choice needs to be made, let the youth make the choice.

Pack 1402 has had many years of success involving the Webelos Scouts in the cooking efforts at campouts. The Trail to Troop Campout, and the Spring Campout are great opportunities for this. 

Den Chief's can be hard to find, but make a great addition to any Webelos / Arrow of Light Den. An older Scout in a leadership role is exactly the role model Webelos & AOL Scouts will be searching for. Connect with local scout troops to see if any Scouts are interested in the position of Den Chief. 

To enhance your Den program, try introducing 1 new idea every 1-2 months. This will allow you to improve gradually, and find what works best for you and your den. 

Creating Den Identity

There are 3 common ways to create Den Identity

• Den Yell / Cheer - This is a Short, Loud and Exciting exclamation that identifies the den. 

• Den Flag - A flag created by the Den, that identifies the Den, displayed with the den on den Outings. 

• Den Emblem (AOL Patrols Only) - All Scouting Patches

Electing a Denner

A Denner is a member of your cub scout den who is either elected or appointed to be an official “helper” for the den.  The position gives the cub scouts an opportunity to serve in a leadership role.

Denners can be selected through a variety of methods, but you should either have a Denner assigned to each meeting on rotation, or include the Cub Scouts in the decision so that they have some ownership in the process.

Cub Scout Denner Leadership Role

Involving Adults

All adults who have children in Scouting are invested in the success of their children. Most Adults are willing to participate and help achieve that success, but are unsure how to help, or are unsure whether their help is welcomed. 

As a leader, the easiest way to jump start this process is to tell an adult you will need their assistance when they arrive at the meeting, and provide clear instruction on how you need their help. Ideally this will involve a single game or activity, and can be explained to them within 1-2 minutes. 

Den Chiefs

Den Chiefs are Scouts (Youth aged 11-17) who assist a Cub Scout Den Leader or Webelos Den Leader. Den chiefs help Cub Scouts advance through Cub Scout ranks and encourage Cub Scouts to join a troop upon graduation. 

Den Chiefs are a role model for younger scouts, and while assisting to lead your Den, you are providing them an opportunity to grow and develop their own leadership skills. 

Contact your Cubmaster, or the Scoutmaster of a Troop to find out if there are any Scouts willing to take on the role of a Den Chief. 

Journey to Excellence (JTE)

Journey to Excellence is the award and recognition available for each unit. This is awarded annually to the pack as a whole. As a Den Leader, you can help the pack by taking ownership of delivering a JTE criteria. 

Journey to Excellence

Knots

Scouting recognizes Adults too. Leaders can be awarded "Knots" which are worn on the uniform above the left breast pocket. 

Den Leaders most commonly earn the Scouter’s Training Award, or the Den Leader Training Award

More information can be found on the Scouting America page: Adult Awards and Recognition

As adults, we continually strive to deliver a better program for our youth, and leave a legacy. 

Please visit the Building Leaders page to explore the Scouting development pathway available to Adults. 

The next step available to you on your scouting pathway is to find and train another parent to replace you as a Den Leader, and offer to serve as a future Cubmaster, Committee Chair, or as a member of the District Committee.

For your very first meeting, please inform the cubmaster (cubmaster@pack1402.org) of the Time and Location of the Meeting. Request for the Cubmaster to put you in touch with a veteran den leader who can attend the meeting to support you.  

Send a Reminder

1-2 days before the meeting, send a reminder to all parents of the meeting time and location. 

Sample Meeting Outline

Cub Scout meetings Can take on many forms. This is a failsafe meeting outline to get you started. 

Arrival Gathering Activity

3 Min Opening Flag Ceremony

15 Min Game

40 Min Adventure

2 Min Closing Flag Ceremony

Gathering

The Gathering activity provide some form of engagement for the Cub Scouts as they are arriving. Ideal Activities will keep Cub Scouts occupied and safe. It will also allow for Cub Scouts to join while the activity is in progress. 

Activities that are known to work for gathering are:

• Jackpot

• Blob Tag

• Coloring In

• Word Search

Endless ideas for gathering activities can be found by googling gathering activities

Flag Ceremony

A Short opening flag ceremony marks the start and end of a Scouting Meeting or Event. For this you will need any US Flag.

The opening ceremony comprises the following

• Present the Colors

• [Scouts Salute] Recite the pledge of Allegiance

• [Scout Sign] Recite the Scout Promise

• [Scout Sign] Recite the Scout Law

The closing ceremony comprises the following

• Retire the Colors

Ideally, the flag ceremony will be lead by a Cub Scout. It is ok for the Cub Scouts to read from a script, or to have them repeat after you.  

Sample Flag Ceremony

Game

Placing a Game at the start of a meeting allows the Cub Scouts to burn off Energy. Games with a purpose can also be an excellent method of teaching. 

When selecting game for a den meeting, here are some guiding principles

• Allow the Cub Scouts an opportunity to be physically active

• Select a game that fits the size of the group

• Avoid games where an older scout may end up bulldozing a younger scout. 

• Games that make the parents laugh are always a hit!

• Buy a whistle

Games resources

• Mac Scouter

• Boy Scout Trail

• Google

Selecting the Adventure

Select an Adventure from the Cub Scout Adventures for your Den's Rank.

A Physical Handbook is also available for purchase. 

The Bobcat Adventure is specifically designed to be used for the first Den meeting..

Logging Adventure Completion

Adventure completion is input into Scoutbook Plus

Select each Scout, the Required Adventure, and Log the Adventure Completion. 

The Pack Advancement Chair will then use the Adventure completions in Scoutbook Plus to purchase belt loops and patches for presentation at an upcoming pack meeting.