ARROW OF LIGHT DEN LEADER

DEN LEADER INFORMATION

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT PACK 204

Cub Scout Pack 204 was founded in 2011, with the help of our Charter church, St. Paul’s Methodist Church. At the time, there were no other local Cub Scouts Packs. Since then, our Pack has grown to include up to 90 Scouts and 15 Leaders. Our program starts with the Lion’s program and continues through to the Arrow of Light program. Once the Arrow of Light program has been completed, the Scout can transition to the Troop level.

​

In 2016, we were honored to pilot the Lions program for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Organization before it was rolled out to all of Cub Scout Packs. In 2018, we were happy to continue our growth by making the Lions program an official part of the Cub Scout program. That same year, we opened our doors to welcome girls into our Pack.

WHAT IS A DEN

Cub Scout Dens are made up of other scouts of the same Cub Scout rank. Dens usually meet weekly or biweekly. The ranks are determined by the scouts age and/or grade.

​

Children like to belong to a group. The den is the place where scouts can learn new skills and develop interests in new things. They have fun in den meetings, during indoor and outdoor activities, and on field trips. As part of a small group of six to eight scouts, they can learn sportsmanship and good citizenship. They learn how to get along with others. They learn how to do their best, not just for themselves but also for the den.

WHAT ARE THE SCOUT RANKS

• Lions: The child must be at least 5 years old and/or is in kindergarten.

• Tigers: The child must be at least 7 years old and/or is in the first grade.

• Wolf: The child must be at least 8 years old and/or in second grade.

• Bear: The child must be at least 9 years old and/or is in the third grade.

• Webelos Level 1: The child must be at least 10 years old and/or is in the fourth grade.

• Webelos Level 2 also referred to as Arrow of Light: The child must be at least 11 years old and/or is in the fifth grade.

WHAT IS A PACK

Cub Scout Packs are made up of all the dens in the Cub Scout Council number. Packs usually meet monthly for recognition ceremonies.

WHAT IS A DEN LEADER

Cub Scout Den Leaders are adult volunteers that work directly with Cub Scouts and their parents/guardians to execute the Cub Scouting program in their den.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BE A DEN LEADER

A Den Leader must be at least 21 years old, and should be an experienced leader, but may be a parent or guardian of a scout in the den. Recommended by the Cubmaster after consultation with the parents and guardians of the Cub Scouts involved and approved by the pack committee and chartered organization. Registered as an adult leader of BSA.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DEN LEADER

In addition to the leader’s general responsibility to the scouts, the den leader has certain other leadership responsibilities that may be summarized as follows:

• Attend the monthly Pack Leader Meetings.

• Work directly with other den and pack leaders to ensure that their den is an active and successful part of the pack.

• Create a yearly calendar prior to the beginning of the season to provide to the Pack Committee.

• Attend and participate in the Pack Meetings or finding a replacement den member, as needed.

• Lead a skit during one monthly Pack Meeting.

• Plan, prepare for, and conduct two Den Meetings a month with the assistant den leader and den chief or adult partners.

• Complete required BSA training in a timely manner.

• Ensure the transition of their Cub Scouts to a den of the next rank (or to the Troop, if Arrow of Light) at the end of the year.

WHAT MATERIALS DO I REVIEW WITH MY DEN

To complete their rank, the scouts must complete all the Required Adventures and at least one Elective Adventures. Elective Adventures are extra activities that the scouts may do for fun and to earn additional badges. The BSA Requirement link will display the requirements from the BSA. The Lesson Sample link will provide a lesson sample, when available.

​

Advancement Tracker

​

Core Required Adventures​

1.   Building a Better World (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

2.   Duty to God (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

3.  Outdoor Adventurer (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

4.   Scouting Adventure (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

​​

Elective Adventures

1.   Adventures in Science (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

2.   Aquanaut (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

3.   Art Explosion (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

4.   Aware and Care (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

5.   Build It (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

6.   Build My Own Hero (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

7.   Castaway (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

8.   Earth Rocks! (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

9.   Engineer (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

10. Fix It (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

11. Game Design (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

12. Into the Wild (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

13. Into the Woods (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

14. Looking Back, Looking Forward (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

15. Maestro! (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

16. Moviemaking (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

17. Project Family (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

18. Sports (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

​​​

Additional Requirements​

1.   Cyber Chip - for their grade (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

2.   Bobcat Badge - if not previously earned) (BSA Requirements Lesson Sample)

3.   How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide (for the parents) (BSA Requirements)

IS THERE TRAINING TO BE A DEN LEADER

​

Training is provided and required to become a Den Leader for the BSA. These classes are provided online and can be taken at your convenience. There is no cost to the Den Leader for the training.

• The Youth Protection Training and Youth Protection Pledge Cards are required for all new registered leaders and must be retaken every two years to maintain registration.

• STEM Orientation is designed to help Den Leaders learn more about their Scouting role and about other leadership position in the program.

• Den Leader Position-Specific Training are instructor-led courses that are designed to help Den Leaders learn how to effectively carry out their Scouting roles.

• There is a Cub Scout Den Leader Guide for each rank that is designed to have everything a leader needs to help them plan and conduct den meetings. The activities found in the Cub Scout Den Leader Guide are designed to support the purposes of Cub Scouting and are chosen to help promote the overall aims of Scouting to develop a scout’s character, train him in good citizenship, and encourage them to become more fit—physically, mentally, and morally.

​

WHAT ITEMS WILL I NEED TO PURCHASE TO BE A DEN LEADER

The BSA has always been a uniformed body. The uniforms help to create a sense of belonging by symbolizing character development, citizenship training and personal fitness. Wearing a uniform also gives the Scout and Leaders a sense of identification and commitment. All items can be purchased from the Wilmington Scout Shop at 912 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 and the Dover Army-Navy Store at 222 W. Loockerman Street, Dover, DE 19904. All items are required unless notated.

​

• The official rank Handbook for your den. If one was purchased during a prior season, they do not need to need a new one.

• An official tan Cub Scout shirt depending. It can be long or short sleeved. Things to keep in mind, the short-sleeved shirt can be worn throughout the seasons; however, a long sleeve shirt should not be worn under the short sleeve shirt.

• The official Cub neckerchief and Slide for the den rank are optional. If one was purchased during a prior season, they do not need to need a new one.

• The official Cub Cap for the den rank is optional. If one was purchased during a prior season, they do not need to need a new one.

• The official Cub Scout buckle and belt. You can buy rank specific belts and buckles, but to keep costs low, we only require the Cub Scout emblem one. If one was purchased during a prior season, they do not need to need a new one.

• During Den meetings or offsite Den Activities (unless specified):

  • Men may wear pants or shorts that are jean or green. These items do not have to be purchased at the Scout store.

  • Women may wear pants, skorts or shorts that are jean or green. These items do not have to be purchased at the Scout store.

• During Pack Meetings (unless specified).

  • Men must wear the green pants or shorts. These items do not have to be purchased at the Scout store.

  • Women must wear green pants, skorts or shorts. These items do not have to be purchased at the Scout store.

• Socks can be white. These do not have to be purchased at the Scout store.

• Shoes must be closed toe, cover the ankle and appropriate for activities. No heals. These do not have to be purchased at the Scout store.

• Patches: World Crest emblem, Council shoulder insignia, unit numerals (204). We do not recommend using the glue on material for the patches, so that they can be easily changed, if needed.

• During Pack events such as parades or popcorn sales, Leaders must wear their full uniform since they are representing our Pack and the Cub Scouts program.

​

WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITIES WILL MY PACK PARTICIPATE IN

For the Pack Meetings, some activities may include a hayride, walking in a local parade, monthly Pack Meetings where they will receive their advancement loops, the Pinewood Derby, a Blue and Gold Banquet, food collections for a local food pantry, two camping trips and much more.

For the Den Meetings, they will work towards receiving their Bobcat badge (If not earned previously) and completing their requirements. This may include activities, outings, learning the Scout motto and oath. Their Den Leader will provide more in-depth information.