Basic Information

What is a Den Chief?

A Den Chief is a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer assisting a Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos Scout den. The Den Chief assists the den leader with meetings; helps lead activities, games, and ceremonies; helps Cub Scouts learn to be leaders; sets a good example; and encourages Cub Scouts to become Webelos Scouts and Webelos to become Boy Scouts.

The Den Chief has the following responsibilities:

• Know the purposes of Cub Scouting.
• Help Cub Scouts achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting.
• Be the activities assistant at den meetings.
• Set a good example in your attitude and uniform.
• Take part in weekly den meetings.
• Assist the den in its part of the monthly pack meeting program.
• Be a friend to the boys in the den.
• Know the importance of the monthly theme.
• Meet as needed with the adult leaders of the den, pack, and troop.

Who can be a Den Chief?

Basic requirements:

• Be a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer.
• Be mature enough to handle the job (for Boy Scouts, usually at least First Class rank).

Why are Den Chiefs such a great idea?

Because everybody wins!

• The Pack and Den get a helping hand. Den Chiefs can help teach the Scouting skills they’ve learned, and they can bring great enthusiasm and spirit to the job.
• The Cub Scouts get a role model who can teach them skills and inspire them to keep following the Scouting trail.
• The Den Chief can use this position for Boy Scout advancement or Crew recognition. More importantly, the Den Chief gains leadership experience, gains teaching skills, and builds confidence.
• The Troop or Crew gets the perfect opportunity to recruit future members from the Cub Scout program.

How does the Den Chief program work?

• The Pack and Troop/Crew work together to recruit Den Chiefs.
• A Den Chief is selected by the Senior Patrol Leader and Scoutmaster or by the Crew President and Advisor.
• A Den Chief should be approved by the Cubmaster and Pack Committee, after which the Cubmaster will help match each Den Chief with a den.
• Every Den Chief should get trained!
• The Den Chief attends den and pack meetings and other den/pack activities. The Den Leader should give the Den Chief meaningful assignments to help run activities.
• A Den Chief is recognized right away with the Den Chief patch and cord.
• After a year of service, the Den Chief can earn the Den Chief Service Award.

Training Courses

Online Version

Every Den Chief should start by taking the BSA’s online training. It covers the roles and responsibilities of a Den Chief, and it takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Live Training

It’s a lot more fun to take Den Chief training in person! This half-day course is a great chance to meet fellow Den Chiefs, share ideas, and “learn by doing.” Here’s what it covers:

• The roles and responsibilities of a Den Chief
• Tips for working with Cub Scouts
• Games, songs, and other fun activities that you can bring back to your den

Adult leaders are also welcome to sit in and learn how a Den Chief can help your den or pack.

We have four courses on the calendar, all on Saturday mornings. Registration is open for three of them:

• October 14 in Northborough
• October 21 in Hanson/Halifax area TBD (register online)
• November 4 in Weymouth (register online)
• December 2 in Foxboro (register online)

Other Resources

• The Den Chief Handbook is available for purchase at the Scout Store (call ahead first to make sure it’s in stock). It’s also available whenever we offer a live Den Chief training course.
• The Tiger Cub Handbook, Wolf Handbook, Bear Handbook, and Webelos Handbook are also useful tools.
• Requirements for the Den Chief Service Award
• Boy Scout Trail is one of many websites loaded with songs, skits, games, and other activities to do with Cub Scouts.
• Macscouter.com has a useful guide for Den Leaders to help them work effectively with Den Chiefs.

The Den Chief Pledge

I promise to help the boys in my den to the best of my ability; to encourage, guide, and protect them in all den and pack activities; and to show them by my example what Boy Scouts of America stands for.

I will strive to be prompt and dependable, and to cooperate with the leaders in carrying out the den program.

As each boy becomes eligible to move along the Cub Scouting trail, I will encourage him and do all in my power to interest him in someday becoming a Boy Scout.

Purposes of Cub Scouting

• Character development
• Spiritual growth
• Good citizenship
• Sportsmanship and fitness
• Family understanding
• Respectful relationships
• Personal achievement
• Friendly service
• Fun and adventure
• Preparation for Boy Scouts

Den Chief’s Uniform

• Troop or crew uniform
• Den Chief patch on left sleeve
• Cub Scout den chief cord or Webelos den chief cord on left shoulder
• If you’ve taken Den Chief training, you can wear the Trained patch on the left sleeve below the Den Chief patch

Attention all Den Leaders and Pack Leaders! You’re about to start a new year with your Cubs, and you deserve to get the tools and resources to make your program fun and successful. That’s why we invite you to kick off the program year with Cub Leader-Specific Training!

Online Training

You can take position-specific training online by signing into your account at my.scouting.org. Each position has a separate training module.

Although online training is easier, many leaders find it more rewarding to take a live in-person course. Not only does the in-person course allow you to cover all of the positions in one sitting, but it also gives you a chance to meet other leaders and share ideas and experiences. Live training is fun! Even if you’ve already taken the online training, you’ll probably learn something new by attending a live course.

Live Training

Basic Information

Every Cub Scout leader should take basic training… and when we do it in person, we make it fun! We can run it two ways:

• A 90-minute to 2-hour session for one specific position: Den Leader, Cubmaster/Assistant Cubmaster, or Pack Committee.
• A 4-hour session that covers all the positions.

Either way, you will…

• Learn about your role in delivering a fun and successful Cub Scouting program
• Find out what resources are available to help you
• Pick up new skills, program ideas, games, activities, and more
• Meet other leaders and share ideas

This training covers the same requirements as the online courses, but many leaders find the live version more rewarding and more enjoyable. This course also gives you a chance to meet other leaders and share ideas and experiences. Once you’ve completed Youth Protection training (online) and this course, you can proudly wear the “Trained” patch on your uniform.

This Year’s Courses

We’ll be running position-specific courses several times throughout the day at each of our Cub Leader Kickoff events… don’t miss it! More details are below.

• Saturday, September 16, 2017, in Hanover (register online)
• Saturday, October 14, 2017, in Easton (register online)

More courses will be added over time. Check with your district training chair for more information or to arrange a course near you. To run this course, we need a free meeting space, a pack willing to “host,” and a commitment from at least five leaders to attend.

What to Bring

When you attend a live Cub leader-specific training course, you should…

• Wear your Scout uniform — or the closest thing you have to a uniform (for example, a pack t-shirt)
• Bring a handbook for your level of Cub Scouting, if you have one

Fall 2017 Kickoff Events

Cub Scout Leaders – join us for a great kickoff to the year! Activities will run throughout the day and you can come and go as you please. Here’s what’s on tap:

Activities

• In-person position-specific training (Den Leader, Cubmaster/Assistant, Pack Committee).
• Workshops on crafts, skits and songs, ceremonies, working with youth with disabilities, and more.
• Youth protection training and help with online recordkeeping.
• Leader guides for sale, registration materials, and other resources to save you a trip to the council office or the Scout store.
• Outdoor cooking demos and a delicious lunch!
• Vendors and exhibits.
• Fun activities for your Cub-age youth (so you’re welcome to bring your own kids… we’ll take care of keeping them busy!)
• A chance to meet fellow leaders and get resources to start the new year off strong!

This event is a great chance to meet fellow leaders, share ideas, and get ready for a fun and successful year of Cub Scouting!

Locations, Times, and Additional Details

Lunch on both days will be available between 11:30 and 1:30 for $5.00. Meal tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. We would greatly appreciate pre-registration so we have a good head count for food and training materials.

Course flyer — please share!

For more information, contact Chris Lamie.

Handouts and Links

Handouts will be posted after the course.

To celebrate our new name, the Mayflower Council is launching a competition, open to all scouts and scouters, to choose a new Council Shoulder Patch (CSP) design. Submissions for the new design will be accepted, from Sept. 9 – October 15.