I'm a new Tiger Den leader

[KiminChicago]

In a moment of weakness, I agreed to be a den leader. It's been just a little over a week but I'm still wondering what kind of a cliff I just threw myself off. I have eight boys in my den and since I work full-time, we're planning on holding den meetings and outings in the evenings or on weekends. The other den leaders told me that I would be very popular since that's what a lot of the parents are looking for.

Does anyone else here have experience with being a den leader -- I can use all the help I can get! Oh, and does anyone have a pattern for the red "brag vests"? I can't see paying $9.00 for the ones in the Scouting store when I can get 72" wide fabric for $4.99 a yard. I'd like to get all the pieces cut out for the vests asap, since with Halloween coming up, the fabric store has the felt on sale......

 

[MerryPoppins]

You'll have fun! Tiger Cubs are the only year we didn't do with our son. He's 16 now and working on his Eagle. We really have enjoyed being den and now patrol parents.

My advice is to see if your council has a Pow Wow. Ours helped us more than I can say. They have classes you can sign up for that teach you what to do and give you loads of ideas. Ours even gives you a huge notebook of ideas to take home.

My son used to have a red felt vest. I could look for it if no one else has one handy, but I fear that I threw it away. We recently removed his patches to put them all in a shadow box and I'm not sure that I kept it. You could buy one and use it as the pattern as a last resort.

 

[tkd lisa]

Welcome to the crowd! I ran my son's den as a bear and Webelo 1. I'm the pack committee chairman now.

Your pack should provide you the BSA program book for the year. It's got lots of great ideas. We have a couple of leaders who just do exactly what's in the book and their program works great. All our activites are nights and weekends as well. It's tiring, but well worth it. And remember, it's just an hour a week (lol!!)

I don't have a pattern for the vest, but I know they exist because one of our previous members was making them.

Enjoy!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Just wishing you good luck, Kim!!!!! I recall my Cub days from many, many years ago, fun days they were. Have fun.

Dan

 

[Pam]

You'll do great!! My son is 15 and jusst received his Eagle Scout badge in June. I was one of the Tiger Den Coaches and was also the Den Mom for Bobcat through Webelos II. My husband and I are now Merit Badge Counselors for the Boy Scouts.

I believe that the Tiger Cubs just meet once a month - plus attend the monthly Pack meeting. I second the thought about getting the Tiger book. And having the meeting in the evenings/weekends is a great one - get the parents involved early on and you'll have a successful program!

 

[TEENEE]

Tigers are fun. Just follow the book. In my opinion it is the easiest den to lead. I was my sons den leader all the way through cub scouts. I recommend handing their paw prints out at the pack meetings. Your boys will enjoy the pack meetings more if they have something to look forward to. Make your parents be involved, don't try to do it all yourself, you will get burned out. At your very first den meeting tell your parents BSA does not stand for babysitters of America. I only had one parent that objected to my comment and never brought her son back. Keep in mind that the boys have sat in school all day and are ready to run. They may need a few minutes to blow off some steam before they can settle down and listen. Most of all, have fun. If you are having fun your boys will too.

 

[fklhou]

Congratulations and welcome to the crowd. I was the Bear and Webloes den leader for my son's den as well as Assistant Packmaster for the pack. It was a great deal of fun. There should be training available in your area that can help. In our council, there is an event at the end of October called POW WOW that has great trainiing for scout leaders. In February, we have a traiing event called University of Scouting. At both of these training events you can attend sessions and learn a great deal about the program.

In addition, you might check to see when your district has Roundtable whiclh is a monthly meeting of scout leaders. There is usually some training at these sessions and this is a great time to learn

My son is an Eagle Scout with five palms. He is now in the process of doing his college applications and I have heard that Eargle Scout is very helpful at most colleges. Scouting is a great program.

Finally, remember this is only one hour a week of time (one of the greatest lies in all of history) but you will get a great deal out of the program.

 

[Boo'sMom]

Welcome to the ranks!!!!

I was a den leader for my oldest son, from Tiger through Webelos, he's currently a second class...just waiting for the court of honor for his first class badge.

Last year, I started all over again with my youngest son, as the Tiger leader, and this year we're doing the Wolf program together. Monthly Roundtables are a great source of information, as is a PowWow (we call it miniversity or university of scouting), and there is a wealth of information available online. Training is the key to successful leadership. Make sure you attend your district's training course in New Leader Essentials, and Tiger Cub Leader specific training.

Scouting is a ton of fun. Remember that as a Tiger Leader, you're just there to provide leadership and guidance. Each tiger adult partner should contribute to the den meetings by organizing one meeting. This should take a lot of pressure off of you.

I find that www.usscouts.org has a ton of information. Check out Baloo's Bugle for den meeting ideas, and feel free to drop me a PM if there is anything in particular I can help you with.

 

[kc5grw]

Good for you! Scouting is a great program, but only works with the help of the parents. Your district and council should have various training programs available for new leaders. Take advantage of these as they are a lot of fun and will help a lot.

My son is currently a Life scout working on his Eagle. I was pack committee chairman during his cub scout years. I am now an assistant scoutmaster in his troop and an associate chapter adviser in the OA chapter. I am also an Eagle scout.

Just remember, it is only 1 hour a week.

 

[padams]

I was DS' tiger den leader last year. I agree with the suggestions to get the program book as well as the Tiger Cub book. I also highly recommend that you have each family organize and lead one of the meetings. It gets everyone involved, and it means less work for you. I just passed the program book around to each family to select what they wanted to do. I went to all of the meetings to assist, and for continuity for the boys.

For each meeting, we usually did the flag ceremony (pledge of allegiance, cub scout oath, etc.), one achievement activity from the Tiger cub book, a game, and a snack. Popular games were "tiger, tiger, tail" (duck, duck, goose) and balloon volleyball. My motto was "the simpler, the better", and that held to be true. It doesn't really take much to keep first graders busy for an hour.

We didn't have the brag vests, just the orange tiger cub t-shirts.

Good luck!
Pamela

 

[KiminChicago]

Thanks for the kind words everyone! I know I've done the right thing, but it feels a little overwhelming. I've already read my son's handbook three times. As a matter of fact, I bought him another one since I had started jotting down notes in his original handbook.

PowWow for our district is November 8th, and I've already registered for that. We're having our first den meeting next week, right after I go to my first Pack Council meeting. Fortunately, I know the parents of several of the boys in my den already, so I don't feel bad asking for lots of help

 

[JetMom]

Hi Kim - Another Cub Parent checking in! My Dh and I have both been Den Leaders. He still is. I am now Asistant Cub Master. It is a great program and a lot of fun. I am sure you will love it. Follow the suggestions everyone has given you and you will do a great job. Remember, we are here if you need help!

 

[CajunDixie]

Another idea is to talk to other leaders and ask what they would have done differently if they could go back to being a Tiger leader. Everyone learns from their mistakes and it'll might make it easier for you to learn from theirs.

At your very first den meeting tell your parents BSA does not stand for babysitters of America.

Its required for Tigers to have an adult partner with them at all meetings so that shouldnt be a problem for her this year.

I believe that the Tiger Cubs just meet once a month - plus attend the monthly Pack meeting.

Tigers got a new revamped book that suggests 2 meetings a month plus the Pack meet.

A good website is MacScouter

I also highly recommend that you have each family organize and lead one of the meetings

I agree!!! We simply tell the parents they will each need to sign up for at least one meeting during the first den meeting. You can print out a list of the meetings and let them sign up for one. Or I can email you the Word Document I have for our Tigers to sign up for meetings. It includes required activities, a couple special Pack meetings(Blue&Gold, Christmas skit, and our fundrasier), and electives.

And dont feel like you have to pay for everything yourself. Every pack is different but our pack leaves it up to the leaders to decide on dues. Our den's dues were $.50 and I used these to purchase a few craft items. At the end of the one year we didnt have any expenses so we used the money in the dues container for a party at our last den meeting of the school year. Another leader doesn't collect dues but he does have his den doing a ink cartridge recycling program. The kids use the provided envelopes to send in used cartridges and then he uses the money they make to purchase the items they need to do their craft projects.

Its important to keep in touch with the scouts in the summer too so be sure to have an up-to-date phone list and to let them know of summer Pack activities. If you Pack doesnt do anything in the summer then try to have some sort of activity for your den. Our Pack participates in the Memorial Day Parade, town festival parade, day camp, resident camp, and family camping weekend.