Pack 1070's Leader FAQ
1.)
What
deadlines do we have to meet for earning awards?
Answer: Unless otherwise noted, you have the school year to accomplish your goals. Many scouts earn their rank badge at the Blue and Gold Banquet in February or later in the school year. Badges will not be awarded after Crossover in May.
2.)
What is the first award a NEW scout needs to earn?
Answer: Tigers earn their Tiger Totem and all others earn the Bobcat badge. These are simple awards to earn, and the information is in your rank books (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos) on how to earn these awards.
3.)
What
should we do in a den meeting?
Answer: As a den leader, you have many options on how to plan den meetings. You can work on achievements or electives in your rank book. Perhaps work on belt loop requirements from the Academic and Sports Program book. Field trips are always a great option: the Corn Maize, a museum, fire/police stations, a radio station, a newspaper, the Science Place, a park, and so on. Many requirements for badges include the need for field trips. Many activities include arts/crafts, sports, history, academics, citizenship, building, and so on. Most importantly make sure the meeting is FUN!
4.)
What
resources do I have access to for help?
a.
Program Helps book 2008-09; help with themes and activities for meetings
b.
The Cub Leader Handbook
c.
The Cub Scout How To Book: ideas on crafts, skits, activities
d.
Gray Owl District Training Opportunities (see flyer)
e.
Roundtable Meetings (see schedule)
f.
Your assigned “buddy”
g.
www.circle10.org or www.grayowl.org
h.
Your pack monthly leadership meetings
i.
Rank Advancement (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos) Book
5.)
How
do we pay for supplies and other den needs?
Answer: Den dues. It is up to the leader how to handle this; however, you can collect a couple dollars a week per scout or to make it easier you can collect approximately $20.00 per scout upfront and see how far it gets. I recommend keeping receipts to show the parents where the money is going. If needed, you can have a parent help with keeping the funds and purchasing supplies as needed.
6.)
How
involved are the parents supposed to be?
Answer: Very! Cub Scouting is a family involved program. Tigers must always have an adult partner present. An adult partner can be mom, dad, aunt, uncle, grand parent, older sibling, or anyone over the age of 18 that the parents entrust to act as the child’s adult partner. If a parent can’t make a meeting, they may send their child with one of the other listed adult partner options that they prefer. At the Wolf, Bear, and Webelos level parents are still very active with their boys and are encouraged to be present at all meetings and events.
7.)
Is
there anything that our den needs to prepare for a pack meeting?
Answer: Yes! Each den needs to create a den flag that will be on display at each pack meeting and to be displayed in their den meetings. Dens will be asked to perform the opening flag ceremony and a skit/song at a pack meeting on a revolving basis. The September pack meeting assignment has already been given to the Webelos II dens. Each month an assignment will be made in enough time to allow that den to prepare. The older boys will probably go first so the younger boys can watch and learn.
8.)
How
often should we schedule den meetings?
Answer: This varies by rank. Tigers are recommended to meet at least twice a month, but they can meet more often if they like. Tigers will tend to have at least one field trip – GoSeeIT - a month, and that can act as the den meeting. Wolves through Webelos should meet at least once a week. Many dens may decide not to meet the weeks there are pack meetings or other large pack events going on. That is up to the den.
9.)
What
is a pack meeting?
Answer: A pack meeting is where all the dens from a pack get together on a once a month basis. This meeting usually has a theme and is a great deal of fun. Each den gets to present their boys on stage before the pack and talk about what that den is doing and to handout any awards the boys have earned. Most awards are given out at pack meetings. One exception is the Tiger Beads. The September pack meeting’s theme is Aviation “Soaring to New Heights”.
10.)
What
does a den leader do?
Answer: The den leader coordinates everything going on with the den. He/She prepares the den meetings, takes care of supplies, arranges field trips, designs the meeting schedule, tracks the progress of the scouts towards badges/awards, keeps the pack leadership informed of what is going on in the den, and so on. The den leader may have help with these items from the parents and asst. den leader(s). There should always be at least 1 other adult at each meeting.
11.)
What does an asst. den leader(s) do?
Answer: Helps the den leader. The assistant may have to conduct a den meeting occasionally in the absence of the den leader, help contact other parents, make arrangements for den meetings, and assist with the scouts during the meeting.
12.)
What does the den leader do in the event of a problem?
Answer: If the problem is something other than what can be handled at the den level, then the den leader should contact the cub master and asst. cub master.
13.)
Do
the den leader and asst. den leader have to have any specific training to
conduct meetings at South Garland Baptist Church?
Answer: Yes. All leadership needs to have BSA Youth Basic Training and
SGBC Child Safety Class. All
leaders and assistant leaders who meet at SGBC should attend one of these
training sessions since the church policy requires at least 2 trained adults be
with the children at all times. They
will need to make a copy of your driver’s license, so please make sure you
have it with you.