So you're a new den leader.  Congratulations and Thank You! You have the potential to make a difference in the lives of a bunch of kids. Here is a quick checklist of what to expect.

Plan to have fun! Being a den leader is an adventure every meeting. Plan to get to know your son and his friends. They are wonderful kids and Scouting can bring out the best in them. They can be rowdy, noisy, inattentive and forgetful. They can be truthful, inquisitive, imaginative and humorous. They can be fearful, greedy, stubborn or disrespectful. They can be fair, sharing, helpful and loving; all in the same den meeting. They are kids, working hard at growing up.

Be prepared. Get trained as soon as possible. Take Fast Start Training on the internet or check out the Training pages on the North Florida Council website to find when the next and nearest New Leader Essentials & Cub Leader Specific training session will be held. Show up with your questions and concerns. Experienced Cub Scout leaders will be on hand with lots of ideas and tips.

Line up your resources. Check out veteran leaders in your pack for copies of these books or purchase them at the Scout Shop, or at ScoutStuff.org.

• Cub Scout Leader Book. One of the best scouting manuals ever. You will need this one.
• Program Helps. You will want the current issue that comes out each summer, but old issues are full of ideas for games, ceremonies and projects. Check your friends and neighbors whose kids were in Cub Scouts - they may still have copies.
• The How To Book. A compendium of games, outings, ceremonies and special ideas for Den Leader.

Meet the parents of the boys in your den. Tell them what you expect. They all agreed to help when they signed their boy's application to join. Give them specific assignments.

And remember to have FUN!

Wearing a Uniform

You don't really need a uniform to be a den leader, but it sure helps.

You will notice the looks on the faces of the boys when you first show up in your Cub Scout leader uniform proudly decked out with their pack number and especially their den number on your shirt. Wow! It says a lot to these kids.

They're pretty sharp, these boys, they recognize that you have made a major committment for them. They know that uniforms are important and even though they'll never say it, they do appreciate it. You are now one of them.

So wear it proudly. It's a good place to sew on your Trained patch.  You should notice that the boys will probably be more likely to wear their uniforms, that they will be somewhat more attentive and and a little prouder of their den, because their leader - their special Akela - sets the example.

You've taken care of your own son for seven or eight years, and you're still fairly normal, so adding seven or eight boys to the roost isn't all that hard.

• The first rule is: Clothe yourself with optimism. Grin a lot. And be prepared at least an hour before your Cub Scouts are due to arrive. One enthusiast always comes early.
• Do not feel you're copping out if you use the Cub Scout Program Helps for games to play and projects to make. Use it as a guide. As you gain experience you may branch out and create your own ideas.
• As soon as the meeting opens, make announcements, and explain the days projects. You're not likely to have the boys’ undivided attention again.
• Cub Scouts have little enthusiasm for the more worthless things in life and may refuse to waste their time on such stuff as table centerpieces that can't be played with later, on artificial flowers, or on crepe paper things. Keep your projects goal oriented.
• Good den leaders know where to find treasures. Scout your basement, attic, and trash barrel. Keep your projects simple. If you don't, you know you will be putting the finishing touches on 10 projects the night before your pack meeting. Learn enough carpentry that you can build a bird feeder.
• Cub Scouts love to hammer, but an adult craftsman might be asked to do most of the sawing in advance. Keep one inch bandages on band, just in case.  Also, decide what you'll do about unsavory words that might follow when the boys bang their fingers with a hammer.  When Cub Scouts are painting, have them wear men's shirts to protect their uniforms, even if the paint is washable.  And never leave a roomful of Cub Scouts alone with paint buckets.
• Cub Scouts love to wait their turn to use supplies or tools because it gives them time to explore, test each other's endurance for punches and pokes, and leaves time for races and shouting contests. There is a way to avoid this: Make up a den box of contributed tools and supplies from others provided by the pack committee.

Den leaders gain some useful knowledge. They learn that their son is quite typical and normal. He even behaves better than some of the other boys.  Some of the boys you've gotten to know as a den leader may be around your house for years as your son grows up. Believe it or not, some of your fondest memories will be of them in their Cub Scout days.

Den Leader Kit

• Get to know your pack and den parents. It is easier to ask someone you know to help, rather than a complete stranger. Likewise, it is harder for someone to say no to someone they know. One of the best places to visit with your parents is at the monthly pack meetings. Introduce yourself and follow-up with a phone call or a note.
  
• Have a specific request/task in mind when you contact a parent. It is much more successful to ask, “Can you help with the roller skating party in two weeks by driving four of the boys to and from the rink,” than to say, “I need help next month with whatever it is we decide to do.” Everyone can identify with a specific request, but vague questions deal with the unknown and will be easily answered with a negative response.
  
• If the parent cannot help with the current request, have another activity in mind. Always have alternatives. If they are unavailable for the current activity, ask them at that time to help with a specific future activity. For instance, if they cannot attend the roller skating party, they might be available the following month to help drive during Scouting for Food. Keep asking - give them lots of opportunities to participate and continue to let them know they are needed.
  
• Be fair and honest with your requests.
  
• If you ask a parent to take the boys skating, explain the exact times and what will be expected (drive, supervise snacks, skate with the boys, etc.) Don't abuse anyone's willingness to get involved. In addition, we are responsible for the health and safety of the boys and must ensure the involved parents appreciate the rules (seat belts, two deep leadership, appropriate activities, etc.)
  
• Acknowledge the help you receive when someone volunteers.
  
• A short note or telephone call after the activity, thanking someone for helping you with the boys will go a long way to ensuring you continue to have help when you need it. A simple certificate or other recognition at a pack meeting may also be appropriate. Thank-yous, while not time consuming on your part, show your volunteers you appreciate the time they have to help you.
  
• Don't put people on the spot.
  
• No matter how much we need help for projects and activities, we must leave room for a parent to gracefully decline without experiencing severe guilt when not helping with a son's activities.
  
• If a parent offers help in a specific area, ask for help in that area.
  
• Use the parent's help as it was offered, not in a different capacity or unfamiliar area. If you put someone in an uncomfortable situation, you will eventually lose their talents.
  
• Don't assume everyone has the same attitude and interest in Cub Scouting that you have.
  
• This certainly does not mean we should in any way refrain from offering parents opportunities to become active and involved. After becoming familiar with the program interest and excitement may develop and grow.