Leader Guide. Seneca Waterways Council D E N

Transcription

1 Leader Guide Seneca Waterways Council D E N

2 WELCOME NEW DEN LEADERS! Thank you for agreeing to become a Scout leader and role model for the youth in your Den. Scouting is fi rst and foremost a volunteer organization. Scouting operates through people like you who are concerned about providing their sons and other boys with a quality scouting experience. As a leader, you will not only serve Scouting, but you will have a chance to have some amazing experiences with your son and his friends. Please use the following Den Leader s Guide as a helpful tool as you transition into your new volunteer role. YOUR ROLE AS A DEN LEADER You were selected as a Den Leader and approved by the Pack Committee because of your interest in helping boys. By making the commitment to serve as a Den Leader, you have accepted the following responsibilities. Give leadership to carrying out the Den program Lead the Den in its participation at the monthly Pack meetings Cooperate with the Cubmaster and Pack Committee in recruiting new boys and adult volunteers Use Scouting and Boys Life magazines, the Den & Pack Meeting Resource Guide, and other Cub Scouting resources as sources of program ideas Encourage boys to earn the advancement awards. Keep accurate records, and see that they receive recognition for their achievement Establish good working relationships with Den families, and get them involved in the operations of your Den DID YOU KNOW? Take part in the Annual Pack Planning Conference and the Monthly Leaders Meetings For Every 100 Boys who Join Scouting: WHAT DO YOU INVEST IN CUB SCOUTING? Lead weekly Den meetings Lead your Den in monthly Pack meetings Participate in monthly Pack planning meetings Attend Cub Scout Leader Basic Training at least one time per year This adds up to a small investment, compared to the dividends you will receive. And of course, the more you invest, the more you can expect to receive in return. WHAT DO YOU RECEIVE IN RETURN? The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of boys as they grow strong in mind and body Privilege of helping to strengthen families Opportunity to be a positive role model to youth and adults The fun and fellowship Scouting provides All leaders bring to Cub Scouting their own talents and skills, their own backgrounds and interests. The key to becoming an effective leader is to use your own abilities and interests, along with what you learn about Cub Scouting to plan and conduct the best possible program for the boys. What happens in the life of each boy during the formative years will determine to a great extent the kind of man he will become. What a tremendous opportunity and challenge for you, the Den Leader! 18 will develop hobbies that will last throughout their adult life 8 will enter a career that was learned through activity badges 2 will become Eagle Scouts 1 will use his Scout skills to save a life 1 will use his Scout skills to save his own life Scouting Alumni Include: Over 90 million Scouts since % of the fi rst 26 astronauts 72% of Rhodes Scholars 89% of Senior Class Presidents 85% of FBI agents 2

3 I SIGNED UP. WHAT S NEXT? Now that you are registered as a Cub Scout Den Leader, you will receive Scouting magazine, which includes information to assist you as a leader. Ask your Cubmaster to furnish you a copy of the current Den & Pack Meeting Resource Guide to use (additional program materials are available at the Scout Shop or online at These steps will help get you started: 1. Complete Youth Protection and Fast Start training for Cub Scout Den Leaders. You can complete the training online at or by attending a training near you (training dates can be found on the council website at or by calling the Council Service Center at Begin reading the Cub Scout Leader Book. This book describes your role as a Den Leader and will give more information on the next steps (available for purchase at the Scout Service Center or online at 3. Get acquainted with your Cubmaster and Pack Trainer. These leaders will see that you have the information and material you need to get started off on the right foot. 4. Get acquainted with the families of the boys in your Den. Hold a Family Orientation meeting. The Cub Scout Leader Book has a recommended agenda. You will need the families help, so get to know them early. 5. Get acquainted with the boys in your Den. Establish a Den code of conduct at your fi rst Den meeting so that they know what you expect of them. 6. Ask your Cubmaster to help you secure a Den Chief (A Boy Scout who assists you in runing meetings and is a role model for your Cub Scouts). Give your Den Chief meaningful responsibilities. 7. Obtain and begin wearing the Cub Scout leader uniform before the fi rst Pack meeting. Wearing the uniform properly is important in setting a good example for the boys. (Uniforms are available at the Scout Service Center or online at 8. Attend the monthly planning meetings held by your Pack. These meetings are led by the Pack Committee Chair and the Cubmaster, and are where Pack plans are made. (See page #4 for a list of the locations and times). 9. Attend the monthly District Cub Scout Roundtable. You will receive many good program ideas and become acquainted with leaders from other Packs. 10. Attend Cub Scout Leader Basic Training as soon as possible. These training sessions can be taken online at or at in-person trainings scheduled in your area. (Ask your Cubmaster, call the Council Service Center at or visit the Council website at membershipresources for a list of local dates and locations). 3

4 YOU ARE NOT ALONE There are many resources available to you to help you get started and ensure you have a successful and fulfi lling experience, including: STAFF SUPPORT Our professional and support staff at the Council Service Center can assist when needed and get you in touch with other resources. In addition, each community is served by a full-time professional employee called a District Executive. For more information, contact the Scout office at Phone #: (585) website: Facebook: facebook.com/senecawaterwayscouncilbsa DEN LEADER S GUIDE A book that contains Den and Pack meeting plans and tools necessary to help Scouts along the Cub Scout advancement trail. Available at the Strong Scout Shop. PACK LEADERSHIP Most Packs have been in existence for many years and have existing leadership which will provide direct assistance and support to your Den program. Many Packs even have a library of resource books to aid leaders in putting on quality Den and Pack programs. DISTRICT STAFF A group of Units in a geographical area are organized into a District which is staffed by an experienced volunteer corps to provide on-going support to Packs and Dens. Your District has a team of volunteers called the District Committee which develops quality District-wide programs for your Scouts to participate in. Your District also has another volunteer team called the Commissioner Staff that is responsible for Unit Service. Commissioners check on the health of your Pack and are a communications link between your Pack and the Scouting organization. A Commissioner is assigned to assist your Unit. If your Commissioner has not reached out to you already, DISTRICT ROUNDTABLE LOCATIONS contact the Scout Service Center for his/her contact information. DISTRICT WHERE WHEN ROUNDTABLE Bay Waters Webster Thomas High School 800 Five Mile Line Road - Webster, NY 1st Thursday 7:00 pm Roundtable is a monthly leaders meeting for all adult volunteers in your District. You can get help with crafts, games, skits, and songs for use at Den and Pack meetings. It s also a great place to ask questions and share ideas. (See District Roundtable locations listed to the right). Black Creek Genesee Crossroads Lighthouse Mohawk Council Service Center 2320 Brighton-Henrietta TL Road Rochester, NY Council Service Center 2320 Brighton-Henrietta TL Road Rochester, NY Hilton High School 400 East Ave. - Hilton, NY Waterloo High School 96 Stark St. - Waterloo, NY 2nd Wednesday 7:00 pm 1st Thursday 7:00 pm 1st Wednesday 7:15 pm 1st Wednesday 7:30 pm Seneca Red Jack Elementary School 1506 Route #21 - Shortsville, NY 1st Wednesday 7:30 pm Towpath LDS Church Kreag Rd 460 Kreag Road - Pittsford, NY 1st Thursday 7:00 pm 4

5 THE ANNUAL PACK PROGRAM Most Packs conduct a well planned and organized Annual Program. You will receive a specifi c calendar of events for your Pack, which may include several of the following: Pinewood Derby Boys build cars with the assistance of their parents and race them against their friends. Awards may be given for fastest, best design, and much more. Popcorn Sale Sell Popcorn to earn money to help pay for your Pack s activities and events. The sale also teaches your son the importance of being thrifty and about earning his own way. More than 70% of the proceeds of the sale is returned to our local Scouting program. Blue & Gold Banquet Celebrate the anniversary of Scouting in February with your Pack with dinner, entertainment, and special ceremonies. Scouting For Food and Clothing Participate in a national service project to collect canned food and gently used clothing that is then distributed to the needy in your community. Summer Camp Opportunities are plentiful for your son to participate in high quality camping experiences from 1-5 days at local Day Camps, Camp Babcock-Hovey or Cub Adventure Camp at Camp Cutler each summer. Field Trips and Activities Your Pack will participate in local field trips and in District and Council activities like Scout Days with the Red Wings and Amerks, Cubs in Camp, Scout Days at Seabreeze or Darien Lake, and others. TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES All leaders must complete Youth Protection Training and Position Specifi c Training. Training programs are provided on a regular basis throught the Scouting year. Contact the Council offi ce or visit the Council website at for a list of dates and locations. Training can also be completed online by going to (Note: you must create a user account to take a course and receive the certification). YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating a safe and secure environment for our youth members. This training covers the BSA s Youth Protection polices, kinds of abuse, how to respond to disclosure of abuse, and proper reporting procedures. This training is available online and in each District throughout the year. All New Leaders must complete this training BEFORE they can be registered and currently Registered Leaders must renew the training every two years. CUB SCOUT LEADER SPECIFIC TRAINING These trainings are designed to present in-depth information for New Leaders in a specifi c leadership position. Training includes fi ve different courses related to specifi c Cub Scout positions Cubmasters and Assistants, Pack Committee Chairs and members, Tiger Cub Den Leaders, Cub Scout Den Leaders and Assistants, and Webelos Den Leaders and Assistants. 5

6 HOW SCOUTING IS FINANCED When you register your son for the Scouting program there is a $25 National Registration and insurance fee. This fee allows your son to be part of the Scouting program and goes straight to our National Offi ce to help provide many of the services that our leaders receive (training courses, Scouting Magazine, and insurance, etc.) None of this money stays in the local Council. Providing a Scouting program within the local Council takes an annual budget of approximately $4.1 million, which must be raised each year from the generous support of friends, families, corporations and foundations. The funds needed to support Scouting programs in the Council comes from a variety of areas including: Friends of Scouting Campaign (FOS): Each year our Council conducts a campaign to solicit contributions from families, local businesses, and members of the community. It offers families the opportunity to help invest in the future of our Scouting youth. United Way: The Scouting program is not a government agency; hence we receive no tax dollar support. United Way support accounts for approximately 9% of our annual budget. Popcorn Sale: Units in the Council participate in the annual Popcorn sale. More than 70% of the proceeds of this sale is returned to local Scouting. The annual sale occurs during September and October with Popcorn delivered in November. Special Events: Each year, the Council conducts a number of special event fundraisers to help raise money to support our Scouting program. Events include: 21 Stories for Scouts, the Youth Power Dinner, Lobster Fest, and Clay Shoot Tournaments. PACK BUDGET The Pack prepares an annual budget to fund their ideal year of Scouting which includes for most Packs: Den and Pack activities, awards and advancements, recognition, summer camp, and Cub Parent Weekends. Packs fund the annual budget in a variety of ways but most raise the majority of these funds by selling Popcorn. COMPARATIVE COSTS OF SCOUTING Beyond the $30 registration fee, $30 uniform, $12 Pack dues (varies by Pack) and a $12 book, the cost of Scouting comes to $84 per year or $7/month for a 12-month program. Since most Scouts wear their uniform for more than 1 year, the cost can be as low as $49/year or less than $5/month. Compared to the cost of uniforms, lessons and fees for seasonal youth activities such as hockey, football, little league, basketball, and soccer, the costs of Scouting is a value that is hard to beat. In addition, the family values, citizenship and leadership skills that Scouting instills in youth, make it (dollar for dollar) an exceptional investment. CUB SCOUT CAMPING For more details, pricing and registration information on any camp program, visit the camping section at or call the Council Camping Department at (585) DAY CAMP The Council offers several day camp opportunities throughout the year for Cub Scouts of all ages. These camping experiences are weeklong programs (most run 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) held in local parks, recreation centers, and other fun locations throughout the Council. The Day Camps feature a wide range of activities from crafts and fi shing to nature study and archery. The Council even offers a weeklong Twilight Camp (5:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) each June immediately following the end of the school year. CUB SCOUT ADVENTURE CAMP AT CUTLER The adventure takes place at the J. Warren Cutler Scout Reservation located near Naples, NY in the beautiful Bristol Hills. Cub Scouts live in one of fi ve exciting theme villages for three days and two nights. While there they participate in camp wide activities such as boating and fi shing, swimming, nature, archery, and shooting sports as well as program specifi c to their village theme. Cub Scouts entering the 4th and 5th grades have the opportunity to attend a specially designed Webelos Week with ageappropriate activities just for them. 6 CAMP BABCOCK-HOVEY Cub Adventure Weekend - This is a two day and one night introduction to Cub Scout camping and Camp Babcock- Hovey. Activities include archery, swimming, fi shing, and much more. Cub Scout Resident Camp - Enjoy three days and two nights of Cub Scout outdoor adventure at Camp Babcock- Hovey. Have fun with action and stationary archery, fi shing, boating, swimming, cooking on a campfi re, shooting BB Guns, earn achievements and explore the great outdoors.

7 PARTS OF A DEN MEETING All Cub Scout den meetings have the following parts: Preparation and Materials Needed. Before the Cub Scouts arrive, leaders gather to make preparations and handle last-minute details. Gathering. As the Cub Scouts begin to arrive, they join in an informal activity or game, often conducted by the den chief to keep the boys interested and active until the entire group has arrived. Opening. The Opening is the offi cial start of the den meeting. It usually consists of a formal ceremony, such as a fl ag ceremony, a prayer or song, or a group recital of the Cub Scout Promise. Talk Time. This is where the business items of the den take place. Business items can include dues, recording advancement, notifi cation of upcoming events, introducing a new adventure, and other items. Talk Time should be brief so the den can get right to the fun of the meeting. Activities. The Activities part of the meeting will vary by the age of the boys (see below), and may be broken into two or more parts. Generally, most of the meeting consists of craft projects, games, and activities that are all based on the current adventure. Closing. The Closing draws the meeting to an end. It s usually serious and quiet. Den leaders could present a thought for the day or give reminders about coming events. After the Meeting. The leaders review the events of the meeting, fi nalize plans for the next den meeting, and review their progress toward the upcoming pack meeting. It is very important for you to obtain a copy of the appropriate Den Leader Guide to help you prepare for Den Meetings (guides are available for purchase at the Strong Scout Shop at the Scout Service Center). This guide will provide you with step by step details on how to prepare for and run every component of your meetings. THE ADVENTURE OF CUB SCOUTING Cub Scouts advance to their rank by completing a series of seven FUN and age-appropriate adventures. Adventures will teach the Cub Scouts new skills and values including fi rst aid, nutrition, service to others, team building, etc. In Cub Scout terms, an adventure is a collection of themed, multidisciplinary activities representing enough engaging content for three den meetings and one pack meeting about a month s worth of programming. The word adventure emphasizes that Cub Scout activities should be fun and should take boys places they ve never been. The adventures focus on learning by doing instead of learning by listening. Requirements are full of words like build, play, go, find, demonstrate and discover, not words like discuss, learn and share. The Tiger, Wolf and Bear books contain 19 adventures each, while the Webelos Handbook (which covers two years) contains 27. That means there will be plenty of material for year-round fun, even in the Arrow of Light year. Please use following link to learn more about being a Cub Scout volunteer: CubScouts/Leaders/DenLeaderResources.aspx. WHO TO CONTACT Pack Committee Chair Phone Cubmaster Phone Den Leader Phone Assist. Den Leader Phone Unit Commissioner Phone 7

8 Seneca Waterways Council 2320 Brighton-Henrietta Town Line Road Rochester NY Ph: Fax: DEN LEADER GUIDE Revised 2016