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[ksjayhawks]

I would contact the parents of your son's friend. They would have the number of their den leader. You could also ask them questions about their son's den, pack, etc. Call the den leader and ask the same questions. Have your son visit one of their den meetings. If you call the council office, they will just give you numbers to call and may not know a lot more about the packs in your area than you do, so why not start closer to home.

The pack meeting is once a month. Yes, a larger group makes the pinewood derby longer, no way around that. But that is once a year, not a regular occurrence, so you can plan for that.

In order to start a den, you must be registered with the boy scouts, complete a background check, go through leader training and youth protection, and of course, be affiliated with a pack. It is a commitment and with two little ones, may be more than you can handle without having a good assistant. I am not telling you not to do it, but there are leader meetings once a month, roundtable once a month, den meetings, plus the planning and preparation for den meetings and pack meetings. I would try to find another den for him and volunteer to help out however you can. If you want to be a den leader, go for it, but realize all that is involved.

There must be two deep leadership in a den meeting. I always had a parent stay at a meeting--if you provided treats, it was your time to stay. That worked real good and everyone took turns. When the boys got to Webelos, I had a parent there every time--and sometimes more than one depending on what we were doing--to help with badge work. I also had an assistant leader. If my assistant or I could not be at the meeting, we asked another parent to come help.

Good luck in your decision. Hope you contact your son's friend's parents and find out more. Let us know what happens.

 

[mumoftwo]

This has been a very interesting thread for a cub leader from another country. I live in Ireland and have been a leader for three years and there is some major differences. The Den is the building that our group ownes and we hold our meetings. We hold pack meetings once a week during the school term with some extra activities at the week ends. All are leaders have similar vetting as you and we work to a 2 to 1 rule, two adults with one child or two children with one adult. Meetings are never held in a leaders home. We have smaller groups in the pack for doing activities which we call sixes ( usually have six in a group). Most of our leaders are parents but not all as we have some young adults as leaders in our scout troop. We also call our whole thing a group or unit and it is made up of Beavers 6 -8 Cubs 8- 11 Scouts11 - 15 1/2 and Venturers 151/2 to 18

 

[Pembo]

.

 

[Pam]

Pam: No one has ever mentioned all those details about our trip to the pool!

Pembo,
The trip permit is for insurance and liability purposes. Call Council as that is a mandatory thing with the BSA.

Youth Protection is something that just became required in the last 203 years.

Don't get overwhelmed - you'll find the right Den for your son and you, too!

Sounds like the Leader didn't like being called out on the carpet by your DH and was trying to justify his and the cub scouts actions. I would definitely find another Den -- the situation will not improve.

 

[KellyLynn]

And don't be suprised if they do not issue a trip permit to take the boys swimming, If I remember correctly swimming is a no no until they are much older.

Our council runs their own swimming program when it is time for the boys to work on those skills.


There are lots of thing that council does not approve for younger scouts, as the risk factor is to high for littler guys.


Think long and hard before you plan a swimming trip especially if you or your husband will be "in charge" of the group in that setting.

 

[Pembo]

***MAJOR UPDATE***

I just got off the phone with a Den Leader from another pack. My ds's friend from school is in this one. She is awesome! They have a meeting tonight and she invited us. They go to the nursing home once a month. I could go on and on. They are just so organized and Scout oriented and 2-Deep Leadership. The Den Leader said that she would rather see a boy switch dens/packs than to leave BSA for good. I think this is all going to work out very well.

We are going tonight to check everything out but I have very high hopes.

Thank you all for your support, advice and encouragement. I've always been able to count on my DIS friends when I need them.