Cub Scout question...

[Mom2Ben02]

Do Den leaders normally give the boys in their den gifts for the holidays?

 

[Earstou]

My ds never got gifts. They would sometimes do a Christmas craft, but no gifts here.

 

[seasheller]

No! Their expenses usually add up just being a leader. I was a leader and no gifts were exchanged either way.

 

[jpmom97]

My son's leader used put the kids names on glass christmas ornaments every year as gifts.. The pack would buy the kids the Pinewood Derby kits.

 

[Echo queen]

I would give the scouts a good behavior pizza party with candy gift bag that fell just before Christmas.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I usually gave mine some cookies or something else little. One year I gave them the scout promise keychains that are $2 at the scout shop. No one else did, but they were "my guys". (Well they are 13 now and still all "my guys"

I do make my Brownies a scout-related ornament each year. Again, though, I don't know of anyone else who does anything.

 

[dawson5]

my oldest son's troop would exchange names but that was it. The younger two are in the same troop and they don't do anything like that. (Yes they are in different troops.)

 

[pklein09]

DH has bought small tools at Home Depot for his boys. The only one I remember is a small screw driver with different bits that screw into the bottom of the handle. I think they were around $3 a piece. That being said, there were only 5 boys in the den (now down to 3....).

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Our old one would wrap up the kids' pinewood derby car kits and have Santa hand them out after they caroled at a nursing home along with a little goody bag of candy.

 

[darrengs]

You are volunteering, they should give you a card at the very least.

 

[JamesMom]

I hope not! I'm an assistant leader for my DS6 Tiger Cubs. We spend enough on the boys as it is, lol. Maybe a Christmas party though we already had a Halloween one.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Our boys also get their Pinewood Derby Car kits given to them by Santa. The pack pays for it. Our younger son's leader gives each boy a gift but our older son's leader never did. I do not feel it's necessary.

Now, turning the tables, do you give your son's leader a gift?

 

[disneyfor3]

We don't do anything at the den level but our whole pack gets together at the pack meeting and does a gift exchange for $5 or less. You bring a wrapped gift and sit in a large circle (ours is about 40 kids) and then the pack leader reads a story and everytime he says left or right you hand the gift that way. At the end you get what's in your lap.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Our pack has a christmas party. Last year we did bowling and pizza. The pack gives the boys their pinewood derby cars at the party. The leaders don't buy gifts for the boys.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

We don't do anything at the den level but our whole pack gets together at the pack meeting and does a gift exchange for $5 or less. You bring a wrapped gift and sit in a large circle (ours is about 40 kids) and then the pack leader reads a story and everytime he says left or right you hand the gift that way. At the end you get what's in your lap.

This is exactly what we do. The boys love it. Afterward they let them trade their gifts with each other to get a "better" one (but no trades back!) and I think the boys like the trading even better. Every single one of them trades their gift even if they originally had something awesome. They're so funny.

 

[delilah]

My son's leader used put the kids names on glass christmas ornaments every year as gifts.. The pack would buy the kids the Pinewood Derby kits.

My husband has been den leader and now, assistant scoutmaster for years. We usually have given them the pinewood derby kits. However, this is actually not a personal expense, but paid for from dues and fundraisers. We give various refreshments as "gifts" throughout the school year, however.

 

[minniebeth]

YES. They give the boys the gift of their time and talents. That is more valuable than any tangible gift. It is more than enough.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Our boys also get their Pinewood Derby Car kits given to them by Santa. The pack pays for it. Our younger son's leader gives each boy a gift but our older son's leader never did. I do not feel it's necessary.

Now, turning the tables, do you give your son's leader a gift?

I usually bake something for the leaders.

 

[3boymthr]

The first year I didn't but my co-leader did - and for easter too . DH thought it made me look bad so last year and this year I am/did. But just hand warmers and a card (we're doing Klondike Derby in January this year so this is a useful item for them). She has lots of money to throw around so does more than that.

I also have received gifts. One of the boys got me Yankee Candles last year. It was very nice of him but totally not expected.

 

[Matt'sMom]

Wow... I had no idea our scouting program was so 'different'. When DH and I had a cub den, we always both held a holiday party for the boys and gave them each a small, inexpensive gift. For the party, all parents brought covered dishes, snacks or deserts of some kind. The den co-leaders provided beverages and took care of the games. The scouts also had a $5 to $10 gift exchange, in addition to the gifts from the leaders.

My son is now older and in boy scouts. At that level we still have a party & covered dish at holiday time, they hold a gift exchange amongst the scouts, and their scout leader always has had a gift for each boy.

No one here does this because we feel obligated to give gifts at the holidays. Nor do we give with any expectation of receiving something in return (although some parents did occasionally give gifts of cookies & such to the leaders). We do it because we enjoy it.

I would say to go ahead and give holiday gifts (or a party) for your den if you want to... but don't feel like it is something you must do because it is somehow expected of you.