Boy Scouts of America

Den Leader Resources

The Den Meeting is the most important part of Cub Scouting.  It is where Cub Scouts build friendships, work together to learn new things, and progress towards earning their common badge of rank.  Serving as a Den Leader is providing an opportunity to make a positive life long impact on your child and others in the den.

Conducting a Den Meeting

Den meetings are conducted at a date, time, and location that is best for families that are in the den.  How often and for how long a den meets is also up to each den.  The den should meet as frequently as necessary to ensure that, at minimum, each Cub Scout in the den has the opportunity to earn their badge of rank.

Preparing for a Den Meeting

Before you conduct a den meeting, complete the online training for Den Leader found at my.scouting.org. 

To prepare for a den meeting simply identify a Cub Scout Adventure that you want to complete.  Adventures are found in each of the grade-specific handbooks.  It is recommended that you focus on the required Adventures first.

If this is your first den meeting for the year with new and returning Cub Scouts, the Bobcat Adventure is designed to be done as your first required Adventure. 

Once you have chosen the Adventure to work on for your den meeting review the webpage for that Adventure.  You can get to it by scanning the QR code in the Cub Scout handbook or by following the links below.

Parts of a Den Meeting

There are three parts to a den meeting.  Before the meeting, during the meeting, and after the meeting

Before the Meeting

Identify which Cub Scout Adventure you want to work on.
Review the webpage for the Adventure which includes the Safety Moment, the Safety Moment highlights the key items you need to know to conduct the Adventure safely, the requirements for the Adventure, and recommended activities to complete each requirement.
Identify the activities you will do during your den meeting.  Gather the necessary supplies and complete the “Before the Meeting” action items.

During the Meeting

Opening – Conduct an opening ceremony that includes the pledge of allegiance, the Scout Oath, and Scout Law.
Activities – Complete the activities you chose to complete the requirements for the Adventure.
Recognition – If the requirements for an Adventure are completed, recognize each Cub Scout with the Adventure Loop or Pin as instant recognition.
Closing – Conduct a formal closing using the living circle, make any announcements or reminders, and the den leader may close with a reflection that focuses on a value of the Scout Oath or Scout Law.

After the Meeting

Review – The den leader, assistant den leader, and other adults who helped with the meeting review how the meeting went and take any notes for improvement for the next meeting.
Thank You – The den leader sends thank you notes to those adults who helped with the meeting.

Record – The den leader records the requirement that were completed at the meeting in Scoutbook.

Den Leader Resources

Click on the grade/rank below to access the den meeting resources and other resources available for that rank.
Kindergarten
Lion Resources
1st Grade
Tiger Resources
2nd Grade
Wolf Resources
3rd Grade
Bear Resources
4th Grade
Webelos Resources
5th Grade
Arrow of Light Resources

Additional Resources

Scout Life

Scout Life is one of the top youth magazines in the country, and its website is packed with fun and resources for youth, leaders and parents.

Scout Life is only $15 a year for Scouts, an amazing value with great benefits.

Suscribe to Scout Life
Scouting Magazine App

The digital magazine Scouting is provided free to all registered adult leaders, parents and any other interested adults. It contains articles not only about Scouting but also about youth development and parenting.

Download on the App Store or Google Play.

Scouting magazine’s website is chock full of information and resources for leaders and parents.

Cub Chat Live! by Scouting magazine

Cub Chat Live is a Facebook Live event that happens every Friday at 2 p.m. Central.  Hosted by Scouting magazine this weekly show features the National Director of Cub Scouting and/or the National Chair of Cub Scouting addressing Cub Scout program questions.

All episodes are recorded and can be watched on the Scouting magazine Facebook page. Cub Chat Live!

Den Leader Tips and Tricks Videos

Tips and tricks videos for Den Leaders, locally created content to help inspire, including resources in Spanish, and hack videos for ScoutBook’s Den Leader Experience. A growing number of videos to help support Den Leaders. 

Den Leader Tips and Tricks Videos

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.