Hints &
Tips For Leaders
- Plan your meetings far enough ahead to allow time to
gather materials needed. Set goals that you want to
accomplish during the year. Outline your program for the
year and plan ahead to involve as many people as possible.
Plan each meeting ahead of time. You might find it valuable
to plan next weeks meeting after just completing a meeting.
- Always have a plan B, each group will be different and
activities that thrilled one den may bore another, and when
they get bored they get rowdy. If they are showing signs of
boredom drop the activity and go to plan B and you will
rarely have discipline problems.
- If you plan an outdoor activity, always have an indoor
alternate planned.
- Transitions from one activity to the next are easiest if
the meeting is planned so that the next activity is always
preferred to the current one. For example we begin with
opening ceremonies that reinforce the values of Scouting
(boring) then go to advancement activities (less boring but
not as much fun as games which come next), after games we go
to snack time (they are always willing to stop what they are
doing for snack!). I use the fact that they have their hands
full and their mouths full as the best opportunity for
announcements and reminders. Their parents are beginning to
show up, and it doesn't hurt that parents are also hearing
the announcements and reminders, it also helps to keep those
impatient parents from grabbing the Cub and leaving before
the closing ceremony, since they intuitively understand that
they should not take their child away during announcements.
- Don't try to carry all the load yourself. In Tiger, Wolf
and Bear dens the family unit is central to the forming of
the Cub Scout and activities revolved around the family
unit. Get other parents involved. Help them realize it is
their program and then depend on them to lend expertise on
aspects of the program. Invite them to attend by determining
their interests and using them.
- Leadership is developed and learned. You can become an
effective Cub Scout Leader if you will prepare yourself and
take the time to learn. Remember to be flexible in your
planning. There are no set answers to handling boys. Don't
be afraid to experiment.
- Get trained! Start out with the Cub Scout Den Leader
Fast Start video. It is very short and enjoyable to watch.
After you get settled in, attend the Cub Scout Den Leader
Basic Training at your District. It is the best place to go
to learn your Cub Scouting fundamentals.
- Understand the Cub Scout program so you can help the
boys grow throughout the program. There is a lot of
resources available to help you. One of your best resources
is the monthly district Cub Leader Roundtable, where you can
exchange ideas with other Cub Scout Leaders.
- Do your best, and, above all,
have fun!
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